Art & Culture
Monthly Archive: December Art
Exposing the ROM ‘Minoan’ Goddess
I’m very excited to announce that a short video about the ‘Minoan’ Ivory Goddess has just gone live!
Weapon Wednesday: Frankish "Seax" swords
In the 3rd century of the current era the term "Frank" was used by Romans and others to describe a group of Germanic tribes living in the Rhine valley. In the 4th century Franks settled within territory ruled by the Romans and were a recognised kingdom. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire the Frankish kingdom under their Merovingian kings spread over all of France (which to this day is named after this confederation of Germans).
Weapon Wednesday: the "djanbīyya" dagger
The Middle Eastern two-edged curved dagger is one of the most recognizable weapon forms. Typically it is known by the Arab term djanbīyya sometimes Anglicised as "jambiya", or also often the Arabic term khandjar, but these curved daggers are found across the Middle East.
Weapon Wednesday: a Romano-Egyptian sword hilt
A look at a cast bronze sword hilt, acquired before 1910 in Cairo by Charles Currelly and presently in the Eaton Gallery of Rome.
Weapon Wednesday
Weapons are one of the most politically-incorrect subjects there are, associated with brutality and violence. But they are also important, and have often defined the cultures that made them....
Amarna Artifacts in the ROM’s Ancient Egypt Collection
A look at the ROM's massive collection of Ancient Egyptian artifacts, specifically those from the Armana collection.
The 'Goddess' and the Museum: "What's in a name?"
In this third instalment of work on the ROM archives find out why the Ivory 'Minoan' Goddess has held such a lasting fascination.
The 'Goddess' and the Museum: Museum Attitudes
In this second instalment of my work on the archives I pick up the story of the ROM’s ‘Minoan’ Ivory Goddess, looking at her fluctuating reputation within the museum itself.
The 'Goddess' and the Museum: The Early Years
Join me in delving into the archives to uncover the story of this iconic object.....
Re-enactment, Archaeology, and the Ancient Rome & Greece Weekend V of IV: The Final Story
Ancient Rome & Greece Weekend is over, and I thought I would show you the results of my attempt to create a recreation, re-enactment, or impression of a soldier from Dura-Europos (so this is not really one of the original IV, so to speak, hence it is V of IV). In the group above you can see me on the left, with members of the University of Toronto's Hart House Archery Club, who collectively constitute the ROM's 3rd century Roman army (or ROMan army - it being the ROM, we are posing in front of a dinosaur).
