Bill Taylor
@wataylor.bsky.social
writer ~ spec fiction ~ 20th cent lit ~ music ~ ancient & religious art ~ mythology & folklore ~ archaeology ~ other old stuff ~ california ~ food ~ birds
Reposted by Bill Taylor
An absolutely beautiful early 20thC angel on the rail leading to the pulpit at St Peter's, Leicester.
Apparently carved by a local man, the quality is superb.
#Woodensday
Apparently carved by a local man, the quality is superb.
#Woodensday
November 19, 2025 at 5:39 PM
An absolutely beautiful early 20thC angel on the rail leading to the pulpit at St Peter's, Leicester.
Apparently carved by a local man, the quality is superb.
#Woodensday
Apparently carved by a local man, the quality is superb.
#Woodensday
Reposted by Bill Taylor
The C12th carvings of the apostles in the porch at Malmesbury Abbey are achingly beautiful with their Byzantine-esque swirling swags that feel like the ripples in a pond. They remind us that there are different ways of seeing - a kind of visual literacy.
July 7, 2025 at 5:59 AM
The C12th carvings of the apostles in the porch at Malmesbury Abbey are achingly beautiful with their Byzantine-esque swirling swags that feel like the ripples in a pond. They remind us that there are different ways of seeing - a kind of visual literacy.
Reposted by Bill Taylor
A Happy 175th Birthday to...
• Robert Louis Stevenson •
• Robert Louis Stevenson •
November 13, 2025 at 12:38 PM
A Happy 175th Birthday to...
• Robert Louis Stevenson •
• Robert Louis Stevenson •
Reposted by Bill Taylor
#FindsFriday
Among star finds from #Saxon Prittlewell Prince burial in Essex were #glass beakers w trailed lattice decoration.
Beautiful and rare, so similar they were likely made as a pair, in Kent. Few other examples are known, almost all in high status burials.
Southend Museums
#Ancientbluesky 🏺
Among star finds from #Saxon Prittlewell Prince burial in Essex were #glass beakers w trailed lattice decoration.
Beautiful and rare, so similar they were likely made as a pair, in Kent. Few other examples are known, almost all in high status burials.
Southend Museums
#Ancientbluesky 🏺
September 19, 2025 at 11:55 AM
#FindsFriday
Among star finds from #Saxon Prittlewell Prince burial in Essex were #glass beakers w trailed lattice decoration.
Beautiful and rare, so similar they were likely made as a pair, in Kent. Few other examples are known, almost all in high status burials.
Southend Museums
#Ancientbluesky 🏺
Among star finds from #Saxon Prittlewell Prince burial in Essex were #glass beakers w trailed lattice decoration.
Beautiful and rare, so similar they were likely made as a pair, in Kent. Few other examples are known, almost all in high status burials.
Southend Museums
#Ancientbluesky 🏺
Reposted by Bill Taylor
It’s #InternationalOwlAwarenessDay
🦉❤️
To celebrate here’s an Ancient Greek clay aryballos (perfume flask) in the shape of a little owl!
Dated c. 640 BC.
The Louvre, Paris 📷 by me
#OwlishMonday
#Archaeology
🦉❤️
To celebrate here’s an Ancient Greek clay aryballos (perfume flask) in the shape of a little owl!
Dated c. 640 BC.
The Louvre, Paris 📷 by me
#OwlishMonday
#Archaeology
August 4, 2025 at 4:39 PM
It’s #InternationalOwlAwarenessDay
🦉❤️
To celebrate here’s an Ancient Greek clay aryballos (perfume flask) in the shape of a little owl!
Dated c. 640 BC.
The Louvre, Paris 📷 by me
#OwlishMonday
#Archaeology
🦉❤️
To celebrate here’s an Ancient Greek clay aryballos (perfume flask) in the shape of a little owl!
Dated c. 640 BC.
The Louvre, Paris 📷 by me
#OwlishMonday
#Archaeology
Reposted by Bill Taylor
#SaturdayMorningMood: a #Greek skyphos (a two handled drinking cup), decorated with an adorable #owl.
Dating second half of the 5th century BC.
On display at Museum August Kestner, Hannover.
📷 me
🏺
Dating second half of the 5th century BC.
On display at Museum August Kestner, Hannover.
📷 me
🏺
August 2, 2025 at 6:49 AM
#SaturdayMorningMood: a #Greek skyphos (a two handled drinking cup), decorated with an adorable #owl.
