Matthew 🏺
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sumeriansauce.bsky.social
Matthew 🏺
@sumeriansauce.bsky.social
410 followers 440 following 120 posts
Working class autodidact. Ancient Mesopotamia aficionado. Mediterranean and Near Eastern civilisations enthusiast. Book lover. Proud dad. | Leeds

"One day, the common people will prevail."

الحرية لفلسطين 🇵🇸
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Reposted by Matthew 🏺
alisonfisk.bsky.social
Artists have always loved to sketch!

Sketch of a sparrow from Egypt dated c. 1479–1458 BC.

Some 3,500 years ago in Egypt, artists used flakes of limestone as sketchpads!

MMA excavations 1922-23, Deir el-Bahri. 📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...

#Archaeology
Met Museum photo of an Ancient Egyptian artist’s painting of a swallow on a flake of limestone, dated to the New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, joint reign of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III, c. 1479-1458 BC. The sparrow stands in profile with head to the right. It is delicately painted with a pinkish body. The outline and details are highlighted in a reddish/brown pigment. Its legs, eye, and beak are painted black. Limestone flake dimensions Height 6.6 cm x Width 10.6 cm. This may have been a practice drawing of the sparrow hieroglyph which was used for words meaning ‘small’, ‘poor’, or ‘bad’. Egyptian artisans who decorated tombs and temples made practice sketches on flakes of limestone which are known by egyptologists as ostraca (singular: ostracon). Sometimes the drawings were used as a template when transferring an image to the wall of a tomb or a temple. Limestone flakes were readily available for this purpose as by-products of the construction of temples and rock-cut tombs. A number of ostraca were recovered at Deir el-Bahri during the 1922-23 MMA excavations.
February 3, 2026 at 10:59 AM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
richardosgood.bsky.social
#findsfriday - the ‘Face of Agamemnon’. A gold funerary mask from Mycenae - probably 16th C BCE. Sadly not the face of the king though. One of those wow moments when you finally see the object that has become incredibly familiar to you from books & stories #archaeology #greekmyths #trojanwar #gold
A golden mask of a face of a man with a moustache
January 30, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
drnwillburger.bsky.social
A complete Roman dodecahedron from Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt – one of about 130 known examples found across the northwestern provinces of the Roman Empire.

We don’t really know what these mysterious objects were used for. Over the years, countless (and sometimes rather absurd) theories ...🧵1/3

📷me
A copper alloy dodecahedron on a dark background, shown from above: a hollow twelve sided object with circular holes in each pentagonal face and small spherical knobs at every vertex.
January 30, 2026 at 8:05 AM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
alisonfisk.bsky.social
A 3,400 year-old ancient Egyptian beauty box with original containers for makeup and beauty products! 🤩

📷 Museo Egizio, Turin

#Archaeology
An image of an ancient Egyptian wooden box with a separate flat lid placed on top slightly ajar. Dimensions 29.5 cm x 22 cm x 49 cm. The inside of the box is divided into compartments (obscured in the image by the lid). The exterior of the box is decorated with a painted checkerboard pattern, with lotus bud and blossom border. The box’s contents are displayed next it. Small jars and containers made of alabaster, faience, and blue glass decorated with yellow and white festoons. Some still contain traces of original unguents and fat based creams. A blue glass eye-makeup tube decorated with white and yellow festoons, contains an applicator stick for applying kohl, a black eye cosmetic ‘made from soot and antimony that was applied to the eyelids and eyelashes as a protective filter against the rays of the sun and as a disinfectant’. This beauty box belonged to a woman named Merit. It was discovered in 1906 by Italian archaeologist Ernesto Schiaparelli inside Theban tomb (TT8) which belonged to Merit and her husband Kha. Kha was a high ranking official responsible for the design and construction of three 18th-Dynasty royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings. An inscription on the beauty box, possibly added just before burial, states that the box is a funerary offering for Merit’s spirit. Dated New Kingdom, Eighteenth Dynasty, 1425–1353 BC.
January 27, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
goodlawproject.bsky.social
Over 26,000 have emailed their local trust to keep Palantir out of the NHS.

Will you join them?
https://notopalantir.goodlawproject.org/email-to-target/stop-palantir-in-the-nhs/?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=PalantirNHS&utm_medium=social_media
Say no to Palantir in the NHS
NHS England is rolling out software to run our health records from Palantir - fight back
notopalantir.goodlawproject.org
January 24, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social
This wonderful Ancient Greek gold coin dates from late 5th-century BCE.

It was issued by the city of Akragas, today’s Agrigento, in Sicily.

