Sissel Undheim
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unsissel.bsky.social
Sissel Undheim
@unsissel.bsky.social
1.5K followers 870 following 160 posts
Religious studies professor @University of Bergen, studying religion in Late Antiquity, Lego, pop culture and public schools.


https://www4.uib.no/en/find-employees/Sissel.Undheim
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Reposted by Sissel Undheim
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 4 January - in 49 BC Cicero returned to Rome at the outbreak of civil war, observing: "Never has the state been in such danger, never have wicked citizens had a leader more ready" (Cicero, To His Friends 16.11.2). #History 🏺

Image: RRC 458/1. Link - numismatics.org/crro/id/rrc-...
Obverse of a Roman denarius: Head of Venus, right, wearing diadem. Border of dots. Reverse of a Roman denarius: Aeneas, left, carrying palladium in right hand and Anchises on left shoulder. Border of dots.
January 4, 2026 at 1:58 PM
unsissel.bsky.social
Lovely Epiphany scene on this late 4th century sarcophagus at the Musée départemental Arles antique. Note the star above Mary's head 🌟 And the two smiling animals.
Central scene on a late 4th century sarcophagus, divided in two square "boxes". Baby Jesus in the manger centrally placed, with ox and ass facing him and seemingly smiling. Mary on his left, with the star above her head. A shepherd on the right. The three magi in the "box" below, apparently discussing and pointing to the scene above them. Musée départemental Arles antique. Photo: me. Photo of the museum's description will be posted below.
January 6, 2026 at 3:12 PM
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chapps.bsky.social
A Roman terracotta lamp with Victory holding a shield inscribed with a wish for a happy and prosperous new year. Around her are representations of things that were usually given as gifts to celebrate the New Year: money (here three coins), and dried fruit (dates and figs). 🥳 🏺 1/

#MetMuseum 📸 me
Winged Victory holds a shield inscribed with a New Year's wish for happiness: ANNV / NOVM FAV/STVM FEL/ICEM MI/HI, which transliterates as 'Annum Novum Faustum Felicem Mihi' - literally 'A happy, fortunate, and prosperous New Year to me'. It's a self-referential wish for happiness and good fortune in the new year. Around her are representations of things that were usually given as gifts to celebrate the New Year— money (in the form of three coins) and dried fruit (dates and figs). Roman, mold-made, 2nd half of 1st century CE. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (06.1021.291)
December 31, 2025 at 8:36 PM
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drnwillburger.bsky.social
As 2026 approaches a happy new year's toast to you all with this marvellous 4th century Roman cage-cup, which bears an inscription, a toast that reads:

BIBE MULTIS ANNIS - Drink for many years!

Cheers and here's to a far better year in 2026! 🥂

#NewYear2026 🍀
A close-up of a cage cup. It comprises an inner, translucent glass beaker and an outer decorative shell. The shell, affixed to the beaker via short stems or shanks, features circles at its body and an inscription at its top.
December 31, 2025 at 7:21 AM
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drnwillburger.bsky.social
This funerary wreath is made of everlasting flowers (Helichrysum stoechas) and is more than 1,700 years old!
It was found in a tomb of the #Roman period in Hawara/#Egypt and has survived due to Egypt's dry climate.
Dating 2nd/3rd c. AD.

On display at British Museum

📷 me
A wreath made from a variety of 'everlasting' flowers, tied with fibre.
December 30, 2025 at 8:16 AM
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womensartbluesky.bsky.social
Illustration by Moomins author, Finnish artist Tove Jansson.
#December25th #ArtAdvent 🎄 ❄️ #ChristmasDay 🤍
Illustration of figures from the Moomins book series sitting around a fire in a magical snowy forest
December 25, 2025 at 7:02 AM
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pompei79.bsky.social
Possibly the most sublime Roman fresco of a temple.
The architectural detail of the spiky-topped wooden barrier, the painted relief in the pediment, & the offerings burning on the altar; it’s a symphony of observations.
Archaeological Museum of Capri (no provenance)
#FrescoFriday
Fresco of a facade of a Roman temple. A short flight of steps leading up to a portico with Corinthian columns. Between the double colannade is a decorated wooden barrier with lattice work and a spiky top. The wooden doors to the temple are closed. The pediment contains a painted relief. In front of the steps is an ornate altar on which offerings burn.
December 19, 2025 at 3:27 PM
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drnwillburger.bsky.social
Ahead of Christmas, it feels fitting to share this Roman fibula - a decorative pin once used to fasten garments - shaped like a stag.
In my Christmas-influenced imagination, it looks rather reindeerish! 🎄
Is it Dasher, Dancer, or maybe Rudolph? 🎅

