Here are the posts I enjoyed this week around the web. I seem to have been very ancient. The Amphipolis tomb, Herculaneum scroll and writing historical fiction set within Greek mythology:
Not 1 but 5 different sets of skeletal remains have been identified in the Amphipolis tomb (Northern Greece, period of Alexander the Great). 1 woman over 60, 2 men 35-45, 1 newborn and 1 cremated. One of the men was killed with stab wounds to his spine and ribs. This mystery gets more interesting at every stage. I wonder if we will ever have a good sense of who these individuals might have been.
Click here for “Five Skeletons buried in Amphipolis Tomb” in Archaeology News Network
Here’s a discussion by Glyn Iliffe about why Greek mythology feels more historical than fantastical to readers even when the gods are meandering in and out of the pages. And why writers ought to keep those gods and monsters just as they are mythologically speaking and not rationalize them, as is so often done with traditions like the Arthurian legend. I’ve had a similar experience with my book set in the Trojan War. Thoughtful discussion. Why do we respond differently to Greek mythology than other legendary traditions? Click here for “Greek Mythology as Historical Fiction by Glyn Iliffe” on Writing Historical Novels Blog
When Herculaneum was overcome by the volcanic eruption of Vesuvius, a library of scrolls was carbonized but not burnt to ashes. The puzzle since 1752 was how to read the contents without destroying them in the process. Now scientists have made a major breakthrough. Still a lot of tinkering to go before they can make sense of it, but they can now read letters. Mind you the letters appear floating and will need to be “attached” to their proper place on the scroll, but these researchers seem to think they can work that out also. So, anyone for a scroll of Virgil written during his lifetime?
The debate rages: who are those skeletons in the Amphipolis tomb? One theory says the 60-year-old woman is Olympia, the mother of Alexander the Great. But tradition has it she was stoned to death on order of Cassander and the female bones so far show no sign of such injuries. Anyone want to take bets? (Note this hype connecting tomb with Alex’s family is coming from politicians and media, not archaeologists…) Click here for “New Theories on Amphipolis Tomb Occupants” in Archaeology News Network
Yes, I’ve seen the same thing about Alexander’s family going round in the media. They seem to ignore the other three individuals and just put forwards that the older woman is Olympias and that one of the younger males is Alexander himself. Olympias, well, maybe, but I seriously doubt Alexander. There’s no evidence to suggest he was ever moved from the tomb the Ptolemies laid him to rest in in Alexandria. They could be members from Alexander’s extended family, or from the families of the diadochi; period and aesthetic style fits.
Hi Beth,
I think this tomb is providing some political distraction that has little to do with archaeological reality and unfortunately the pressure that politically motivated news cycle is putting on the dig is compromising the integrity of the tomb–or that’s what the archaeologists are saying and they do seem like the ones who would know. It is a very exciting find and if they’d put less emphasis on identifying precise residents it might be better for everyone.
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