Dating second half of the 5th century BC.
On display at Museum August Kestner, Hannover.
📷 me
🏺
Dating second half of the 5th century BC.
On display at Museum August Kestner, Hannover.
📷 me
🏺
Reposted by Bill Taylor
Sipping my coffee ☕️ thinking about these marvellous Minoan cups!
Known as Kamares Ware, these luxury ceramics were made during the Bronze Age 3,800 years ago!
Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete
📷 by me
#Archaeology
Known as Kamares Ware, these luxury ceramics were made during the Bronze Age 3,800 years ago!
Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete
📷 by me
#Archaeology
July 5, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Sipping my coffee ☕️ thinking about these marvellous Minoan cups!
Known as Kamares Ware, these luxury ceramics were made during the Bronze Age 3,800 years ago!
Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete
📷 by me
#Archaeology
Known as Kamares Ware, these luxury ceramics were made during the Bronze Age 3,800 years ago!
Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete
📷 by me
#Archaeology
Reposted by Bill Taylor
There was so much in Siena at the National Gallery I will never forget, but the sheer colour and detail of this, Buonaccorso’s The Marriage of the Virgin, is like a jewelled dream that still haunts my own.
June 21, 2025 at 8:57 AM
There was so much in Siena at the National Gallery I will never forget, but the sheer colour and detail of this, Buonaccorso’s The Marriage of the Virgin, is like a jewelled dream that still haunts my own.
Reposted by Bill Taylor
“peace” #StainedGlassSunday
Porch window in the charming little chapel of St Gregory’s on the road to Sedbergh from the M6 motorway. Glass by Morris & Co. @ChurchesConservationTrust
Porch window in the charming little chapel of St Gregory’s on the road to Sedbergh from the M6 motorway. Glass by Morris & Co. @ChurchesConservationTrust
June 15, 2025 at 9:00 PM
“peace” #StainedGlassSunday
Porch window in the charming little chapel of St Gregory’s on the road to Sedbergh from the M6 motorway. Glass by Morris & Co. @ChurchesConservationTrust
Porch window in the charming little chapel of St Gregory’s on the road to Sedbergh from the M6 motorway. Glass by Morris & Co. @ChurchesConservationTrust
Reposted by Bill Taylor
On a grey day today I stood in awe in front of the Wilton Diptych on display at the NG. I looked at each angel’s face; their arms linked and one with her arm round another. Fluidity and drama in the scene, so different from the static depictions from former centuries. Art was on the move in Siena ⭐️
April 15, 2025 at 10:08 PM
On a grey day today I stood in awe in front of the Wilton Diptych on display at the NG. I looked at each angel’s face; their arms linked and one with her arm round another. Fluidity and drama in the scene, so different from the static depictions from former centuries. Art was on the move in Siena ⭐️
Reposted by Bill Taylor
Gathering flowers to add your cornucopia is clearly the very best way to enjoy a spring day!
This fresco fragment is often identified as Flora and was found in the Villa of Ariadne in Stabiae. Now held in the MAN Napoli.
#FrescoFriday #AncientBluesky🏺
This fresco fragment is often identified as Flora and was found in the Villa of Ariadne in Stabiae. Now held in the MAN Napoli.
#FrescoFriday #AncientBluesky🏺
April 4, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Gathering flowers to add your cornucopia is clearly the very best way to enjoy a spring day!
This fresco fragment is often identified as Flora and was found in the Villa of Ariadne in Stabiae. Now held in the MAN Napoli.
#FrescoFriday #AncientBluesky🏺
This fresco fragment is often identified as Flora and was found in the Villa of Ariadne in Stabiae. Now held in the MAN Napoli.
#FrescoFriday #AncientBluesky🏺
Reposted by Bill Taylor
In Tuscany for last few weeks, so now back to posting w renewed resource!
For #ReliefWednesday winged sea monster armed w sword attests to dangers of travel overseas to land of shadows, but at lease he has fishy legs to help.
Alabaster cinerary urn in Volterra Etruscan museum.
C3 BC
For #ReliefWednesday winged sea monster armed w sword attests to dangers of travel overseas to land of shadows, but at lease he has fishy legs to help.
Alabaster cinerary urn in Volterra Etruscan museum.
C3 BC
April 2, 2025 at 2:23 PM
In Tuscany for last few weeks, so now back to posting w renewed resource!