The coin features a crab on the reverse, and an eagle standing on a rock, devouring a snake.These symbols were common designs on the coinage of Akragas.
A round Ancient Greek gold coin with irregular edges, in the centre is a figure of a crab and some Greek lettering
November 29, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
kpw1453.bsky.social
Assyrian relief from the South-West Palace at Nineveh in Iraq depicting the Assyrian victory over the Elamites at the Battle of Til-Tuba. Dating to around 653 BC, the relief is part of the collections at the British Museum. 📸 My own. #ReliefWednesday #Nineveh #Assyria
November 5, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
alisonfisk.bsky.social
Something lovely for the weekend!

Ancient Egyptian gold headband decorated with heads of gazelles and a stag between stars or flowers. Second Intermediate (Hyksos) period, Dynasty 15, c. 1648–1540 BC. 📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...

#Archaeology
Met Museum photo of an Ancient Egyptian gold head ornament viewed from the front against a grey background. The headband is made of hammered sheet gold, the ends of which have been tapered to a narrower width and rolled to form loops. A string would have threaded through the loops to fasten the band around the head at the back. The front of the band is decorated with a central head of an antlered stag, identified as the Persian fallow deer (Dama mesopotamica). The stag has two large antlers, large ears and a triangular-shaped head. It is flanked on either side by two gazelle heads. The gazelle heads have long ears and long curved horns which point outwards at the tip. Between the animal heads are four 8-pointed flowers or stars. Dimensions: height of central stag 8.9, length of headband 49.5 cm. Dated to the Second Intermediate period (c. 1648-1540 BC) when northern Egypt was ruled by the Hyksos from the ancient Near East. Said to be part of a group of objects found in the Eastern Delta near Avaris, the Hyksos capital. The headband shows a mix of ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian artistic styles.
October 4, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
oz-of-the-ancients.bsky.social
#RomanSiteSaturday The great baths of Mactaris, a old Phoenician town in Tunisia that eventually became a Roman colony

These baths are some of the best preserved in all of North Africa. Walls rise to 15m and #mosaics still line the floors!

📸 Mine

#archaeology #romanempire #photooftheday 🏺
Grand Roman ruins with a series of arches still standing, above a wide mosaic floor with a pattern of concentric circles, under a cloudy sky
September 13, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
drnwillburger.bsky.social
These stunning golden #duck heads flanking the head of Hathor were found in the royal tomb at Qatna/#Syria, dating 15th/14th century BC. The unique object may have been part of a cosmetic container.
National Museum Damascus

#archaeology 🏺 🦆
A photo of a gold object depicting two intricately carved duck heads facing opposite directions, joined at the center with a face of Hathor above and geometric elements connecting the forms, set against a black background
August 31, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
drnwillburger.bsky.social
The richly decorated umbo (shield boss) from the parade shield of a Roman cavalryman shows Virtus, the personification of valour.
Parade armours were not worn in battle, but during parades and tournaments.

Found in Welzheim, dating 3rd century AD

📷 me

🏺 #archaeology
Bronze shield boss depicting Virtus. The central relief shows a youthful, helmeted face with flowing curls. Around the figure are engraved motifs, including a bird on the left and a winged figure on the right, with additional ornamental designs. Displayed against a dark background.
August 28, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
drnwillburger.bsky.social
A sleeved tunic, made from linen, from Egypt, Roman Period, 4th century AD.
The garment, designed for a child, likely around five years old, has survived remarkably well due to the arid climate. The tunic's design allowed for adjustments as the child grew. 🧵 1/2

🏺 #archaeology

📷 me
A photo of a tunic with long sleeves, laid flat on display. The fabric is light brown and worn, decorated with embroideries and appliqués. Horizontal lines run across the waist area, visibly dividing the fabric. The garment shows signs of age with fraying edges and faded sections.
August 24, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
fakehistoryhunter.net
When my time machine works again I'm going to buy some copper from Ea-nāṣir.
August 25, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
aljazeera.com
Video shows two Palestinian men pinned down by Israeli gunfire near an aid distribution site in northern Gaza.
August 24, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
saulstaniforth.bsky.social
Hind Khoudary explains what happened in the attack on Nasser hospital.

