Craig Barker
@drcraigb.bsky.social
Mediterranean archaeologist & museum education professional. Director of the Paphos Theatre excavations, Paphos Cyprus & Head of Public Engagement at the Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney.
Cypriot archaeologist on Gadigal land.
Cypriot archaeologist on Gadigal land.
The latest publication from the Paphos Theatre Archaeological Project out now.
J.R. Green, “An Athena in Christian Paphos”, Mediterranean Archaeology 38, 2025, 95-106
#archaeology 🏺
meditarch.com/meditarch-36/
J.R. Green, “An Athena in Christian Paphos”, Mediterranean Archaeology 38, 2025, 95-106
#archaeology 🏺
meditarch.com/meditarch-36/
November 18, 2025 at 2:21 AM
The latest publication from the Paphos Theatre Archaeological Project out now.
J.R. Green, “An Athena in Christian Paphos”, Mediterranean Archaeology 38, 2025, 95-106
#archaeology 🏺
meditarch.com/meditarch-36/
J.R. Green, “An Athena in Christian Paphos”, Mediterranean Archaeology 38, 2025, 95-106
#archaeology 🏺
meditarch.com/meditarch-36/
Anyone in Athens I do hope you will be able to attend this presentation by my amazing colleague Candace who is doing significant work rethinking how ancient cities reused and recycled. #archaeology
November 14, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Anyone in Athens I do hope you will be able to attend this presentation by my amazing colleague Candace who is doing significant work rethinking how ancient cities reused and recycled. #archaeology
In November 2002 the Paphos theatre team revealed the reused fragment of the Antonine dedicatory inscription of the theatre. It had been placed facedown as a threshold onto the orchestra during a later phases of use.
It is the largest marble inscription ever found in Cyprus.
#findsfriday
It is the largest marble inscription ever found in Cyprus.
#findsfriday
November 14, 2025 at 4:41 AM
In November 2002 the Paphos theatre team revealed the reused fragment of the Antonine dedicatory inscription of the theatre. It had been placed facedown as a threshold onto the orchestra during a later phases of use.
It is the largest marble inscription ever found in Cyprus.
#findsfriday
It is the largest marble inscription ever found in Cyprus.
#findsfriday
I had the most amazing day yesterday with NSW's incredible History Extension students. The Museums of History NSW and the State Library of New South Wales' The Project: History Extension Seminar Day was incredible.
It's inspiring hearing from the students about their history research projects!
It's inspiring hearing from the students about their history research projects!
November 14, 2025 at 3:49 AM
I had the most amazing day yesterday with NSW's incredible History Extension students. The Museums of History NSW and the State Library of New South Wales' The Project: History Extension Seminar Day was incredible.
It's inspiring hearing from the students about their history research projects!
It's inspiring hearing from the students about their history research projects!
We invite Sydneysiders to the Chau Chak Wing Museum @sydney.edu.au for the annual Sir Charles Nicholson Lecture.
Professor Donna Yates on "The Palmanova Precedent? Expert Testimony and the Future of Antiquities Repatriation"
#archaeology #museums 🏺
www.sydney.edu.au/museum/whats...
Professor Donna Yates on "The Palmanova Precedent? Expert Testimony and the Future of Antiquities Repatriation"
#archaeology #museums 🏺
www.sydney.edu.au/museum/whats...
November 10, 2025 at 12:06 AM
We invite Sydneysiders to the Chau Chak Wing Museum @sydney.edu.au for the annual Sir Charles Nicholson Lecture.
Professor Donna Yates on "The Palmanova Precedent? Expert Testimony and the Future of Antiquities Repatriation"
#archaeology #museums 🏺
www.sydney.edu.au/museum/whats...
Professor Donna Yates on "The Palmanova Precedent? Expert Testimony and the Future of Antiquities Repatriation"
#archaeology #museums 🏺
www.sydney.edu.au/museum/whats...
Can’t believe I missed Godzilla day yesterday.
Still looking good for a 71 year old
Still looking good for a 71 year old
November 5, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Can’t believe I missed Godzilla day yesterday.
Still looking good for a 71 year old
Still looking good for a 71 year old
I’m hearing a lecture by William Dalrymple tonight so for #MosaicMonday the personification of India mosaic in the Villa Romana del Casale at Piazza Armerina in Sicily.
