Chris Dickenson
@cpdickenson.bsky.social
Ancient historian/archaeologist. British. Live in the Netherlands. Hobbies: reading (obviously!), writing fiction, music (pop/Classical), painting miniatures. Tentatively getting back into blogging: https://thefourthsophistic.wordpress.com
There are worse sights to start the day with.
October 21, 2025 at 9:07 AM
There are worse sights to start the day with.
Does this look like Hercules to you? Gold aureus of Mark Anthony in the British Museum. Came up in class today. I’m seeing a bare breasted woman with pigtails. Maybe a lion skins and club (attributes of H) but also a shield and staff (not usually). What am I missing? Are other readings possible?
October 14, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Does this look like Hercules to you? Gold aureus of Mark Anthony in the British Museum. Came up in class today. I’m seeing a bare breasted woman with pigtails. Maybe a lion skins and club (attributes of H) but also a shield and staff (not usually). What am I missing? Are other readings possible?
I’m really puzzled by this image: Iphigenia with Palladium (World
History Encyclopedia). If we’re sure it’s Iphigenia then why think she is carrying the Palladium rather than a strange looking Artemis? If we’re sure it’s the Palladium then why think the woman is Iphigenia? Why not Cassandra?
History Encyclopedia). If we’re sure it’s Iphigenia then why think she is carrying the Palladium rather than a strange looking Artemis? If we’re sure it’s the Palladium then why think the woman is Iphigenia? Why not Cassandra?
June 20, 2025 at 6:43 AM
I’m really puzzled by this image: Iphigenia with Palladium (World
History Encyclopedia). If we’re sure it’s Iphigenia then why think she is carrying the Palladium rather than a strange looking Artemis? If we’re sure it’s the Palladium then why think the woman is Iphigenia? Why not Cassandra?
History Encyclopedia). If we’re sure it’s Iphigenia then why think she is carrying the Palladium rather than a strange looking Artemis? If we’re sure it’s the Palladium then why think the woman is Iphigenia? Why not Cassandra?
Did you know the Netherlands has megalithic monuments from
the Neolithic period? Hunnebed (giant’s bed) D53, Darp, Drenthe, The Netherlands. Saw it Sunday. It’s impressive.
the Neolithic period? Hunnebed (giant’s bed) D53, Darp, Drenthe, The Netherlands. Saw it Sunday. It’s impressive.
May 13, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Did you know the Netherlands has megalithic monuments from
the Neolithic period? Hunnebed (giant’s bed) D53, Darp, Drenthe, The Netherlands. Saw it Sunday. It’s impressive.
the Neolithic period? Hunnebed (giant’s bed) D53, Darp, Drenthe, The Netherlands. Saw it Sunday. It’s impressive.
Striking against the Dutch government’s cuts to higher education today. Demonstration on the Grote Markt, Groningen
March 18, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Striking against the Dutch government’s cuts to higher education today. Demonstration on the Grote Markt, Groningen
The Scarlet Witch from
Marvel
Crisis Protocol by @atomicmassgames.bsky.social.
Took me three attempts to paint this one but pleased how she turned out. A great model.
Marvel
Crisis Protocol by @atomicmassgames.bsky.social.
Took me three attempts to paint this one but pleased how she turned out. A great model.
March 17, 2025 at 6:22 AM
The Scarlet Witch from
Marvel
Crisis Protocol by @atomicmassgames.bsky.social.
Took me three attempts to paint this one but pleased how she turned out. A great model.
Marvel
Crisis Protocol by @atomicmassgames.bsky.social.
Took me three attempts to paint this one but pleased how she turned out. A great model.
Wondering about this little guy. He sits on my desk. I know my grandad brought him back from somewhere (China? Hongkong), probably pre WWII. He was in the merchant navy. I think it’s Budai, legendary Buddhist monk. Probably just tourist tat but my grandad gave it me as a boy and it means a lot to me
March 10, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Wondering about this little guy. He sits on my desk. I know my grandad brought him back from somewhere (China? Hongkong), probably pre WWII. He was in the merchant navy. I think it’s Budai, legendary Buddhist monk. Probably just tourist tat but my grandad gave it me as a boy and it means a lot to me
Went for a walk yesterday
February 13, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Went for a walk yesterday
Find this cartoon every time I open the website of the Independent very distasteful. He’s not a figure of fun. Doesn’t make me want to donate to the paper- the request that accompanies it. Disappointing too that so much of the paper’s news now has a pro-Trump slant. So much for Independence
January 30, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Find this cartoon every time I open the website of the Independent very distasteful. He’s not a figure of fun. Doesn’t make me want to donate to the paper- the request that accompanies it. Disappointing too that so much of the paper’s news now has a pro-Trump slant. So much for Independence
It's #StatueSaturday. One of two bronze statues of Artemis found in 1959 in Piraeus, together with an Archaising Apollo and the famous Piraeus Athena. Isn't she wonderful? Hellenistic. Probably buried to for safe keeping to protect them from Roman plundering in 1st Ce BC and never retrieved.
