Dr. Virginia L. Campbell
@vlcampbell.bsky.social
Ancient historian, archaeologist, writer, lecturer at The Open University and University of Birmingham. All things Pompeii, Rome, and epigraphy.
https://pompeiinetworks.wordpress.com/
https://pompeiinetworks.wordpress.com/
Channelling some #GreekMyth for current political commentary? YES PLEASE. #AncientBlueSky 🏺🏛️ @latenightseth.bsky.social
July 24, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Channelling some #GreekMyth for current political commentary? YES PLEASE. #AncientBlueSky 🏺🏛️ @latenightseth.bsky.social
Very pleased to announce that I will be returning to the Department of Classics, Ancient History, and Archaeology @unibirmingham.bsky.social for the 25-26 academic year.
July 15, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Very pleased to announce that I will be returning to the Department of Classics, Ancient History, and Archaeology @unibirmingham.bsky.social for the 25-26 academic year.
This gorgeous little surprise arrived in the post this morning. Ecce! I’m a blurb! #romanhistory #ancientwomen #pompeii @brendafortheswim.bsky.social
June 14, 2025 at 10:49 AM
This gorgeous little surprise arrived in the post this morning. Ecce! I’m a blurb! #romanhistory #ancientwomen #pompeii @brendafortheswim.bsky.social
Fact: it is impossible to get through any day without kitty snuggles.
January 31, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Fact: it is impossible to get through any day without kitty snuggles.
Pompeii v. Birmingham. #MosaicMonday 🏺
November 18, 2024 at 11:14 AM
Pompeii v. Birmingham. #MosaicMonday 🏺
The similarities are eerie. 🐈⬛
November 15, 2024 at 1:24 PM
The similarities are eerie. 🐈⬛
Lego life goals.
June 25, 2024 at 10:39 AM
Lego life goals.
During the fall of Troy she predicted, we can see Cassandra fleeing in the painting from the Casa del Cavallo Troiano IX.7.16 (MANN inv. 120176).
April 12, 2024 at 9:15 AM
During the fall of Troy she predicted, we can see Cassandra fleeing in the painting from the Casa del Cavallo Troiano IX.7.16 (MANN inv. 120176).
A third possible of Cassandra predicting fall of Troy in VI.10.2, but also been identified as Aeneas consulting Anio King of Ortigia (MANN inv. 8999). Most of the 19th c. drawings depict the figure on the right as male, but it is a bit questionable. (Giuseppe Marsigli 1829).
April 12, 2024 at 9:15 AM
A third possible of Cassandra predicting fall of Troy in VI.10.2, but also been identified as Aeneas consulting Anio King of Ortigia (MANN inv. 8999). Most of the 19th c. drawings depict the figure on the right as male, but it is a bit questionable. (Giuseppe Marsigli 1829).
Virtually the same image is also found in triclinium in Casa de Musica VI.3.7, also only as an early 19th c. drawing (from 1838). The other painting documented in this room had a weeping Dido, so clearly some precedent of women of the Trojan cycle in dining rooms (1890 F. Niccolini).
April 12, 2024 at 9:15 AM
Virtually the same image is also found in triclinium in Casa de Musica VI.3.7, also only as an early 19th c. drawing (from 1838). The other painting documented in this room had a weeping Dido, so clearly some precedent of women of the Trojan cycle in dining rooms (1890 F. Niccolini).
The eponymously named House of Cassandra, I.2.28 had Cassandra in the triclinium, predicting the downfall of Troy. MANN inv. 111476. So she’s in the act of prophesising here, but no omphalos in sight.
April 12, 2024 at 9:14 AM
The eponymously named House of Cassandra, I.2.28 had Cassandra in the triclinium, predicting the downfall of Troy. MANN inv. 111476. So she’s in the act of prophesising here, but no omphalos in sight.
I.10.4 Casa del Menandro room 4 has 2 paintings of Cassandra, clinging to the cult statue in the temple as Ajax attempts to drag her out on north wall, and with the Trojan horse on the east wall.
April 12, 2024 at 9:14 AM
I.10.4 Casa del Menandro room 4 has 2 paintings of Cassandra, clinging to the cult statue in the temple as Ajax attempts to drag her out on north wall, and with the Trojan horse on the east wall.
One image of her sitting in Casa del Centenario IX.8.6 badly damaged, 1879 drawing by A. Sikkard shows her sitting with similar look on her face. Looks like she is on a rock, but we have no idea if this is accurate or if the painting was already degraded when this was made.
April 12, 2024 at 9:12 AM
One image of her sitting in Casa del Centenario IX.8.6 badly damaged, 1879 drawing by A. Sikkard shows her sitting with similar look on her face. Looks like she is on a rock, but we have no idea if this is accurate or if the painting was already degraded when this was made.