From the Roman Villa at Borg, 2nd c. AD
📷Villa Borg
Close-up of the fibula on a reddish background. It has the shape of a running stag with large antlers. It's decorated with enamel, which has almost completely broken off. The large black eyes are preserved.
December 19, 2025 at 8:57 AM
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anthonymajanlahti.bsky.social
"The English take their pleasures sadly," observed the French duke of Sully. If so, this #fresco for #FrescoFriday is ideal for the #BritishMuseum, though it comes from #Stabiae. Against a red background, a #Naiad reclines on a couch, raising a horn to us with a melancholy smile. #AncientBluesky 🏺
WALL FRESCO WITH RECLINING NAIAD, 30-50 CE. BRITISH MUSEUM This fresco comes from the Villa Arianna at Stabiæ, the wealthy resort on the Bay of Naples, the rich man's Pompeii. The Villa Arianna was one of the most lavish residences in the whole Vesuvian area. A partner to this fresco from the opposite wall of the room where this was found is in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, showing a satyr stretched out on the ground, raising a similar rhyton of wine. Here, the water-nymph is shown reclining on a couch, with her right elbow propped up on a cushion as she raises a rhyton in her left hand. She wears a green mantle draped over her legs and a wreath crown encloses her blonde hair, but despite the cheery gesture and nude torso, she looks pensive and melancholy, a perfect stand-in for visitors to the British Museum contemplating the rain outside.
December 12, 2025 at 1:46 PM
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drnwillburger.bsky.social
For #FrescoFriday a #Roman wall painting from the Casa dei Cervi, Herculaneum, depicting Cupids playing hide and seek. I especially like the one who covers his eyes - some things haven't changed since Roman times! In Roman wall painting of the 1st c. AD, scenes depicting...🧵 1/2

🏺 #archaeology
A fresco depicting three small winged figures in a dimly lit room playinghide and seek. One figure stands in a doorway on the left, partially in shadow. The central figure is running to the right, with a surprised expression and greenish wings. The third figure, also winged, stands at the far right covering their face with both hands. The background features muted earth tones and architectural elements like a door and wall panels, with visible cracks in the painting.
December 12, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Reposted by Sissel Undheim
partialhistorians.bsky.social
✨Saturnalia Season✨

Bring out the fancy lounges and the best crockery, it’s time to feast!

May your festivities look something like this with drinking horns (rhytons), fabulous hair nets, and delightful tripod tables.

#FrescoFriday
Fresco from Herculaneum depicting a Roman banquet. A woman and man, both nude from the waist up, recline on a dining lounge. The woman wears a hair net while the man holds a drinking vessel up high. They are attended by a woman who is likely an enslaved person. This fresco is held by the MAN Napoli, inv. 9024.
December 19, 2025 at 5:55 AM
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drnwillburger.bsky.social
A #Roman rock crystal ring decorated with a crescent and stars inlaid with gold foil - it looks like an emoji 🤩, but for the Romans this wasn’t just decoration. The motif was associated with death: crescent and stars were symbols for eternity and afterlife.
Rock crystal was valued...🧵1/2

📷 me
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Rock crystal ring featuring an inlaid design of a crescent moon flanked by two stars within an oval frame.
December 17, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Reposted by Sissel Undheim
partialhistorians.bsky.social
✨Diana and Callisto✨

Callisto was one of the followers of Diana (Artemis) but when she fell pregnant after an encounter with a god (no prizes for guessing who this was), she was expelled from the group.
This stunning mosaic comes from Villelaure (south-east France). The central scene is thought to depict Diana and Callisto together. This central panel is surrounded by a substantial border showing hunting scenes. This border is then surrounded by a series of geometric borders including knot patterns. This piece is held by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Phil Berg Collection (M.71.73.99). This stunning mosaic comes from Villelaure (south-east France). The central scene is thought to depict Diana and Callisto together. This central panel is surrounded by a substantial border showing hunting scenes. This border is then surrounded by a series of geometric borders including knot patterns. This piece is held by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Phil Berg Collection (M.71.73.99). This stunning mosaic comes from Villelaure (south-east France). The central scene is thought to depict Diana and Callisto together. This central panel is surrounded by a substantial border showing hunting scenes. This border is then surrounded by a series of geometric borders including knot patterns. This piece is held by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Phil Berg Collection (M.71.73.99).
December 15, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Reposted by Sissel Undheim
drnwillburger.bsky.social
Fascinating world of ancient #glass: Colourful glass bracelets found in #Egypt, #Roman period, dating 1st century BC to 1st century AD.

