Adrienne Mayor
@amayor.bsky.social
Historian of Ancient Science & Human Curiosity, author of
Mythopedia
Flying Snakes
Gods and Robots
The Amazons
Poison King
First Fossil Hunters
Fossil Legends
Greek Fire Poison Arrows
Mythopedia
Flying Snakes
Gods and Robots
The Amazons
Poison King
First Fossil Hunters
Fossil Legends
Greek Fire Poison Arrows
the huntress on the left is a Maenad, often shown with snakes in ancient Greek iconography
November 11, 2025 at 1:57 AM
the huntress on the left is a Maenad, often shown with snakes in ancient Greek iconography
Thanks to @ichnologist.bsky.social Tony Martin for figuring out that the rodent of the Rat/Squirrel Hole of Chicago escaped a "cement overcoat"!
#Mythopedia p 121
#Mythopedia p 121
November 5, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Thanks to @ichnologist.bsky.social Tony Martin for figuring out that the rodent of the Rat/Squirrel Hole of Chicago escaped a "cement overcoat"!
#Mythopedia p 121
#Mythopedia p 121
pet rabbits/hares in ancient Greek vase paintings
October 31, 2025 at 9:23 PM
pet rabbits/hares in ancient Greek vase paintings
A couple of cool stripey cats!
Ancient Greek vase paintings, 5th century BC
Ancient Greek vase paintings, 5th century BC
October 30, 2025 at 6:28 PM
A couple of cool stripey cats!
Ancient Greek vase paintings, 5th century BC
Ancient Greek vase paintings, 5th century BC
Courting scene:
Maenad huntress offers a hare, typical love gift
to Amazon Penthesilea.
The heron suggests that the couple intends to form a household: herons were common pets in Greek women's courtyard scenes.
5th century BC Greek vase
Maenad huntress offers a hare, typical love gift
to Amazon Penthesilea.
The heron suggests that the couple intends to form a household: herons were common pets in Greek women's courtyard scenes.
5th century BC Greek vase
October 14, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Courting scene:
Maenad huntress offers a hare, typical love gift
to Amazon Penthesilea.
The heron suggests that the couple intends to form a household: herons were common pets in Greek women's courtyard scenes.
5th century BC Greek vase
Maenad huntress offers a hare, typical love gift
to Amazon Penthesilea.
The heron suggests that the couple intends to form a household: herons were common pets in Greek women's courtyard scenes.
5th century BC Greek vase
Victims of sea monsters/dragons in ancient art
Vase painting 500 BC and sculpture 3rd century AD
Vase painting 500 BC and sculpture 3rd century AD
October 13, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Victims of sea monsters/dragons in ancient art
Vase painting 500 BC and sculpture 3rd century AD
Vase painting 500 BC and sculpture 3rd century AD
always hard to leave Montana each fall
October 11, 2025 at 5:51 PM
always hard to leave Montana each fall
Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, and Scorpion Bombs
Biological and Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World is out in English, Spanish, Russian, French
Biological and Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World is out in English, Spanish, Russian, French
October 9, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, and Scorpion Bombs
Biological and Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World is out in English, Spanish, Russian, French
Biological and Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World is out in English, Spanish, Russian, French
Read the latest, revised edition of Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, and Scorpion Bombs!
October 9, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Read the latest, revised edition of Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, and Scorpion Bombs!
Mythopedia has 50 fantastic illustrations by Michele Angel.
3 examples:
Sahara quicksand, Frost Giant Ymir, Zambezi river god
Pre-order now, in stores Oct 7
3 examples:
Sahara quicksand, Frost Giant Ymir, Zambezi river god
Pre-order now, in stores Oct 7
September 26, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Mythopedia has 50 fantastic illustrations by Michele Angel.