An explosive drone targeted two civilians, one of whom was a journalist. Then, as rescuers went to retrieve the bodies and additional journalists were filming what had happened, a missile targeted them.
August 25, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
thebyzantinelegacy.bsky.social
Some glimpses from today's visit to the ancient Lycian city Limyra (modern Antalya), including its Early Byzantine church, Roman theater, and Lycian tomb

Looking forward to sharing more about this site in the future
August 23, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
drnwillburger.bsky.social
For #RomanSiteSaturday let's go to my favourite #Roman site: the temple complex of #Baalbek, located in the Bekaa Valley, #Lebanon. The breathtaking site contains some of the largest Roman temples ever built. The so-called....🧵1/2

📷 Rami Rizk

🏺 #archaeology
Close-up aerial view of the so-called Temple of Bacchus in Baalbek, Lebanon, showing its massive colonnade with well-preserved Corinthian columns, surrounding ruins with fallen stones and walls, and green fields in the background. Aerial view of the ancient Roman temple complex of Baalbek in Lebanon, showing the massive so-called Temple of Bacchus with its well-preserved colonnade, the remains of the Temple of Jupiter with scattered giant stone blocks, and surrounding ruined walls and courtyards. The site is set within a green landscape with trees, fields, and modern houses in the background under warm sunlight.
August 23, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
greciangirl.bsky.social
This 3,300 year-old Mycenaean terracotta chariot was found in a rock-hewn tomb at Megalo Monastiri, in the region of Larissa, Greece. Dated ca. 13th century BCE. Archaeological Museum of Volos, Greece. 📷 Athenologio.
August 23, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
drnwillburger.bsky.social
One of the oldest known musical instruments: a Palaeolithic flute made from a vulture bone some 38,000 years ago!

This is one of 8 known flutes found on the Swabian Jura. The finds suggest that music played an important role in this region. 🧵1/2

📷 me

#archaeology #music
🏺
A close-up photograph of a flute made from a hollowed bone, displayed horizontally on a soft, gray fabric mount in a museum. The flute features several round finger holes along its length and showcases signs of wear and age, such as small chips.
August 22, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
theguardian.com
Egypt retrieves parts of 2,000-year-old sunken city off coast of Alexandria
Egypt retrieves parts of 2,000-year-old sunken city off coast of Alexandria
Cranes hoisted statues from depths of submerged site that authorities say may be extension of ancient city of Canopus Egypt has unveiled parts of a sunken city submerged beneath waters off the coast of Alexandria, revealing buildings, artefacts and an ancient dock that date back more than 2,000 years. Egyptian authorities said the site, located in the waters of Abu Qir Bay, may be an extension of the ancient city of Canopus, a prominent centre during the Ptolemaic dynasty, which ruled Egypt for nearly 300 years, and the Roman empire, which governed for about 600 years. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
August 21, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
zoejardiniere.bsky.social
Day in, day out, I speak to ordinary people who are organising to welcome the asylum seekers accommodated in their towns.

They befriend, support them, reach out to them as fellow human beings.

That's the Britain I know, the one I see around me & we never get told about on TV.
August 20, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
alisonfisk.bsky.social
Some 3,300 years ago, an ancient Egyptian artist painted this humorous illustration of a cat herding geese on a flake of limestone.

From Deir el-Medina, Thebes, Egypt. 📷 Egyptian Museum, Cairo.

#Archaeology
Photo of a flake of limestone with a painted illustration of a cat herding geese. The limestone flake is displayed against a black background. On the left of the scene, a tabby cat (brown with black line markings)stands on its hind legs, facing right, holding a wooden staff in its left paw to keep the geese in order. In the other paw it holds the end of a long crook which rests on its shoulder. A bag hangs from the end of the crook behind the cat. In front of the cat are six geese all facing right, arranged in two rows, three in each row. The geese all have brown legs. Body plummage is white with black details, and three geese have black painted heads and necks; top left and right, and bottom middle geese. Above the geese at top right, is a nest filled with four white eggs. Dimensions: H 11 cm x W 11 cm.
August 19, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
sapinuwa.bsky.social
Pieces glass objects from early imperial period of Rome, in the lovely Palazzo Altemps.🏺
Tiny pieces of patterned colored glass, in different patterns, some are marbled, some are millefiori
August 19, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
drnwillburger.bsky.social
An impressive #Roman cavalry helmet with a face mask that was made of iron and plated with silver (Nijmegen-Kops Plateau type). The mask was attached to the iron helmet, which was covered with horse hair showing an elaborate and highly decorative hairstyle. 🧵 1/2

📷 me

🏺 #archaeology
Reconstruction of a silver-plated face helmet with elaborate hairdo made of horse hair A helmet with a full-face mask made of iron; viewed from the front, there are no visible traces of the silver-plated coating. Remnants of horsehair can be seen on the top of the helmet. Displayed in a museum showcase, on a white pedestal in front of a softly lit exhibition background.
August 19, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Reposted by Matthew 🏺
roseschmits.bsky.social
August 18, 2025 at 8:34 AM