4th century CE.
4th century CE.
November 3, 2025 at 6:32 AM
I’m hearing a lecture by William Dalrymple tonight so for #MosaicMonday the personification of India mosaic in the Villa Romana del Casale at Piazza Armerina in Sicily.
4th century CE.
4th century CE.
Although World Teachers Day was earlier in the month; in Australia it is marked today.
From the Met [28.9.4] is this Middle Kingdom writing board; coated with gesso so it could be whitewashed and reused by students.
A teacher has corrected the student in red ink.
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
From the Met [28.9.4] is this Middle Kingdom writing board; coated with gesso so it could be whitewashed and reused by students.
A teacher has corrected the student in red ink.
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
October 30, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Although World Teachers Day was earlier in the month; in Australia it is marked today.
From the Met [28.9.4] is this Middle Kingdom writing board; coated with gesso so it could be whitewashed and reused by students.
A teacher has corrected the student in red ink.
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
From the Met [28.9.4] is this Middle Kingdom writing board; coated with gesso so it could be whitewashed and reused by students.
A teacher has corrected the student in red ink.
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
So immensely proud of the work done by colleagues and the wonderful @sydney.edu.au archaeology students who were part of the Paphos Theatre Archaeological Project 2025 study season over the past three weeks in Cyprus.
Exciting publication news soon too.
Exciting publication news soon too.
October 22, 2025 at 7:50 AM
So immensely proud of the work done by colleagues and the wonderful @sydney.edu.au archaeology students who were part of the Paphos Theatre Archaeological Project 2025 study season over the past three weeks in Cyprus.
Exciting publication news soon too.
Exciting publication news soon too.
The Mediterranean is looking particularly inviting this morning
The seafront at Paphos, Cyprus
The seafront at Paphos, Cyprus
October 19, 2025 at 9:10 AM
The Mediterranean is looking particularly inviting this morning
The seafront at Paphos, Cyprus
The seafront at Paphos, Cyprus
Given its rare I can post a live image for #MosaicMonday from Australia, this week here is a detail of the triumph of Dionysos scene in the House of Aion in Paphos in Cyprus. Part of a 16m sq triclinium mosaic of the 4th century.
October 13, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Given its rare I can post a live image for #MosaicMonday from Australia, this week here is a detail of the triumph of Dionysos scene in the House of Aion in Paphos in Cyprus. Part of a 16m sq triclinium mosaic of the 4th century.
So lovely to be at @caari-cyprus.bsky.social today even just for a flying visit to Nicosia
October 13, 2025 at 10:27 AM
So lovely to be at @caari-cyprus.bsky.social today even just for a flying visit to Nicosia
Happy #WorldOctopusDay
In this Attic kylix now in Boston, an octopus outsmarts the young boy fishing in the sea.
Attributed to the Ambrosios Painter, c. 510-500 BCE,
MFA Boston 01.8024 #archaeology 🏺
collections.mfa.org/objects/153702
In this Attic kylix now in Boston, an octopus outsmarts the young boy fishing in the sea.
Attributed to the Ambrosios Painter, c. 510-500 BCE,
MFA Boston 01.8024 #archaeology 🏺
collections.mfa.org/objects/153702
October 8, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Happy #WorldOctopusDay
In this Attic kylix now in Boston, an octopus outsmarts the young boy fishing in the sea.
Attributed to the Ambrosios Painter, c. 510-500 BCE,
MFA Boston 01.8024 #archaeology 🏺
collections.mfa.org/objects/153702
In this Attic kylix now in Boston, an octopus outsmarts the young boy fishing in the sea.
Attributed to the Ambrosios Painter, c. 510-500 BCE,
MFA Boston 01.8024 #archaeology 🏺
collections.mfa.org/objects/153702
Happy #WorldTeachersDay today.
Attic Red-Figure fragment by Akestorides Painter in the Getty showing a teacher in front of a student who holds a scroll, perhaps with an epic poem of Hesiod. c. 470 BCE.
Getty 86.AE.324
www.getty.edu/art/collecti...
