There’s been a lot of talk about power, privilege, and entitlement lately. Ancient Rome had plenty of all three. I wrote about Augustus, family networks, and how power really worked here: www.henryhdavis.com/post/ronald-...

Just back from Glastonbury Medieval Fayre. It reminded me of Mary Beard's Egyptian bread story that helped spark her passion for ancient history. People enjoy interacting with the past when they can see, handle, smell, and feel it. There is no reason this could not be done with ancient history too.

A good reminder that even sustained cult activity, inscriptions, and archaeology don’t necessarily point to a historical person. greekcitytimes.com/2026/04/07/o...

Nice moment at the comic con today — my partner even asked Warwick Davis a question for our son sitting on my lap. Thanks Warwick.

I’ve been looking again at Alma-Tadema’s Triumph of Titus, and at why it became awkward in the twentieth century. The painting turns out to be surprisingly revealing about Rome, taste, and what later viewers felt comfortable seeing. www.henryhdavis.com/post/lawrenc...

I currently research Christian origins within the political and social context of the Roman world, with a focus on power, elite family networks, and historical method. My work and writing can be found here: henryhdavis.com

Baiae also crops up in a rather less relaxing context — it was the original proposed location for Nero’s assassination, in Gaius Piso’s villa.

Happy new year! Just reposting this ahead of 2026. See you in 2027 x

As with Roman gods and emperors, the issue isn’t whether divine action is narrated, but how it’s framed and received. Educated authors deploy myth knowingly; listeners are guided in how to take it.

Here is an Xmas day episode of Instant Classics. We take a long hard look at Roman gifts and question tne direct link between Saturnalia & Xmas podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...

A nice, informative article, thanks James. Dec 25th already functioned in Greco-Roman calendars well before the 3rd c. CE as a post-solstitial turning point (increase of light, parapegmata). So, yes, layered meanings were the norm.

If you haven’t entered yet the draw closes TOMORROW!! Get your hands on some lovely stuff (check it all out in the thread below) forms.gle/tm82Z8AkWkRB...

Join the ICS in collaboration with the British School at Rome for an upcoming event: Myth, History and Archaeology: Peter Wiseman in conversation with Christopher Smith and Liv Yarrow Monday 19 January 6-8pm Full details here: ics.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...

#ancientbluesky #history #skystorians #romans We're eight away from hitting 1,000 subscribers on Substack. All I want for Christmas is 1,000! (that and socks, of course). open.substack.com/pub/jamescov...

Consider buying. Money goes to a good cause.

Hidden passage of emperors opened at the Colosseum : NPR www.npr.org/transcripts/...

We've made a few small changes to our National 5 textbook, following some feedback. Thank you to everyone who reached out! 🙏 The new edition can be downloaded at the same place. We've also added an answer scheme for all the questions and the mock exam. ☺️ www.workingclassicists.com/national-5-c...

Today is publication day of this new exciting book by my friend and former colleague Steve Tuck! Please spread the word and order below.

📢 New SCS Blog Post Classicists: please take a few minutes to read this very important post, by Rachel Philbrick and Zachary Quint, presenting the results of the first SCS Census. There's a lot to think about here. I look forward to the discussion.

'Secret Roman Emperor passage to Rome Colosseum opens for the first time in 2,000 years' www.indy100.com/science-tech... #ClassicsBluesky 🏺

Fantastic!

👋

Considering other authors do this, I feel it’s acceptable for me to do it. With that said, I’m glad to see my book in the top 100 best sellers list for ‘Christian New Testament Criticism’ and ‘Ancient Roman History (Kindle)’

Great news! JSTOR now have a free account with an Independent Researcher category. You can access 100 documents per month www.jstor.org/action/showL...

Excellent work

Interesting thoughts by @goodacre.bsky.social . I was recently having a discussion on ‘X’ and the issue of the continued problematical consensus of oral tradition, particularly in Biblical Studies, came up.

