Ellen Muehlberger
@emuehlbe.bsky.social
Michigander with ideas about ancient history, writing, cats, bikes
I'm probably gonna ask you what you're writing
Things Unseen, available open access from University of California Press: https://luminosoa.org/books/m/10.1525/luminos.253
I'm probably gonna ask you what you're writing
Things Unseen, available open access from University of California Press: https://luminosoa.org/books/m/10.1525/luminos.253
Pinned
I say this enough that I should just make a permanent pinned post, but people: if you're feeling down, just go get yourself a hit of other people's good news---it's the richest espresso, the driest prosecco, the warmest sunshine, the gooey-ist brownie
Hear me out: how different would it all be if you took a position as dean or provost or president knowing that you'd return to being a regular line colleague at the end of it?
December 1, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Hear me out: how different would it all be if you took a position as dean or provost or president knowing that you'd return to being a regular line colleague at the end of it?
About a decade ago my current institution hired the shiny bow tie from outside rather than the inside person everyone knew and trusted
Shiny bow tie collected his CV line and moved back to what was clearly his home institution; we lost the insider to an Ivy that saw its good fortune in our mistake
Shiny bow tie collected his CV line and moved back to what was clearly his home institution; we lost the insider to an Ivy that saw its good fortune in our mistake
The worst thing to happen to academia was the emergence of a nomadic administrative class like the one in corporations who just move from institution to institution setting fires and walking away.
Say what you will about the flaws of faculty governance, but at least they believe in the mission.
Say what you will about the flaws of faculty governance, but at least they believe in the mission.
December 1, 2025 at 4:47 PM
About a decade ago my current institution hired the shiny bow tie from outside rather than the inside person everyone knew and trusted
Shiny bow tie collected his CV line and moved back to what was clearly his home institution; we lost the insider to an Ivy that saw its good fortune in our mistake
Shiny bow tie collected his CV line and moved back to what was clearly his home institution; we lost the insider to an Ivy that saw its good fortune in our mistake
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
Out now in Oxford Bibliographies in Classics: My biblio on "Jews in the Roman empire." My goal was to invite classicists/ancient historians into the rich world of rabbinic literature, which can transform (if we let it) how we talk about the Roman empire
www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/docu...
www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/docu...
www.oxfordbibliographies.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Out now in Oxford Bibliographies in Classics: My biblio on "Jews in the Roman empire." My goal was to invite classicists/ancient historians into the rich world of rabbinic literature, which can transform (if we let it) how we talk about the Roman empire
www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/docu...
www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/docu...
A full-on I Wish I Had a V8 moment about a chapter in my book Things Unseen, on the effects of ancient rhetorical training---the chapter is open access at this link:
luminosoa.org/chapters/m/1...
luminosoa.org/chapters/m/1...
luminosoa.org
November 28, 2025 at 2:34 PM
A full-on I Wish I Had a V8 moment about a chapter in my book Things Unseen, on the effects of ancient rhetorical training---the chapter is open access at this link:
luminosoa.org/chapters/m/1...
luminosoa.org/chapters/m/1...
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
This is a late ancient (5-7th c.?) Greek account of the life of a rich woman who was raised Jewish, converted to Christianity when her parents died, lived for 20 years as a male monk named John, was discovered & made head of a woman's monastery, & was later martyred
well, what the heck. it's the tuesday before thanksgiving, and whoever is on here deserves a treat: the first new translation I've posted in a long while: the Life and Martyrdom of Susanna:
andrewjacobs.org/translations...
andrewjacobs.org/translations...
Life and Martyrdom of Susanna
andrewjacobs.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:27 PM
This is a late ancient (5-7th c.?) Greek account of the life of a rich woman who was raised Jewish, converted to Christianity when her parents died, lived for 20 years as a male monk named John, was discovered & made head of a woman's monastery, & was later martyred
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
My short Elements book "Literate Workers and the Production of Early Christian Literature" is now available on Cambridge Core. It was a lot of fun to learn from the exciting scholarship that's been happening and I hope that it's a useful resource for people. www.cambridge.org/core/element...
