Mappa Dan
@mappadan.bsky.social
Archaic maps and mappae mundi, reconstructions and snaps people have taken of them, and my own redrawings. Mostly.
Sweden's Supreme Court upheld the transfer to Ukraine of Caffa, a Russian shadow-fleet vessel accused of carrying grain from occupied Ukrainian territory. In June, a Swedish court seized the ship at Ukraine's request in a Russian war-crimes investigation, the first such ruling in Sweden. #Ukraine
"US firms seeking to tap into ballooning European defense budgets are finding a new roadblock emerging: a desire by European capitals to avoid US control of weapon sales." breakingdefense.com/2026/08/euro...
Europe wants ITAR-free weapons. US firms are trying to adjust. - Breaking Defense
Skepticism surrounding US-European relations has led to a serious push on the continent to move away from buying weapons that are subject to US arms-traffic regulations.
breakingdefense.com
The two archways at Dawn. Both images taken this morning in St Michael's tower on Glastonbury Tor. Taken just a few moments apart. Which is your favourite?
Incredible sight: Brioc, a replica high medieval leather boat, has sailed from Brittany all the way round England, Wales and now Scotland. The crew navigate, dress and cook exactly as their medieval counterparts would have⛵️ bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0n259yx7no
Here's my redrawing of the mappa of Guido of Pisa from 1119. East-oriented.
For this week's #MosaicMonday, here is a mosaic from Trier depicting the philosopher Anaximander of Miletus (c. 610–c. 546 BC), who is credited with inventing the sundial. The mosaic dates to the 3rd century AD. 📷 Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier
Drought ends for us tomorrow. Expecting 1/10th of a millimetre of rain. Battoning down the hatches.
#MosaicMonday 🏺 Giant fishes could be a tricky catch for 3-4 C #Roman period boatmen in this lively scene from Utica, Tunisia. British missionary Nathan Davis excavated on behalf of British Museum at Carthage + Utica, also retrieving Greek, Latin + Phoenician finds that arrived at Museum 1857-1860.
#MosaicMonday The Lady of Carthage mosaic, made of marble and glass tesserae, has been dated to the sixth century. The unidentified woman with a halo represented here is wearing purple clothing, holding a scepter, and giving a blessing. Carthage Museum, #Tunisia #art #Archaeology
Archaeologists have discovered 7000-year-old fishing traps in the inland mountains of southern Norway. Predating the introduction of farming, they indicate Mesolithic hunter-gatherers were already actively managing their environments. 🏺 #AntiquityThread 1/13 🧵
Redrawing of the Anglo-Saxon Mappa, said to be from the second quarter of C11th.
I'm in the South of France , where I was introduced to a French person with the words 'and this lady is from England.' 'Yes,' said the French person, dryly, 'I can see that for myself.'
This elaborate bronze helmet with its fantastical crest belonged to ‘North Bersted man.’ He lived in late Iron Age England though he was likely a Gaul. The helmet was buried with him. I also post a reconstruction & imagined drawing of this elite warrior 🏛️Novium Museum, Chichester 📷mine
For #AncientSiteSunday let's go to my favourite #Roman site: the temple complex of #Baalbek, located in the Bekaa Valley, #Lebanon. The breathtaking site contains some of the largest Roman temples ever built. The so-called Bacchus temple is one of...🧵1/2 📷 Rami Rizk 🏺 #archaeology
Notarial Archives Foundation Ġilduża Project on Malta Revives Parchment Making share.google/MdGsXJFHO3Sh.... A wonderful week for @erc.europa.eu #Codicum #HerdPath #INSULAR See more @ #CODICUM - Parchment Production Malta share.google/QWKLgmywCTiS...
Malta Revives Parchment Making Tradition Through International Workshop
The Ġilduża Project has reached a milestone with an international parchment-making workshop aimed at reviving the craft in Malta
share.google
Speculation that the US is coordinating the sudden influx of Moroccans into Spanish territories around the Pillars of Hercules. If so, good grief. Even more Putinesque behaviour from the US.
Roman masonry in Crusader Castles! An interesting feature common to many Crusader Castles is the builders' use of pillars and masonry from classical sites. You can see this clearly below in a section of wall from the castle of Jubail (Byblos) in Lebanon. (1/2)
Dunstanburgh Castle, Northumberland (England) my old watercolour reconstruction. #DunstanburghCastle #EnglishCastles #HistoryRebuilt #WatercolourPainting
Morning dew to the rescue! We may not have rain yet. But some green is returning to the grass and when you walk on it early doors you can figure why. It's wet underfoot.
I'd be very curious to know how anyone teaches a mappa mundi class using only photos of original works. Seems like it would be almost impossible.
Fool me once- shame on you. Fool me twice- shame on me.
Phillips OBrien@phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 6d agoWait--I thought it was guaranteed that the US would allow Ukraine to build Patriot interceptors. Everyone told me Trump was pivoting to Ukraine and Laura Loomer was onside. newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/trump-q...
If you cannot accept that what Trump has done over the last year and a half is starve Ukraine of air defense, and put off any new aid for as long as possible, so Putin can terrorize Ukraine from the air for as long as possible--you cannot accept reality.
Russians withdrew cash equal to two annual budgets from banks. As cash flows out of banks at an unprecedented rate, businesses are reportedly retreating into the shadows, dodging rising taxes and possibly eyeing a future with less certainty. Experts warn of looming instability. 1/6
This #coin is from the reign of Alexander III of #Macedon, more commonly known as #Alexander the Great. It features the head of Heracles on one side, and Zeus seated holding a sceptre and an eagle on the other. 🪙 Ancient Greek coin, c. 336–321 BCE. Silver, 24.8mm diameter. HCR5132
