The Palace of Nestor at Pylos in Western Messenia - Volume IV - the Inscribed Documents
Just received an astonishing two-volume set which provides high quality photos and transcriptions of all the Linear B tablets excavated at the Late Bronze Age Mycenaean archeological site known as “The Palace of Nestor at Pylos”. These tablets were discovered in 1939; full excavation of the site took place from 1952 to 1966.
In the midst of this excavation in 1952, Michael Ventris achieved a breakthrough in the decoding and translation of Linear B, identifying the language of the tablets as an archaic form of Greek. He collaborated with John Chadwick on the first publication of documents on Linear B, including those from Pylos and Knossos.
Now, nearly 90 years after the first set of tablets were discovered, we now have a full description of them all available for study. At the same time, several set of new publications have been released on the interpretation of Linear B tablets.
It is an exciting time for anyone interested in this first surviving form of writing of any Indo-European language, providing an insight into the Aegean world c.BC1250.
‘To-morrow is Saint Crispian’
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say ‘To-morrow is Saint Crispian:’
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say ‘These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.’
Finished reading: Queer Georgians by Anthony Delaney 📚
A Hidden History of Lovers, Lawbreakers and Homemakers
A truly eye-opening history of gender and sexual non-conformity in the long 17th century. As stated in the last lines of the book:
“Together, these histories remind us that even when the odds are stacked against us we survive - and that given our tenacity - we may thrive yet. Each one of us, shoulder to shoulder with the other; nobody left behind.”
Finished reading: After the Siren by Darcy Green 📚
I absolutely loved and devoured this book. It made me laugh, and several times, made me cry with joy. Oh and good lord the sex is hot.
20 years of LibraryThing
A very Happy 20th Birthday to LibraryThing and congratulations to everyone who has made this happen - Tim, the team, and all of the readers and users who have been part of the community for the last 20 years.
I joined LibraryThing in April 2006, and in my first month I added 423 books (mostly history books). I’ve now catalogued 2681 books (1259 of which are tagged ‘history’), so my tastes have broadened!
You can access my personal Library here: https://www.librarycat.org/lib/jeremybakernz
Thank you LibraryThing, for everything. You are a key tool in enabling my obsession!
Finished reading: Deep House by Jeremy Atherton Lin 📚
Sexy and intellectually challenging. What a love story!