About to get some sleep in the penultimate hotel of the trip, and we're in Bergama so of course I chose a hotel called Attalos...

Having hopped over to Kos and Lesbos on this trip, as well an extensively driving across western Turkey, the difference in vocal and visible Palestine support is night and day. I will always love Greece for that.

Good morning from Mytilene! 🇬🇷

I logged on to cancel my account and it told me it had made an AI podcast of one of my papers, which now seems like the least bad thing they're doing right now.

Manisa Museum is a triumph, recently reopened after a quarter of a century of closure. That number doesn't fill me with confidence for Antalya, Muğla, Fethiye or Aphrodisias museums reopening before 2050...

extremely lucky to have friends like @mythsbaby.bsky.social who wrote the Foreword for YOU ARE ODYSSEUS! My lovely mailing list have been treated to an early preview of Liv’s brilliant words that introduce the book - as well as a pre-order giveaway!

🚨 THIS WEEK🚨 👩‍🦱 Women in the arena? Rare, and often mocked. @belovedofoizys.bsky.social breaks down how female fighters were treated more as punchlines than professionals — and what that says about Rome. #WomenInHistory #AncientRome #Gladiators Listen now 🎧 pod.fo/e/32a91d#WomenInHistory#AncientRome#Gladiators#History #Podcast

Good morning from Ephesus!

I know I'm biased coz it's my video, but this is 11 minutes of back to back mouth watering BBQ action, inspired by the ancient Mediterranean world! Its unfair that it has less than 1000 views! Watch, like and share! youtu.be/u7JN1pl_JVs?... #bbq #ancientgreece #ancientrecipes #smokedpork

✨ICYMI✨ We have released a textbook for National 5 Classical Studies, the first book of its kind, and it’s FREE to download. Please share! www.workingclassicists.com/national-5-c...

My very professional, very accurate artistic interpretation of what the view from Miletus theatre looked like before the Maeander river delta silted up...

Good morning from Priene! 🙂

TIL Balbinus looked like Liev Schreiber

Giving our latest Zine article another push here because it is absolutely great. Get your eyes on it tout suite! www.workingclassicists.com/zine/eleusis...

My goodness, the Ephesus museum is a joy to photograph. Hats off to whoever did the lighting and colour design. Huge contrast to Aydin Museum this morning, whose lights were 'defective'...

🚨 THIS WEEK🚨 🏛️ Did you know the Hollywood portrayal of gladiators is often inaccurate? Join Paul Bavill and @belovedofoizys.bsky.social as they explore ancient Rome and debunk myths surrounding gladiators. 🎙️💪 #HistoryRage #AncientHistory Listen now 🎧 pod.fo/e/32a91d#HistoryRage#AncientHistory#History #Podcast

Hello from Magnesia on the Maeander!🏃‍♂️

Tripolis on the Maeander - the whole (very pretty) place to myself after the chaos of Hierapolis this morning.

I'm sorry, worldwide, irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable permission to my voice and likeness? For what now? In any manner for any purpose??? This is in academia/.edu's new ToS, which you're prompted to agree to on login. Anyway I'll be jumping ship. You can find my stuff at hcommons.org.

On to Laodikeia - what a contrast - Aphrodisias had greenery and gazebos for shade, whereas Laodikeia is a dry dustbowl without a single leaf to be found. With rising temperatures, should archaeological sites be doing more to provide shade for visitors? What I wouldn't give for an intact stoa...

✨NEW ARTICLE ✨ Ever wondered what happened to Eleusis, town of mystery and mysteries? Neil Middleton has had a look at the town today, and the art its history has inspired. www.workingclassicists.com/zine/eleusis...

Good morning from Aphrodisias!

So let me get this absolutely clear: Fethiye museum is closed. Mugla museum is closed. Antalya Museum is closed. Aphrodisias Museum is closed (for at LEAST 5 more years!) Milas museum have put EVERY EXHIBIT THEY HAVE into a storage depot. Am I going mad or is Turkey angry at me for some reason?

Greetings from Alinda aqueduct

This was a LOT of fun to record. Huge thanks to Paul Bavill for such a great chat about everything that grinds my gladiatorial gears!

I rounded off the day by finally visiting Halicarnassus theatre. I am 75% certain that this is where the famous Amazon and Achillea, the women warriors, fought their match. (The 25% is because Halicarnassus had a stadium, but it's unexcavated; I can't say whether it was made suitable for gladiators.

A quick hop over to Kos for the day. I haven't been for about 15 years, so I'm looking forward to seeing everything again (with a decent camera this time.)

We've reached a milestone over on IG: 500 followers! We're so grateful for each and every one of you who believes in Aôthen. Thank you!!! 🤎 www.instagram.com/aothen_magaz...

This is a tremendous achievement and a generous gift! Bravo, George!

🚨 NEXT WEEK🚨 Dive into the world of ancient Rome with our latest episode, where we debunk myths about gladiators and explore their true role in society. Join historian @belovedofoizys.bsky.social to discuss the complexities of gladiatorial games, from mass trauma responses to audience engagement.

Stratonikeia may have been a dud, but having the Hekate sanctuary at Lagina all to myself is compensation

Side, Perge, Tlos, Xanthian Letoon and Stratonikeia theatres all closed for restoration. I'm trying not to take it personally, but they're specifically the buildings I came to see, and no info was made available. This isn't the kind of trip I can easily ever do again. Please, Türkiye, no more.

Kadyanda. Off the beaten track and 100% worth the effort

I finished writing this tonight. It’s a textbook for National 5 Classical Studies, the first of its kind. I’m not sure but I think the last Scotland-specific Classics textbook for schools came out in 1983. Anyway, it’s 220 pages long and will be available for free/donation from tomorrow.

Kibyra

Minor (major) panic setting off from Kadyanda to Kibyra, only to see on their website that the site was now unexpectedly closed. Drove 2 hours hoping that was false, having a panic attack roughly every 50km. Reader, it was open...

Good morning from Tlos

An overnight in Fethiye. The frequent signs advertising Kayaköy (Livissi) as a picturesque ghost town are making me very, very uncomfortable. It wasn't 'abandoned', it was ethnically cleansed, and now it's a magnet for bloody influencers doing those stupid back-of-their-head shots

This tree, growing out of Pinara's theatre cavea, is my new best friend. Blessed, blessed shade...

Had to be done

Having visited Patara, even at 0830, I now understand why St Nick moved to the North Pole. Also, Xanthos needs the Nereid Monument back ASAP.

Off the beaten track to say the least, but we managed to get to the Delikkemer aqueduct...

Patara theatre lit up for Museums at Night; the lighting design handily emphasises the rough and ready parapet wall that was erected around the orchestra. It definitely made the cavea safe from stray swords, but I have now learned that the front couple of rows can see bugger all.

A picture of Myra's theatre without another soul in it, which was a miracle shot given the number of tour buses here

The once colonnaded main street of Limyra is a bit wetter than it originally was, and to be honest I kind of love it this way.

Olympos is an interesting site. On the north side of the (dried up river) that cuts through it, there are advanced excavations in progress on multiple buildings. On the south bank, the untouched ruins sit hidden in the pine forest still, and I feel like a Victorian antiquarian "discovering" them

I've spent a happy hour or so in Phaselslis, which I've wanted to visit since choosing the Phaselis Decree as one of the gobbets in am undergrad exam. Didn't disappoint, AND I've mentioned it in the book because of the gladiators in its theatre. Can't help but reflect how far I've come.

One ring to rule them all...

Sagalassos