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benpaites.bsky.social
🏰 Ben Paites 🏛️
@benpaites.bsky.social
3.7K followers 450 following 820 posts
Senior Curator at Colchester Museums. Mainly Roman archaeology and LGBTQ+ history. Also cat dad to Artemis and enthusiastic Gaymer. He/Him

Author of 50 LGBTQ+ Finds: https://www.amberley-books.com/50-lgbtq-finds.html

Website: https://www.ben-paites.com
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benpaites.bsky.social
🏰 Ben Paites 🏛️ @benpaites.bsky.social · Apr 15
Today is the day! My book is finally available to buy. After years of work, I’m so excited to finally share it with the world! But this isn’t the end. I will be promoting the book across the country over the next year, so stay tuned for more info.
#BookLaunch
A man with short dark hair and a short beard in a cream jumper holding a book. The book title reads “50 LGBTQ+ Finds” and is dark brown in colour with a picture of an object on the front in the form of a bust that is green in colour.
benpaites.bsky.social
The @mercurytheatre.bsky.social have just released the cast list for the upcoming Manningtree Witches play. Nothing beats the OG cast though.
A black and white drawing from the 1600s. In the centre at the top is a man with a tall hat and cape. Two women are sat in chairs in the centre. Various animals are in the centre including a cat, dog, rabbit, ferret and what looks like a cow. At the top are the words Matthew Hopkins Witchfinder General. Fictional names of the various animals label them.
November 25, 2025 at 12:56 PM
benpaites.bsky.social
The @mercurytheatre.bsky.social have just released the cast list for the upcoming Manningtree Witches play. Nothing beats the OG cast though.
A black and white drawing from the 1600s. In the centre at the top is a man with a tall hat and cape. Two women are sat in chairs in the centre. Various animals are in the centre including a cat, dog, rabbit, ferret and what looks like a cow. At the top are the words Matthew Hopkins Witchfinder General. Fictional names of the various animals label them.
November 25, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by 🏰 Ben Paites 🏛️
benpaites.bsky.social
In case you missed it, in the October episode of the Bethnal Archives I discuss the history of the witch trials and the significance of Colchester in this period of speculation and fear. youtu.be/lgnM56MCLqk?...
The Real Reasons The Witch Trials Happened| Ben Paites | Bethnal Archives Podcast
YouTube video by Bethnal Archives
youtu.be
November 21, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Reposted by 🏰 Ben Paites 🏛️
benpaites.bsky.social
I’ve sold more copies of my “50 LGBTQ+ Finds “ book in the past 6 months than my “50 Finds from Essex” book has sold in the past 8 years. 😭

Thank you everyone who has bought a copy!
A copy of the book 50 LGBTQ+ Finds. The title is in yellow with a large white 50. A green bust of a young man is in the centre bottom. The cover is dark. The author Ben Paites is written at the bottom of the cover. It sits on green fabric.
November 22, 2025 at 10:27 AM
benpaites.bsky.social
It’s been enough days now and after seeing #WickedForGood I think, over all, it did justice to the show with some nice nods for the diehards. Though I still don’t get why Elphaba was wandering around in a granny jumper singing to no one for the first part of As Long As Your Mine…
November 23, 2025 at 9:56 AM
benpaites.bsky.social
I’ve sold more copies of my “50 LGBTQ+ Finds “ book in the past 6 months than my “50 Finds from Essex” book has sold in the past 8 years. 😭

Thank you everyone who has bought a copy!
A copy of the book 50 LGBTQ+ Finds. The title is in yellow with a large white 50. A green bust of a young man is in the centre bottom. The cover is dark. The author Ben Paites is written at the bottom of the cover. It sits on green fabric.
November 22, 2025 at 10:27 AM
benpaites.bsky.social
In case you missed it, in the October episode of the Bethnal Archives I discuss the history of the witch trials and the significance of Colchester in this period of speculation and fear. youtu.be/lgnM56MCLqk?...
The Real Reasons The Witch Trials Happened| Ben Paites | Bethnal Archives Podcast
YouTube video by Bethnal Archives
youtu.be
November 21, 2025 at 3:27 PM
benpaites.bsky.social
I was very excited to recommend “A Good Year” by the wonderful @polisloizou.bsky.social for the Christmas meeting of my local LGBTQ+ book club. I was so excited in fact I’ve finished it almost a month early. Highly recommended, especially if you love folklore and superstition.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

