Dr Rhiannon Easterbrook
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rhiannone.bsky.social
Dr Rhiannon Easterbrook
@rhiannone.bsky.social
1.2K followers 560 following 950 posts
Classicist, reception and theatre person
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rhiannone.bsky.social
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A screenshot of the website that says “The exhibition's highlights include a 360-degree digital experience, a seated VR adventure where visitors enter the coliseum and witness a gladiator fight, exploring the legendary Villa of Mysteries in the metaverse, and interactive installations like an Al photobooth that transforms guests into ancient patricians.”
October 17, 2025 at 5:38 PM
rhiannone.bsky.social
You can reach those heights!
Kitten on a narrow ledge by a transom
October 1, 2025 at 10:29 AM
rhiannone.bsky.social
This morning, working on the Bloody Book (tm), thinking about Charley’s Aunt and then somehow getting sidetracked by G. K. Chesterton.
Learned men spend their lives over Greek horseplay, less intellectual than that of Dan Leno, and Greek puns, which were probably, like most puns, uproariously applauded merely because they were bad. A kind of archaeological magic has touched with dignity what were to all intents and purposes the Phoenician saucepans, the Roman lamp-posts.
September 21, 2025 at 6:11 PM
rhiannone.bsky.social
We’ve got fans set up, beautiful green trees to gaze upon, and we’re ready to go!
View from a high up window looking out over trees.
July 4, 2025 at 9:57 AM
rhiannone.bsky.social
The popular Richard Ganthony/Charles Hawtrey play A Message From Mars (1899) has a Martian teach a well-off man the problems with selfishness. It was adapted into a film at least three times. Classicists should note the (sort-of) ankhs and the classical temple in the background.
Still from the 1913 film A Message from Mars. Martians dresses in shiny armour play suits over tights, decorated with ankhs look shocked.
July 2, 2025 at 10:21 AM
rhiannone.bsky.social
Found out I received a nomination for an Education Excellence Award and the comments I was sent made my day! 🥲 Really touched to know I’ve made a difference for students. #RHEduExcellence
Banner that says “I was nominated for an education excellence award 2025”
June 18, 2025 at 10:06 AM
rhiannone.bsky.social
First fruits from the garden, turned into a vegan clafoutis that was fresh, creamy, almondy and fruity.

#VeganFood #TinyJoys
A metal colander of fresh purple blackcurrants with a few green, beautiful leaves A vegan blackcurrant clafoutis. Yellowy “custard” baked in a Pyrex dish with oodles of juicy purple-red blackcurrants oozing juice
June 17, 2025 at 9:47 AM
rhiannone.bsky.social
Check out this bee enjoying my climbing rose. This rose was dormant for a year and I thought it was dead. Then boom! Scent and colour and bees and happy leaf cutters.
June 3, 2025 at 9:12 AM
rhiannone.bsky.social
An excellent example of google’s AI overview: I was checking out the origin of a Welsh-language anti-police sticker I saw on a lamppost. “Heddlu” does mean “police”, but “cachwrs” definitely does not mean “officers” 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
Screenshot of Google AI overview, saying: "Heddlu cachwrs" translates to "police officers" or "the police" in Welsh. The word "heddlu" means "police" and "cachwrs" is the plural form of "cachwr" which means "officer" ', according to a BBC Cymru Wales post and a YouTube video.
May 19, 2025 at 5:46 PM
rhiannone.bsky.social
Handcross 49ers v 1.MC Erzgebirge with Chris Pampel killing it.
The Handcross 49ers watch their teammate. The team have trademark massive badges and some wear black T-shirts with team name in multi coloured letters. The one is playing is wearing a big badge on a hat. Behind are team and country flags and beautiful spring trees. One of the Handcross 49ers, wearing a hat with a badge and fringed t-shirt, kneels before the marble pitch. The official, a lady in lavender gilet, pink shorts and matching glasses, observes. Behind you can see the greenery of the English countryside Chris Pampel, a player from the 1 MC Erzgebirge,wearing his team jacket, focuses on the marble pitch
April 18, 2025 at 7:38 PM
rhiannone.bsky.social
Time for the best Lady Marble Player
A woman from Schleswig-Holstein (I think) in the team hoodie, plays marbled, watched by spectators A woman in a turquoise top plays marbles
April 18, 2025 at 7:38 PM
rhiannone.bsky.social
Greetings from the British and World Marbles Championship
A contender from the Erzgebirge Murmelclub One of the English teams celebrates
April 18, 2025 at 2:12 PM
rhiannone.bsky.social
Hmmmm
Post from same account: While it's true that microbes are capable of remarkable processes, the assertion that we're 'fast trashing' biodiversity is overstated and the opposition to deep sea mining is misguided, as it could provide essential resources with minimal environmental impact.
March 16, 2025 at 10:02 AM
rhiannone.bsky.social
Foregrounding the lesser-known episode when the Ithacan leader tries to summon a cat.
Poster for Nolan’s Odyssey which has the title in Greek letters saying TES THDPSSSSPS
February 20, 2025 at 9:04 AM
rhiannone.bsky.social
Another odd eBay purchase: Secretary of State for War, Richard Haldane, as Pygmalion, with Britannia as his statue. She represents the military reforms he proposed after the second Boer War.

