Moudhy Al-Rashid (she/her)
@moudhy.bsky.social
Assyriologist at Wolfson College (Oxford), writer plagued by self-doubt, lover of dead languages. I think we should all be doing what we can to save the planet.
My book 😎 https://lnk.to/BetweenTwoRivers
My book 😎 https://lnk.to/BetweenTwoRivers
Hello again 😎
December 9, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Hello again 😎
Does anyone have advice for helping an elderly Lab with arthritis (who is beyond things like stem cell treatment) with pain management? Anecdotal suggestions also welcome 🙏🏽
He has cartrophen injections and oral pain meds as needed. Liberalla off the table unfortunately. He’s just the best dog 🧡
He has cartrophen injections and oral pain meds as needed. Liberalla off the table unfortunately. He’s just the best dog 🧡
December 6, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Does anyone have advice for helping an elderly Lab with arthritis (who is beyond things like stem cell treatment) with pain management? Anecdotal suggestions also welcome 🙏🏽
He has cartrophen injections and oral pain meds as needed. Liberalla off the table unfortunately. He’s just the best dog 🧡
He has cartrophen injections and oral pain meds as needed. Liberalla off the table unfortunately. He’s just the best dog 🧡
let the year-end memes begin
December 4, 2025 at 2:30 PM
let the year-end memes begin
“For 3000 litres of barley, you do not even trust me! The house is empty!” Abbaya complains to Dudua in this clay letter from ~2300 BCE.
Abbaya then assures him that he’ll be able to pay the required silver. “You, just tell me!”
Abbaya is palpably annoyed, even thousands of years later.
Abbaya then assures him that he’ll be able to pay the required silver. “You, just tell me!”
Abbaya is palpably annoyed, even thousands of years later.
December 4, 2025 at 10:25 AM
“For 3000 litres of barley, you do not even trust me! The house is empty!” Abbaya complains to Dudua in this clay letter from ~2300 BCE.
Abbaya then assures him that he’ll be able to pay the required silver. “You, just tell me!”
Abbaya is palpably annoyed, even thousands of years later.
Abbaya then assures him that he’ll be able to pay the required silver. “You, just tell me!”
Abbaya is palpably annoyed, even thousands of years later.
I love family metaphors in ancient letters, like this one from ~2300 BCE written by Abbaya to a superior named Dudua.
“Why are you not my father?” Abbaya demands. He then asks why he hasn’t been trusted with a transaction, so the question could mean something like “why are you being a bad boss”
“Why are you not my father?” Abbaya demands. He then asks why he hasn’t been trusted with a transaction, so the question could mean something like “why are you being a bad boss”
December 4, 2025 at 10:25 AM
I love family metaphors in ancient letters, like this one from ~2300 BCE written by Abbaya to a superior named Dudua.
“Why are you not my father?” Abbaya demands. He then asks why he hasn’t been trusted with a transaction, so the question could mean something like “why are you being a bad boss”
“Why are you not my father?” Abbaya demands. He then asks why he hasn’t been trusted with a transaction, so the question could mean something like “why are you being a bad boss”
Your annual reminder that under no circumstances should you find someone who looks at you the way my dog looks at treats 🙏🏽
December 4, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Your annual reminder that under no circumstances should you find someone who looks at you the way my dog looks at treats 🙏🏽
I wrote Between Two Rivers to share something I love in a way that anyone — whatever their work, prior knowledge, or exhaustion levels — could enjoy.
So many writers have done this for me on topics I’d never have time for a deep dive on (trees, the ocean, eels), and I wanted to do this for others❣️
So many writers have done this for me on topics I’d never have time for a deep dive on (trees, the ocean, eels), and I wanted to do this for others❣️
December 3, 2025 at 9:12 AM
I wrote Between Two Rivers to share something I love in a way that anyone — whatever their work, prior knowledge, or exhaustion levels — could enjoy.
