andrew phillips
@herfst.bsky.social
forð onsendon ænne ofer yðe
Mesopotamian astronomers probably observed or were aware of aurorae, or ‘red glows’. The word ‘akukūtu’ meaning “blaze” or “firebrand” is attested in a few tablets in which it refers to a rare meteorological phenomenon, described as ‘išātu ša ina šamê innappaḫ’, a “fire that flares up in the sky”.
November 13, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Mesopotamian astronomers probably observed or were aware of aurorae, or ‘red glows’. The word ‘akukūtu’ meaning “blaze” or “firebrand” is attested in a few tablets in which it refers to a rare meteorological phenomenon, described as ‘išātu ša ina šamê innappaḫ’, a “fire that flares up in the sky”.
His tablets explain that for example the ‘gods of the night’ (ilū mušīti), to be called upon, were identified with three bright groups of stars: the Pleiades (𒀯𒀯) and Hyades in Taurus (𒀯𒄞𒀭𒈾), and Orion (𒀯𒉺𒇻𒍣𒀭𒈾). It further adds that the ‘veiled bride’ (kallātu kuttumtu) was the Sumerian goddess Gula
![Hand-drawn copy of tablet A 405 with several lines of cuneiform text. This tablet contains commentary regarding the Maqlû.
4ʹ [a]l‑⸢si‑ku‑nu‑ši dingir.meš mu‑ši‑tú⸣ dingir.meš mu‑ši‑tú mu[l].me[š] dingir.meš gal.meš ka‑a‑a‑ma‑nu‑ti i‑qab‑bi
5ʹ [šá]‑niš ana mul.mul mul.gu₄.an.na mul.sip.zi.an.na i‑qab‑bi
6ʹ [š]al‑⸢šiš⸣ ana mul.meš ka‑a‑a‑ma‑nu‑ti i‑qab‑bi
7ʹ ⸢ki⸣‑ku‑nu al‑si mu‑ši‑tú kal‑la‑tú kut‑tùm‑tú
8ʹ kal‑la‑tú kut‑tùm‑tú d.gu‑la
9ʹ šá mám‑ma la ú‑ṣab‑bu‑ši mu du.tu.šú.a qa‑bi](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2u3k5i7jhw4vcideaptznum6/bafkreic47onuusp7lccyltdsydj26ypwcbyob6coql7li4b3oxgfkffg2q@jpeg)
October 30, 2025 at 3:00 PM
His tablets explain that for example the ‘gods of the night’ (ilū mušīti), to be called upon, were identified with three bright groups of stars: the Pleiades (𒀯𒀯) and Hyades in Taurus (𒀯𒄞𒀭𒈾), and Orion (𒀯𒉺𒇻𒍣𒀭𒈾). It further adds that the ‘veiled bride’ (kallātu kuttumtu) was the Sumerian goddess Gula
The Maqlû is a series of well‐known Akkadian anti‐witchcraft texts, to be recited by an exorcist. It survives in a number of tablets from the early first millennium BC, some of which also contain explanatory commentary. One such tablet belonged to the junior exorcist (‘āšipu ṣeḫru’) Kiṣir‐Nabû
October 30, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The Maqlû is a series of well‐known Akkadian anti‐witchcraft texts, to be recited by an exorcist. It survives in a number of tablets from the early first millennium BC, some of which also contain explanatory commentary. One such tablet belonged to the junior exorcist (‘āšipu ṣeḫru’) Kiṣir‐Nabû
This 1850s cotton cloth was used by the Working Men’s Educational Union in its lectures to teach ancient scripts. It includes samples of Aramaic, ‘skeletal’ cuneiform signs, and the names of various kings from inscriptions published in ‘Nineveh and its Remains’.
www.britishmuseum.org/collection/o...
www.britishmuseum.org/collection/o...
October 21, 2025 at 5:00 PM
This 1850s cotton cloth was used by the Working Men’s Educational Union in its lectures to teach ancient scripts. It includes samples of Aramaic, ‘skeletal’ cuneiform signs, and the names of various kings from inscriptions published in ‘Nineveh and its Remains’.
www.britishmuseum.org/collection/o...
www.britishmuseum.org/collection/o...
