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Holiday By Mistake Withnail

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Here it is. My manifesto for the 2026 Clacton By-Election. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Join me, clean up Clacton and let's make 13th August Bin Day! #VoteBinface #VoteyMcVoteface #YesWeTinCan

#OnThisDay - 21 July - in 356 BC the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was deliberately burned. The arsonist was Herostratus, who hoped to immortalise his name by the act (Valerius Maximus, 8.14ext.5). #History 🏺 Image: Silver Tetradrachm of Abydus; ANS 1948.1.4. Link - numismatics.org/collection/1...

Went to see 'The Odyssey' and thoroughly enjoyed it. 95% of it is superb, but for me Samantha Morton stole the show as Circe.

#OnThisDay - 20 July - in 1755 this fabulous fresco was discovered in the Praedia of Julia Felix, Pompeii (II.4.10/3). It depicts Urania, Muse of Astronomy, holding measuring rod and celestial sphere. #Pompeii 🏺 Image: Louvre Collections (P 12). Link - collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/5335...

#OnThisDay - 20 July - in 1765 this inscription was found, commemorating the rebuilding work of Numerius Popidius Celsinus on the Temple of Isis after the earthquake of AD 62. #Pompeii #Archaeology 🏺(1/2) Image: National Archaeological Museum, Naples (3765). Link – mann-napoli.it/tempio-di-is...

#OnThisDay - 20 July - in 1755 this fabulous fresco was discovered in the Praedia of Julia Felix, Pompeii (II.4.10/3). It depicts Urania, Muse of Astronomy, holding measuring rod and celestial sphere. #Pompeii 🏺 Image: Louvre Collections (P 12). Link - collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/5335...

#OnThisDay - 20 July - in 1765 this inscription was found, commemorating the rebuilding work of Numerius Popidius Celsinus on the Temple of Isis after the earthquake of AD 62. #Pompeii #Archaeology 🏺(1/2) Image: National Archaeological Museum, Naples (3765). Link – mann-napoli.it/tempio-di-is...

#OnThisDay - 13 July 1755 - the stunning south wall fresco of the tablinum of the Praedia of Julia Felix, Pompeii (II.4.10), was discovered. I adore the series of 'still-life' panels in the upper register. #Pompeii #Archaeology 🏺 Image: National Archaeological Museum, Naples (8598)

#OnThisDay - 10 July - in AD 138 the (fabulously bearded) Roman emperor Hadrian died at his villa at Baiae. His reign was characterised by extensive travels throughout the provinces. #AncientHistory 🏺 Image: RIC II, Part 3 Hadrian 930; ANS 1957.172.1652. Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....

#OnThisDay - 10 July - in AD 138 the (fabulously bearded) Roman emperor Hadrian died at his villa at Baiae. His reign was characterised by extensive travels throughout the provinces. #AncientHistory 🏺 Image: RIC II, Part 3 Hadrian 930; ANS 1957.172.1652. Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....

#OnThisDay - 6 July - in 371 BC the Battle of Leuctra was fought between the Boeotian League and the Spartans under Cleombrotus. The latter were defeated with 400 of 700 Spartiatae present killed. #Sparta #AncientHistory 🏺 Image: British Museum (88.844). Link - britishmuseum.org/collection/o...

A spot of ancient colour! Discovered 2 July 1763, this fabulous depiction of a 'Panther' once graced the Schola Tomb of Mamia outside Pompeii's Herculaneum Gate. Such tombs were exclusively granted to public benefactors. #Pompeii 🏺 Image: National Archaeological Museum, Naples (8649)

#OnThisDay - 2 July - in AD 419 Valentinian III was born. He would reign as Western Augustus AD 425-455, with his mother - Galla Placidia - being a key influence in the early years. #AncientHistory 🏺 Image: RIC X Valentinian III 2011; ANS 1944.100.54877. Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....

The University of Exeter is a fantastic university, I’ve spent time there, and fondly remember its role in wetland archaeology. Any threat to its Humanities scholars is a dreadful development and will do harm to the university, the city of Exeter, and southwest England c.org/dy4rG62bxb

Sign the Petition

Stop Redundancies at the University of Exeter

c.org

If you asked me, off the top of my head, to name a non-Oxbridge university in England synonymous with excellence in the Humanities - I would probably think of Exeter first. This feels like a very deliberate, targeted and ideological Bonfire of the Humanities

Margot Finn@eicathomefinn.bsky.social · last mo.