3 examples:
Sahara quicksand, Frost Giant Ymir, Zambezi river god
Pre-order now, in stores Oct 7
3 examples:
Sahara quicksand, Frost Giant Ymir, Zambezi river god
Pre-order now, in stores Oct 7
Love this review of my new book Mythopedia in @harpers.bsky.social by Dan Piepenbring
“I can’t say that Mythopedia deepened my relationship
to the land, but it has shaken and shifted it
like so many toads in a tornado.”
harpers.org/archive/2025...
“I can’t say that Mythopedia deepened my relationship
to the land, but it has shaken and shifted it
like so many toads in a tornado.”
harpers.org/archive/2025...
September 18, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Love this review of my new book Mythopedia in @harpers.bsky.social by Dan Piepenbring
“I can’t say that Mythopedia deepened my relationship
to the land, but it has shaken and shifted it
like so many toads in a tornado.”
harpers.org/archive/2025...
“I can’t say that Mythopedia deepened my relationship
to the land, but it has shaken and shifted it
like so many toads in a tornado.”
harpers.org/archive/2025...
Mythopedia coming out Oct 7, 2025, preorder now!
"Mayor draws on the new field of geomythology to explain the historical background & science behind 53 legends and myths of the earth. A fascinating catalog of ancient cultures and unique geological events"
―Kirkus Reviews
"Mayor draws on the new field of geomythology to explain the historical background & science behind 53 legends and myths of the earth. A fascinating catalog of ancient cultures and unique geological events"
―Kirkus Reviews
September 17, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Mythopedia coming out Oct 7, 2025, preorder now!
"Mayor draws on the new field of geomythology to explain the historical background & science behind 53 legends and myths of the earth. A fascinating catalog of ancient cultures and unique geological events"
―Kirkus Reviews
"Mayor draws on the new field of geomythology to explain the historical background & science behind 53 legends and myths of the earth. A fascinating catalog of ancient cultures and unique geological events"
―Kirkus Reviews
Amazons in the heat of battle!
details, lace-up fur-lined boots, leopard skin capes, gold armbands, lost cap and shields on ground...
Baltimore Painter, Florence Museum
details, lace-up fur-lined boots, leopard skin capes, gold armbands, lost cap and shields on ground...
Baltimore Painter, Florence Museum
August 21, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Amazons in the heat of battle!
details, lace-up fur-lined boots, leopard skin capes, gold armbands, lost cap and shields on ground...
Baltimore Painter, Florence Museum
details, lace-up fur-lined boots, leopard skin capes, gold armbands, lost cap and shields on ground...
Baltimore Painter, Florence Museum
Who is the Amazon in the Wolfskin Cap?
ancient coin of Amisos, during the reign of
Mithradates VI of Pontus, first century BC
ancient coin of Amisos, during the reign of
Mithradates VI of Pontus, first century BC
August 19, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Who is the Amazon in the Wolfskin Cap?
ancient coin of Amisos, during the reign of
Mithradates VI of Pontus, first century BC
ancient coin of Amisos, during the reign of
Mithradates VI of Pontus, first century BC
Elegant Amazon rider, Etruscan bronze
August 11, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Elegant Amazon rider, Etruscan bronze
Astounding Griffin with astragalus, ankle bone, like the
sheep ankle bones used in ancient Greek games.
Gold and crystal ring 5th c BC
Suggests one might be extra lucky with a Griffin knucklebone?
sheep ankle bones used in ancient Greek games.
Gold and crystal ring 5th c BC
Suggests one might be extra lucky with a Griffin knucklebone?
July 18, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Astounding Griffin with astragalus, ankle bone, like the
sheep ankle bones used in ancient Greek games.
Gold and crystal ring 5th c BC
Suggests one might be extra lucky with a Griffin knucklebone?
sheep ankle bones used in ancient Greek games.
Gold and crystal ring 5th c BC
Suggests one might be extra lucky with a Griffin knucklebone?
