I traveled last week to Baltimore and DC, seeing a number of our core American “famous locations,” including one starring George Washington. I found a timely reminder as well as an enjoyable experience. So this week I’m leaping forward in history from my usual Bronze Age posts.
The Ishtar Gate of Babylon is one of the more iconic archaeological features of the ancient Near East. Built in the 6th century BCE, it has taken on a variety of meanings over the centuries. And it depicts a gorgeous procession of lions, bulls, and dragons. Check out how one monument provides so many different views.
Significant differences between the DNA of the men and women excavated on the Orkney Islands reveals a possible answer to why Bronze Age life came when and how it did to these islands off Scotland. The tales bones tell!
Some of the most beautiful ancient artifacts are cosmetic containers and utensils. The “swimming-girl spoons” from Egypt have always appealed to me for their grace, so I was delighted to find out what their mythic significance might have been and their ongoing legacy. I wish my dressing table had anything this lovely!
Feeling like some yummy lamb recipes? I created these with ingredients available to my Bronze Age characters.
I’m struck by how often in my research–like when I read about this 5,000-year-old tavern in Mesopotamia–I discover signs that ancient people share a lot in common with us today. Moreover, this seemingly ordinary tavern’s excavation wreaked havoc on the prevailing theory of social structure in this ancient city. So much came from 19″ below the ground!
Novels that retell myths, especially with a focus on women, are cropping up all over these days. In this post, I look at one of the top 10 lists for this sub-genre. I’d love to hear what you think, also.
Writing historical fiction–even with some fantastical elements thrown in–requires careful use of accurate historical detail. I loved this discussion of Egyptian chariots and the surprisingly abundant evidence for women using chariots. So handy for my fiction!
I spent a happy day at the exhibit, Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs. I have some thoughts to share which I hope you’ll enjoy. Read on for Ramses, Egyptian gold, and taking a nuanced view of history and museum exhibits.
We think of fingerprints as a tool of modern crime detection, but police experts are interpreting ancient fingerprints for archaeologists. I was surprised both by the range of projects and the information they could surmise.
