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zafulotus.bsky.social
Robyn Faith Walsh
@zafulotus.bsky.social
2K followers 510 following 210 posts
Associate Prof of New Testament and Early Christianity & Gabelli Senior Scholar @ University of Miami

https://linktr.ee/robynfaithwalsh
http://robynfaithwalsh.com
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zafulotus.bsky.social
Robyn Faith Walsh @zafulotus.bsky.social · Oct 24
I have the privilege of teaching my Death and Dying class in the Lowe Art Museum this semester and our mini exhibition is really coming together! I am so grateful to everyone at the Lowe for making this possible! 🤓 www.lowe.miami.edu
Reposted by Robyn Faith Walsh
partialhistorians.bsky.social
Surely we didn’t miss #SuperbOwl 😅

As far as we’re concerned, owls are always in season and worthy of celebration! This charming Attic owl serves as a mascot for the American School of Classical Studies in Athens.
With its inquistive expression, what's not to love!
This red figure wear charming Attic owl in a circular frame serves a mascot for the American School of Classical Studies in Athens.
February 10, 2026 at 6:24 AM
Reposted by Robyn Faith Walsh
patrickiber.bsky.social
Yessir that's my colleague Jorell Meléndez-Badillo (@jmelendezbadillo.bsky.social) and here's his history of Puerto Rico - available in English and Spanish press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
February 10, 2026 at 2:56 AM
Reposted by Robyn Faith Walsh
drkarrschmidt.bsky.social
Which Superb Owl Are You Today?

Every #SuperbOwl is from @newberrylibrary.bsky.social!
Grid of 9 early modern owls from the Newberry asking "Which SuperbOwl are you today?
February 8, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Reposted by Robyn Faith Walsh
gerhardvdh57.bsky.social
Call for papers for the Greco-
Roman Religions Section for the November Annual Meeting of the SBL:
February 8, 2026 at 8:15 AM
Reposted by Robyn Faith Walsh
rogueclassicist.bsky.social
Remains of a war elephant and catapult ammunition from the Second Punic War found in Córdoba, a unique discovery in Europe
www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2026/01/r...
Remains of a war elephant and catapult ammunition from the Second Punic War found in Córdoba, a unique discovery in Europe
An international team of archaeologists and paleontologists has announced the discovery of physical evidence unique in Europe: an elephant bone dated to the Second Punic War (218–201 BC). The find, a ...
www.labrujulaverde.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Reposted by Robyn Faith Walsh
catacombsociety.bsky.social
The deadline is fast approaching! Apply for a Shohet Scholars Grant from the International Catacomb Society!
catacombsociety.bsky.social International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · Nov 7
We are now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 Shohet Scholars Grant for research on the Ancient Mediterranean! Awards range from $2,000-$30,000.

Deadline is Feburary 1, 2026.

More information: www.catacombsociety.org/shohet-schol...
2026-2027 SHOHET SCHOLARS GRANT FOR RESEARCH ON THE ANCIENT MEDITERRANEAN The Shohet Scholars Grant of the International Catacomb Society is now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 Shohet Scholars cohort. Awards up to $30,000. Submission deadline is February 1, 2026. This annual grant program funds research on the Ancient Mediterranean. Projects need not focus on the catacombs. Shohet Scholars may do their research in archaeology, art history, classical studies, history, comparative religions, or related subjects. We welcome interdisciplinary projects that approach traditional topics from new perspectives. For further information and to apply go to the ICS website: www.catacombsociety.org/shohet-scholars/. Email questions to ShohetICS@gmail.com Image of fresco of a bird and a shepherd with a sheep over his shoulders. Paintings from the Catacombs of Domatilla in Rome.
January 22, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Reposted by Robyn Faith Walsh
frogandtoadbot.bsky.social
“But Frog,” said Toad, “if I pick up my pants and jacket right now, then I will not have to pick them up tomorrow, will I?”

“No,” said Frog, “You will not have to.”

Toad picked up his clothes. He put them in the closet.
Toad begins a new leaf by picking up his clothes and putting them away. From "Tomorrow" In *Days with Frog and Toad*
January 21, 2026 at 5:37 AM
Reposted by Robyn Faith Walsh
sarahebond.bsky.social
“The researchers suspect it once contained an ointment used for pain relief, because the woman’s skeleton shows signs of lesions and joint inflammation”

I disagree. This looks exactly like a dice 🎲 box that you hold game pieces and dice in. As a Roman historian: I don’t think it’s ointments. 1/2
Archaeologists Unearth Intricately Decorated Box Carved From Deer Bone That May Have Once Held Ancient Ointments
The box was excavated from a Roman-era grave in England. It was found among a trove of artifacts spanning roughly 8,000 years of human activity
www.smithsonianmag.com
January 17, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Reposted by Robyn Faith Walsh
catacombsociety.bsky.social
We also hope you'll join us on March 18 in person at Fordham University for a lecture with Candida Moss (@candidamoss.bsky.social) on "Who Wrote Your Bible? Enslaved Scribes and the Material History of Scripture"!
January 4, 2026 at 1:51 AM
Reposted by Robyn Faith Walsh
sarahebond.bsky.social
Congrats to all @scsclassics.bsky.social outreach award winners last night! Outreach sustains our field and grows our community to include everyone interested in the ancient world. Can’t thank @candidamoss.bsky.social, Anne Groton, @lexie-henning.bsky.social, & @tastinghistory.bsky.social enough.
Kirk Ormand, Ralph Rosen, and Julianne accept the outreach award Candida Moss accepts the outreach award at the SCS Lexie Henning accepting the outreach award
January 10, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Reposted by Robyn Faith Walsh
drewjakeprof.bsky.social
The Apostle Paul:
angryblacklady.blacksky.app Imani Gandy @angryblacklady.blacksky.app · Jan 12
Whatever. Bodies are dumb
January 12, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Reposted by Robyn Faith Walsh
frogandtoadbot.bsky.social
Toad sipped his tea. “Frog,” he asked, “are you making this up?”