So many writers have done this for me on topics I’d never have time for a deep dive on (trees, the ocean, eels), and I wanted to do this for others❣️
So many writers have done this for me on topics I’d never have time for a deep dive on (trees, the ocean, eels), and I wanted to do this for others❣️
Like how mine looks at treats?
December 2, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Like how mine looks at treats?
What is “measured in degrees” in this ~2300-year-old cuneiform tablet which gives records of the moon’s velocity for 248 days?
It’s the moon’s position from one night to the next, at the same time, showing distance moved across the sky. This tablet uses a zigzag function to model lunar velocity
It’s the moon’s position from one night to the next, at the same time, showing distance moved across the sky. This tablet uses a zigzag function to model lunar velocity
December 2, 2025 at 10:20 AM
What is “measured in degrees” in this ~2300-year-old cuneiform tablet which gives records of the moon’s velocity for 248 days?
It’s the moon’s position from one night to the next, at the same time, showing distance moved across the sky. This tablet uses a zigzag function to model lunar velocity
It’s the moon’s position from one night to the next, at the same time, showing distance moved across the sky. This tablet uses a zigzag function to model lunar velocity
In ancient Mesopotamia, astronomers needed to know the moon’s position, even on a cloudy night.
So they made records and calculations of the moon’s positions and velocity measured in degrees. This record from Uruk or Babylon from the Seleucid period covers 248 days.
📸 by Dr K. Wagensonner
So they made records and calculations of the moon’s positions and velocity measured in degrees. This record from Uruk or Babylon from the Seleucid period covers 248 days.
📸 by Dr K. Wagensonner
December 2, 2025 at 10:20 AM
In ancient Mesopotamia, astronomers needed to know the moon’s position, even on a cloudy night.
So they made records and calculations of the moon’s positions and velocity measured in degrees. This record from Uruk or Babylon from the Seleucid period covers 248 days.
📸 by Dr K. Wagensonner
So they made records and calculations of the moon’s positions and velocity measured in degrees. This record from Uruk or Babylon from the Seleucid period covers 248 days.
📸 by Dr K. Wagensonner
I actually googled this and yes but also WHAT? I am so surprised that Flaubert was on team cuneiform??
November 30, 2025 at 7:31 PM
I actually googled this and yes but also WHAT? I am so surprised that Flaubert was on team cuneiform??
Just a friendly reminder on this hallowed day of overconsumption via @earthlyeducation.bsky.social
November 28, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Just a friendly reminder on this hallowed day of overconsumption via @earthlyeducation.bsky.social
This is what’s left of an ornament or pendant made out of shell. It’s a sandal with straps.
It’s only about 2cm long, and shows the intricate criss-cross of sandals.
It’s only about 2cm long, and shows the intricate criss-cross of sandals.
November 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
This is what’s left of an ornament or pendant made out of shell. It’s a sandal with straps.
It’s only about 2cm long, and shows the intricate criss-cross of sandals.
It’s only about 2cm long, and shows the intricate criss-cross of sandals.
Cuneiform records on clay tell us that shoes were often made of leather, and some go into incredible detail.
The shoe archive of Puzrish-Dagan ~2100-2000 BCE is a goldmine of info on shoe production. One text tells us the workshop produced 702 shoes in 14 months.
The shoe archive of Puzrish-Dagan ~2100-2000 BCE is a goldmine of info on shoe production. One text tells us the workshop produced 702 shoes in 14 months.
November 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Cuneiform records on clay tell us that shoes were often made of leather, and some go into incredible detail.
The shoe archive of Puzrish-Dagan ~2100-2000 BCE is a goldmine of info on shoe production. One text tells us the workshop produced 702 shoes in 14 months.
The shoe archive of Puzrish-Dagan ~2100-2000 BCE is a goldmine of info on shoe production. One text tells us the workshop produced 702 shoes in 14 months.
Missing shoes also tell us a bit about footwear practices. Statues that depict people in worship, or statues destined for temples, show people without shoes.