'About 150 academic roles are set to go at the south-west institution, which said it was targeting areas that are “no longer sustainable” or have seen changes in student demand.' History and English are name-checked. 1/3

Colleagues at Exeter have asked me to circulate their petition as widely as possible: www.change.org/p/stop-redun...

Sign the Petition

Stop Redundancies at the University of Exeter

change.org

#OnThisDay - 22 June - in 217 BC Ptolemy IV Philopator defeated the Seleucid forces of Antiochus III at the Battle of Raphia, securing - at least in the short term - Coele-Syria for Egypt. #AncientHistory 🏺 Image: ANS 1967.152.651. Link - numismatics.org/collection/1...

#OnThisDay - 22 June - in 168 BC the Romans under Lucius Aemilius Paullus defeated the Macedonian forces of King Perseus at the Battle of Pydna. #AncientHistory 🏺 Image: Denarius of 62 BC, struck by Lucius Aemilius Lepidus Paullus RRC 415/1; ANS 1937.158.186. Link - numismatics.org/crro/id/rrc-...

#OnThisDay - 22 June - in 217 BC Ptolemy IV Philopator defeated the Seleucid forces of Antiochus III at the Battle of Raphia, securing - at least in the short term - Coele-Syria for Egypt. #AncientHistory 🏺 Image: ANS 1967.152.651. Link - numismatics.org/collection/1...

#OnThisDay - 22 June - in 168 BC the Romans under Lucius Aemilius Paullus defeated the Macedonian forces of King Perseus at the Battle of Pydna. #AncientHistory 🏺 Image: Denarius of 62 BC, struck by Lucius Aemilius Lepidus Paullus RRC 415/1; ANS 1937.158.186. Link - numismatics.org/crro/id/rrc-...

Evidence suggests that AI-driven ‘deskilling’ is starting to happen in medicine, computer science and other fields go.nature.com/4uJdRvW

Is AI ruining our skills? Early results are in — and they’re not good

Nature - Reliance on artificial-intelligence tools degrades the abilities of physicians and software engineers, studies show.

go.nature.com

#OnThisDay - 19 June - Ovid (Fasti 6.725-728) records that the worship of Pallas (Minerva) begins at her Temple on the Aventine. This date may refer to the dedication of Augustus' restoration of the temple (RGDA 19.2). #History 🏺 Image: The Roman Baths, Bath. Link - romanbaths.co.uk/minervas-head

#OnThisDay - 19 June - Ovid (Fasti 6.725-728) records that the worship of Pallas (Minerva) begins at her Temple on the Aventine. This date may refer to the dedication of Augustus' restoration of the temple (RGDA 19.2). #History 🏺 Image: The Roman Baths, Bath. Link - romanbaths.co.uk/minervas-head

At the reflecting pool, and ... guys ... this doesn't look right

Dr Rob@robheighton.bsky.social · 2mo ago

At the reflecting pool, and ... guys ... this doesn't look right

Domitian & Dacia vibes...

MeidasTouch@meidastouch.com · 2mo ago

Wow: the cover of today’s NY Post.

#FrescoFriday - Haven't done one in a while, so here's an old favourite. A delicately painted pastel-like panel of a woman holding an askos, seemingly decanting perfume or oil into a small container. From Casa Farnesina, ca. Late 1st Century BC. #Art 🏺 Image: Museo Nazionale Romano, Palazzo Massimo

#FrescoFriday - Haven't done one in a while, so here's an old favourite. A delicately painted pastel-like panel of a woman holding an askos, seemingly decanting perfume or oil into a small container. From Casa Farnesina, ca. Late 1st Century BC. #Art 🏺 Image: Museo Nazionale Romano, Palazzo Massimo

#OnThisDay - 10 June - in AD 38 Drusilla, the sister of the emperor Gaius Caligula, died. She was deified on 23 September AD 38 and received the title 'Panthea' (Dio 59.11.2-3). #AncientHistory 🏺 Image: RIC Gaius 33; Münzkabinett Berlin (18215927). Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....