iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Dr Jo Ball @drjeball.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

A toy ball from #Roman Egypt, made from linen with strips of reed (painted red & green), & with stone chips inside so it would rattle when used. First played with some 1600+ years ago... (📷 British Museum) #AncientBlueSky

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Michael Gallagher @mtgallagher.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Does anyone know about the British Museum's Rosetta Stone copy that anyone can touch? My friend Joan @joantaylor.bsky.social, who introduced me to it, could actually translate parts of the Greek.

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Joan Taylor @joantaylor.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Excellent article on Omer Bartov's new book about what has gone very wrong in Israel. He is actually pro Israel, pro Palestine, pro confederacy, and “completely, vehemently opposed to the kind of Zionism that exists today in Israel”. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

theguardian.com

What went wrong in Israel? A genocide scholar examines ‘what Zionism became’

In his new book, Omer Bartov tracks how a liberatory strand of Zionism transformed into an extremist ideology that he sees as responsible for genocide in Gaza

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Jeff Sharlet @jeffsharlet.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

An exceptionally good survey of the Protestant theological currents feeding this holy war.

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Dr. Chance Bonar @chancebonar.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Proofs day for A Workshop of Eloquence: A Collection of Gazan Literature from Late Antiquity! I'm grateful to be working with DAK University Press in Bethlehem and a Gazan Arabic translator to offer an introduction and selection of translated texts by, from, and about late ancient Gaza.

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Joan Taylor @joantaylor.bsky.social · 26/12/2025

I love how these nativity scenes actually give a glimpse of pre modern midwives. One of their roles was to bath the baby while mother rested.

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Robyn Faith Walsh @zafulotus.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

I was delighted to visit Bible & Archaeology (bam.sites.uiowa.edu) recently to talk about early nativity scenes! 🤓 youtu.be/nKBm6FYKoEc?... We cover the catacombs, frescoes, Life of Brian. And it's the closest I've ever come to invoking "Mark Wahlberg Talks to Animals"...

youtu.be

This Is The Oldest Nativity Scene We Have

YouTube video by Bible & Archaeology

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IRCI_ACU @irci.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

JOB OPENING: Associate Dean (Research), Theology and Philosophy Seeking an academic for high-level academic leadership across the faculty, operating within a University-wide research strategy focused on high quality, high impact and innovative research. candidate.aurion.cloud/acu/producti...

candidate.aurion.cloud

Associate Dean (Research), Theology and Philosophy - Vacancy Details

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The Institute of Classical Studies @ics.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

Join the ICS: The Institute of Classical Studies is now recruiting for an open-ended lectureship in Classical Studies in support of its national mission. Full details here: www.jobs.london.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai... Deadline 15 January

jobs.london.ac.uk

Lecturer in Classical Studies (Research, Training and Partnerships):London Senate House

The University of London

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 07/12/2025

UPDATE: Another Chicago-area church has put up an immigration-themed Nativity scene. A church member at Urban Village Church sent this one along, where Mary, Joseph and Jesus are gone and replaced with a sign that reads: “Due to ICE activity in our community, the Holy Family is in hiding.”

A Nativity where Mary, Joseph and Jesus are gone and replaced with a sign that reads: “Due to ICE activity in our community, the Holy Family is in hiding.”

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Joan Taylor @joantaylor.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

Tell it like it is Tom Wright! Brave man. He's hitting the nail on the head. Also a challenge to academics who assume he's going to sing from a particular songsheet.

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Joan Taylor @joantaylor.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Here's my article about Bethlehem being not such a little village in Jesus' day. An important aqueduct went through it.

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Katie Turner @katieturnerphd.com · 18/11/2025

I’ve been asking this question since the attack. The silence as one of our major national institutions was crippled has been extremely frustrating and shortsighted.

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International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

We are now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 Shohet Scholars Grant for research on the Ancient Mediterranean! Awards range from $2,000-$30,000. Deadline is Feburary 1, 2026. More information: www.catacombsociety.org/shohet-schol...

2026-2027 SHOHET SCHOLARS GRANT FOR RESEARCH ON THE ANCIENT MEDITERRANEAN
The Shohet Scholars Grant of the International Catacomb Society is now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 Shohet Scholars cohort. Awards up to $30,000.
Submission deadline is February 1, 2026.

This annual grant program funds research on the Ancient Mediterranean. Projects need not focus on the catacombs. Shohet Scholars may do their research in archaeology, art history, classical studies, history, comparative religions, or related subjects.
We welcome interdisciplinary projects that approach traditional topics from new perspectives.
For further information and to apply go to the ICS website: www.catacombsociety.org/shohet-scholars/.
Email questions to ShohetICS@gmail.com

Image of fresco of a bird and a shepherd with a sheep over his shoulders. Paintings from the Catacombs of Domatilla in Rome.

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Mark Goodacre @goodacre.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

On Sunday, I debated with Bart Ehrman, "Did John Know the Other Gospels?" It ended up being a bit more spicy than the "fireside chat" we had anticipated. The first half of the debate is now on Youtube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=REXn...

youtube.com

Did John Copy the Other Gospels? | Bart Ehrman vs. Mark Goodacre, Face to Face on the Bible

YouTube video by Bart D. Ehrman

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Joan Taylor @joantaylor.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

My book Boy Jesus is now out in Italy, so do tell your Italian friends! Published by Sonda. Gesu Bambino. sonda.it/prodotto/la-...

sonda.it

La vera storia di Gesù Bambino - Edizioni Sonda

Crescere in Giudea in tempi turbolenti

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NASSCAL @nasscal.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

Announcing the launch of the open-access Journal of Christian Apocryphal Literature (JCAL). Sign up if you are interested in being a contributor or reviewer! journals.aperio.press/jcal/submiss...

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Joan Taylor @joantaylor.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

Very important article by @mmonier.bsky.social on Codex Alexandrinus, with mention too of scribe Thecla.

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Joan Taylor @joantaylor.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

What a great idea for a book. Wow.

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Joan Taylor @joantaylor.bsky.social · 22/06/2025

No it really wasn't a tomb for a Herodian princess. Evidence? None. What a lot of twaddle for the sake of the Israel tourism industry.

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Joan Taylor @joantaylor.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Very good to talk with the great team at The Two Cities podcast about Boy Jesus. Btw he wasn't born into an easy time. Demonstrations, massive clampdowns, imperialism and violence ... threats to his own family. www.thetwocities.com

thetwocities.com

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Joan Taylor @joantaylor.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

So glad this is happening for the immensely talented @mmonier.bsky.social

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Art of Marza @artofmarza.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

Ever wonder why we dye eggs red for Pascha? The red symbolizes Christ’s blood shed for us. There are a few traditions about the pascha eggs involving Mary Magdalene. The one I grew up with was that Mary Magdalene put a basket of eggs at the foot of the cross and Christ’s blood flowed onto the eggs.

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Joan Taylor @joantaylor.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

Love this curious painting. Great commentary too.

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Dr. Elizabeth Schrader Polczer @libbiesp.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Hooray! You can read my new Journal of Early Christian Studies article arguing that we might have a new possible fragment of the Gospel of Mary ;) muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl...

muse.jhu.edu

Project MUSE - “An Image of Eternal Incorruptible Light”: P.Oxy. 5577 as a Possible Fragment of the Gospel of Mary

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T&T Clark @tandtclark.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

➡️ Available now: 'Reimaging the Magdalene' by @siobhanjolley.bsky.social This book offers a new, intersectional feminist approach to utilising and interpreting the visual reception of Mary Magdalene. Find out more ➡️ www.bloomsbury.com/9780567714268

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James F. McGrath (ReligionProf) @religionprof.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

A reminder to all academics researching John the Baptist that there is now a Society of Biblical Literature program unit focused on him. Please submit your paper proposals!