Literate Workers and the Production of Early Christian Literature
Cambridge Core - History of Religion - Literate Workers and the Production of Early Christian Literature
www.cambridge.org
November 25, 2025 at 1:20 AM
My short Elements book "Literate Workers and the Production of Early Christian Literature" is now available on Cambridge Core. It was a lot of fun to learn from the exciting scholarship that's been happening and I hope that it's a useful resource for people. www.cambridge.org/core/element...
I got out of both high school and college without learning any languages; I moved to Italy to marry a man and, to my surprise, was fluent in four months; other realizations and languages followed
November 24, 2025 at 2:01 PM
I got out of both high school and college without learning any languages; I moved to Italy to marry a man and, to my surprise, was fluent in four months; other realizations and languages followed
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
November 23, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Such a thrill to get to the book exhibit and see the cover for Things Unseen up on the big board---stop by the @ucpress.bsky.social booth to get a copy!
November 24, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Such a thrill to get to the book exhibit and see the cover for Things Unseen up on the big board---stop by the @ucpress.bsky.social booth to get a copy!
Back home from my first AARSBL since the Before Times, and that was lovely---so good to see you all!
November 24, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Back home from my first AARSBL since the Before Times, and that was lovely---so good to see you all!
November 21, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
If you are headed to #SBLAAR25 #AARSBL25 Gender Violence will be available at 40% off! Stop by the @ucpress.bsky.social booth and pick up a copy! If you would like to grab coffee to talk about the book or other things, send me a DM! www.ucpress.edu/books/gender...
Gender Violence in Late Antiquity by Jennifer Barry - Hardcover
Scholarship is a powerful tool for changing how people think, plan, and govern. By giving voice to bright minds and bold ideas, we seek to foster understanding and drive progressive change.
www.ucpress.edu
November 20, 2025 at 5:03 PM
If you are headed to #SBLAAR25 #AARSBL25 Gender Violence will be available at 40% off! Stop by the @ucpress.bsky.social booth and pick up a copy! If you would like to grab coffee to talk about the book or other things, send me a DM! www.ucpress.edu/books/gender...
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
And here we go! A new episode discussing the relationship between magic and early Christianity with @vox-magica.bsky.social!
classicalantiquitypod.com/2025/11/20/s...
classicalantiquitypod.com/2025/11/20/s...
Sidequest 27 – Magic and Early Christianity with Dr. Shaily Patel
In response to a suggestion from Dr. Rhiannon Garth Jones, I reached out to Dr. Shaily Patel at Virginia Tech (GO HOKIES!) to see if she would come on the podcast. Turns out she was willing to do s…
classicalantiquitypod.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:33 PM
And here we go! A new episode discussing the relationship between magic and early Christianity with @vox-magica.bsky.social!
classicalantiquitypod.com/2025/11/20/s...
classicalantiquitypod.com/2025/11/20/s...
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
Head to a Pavement location instead! Boston business w/ unionized baristas. Their shops on Newbury St and Boylston are both just a couple of blocks from Hynes Convention Center.
On your way to AAR/SBL? Skip the Starbucks, the baristas are on strike
I mean, skip it anyways, but
I mean, skip it anyways, but
November 20, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Head to a Pavement location instead! Boston business w/ unionized baristas. Their shops on Newbury St and Boylston are both just a couple of blocks from Hynes Convention Center.
On your way to AAR/SBL? Skip the Starbucks, the baristas are on strike
I mean, skip it anyways, but
I mean, skip it anyways, but
November 20, 2025 at 1:34 PM
On your way to AAR/SBL? Skip the Starbucks, the baristas are on strike
I mean, skip it anyways, but
I mean, skip it anyways, but
Listen, my brother, Virginia Tech *was* the sexy and cool place to go---back when you had a Religious Studies department
November 19, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Listen, my brother, Virginia Tech *was* the sexy and cool place to go---back when you had a Religious Studies department
My best advice for other writers: read everything and anything you want!
www.ucpress.edu/blog-posts/a...
www.ucpress.edu/blog-posts/a...
