Edith Hall
@edithmayhall.bsky.social
Durham University Classics Prof keen on Aristotle, visual art, Greek theatre/pots, labour/anti-racist history, prison education, Parthenon reunification. All views my own. Also on Twitter @edithmayhall
Beat the winter blues #5: find a consenting companion, festoon yourselves with ivy and swap providing-an-elevated-seat and providing-the-musical-accompaniment services on a brisk dance to the off-licence.
November 29, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Beat the winter blues #5: find a consenting companion, festoon yourselves with ivy and swap providing-an-elevated-seat and providing-the-musical-accompaniment services on a brisk dance to the off-licence.
Beat November/December Blues with fun in the Greek sun #4: senior citizens like me can learn to play the cithara, sing a little ditty, and GET IN FORMATION. I can't believe Bluesky is censoring this
November 27, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Beat November/December Blues with fun in the Greek sun #4: senior citizens like me can learn to play the cithara, sing a little ditty, and GET IN FORMATION. I can't believe Bluesky is censoring this
Beating November Blues #3: pretend to be Hera getting married to Zeus at a festival, and bribe a friendly serious-faced satyr to wear a splendid crown and protect your lovely coiffure from the elements with an umbrella-cum-parasol.
By ArchaiOptix - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
By ArchaiOptix - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
November 25, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Beating November Blues #3: pretend to be Hera getting married to Zeus at a festival, and bribe a friendly serious-faced satyr to wear a splendid crown and protect your lovely coiffure from the elements with an umbrella-cum-parasol.
By ArchaiOptix - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
By ArchaiOptix - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
Beating the November / Blues Fun in Greek Sun suggestion #2: hold an impromptu party and a wine bowl balancing competition. Cup by Douris, circa 490 BCE
November 24, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Beating the November / Blues Fun in Greek Sun suggestion #2: hold an impromptu party and a wine bowl balancing competition. Cup by Douris, circa 490 BCE
I hate November so much I'm going to cheer myself up with a new series of some of my favourite ancient Greek pots depicting ways to have fun in the sun: #1: Donkey ride. Athenian cup by Epictetus c. 510 BCE
November 23, 2025 at 10:36 AM
I hate November so much I'm going to cheer myself up with a new series of some of my favourite ancient Greek pots depicting ways to have fun in the sun: #1: Donkey ride. Athenian cup by Epictetus c. 510 BCE
Thespian friends! This day in 534 BCE is traditionally held to have seen the premiere of the first ever theatre performance by Thespis of Icaria, who took his cart of masks round the villages of Attica to impersonate mythical figures in marketplaces.
November 23, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Thespian friends! This day in 534 BCE is traditionally held to have seen the premiere of the first ever theatre performance by Thespis of Icaria, who took his cart of masks round the villages of Attica to impersonate mythical figures in marketplaces.
On #UnescoWorldChildrensDay just a lovely mosaic from Villa del Casale, Piazza Armerina, Sicily, 4th century EC. Boys, birds, bushes and a chirpy caterpillar. Lovely.
November 20, 2025 at 8:46 AM
On #UnescoWorldChildrensDay just a lovely mosaic from Villa del Casale, Piazza Armerina, Sicily, 4th century EC. Boys, birds, bushes and a chirpy caterpillar. Lovely.
People often ask whether I am related to the great American archaeologist Edith Hall (Dohan). Sadly, no. She just looked so cool riding to her sites. I "dig" the hat-and-cravat look.
November 15, 2025 at 1:28 PM
People often ask whether I am related to the great American archaeologist Edith Hall (Dohan). Sadly, no. She just looked so cool riding to her sites. I "dig" the hat-and-cravat look.
On world drum day, here are two lovely ancient ladies banging a tympanon (frame-drum).
November 15, 2025 at 1:17 PM
On world drum day, here are two lovely ancient ladies banging a tympanon (frame-drum).
On this day in 332 BCE Alexander of Macedon was crowned Pharaoh of Egypt. Time for a granite statue now in Liebieghaus museum, Frankfurt and a copper alloy bust now in the Met, New York
November 14, 2025 at 2:03 PM
On this day in 332 BCE Alexander of Macedon was crowned Pharaoh of Egypt. Time for a granite statue now in Liebieghaus museum, Frankfurt and a copper alloy bust now in the Met, New York
Interested in what Euripides' Bacchae has to say to modern psychoanalysts? Attend a hybrid event on January 31st with me, a theatre-maker and a psychoanalyst. Free for secondary school students. psychoanalysis.org.uk/civicrm-even...
November 14, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Interested in what Euripides' Bacchae has to say to modern psychoanalysts? Attend a hybrid event on January 31st with me, a theatre-maker and a psychoanalyst. Free for secondary school students. psychoanalysis.org.uk/civicrm-even...
Why is Plato’s Atlantis a Y-Chromosome thing? I’m running an international conference on in it in Durham today and embarrassingly could not persuade a single female to supplement the all-male responses to the Call for Papers. I tried so hard
November 5, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Why is Plato’s Atlantis a Y-Chromosome thing? I’m running an international conference on in it in Durham today and embarrassingly could not persuade a single female to supplement the all-male responses to the Call for Papers. I tried so hard
Gobsmacked that Facing down the Furies wins 2025 International (formerly London) Hellenic Prize. Good to see mental health issues recognised. Here's to my valiant late mother, Brenda Hall née Henderson, who faced them down, supreme friend Peggy Reynolds and @rickypo.bsky.social, sine quibus non
November 1, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Gobsmacked that Facing down the Furies wins 2025 International (formerly London) Hellenic Prize. Good to see mental health issues recognised. Here's to my valiant late mother, Brenda Hall née Henderson, who faced them down, supreme friend Peggy Reynolds and @rickypo.bsky.social, sine quibus non
Friends, I’ve written a novel. It’s about how the Gen Z children of dysfunctional boomers Clytemnestra and Agamemnon try to move on in Crimea, Thessaly and Vravrona. Now I just need to find a publisher! Any suggestions?
