iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Wait — there’s no “powerful Mesopotamian nation of Dakon,” is there? Better picture and correct interpretation (Dacians) here: www.philipharland.com/Blog/2022/09...

Picture of statue, with caption: “This statue shows the powerful Mesopotamian nation of Dakon under Roman rule. The exposed breast indicates military defeat as public spectacle.”

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

If you see this, I implore you to post an image from your device without context.

Dionysus (played in Euripides’ Bacchae by the poster) in mask and gold lamé tunic

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

If you see this, quote post with a title screen that is iconic to you

Opening of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” text adventure game: “THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY
Infocom interactive fiction - a science fiction story
Copyright (c) 1984 by Infocom, Inc. All rights reserved.
Release 59 / Serial number 851108
You wake up. The room is spinning very gently round your head. Or at least it would be if you could see it which you can't.
It is pitch black.
›inventory
You have:
a splitting headache
no tea”

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Found on a “nerdy biblical” page in a custom merch shop. *Not nerdy enough, I guess!!!*

Hebrew text on a custom tee-shirt. Hebrew is likely supposed to read “Yeshua” (i.e. Jesus), bug because the ayin (ע) was replaced by the similar-looking letter tsade (צ), it is unreadable or, more generously, would sound like “Yeshoots”!

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 22/06/2025

A pagan perspective on bad rulers (Julian, Oration 2, tr. Wright) — even *kings* should have higher standards. The “title” alluded to at the end is κάπηλος (“huckster”), by the way.

Julian, Oration 2.83-85:
For you are well aware that it is not wealth, either ancestral or newly acquired and pouring in from some source or other, that makes a king, nor his purple cloak nor his tiara and sceptre and diadem and ancestral throne, nay nor numerous hoplites and ten thousand cavalry ; not though all men should gather together and acknowledge him for their king, because virtue they cannot bestow on him, but only power, ill-omened indeed for him that receives it, but still more for those that bestow it. For once he has received such power, a man of that sort is altogether
raised aloft in the clouds, and in no wise differs from the legend of Phaethon and his fate. And there is no need of other instances to make us believe this saying, for the whole of life is full of such disasters and tales about them. And if it seems surprising to you that the title of king, so honourable, so favoured by the gods, cannot
justly be claimed by men who, though they rule over a vast territory and nations without number, nevertheless settle questions that arise by an autocratic decision, without intelligence or wisdom or the virtues that go with wisdom, believe me they are not even free men ; I do not mean if they merely possess what they have with none to hinder them and have their fill of power, but even though they conquer all who make war against them, and, when
they lead an invading army, appear invincible and irresistible. And if any of you doubt this statement, I have no lack of notable witnesses, Greek and barbarian, who fought and won many mighty battles, and became the masters of whole nations and compelled them to pay tribute, and yet were themselves slaves in a still more shameful degree of pleasure, money and wantonness, insolence and injustice. And no man of sense would call them even powerful, not
though greatness should shine upon and illumine all that they achieved.

And no man of sense would call them even powerful, not
though greatness should shine upon and illumine all that they achieved. For he alone is strong whose virtue aids him to be brave and magnanimous. But he who is the slave of pleasure and cannot control his temper and appetites of all sorts, but is compelled to succumb to trivial things, is neither brave himself nor strong with a man's strength, though we may perhaps allow him to exult like a bull or lion or leopard in his brute force, if indeed he do not lose even this and, like a drone, merely superintend the labours of others, himself a "feeble warrior," and
cowardly and dissolute. And if that be his character, he is lacking not only in true riches, but in that wealth also which men so highly honour and reverence and desire, on which hang the souls of men of all sorts, so that they undergo countless toils and labours for the sake of daily gain, and endure to sail the sea and to trade and rob and grasp at tyrannies. For they live ever acquiring but ever in want, though I do not say of necessary food and drink and clothes ; for the limit of this sort of property has been clearly defined by nature, and none can be deprived of it, neither birds nor fish nor wild beasts, much less prudent men. But those who are tortured by the desire and fatal passion for money must suffer a lifelong hunger, and depart from life more miserably than those who lack daily food. For these, once they have filled their bellies, enjoy perfect peace and respite from their
torment, but for those others no day is sweet that does not bring them gain, nor does night with her gift of sleep that relaxes the limbs and frees men from care bring for them any remission of their raging madness, but distracts and agitates their souls as they reckon and count up their money.