For #ReliefWednesday winged sea monster armed w sword attests to dangers of travel overseas to land of shadows, but at lease he has fishy legs to help.
Alabaster cinerary urn in Volterra Etruscan museum.
C3 BC
For #ReliefWednesday winged sea monster armed w sword attests to dangers of travel overseas to land of shadows, but at lease he has fishy legs to help.
Alabaster cinerary urn in Volterra Etruscan museum.
C3 BC
Reposted by Bill Taylor
A thing I love about humans is that we've always had a compulsive need to make art. We can't help it. It's who we are. We will never stop.
(fish bowl from Iran, thirteenth century)
(fish bowl from Iran, thirteenth century)
March 14, 2025 at 4:09 PM
A thing I love about humans is that we've always had a compulsive need to make art. We can't help it. It's who we are. We will never stop.
(fish bowl from Iran, thirteenth century)
(fish bowl from Iran, thirteenth century)
Reposted by Bill Taylor
#ReliefWednesday
One of my absolute favourite reliefs is the so-called Tellus relief from the Ara Pacis. The detail in the scene is stunning and the delicate draping of fabric of the clothing and to symbolise the winds is jaw-dropping.
#AncientBluesky🏺
One of my absolute favourite reliefs is the so-called Tellus relief from the Ara Pacis. The detail in the scene is stunning and the delicate draping of fabric of the clothing and to symbolise the winds is jaw-dropping.
#AncientBluesky🏺
January 22, 2025 at 10:48 AM
#ReliefWednesday
One of my absolute favourite reliefs is the so-called Tellus relief from the Ara Pacis. The detail in the scene is stunning and the delicate draping of fabric of the clothing and to symbolise the winds is jaw-dropping.
#AncientBluesky🏺
One of my absolute favourite reliefs is the so-called Tellus relief from the Ara Pacis. The detail in the scene is stunning and the delicate draping of fabric of the clothing and to symbolise the winds is jaw-dropping.
#AncientBluesky🏺
Reposted by Bill Taylor
How delicately a Romanesque angel uses the lightest touch of a finger to wake one of the magi, snuggled with the other 2 under their crochet-trimmed circular blanket at St Lazare, Autun, c1130 (& how beautifully the textures of pillow & blanket are represented).
Season's greetings to you all!
Season's greetings to you all!
December 24, 2024 at 4:45 PM
How delicately a Romanesque angel uses the lightest touch of a finger to wake one of the magi, snuggled with the other 2 under their crochet-trimmed circular blanket at St Lazare, Autun, c1130 (& how beautifully the textures of pillow & blanket are represented).
Season's greetings to you all!
Season's greetings to you all!
Reposted by Bill Taylor
Goodnight.
🖼️ Jozef Wilkon #OwlishMonday
🖼️ Jozef Wilkon #OwlishMonday
December 2, 2024 at 9:19 PM
Goodnight.
🖼️ Jozef Wilkon #OwlishMonday
🖼️ Jozef Wilkon #OwlishMonday
Reposted by Bill Taylor
A charming little octopus from a Roman villa at Villaquejida, León, Spain. Limestone, 2nd-3rd century AD.
Museo Arqueológico Nacional, Madrid 📷 my own
#MosaicMonday
#Archaeology
Museo Arqueológico Nacional, Madrid 📷 my own
#MosaicMonday
#Archaeology
November 18, 2024 at 11:14 AM
A charming little octopus from a Roman villa at Villaquejida, León, Spain. Limestone, 2nd-3rd century AD.
Museo Arqueológico Nacional, Madrid 📷 my own
#MosaicMonday
#Archaeology
Museo Arqueológico Nacional, Madrid 📷 my own
#MosaicMonday
#Archaeology
Reposted by Bill Taylor
#MosaicMonday - A dapper wee parrot from the Altar Room of Palace V, Pergamon: ca. Mid-2nd Century BC. #Bird #AncientBluesky 🏺
Or, to quote Ovid (Amores 2.6.1)...
'Parrot, winged mimic from the dawn-lit east'
Image: Berlin Antikensammlung (Mos. 71). Link - recherche.smb.museum/detail/69712...
Or, to quote Ovid (Amores 2.6.1)...
'Parrot, winged mimic from the dawn-lit east'
Image: Berlin Antikensammlung (Mos. 71). Link - recherche.smb.museum/detail/69712...
