Ryan Denson
@seamonsterscholar.bsky.social
Holder of a PhD on sea monsters from the University of Exeter | Currently researching Byzantine nature at the University of Silesia in Katowice | First gen.
For CV and listing of works see: https://silesian.academia.edu/RyanDenson/CurriculumVitae
For CV and listing of works see: https://silesian.academia.edu/RyanDenson/CurriculumVitae
Pinned
Officially have a cover design finalized for the sea monsters book being published for Bloomsbury’s Ancient Environments series!
The lovely depiction is from a fourth-century mosaic from Roman Sicily.
They’ve also put it up on their website for pre-orders. 😊
www.bloomsbury.com/us/a-zoobiog...
The lovely depiction is from a fourth-century mosaic from Roman Sicily.
They’ve also put it up on their website for pre-orders. 😊
www.bloomsbury.com/us/a-zoobiog...
New bit of public outreach stuff out from me!
I was very much delighted to be interviewed for National Geographic on the uncertainties around identifying Procopius’ sea monster that he claims terriorized the ships around Constantinople for fifty years!
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
I was very much delighted to be interviewed for National Geographic on the uncertainties around identifying Procopius’ sea monster that he claims terriorized the ships around Constantinople for fifty years!
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
This sea monster sank ships off Constantinople for 50 years—was it an orca?
The historian Procopius described how a creature called Porphyrios terrified sixth-century sailors for 50 years. But what was it?
www.nationalgeographic.com
October 28, 2025 at 6:19 AM
New bit of public outreach stuff out from me!
I was very much delighted to be interviewed for National Geographic on the uncertainties around identifying Procopius’ sea monster that he claims terriorized the ships around Constantinople for fifty years!
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
I was very much delighted to be interviewed for National Geographic on the uncertainties around identifying Procopius’ sea monster that he claims terriorized the ships around Constantinople for fifty years!
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
Exciting news on the academic publications front! Charlotte Spence’s and my Trivent edited volume,The Christian and the Supernatural in Late Antiquity, now has a finalized cover design!
I wonder how many people can name which biblical episode this is depicting off-hand?
I wonder how many people can name which biblical episode this is depicting off-hand?
September 18, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Exciting news on the academic publications front! Charlotte Spence’s and my Trivent edited volume,The Christian and the Supernatural in Late Antiquity, now has a finalized cover design!
I wonder how many people can name which biblical episode this is depicting off-hand?
I wonder how many people can name which biblical episode this is depicting off-hand?
Reposted by Ryan Denson
We should note the language of “invasion” in her email (feels kinda Islamophobic ngl?!) as well. I’m a professional classicist, I have as much right to be on that listserv as Zionist professors, I’m not invading anything. 🤷🏼♀️
What she calls our “cabal” is actually… a research group, like any other. 😂
What she calls our “cabal” is actually… a research group, like any other. 😂
One can assume Sarah Pomeroy doesn't mind being identified given she is not shy to send horrendously anti-Palestinian emails to the huge number of folks on the Classics list, on the heel of Francesca Albanese's UN report naming archaeology as core to the ideological architecture of apartheid
It is WILD that there’s now been a threat of withholding jobs made by a highly known and well regarded scholar on the List, based on support for *discussing* the use of cultural heritage as a marker of ethnic cleansing mentioned in a UN report.
July 5, 2025 at 11:57 AM
We should note the language of “invasion” in her email (feels kinda Islamophobic ngl?!) as well. I’m a professional classicist, I have as much right to be on that listserv as Zionist professors, I’m not invading anything. 🤷🏼♀️
What she calls our “cabal” is actually… a research group, like any other. 😂
What she calls our “cabal” is actually… a research group, like any other. 😂
Excited to finally put out the programme for the conference we’re organizing here in Katowice!
Email bizancjum@us.edu.pl to request request a Zoom link
All times listed here are CEST (GMT + 2)
A PDF version of the programme with the full abstracts is at: www.academia.edu/129598297/Pr...
Email bizancjum@us.edu.pl to request request a Zoom link
All times listed here are CEST (GMT + 2)
A PDF version of the programme with the full abstracts is at: www.academia.edu/129598297/Pr...
May 28, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Excited to finally put out the programme for the conference we’re organizing here in Katowice!
Email bizancjum@us.edu.pl to request request a Zoom link
All times listed here are CEST (GMT + 2)
A PDF version of the programme with the full abstracts is at: www.academia.edu/129598297/Pr...
Email bizancjum@us.edu.pl to request request a Zoom link
All times listed here are CEST (GMT + 2)
A PDF version of the programme with the full abstracts is at: www.academia.edu/129598297/Pr...
Finally putting this programme out into the world for the next iteration of the ILO conference - to be held online on June 14 (all times BST).