A 3,300 year-old Egyptian-Akkadian vocabulary from Amarna, with Egyptian words written in cuneiform
ši-na-aḫ=šnꜥ (unit of weight)
ši-na-aḫ-wu₄=šnꜥwj (dual of šnꜥ)
ḫa-am-tu₄ šu-nu-uḫ=ḫmtw šnꜥw (three šnꜥ)
…
na-ab-na-su=nꜣ bnšw (the doorposts)
DU-as-bu=tꜣ jsbt (the chair)
pa-ḫa-tu₄=pꜣ ḥꜥtj (the bed)
ši-na-aḫ=šnꜥ (unit of weight)
ši-na-aḫ-wu₄=šnꜥwj (dual of šnꜥ)
ḫa-am-tu₄ šu-nu-uḫ=ḫmtw šnꜥw (three šnꜥ)
…
na-ab-na-su=nꜣ bnšw (the doorposts)
DU-as-bu=tꜣ jsbt (the chair)
pa-ḫa-tu₄=pꜣ ḥꜥtj (the bed)
October 19, 2025 at 3:00 PM
A 3,300 year-old Egyptian-Akkadian vocabulary from Amarna, with Egyptian words written in cuneiform
ši-na-aḫ=šnꜥ (unit of weight)
ši-na-aḫ-wu₄=šnꜥwj (dual of šnꜥ)
ḫa-am-tu₄ šu-nu-uḫ=ḫmtw šnꜥw (three šnꜥ)
…
na-ab-na-su=nꜣ bnšw (the doorposts)
DU-as-bu=tꜣ jsbt (the chair)
pa-ḫa-tu₄=pꜣ ḥꜥtj (the bed)
ši-na-aḫ=šnꜥ (unit of weight)
ši-na-aḫ-wu₄=šnꜥwj (dual of šnꜥ)
ḫa-am-tu₄ šu-nu-uḫ=ḫmtw šnꜥw (three šnꜥ)
…
na-ab-na-su=nꜣ bnšw (the doorposts)
DU-as-bu=tꜣ jsbt (the chair)
pa-ḫa-tu₄=pꜣ ḥꜥtj (the bed)
In this hymn praising the god Marduk's great knowledge, the scribe writes
niṭluššu mala tikip dešši kippatu ul imṣi
In his eyes the circle [of the world] is no bigger than the mark of a wedge
To mean that understanding the world for Marduk is as easy as reading cuneiform marks, 'it's an open book'
niṭluššu mala tikip dešši kippatu ul imṣi
In his eyes the circle [of the world] is no bigger than the mark of a wedge
To mean that understanding the world for Marduk is as easy as reading cuneiform marks, 'it's an open book'
October 17, 2025 at 6:00 AM
In this hymn praising the god Marduk's great knowledge, the scribe writes
niṭluššu mala tikip dešši kippatu ul imṣi
In his eyes the circle [of the world] is no bigger than the mark of a wedge
To mean that understanding the world for Marduk is as easy as reading cuneiform marks, 'it's an open book'
niṭluššu mala tikip dešši kippatu ul imṣi
In his eyes the circle [of the world] is no bigger than the mark of a wedge
To mean that understanding the world for Marduk is as easy as reading cuneiform marks, 'it's an open book'
A Turkic proverb recorded in the Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk, an Arabic-language compendium from the 11th century:
'birin birin miŋ bolur tama tama köl bolur'
'one by one becomes a thousand, drop by drop becomes a pond'
dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/...
'birin birin miŋ bolur tama tama köl bolur'
'one by one becomes a thousand, drop by drop becomes a pond'
dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/...
September 29, 2025 at 6:00 PM
A Turkic proverb recorded in the Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk, an Arabic-language compendium from the 11th century:
'birin birin miŋ bolur tama tama köl bolur'
'one by one becomes a thousand, drop by drop becomes a pond'
dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/...
'birin birin miŋ bolur tama tama köl bolur'
'one by one becomes a thousand, drop by drop becomes a pond'
dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/...
The name Anextiomarus or Anextlomarus, from proto-Celtic *anextlom, 'protection', and *māros, 'great', is attested in several dedicatory inscriptions, including as an epithet of Apollo (from South Shields, South Tyneside), or as a female deity, Anextlomara (Avenches, Swizterland)
September 22, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The name Anextiomarus or Anextlomarus, from proto-Celtic *anextlom, 'protection', and *māros, 'great', is attested in several dedicatory inscriptions, including as an epithet of Apollo (from South Shields, South Tyneside), or as a female deity, Anextlomara (Avenches, Swizterland)
Some quite wonderful examples of late medieval and early modern cursive Glagolitic from Croatia
www.croatianhistory.net/etf/kurziv.h...
www.croatianhistory.net/etf/kurziv.h...