November 18, 2024 at 9:01 AM
#MosaicMonday - A dapper wee parrot from the Altar Room of Palace V, Pergamon: ca. Mid-2nd Century BC. #Bird #AncientBluesky 🏺
Or, to quote Ovid (Amores 2.6.1)...
'Parrot, winged mimic from the dawn-lit east'
Image: Berlin Antikensammlung (Mos. 71). Link - recherche.smb.museum/detail/69712...
Or, to quote Ovid (Amores 2.6.1)...
'Parrot, winged mimic from the dawn-lit east'
Image: Berlin Antikensammlung (Mos. 71). Link - recherche.smb.museum/detail/69712...
Reposted by Bill Taylor
A number of artists and creators have made their home on Bluesky, and we hear their concerns with other platforms training on their data. We do not use any of your content to train generative AI, and have no intention of doing so.
November 15, 2024 at 5:22 PM
A number of artists and creators have made their home on Bluesky, and we hear their concerns with other platforms training on their data. We do not use any of your content to train generative AI, and have no intention of doing so.
Reposted by Bill Taylor
It’s time for a timeline cleanse
A #Roman pot with ears and a funny little face (it looks like Shaun the Sheep).
Found in a burial in the necropolis of Giubiasco, Switzerland 2nd century AD.
Photo: Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum
🏺 AncientBluesky #Archaeology
A #Roman pot with ears and a funny little face (it looks like Shaun the Sheep).
Found in a burial in the necropolis of Giubiasco, Switzerland 2nd century AD.
Photo: Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum
🏺 AncientBluesky #Archaeology
November 8, 2024 at 10:43 AM
It’s time for a timeline cleanse
A #Roman pot with ears and a funny little face (it looks like Shaun the Sheep).
Found in a burial in the necropolis of Giubiasco, Switzerland 2nd century AD.
Photo: Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum
🏺 AncientBluesky #Archaeology
A #Roman pot with ears and a funny little face (it looks like Shaun the Sheep).
Found in a burial in the necropolis of Giubiasco, Switzerland 2nd century AD.
Photo: Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum
🏺 AncientBluesky #Archaeology
Reposted by Bill Taylor
#MosaicMonday
These delightful fish and other marine creatures are part of a larger floor panel in the ‘House of the Man of Letters’ from Harbiye (modern Türkiye).
May they add delight to your Monday!
🏛️ Art Institute of Chicago
#AncientRome #AncientBluesky🏺
These delightful fish and other marine creatures are part of a larger floor panel in the ‘House of the Man of Letters’ from Harbiye (modern Türkiye).
May they add delight to your Monday!
🏛️ Art Institute of Chicago
#AncientRome #AncientBluesky🏺
November 4, 2024 at 8:34 AM
#MosaicMonday
These delightful fish and other marine creatures are part of a larger floor panel in the ‘House of the Man of Letters’ from Harbiye (modern Türkiye).
May they add delight to your Monday!
🏛️ Art Institute of Chicago
#AncientRome #AncientBluesky🏺
These delightful fish and other marine creatures are part of a larger floor panel in the ‘House of the Man of Letters’ from Harbiye (modern Türkiye).
May they add delight to your Monday!
🏛️ Art Institute of Chicago
#AncientRome #AncientBluesky🏺
Reposted by Bill Taylor
Reposted by Bill Taylor
Children thanking St. Demetrios, St. Demetrios with an angel, St. Demetrios with church patrons at the Church of St. Demetrios in Thessaloniki
Today is the feast day of St. Demetrios
Today is the feast day of St. Demetrios
October 26, 2024 at 1:22 PM
Children thanking St. Demetrios, St. Demetrios with an angel, St. Demetrios with church patrons at the Church of St. Demetrios in Thessaloniki
Today is the feast day of St. Demetrios
Today is the feast day of St. Demetrios
Reposted by Bill Taylor
#MosaicMonday
This jaunty bird looks ready to tackle the week ahead. We hope you can take heart from this little one for your own journey too ☺️
This jaunty bird looks ready to tackle the week ahead. We hope you can take heart from this little one for your own journey too ☺️
October 14, 2024 at 8:13 AM
#MosaicMonday
This jaunty bird looks ready to tackle the week ahead. We hope you can take heart from this little one for your own journey too ☺️
This jaunty bird looks ready to tackle the week ahead. We hope you can take heart from this little one for your own journey too ☺️