Dunstan Lowe
@ancientplay.bsky.social
Classical Studies academic, gamer, enthusiast.
Read around and find out
Read around and find out
In the Bitmap Brothers game The Chaos Engine, “The Mercenary” looks to me a lot like Peter Lorre as Dr Gogol in Mad Love (1935). (Especially since Lorre was completely bald under the hat)
July 2, 2025 at 8:46 PM
In the Bitmap Brothers game The Chaos Engine, “The Mercenary” looks to me a lot like Peter Lorre as Dr Gogol in Mad Love (1935). (Especially since Lorre was completely bald under the hat)
In Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, which Greek mythical creatures are these supposed to be? Clue in background
June 25, 2025 at 9:55 AM
In Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, which Greek mythical creatures are these supposed to be? Clue in background
There’s a special place in videogames I like to call Greco-Rome. Marisa’s stage in Street Fighter 6 has Spartan warriors in a ruined colosseum. It’s in south central Greco-Rome
May 27, 2025 at 9:09 PM
There’s a special place in videogames I like to call Greco-Rome. Marisa’s stage in Street Fighter 6 has Spartan warriors in a ruined colosseum. It’s in south central Greco-Rome
This ancient image of a Roman gladiator, accompanied by graffiti, has been dated to August 1983
May 13, 2025 at 9:31 AM
This ancient image of a Roman gladiator, accompanied by graffiti, has been dated to August 1983
I think old videogames might be why isometric images of Chinese ports do not register in my brain as real photos.
May 12, 2025 at 9:15 AM
I think old videogames might be why isometric images of Chinese ports do not register in my brain as real photos.
Question about Delphi in popular culture: can anyone help?
The Oracle famously inhaled fumes, but when is the first time that these were imagined as green?
Image is from Call of Duty Black Ops 4 (2018), Zombies mode, Chaos story
The Oracle famously inhaled fumes, but when is the first time that these were imagined as green?
Image is from Call of Duty Black Ops 4 (2018), Zombies mode, Chaos story
February 20, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Question about Delphi in popular culture: can anyone help?
The Oracle famously inhaled fumes, but when is the first time that these were imagined as green?
Image is from Call of Duty Black Ops 4 (2018), Zombies mode, Chaos story
The Oracle famously inhaled fumes, but when is the first time that these were imagined as green?
Image is from Call of Duty Black Ops 4 (2018), Zombies mode, Chaos story
Christopher Nolan's Odysseus (for the summer 2026 movie) is Matt Damon with standard-issue manly cheekbone scratch.
I've already got a lot of notes, and this is just a helmet
I've already got a lot of notes, and this is just a helmet
February 17, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Christopher Nolan's Odysseus (for the summer 2026 movie) is Matt Damon with standard-issue manly cheekbone scratch.
I've already got a lot of notes, and this is just a helmet
I've already got a lot of notes, and this is just a helmet
I know you’ve Ben Hur.
An Endless Ocean of Horrible Histories can make you so Quraishy, it’s Touch & Go.
But Jewel Master The Dream, for a Wonderful Life that Will Rock.
An Endless Ocean of Horrible Histories can make you so Quraishy, it’s Touch & Go.
But Jewel Master The Dream, for a Wonderful Life that Will Rock.
February 17, 2025 at 11:55 AM
I know you’ve Ben Hur.
An Endless Ocean of Horrible Histories can make you so Quraishy, it’s Touch & Go.
But Jewel Master The Dream, for a Wonderful Life that Will Rock.
An Endless Ocean of Horrible Histories can make you so Quraishy, it’s Touch & Go.
But Jewel Master The Dream, for a Wonderful Life that Will Rock.
AI explained with bread:
In France, bakeries do not use AI (Chorleywood process) in most outputs (baguettes) because clients (customers) insisted on quality. In the UK and US, bakeries use AI in most outputs, and only clients who spend a lot get the kind they call artisanal.
AI = Chorleywood process
In France, bakeries do not use AI (Chorleywood process) in most outputs (baguettes) because clients (customers) insisted on quality. In the UK and US, bakeries use AI in most outputs, and only clients who spend a lot get the kind they call artisanal.
AI = Chorleywood process
February 6, 2025 at 11:06 AM
AI explained with bread:
In France, bakeries do not use AI (Chorleywood process) in most outputs (baguettes) because clients (customers) insisted on quality. In the UK and US, bakeries use AI in most outputs, and only clients who spend a lot get the kind they call artisanal.
AI = Chorleywood process
In France, bakeries do not use AI (Chorleywood process) in most outputs (baguettes) because clients (customers) insisted on quality. In the UK and US, bakeries use AI in most outputs, and only clients who spend a lot get the kind they call artisanal.
AI = Chorleywood process
When it come to AI, you can’t make an omelette…that’s it
December 15, 2024 at 2:29 PM
When it come to AI, you can’t make an omelette…that’s it
I know this is Theseus and Ariadne, but Moebius drew exactly how I imagine Dido and Aeneas’ early days
December 8, 2024 at 11:43 PM
I know this is Theseus and Ariadne, but Moebius drew exactly how I imagine Dido and Aeneas’ early days
The first boss of the PS2 Rygar (2002) has the form of living pink slime inside some merged giant statues. Why?
