Andrew A.N. Deloucas
@aandeloucas.com
I am a Ph.D. candidate in Assyriology at Harvard University. I write on Bronze Age cities of Mesopotamia and their civic, economic, and legal institutions.
visit me at aandeloucas.com
visit me at aandeloucas.com
Call for Papers for GSANES 8 (NYC, March 26-7, 2026):
Come present your work at ISAW this upcoming spring semester, the topic being ‘As Below, So Above: Mapping Social Experience and the World Beyond'.
Submissions are due December 15.
Come present your work at ISAW this upcoming spring semester, the topic being ‘As Below, So Above: Mapping Social Experience and the World Beyond'.
Submissions are due December 15.
November 10, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Call for Papers for GSANES 8 (NYC, March 26-7, 2026):
Come present your work at ISAW this upcoming spring semester, the topic being ‘As Below, So Above: Mapping Social Experience and the World Beyond'.
Submissions are due December 15.
Come present your work at ISAW this upcoming spring semester, the topic being ‘As Below, So Above: Mapping Social Experience and the World Beyond'.
Submissions are due December 15.
I'm reminded of US education experiments with computers in the early 60s, sponsored by companies like IBM. These company-led initiatives were rarely about the student and more to do with selling to a nascent sector, with final reports showing the impact on a student's education was negligible.
October 30, 2025 at 5:54 PM
I'm reminded of US education experiments with computers in the early 60s, sponsored by companies like IBM. These company-led initiatives were rarely about the student and more to do with selling to a nascent sector, with final reports showing the impact on a student's education was negligible.
There isn't evidence that musukkatu were sex workers; the term just means impure. It's thought to be related to menstruation or a woman who has recently given birth (Chicago Assyrian Dictionary).
The gate was on the west side of the city, nearest the Euphrates river:
The gate was on the west side of the city, nearest the Euphrates river:
October 6, 2025 at 4:01 PM
There isn't evidence that musukkatu were sex workers; the term just means impure. It's thought to be related to menstruation or a woman who has recently given birth (Chicago Assyrian Dictionary).
The gate was on the west side of the city, nearest the Euphrates river:
The gate was on the west side of the city, nearest the Euphrates river:
Back to wondering whether Sumerian zid-lal3 was something like خبيص (khabeeṣa), which was served in cups to gods and mentioned with morning meals:
[ZID3] Flour, often emmer or semolina
[LAL3] Honey, syrup
[ZID3] Flour, often emmer or semolina
[LAL3] Honey, syrup
October 3, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Back to wondering whether Sumerian zid-lal3 was something like خبيص (khabeeṣa), which was served in cups to gods and mentioned with morning meals:
[ZID3] Flour, often emmer or semolina
[LAL3] Honey, syrup
[ZID3] Flour, often emmer or semolina
[LAL3] Honey, syrup
Got my little flair for @askhistorians.bsky.social!
September 29, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Got my little flair for @askhistorians.bsky.social!
Turns out my wife is an archer!
September 20, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Turns out my wife is an archer!
At any time, when (anyone of) the people living in this city tears down his old house and builds a new one — if the foundation of his house encroaches upon the royal road, they will hang him on a stake over his house."
Sennacherib 38, lines 13-27 (oracc.museum.upenn.edu/riao/Q003512)
Sennacherib 38, lines 13-27 (oracc.museum.upenn.edu/riao/Q003512)
September 16, 2025 at 7:53 PM
At any time, when (anyone of) the people living in this city tears down his old house and builds a new one — if the foundation of his house encroaches upon the royal road, they will hang him on a stake over his house."
Sennacherib 38, lines 13-27 (oracc.museum.upenn.edu/riao/Q003512)
Sennacherib 38, lines 13-27 (oracc.museum.upenn.edu/riao/Q003512)
Stance looks like the lion tamer relief from Khorsabad, but the heads aren't anything I am aware of: we have a Janus-faced vizier called Isimud, but no three headed lion figure.
September 16, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Stance looks like the lion tamer relief from Khorsabad, but the heads aren't anything I am aware of: we have a Janus-faced vizier called Isimud, but no three headed lion figure.