September 19, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Some quite wonderful examples of late medieval and early modern cursive Glagolitic from Croatia
www.croatianhistory.net/etf/kurziv.h...
www.croatianhistory.net/etf/kurziv.h...
The runic text is taken from the Konungs skuggsjá (The King's Mirror), advising one to "learn all tongues without forgetting your own". The original has "helzt latínu og völsku" 'but first Latin & French', 'völsku', cognate with Welsh, reflecting its use by Germanic speakers to refer to Romance ones
September 6, 2025 at 6:22 PM
The runic text is taken from the Konungs skuggsjá (The King's Mirror), advising one to "learn all tongues without forgetting your own". The original has "helzt latínu og völsku" 'but first Latin & French', 'völsku', cognate with Welsh, reflecting its use by Germanic speakers to refer to Romance ones
His name is on the second line of the reverse side. He appears to have been interrogated alongside other men for being deserters
September 3, 2025 at 3:09 PM
His name is on the second line of the reverse side. He appears to have been interrogated alongside other men for being deserters
vouching for him. They were willing to follow the local custom of the 'river ordeal' to prove his innocence. The king and queen were adamant they had evidence of a plot against them, and demanded that his colleagues produce the spy, or pay 1 pound of iron or 10 pounds of gold for his release
September 3, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vouching for him. They were willing to follow the local custom of the 'river ordeal' to prove his innocence. The king and queen were adamant they had evidence of a plot against them, and demanded that his colleagues produce the spy, or pay 1 pound of iron or 10 pounds of gold for his release
3,900 years ago, an Assyrian trader named Aššur-taklāku found himself in an unfortunate situation during his travels: he was accused by local Anatolian rulers of taking orders from the king of a rival city. After being imprisoned for two months, a group of his colleagues met with the king and queen,
September 3, 2025 at 1:00 PM
3,900 years ago, an Assyrian trader named Aššur-taklāku found himself in an unfortunate situation during his travels: he was accused by local Anatolian rulers of taking orders from the king of a rival city. After being imprisoned for two months, a group of his colleagues met with the king and queen,
The last time these words were carved, by the hand of Nesmeterakhem (ph by @followinghadrian.bsky.social) www.flickr.com/photos/carol...
August 24, 2025 at 5:36 PM
The last time these words were carved, by the hand of Nesmeterakhem (ph by @followinghadrian.bsky.social) www.flickr.com/photos/carol...
'always and forever', ḏt nḥḥ, 𓆖𓎛𓇳𓎛
This chapter has a detailed discussion on the different interpretations of 'ḏt' and 'nḥḥ' as distinct aspects of time
pure.coventry.ac.uk/ws/portalfil...
This chapter has a detailed discussion on the different interpretations of 'ḏt' and 'nḥḥ' as distinct aspects of time
pure.coventry.ac.uk/ws/portalfil...
August 24, 2025 at 5:11 PM
'always and forever', ḏt nḥḥ, 𓆖𓎛𓇳𓎛
This chapter has a detailed discussion on the different interpretations of 'ḏt' and 'nḥḥ' as distinct aspects of time
pure.coventry.ac.uk/ws/portalfil...
This chapter has a detailed discussion on the different interpretations of 'ḏt' and 'nḥḥ' as distinct aspects of time
pure.coventry.ac.uk/ws/portalfil...
The Anglo-Saxon charm 'Wið ymbe' ('For a swarm of bees'), in the margins of Cambridge, Corpus Christi College MS 41. #worldbeeday
May 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The Anglo-Saxon charm 'Wið ymbe' ('For a swarm of bees'), in the margins of Cambridge, Corpus Christi College MS 41. #worldbeeday
I cannot find anyting about tapirs, the Met Museum however has further details on this piece specifically, from its "Korean Buncheong Ceramics" catalogue, an elephant-shaped vessel.
online.flipbuilder.com/mpdm/pvfy/mo...
www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/...
online.flipbuilder.com/mpdm/pvfy/mo...
www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/...
May 20, 2025 at 5:20 AM
I cannot find anyting about tapirs, the Met Museum however has further details on this piece specifically, from its "Korean Buncheong Ceramics" catalogue, an elephant-shaped vessel.
online.flipbuilder.com/mpdm/pvfy/mo...
www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/...
online.flipbuilder.com/mpdm/pvfy/mo...
www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/...