Here's a theory:
One model is Tessai in Ninja Scroll (1993). He is a stone-skinned giant, dispatched with rather pink and gooey-looking gore.
The other model is Ghostbusters 2 (1989).
Here's a theory:
One model is Tessai in Ninja Scroll (1993). He is a stone-skinned giant, dispatched with rather pink and gooey-looking gore.
The other model is Ghostbusters 2 (1989).
December 6, 2024 at 12:41 PM
The first boss of the PS2 Rygar (2002) has the form of living pink slime inside some merged giant statues. Why?
Here's a theory:
One model is Tessai in Ninja Scroll (1993). He is a stone-skinned giant, dispatched with rather pink and gooey-looking gore.
The other model is Ghostbusters 2 (1989).
Here's a theory:
One model is Tessai in Ninja Scroll (1993). He is a stone-skinned giant, dispatched with rather pink and gooey-looking gore.
The other model is Ghostbusters 2 (1989).
Kharon the ferryman from Mortal Kombat XI (2019). Proof that Greek names have authentic Ks in the MK universe. The same game introduced the titaness Kronika.
November 25, 2024 at 4:31 PM
Kharon the ferryman from Mortal Kombat XI (2019). Proof that Greek names have authentic Ks in the MK universe. The same game introduced the titaness Kronika.
“Which of you beanbags brought the tripod in?”
“It’s OK, he’s my emotional support tripod, he’ll stay plugged in right here.”
“It’s OK, he’s my emotional support tripod, he’ll stay plugged in right here.”
November 24, 2024 at 6:54 AM
“Which of you beanbags brought the tripod in?”
“It’s OK, he’s my emotional support tripod, he’ll stay plugged in right here.”
“It’s OK, he’s my emotional support tripod, he’ll stay plugged in right here.”
The Tribunal in their secret meeting chamber (Metalocalypse, 2006-2013).
The Council in their secret meeting chamber (Carmen Sandiego, 2019-2021).
The Council in their secret meeting chamber (Carmen Sandiego, 2019-2021).
November 23, 2024 at 9:35 PM
The Tribunal in their secret meeting chamber (Metalocalypse, 2006-2013).
The Council in their secret meeting chamber (Carmen Sandiego, 2019-2021).
The Council in their secret meeting chamber (Carmen Sandiego, 2019-2021).
I don’t know what these inflatable sticks are called, but they are loud
November 22, 2024 at 9:00 AM
I don’t know what these inflatable sticks are called, but they are loud
New Gaming experience III conference in Cordova kicking off. Time to get my head in the game
November 22, 2024 at 8:18 AM
New Gaming experience III conference in Cordova kicking off. Time to get my head in the game
Possibly the best Nathan W. Pyle cartoon ever
November 19, 2024 at 8:25 AM
Possibly the best Nathan W. Pyle cartoon ever
I just assume all game developers are US-based, but Alex the lead developer of Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island is British enough to 1) keep his nerdy collectibles in IKEA storage cubes and 2) wear a woolly hat inside his own house.
November 18, 2024 at 1:17 PM
I just assume all game developers are US-based, but Alex the lead developer of Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island is British enough to 1) keep his nerdy collectibles in IKEA storage cubes and 2) wear a woolly hat inside his own house.
One of the things I won't miss about Xitter is all the AI pictures of Musk and Trump, facetuned in superhero costumes, looking like low-effort cosplayers doing Julius Caesar from Assassin's Creed: Origins
November 13, 2024 at 10:29 AM
One of the things I won't miss about Xitter is all the AI pictures of Musk and Trump, facetuned in superhero costumes, looking like low-effort cosplayers doing Julius Caesar from Assassin's Creed: Origins
In the animated series Pluto, based on Naoki Urasawa's 2003 manga, modern-day wars in Persia are central to the plot.
It turns out to be an alternate history, in which King Darius of Persia had a series of successors down to the present day. Darius XIV is clearly modelled on Saddam Hussein.
It turns out to be an alternate history, in which King Darius of Persia had a series of successors down to the present day. Darius XIV is clearly modelled on Saddam Hussein.
November 13, 2024 at 10:21 AM
In the animated series Pluto, based on Naoki Urasawa's 2003 manga, modern-day wars in Persia are central to the plot.
It turns out to be an alternate history, in which King Darius of Persia had a series of successors down to the present day. Darius XIV is clearly modelled on Saddam Hussein.
It turns out to be an alternate history, in which King Darius of Persia had a series of successors down to the present day. Darius XIV is clearly modelled on Saddam Hussein.
Oira Jajamaru! Sekai Daibōken/Maru's Mission for GameBoy (Jaleco 1991). In stage 3 (Greece), Maru the ninja fights Medusa in a cavern full of bones.
October 22, 2024 at 9:30 AM
Oira Jajamaru! Sekai Daibōken/Maru's Mission for GameBoy (Jaleco 1991). In stage 3 (Greece), Maru the ninja fights Medusa in a cavern full of bones.