Making two piles for two chapters! Really frustrated with my advisor for not saying this sooner
September 15, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Making two piles for two chapters! Really frustrated with my advisor for not saying this sooner
Our girl is stitch free! She immediately ate a scab, so she's getting The Cone, but we're all very happy nevertheless 🎉✨
September 11, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Our girl is stitch free! She immediately ate a scab, so she's getting The Cone, but we're all very happy nevertheless 🎉✨
In reference, see e.g. Laursen 2021 "Dilmun Boat shaped votive bowls for the Moon-god Nanna?":
Cylinder seal possibly depicting Nanna’s “Moon boat”. Surface find from Diraz near Umm es Sujur temples wells in Bahrain of probably early second millennium BC date.
Cylinder seal possibly depicting Nanna’s “Moon boat”. Surface find from Diraz near Umm es Sujur temples wells in Bahrain of probably early second millennium BC date.
September 5, 2025 at 2:15 PM
In reference, see e.g. Laursen 2021 "Dilmun Boat shaped votive bowls for the Moon-god Nanna?":
Cylinder seal possibly depicting Nanna’s “Moon boat”. Surface find from Diraz near Umm es Sujur temples wells in Bahrain of probably early second millennium BC date.
Cylinder seal possibly depicting Nanna’s “Moon boat”. Surface find from Diraz near Umm es Sujur temples wells in Bahrain of probably early second millennium BC date.
Me, seeing your posts today
September 3, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Me, seeing your posts today
Makes sense! What I'm seeing is folks outside the video game industry using it and I'm curious about the thread from there up to this point:
September 3, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Makes sense! What I'm seeing is folks outside the video game industry using it and I'm curious about the thread from there up to this point:
Looks like we're out of the woods: surgery results show that they were able to remove everything and no further action is required!
September 2, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Looks like we're out of the woods: surgery results show that they were able to remove everything and no further action is required!
And the same for us: annually, we try and get her to Vermont; prior to that, we gave her plenty of space in Washington State parks. Apologies for the self-indulgence, but I think we can all enjoy a bit of levity:
August 29, 2025 at 1:53 AM
And the same for us: annually, we try and get her to Vermont; prior to that, we gave her plenty of space in Washington State parks. Apologies for the self-indulgence, but I think we can all enjoy a bit of levity:
We're chowing down and managing our pain, the first night off sedation being the hardest part so far
August 28, 2025 at 6:01 PM
We're chowing down and managing our pain, the first night off sedation being the hardest part so far
Similarly, both leaders were acutely aware of the power of history and sought to control those ancient narratives.
August 28, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Similarly, both leaders were acutely aware of the power of history and sought to control those ancient narratives.
That's right, and it continues through today, too. I always show these examples when talking about the reception of cuneiform in Iraq:
August 27, 2025 at 11:02 PM
That's right, and it continues through today, too. I always show these examples when talking about the reception of cuneiform in Iraq:
Her name is Bowser, she's 10 years old and is certifiably a Weird Dog. We never noticed her lump, it was a friendly neighbor who recognized it while we were on a walk; I'll never forget the kindness of that stranger.
August 27, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Her name is Bowser, she's 10 years old and is certifiably a Weird Dog. We never noticed her lump, it was a friendly neighbor who recognized it while we were on a walk; I'll never forget the kindness of that stranger.
A few weeks ago, my wife and I learned of a lump on our dog's leg, which tested positive for mast cell cancer: we were able to get her into surgery today and we find out next week if there's more to do. It'll be a long couple weeks of recovery but I'm very, very thankful to be where we are.
August 27, 2025 at 9:48 PM
A few weeks ago, my wife and I learned of a lump on our dog's leg, which tested positive for mast cell cancer: we were able to get her into surgery today and we find out next week if there's more to do. It'll be a long couple weeks of recovery but I'm very, very thankful to be where we are.
I know we're beating a dead horse, but it looks like UChicago's Society of Fellows website is shut down:
August 27, 2025 at 1:50 PM
I know we're beating a dead horse, but it looks like UChicago's Society of Fellows website is shut down:
Had a lot of fun by the end of this one
August 23, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Had a lot of fun by the end of this one
Serendipitous mention of Mesopotamia in Tiny Bookshop (2025), with a bonus image of @tastinghistory.bsky.social's book, too:
August 19, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Serendipitous mention of Mesopotamia in Tiny Bookshop (2025), with a bonus image of @tastinghistory.bsky.social's book, too: