iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

One of the fundamental failures of higher ed leadership is caring about the inputs of research (grants) over the outputs (published research).

130

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

New Ancient Warfare arrived! Theme is Alexander, but Spurius Ligustinus makes a cameo in a special. @ancientwarfare.bsky.social

090

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

David Burbach 🇺🇸 @dburbach.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Kind of astonishing to tell this blatant and disprovable of lie about such an emotional national trauma. Trump was in midtown that morning

1637951

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

Society for Classical Studies @scsclassics.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Today on the blog, editor Michael Taylor shares his take on Christopher Nolan's Odyssey and the Late Bronze Age Collapse. classicalstudies.org/scs-blog/mik...

A black and white line drawing of a sea battle with ships and oars. Some men shoot arrows, others fall off of ships. There are some Egyptian hieroglyphics on top.

052

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Thersites the Historian gets the only vote that counts because its his show, but I'd love to drone on about the Social War, THE turning point (mostly very bad!) in Republican history.

191

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux @bretdevereaux.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

So I recall remarking a while back at the MET had two iron kopides that I was *sure* couldn't have been completely legally acquired (they stopped answering my emails when I asked about provenance) given their acquisition date and I check back on them and what do I see? LOL. ROFL. ROFLMAO, even.

A text book from the MET site, indicating the object in question was restituted in September of 2025.

943947

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Yes. Also, the whole “mentor” schtick worked when there were actually jobs for grad students to go into. For most, grad school is the academic career, performing labor that sustains the entire enterprise.

2120

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

Patrick Wyman @patrickwyman.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

@drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social Soldiers and Silver was one of the best books I've read in the past few years!

1323

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

Mitch Wolfe @whrwlfthrwlf85v.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Extending this further, it’s also Hegseth intentionally humiliating the military out of resentment at only being an alcoholic National Guard major limited in both intelligence and management skills that couldn’t truly make a career out of the military.

17218

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

Ancient Warfare magazine @ancientwarfare.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Nineteen years of *Ancient Warfare* magazine: a look back and a big announcement. Jasper Oorthuys is passing the editorial baton—could you be the next editor? Find out more. bit.ly/4buAgGL

0529

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

Dr. Jeroen W.P. Wijnendaele @drdragases.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

This is an important question but very difficult to answer. A thread on the Christianization of the Roman _State_ which by proxy gives us some insight on the Christianization of the Roman _World_

27920

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

John Ma 🇺🇦 @nakhthor.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

@drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social 's excellent take on the Odyssey. TLDR: tension between the fantasy treatment and the dogged LBA collapse setting (the latter would be better served by Eggers style obessive realism) classicalstudies.org/scs-blog/mik...

classicalstudies.org

Blog: Bronze Age Collapse on the Silver Screen: Thoughts on Chistopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. | Society for Classical Studies

2264

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

Rocío Gomez @historyrocio.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Inspired by the summer film and Discourse, some freshman are going to show up to register for classes in Ancient Greek and Ancient History only to find that those courses and faculty no longer exist.

06416

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux @bretdevereaux.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Apologies if I sound angry, but it is a real problem that the 'smart' commentary on this war is trying hard to avoid the core lesson ("the president is a fucking moron") because it doesn't sound very clever when it is absolutely the most important takeaway from this debacle.

462110403

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

Society for Classical Studies @scsclassics.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Today on the blog, Rachel Lesser reviews Christopher Nolan's new Odyssey film: classicalstudies.org/scs-blog/rle...

A brown relief showing a male and a female figure facing one another, passing a smaller figure from the man to the woman. The man holds a sword upright in his right hand.

2116

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

Society for Classical Studies @scsclassics.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Looking for some summer reading? Check out our latest blog posts! Justin Vorhis shares strategies for building a strong undergraduate Greek program: classicalstudies.org/scs-blog/jus...

A vertical stone inscription with ancient Greek letters

172

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Chuds are gonna chud, but I would note there is a very clear mechanism for ensuring faculty stay current in their field---it's called research output. We freely share our CVs! You can go see the last time I published an article in a scholarly journal! (June 2026, cough cough).

290

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux @bretdevereaux.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

A good day to remember that one of the indictments against George III in the Declaration was, "He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither"

3768165

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux @bretdevereaux.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

This week on the blog: a few thoughts on the Declaration of Independence for its 250th birthday, with particular attention to "every act which may define a Tyrant." acoup.blog/2026/07/04/c...