“Maybe yes and maybe no,” said Frog.
Toad leans forward in his chair, sipping tea, transfixed by Frog's ghost story. From "Shivers" In *Days with Frog and Toad*
January 12, 2026 at 3:56 AM
Reposted by Robyn Faith Walsh
candidamoss.bsky.social
So many of my recent pieces for National Geographic would have suffered were it not for my ability to link to the amazing resources supplied by @nasscal.bsky.social. If you are interested in early Christian literature you must check out this invaluable site.

www.nasscal.com
NASSCAL
North American Society for the Study of Christian Apocryphal Literature
www.nasscal.com
December 28, 2025 at 1:43 PM
zafulotus.bsky.social
December 28, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Reposted by Robyn Faith Walsh
chapps.bsky.social
The high quality of Hellenistic metalwork was applied to many everyday objects, including box mirrors, an example of which is below. This beautiful repoussé relief of a woman with a silver earring and necklace once covered a polished, reflective bronze surface within. 🏺 1/ #ancientbluesky

📸 me
This box mirror depicts a repoussé relief head of a woman’s right profile, her hair twisted or braided back. She’s wearing a silver earring and necklace. Her nose is quite long and slightly hawkish, and the patina of the bronze is a mix of shades of green and dark bronze. Greek, last quarter of the 4th century BCE. Met Museum, New York (1989.281.58a, b)
December 27, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Reposted by Robyn Faith Walsh
candidamoss.bsky.social
What was the Star of Bethlehem and do we have historical evidence for it?

www.nationalgeographic.com/history/arti...

Featuring astrophysicist Grant Matthews and Bible scholar @zafulotus.bsky.social
Is there historical evidence for the Star of Bethlehem?
Theologians, historians and astronomers have debated the Biblical story for centuries.
www.nationalgeographic.com
December 26, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Reposted by Robyn Faith Walsh
candidamoss.bsky.social
I didn't want to write this piece on Christmas stealing from pagan festivals because I have always thought that was a myth. BUT in researching it I realized something interesting 1/6

www.nationalgeographic.com/history/arti...

featuring: @praxeas.bsky.social @zafulotus.bsky.social
Was Christmas moved to eclipse Rome's Saturnalia festival?
Ancient scribes often calculated Christ’s birth as falling in early spring.
www.nationalgeographic.com
December 26, 2025 at 5:55 PM
zafulotus.bsky.social
I was delighted to visit Bible & Archaeology (bam.sites.uiowa.edu) recently to talk about early nativity scenes! 🤓
youtu.be/nKBm6FYKoEc?...

We cover the catacombs, frescoes, Life of Brian. And it's the closest I've ever come to invoking "Mark Wahlberg Talks to Animals"...
This Is The Oldest Nativity Scene We Have
YouTube video by Bible & Archaeology
youtu.be
December 23, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Reposted by Robyn Faith Walsh
ricksteves.bsky.social
It’s the “season of love and giving”…but this year, doesn’t it seem more like a “season of fear and taking”? Like many of you, I’ve been saddened by the human impact of draconian government budget cuts and how angry many housed Americans are at unhoused Americans.

🧵 1 of 9
December 21, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Reposted by Robyn Faith Walsh
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
Reposted by Robyn Faith Walsh
workingclassicists.bsky.social
🎉 SOLIDARITY SATURNALIA! 🎉

IO SATURNALIA! Our annual festive giveaway is here!

12 bundles of gifts, and all you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is:
🎄Follow us,
🎄Repost this thread,
🎄And fill out this form: forms.gle/zMcHKZqGNC...

Read on for prizes and T&Cs (UK&I only)...🧵
Solidarity Saturnalia 2025 poster showing a handful of the gifts listed below
December 6, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Reposted by Robyn Faith Walsh
slyprofessor.bsky.social
The editors of the Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus, @srollens.bsky.social & Robert Myles, have made it a space that does history in really *interesting* ways. Its articles are often resources for thinking critically not just about Jesus, but history and religion, and why they matter. 👍
Screenshot of an article entitled, "The Mouse of the Mysteries." Abstract: This article presents an imaginative exercise in which a fictional author from the year 4025 details results from excavations of archaeological sites dating to the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Based on analyses of small domestic finds, as well as the discovery of a monumental complex utilizing similar imagery, the author concludes that people must have worshipped an anthropomorphic mouse god – the Historical Mouse – in the Mechano-Digital Age, keeping devotional votives in their homes and traveling at least once a year to a primary space of worship centered around the experience of various ritual mysteries. This article calls upon students to perform a self-evaluation about their own assumptions and approaches to the ancient world as they witness a hypothetical historian make outrageous, yet plausible, errors in the course of trying to describe an ‘ancient’ religion.
November 12, 2024 at 7:28 PM