Our first #writingprompt of 2026 is here!! Use the following words in a story or poem and tag us! We can't wait to read what you create. 🏺

"...to fly from Phthia's land where the pine-wood craft passed between the dusky clouds, first of ships to brave the ocean." Spoken by Hermione as she laments her fear of her husband's retaliation for her cruelty against Andromache. #classicsbluesky

Hi! We're #Aôthen, an independent magazine that publishes twice a year. With 2026 now upon us, we thought we'd (re)introduce ourselves. We publish work on & inspired by the Ancient Mediterranean, including Greece, Rome, Turkey, & Egypt. Read more about us on our website. 🤎

“O fate, what woes you have inflicted on my wretched head.” — Andromache, trans. John Davie.

Happy New Year from all of us at Aôthen! Have a safe, creative, joyous start to the new year. 🤎

We just want to take a brief moment to say thank you for an excellent year. Without you, our dear readers, we wouldn't be us. Seeing all the beautiful writing and art you created this year has been a special experience. Thank you forever. We can't wait to see what we all create together next year. 🤎

"Helen Brought to Paris" by Benjamin West, c. 1776.

It's the last #Aôthen Weekly Writing Prompt of the year!! ✨ We hope we can inspire you one more time before 2025 comes to an end. Use the following words in a poem or story and tag us. 🤎

Andromache expresses her gratitude to Peleus for saving her and her child from Hermione and Meneleus's cruel intentions. She cautions him to be careful as they leave the scene. 🏛️ #classicsbluesky

“Why did you give up the fruit of your handiwork to Ares?” — Andromache, trans. John Davie. #mythology #classicalstudies #euripides #ancienthistory

"Landscape with Vertumnus and Pomona" by Abraham Bloemaert, c. 1595-60.

The #Aôthen Weekly Writing Prompt: Holiday Edition. ✨ You know the drill—use the following words in a poem or short prose piece and tag us. 🤎 tags: #amwriting #writinginspo #litmag #indielit #indiebooks #amreading #readingcommunity #writingcommunity #writingprompt

Practice and action, rather than learned knowledge, is life's teacher according to Menelaus. This quote is from one of his speeches featured in Andromache. 🤎 #classicsbluesky

“The god brings reversal of fortune on the heads of his enemies; he does not tolerate their pride.” — Andromache, trans. John Davie. #mythology #ancientgreece #literature #classics

🏺 Recently on Columns, we interviewed high school student Charlie Friedman on his work on Ad Vitam and how he, as a young person, views classical studies. Read now through our profile!

"The Farewell of Telemachus and Eucharis" by Jacques-Louis David, c. 1818.

A new #Aôthen weekly writing prompt? You bet. Use the following words in a poem or short prose piece and tag us! 🤎

Menelaus gives his opinion of Helen while speaking with Peleus in Euripides's play Andromache. Do you agree? 👀🤎 #classicsbluesky #ancientbluesky

✨ LAST CALL FOR SUBS✨ Submissions for Issue 10 close today! We accept work on or about the Ancient Mediterranean. For more information and to submit, please visit our website (link in bio). 🏛️🏺🤎

“I endured the cruel blow and went away reluctantly.” — Andromache, trans. John Davie. #classics #ancientstudies #mythology #ancientgreece

Tomorrow is your last chance to submit your work for consideration in Issue 10! Submit via the link in bio. ☀️

"Red, pulsating, unlearning agony, forgetting how to call myself / My father's son and my son's father." From "Self-Portrait as Daedalus by Hilary Tam. Featured in Aôthen Magazine, Issue 2, 2022. Read here: aothenmagazine.com#issue2.

Our #bookrecommendation of the week is Three Summers by Margarita Liberaki. Originally published in the 1940's, it was first translated into English in the 1990's and reissued for publication in 2019. Considered a classic, it follows three sisters pre-WWII as they grapple with their changing lives.

"Venus Blindfolding Cupid," c. 16th-century Italy. Oil on canvas. The artist remains unknown, though it may be a follower of the Italian artist Titian.

It's a beautiful day to submit your work! Don't miss your chance. Link via our bio or visit our website. 🤎

Wake up, babe, a new #Aôthen writing prompt just dropped. Use the following words in a poem or short prose piece and tag us. We hope you feel inspired. 🤎

Spoken by the Chorus in Euripides' play Andromache. 🏛️ #classicsbluesky

#Plato and writer's block - is there a combo more relatable to Aôthen readers out there? Read Greta Savage's short essay on being a #creative and grappling with Plato's Forms through our profile 🔆

Submissions close one week from today! Don't miss your chance. 🤎 We accept work on or about the Ancient Mediterranean. For more information and to submit, please visit our website (link in bio). 🏛️🏺☀️

“I was crushed by the visits of wearisome women.” — Andromache, trans. John Davie. #classics #ancienthistory #mythology #literature

"Starving somewhere as a virgin felling gods heavenside." From "Parthenogenesis" by Irteqa Khan. Featured in Aôthen Magazine, Issue 2, 2022. Read here: aothenmagazine.com#issue2.

Have you submitted yet? Subs close December 14! ☀️

Our #bookrecommendation of the week is actually a short essay! Marbles in Metamorphosis by Rachel Cusk explores the relationship between marble, tourism, and local culture in Greece, positing marble as both a metaphor and a physical representation of ancient and modern Greek life.

"Venus with a Mirror" by Titian, c. 1555. Oil on canvas.

Submissions close December 14! Submit your art and writing today! Link via our bio or visit our website. 🤎

Our first weekly writing prompt of December is here! Use the following words in a poem or short prose piece and tag us. We want to read what you create. 🤎

Peleus intervenes as Andromache and her child find themselves in danger. Spoken by Peleus to Andromache. #classicsbluesky

✨ SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW OPEN ✨ Submissions for Issue 10, our winter edition, are now open! We accept work about the Ancient Mediterranean in the following categories: poetry, fiction, essays, art/photography, and translation. For more info and to submit, please visit our website (link in bio). 🏛️🏺🤎

“Disasters are sent from the gods and, sooner or later, afflict all men.” — Andromache, trans. John Davie. #ancientstudies #classics #mythology #literature

✨ SUBMISSIONS OPEN TOMORROW ✨ Submissions for Issue 10 open tomorrow for two weeks only! We accept work on or about the Ancient Mediterranean. For more information and to submit, please visit our website (link in bio). Get those subs ready! 🏛️🏺🤎

"They are giddy to be seen. The day is just beginning for them. / This year no one asks what happened to the bodies." From "And in the Third Week We Visit the Etruscan Tombs" by Ginger Hanchey. Featured in Aôthen Magazine, Issue 1, 2022. Read here: aothenmagazine.com#issue1.

ONE DAY ☀️

Our #bookrecommendation of the week is Good Will Come From the Sea by contemporary Greek author Christos Oikonomou. First published in 2014 as Το καλό θα 'ρθει από τη θάλασσα, it was translated into English in 2019. It is a collection of four short stories.

2 days 🏛️

"Vestiges d'un temple de la Grece" by Jean-François Janinet. It is a color aquatint and etching created in the late 1700's. Housed in the National Gallery of Art.

3 days! ☀️

Our weekly writing prompt is here! Use the following words in a poem or short prose piece and tag us. 🤎

4 days 🤎

Melanus refuses Andromache's child's pleas for mercy. War, as demonstrated here, has hardened his heart. #classicsbluesky

5 days...👀