👹🎄🤰👬🇨🇾
A book on a green fabric background. The front cover has the title “A Good Year” in red at the bottom with the author name “Polis Loizou” beneath in black. The images of a devilish hand stretching from left to right, with hairy arms and long nails, is surrounded by leaves of different states of decay. A strong is tied to the index finger and forms a circle extending away from the hand and looping around to the other side. The publisher, Fairlight Moderns, is at the top with a lighthouse logo. The cover has a green border.
November 19, 2025 at 10:02 PM
benpaites.bsky.social
It’s a tough one as it’s been a good year for games. I’ve played plenty that didn’t release this year too. As of 2025 releases though, it’s either South of Midnight or AC shadows.
The poster for a game called South of midnight. A young black woman with a single braid down her back is top right, she is turned away from us but looks back over her right shoulder. Below is a bronze distaff, used in weaving. Bottom right is a tree covered in bottles and the title is in a dark font to the left of it. A red background with a Japanese Torii gate. In front is a samurai and a ninja, posed facing opposite directions. The title of the game, Assassins Creed Shadows is above in white.
November 18, 2025 at 8:22 AM
benpaites.bsky.social
Me: so spine doctor, what are my results?

Spine doctor: your body is essentially doing this >

Me: 😶
November 17, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Reposted by 🏰 Ben Paites 🏛️
benpaites.bsky.social
Never forget that the witch persecutions of the 1500s and 1600s were a cover for several much more pervasive forms of hate that continue to this very day.

-Misogyny
-Ableism
-Antisemitism
-homophobia
-Anti-Catholicism

Image: Witches at Sabbath, from “The history of witches and wizards”, 1720.
A black and white print of four people with pointed hats and long dresses dancing in a circle with four figures who have horns and tails.
November 16, 2025 at 10:15 AM
benpaites.bsky.social
Never forget that the witch persecutions of the 1500s and 1600s were a cover for several much more pervasive forms of hate that continue to this very day.