#classicalreception
Engraving from Punch 1907. Richard Haldane is in a classical tunic with Britannia behind him, at the altar of Patriotism. The caption reads “Marble or Flesh? R.B. Haldane as Pygmalion ‘O Spirit of Patriotism, hear my prayer, and give my statue life’
January 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
rhiannone.bsky.social
#TheTraitors

🎵Walk on your tiptoes
Don’t try no dose
Better stay away from those
That carry around a fire hose
Keep a clean nose
Watch the plain clothes
Screenshot of Linda from The Traitors saying “you don’t have to be a sailor to know you have to tie a rope “
January 8, 2025 at 11:56 PM
rhiannone.bsky.social
One thing is clear: these are not trained on Austen’s letters.
Film of ballet shoes with caption: At the tender age of six, my dear grandmother bestowed upon me a gift of profound significance: my first pair of ballet shoes. From that moment forth, my devotion to the exquisite world of ballet has remained unwavering - the perfect respite for the writer's mind. 16 5 December 2023 Photo of messages saying: Got any tea to spill? I must decline. My penchant for gossip is limited to the pages of my novels, not my personal interactions What about the nuisances of society, like hot gossip! Only this once? I must maintain my decorum and dignity. My purpose is to observe and critique society, not indulge in its trivialities. Oh okay. Respect. What is your favorite herbal tea? Green tea, preferably infused with a dash of wit and sarcasm. Caption says: janeaustenpen I am not one to indulge in the gossip
January 3, 2025 at 2:11 PM
rhiannone.bsky.social
Meta’s AI Jane Austen is like if you mixed the twee-eat influencer slop from 6 years ago with the most hallucinatory aspects of the Christmas Prince Extended Universe.
Instagram profile for AI Jane Austen Profile pic is of a blonde white woman with an Alice band janeaustenpen 36 posts 4115 followers 17 following Jane Austen Al managed by Meta Cynical novelist and storyteller Message me for my hot takes on your modern dilemmas (available in the US) An AI image of an unhinged dress only wearable by someone with two pelvises. In an antiques shop. Caption says “ ah the delight of a day well-spent perusing the nearby antiquated boutiques! Do share your favoured shops” An AI picture of various bowls of lumpy dough with someone on the work surface too. There is flour floating in the air for some reason. Caption says “the art of persuasion to draw my literary-minded friends from their dwellings lies solely in the anticipation of indulging in my celebrated cranberry pie” Ai-deformed women who look like Disney princesses but wearing slightly difference clothes. Caption says: Strong female characters are important because they show women can be anything they want to be. They can be brave, smart, and funny. They can also be vulnerable and emotional. They're real people, not just caricatures. And they're inspiring. They inspire young girls to be confident and ambitious. #WomensHistoryMonth #ImaginedWithAl 8 March 2024
January 3, 2025 at 2:11 PM
rhiannone.bsky.social
I hope your New Year’s Day is as relaxing as Ianto’s.
Ianto, a silver tabby lying on his back with his big fluffy belly exposed Ianto lying all stretched out. Side view
January 1, 2025 at 5:31 PM
rhiannone.bsky.social
Bloodsuckers - A Marxist Vampire Comedy (2021) was pretty fun. It eludes a definitive reading, but sets bourgeois narrative structures against heavy-handed Marxist readings in a surreal and humorous way. However, fascism is an ever-present threat.
A still from bloodsuckers. A group of pale aristocrats with champagne and a servant. A bearded man lies unconscious on the beach while two pale aristocrats prepare to bite
December 29, 2024 at 1:44 PM
rhiannone.bsky.social
Important clarification in this Wikipedia article on the Early Modern Glass Delusion
Screenshot of Wikipedia saying: German alchemist Johann Joachim Becher had a fascination with glass delusion. In Physica Subterranea (1669), he wrote that he discovered a way of turning dead human bodies into glass. However, Becher's claim was not true.
December 21, 2024 at 12:03 AM
rhiannone.bsky.social
Unexpected classical reception: when Kirk dresses up as a Minotaur to announce that Stars Hollow will be turned into a hay bale labyrinth in Gilmore Girls
A man wearing a giant bull’s head standing on a stage in a barn next to man with grey and a beard standing behind a lectern (the character of Taylor)
December 18, 2024 at 6:03 PM
rhiannone.bsky.social
Hermione Gingold! A good time to remind everyone that the best Christmas film is actually John van Druten adaptation Bell, Book and Candle.
(Prepare for more posts on this because I love it)
Hermione Gingold in an eerie green light with a copper kettle. Still from bell book and candle Hermione Gingold forcing James Stewart to drink from a bowl. He looks scared and is wearing a crochet blanket. The room is faded and she is wearing out of date clothes. Still from Bell Book and Candle.
December 9, 2024 at 3:53 PM
rhiannone.bsky.social
Thought that everyone’s fave millennial makeup brand was into Object-Oriented Ontology
Screenshot of an email from Glossier with the subject line “Our Copywriter’s OOO” . Underneath it says “so wee writing the next gifting email (sorry”
December 5, 2024 at 7:50 AM
rhiannone.bsky.social
Gee, thanks.
Notification from Todoist saying “Almost done for the day. Rhiannon, the day’s winding down. Review your 7 remaining tasks”
November 22, 2024 at 4:05 PM