Acheloios and Thales: Dissertation Preview

Hello Friends,

I have good news: I passed my dissertation defense!

It is about Acheloios (no surprise!) in relation to Thales and the origin of philosophy--however, it is framed as a response to several Neo-Marxian scholars that claim the advent of coinage was the essential technological development leading to philosophical activity (hence it might be of interest to some of you). For those interested, here is the preview I uploaded to academia:

https://www.academia.edu/42223073/C..._Archaeological_Responses_to_the_Neo-Marxians

(Note: it is not visible just yet, apparently)

Thank you all for allowing my obsession with Acheloios to frequently appear on these boards--I could not have done it without you!

Please post any coins of Acheloios, river gods, or Aphrodite, or even anything that is celebratory!

I'll start with one of my favorites, a tetradrachm from Gela, Sicily:



Best Wishes,

Nick

 

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My goodness Nick that is wonderful news. My sincerest congratulations. As someone who has been an academic for decades I know how much blood sweat and tears went into this.

Truly my friend this is a tremendous accomplishment. Well done!!!!!

 

Thank you—the most surprising thing was that the defense was really enjoyable and fun. It lasted about three hours but it wasn’t at all grueling.

 

Well done!


Epirus, Ambrakia, Late 2nd century BC, AE16 5.27g
Obv: Head of river god Acheloios Arachthos right (Man-headed bull)
Rev: AMBPA; bull butting left
Ref: SNG Copenhagen 28

 

The other members present really are learning from you. By the time you finish the dissertation you know more about this area of investigation than anyone else in the room. In fact, you probably know more about this area than most people period.

You are right. It is fun to talk about something that you know really well. The surprising thing is realizing that despite your own doubts about your own knowledge, you really do know the subject. The other thing that should become apparent very soon is just how much you do not know about the subject you investigated. The more I study something the less certain I am that I know anything about it!

 

Proficiat Nicholas.

I only got 2 manfaced bulls, the silver one from Naples is my favorite.

 

Congratulations on a tremendous accomplishment! I've not studied philosophy, but having read through your introduction I was hoping for more - when the book comes out I hope you'll let us know.

I'm lacking Acheloios and all of the Potamoi save for Nilus:

 

That is already apparent—I’ve got several more things in the pipeline that concern Acheloios. In fact, I have an essay in Koinon III that discusses the predecessors to @Ed Snible‘s coin (so I’m no longer sure it is Acheloios Arachthos but might instead be a local magistrate assimilated with Acheloios, which is a phenomenon I believe we encounter on Akarnanian coinage).

 

Hi, congratulations for the achievement. I have a somewhat basic question -- what is a "Neo-Marxian"? I have heard of marxists and neo-marxists but not of neo-marxians.

Thank you.

 

Wonderful news, at a time when we can use some. Congrats, Nick. Well done.

 

Dr. Acheloios is in the house!

Congratulations on that awesome achievement. Now when are you going to publish the silver and gold versions of the Acheloios catalog?

John

 

Congrats @Nicholas Molinari - I recall my oral defense as well. It was a bit rougher than I expected due to one professor (ok, heckler) but otherwise went well. My dissertation is titled Managerial Perspectives on the Role of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) in Shaping Strategy and Competitive Advantage. Your achievement caused me to pull it out of the bookshelf and give it a brief read. Best of luck going forth!

 

Same thing really, just different terminology. “Marxist” has a political connotation and that was a rabbit hole I was trying to avoid, focusing more on the deontological dimension of Marxism.

 

I hope volume 2 can be completed in the next 2-3 years. Nico and I decided to go slower with the next two simply because we were moving at a break-neck speed. However, I’m seemingly incapable if slowing down so I did this dissertation while he studies some of the female characters that accompany Acheloios and his predecessors.

 

My mentor said that when he defended years ago, he hadn’t yet met the person asking the questions (who was flown in from India)! Apparently, the British system is way different than the US. I was fortunate to get to know my committee very well.

 

My committee was very "committed". There was a professor of strategic management not on the committee who asked the tougher questions. The entire faculty was invited to the talk.

 

If you didn't find it grueling then that means you know your stuff and are passionate about it if not obsessed. Congratulations. The coin is absolutely stunning.

 

I suppose that means you are Doctor Nick now. I know that's a relief to get your defense over and done. My youngest was so concerned about his defense of his dissertation, he could hardly eat or sleep for the week prior. We had no doubt about his successful defense, but he did. Congratulation Doc!


AKARNANIA, FEDERAL COINAGE
AE20
OBVERSE: Head of Herakles r., wearing lion's skin headdress
REVERSE: Head of the river god Archelous r.; magistrate's name AGHTWP
Struck at Leukas 200-167 BC
4.6g, 20 mm
BCD Akarnania 38; Gross-McClean 5394; MSP I, 464.
Ex Failla Numismatics

 

My anxiety was certainly increased by the coronavirus—campus was closed indefinitely that evening as the students left for spring break, so I made it just under the wire.

 

Again, I say congratulations. That's quite a milestone!