January 25, 2025 at 9:09 AM
It's #StatueSaturday. One of two bronze statues of Artemis found in 1959 in Piraeus, together with an Archaising Apollo and the famous Piraeus Athena. Isn't she wonderful? Hellenistic. Probably buried to for safe keeping to protect them from Roman plundering in 1st Ce BC and never retrieved.
When I haven't been writing/teaching about Greeks and Romans, getting upset about world politics, having a holiday this is what I've been doing the past two months. Painting. Games Workshop's Celenaar & Telclis if you're curious. I don't play the games, just paint. Pleased with this one.
January 15, 2025 at 7:19 AM
When I haven't been writing/teaching about Greeks and Romans, getting upset about world politics, having a holiday this is what I've been doing the past two months. Painting. Games Workshop's Celenaar & Telclis if you're curious. I don't play the games, just paint. Pleased with this one.
I'll try a new one. #StatueSaturday. Bronze Dionysus, found in Rome in 1895. Dated to the 2nd C AD. Now in Palazzo Massimo museum. From the waist up to get past the Bluesky censors! I find it a haunting piece even if it is little bit kitsch.
December 21, 2024 at 10:36 AM
I'll try a new one. #StatueSaturday. Bronze Dionysus, found in Rome in 1895. Dated to the 2nd C AD. Now in Palazzo Massimo museum. From the waist up to get past the Bluesky censors! I find it a haunting piece even if it is little bit kitsch.
It's #StatueSaturday. Young Dionysus, bronze, 2nd C AD, found in Rome in 1885. Now in the Palazzo Massimo museum.
December 21, 2024 at 9:34 AM
It's #StatueSaturday. Young Dionysus, bronze, 2nd C AD, found in Rome in 1885. Now in the Palazzo Massimo museum.
#StatueSaturday - Eurydike II, mother of Philip II of Macedon, grandmother of Alexander the Great. Found at Vergina, 4th C BC. She looks as formidable as you'd expect. (And I found a cool new feature on my phone - hold on a statue and it cuts it from the background!)
December 14, 2024 at 9:22 AM
#StatueSaturday - Eurydike II, mother of Philip II of Macedon, grandmother of Alexander the Great. Found at Vergina, 4th C BC. She looks as formidable as you'd expect. (And I found a cool new feature on my phone - hold on a statue and it cuts it from the background!)
#StatueSaturday. Is that a thing? Well it should be. Beautiful female statue of a woman in the Sparta museum. I assume late Hellenistic/early imperial, probably a votive portrait from a sanctuary. Found locally in the late 19th century. Find spot, context, subject all unknown. An alluring mystery.
December 7, 2024 at 9:24 AM
#StatueSaturday. Is that a thing? Well it should be. Beautiful female statue of a woman in the Sparta museum. I assume late Hellenistic/early imperial, probably a votive portrait from a sanctuary. Found locally in the late 19th century. Find spot, context, subject all unknown. An alluring mystery.
Do you realize that Greek statues were often pieced? That arms, head, feet were made separately and attached in various ways? This female statue I saw in Tegea today shows clearly shows the cuts and grooves where the head and arms were fixed in place.
November 23, 2024 at 10:09 PM
Do you realize that Greek statues were often pieced? That arms, head, feet were made separately and attached in various ways? This female statue I saw in Tegea today shows clearly shows the cuts and grooves where the head and arms were fixed in place.
I’d tell you more about them but I’ve now completely forgotten what I read on the label and the photo I took to remind myself later looks like this
November 23, 2024 at 1:50 PM
I’d tell you more about them but I’ve now completely forgotten what I read on the label and the photo I took to remind myself later looks like this
Some teracotta heads from a sanctuary near Tegea that I saw in the museum today. Aren’t they wonderful?
November 23, 2024 at 1:48 PM
Some teracotta heads from a sanctuary near Tegea that I saw in the museum today. Aren’t they wonderful?
Made it to Greece. Guess where I’m staying the night to break up my trip down to Kalamata
November 20, 2024 at 6:10 PM
Made it to Greece. Guess where I’m staying the night to break up my trip down to Kalamata
Put a question to Chat GPT about Trump and have to say the certainty of the answer made me smile (also asked it yesterday what it thought its IQ was and it said about 260 for what its worth). It really is a fascinating - and frightening - toy.
November 16, 2024 at 8:30 PM
Put a question to Chat GPT about Trump and have to say the certainty of the answer made me smile (also asked it yesterday what it thought its IQ was and it said about 260 for what its worth). It really is a fascinating - and frightening - toy.
Can the Independent please stop showing the cuddly Trump cartoon every time I open the website? He isn't cuddly. This isn't fun.
November 16, 2024 at 4:30 PM
Can the Independent please stop showing the cuddly Trump cartoon every time I open the website? He isn't cuddly. This isn't fun.
Is this a real account? If it is and he's suddenly joined the site it's a sure sign the exodus is working. I also love that "0 followers" - can we keep it that way?
November 10, 2024 at 1:59 PM
Is this a real account? If it is and he's suddenly joined the site it's a sure sign the exodus is working. I also love that "0 followers" - can we keep it that way?