Amazons about to kill a Greek warrior
note shield and cap on ground to indicate heated battle
Full frontal face of Greek is rare, signals imminent death
ancient Greek vase, Baltimore Painter
note shield and cap on ground to indicate heated battle
Full frontal face of Greek is rare, signals imminent death
ancient Greek vase, Baltimore Painter
July 7, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Amazons about to kill a Greek warrior
note shield and cap on ground to indicate heated battle
Full frontal face of Greek is rare, signals imminent death
ancient Greek vase, Baltimore Painter
note shield and cap on ground to indicate heated battle
Full frontal face of Greek is rare, signals imminent death
ancient Greek vase, Baltimore Painter
Unicorns
from my talk on natural evidence mistaken for mythic creatures
from my talk on natural evidence mistaken for mythic creatures
June 4, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Unicorns
from my talk on natural evidence mistaken for mythic creatures
from my talk on natural evidence mistaken for mythic creatures
for more accurate information on Aristotle's musings about automatons and slaves, see my book Gods and Robots: Myths, Machines and Ancient Dreams of Technology, translations in German, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Arabic
May 16, 2025 at 5:20 PM
for more accurate information on Aristotle's musings about automatons and slaves, see my book Gods and Robots: Myths, Machines and Ancient Dreams of Technology, translations in German, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Arabic
Fossil marvels in my new book #Mythopedia
Tuareg monster Jobar = sauropod Jobaria discovered by Paul Sereno
Mysterious tunnels in Brazil made by giant sloths
World's smallest dinosaur skull trapped in amber, discovered by Lida Xing
drawings by Michele Angel
Tuareg monster Jobar = sauropod Jobaria discovered by Paul Sereno
Mysterious tunnels in Brazil made by giant sloths
World's smallest dinosaur skull trapped in amber, discovered by Lida Xing
drawings by Michele Angel
May 16, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Fossil marvels in my new book #Mythopedia
Tuareg monster Jobar = sauropod Jobaria discovered by Paul Sereno
Mysterious tunnels in Brazil made by giant sloths
World's smallest dinosaur skull trapped in amber, discovered by Lida Xing
drawings by Michele Angel
Tuareg monster Jobar = sauropod Jobaria discovered by Paul Sereno
Mysterious tunnels in Brazil made by giant sloths
World's smallest dinosaur skull trapped in amber, discovered by Lida Xing
drawings by Michele Angel
look at the sweet face of this horse!
with Castor, armed with sword and two spears
ancient Greek vase painting 5th c BC, Louvre
with Castor, armed with sword and two spears
ancient Greek vase painting 5th c BC, Louvre
May 10, 2025 at 7:56 PM
look at the sweet face of this horse!
with Castor, armed with sword and two spears
ancient Greek vase painting 5th c BC, Louvre
with Castor, armed with sword and two spears
ancient Greek vase painting 5th c BC, Louvre
Delighted to appear in this exciting French TV documentary on the history & archaeology of
"Amazons: Warrior Women"
Trailer here:
zed.fr/en/catalog/a...
"Amazons: Warrior Women"
Trailer here:
zed.fr/en/catalog/a...
April 30, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Delighted to appear in this exciting French TV documentary on the history & archaeology of
"Amazons: Warrior Women"
Trailer here:
zed.fr/en/catalog/a...
"Amazons: Warrior Women"
Trailer here:
zed.fr/en/catalog/a...
Two Amazons overpower a pair of Greek hoplites
Combat takes place in a barren wilderness
Note iconic dead tree & unique sandy ground
under the fallen Greek
ancient Greek vase painting
Combat takes place in a barren wilderness
Note iconic dead tree & unique sandy ground
under the fallen Greek
ancient Greek vase painting
April 18, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Two Amazons overpower a pair of Greek hoplites
Combat takes place in a barren wilderness
Note iconic dead tree & unique sandy ground
under the fallen Greek
ancient Greek vase painting
Combat takes place in a barren wilderness
Note iconic dead tree & unique sandy ground
under the fallen Greek
ancient Greek vase painting