Author Ellen Muehlberger on Building a Book
Author Ellen Muehlberger on her path to writing THINGS UNSEEN.
www.ucpress.edu
November 19, 2025 at 5:14 PM
My best advice for other writers: read everything and anything you want!
www.ucpress.edu/blog-posts/a...
www.ucpress.edu/blog-posts/a...
It's not even a morality issue---it's an equity issue.
In essence, about half the student body has to manage the prospect that approaching the professor for help, professional advice, guidance, or feedback is going to go sideways.
Women in his classes are not getting the same class.
In essence, about half the student body has to manage the prospect that approaching the professor for help, professional advice, guidance, or feedback is going to go sideways.
Women in his classes are not getting the same class.
I know that at this point it's a subplot in the Epstein files drama, but I feel compelled to point out, once again, that Larry Summers HAS NO BUSINESS teaching students at ANY university ever again!
My latest cries into the abyss, in @thenation.com
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
My latest cries into the abyss, in @thenation.com
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Why Is Larry Summers Still Employed?
The revelations about the economist’s attempts to pressure a women into a “relationship”—with guidance from Jeffrey Epstein—should finally disqualify him from teaching students.
www.thenation.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:12 PM
It's not even a morality issue---it's an equity issue.
In essence, about half the student body has to manage the prospect that approaching the professor for help, professional advice, guidance, or feedback is going to go sideways.
Women in his classes are not getting the same class.
In essence, about half the student body has to manage the prospect that approaching the professor for help, professional advice, guidance, or feedback is going to go sideways.
Women in his classes are not getting the same class.
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
okay, friends, let's do something community-oriented and helpful. #sblaar25 veterans, drop your best conference advice for first-time attendees. be sure to signal boost so folks across bluesky can add on/peruse.
November 19, 2025 at 3:08 PM
okay, friends, let's do something community-oriented and helpful. #sblaar25 veterans, drop your best conference advice for first-time attendees. be sure to signal boost so folks across bluesky can add on/peruse.
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
Current* conditions near Gary, IN:
November 18, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Current* conditions near Gary, IN:
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
The fact that no one in the room stood up for her says a lot about how we got here bsky.app/profile/pale...
"Quiet! Quiet, Piggy."
November 18, 2025 at 2:55 PM
The fact that no one in the room stood up for her says a lot about how we got here bsky.app/profile/pale...
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
We don't take teaching seriously enough.
Update from The Harvard Crimson on Summers: he’ll step back from public commitments, but remain in the classroom, continue his directorship of a center, & keep his University Professorship. How is this in any way holding him accountable for his actions? www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Summers To Step Back from Public Commitments Amid Epstein Scandal | News | The Harvard Crimson
Former Harvard President Lawerence H. Summers will step back from all public commitments in an effort “to rebuild trust and repair relationships with the people closest to me,” he wrote in a statement...
www.thecrimson.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:14 PM
We don't take teaching seriously enough.
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
New issue of Studies in Late Antiquity Vol. 9, No. 4 (2025) online.ucpress.edu/SLA/issue/9/4 Paleoscience and the Study of Late Antiquity @ucpress.bsky.social @janetekay.bsky.social @shakenbeck.bsky.social @r-c-jackson.bsky.social
Volume 9 Issue 4 | Studies in Late Antiquity | University of California Press
online.ucpress.edu
November 17, 2025 at 3:02 PM
New issue of Studies in Late Antiquity Vol. 9, No. 4 (2025) online.ucpress.edu/SLA/issue/9/4 Paleoscience and the Study of Late Antiquity @ucpress.bsky.social @janetekay.bsky.social @shakenbeck.bsky.social @r-c-jackson.bsky.social
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
in addition to Young's (predictably) excellent introduction to Nicaea and its contours, the forum includes 10 "paired" scholars reflecting on the meaning and legacy of the council from various denominational perspectives
November 17, 2025 at 2:43 PM
in addition to Young's (predictably) excellent introduction to Nicaea and its contours, the forum includes 10 "paired" scholars reflecting on the meaning and legacy of the council from various denominational perspectives