It’s nice to see everyone’s textual analysis of The Odyssey It’s almost like the humanities give you entertainment, feelings, pleasure, and fun/interesting stuff to talk about, as well as lenses into both past and current society

Magnificent portrait of a woman, 1620, by Artemisia Gentileschi. She was born on this day in 1593.

for a defence of the humanities, see towards the end of this interview www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-Lu...

Mary Beard on power, politics and why "most ages feel turbulent when you're living through them"

YouTube video by BBC Politics

youtube.com

😬

There is something deeply early-modern-historian-funny about Spain's path through the knockout rounds involving Austria, Portugal, and Belgium in succession, with either France or Morocco waiting in the semifinal if they advance.

Juan José Ponce Vázquez@jjponcevazquez.bsky.social · last mo.

There is always a Habsburg meme. One for quarter finals.

History books by women are also available

This is a brilliant story. Hooray for archives, and for their staff and volunteers. 📝📄🗄️🗃️ www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

‘Vanishingly rare’ copy of US Declaration of Independence found by volunteer in UK archives

One of 11 surviving copies of ‘Exeter printing’ and only one known outside US was taken from American privateer ship

theguardian.com

Whether Rowlands intended it, “A Courtesan’s Humor” (1607) offers a portrayal of sex work as labor governed by market forces, professional risk, and the pragmatics of survival. Read more works of women's voices penned by male authors in HE WORDS ME free from ACMRS Press: https://ow.ly/Z4uz50Zjklc

“Capivard, ou cochon d’Eau au Pied d’un Bananier” ("Capybara, or Water Pig, at the Foot of a Banana Tree"), from François Froger, Relation d’un voyage fait en 1695, 1696, et 1697 aux côtes d’Afrique, détroit de Magellan, Brésil.. (Paris, 1698), p. 123 #capivara #brasil #earlymodern

When I was a kid growing up in the south it was really popular to wear “what would Jesus do?” bracelets

The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com · 2mo ago

Families in Tennessee with critically ill or severely disabled children who are undocumented are being asked to leave the state program that pays for lifesaving medication and treatment or stay and have their child reported to immigration authorities.

Kitty paw prints on a Roman clay tile! 😻 🐾 A tiny moment in time preserved in clay some 2,000 years ago when a kitten walked across this wet clay tile which was lying out to dry before firing. Lullingstone Roman Villa, Kent 📷 by me #Caturday #Archaeology

Yesterday in Antwerp I got to see Pieter Bruegel's "Dulle Griet" for the first time with my very own eyes. Women storming the gates of hell. What a marvelous painting! #earlymodern

2/2 On this day in 1568, upon orders of Alba's Council of Blood, Counts of Egmont and Horne are executed for heresy & treason in Brussels. Egmont's wife & eleven children seek asylum in a nearby convent.

somewhat odd, given Leonardo’s observations on the damaging role of money in the world

Peter Whitewood@pwhitewood.bsky.social · 3mo ago

In a piece of cringe, Syed calls Musk ‘this era’s Leonardo da Vinci’. Presumably this version of da Vinci also spent time amplifying conspiracy theories, indulging far-right politics and undermining elected governments online.

Portrait of a Woman, 1555, by #CatharinaVanHemessen ( #CaterinaVanHemessen, #CaterinaDeHemessen; Flemish, 1527/1528–after 1567). Held at the Fitzwilliam Museum, data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/1524 #artherstory #womenartists

A federal judge granted the motion for a summary judgment on all counts in favor of the AHA, @acls1919.bsky.social, and @modernlanguage.bsky.social in our lawsuit to restore the NEH, ruling that the mass termination of grants was “unlawful, unconstitutional, ultra vires, and without legal effect." 🗃️

Federal Judge Rules to Restore National Endowment of the Humanities Funding In Historic Case - AHA

Statements From American Council of Learned Societies, American Historical Association, and Modern Language Association on the Ruling FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 7, 2026 - This afternoon US District J...

historians.org

This #earlymodern print was to be used by 4 singers, standing on the four sides of the broadside, enjoying the get together. Part of the title says: for four voices, composed for children: "Mit vier Stimmen, für die Kinder Componieret". The year is 1571. 🎵 #skystorians

Hello Bluesky! My new book, THE FIREARM REVOLUTION, is out on 14 April. It’s about how a new technology changed society, and how hard it was to control. Here’s a little thread of what’s inside:

I was so pleased when @onthetudortrail.bsky.social invited me to speak on the Talking Tudors podcast about the life and legacy of Margaret of Austria. It was a great conversation - and it's available now wherever you listen! talkingtudors.podbean.com/e/margaret-o...

Closing out women's history month with a post honoring Anne of France, whose leadership embodied the virtues of women supporting women at the late medieval court. Enjoy! feministhistories.substack.com/p/anne-of-fr...

i love this book so much “Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose. It is a seeking that be who wishes may know the cosmic secrets of the world and they that dwell therein.” - Zora Neale Hurston (Dust Tracks On a Road)

Chile blocks $2.5 billion mine to protect Humboldt penguin habitat. Chile’s courts have permanently rejected a massive iron and copper mining project near the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve, safeguarding one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the Pacific buff.ly/hXH6Vhy #ShareGoodNewsToo

Chile confirms rejection of Dominga mining project: environmental victory in defense of the Humboldt penguin - Noticias Ambientales

The Court of Appeals of the northern region of Chile confirmed the rejection of the Dominga mining project, promoted by the multinational Andes Iron. The

buff.ly

Bless the person who said, “Sure, why not” to the initial gopher suggestion. Because those of us who think way, way outside the box KNOW we sound insane, but we would save the world if we could find exactly this kind of support. www.popularmechanics.com/science/envi...

43 Years Ago, Scientists Dropped Gophers Onto a Volcano. Today, They’re Tiny Heroes.

It started as a go-for-broke experiment, but it wound up saving an ecosystem.

popularmechanics.com

V diff context but this morning I started a conversation about the insistence on protecting “heroes.” From presidents to priests if we can’t let ppl do heroic things (usually in collaboration!) without making them singular unassailable heroes we devastate historical integrity — and civic function.

Karin Wulf@kawulf.bsky.social · 5mo ago

“Many of the women say they were discouraged from speaking out in order to preserve Mr. Chavez’s public image.” 🎁 www.nytimes.com/2026/03/18/u...

Generational talent

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani@mayor.nyc.gov · 5mo ago

Happy St. Patrick's Day, New York.

Always make students aware of their choices, my fellow academics. wordpress.aber.ac.uk/librarian/?p...

Wait a Minute…What If I Don’t Want to Use AI?

AI is everywhere right now. It writes summaries, explains theories, fixes grammar, and recommends playlists.But here’s the thing nobody says out loud: you’re allowed not to use it. Whether you feel…

wordpress.aber.ac.uk

Let there be as much outrage from politicians in Washington when kids go hungry as there is when I break bread with New Yorkers.

Man, one of the most depressing aspects of modern scholarship is finding a great article and then looking up the scholar to see what else they’ve done and just catching a glimpse of an abbreviated career hopping between visiting positions and publishing great pieces before disappearing from academia

Even if you are 100% convinced that Democracy is already dead and our votes won't count... PLEASE VOTE ANYWAY! I'm begging everyone. There is a critical mass of voter turnout that will be too big to fix. Please vote, no matter how bleak it seems.