Christmas gifts

Here are my ancient-world-related Christmas gifts:



My family knows not to try to buy me ancient coins; I do that myself. For some reason, there are no Sidebottom books in our entire public library system, not even for interlibrary loan. I think I read one long ago and enjoyed it, so I mentioned I couldn't borrow them locally.

Problem solved!

Show us some Christmas gifts!

 

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I didn't get any coins or coin related gifts this year. In fact, I got....underwear....
Wish I was joking.

 

Nice! I got a few books for Christmas myself ^_^

 

I highly recommend each and every one of Harry Sidebottom's novels, all of them taking place in the mid-3rd century, beginning with the assassination of Severus Alexander and going up to and into the reign of Gallienus (so far). I've read all of them! Iron and Rust is the first of a trilogy -- and the earliest of all his novels -- and when you've finished it I think you'll want to read the others as well.

 

I wonder if that title “Iron and Rust” was taken from Cassius Dio?

In his writings he refers to the reign of Commodus as marking the descent of Rome:
"From a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust".

 

I am sure it was.

 

Coins are great but underwear also serves a noble purpose.

 

We stopped exchanging gifts years ago. Our immediate family is composed of the four hardest to buy for people there are. This year I needed socks but had to buy my own. My grandson wants a trip to Japan for a summer abroad program at school. Covid will probably cancel that.

 

I was kindly gifted two numismatic books this year:


The real Ancient winner though was not numismatics, but a cuneiform tablet my wife gifted me:

A local antique shop was selling the estate of a local archaeologist, and I saw this there months ago. Luckily my wife picked up on my heavy hinting and nabbed it!

 

Great gifts Fitz!

I need to pick up a copy of “Top 100 Ancient Coins” for myself.

Any idea on an approximate date for the cuneiform tablet? Or translation?

 

Date is supposedly 2000-1600 B.C. I have no clue where to begin to get a translation or who to reach out to about it (and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated…)

 

Oh wow that's old!

Hmm I don't think many people are familiar with cuneiform script unless they are Professor's of Sumerian history or something like that. Or maybe archeologists.

I just wasn't sure if maybe there were notes or something from the archeologist whose estate you bought it from with more information about it.

Alot of the tablets like those I've seen tend to be records of stockpiles of things like wheat, barley, pigs, sheep, etc., so maybe it's something like that?

If it's something else it could potentially have academic value. I believe that tablet is from the times of Hammurabi and his law code is famous for the whole "An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth" thing.

The writing looks very familiar to it.

 

My wife put a bow on her head and said Merry Christmas. All I asked her for was a gift card. Gee, thanks Santa...

 

Merry Greetings. I was offered a Yule log, that's Christmas Cake (Buche de Noel) as well as a couple of bottles of Scotch Whisky- Black label from 2 dear persons.

 

Where we live the winters are usually cold and humid so my wife got me a pair of fleece-lined jeans

 

O WOW!!....i've coveted one of those clay tablets for years...i found one available several years ago, but i believe it was stolen so i wouldn't buy it..very kool man!

 

it’s written in cuneiform, which is the same writing as this tablet and Hammurabi’s code. But what Language it’s in is another matter - Sumerian, Akkadian, or who knows? Many people used Cuneiform…

as for the contents, as you say, it probably is something mundane like a receipt or accounting record. But even those can be fascinating in their own right! I just have to find some way to transcribe then translate…

 

That would definitely be an interesting project to pursue. I'm sure there must be someone in the field who can translate it. Maybe for a fee?

 

I received two very interesting ancient history-related books from my wife that I’m excited about. I have definitely been reading way less since my job switched to mostly remote (I did most of my reading on the train to and from work), but I’m hoping to do a better job with that this year, and these two books should be a good start.

The first book is The First Fossil Hunters, which links the origins of some figures of Greek and Roman mythology (especially the Griffin) to fossils found by the Romans and Greeks in the areas where these myths originated. Very cool topic and very interesting research.




I also got Mary Beard’s new book about the 12 Caesars, which looks like it should be a great read.

 

I read Sumerian-Akkadian. The cuneiform tablet says, “We have been trying to reach you about your chariot’s extended warranty…”