Hypatia: Great Mathematician or Geometry Teacher?
Hypatia: Great Mathematician or Geometry Teacher? Hypatia, the Lady Philosopher of Alexandria, is best known for her gruesome murder at the hands of a mob in AD 415. Her martyrdom takes pride of place in the historical narrative of many groups including mathematicians...
Book Review: “Noah’s Wife” by T. K. Thorne
"Noah's Wife" by T. K. Thorne From the back: Noah's wife is Na'amah, a beautiful, brilliant girl with a form of autism (now) known as Asperger's. She wishes only to be a shepherdess on her beloved hills in ancient Turkey—a desire shattered by her powerful brother's...
History in the News: Bible Stories, Recovered Artifacts and “Raiders” Turns 30
History in the News: Bible Stories, Recovered Artifacts and "Raiders" Turns 30 You can't kick a stone in the Middle East without uncovering an artifact. It's an archaeologist's paradise and a diplomat's nightmare. When it comes to biblical-related stories, there's...
Book Review and Giveaway: “Alexandria” by Lindsey Davis
"Alexandria" by Lindsey Davis As anyone knows, who's stopped by this blog, I'm a sucker for anything set in Alexandria, especially during the Roman period. I've studied the city for many years and it's the setting for my first novel. So I'm continuing my Alexandria...
Alexandria: The Early Years
Alexandria: The Early Years Alexandria has always fired my imagination. It's the setting for my novel Selene of Alexandria. I've written about its Great Library and Cleopatra's Needle, an obelisk from the Caesarian that sits in New York's Central Park. Alexandria is...
Book Review – “Anthony and Cleopatra” by Colleen McCullough
"Anthony and Cleopatra" by Colleen McCullough I'm on a bit of a Cleopatra kick. Last week I reviewed the biography Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff. This week it's a novel by Colleen McCullough. From the book jacket: "Caesar is dead, and Rome is, again, divided....
Book Review – “Cleopatra: A Life” by Stacy Schiff
"Cleopatra: A Life" by Stacy Schiff I have a soft spot for strong women in history. I've written about Hypatia, the Lady Philosopher of Alexandria; Empress Galla Placidia and her niece Pulcheria who both ruled Rome in its waning days. I've read about Boudica, Queen of...
History in the News: Libya’s Treasures, Pickled Bog Brain, and Agatha Christie
History in the News: Libya’s Treasures, Pickled Bog Brain, and Agatha Christie The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is calling on all sides in the Libya conflict to protect North Africa's wealth of ancient treasures. Five...
Book Review and Giveaway – “Outlaw” by Angus Donald
"Outlaw" by Angus Donald As a kid, I fell in love with Robin Hood. Errol Flynn swashbuckling through the forest all clean and pretty. The collected stories I read over and over again. The 50’s TV show (written by blackballed Hollywood writers with a decided...
Author Interview and Giveaway: “Eromenos” by Melanie McDonald
Author Interview: Melanie McDonald It's been way too long since I posted an author interview on this blog, but finally found a great candidate. Melanie McDonald just published an acclaimed new literary historical novel Eronemos about Emperor Hadrian's doomed young...
Hypatia of Alexandria: Two Books
Hypatia of Alexandria: Two Books It’s March—Women’s History Month and the anniversary of a remarkable woman’s death. In AD 415, a Christian mob murdered Hypatia, the renowned Lady Philosopher of Alexandria. The vicious act shocked the city and shamed the early Church....
Update on Egypt’s Archaeological Sites
Several weeks ago, I posted about the chaos in Cairo and Alexandria and what was being done to protect the museums. The Egyptian people rose to the occasion and protected their heritage in the cities. But things are looking grim at the more remote archaeological...