On display at Museum der Universität Tübingen.

📷 me

🏺
Five colorful fragments of glass bracelets displayed on a neutral background, each curved piece decorated with raised multicolored dots, eye-like ovals, and striped patterns in blue, white, yellow, green, orange, brown, and red tones.
December 9, 2025 at 10:08 AM
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janeskj.bsky.social
My new book is available for pre-order!

#religion #popularculture #Heathenism #NorsePaganism #Neopaganism #NRM

www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-rise-o...
The Rise of Charismatic Heathenism: Power and Popular Culture in Contemporary Norse-oriented Religion|Hardcover
Heathenism has changed. In the 2010s, the global popular culture market saw a surge in the production and consumption of Viking-themed and Norse-inspired media products, with music, movies, television...
www.barnesandnoble.com
December 8, 2025 at 11:18 AM
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ullamr.bsky.social
Sleeping Eros about to be robbed of his quiver by Psyche. From Samandağı in Turkey from the third century AD. #MosaicMonday
December 8, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Reposted by Sissel Undheim
josephscales.bsky.social
Come work in Bergen!
December 2, 2025 at 8:15 AM
unsissel.bsky.social
Please share!
Two new postdoc positions have opened in the RADHEART project at the University of Bergen.
The first is on ancient Rabbinic literature from the 2nd – 7th century CE.

#AcRel #sblaar #AncientBlueSky

www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Study of Religion (289814) | University of Bergen
Job title: Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Study of Religion (289814), Employer: University of Bergen, Deadline: Friday, March 6, 2026
www.jobbnorge.no
December 2, 2025 at 8:09 AM
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drewjakeprof.bsky.social
www.ucpress.edu/books/the-im...
December 1, 2025 at 12:24 PM
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partialhistorians.bsky.social
✨Cave Canem✨

The dogs of ancient Roman were often deployed to guard homes. Mosaics of dogs in guarding roles can be found at the entrances of homes mimicking the guarding function AND potentially offering warning of the real life guard nearby.

#MosaicMonday #AncientRome #History
This mosaic comes from the Casa di Paquius Proculus in Pompeii. The mosaic depicts a black dog with a red collar chained to a pillar. Also depicted are what look like a labrys (double axe) and a shield and spear.
December 1, 2025 at 7:40 AM
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idaostenberg.bsky.social
Oh dear.

”The Assassin's Creed series will feature real-life historical figures, including "Emperor Nero and Seneca the Younger, who served as Nero's tutor.”

movieweb.com/netflix-assa...
Netflix's Upcoming Action Fantasy Adaptation Gets Ancient in Major Season 1 Update
The setting for Netflix's live-action 'Assassin's Creed' video game adaptation has been revealed. 👀
movieweb.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:10 PM
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drnwillburger.bsky.social
Things used in everyday life are the real archaeological treasures! These sewing #needles were made from animal bone some 15,000 years ago. Some designs simply don't need to be improved, because form and functions were perfectly matched from the start. Form follows function! 🧵1/2

🏺
The picture shows six needles of different sizes. They were made of bone resemble their modern descendants with an eye at one end and a tapered end.
November 29, 2025 at 9:22 AM
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janeskj.bsky.social
Det er ganske enkelt å teste dette:

Prøv å mate en KI-bot med en lengre tekst du har skrevet selv, f.eks. en OA-artikkel, og be den så om å gi deg hovedpoenget/-ne i den. Jeg har forsøkt det et par ganger og jeg synes sjelden den lykkes så godt som mennesker. Faktisk lesing kan ikke erstattes.
November 28, 2025 at 9:43 AM
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mikemotia.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...

open.spotify.com/episode/5tvM...
Maia Kotrosits, "After Transformation: Rewriting Time, Christian Late Antiquity, and the Present" (Duke UP, 2025)
open.spotify.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:49 PM
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ancientjewreview.bsky.social
New pod! Mike talks to Maia Kotrosits about After Transformation: A Lyrical History of Late Antiquity
November 24, 2025 at 1:00 PM