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
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
I’ve been thinking about the intellectual and affective labor involved in reading AI Generated student papers. I’m forecasting a little of the proposal that @cnygren.bsky.social and I advance in a piece that’ll be out soon but here’s where I’ve personally landed (o speak for myself not for us both):
December 4, 2025 at 11:21 PM
I’ve been thinking about the intellectual and affective labor involved in reading AI Generated student papers. I’m forecasting a little of the proposal that @cnygren.bsky.social and I advance in a piece that’ll be out soon but here’s where I’ve personally landed (o speak for myself not for us both):
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
Looking for an MA in Classics and Ancient History? Look no further! We are very excited about the launch of our new MA in Classics and Ancient History, now open for applications for a September 2026 start.
For more information and to apply, please visit:
courses.leeds.ac.uk/k149/classic...
For more information and to apply, please visit:
courses.leeds.ac.uk/k149/classic...
Classics and Ancient History MA | University of Leeds
The Classics and Ancient History MA is unique to Leeds and explores the ancient Mediterranean world, spanning literature, history, philosophy, religion and material culture.
courses.leeds.ac.uk
December 5, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Looking for an MA in Classics and Ancient History? Look no further! We are very excited about the launch of our new MA in Classics and Ancient History, now open for applications for a September 2026 start.
For more information and to apply, please visit:
courses.leeds.ac.uk/k149/classic...
For more information and to apply, please visit:
courses.leeds.ac.uk/k149/classic...
I had a great time talking with Anthony Kaldellis on his Byzantium & Friends pod about Things Unseen
the episode is up here: www.podbean.com/ew/pb-5ccaq-...
first question out of the gate is about the dedication
the episode is up here: www.podbean.com/ew/pb-5ccaq-...
first question out of the gate is about the dedication
145. Seeing into the minds of others, with Ellen Muehlberger
A conversation with Ellen Muehlberger (University of Michigan) about how some people in late antiquity tried to model, confirm, or interpret what they thought was going on in the minds of others. We b...
www.podbean.com
December 4, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I had a great time talking with Anthony Kaldellis on his Byzantium & Friends pod about Things Unseen
the episode is up here: www.podbean.com/ew/pb-5ccaq-...
first question out of the gate is about the dedication
the episode is up here: www.podbean.com/ew/pb-5ccaq-...
first question out of the gate is about the dedication
I'm reminded today of that time that all of us in the field got an email letting us know that a NT/EC job was filled---and it was supposed to be BCC, but was not
December 4, 2025 at 6:40 PM
I'm reminded today of that time that all of us in the field got an email letting us know that a NT/EC job was filled---and it was supposed to be BCC, but was not
Anyway, all the cool people know that the *real* color of the year is the new cover color for next year's Journal of Early Christian Studies---subscribe now and get four issues in Pantone 165, a gorgeous, nicely saturated orange for 2026
December 4, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Anyway, all the cool people know that the *real* color of the year is the new cover color for next year's Journal of Early Christian Studies---subscribe now and get four issues in Pantone 165, a gorgeous, nicely saturated orange for 2026
White? This year?? C'mon
December 4, 2025 at 5:12 PM
White? This year?? C'mon
If you're not already following Professor Antonovich, well, today's the day to fix that error!
Historian of eugenics here. I don't normally like to retweet bad arguments, but this is such a fundamental misunderstanding of eugenics, I think it's important to point out. I don't have time to debunk all of the ways this is inaccurate, but I'll highlight a few things and then recommend some books🧵
December 4, 2025 at 1:34 PM
If you're not already following Professor Antonovich, well, today's the day to fix that error!
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
this is my #1 advice to grad students: anyone can reproduce jargon; the bigger flex is being able to make the argument in straightforward prose. clarity is indicative of deep thought and engagement. even chatGPT can write word salad.
i strongly, strongly believe that good writing is downstream of clear thinking and a strong understanding of the subject matter at hand. without fail, tortured writing comes from writers who don’t know and can’t think clearly about anything.
Oh man! This paragraph is brutal. The best thing about this review is it's not trying to be mean. It's just listing how bad the writing is.
December 3, 2025 at 7:36 PM
this is my #1 advice to grad students: anyone can reproduce jargon; the bigger flex is being able to make the argument in straightforward prose. clarity is indicative of deep thought and engagement. even chatGPT can write word salad.
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
Reposted by Ellen Muehlberger
Proofs day for my chapter in _Listen to the Sibyl: The History, Poetics, and Reception of the Sibylline Oracles_ (ed. Olivia Stewart Lester et al)! The volume should be out in February via JSJSupp: brill.com/display/titl...
brill.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Proofs day for my chapter in _Listen to the Sibyl: The History, Poetics, and Reception of the Sibylline Oracles_ (ed. Olivia Stewart Lester et al)! The volume should be out in February via JSJSupp: brill.com/display/titl...
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
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