-Misogyny
-Ableism
-Antisemitism
-homophobia
-Anti-Catholicism

Image: Witches at Sabbath, from “The history of witches and wizards”, 1720.
A black and white print of four people with pointed hats and long dresses dancing in a circle with four figures who have horns and tails.
November 16, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Reposted by 🏰 Ben Paites 🏛️
benpaites.bsky.social
Found this supposedly Bronze Age spear in the stores today, seemingly with parts of the wooden shaft in it. I’m slightly sceptical on the date given how poorly wood survives in the ground, but isn’t it cool!
A green coloured spear with bits of wood in the shaft.
November 14, 2025 at 4:01 PM
benpaites.bsky.social
Found this supposedly Bronze Age spear in the stores today, seemingly with parts of the wooden shaft in it. I’m slightly sceptical on the date given how poorly wood survives in the ground, but isn’t it cool!
A green coloured spear with bits of wood in the shaft.
November 14, 2025 at 4:01 PM
benpaites.bsky.social
This coming days after the announcement of the new Mummy movie… 👀 www.egyptindependent.com/egypt-to-ann...
Egypt to announce archaeological surprise in 2026 that will 'rewrite history': Zahi Hawass - Egypt Independent
Renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass claimed that a new archaeological discovery inside the Great Pyramid of Giza “will rewrite history” and will be announced to the world in 2026, RT reported on Saturda...
www.egyptindependent.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Reposted by 🏰 Ben Paites 🏛️
benpaites.bsky.social
Watching the embers fly from the bonfire @foodmuseumuk.bsky.social at the weekend made me think about the stories of fire sprites and imps that are found throughout the world in folklore. Was it these dancing, flickering lights that people once thought were mischeivous spirits?
An image of a giant bonfire, formed from a stack of wooden pallets. It is on grass with a black sky behind. The embers, thousands of small orange specks of light, float upwards from it
November 10, 2025 at 12:49 PM
benpaites.bsky.social
Saw this on FB, not sure the original source (Reddit somewhere?), and thought of @oldenoughtosay.com. Apologies if you’ve seen this before (a thousand times).
A screenshot of a Reddit post. It shows an alligators head above the water with that appears to be a knife sticking in it. The text above reads “maybe the greatest thing I’ve ever seen on the internet. Below reads “I’m pretty sure whoever pulls the knife from the gator’s head gets to be the new king of Florida.” Below that someone has posted “excaligator”.
November 10, 2025 at 10:36 PM
benpaites.bsky.social
Looks like I need to head back to Greece next year 👀 greekreporter.com/2025/11/10/a...
Ancient Trireme to Be Displayed in New Greek Museum - GreekReporter.com
A replica of an ancient trireme will be the centerpiece of Greece's new Underwater Archaeology Museum, set to open its gates in 2026.
greekreporter.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:06 PM
benpaites.bsky.social
Watching the embers fly from the bonfire @foodmuseumuk.bsky.social at the weekend made me think about the stories of fire sprites and imps that are found throughout the world in folklore. Was it these dancing, flickering lights that people once thought were mischeivous spirits?
An image of a giant bonfire, formed from a stack of wooden pallets. It is on grass with a black sky behind. The embers, thousands of small orange specks of light, float upwards from it
November 10, 2025 at 12:49 PM
benpaites.bsky.social
At Colchester Castle, there’s a temporary display about the origins of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance and the incredible work of Anna Guérin who started it all. #LestWeForget
A display showing remembrance poppies from throughout history. Mostly paper with a single large metal and ceramic poppy at the back. The backdrop appears like a sunset with orange and yellow at the top and navy below, transitioning gently. A display showing a black and white photo with men making paper puppies and on the right a book with a black and white woman and poppies decorating it. The title is The Poppy Lwdy
November 9, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Reposted by 🏰 Ben Paites 🏛️
colmuseums.bsky.social
Cosy season sorted. From apple-scented candles and a book of witchy cocktails to warm socks, a very friendly dragon, or history mugs, the Castle gift shop is full of little comforts for dark evenings.

Find something special this November. We’re open daily 10–5. What would you take home?
November 8, 2025 at 8:01 AM
benpaites.bsky.social
10 more seconds of fame last night on BBC Look East. Before you ask for what crime, I was asked to comment on the Roman burials found in Chelmsford.
A blurry image of a white man with short dark hair and a beard. The banner for BBC look East is below showing his name, Ben Paites, place of work as Colchester Museums. There’s a white BBC logo in the top left corner.
November 7, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Reposted by 🏰 Ben Paites 🏛️
classicalalan.bsky.social
A wonderful selection of ancient Roman finds from the city of Colchester in Essex, known in ancient times as Camulodunum, including jewellery, coin hoards, pottery and fresco fragments. Now on display at Colchester Castle. @colmuseums.bsky.social #FindsFriday
A display case at Colchester Castle filled with jewellery, coin hoards, pottery and fresco fragments from the late Roman period.
November 7, 2025 at 8:25 AM
benpaites.bsky.social
Ricardus III has been found!
November 6, 2025 at 8:22 PM
benpaites.bsky.social
As spooky season lingers on, I’m thinking about the concept of Memento Mori (remember you will die). This ring has an incredible skeleton design on the outside, as a reminder to both the wearer and observer. Inside is an inscription for a departed loved one.
cim-web.adlibhosting.com/ais6/Details...
A gold ring with black enamel on the outside forming an image of a skeleton in the gold. Faint traces of an inscription are visible inside the band.
November 6, 2025 at 8:17 AM