Via di Porta San Sebastiano

As someone who was concerned about the free speech climate on university campuses pre-2016... This is worse. This is obviously, clearly, head-thumpingly worse. Obviously unconstitutional, an abiding black mark on the university and the state.

Happy birthday Rome! The Eternal City blows out 2,779 candles today.

In @nytopinion.nytimes.com “The Trump administration’s relentless bullying ignores a central lesson from classical antiquity: Athens’s shift from benevolent hegemony to malevolent empire paved its road to ruin,” Stewart Patrick writes.

The always fantastic @partialhistorians.bsky.social are at last emerging from the Early Republic (small, poor, sources largely made up) to the Middle Republic (cool, successful, sources not* made up)! (*mostly).

Thrilled to celebrate my department’s 50th birthday tonight! First women’s studies degree in the state, only grad program in the state. we. are. stil. here

Saw a preview of 'An Iliad' at the Sydney Theatre Company last night. Powerful and timely. @acrsn.bsky.social @sydneytheatreco.bsky.social sydneytheatre.shorthandstories.com/an-iliad/ind...

Last night’s 4 Corners episode is recognition of our years-long campaign for Better Universities. We know what needs to be done - now it’s time for major action. Read the full media release 👉 nteu.info/4corners

My latest @awaws.org post on Dr Cynthia Begbie/Dean, fmr. Lecturer/Senior Lecturer @sydney.edu.au. @womenknowhistory.bsky.social @acrsn.bsky.social www.awaws.org/history-of-w... @womensclasscaucus.bsky.social @womeninclassicsuk.bsky.social @usyd-humanities.bsky.social @circa-candace.bsky.social

May 22 Sydney Writers' Festival (Sydney Town Hall, 8pm) An Evening with R.F. Kuang - To hell and (hopefully) back again with bestselling fantasy author. Book $ www.swf.org.au/program/fest... #Katabasis

March 12 Melbourne (UMelb Public Lecture Theatre, Old Arts Building) Professor Henriette van der Blom, Proving, pleasing ansd persuading: why ancient rhetoric still matters events.humanitix.com/proving-plea...

March 13 hybrid/Brisbane (4pm AEST, E302 Forgan Smith) UQ Classics & Ancient History seminar: Professor Maria Wyke (UCL/2026 Visiting Professor UQ Centre for Western Civilisation), #Nero in the Early Years of Cinema hpi.uq.edu.au/event/sessio... Zoom: email [email protected]

March 13 online - Res Difficiles 7 – Challenges and Pathways for Addressing Inequity in Classics resdifficiles.com

Catherine Steel and I are thrilled to announce the publication of our edited volume 'Women, Wealth and Power in the Roman Republic': www.cambridge.org/core/books/w... @universitypress.cambridge.org #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #BlueSkyClassics

@lordscribonius.bsky.social (2026): Romanas. Voces rescatadas. Madrid : @despertaferroed.bsky.social Recomendadísimo. Vidas de mujeres para conocer ese cincuenta por ciento que conformaba la población del mundo romano antiguo, invisibilizadas en la historiografía general.

Many thanks to our wonderful contributors, including Kit Morrell, @lordscribonius.bsky.social, Harriet Flower, Peter Keegan, Bronwyn Hopwood, Francesca Rohr Vio, Alessandra Valentini, Giulia Vettori, Carolyn Tobin, @leabeness.bsky.social, Tom Hillard, Christiane Kunst, Christian Hjorth Bagger,

Anne Mackay @ BMCR #review: Candace Richards, Elizabeth Minchin, Mediterranean collections in Australia & Aotearoa NZ... bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2026/2026.03... "multi layered perspectives on.. post-colonial era problems of curation &.. societal relevance of antipodean Mediterranean antiquities"

Thrilled that Women, Wealth and Power in the Roman Republic is now published: www.cambridge.org/core/books/w... @awaws.org @lewismarkwebb.bsky.social @resaustrales.bsky.social @acrsn.bsky.social @womenknowhistory.bsky.social @womensclasscaucus.bsky.social @universitypress.cambridge.org

Had a fantastic week in Auckland at #ASCS47 this year! I was privileged to present on the AWAWS sponsored panel ‘Home is Where the Hatred Is’ with Katherine Prouting and Meg Challis. Looking forward to the next one!

@brickclassicists.bsky.social The first year. Anyone know these people?