Attic Red-Figure fragment by Akestorides Painter in the Getty showing a teacher in front of a student who holds a scroll, perhaps with an epic poem of Hesiod. c. 470 BCE.
Getty 86.AE.324
www.getty.edu/art/collecti...
October 5, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Happy #WorldTeachersDay today.
Attic Red-Figure fragment by Akestorides Painter in the Getty showing a teacher in front of a student who holds a scroll, perhaps with an epic poem of Hesiod. c. 470 BCE.
Getty 86.AE.324
www.getty.edu/art/collecti...
Attic Red-Figure fragment by Akestorides Painter in the Getty showing a teacher in front of a student who holds a scroll, perhaps with an epic poem of Hesiod. c. 470 BCE.
Getty 86.AE.324
www.getty.edu/art/collecti...
For #WorldAnimalDay a Late Cypriot II Base ring II Ware vessel in the shape of a bull. Ancient Cyprus had a particularly strong tradition of depictions of animals in art and of shaping vessels to look like animal forms.
Chau Chak Wing Museum; NM70.1
www.sydney.edu.au/museums/coll...
Chau Chak Wing Museum; NM70.1
www.sydney.edu.au/museums/coll...
October 4, 2025 at 6:21 PM
For #WorldAnimalDay a Late Cypriot II Base ring II Ware vessel in the shape of a bull. Ancient Cyprus had a particularly strong tradition of depictions of animals in art and of shaping vessels to look like animal forms.
Chau Chak Wing Museum; NM70.1
www.sydney.edu.au/museums/coll...
Chau Chak Wing Museum; NM70.1
www.sydney.edu.au/museums/coll...
Good to see KoKo this evening.
Koko is a celebrity in Paphos in Cyprus.
Koko is a celebrity in Paphos in Cyprus.
October 3, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Good to see KoKo this evening.
Koko is a celebrity in Paphos in Cyprus.
Koko is a celebrity in Paphos in Cyprus.
The ancient theatre of Paphos in Cyprus at sunset on 30 September 2025
The reused column incorporated into the theatre’s containment wall was engraved with the name Eustorgis in Late Antiquity
#archaeology #ClassicalBlueSky
The reused column incorporated into the theatre’s containment wall was engraved with the name Eustorgis in Late Antiquity
#archaeology #ClassicalBlueSky
September 30, 2025 at 4:30 PM
The ancient theatre of Paphos in Cyprus at sunset on 30 September 2025
The reused column incorporated into the theatre’s containment wall was engraved with the name Eustorgis in Late Antiquity
#archaeology #ClassicalBlueSky
The reused column incorporated into the theatre’s containment wall was engraved with the name Eustorgis in Late Antiquity
#archaeology #ClassicalBlueSky
You don’t see #ClassicalReception everyday when grocery shopping!
The Kings Avenue Mall in Paphos in Cyprus has brought its A-game with animatronic representations of Greek myths!
Cerebus’ tail even wags!
#ClassicsBlueSky
The Kings Avenue Mall in Paphos in Cyprus has brought its A-game with animatronic representations of Greek myths!
Cerebus’ tail even wags!
#ClassicsBlueSky
September 28, 2025 at 5:11 PM
You don’t see #ClassicalReception everyday when grocery shopping!
The Kings Avenue Mall in Paphos in Cyprus has brought its A-game with animatronic representations of Greek myths!
Cerebus’ tail even wags!
#ClassicsBlueSky
The Kings Avenue Mall in Paphos in Cyprus has brought its A-game with animatronic representations of Greek myths!
Cerebus’ tail even wags!
#ClassicsBlueSky
A sneak peek at the Chau Chak Wing Museum’s new exhibition ‘Infinite Scroll’ - a collaboration with 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.
Opens tomorrow @sydney.edu.au
Opens tomorrow @sydney.edu.au
September 26, 2025 at 9:46 AM
A sneak peek at the Chau Chak Wing Museum’s new exhibition ‘Infinite Scroll’ - a collaboration with 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.
Opens tomorrow @sydney.edu.au
Opens tomorrow @sydney.edu.au
Absolutely brilliant lecture this afternoon at the Chau Chak Wing Museum by @jackdashby.bsky.social on his new book on the role of natural history museums. I look forward to reading ‘Nature’s Memory’!
