Cornelia Africana – My latest post on The History Girls
In my post on The History Girls I tell the story of the impressive Cornelia Africana – epitome of the Roman Matron yet she was far more than just the mother of The Gracchi Brothers and daughter of Scipio Africanus as described on her commemorative statue. Read more
The History Girls – Websurfing and a C16 entrepeneur
Here’s my latest post on the History Girls blog – ‘Web-surfing and a C16th entrepreneur’. It’s about the dangers and pleasures of historical research. Clicking hyperlinks can take you down a wondrous rabbit hole and land you in the tarpit of research! This time I found Guillame Rouille, master entrepeneur and iconography expert. Read more […]
The History Girls – The Legend of Tanaquil
My latest post on the History Girls is about the legend of Queen Tanaquil, an Etruscan prophetess, who was the power behind the throne of two of the early kings of Rome. Tanaquil’s first prophecy was based on observing the flight of an eagle which is an example of the art of auspication ie divining […]
History Girls: The Lost Tomb: Etruscan a la Baroque
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 […]
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.