Please spread the word @partialhistorians.bsky.social

Attn. NSW High School History/Ancient History Teachers: Free to a good home. A run of 'Teaching History' 2010-2016. Misc. issues of 'Ancient History: Resources for Teachers'. I would love to see these go to a resource-poor school but mostly would like to see them being useful to someone. DM me.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has overhauled a panel that helps the federal government set priorities for autism research and social services, installing several members who have said that vaccines can cause autism despite decades of research that has failed to establish such a link.

Albanese's invitation to Canada’s Mark Carney to visit Australia and address the parliament was issued before Carney’s denunciation of Trump - and the hegemon - at the world economic forum in Davos. Chalmers described the speech as "stunning". satpa.pe/SgNrGFY

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday that Australia would move to strengthen the country’s strict gun laws in the wake of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack.

"A lot of our people have died preventable deaths at the hands of the system, and governments continue to perpetrate this violence and handball responsibility to one another when we know that the federal government... can intervene.” satpa.pe/DLCcxTs

In November 2002 the Paphos theatre team revealed the reused fragment of the Antonine dedicatory inscription of the theatre. It had been placed facedown as a threshold onto the orchestra during a later phases of use. It is the largest marble inscription ever found in Cyprus. #findsfriday

Tonight was a very bad night.

Brilliant by Tony Windsor @thesaturdaypaper.com.au “Rarely has a man of such little substance had so much consequence.” #auspol www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/share/22029/...

Tony Windsor is always worthwhile. What is the purpose of Barnaby Joyce? www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/comment/topi...

Excellent opinion piece.

Sounds like a load of gobblers to me …

For you @raylaurence1.bsky.social Two turkeys?

Microsoft forced its AI into 365 and wanted people to pay extra for the privilege. Didn't make it obvious that there was an option without AI. The ACCC is now suing them over it. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

A senate interim report into Australia’s universities has heard that, along with a lack of internal scrutiny, councils and the executives who control them face almost no scrutiny from outside. Remuneration committees are especially secretive, writes Tim Moore. satpa.pe/OavkXVQ

“Andrew Hastie is taking such positions just to stir emotions and fear, ignoring hard facts in each case, which defines him as opportunistic at best, and delusional at the other end of the scale,” writes John Hewson. satpa.pe/7qfUl98

Marcia Langton on the bill that quietly goes further than what she had hoped the 2023 Voice referendum could achieve. “This historic document outlines the terms for the first Australian experiment in shared sovereignty and Indigenous self-determination.” satpa.pe/nF6ARCt

“Australia should end all defence ties with Israel and cease trade in anything with potential military application, including raw materials, technology or so-called “dual use” material, such as drones." - Chris Sidoti

Mass slaughter in Gaza stands apart from other genocides, Chris Sidoti says – ‘People cannot escape’

Chris Sidoti, former Human Rights Commissioner, at the National Press Club: “The Genocide Convention not only requires that we not commit genocide - it also requires that we act to prevent genocide.” #npc

Today at the National Press Club #NPC AEST 12:30pm ABC (scheduled, subject to change) Professor Ben Saul & Chris Sidoti, will Address the National Press Club of Australia on “Palestine recognition: necessary but insufficient”. 🐝 #auspol

Two globally renowned figures in the field of human rights - Ben Saul and Ben Sidoti - will address the National Press Club in Canberra on 1 October on the topic “Palestine recognition: necessary but insufficient”. 11.30am onwards and will be broadcast live by the ABC’s News channel. #auspol

Chris Sidoti and Ben Saul at the National Press Club currently being live-streamed on ABC NewsRadio saying all the things right now.

View the Finnish model Jason; we do not need to fund private schools. C/- The Saturday Paper. Jane Caro: "The segregation crisis in schools funding"... September 27 – October 3, 2025 www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/comment/topi...

Very much looking forward to seeing Wright's 'Troy' at the Malthouse. What about a Sydney run for the production?

There are wars, and rumours of more wars, but almost total neglect of what should be the most significant global battle: keeping the planet habitable, writes John Hewson. satpa.pe/OGsKDas

AI is rapidly diffusing into all aspects of our lives, including our workplaces, for the future of higher education. We need to ensure that AI is introduced ethically, following genuine consultation, and in ways that do not disadvantage university staff. 💬 SHARE YOUR STORY: nteu.info/aistory

Three monumental statues were recovered from the seabed of Abu Qir Bay, Egypt'’s first such underwater operation in 25 years. english.ahram.org.eg/News/551647.... 🏺 #archaeology