A new translation of the Iliad is causing much more of a stir than you’d think. For good reason. Do you enjoy the layers of meaning one word can have and other subtleties of translation? I took a look at what people are saying and put it together for you.
I noticed two unrelated articles in the recent Archaeology Magazine. Their juxtaposition got me thinking about treatments of the dead. We humans are really good at over-the-top respect on the one hand, and fear on the other. Have a look.
Join me for an interview with historical novelist Nancy Bilyeau and her latest, The Orchid Hour, set in 1923 NY during Prohibition. Our conversation even came with a cocktail.
The history of writing reveals some of the most profound ideas and values we humans ponder. The Hittite world that inspires my fiction used the cuneiform writing system–as did every other Near Eastern empire in the Bronze Age. Until a great shift into a variety of scripts came about. The question is why.
Myths about ancient gods often bring us tales of sexual adventures, but this one about the Egyptian god Min involves lettuce. Go figure, and enjoy.
In her guest post my good friend Nancy Bilyeau tells you why 30,000 people slept on the beach one night. I’ll add the words Coney Island into the mix to entice you to read her post about “America’s Playground” during a heatwave.
Is that a Pompeian pizza frescoed on that wall? A pizza historian is calling it an archeo-pizza. I’m calling it yummy sounding and fun. Read all about it.
Writing fiction based in the ancient world requires creative use of somewhat obscure evidence to bring it to life, along with a dose of imagination. That’s especially true with fictional food from the past. A new exhibit at the Penn Museum explores how archaeology brings ancient foods back to life. It’s a fun topic to delve into.
I’m talking about Deep Point of View to the California Writers’ Club in Sacramento Friday June 2, 9-11 am. Anyone can attend–whether in person or on Zoom. There should be a recording on their website afterwards. Teaching workshops like this is a fun part of settling in to my writer life in California. I tell you all about it in this week’s post.
I hope you’re up for another travel post about Washington, DC. I wandered through the White House and I saw some cute critters. Come along and enjoy.
