Archives / 2010 / July

East End Artist and Greek Mythology

constantinakatsari July 15, 2010

“An East London artist presents his first solo show on the theme of Greek Mythology at the Hellenic Centre in central London. Alan Osborne’s exhibition, Elysium in the modern world, uses geometrical and solid abstract forms to make historical events, stories and myths from the ancient Greek era come alive in a contemporary context. Greek Mythology is a theme that has been interpreted by renowned artists throughout history including Picasso, Raphael and Rubens. Alan’s project is a unique an... »

Quotation of the Week 24

constantinakatsari July 13, 2010

Today on BBC Radio Tom Butler, the Bishop of Southwark, conjugated the verb “I am principled”: I am principled You are stubborn They are bigoted I think that the above has immense historical value, especially if you are studying the History of Ideas. »

Ancient History Competition 30

constantinakatsari July 12, 2010

Manolis decided not to go on holidays. Instead, he is toiling over the Ancient History Competition. In 797 AD Byzantine emperor Constantine the 6th was blinded at the instigation of his own mother, empress Irene. She was probably just following the example of this 4th century BC queen: she and her son-in-law were responsible for the murder of her son AND she also plotted to klll her husband. Who was she? »

Italians Legalise Illegal Antiquities

constantinakatsari July 10, 2010

A few days ago I received a desperate message from a friend who also happens to be an Italian Archaeologist working in Greece. According to the message, next week the Italian Parliament will approve of a law that will legalise the illegal ownership of antiquities. Effectively, if a pot or statue or coin has been found in the course of an illegal excavation and then sold to the market, the owner of the object will not face any legal consequences. On the other hand, it is obvious that the law will... »

Academic Pensions

constantinakatsari July 9, 2010

Why do you work (or you want to work) in the Academia? Is it the long hours (around 60 per week)? Is it the lack of holidays (Probably less than a week per year)? Is it the busy weekends (doing research or going to conferences)? Is it the low pay (with our qualifications we could earn double our current salary outside the Ivory Tower)? Is it the pension scheme?…. Well, the pension scheme was probably the one benefit we could get out of being academics. And I say WAS because everything is a... »

The moral right to distribute your own publications online

constantinakatsari July 7, 2010

A few days ago several academics commented (on facebook) on the state of our publication rights. It seems that the author comes up with an innovative idea for an article or a book, puts together a number of applications for funding or funds his/her own research, s/he struggles to find the evidence usually in distant countries, catalogues the available material, writes several drafts of the article, presents several papers in conferences. All in the space of five to ten years. Eventually, a publi... »

Quotation of the Week 23

constantinakatsari July 6, 2010

I was not unpopular (at school)…It is Oxford that has made me insufferable. (Max Beerbohm, More, 1899. ‘Going back to School’) »

Ancient History Competition 29

constantinakatsari July 5, 2010

In one of Eurpides’ tragedies, Agamemnon says: “We are the slaves of the masses” Which 5th-century Athenian politician is reported to have used this line when he talked about himself? »

Academia.edu : Another Review

constantinakatsari July 3, 2010

When I am wrong, I do not hesitate to admit it. And this is the case with my views on the excellent site of Academia.edu . A few months ago I wrote a not so positive article on its operation. I was in Greece back then and the speed of the connection with the site was so low that I have not even managed to inspect its innermost pages. When I complained about it, some researchers answered that they never used it anyway and that they only checked out PHD Comics. At about the same time, the Academia... »

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