“Written with wit and erudition, [Mythopedia] delights.” Read the full @publisherswkly.bsky.social review of @amayor.bsky.social’s “captivating” collection of geomyths:

From acclaimed folklorist and historian Adrienne Mayor comes Mythopedia, an enchanting collection of the ancient myths that emerged out of the wonders—and disasters—of the natural world. Out now. Learn more and order yours: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco... #AncientWorld #Mythology #Myths

Thanks to @ichnologist.bsky.social Tony Martin for figuring out that the rodent of the Rat/Squirrel Hole of Chicago escaped a "cement overcoat"! #Mythopedia p 121

Grateful to @amayor.bsky.social for sending me a copy of her new book "Mythopedia," a fascinating A-to-Z explainer of multicultural lore inspired by geology, paleontology & other facets of natural history. A fun & mind-expanding read! press.princeton.edu/books/hardco... 🧪📚🪨⚒️🦣🦖

Interesting. Now that polling shows that voters are largely blaming the GOP for the shutdown, Trump is calling for the Senate to use the nuclear open and reopen the government. Before, he was telling us he GOP to “hold firm” and not cave to anything Dems wanted.

so much fun talking about geomyths & my new book Mythopedia with Moira Gunn on NPR Tech Nation! Interview starts at 7.15 min www.podomatic.com/podcasts/tec...

pet rabbits/hares in ancient Greek vase paintings

Ancient art has suggested that brown bears were among the animals that gladiators fought back in Roman times, but a scientific research team working in Serbia has now found direct evidence of this in bones. buff.ly/gDXBi9U

Can a mountain really be cursed? @amayor.bsky.social explores the folklore behind natural history.

A couple of cool stripey cats! Ancient Greek vase paintings, 5th century BC

not happy that bsky slaps warnings on any images of ancient Greek art that shows nudity WTF

“Mythopedia”, une anthologie A-Z de 50 légendes inspirées par des événements naturels, couvrant des royaumes engloutis, des villes perdues, des montagnes maudites et des lacs mortels… ou quand la nature est expliquée par les mythes. Le nouveau recueil de l’historienne Adrienne Mayor

Me to 5yo: Please walk faster, I want to get home. Also me: 5yo, hold my bag, and the umbrella, and the raincoat, I have to chase down this insect and confirm it is not a bee. 15 minutes later... Look at this beauty. Bumblebee robberfly, not currently assassinating anything smaller than a raisin.

That’s seven. @reuters.com www.reuters.com/world/us/uni...

Courting scene: Maenad huntress offers a hare, typical love gift to Amazon Penthesilea. The heron suggests that the couple intends to form a household: herons were common pets in Greek women's courtyard scenes. 5th century BC Greek vase

Himes: If you've got the capability to blow a boat out of the water, you've got the capability to interdict it, arrest everyone on board, interrogate them, and find out where it was going, where it came from, who the bosses are, and what the distribution networks look like.

Courting scene: Maenad huntress offers a hare, typical love gift to Amazon Penthesilea. The heron suggests that the couple intends to form a household: herons were common pets in Greek women's courtyard scenes. 5th century BC Greek vase

Victims of sea monsters/dragons in ancient art Vase painting 500 BC and sculpture 3rd century AD

always hard to leave Montana each fall

Who will believe Earth’s population was once 8 billion? Or that ice long ago covered 10% of the globe? And floating mountains of ice once threatened ships at the poles and deep snow blanketed mountain ranges on every continent? Enjoy a sample from Mythopedia audiobook www.amazon.com/Mythopedia-B...

Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, and Scorpion Bombs Biological and Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World is out in English, Spanish, Russian, French

Read the latest, revised edition of Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, and Scorpion Bombs!

Ancient greek Naval combat was something to behold: like throwing scorpions to the other ship or trying the new Archimedes Laser to burn them before they come to close. Not to mention the horrors of grappling pulleys.

I've finished reading this. An entertaining, educational, and fun read. The final chapter is terrifying. #history #litsky #booksky #Writersky #ancients #bookish

I'm glad to see you here, @amayor.bsky.social After 400 likes and 44 reposts, it's only fair that now it's your turn to promote our book 😄 Seriously, I didn't know she was on BS, follow her!

Who will believe Earth’s population was once 8 billion? Or that ice long ago covered 10% of the globe? And floating mountains of ice once threatened ships at the poles and deep snow blanketed mountain ranges on every continent? Enjoy a sample from Mythopedia audiobook www.amazon.com/Mythopedia-B...

Enjoyed my conversation about natural disaster myths around the world and my new book Mythopedia on KPFA Radio! kpfa.org/episode/lett...

From acclaimed folklorist & historian @amayor.bsky.social, an enchanting collection of the ancient myths that emerged out of the wonders—& disasters—of the natural world. Mythopedia: A Brief Compendium of Natural History Lore is out now! Order yours: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco... #Mythology

Also, @amayor.bsky.social points out that this may be a mythologizing of inventions from Ptolemy II's court being sent as diplomatic gifts to India: theconversation.com/robots-guard... If true, that would make this a wonderful Reverse Mechanical Clock/Abul-Abbas the Elephant to Charlemagne story.

Natural history and mythology and @amayor.bsky.social? 😲 Count me in! 🤓😍 #Booksky

New on Heat Death! I caught up with folklorist and historian Adrienne Mayor to talk about her new compendium of “geomythology,” the warnings encoded in folklore, and the oral tradition of the future. Super fun conversation.

Mythopedia has 50 fantastic illustrations by Michele Angel. 3 examples: Sahara quicksand, Frost Giant Ymir, Zambezi river god Pre-order now, in stores Oct 7

GUYS THIS IS NOT A DRILL, NEW ADRIENNE MAYOR BOOK ABOUT TO DROP!!

Love this review of my new book Mythopedia in @harpers.bsky.social by Dan Piepenbring “I can’t say that Mythopedia deepened my relationship to the land, but it has shaken and shifted it like so many toads in a tornado.” harpers.org/archive/2025...

Dan Piepenbring in a review in the new Harper’s of Cory Doctorow’s “Enshittification.”

Mythopedia coming out Oct 7, 2025, preorder now! "Mayor draws on the new field of geomythology to explain the historical background & science behind 53 legends and myths of the earth. A fascinating catalog of ancient cultures and unique geological events" ―Kirkus Reviews

see @amayor.bsky.social's work demonstrating that even the mythical beasts in Herodotus are often based on archaeological or paleontological finds by people at the time in the region

delighted to see this extensive article about my book on Biological Warfare in Antquity in Haaretz www.haaretz.com/archaeology/...

Amazons in the heat of battle! details, lace-up fur-lined boots, leopard skin capes, gold armbands, lost cap and shields on ground... Baltimore Painter, Florence Museum

Who is the Amazon in the Wolfskin Cap? ancient coin of Amisos, during the reign of Mithradates VI of Pontus, first century BC

thrilled to have this enthusiastic review of my new book Mythopedia from Kirkus Reviews! www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...

Elegant Amazon rider, Etruscan bronze

Elegant Amazon rider, Etruscan bronze

Very much looking forward to this one. Adrienne's books are always excellent

18/28 This Greek vase represents the Trojan monster: the fossilized skull of a prehistoric animal - perhaps a Samotherium. It is also the cover of "The First Fossil Hunters" by Adrienne Mayor, which greatly helped me build this thread.