All modern footballers are, of course, pampered prima-donnas who faint at the merest whiff of being crushed to death by a galloping team of maniacal farm animals, the great simpering babies! Romans, however, had to earn their money! But how much did they earn? open.substack.com/pub/jamescov...

The Institute of Classical Studies is launching a newsletter. Sign up to stay updated on announcements, events, fellowships, grants, and upcoming activities of the ICS. The newsletter will be sent monthly in term time. mailchi.mp/sas/ics-news...

#AncientBlueSky #Archaeology #RomanHistory #History In my head, ancient Rome smells of copper, methane and the colour purple. But what did it actually smell like, according to the sources? open.substack.com/pub/jamescov...

The scholarly paper: Assael, Yannis, Thea Sommerschield, Alison Cooley, et al. “Contextualizing Ancient Texts with Generative Neural Networks.” Nature, Nature Publishing Group, July 23, 2025, 1–7. doi.org/10.1038/s415....

Google AI has developed a tool to predict the missing text in inscriptions, which is nice! I 'developed' a ChatGPT prompt that could do this two years ago, and I'm a clumsy buffoon, but... www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

Absolutely get your eyes on this! Great work. 👀

As a parent of an autistic child it’s fantastic to read about this work being done.

Today’s charity shop book haul. A present from my partner. She knows me well.

Classics For All are looking for a new trustee! They've asked us if we can share the following info: "Classics for All is recruiting new Trustees to help us expand access to ancient world studies in UK state schools - particularly in areas of disadvantage...

After announcing it at the Classical Association Conference over the weekend, today we launch our Working Classicists Guide to Event Accessibility. In it, we suggest ways to equalise access and eliminate anxieties around event attendance. Read more: www.workingclassicists.com/zine/working...

Scroll from the Piso villa in Herculaneum on show at the Bodleian Libraries.

1. Scam alert thread! 🧵 Watch out for out-of- the-blue emails from supposed marketing experts claiming they just happened on your book & are eager to promote it. This is something I'm seeing more and more of. Marketing scams aren't new, but this is a new twist.

A reminder to please vote for Duke Humfrey's in the 1000 libraries global 'Top Ten Most Beautiful Libraries' competition - and a big thank you to everybody who has voted for us so far. 1000libraries.typeform.com/to/TdFzuF5W?....

Huge well done to all the winners!

Archaeological excavations on Via Alessandrina, just a few meters from Trajan’s Forum, uncovered an imposing marble head depicting a male face with pronounced features, abundant hair, and an intense expression. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺 www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2025/06/l...

Starts 9th July!! New online course: Ancient Rome in 50 Monuments, by Dr Paul Roberts. Each Wednesday from 9th July to 6th August 2025, 6.00pm - 7.30pm (UK time) + recordings will be available Information and booking at: www.hellenicandromanlibrary.org/Events/Event... #ClassicsBluesky 🏺

An interesting read here.

Interesting read www.theguardian.com/science/2025... Many of Dead Sea scrolls may be older than thought, experts say | Archaeology | The Guardian

Reading an interesting note on how the Tudors got Richard III wrong by historian Philippa Langley in @historyextra.bsky.social She says, “…history can make no progress unless it’s ready to test and deconstruct generally held traditions and assumptions…” I agree, regardless of subject matter.

A very good and interesting article on Roman education and the lack of mass education.

View the Parthenon as it stood in 432 BCE. A historian recreated the awe-inspiring structure for VR. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺 www.popsci.com/science/part...

A sealed Herculaneum scroll yields its secrets—revealing a lost philosophical treatise by Philodemus through virtual unwrapping. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺 gizmodo.com/ai-identifie...

Happy International Workers' Day! ✊ Solidarity to all! May your rights be respected, your work rewarded, and your passions reignited!

Our annual awards are now open! Nominate someone who is doing lovely things in Classics. Maybe you know a teacher, or an enthusiast, or an archaeologist, or an artist, or a podcaster, or... It takes a minute and can have a huge impact. Go on... click the link! 🖱️ docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...