My recent post on the History Girls blog features the story behind a lost Etruscan tomb and a Scottish Jacobite artist, James Byres in The Lost Tomb: Etruscan a la Baroque.
History Girls: Son et Lumiere of Ancient Portents
My recent post on the History Girls explores the power of sound and light when interpreting portents from lightning bolts in Son et Lumiere – Ancient Portents. The Etruscans were expert. Read more
History Girls: The Quandary of What to Wear
What to wear? An age old question. In my post on the History Girls, I examine The Quandary of What to Wear when it comes to clothing a prostitute, concubine and noblewoman. Read more
On Inspiration: Interview with Lesley Downer
My very special guest today (and fellow History Girl) is Lesley Downer who has had a love affair with Japan ever since she first went there 40 years ago. In her books she tries to take readers to this fascinating, rather mysterious place and to open up aspects of its culture and history that people often miss. Her non-fiction book,… read more
The History Girls: Ancient ‘Girl Power’
My recent post on The History Girls deals with Ancient ‘Girl Power’ that dates back millenia. Compare the influence and eminence of Etruscan women to their Roman and Greek sisters. Read more…
The History Girls: Labyrinths and initiations
My latest post on the History Girls delves into labyrinths and the secrets behind them. A millenia old construction that has been used for initiations and as a pathway to divine communion. Read more
History Girls: The Elusive Search for Dionysus
A common problem with authors who write novels set in pre-history is trying to deal with the ‘elasticity’ of sources from civilisations without extant written records. My latest post on History Girls is about my elusive search for the Etruscan Dionysus, and reaching across the ether to historians to help me.
History Girls: The Secret Garden: Contraceptives in the Ancient World
My latest essay on the History Girls explores the natural remedies used in the ancient world for contraception including a garden fruit, and a mysterious plant from a distant land. The Secret Garden: Ancient World Contraception.
History Girls: Neo-Classical Revivalism
My latest essay on the History Girls blog on Neo-Classical Revivalism. I’ve fallen in love with Castellani jewellery!
History Girls: Black on red; red on black-figure it out!
My latest essay on the History Girls is on the beauty of Attic vases. Chemistry and artistry combined. Read Black on red; red on black-figure it out!