September 19, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Absolutely brilliant lecture this afternoon at the Chau Chak Wing Museum by @jackdashby.bsky.social on his new book on the role of natural history museums. I look forward to reading ‘Nature’s Memory’!
The granite column reused in the containment wall of the ancient theatre of Paphos in Cyprus. An inscription bearing the name of Eustorgis w as added in Late Antiquity. Here it is being revealed during the 2006 field season.
The inscription was published by JR Green and EW Handley.
#FindsFriday 🏺
The inscription was published by JR Green and EW Handley.
#FindsFriday 🏺
September 12, 2025 at 12:59 AM
The granite column reused in the containment wall of the ancient theatre of Paphos in Cyprus. An inscription bearing the name of Eustorgis w as added in Late Antiquity. Here it is being revealed during the 2006 field season.
The inscription was published by JR Green and EW Handley.
#FindsFriday 🏺
The inscription was published by JR Green and EW Handley.
#FindsFriday 🏺
Spring has just sprung in the southern hemisphere today and its already starting to feel warmer down under where I am.
For #MosaicMonday a chance to break out the Four Seasons mosaic from the House of Dionysos at Nea Paphos, Cyprus again; this time with spring personified! #archaeology 🏺
For #MosaicMonday a chance to break out the Four Seasons mosaic from the House of Dionysos at Nea Paphos, Cyprus again; this time with spring personified! #archaeology 🏺
September 1, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Spring has just sprung in the southern hemisphere today and its already starting to feel warmer down under where I am.
For #MosaicMonday a chance to break out the Four Seasons mosaic from the House of Dionysos at Nea Paphos, Cyprus again; this time with spring personified! #archaeology 🏺
For #MosaicMonday a chance to break out the Four Seasons mosaic from the House of Dionysos at Nea Paphos, Cyprus again; this time with spring personified! #archaeology 🏺
Sydneysiders, join us at the Chau Chak Wing Museum for the 2025 Antony McNicoll Lecture delivered by Prof Lloyd Weekes (UNE) speaking on archaeological work in the UAE in 'Saruq al-Hadid: Cult, Craft, and Community in the Rub’ al-Khali'. 4 September, 5.30pm
events.humanitix.com/2025-mcnicol...
events.humanitix.com/2025-mcnicol...
August 30, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Sydneysiders, join us at the Chau Chak Wing Museum for the 2025 Antony McNicoll Lecture delivered by Prof Lloyd Weekes (UNE) speaking on archaeological work in the UAE in 'Saruq al-Hadid: Cult, Craft, and Community in the Rub’ al-Khali'. 4 September, 5.30pm
events.humanitix.com/2025-mcnicol...
events.humanitix.com/2025-mcnicol...
Today is Wear it Purple Day in Australia and we are so pleased that the Chau Chak Wing Museum can join the University of Sydney’s support for young LGBTIA+ people in schools, universities and workplaces.
www.minus18.org.au/campaigns/we...
www.minus18.org.au/campaigns/we...
August 29, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Today is Wear it Purple Day in Australia and we are so pleased that the Chau Chak Wing Museum can join the University of Sydney’s support for young LGBTIA+ people in schools, universities and workplaces.
www.minus18.org.au/campaigns/we...
www.minus18.org.au/campaigns/we...
Dog days are over…
Not really - 26 August is #InternationalDogDay!
Celebrating is this good boy - a Cypriot painted limestone figurine of late Classical or early Hellenistic date. He is seated at attention guarding or waiting for a treat?
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
Not really - 26 August is #InternationalDogDay!
Celebrating is this good boy - a Cypriot painted limestone figurine of late Classical or early Hellenistic date. He is seated at attention guarding or waiting for a treat?
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
August 26, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Dog days are over…
Not really - 26 August is #InternationalDogDay!
Celebrating is this good boy - a Cypriot painted limestone figurine of late Classical or early Hellenistic date. He is seated at attention guarding or waiting for a treat?
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
Not really - 26 August is #InternationalDogDay!
Celebrating is this good boy - a Cypriot painted limestone figurine of late Classical or early Hellenistic date. He is seated at attention guarding or waiting for a treat?
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...