Since questions have been raised about Cassandra sitting on the omphalos I thought I'd take a deep dive into depictions of Cassandra in #Pompeii. 🏺🏛️🧵
April 12, 2024 at 9:12 AM
Since questions have been raised about Cassandra sitting on the omphalos I thought I'd take a deep dive into depictions of Cassandra in #Pompeii. 🏺🏛️🧵
In a somewhat surreal turn of events, I've just been on BBC News talking about those wonderful new paintings in Pompeii. I'm more interested in the new dipinti (ofc!) and am in the middle of writing a thing... 🏺🏛️
April 11, 2024 at 2:47 PM
In a somewhat surreal turn of events, I've just been on BBC News talking about those wonderful new paintings in Pompeii. I'm more interested in the new dipinti (ofc!) and am in the middle of writing a thing... 🏺🏛️
Hecate may have shared a temple in suburbs of #Pompeii (w/Artemis, Zeus Melichor, Ceres), where these statues were found. But her image also appeared in temple/shrine painting such as this one from the villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale. #ClassicsTober23 day 31 🏺🏛️
October 31, 2023 at 1:52 PM
Hecate may have shared a temple in suburbs of #Pompeii (w/Artemis, Zeus Melichor, Ceres), where these statues were found. But her image also appeared in temple/shrine painting such as this one from the villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale. #ClassicsTober23 day 31 🏺🏛️
Tiresias was turned into a woman for 7 years & was oracle of Apollo. The Vesuvian region has it's own (already female, no Hera assistance necessary) the Sibyl of Cuma. Last time I was there heard weird noises in the cave...can attest pigeons less good as oracles. #ClassicsTober23 day 30 🏛️🏺
October 30, 2023 at 9:42 AM
Tiresias was turned into a woman for 7 years & was oracle of Apollo. The Vesuvian region has it's own (already female, no Hera assistance necessary) the Sibyl of Cuma. Last time I was there heard weird noises in the cave...can attest pigeons less good as oracles. #ClassicsTober23 day 30 🏛️🏺
#Pompeii has a depiction of the version of the myth where Nemesis is the mother of Helen. Here she is performing a sacrifice to Venus, and you can see that pesky swan (Zeus) pulling at her clothes. I.4.25 stereoview Sommer & Behles c.1860-1870. #ClassicsTober23 day29 🏺🏛️
October 29, 2023 at 11:08 AM
#Pompeii has a depiction of the version of the myth where Nemesis is the mother of Helen. Here she is performing a sacrifice to Venus, and you can see that pesky swan (Zeus) pulling at her clothes. I.4.25 stereoview Sommer & Behles c.1860-1870. #ClassicsTober23 day29 🏺🏛️
#ClassicsTober23 day 28 Nyx goddess of night not in #Pompeii b/c of that pre-Olympian problem. But (follow my thought process here) it's dark at night, Dark Side of the Moon oh! Pink Floyd played in the amphitheatre, which is one of the oldest in Italy ca. 70s BCE. 🏺🏛️
October 28, 2023 at 11:48 AM
#ClassicsTober23 day 28 Nyx goddess of night not in #Pompeii b/c of that pre-Olympian problem. But (follow my thought process here) it's dark at night, Dark Side of the Moon oh! Pink Floyd played in the amphitheatre, which is one of the oldest in Italy ca. 70s BCE. 🏺🏛️
#ClassicsTober23 day 27 Pygmalion is another impossibility in #Pompeii. But he carved his statue out of ivory, so here's a small ivory statue found in the house at I.8.5 of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi (MANN inv. 149425). Trade route keepsake or Indian resident in Pompeii? 🏺🏛️
October 27, 2023 at 12:20 PM
#ClassicsTober23 day 27 Pygmalion is another impossibility in #Pompeii. But he carved his statue out of ivory, so here's a small ivory statue found in the house at I.8.5 of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi (MANN inv. 149425). Trade route keepsake or Indian resident in Pompeii? 🏺🏛️
There are two great ones in a mosaic of Venus from Zeugma.
October 26, 2023 at 5:06 PM
There are two great ones in a mosaic of Venus from Zeugma.
Having a CIL sort of day. 🏺🏛️
October 26, 2023 at 8:54 AM
Having a CIL sort of day. 🏺🏛️
Thetis does 2 things in #Pompeii: she supervises Hephaestus making armour for Achilles or she brings the armour too him w/ help of an ichthyocentaur. Here's one of each from IX.1.7 Mann. inv. 9529 & VII.2.25 inv. 8863. #ClassicsTober23 day 26. 🏺🏛️
October 26, 2023 at 8:45 AM
Thetis does 2 things in #Pompeii: she supervises Hephaestus making armour for Achilles or she brings the armour too him w/ help of an ichthyocentaur. Here's one of each from IX.1.7 Mann. inv. 9529 & VII.2.25 inv. 8863. #ClassicsTober23 day 26. 🏺🏛️
Venus feels your pain.
October 25, 2023 at 10:40 AM
Venus feels your pain.
#ClassicsTober23 Day 25 Talos. The bronze automaton sent to protect Crete/Europa doesn't appear in #Pompeii. But this stunning work by Igor Mitoraj ('Daedalus') has been standing guard on the promontory of the Temple of Venus since 2016. I like to think he's protecting the city. 🏺
October 25, 2023 at 8:33 AM
#ClassicsTober23 Day 25 Talos. The bronze automaton sent to protect Crete/Europa doesn't appear in #Pompeii. But this stunning work by Igor Mitoraj ('Daedalus') has been standing guard on the promontory of the Temple of Venus since 2016. I like to think he's protecting the city. 🏺