Collections: The Mediterranean Iron Omni-Spear

This week, on a bit of a lark, we're going to discuss the most common weapon, by far, in the Iron Age Mediterranean (focusing on the period from the 8th to the 1st centuries BC): the humble, effective and ubiquitous thrusting spear. In particular, I want to discuss the striking fact that despite the wide … Continue reading Collections: The Mediterranean Iron Omni-Spear

Collections: Ancient Greek and Phoenician Colonization

Davis senatum consuluit a.d. III Idus Octobris apud aedem Patreontis; de colonis Graecis et Punicis verba fecit... This week we're taking a brief look, by ACOUP Senate request, at Greek and Phoenician colonization in the ancient Mediterranean. In particular, the focus requested was on the relationship of these colonies with both the locals and their … Continue reading Collections: Ancient Greek and Phoenician Colonization

Collections: How to Polis 101, Part IIc: The Courts

This is the third part of the second part of our three(ish) part look at the governing structures of the Greek polis (I, IIa, IIb, IIc, III). At some point I promise I will write a series whose organization does not look like a parody of itself. Last time, we looked at the particular role … Continue reading Collections: How to Polis 101, Part IIc: The Courts

Collections: The Battle of Helm’s Deep, Part VII: Hanging by a Thread

This is the seventh part of a series taking a historian’s look at the Battle of Helm’s Deep (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII. VIII) from both J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Two Towers (1954) and Peter Jackson’s 2002 film of the same name. Last time, we looked at the weapons and armor of the film … Continue reading Collections: The Battle of Helm’s Deep, Part VII: Hanging by a Thread