411929

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

Angry Staff Officer @pptsapper.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Happy “liberal arts professor helps save the Union” day to all who celebrate

Charge of the 20th Maine at Little Round Top

10156361502

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

Micah @rincewind.run · 30/06/2026

trans rights are human rights and nothing will change that, no matter what a bunch of unelected law wizards and bigoted legislators say

81168256

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

A draft map of the Battle of Second Herdonia, 210 BC. Hannibal envelopes a poorly deployed Roman army besieging Herdonia. Based on the brief narrative of Livy 27. 1 (also App. Han. 48 and Fronteinus 2.5.21. Terrain explains why the legions and Ala were not deployed abreast.

1151

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

OTD, June 22nd 168 BC, the Battle of Pydna ended the Third Macedonian War, and the Macedonian monarchy. Re-upping, w @profpaulj.bsky.social our reconstruction of this decisive battle, open source at GRBS. grbs.library.duke.edu/index.php/gr...

013317

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

Javal Coleman @javalac.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Out today. it means a lot for this to be published on Juneteenth and before Father’s Day. classicalstudies.org/scs-blog/jav...

classicalstudies.org

Blog: Fatherlessness in Antiquity and Now | Society for Classical Studies

37723

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Ancient historian thoughts on Iran mess. One thing that always struck me about the Hellenistic kingdoms is how quickly they surrender. These are kings who build up their whole self-definition about being good at war, but they quit as soon as they lose a battle.

7651140

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Thrilled to announce publication with @dominicmachado.bsky.social of our article: "The Carthaginian Masters: Settler Colonialism and Racecraft in Ancient North Africa" Arethusa 59: 151-178. We destroy Carthage one more time, only with theory. muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl...

Academic painting of Roman soldiers working a not terribly plausible catapult against Carthage during the Third Punic War (149-146). Edward Poynter, 1868.

411815

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

Cameron 🇺🇸🗽🦅 @cameroncorduroy.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

>renames it to the Department of War >names himself the Secretary of War >fights one war >loses

377197463996

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

411815

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 13/06/2026

i really, truly, find this offensive

832145142517

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Fashy Tech Bros: Back in Roman times, men were men. Just conquering the world with the boys, no time for woke feminist soi boi bullshit. Actual Roman who fought Hannibal: I'd like to share my recipe for poppyseed cheeseballs with you (Cato Agr. 79)

627870

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux @bretdevereaux.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

There's also a backdrop here of the failure of history as a discipline to diversify in the 1980s and 1990s when it would have been easier to do from a hiring/financial perspective. And, y'know, that was a decision. Made by some people.

11276

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

“This type of traditionalism and pining for the past that is married to a kind of thick anti-intellectualism and a worship of action and violence for its own sake is hardly new. [It is] a core component of fascist ideology.” www.thebulwark.com/p/why-stone-...

thebulwark.com

Why Stone-Faced Fascists Keep Getting Antiquity Wrong

Online bigotry masquerading as a love of history in the fever swamps of Elon Musk’s X.

10389107

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

Jay Daigle @profjaydaigle.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Education involves information, motivation, and certification. Disruptors and reformers mostly focus on the first and third, but the second is the hard part. MOOCs would work in a world where motivation wasn't constraining. LLMs make the problem of motivation harder.

2294

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux @bretdevereaux.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Right next to the JCPOA guys, DEI may be the most vindicated thing in America. These guys get rid of DEI and immediately *instantly* every position of authority is flooded by a wave of talentless hack mediocrities, each one more corrupt and venal than the last.

91082264

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

M14 prototypes, basically slapping a BAR magazine into an M1.

170

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

More experimental M1 variants; second from top (T26) was carved up by GIs in the Philippines to make an expedient Jungle Carbine.

051

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Pedersen rifle and Pedersen device. Poor guy couldn’t catch a break.

130

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Springfield Armory, MA. Garand prototypes and a sad Pedersen rifle at the bottom.

080

Reposted by Michael J. Taylor

Jason Kander @jasonkander.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Hegseth claims the dumbest phrase in military history is “our diversity is our strength” 1. He’s wrong. Our diversity is a strength. 2. The dumbest phrase in military history is “personally owned vehicle” because whether said in full or as an acronym (POV) it is still more syllables than “my car”

415322

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Best part of getting older is they keep finding new Egadi island rams.

11458

Michael J. Taylor @drmichaeljtaylor.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Under Trump and Hegseth, T.R.'s maxim is inverted to "Speak loudly and carry a wet noodle."

1181