October 25, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Friends, I’ve written a novel. It’s about how the Gen Z children of dysfunctional boomers Clytemnestra and Agamemnon try to move on in Crimea, Thessaly and Vravrona. Now I just need to find a publisher! Any suggestions?
I had a blast at Berwick on Tweed Literary Festival today being brilliantly interviewed by archaeologist Prof James Crowe on my Iliad book. Lovely town. I want to live here.
October 11, 2025 at 3:46 PM
I had a blast at Berwick on Tweed Literary Festival today being brilliantly interviewed by archaeologist Prof James Crowe on my Iliad book. Lovely town. I want to live here.
My tribute to Tony Harrison last week was to read his great, last, valedictory poem ‘Polygons’ at Delphi, where he started it.
October 9, 2025 at 4:20 PM
My tribute to Tony Harrison last week was to read his great, last, valedictory poem ‘Polygons’ at Delphi, where he started it.
Pre-Raphaelite Simeon Solomon was born this day 1840. He suffered prosecution and persecution, aggravated by antisemitism, for homosexuality. His Toilet of a Roman Lady (1869) was inspired by Pompeii frescoes, especially this one of Dido
October 9, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Pre-Raphaelite Simeon Solomon was born this day 1840. He suffered prosecution and persecution, aggravated by antisemitism, for homosexuality. His Toilet of a Roman Lady (1869) was inspired by Pompeii frescoes, especially this one of Dido
This coming Sunday, three historic performances of the late, great Tony Harrison's masterpiece "v." in the Leeds graveyard where it's set. I'm speaking before the final reading. Please come. slunglow.org/v-a-homecomi...
@lrb.co.uk
@richardburgon.bsky.social
@lrb.co.uk
@richardburgon.bsky.social
October 9, 2025 at 8:31 AM
This coming Sunday, three historic performances of the late, great Tony Harrison's masterpiece "v." in the Leeds graveyard where it's set. I'm speaking before the final reading. Please come. slunglow.org/v-a-homecomi...
@lrb.co.uk
@richardburgon.bsky.social
@lrb.co.uk
@richardburgon.bsky.social
Extremely sad that my much-loved friend and ally of over thirty-five years, the great poet, dramatist, socialist and acerbic wit Tony Harrison, died yesterday morning, peacefully, with his devoted partner, actress Sian Thomas, at his side. I'm so glad I visited them last week.
September 27, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Extremely sad that my much-loved friend and ally of over thirty-five years, the great poet, dramatist, socialist and acerbic wit Tony Harrison, died yesterday morning, peacefully, with his devoted partner, actress Sian Thomas, at his side. I'm so glad I visited them last week.
Thrilled the Special Issue of Green Letters I edited with Alison Sharrock is now online if you have access to Taylor and Francis. Mostly on trees in epic from Homer to Nonnus
September 20, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Thrilled the Special Issue of Green Letters I edited with Alison Sharrock is now online if you have access to Taylor and Francis. Mostly on trees in epic from Homer to Nonnus
My daughter has just found this in Istanbul
September 14, 2025 at 2:04 PM
My daughter has just found this in Istanbul
Yesterday at Ye Houses of Parliament my former PhD student and colleague Dr Peter Swallow MP hosted the launch of my book with Durham colleague Prof Arlene Holmes-Henderson promoting Classical Civilisation and Ancient History in secondary education. It was a joy.
September 9, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Yesterday at Ye Houses of Parliament my former PhD student and colleague Dr Peter Swallow MP hosted the launch of my book with Durham colleague Prof Arlene Holmes-Henderson promoting Classical Civilisation and Ancient History in secondary education. It was a joy.
On this day 44 BCE Cleopatra announced her son Caesarion co-ruler of Egypt. Since Caesar's propaganda equated Cleopatra with Isis-Venus, this Pompeii image of Venus & Cupid may be Cleo & son. However silly, it's not as bad as the choice of an uber-Aryan sprog = Caesarion in "that" movie.
September 2, 2025 at 11:59 AM
On this day 44 BCE Cleopatra announced her son Caesarion co-ruler of Egypt. Since Caesar's propaganda equated Cleopatra with Isis-Venus, this Pompeii image of Venus & Cupid may be Cleo & son. However silly, it's not as bad as the choice of an uber-Aryan sprog = Caesarion in "that" movie.
On #InternationalCosplayDay, recall that Herodotus says when c. 566 BCE Peisistratus returned to Athens he hired a tall woman, Phye, to impersonate the goddess Athena as his escort to legitimise his claim to sovereignty. Worth a try if you crave absolute power: it worked for him
August 30, 2025 at 12:06 PM
On #InternationalCosplayDay, recall that Herodotus says when c. 566 BCE Peisistratus returned to Athens he hired a tall woman, Phye, to impersonate the goddess Athena as his escort to legitimise his claim to sovereignty. Worth a try if you crave absolute power: it worked for him
Love him or hate him, classical tradition people can't ignore Jacques-Louis David, btd 1748, who ranges from ludicrous (Mars & Venus) to sublime: Brutus' face in The Lictors Bring to Brutus the Bodies of His Sons (1789) grimly presages the gore & disillusionment of the Reign of Terror
August 30, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Love him or hate him, classical tradition people can't ignore Jacques-Louis David, btd 1748, who ranges from ludicrous (Mars & Venus) to sublime: Brutus' face in The Lictors Bring to Brutus the Bodies of His Sons (1789) grimly presages the gore & disillusionment of the Reign of Terror