The Chinese wiki article on 象尊 has some examples, like this bronze from the Shang dynasty. The word 'sangjun' is derived from 象尊 (xiàng zūn), the articles in Korean on sangjun state they represent 코끼리 (kokkiri 'elephant')
zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hans/%E8%...
artsandculture.google.com/asset/elepha...
zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hans/%E8%...
artsandculture.google.com/asset/elepha...
May 20, 2025 at 4:50 AM
The Chinese wiki article on 象尊 has some examples, like this bronze from the Shang dynasty. The word 'sangjun' is derived from 象尊 (xiàng zūn), the articles in Korean on sangjun state they represent 코끼리 (kokkiri 'elephant')
zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hans/%E8%...
artsandculture.google.com/asset/elepha...
zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hans/%E8%...
artsandculture.google.com/asset/elepha...
The market of Sertius, named after the man who funded it, and the Southern baths.
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ti...
www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ti...
www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?...
May 17, 2025 at 1:20 PM
The market of Sertius, named after the man who funded it, and the Southern baths.
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ti...
www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ti...
www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?...
An inscription mentioning 'ama-gi₄' from the reign of Entemena (ca 2400 BC) reads:
ama-gi₄ lagašᵏⁱ
e-ŋar
ama dumu i₃-ni-gi₄
dumu ama i₃-ni-gi₄
[Entemena brought] freedom to Lagash
he placed
child back with mother
and mother back with child
ama-gi₄ lagašᵏⁱ
e-ŋar
ama dumu i₃-ni-gi₄
dumu ama i₃-ni-gi₄
[Entemena brought] freedom to Lagash
he placed
child back with mother
and mother back with child
April 10, 2025 at 2:01 PM
An inscription mentioning 'ama-gi₄' from the reign of Entemena (ca 2400 BC) reads:
ama-gi₄ lagašᵏⁱ
e-ŋar
ama dumu i₃-ni-gi₄
dumu ama i₃-ni-gi₄
[Entemena brought] freedom to Lagash
he placed
child back with mother
and mother back with child
ama-gi₄ lagašᵏⁱ
e-ŋar
ama dumu i₃-ni-gi₄
dumu ama i₃-ni-gi₄
[Entemena brought] freedom to Lagash
he placed
child back with mother
and mother back with child
The person this is supposedly a reconstruction of is individual Γ58, from the Grave Circle B site at Mycenae, buried alongside Γ55, her brother. The original reconstructions are described in Prag et al. 1995 (Seven faces from Grave Circle B at Mycenae) d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/108738077/S0...
April 5, 2025 at 3:48 PM
The person this is supposedly a reconstruction of is individual Γ58, from the Grave Circle B site at Mycenae, buried alongside Γ55, her brother. The original reconstructions are described in Prag et al. 1995 (Seven faces from Grave Circle B at Mycenae) d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/108738077/S0...
me when I see two weevils
March 26, 2025 at 4:48 PM
me when I see two weevils
von Arx however made copies of the Younger Futhark section before the reagent damaged it, which were then published by Wilhelm Grimm first in 1821 in 'Ueber deutsche Runen', and later again in 1828.
www.e-codices.unifr.ch/en/list/one/...
www.e-codices.unifr.ch/en/list/one/...
February 27, 2025 at 4:00 PM
von Arx however made copies of the Younger Futhark section before the reagent damaged it, which were then published by Wilhelm Grimm first in 1821 in 'Ueber deutsche Runen', and later again in 1828.
www.e-codices.unifr.ch/en/list/one/...
www.e-codices.unifr.ch/en/list/one/...
Codex Sangallensis 878, a collection of texts on grammar and language copied by Walafrid Strabo in the 9th c. His handbook included four abecedaria—Hebrew, Greek, Futhorc and Younger Futhark. Sadly the Hebrew and Futhark sections were damaged by Ildefons von Arx, attempting to make them more legible
February 27, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Codex Sangallensis 878, a collection of texts on grammar and language copied by Walafrid Strabo in the 9th c. His handbook included four abecedaria—Hebrew, Greek, Futhorc and Younger Futhark. Sadly the Hebrew and Futhark sections were damaged by Ildefons von Arx, attempting to make them more legible
One can see here for example the evolution of the Sumerogram for 'king' 𒈗
February 20, 2025 at 1:53 AM
One can see here for example the evolution of the Sumerogram for 'king' 𒈗