World Culture
Monthly Archive: December Worl
The Evans Connection Part 2: The Minoans Created
The continuation of the story of how the British archeologist, Sir Arthur Evans, made his own particular interpretation of the ancient Minoan civilization so popular.
The Evans Connection Part 1: The Minoans Discovered
I pick up the story of the Ivory ‘Minoan’ Goddess to discuss why the ROM, or indeed anyone, believed that the figurine was genuine (or why she was created, if she is fake).
Weapon Wednesday: The Long History of an Irish Bronze Age Sword
The story of a sword made in Bronze Age Ireland.
Weapon Wednesday: Two daggers from Luristan, Iran
In museum circles the region of Luristan in the Zagros Mountains has a long association with the antiquities looted from tombs there in the 1920's and 30's. These objects seem to be primarily from the Early Iron Age (circa 1000 BC - 750 BC), and comprise an array of distinctive objects that include horse bridles and other equipment; fittings possibly associated with chariots; and an array of weapons, primarily of bronze.
Weapon Wednesday: The Burmese Dha
Across South East and South Asia the traditional weapons often bear close affinities to the tools of the region...
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....