Eventbrite registration: www.eventbrite.com/e/imaginativ...
Eventbrite registration: www.eventbrite.com/e/imaginativ...
May 13, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Finally putting this programme out into the world for the next iteration of the ILO conference - to be held online on June 14 (all times BST).
Eventbrite registration: www.eventbrite.com/e/imaginativ...
Eventbrite registration: www.eventbrite.com/e/imaginativ...
Officially have a cover design finalized for the sea monsters book being published for Bloomsbury’s Ancient Environments series!
The lovely depiction is from a fourth-century mosaic from Roman Sicily.
They’ve also put it up on their website for pre-orders. 😊
www.bloomsbury.com/us/a-zoobiog...
The lovely depiction is from a fourth-century mosaic from Roman Sicily.
They’ve also put it up on their website for pre-orders. 😊
www.bloomsbury.com/us/a-zoobiog...
May 3, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Officially have a cover design finalized for the sea monsters book being published for Bloomsbury’s Ancient Environments series!
The lovely depiction is from a fourth-century mosaic from Roman Sicily.
They’ve also put it up on their website for pre-orders. 😊
www.bloomsbury.com/us/a-zoobiog...
The lovely depiction is from a fourth-century mosaic from Roman Sicily.
They’ve also put it up on their website for pre-orders. 😊
www.bloomsbury.com/us/a-zoobiog...
Reposted by Ryan Denson
Wrote up a few reading suggestions, for possum comrades janabacevic.net/2025/02/18/r...
Reading (on) resistance
I’ve been in the US for about a week. The feeling of utter shock, panic, and disarray – qualitatively different from what could be discernible back when I was across the pond, qualitati…
janabacevic.net
February 18, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Wrote up a few reading suggestions, for possum comrades janabacevic.net/2025/02/18/r...
Delighted to put our CFP for a summer conference on nature in hexaemeral literature out into the world.
It’s being run by us here in the Center for Byzantine Studies, but we’re broadening our horizons for this one to attract a wider scope of papers on the subject beyond the usual suspects alone.
It’s being run by us here in the Center for Byzantine Studies, but we’re broadening our horizons for this one to attract a wider scope of papers on the subject beyond the usual suspects alone.
February 14, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Delighted to put our CFP for a summer conference on nature in hexaemeral literature out into the world.
It’s being run by us here in the Center for Byzantine Studies, but we’re broadening our horizons for this one to attract a wider scope of papers on the subject beyond the usual suspects alone.
It’s being run by us here in the Center for Byzantine Studies, but we’re broadening our horizons for this one to attract a wider scope of papers on the subject beyond the usual suspects alone.
Reposted by Ryan Denson
Nature is satisfied with very little, while nothing satisfies avarice. -Boethius, Consolation 3 Prose 3
January 30, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Nature is satisfied with very little, while nothing satisfies avarice. -Boethius, Consolation 3 Prose 3
Reposted by Ryan Denson
I will not post much on this topic, but I'm the Head of Ancient History and Religion at Cardiff University. Our staff and students are nothing short of amazing. Those who know me will know that I'm doing all I can.
Petition · Save Cardiff University Ancient History Degree - United Kingdom · Change.org search.app/mhvkW7kfKfNX...
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January 30, 2025 at 1:56 PM
I will not post much on this topic, but I'm the Head of Ancient History and Religion at Cardiff University. Our staff and students are nothing short of amazing. Those who know me will know that I'm doing all I can.
Also put this out recently - the CFP for the fourth annual iteration of the ILO conferences that have been co-organized by myself and Ali Norton.
Very much looking forward to seeing what sort of abstracts this year’s theme drags in.
Very much looking forward to seeing what sort of abstracts this year’s theme drags in.
January 26, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Also put this out recently - the CFP for the fourth annual iteration of the ILO conferences that have been co-organized by myself and Ali Norton.
Very much looking forward to seeing what sort of abstracts this year’s theme drags in.
Very much looking forward to seeing what sort of abstracts this year’s theme drags in.
Bit late in jumping over here from the decaying rot of the old place, but still looking forward to new academic friends and promoting my works here.
The main one right now is my forthcoming book entitled A Zoobiography of the Ancient Sea Monster for Bloomsbury’s Ancient Environments series.
The main one right now is my forthcoming book entitled A Zoobiography of the Ancient Sea Monster for Bloomsbury’s Ancient Environments series.
January 26, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Bit late in jumping over here from the decaying rot of the old place, but still looking forward to new academic friends and promoting my works here.
The main one right now is my forthcoming book entitled A Zoobiography of the Ancient Sea Monster for Bloomsbury’s Ancient Environments series.
The main one right now is my forthcoming book entitled A Zoobiography of the Ancient Sea Monster for Bloomsbury’s Ancient Environments series.