Gudea, a Sumerian ruler from the ~2100s BCE, left behind numerous barefoot statues. Entering a temple may have meant you had to remove shoes
Gudea, a Sumerian ruler from the ~2100s BCE, left behind numerous barefoot statues. Entering a temple may have meant you had to remove shoes
November 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Missing shoes also tell us a bit about footwear practices. Statues that depict people in worship, or statues destined for temples, show people without shoes.
Gudea, a Sumerian ruler from the ~2100s BCE, left behind numerous barefoot statues. Entering a temple may have meant you had to remove shoes
Gudea, a Sumerian ruler from the ~2100s BCE, left behind numerous barefoot statues. Entering a temple may have meant you had to remove shoes
Recent studies have uncovered the vibrant colours that once covered ancient Assyrian palace reliefs.
Sandals were often red and black, two predominant colours in the reliefs of king Ashurnasirpal II’s palace at Nimrud.
Source: antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/sou...
Sandals were often red and black, two predominant colours in the reliefs of king Ashurnasirpal II’s palace at Nimrud.
Source: antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/sou...
November 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Recent studies have uncovered the vibrant colours that once covered ancient Assyrian palace reliefs.
Sandals were often red and black, two predominant colours in the reliefs of king Ashurnasirpal II’s palace at Nimrud.
Source: antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/sou...
Sandals were often red and black, two predominant colours in the reliefs of king Ashurnasirpal II’s palace at Nimrud.
Source: antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/sou...
First of all, how can we learn about shoes from ancient Mesopotamia when they were mainly made of things that degraded over time?
Stone reliefs from ancient Assyrian palaces show the king’s footwear for various occasions. Here, king Ashurnasirpal II wears sandals while he drinks a bowl of wine
Stone reliefs from ancient Assyrian palaces show the king’s footwear for various occasions. Here, king Ashurnasirpal II wears sandals while he drinks a bowl of wine
November 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
First of all, how can we learn about shoes from ancient Mesopotamia when they were mainly made of things that degraded over time?
Stone reliefs from ancient Assyrian palaces show the king’s footwear for various occasions. Here, king Ashurnasirpal II wears sandals while he drinks a bowl of wine
Stone reliefs from ancient Assyrian palaces show the king’s footwear for various occasions. Here, king Ashurnasirpal II wears sandals while he drinks a bowl of wine
this was the prelude to her deciding that actually the computer had no business being on my lap
November 24, 2025 at 10:19 AM
this was the prelude to her deciding that actually the computer had no business being on my lap
proof that any dog can be a lap dog, provided there is a lap and a dog
November 24, 2025 at 10:16 AM
proof that any dog can be a lap dog, provided there is a lap and a dog
good evening from one normal dog and one Ridgeback
November 22, 2025 at 8:55 PM
good evening from one normal dog and one Ridgeback
How can a creature like this recommend anything other than “Everything is Awesome” from the 2014 Lego Movie? I love dogs, but Tom is right. We simply cannot rely on them for album recommendations
November 22, 2025 at 3:35 PM
How can a creature like this recommend anything other than “Everything is Awesome” from the 2014 Lego Movie? I love dogs, but Tom is right. We simply cannot rely on them for album recommendations
My current view
November 22, 2025 at 9:52 AM
My current view
I think it’s this tablet published by Prof Eleanor Robson for those who wish to go down a rabbit hole www.sciamvs.org/files/SCIAMV...
November 22, 2025 at 8:23 AM
I think it’s this tablet published by Prof Eleanor Robson for those who wish to go down a rabbit hole www.sciamvs.org/files/SCIAMV...
An ancient multiplication table in clay by a student named Suen-apil-Urim from the 1800s BCE
November 22, 2025 at 8:21 AM
An ancient multiplication table in clay by a student named Suen-apil-Urim from the 1800s BCE
In order of appearance in this video:
1. second most ridiculous dog
2. most ridiculous dog
1. second most ridiculous dog
2. most ridiculous dog
November 21, 2025 at 7:41 PM
In order of appearance in this video:
1. second most ridiculous dog
2. most ridiculous dog
1. second most ridiculous dog
2. most ridiculous dog