… distracts and agitates their souls as they reckon and count up their money. And not even the wealth of Tantalus and Midas, should they possess it, frees those men from their desire and their hard toil therewith, nay nor to gain "the most great and grievous tyranny of heaven," should they become possessed of this also. For have you not heard that
Darius, the ruler of Persia, a man not wholly base, but insatiably and shamefully covetous of money, dug up in his greed even the tombs of the dead and exacted the most costly tribute ? And hence he acquired the title that is famous among all mankind. For the notables of Persia called him by the name that the Athenians gave to Sarambos. [the title alluded to is "huckster": Greek <kapêlos>]

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Intriguingly, Beekes has two entries!!

Beekes first entry on ερεύγομαι and start of second entry

Beekes second entry on ερεύγομαι (conclusion)

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Post your favorite Doctor Who. Wrong answers only.

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

Is this a trend? I’ll jump on. #CurrentlyReading Anthony Doerr’s “Cloud Cuckoo Land” and R. L. Stevenson’s collection “Virginibus Puerisque” #BookSky

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc...

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 22/12/2024

But also: I tried experimenting with Google Translate to see what might come out to that.

Google Translate gives Latin “Fata proditorem” as equivalent of English “fates betray traitor”

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Name a TV show you’re positive no one remembers but you youtu.be/9s3fFbawSas?...

The Mighty Hercules: Hercules with big “H” belt, hand in the air above his head

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Post a perfect album from the 90s that isnt Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, or Alice In Chains. #thewrens

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Cavafy, “The Trojans”: it’s a mood! — tr by Dalven. AllPoetry.com has a slightly different translation, but without attribution (and the Greek text): allpoetry.com/Trojans

THE TROJANS
Our efforts are the efforts of the unfortunate; our efforts are like those of the Trojans.
We succeed somewhat; we regain confidence somewhat; and we start once more to have courage and high hopes.
But something always happens and stops us.
Achilles in the trench emerges before us and with loud cries dismays us.-
Our efforts are like those of the Trojans.
We think that with resolution and daring, we will alter the downdrag of destiny, and we stand outside ready for battle.
But when the great crisis comes, our daring and our resolution vanish; our soul is agitated, paralyzed; and we run all around the walls seeking to save ourselves in flight.
However, our fall is certain. Above, on the walls, the dirge has already begun.
The memories and the feelings of our own days weep.
Priam and Hecuba weep bitterly for us.

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 20/10/2024

The Emperor Julian (“the Apostate”), Oration 4: “Hymn to King Helios” #audiobook #neoplatonism mischahooker.bandcamp.com/album/julian...

Cover art for Julian Oration 4 audiobook

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 18/10/2024

Can’t get enough of that Hippocratic Corpus! Here’s “On the Sacred Disease”! mischahooker.bandcamp.com/album/hippoc... #audiobook

Cover art for Audiobook of “The Sacred Disease”

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 03/10/2024

Audiobook: [Hippocrates], On Wounds in the Head — mischahooker.bandcamp.com/album/hippoc...

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 14/07/2024

Audiobook of Lucian’s “De Dea Syria / On the Syrian Goddess”! mischahooker.bandcamp.com/album/lucian...

Album image for Lucian of Samosata, “The Syrian Goddess,” translated by H. A. Strong, narrated by Mischa Hooker

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 20/03/2024

But wait — there’s more! Now “Airs Waters Places”! #Hippocrates #audiobook

Cover for audiobook, Hippocrates “Airs Waters Places”

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 18/03/2024

Poetic justice, at least! — given the nature of the case, according to which “… Mr. Trump had fraudulently inflated his net worth to obtain favorable loans and other benefits …” www.nytimes.com/2024/03/18/n... It’ll be interesting to see where it goes from here!

New York Times headline: “Trump Spurned by 30 Companies as He Seeks Bond in $454 Million Judgment”

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 16/03/2024

Short Hippocrates / Hippocratic Corpus audiobook: “Ancient Medicine.” mischahooker.bandcamp.com/album/hippoc...

Cover for linked audiobook: Title information and Pierrot figure. Dominant color green.

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 12/01/2024

More detail in the published article (pp 188-89): revistas.usal.es/uno/index.ph... — in particular, different types of inscriptions on these sorts of projectiles.

Types of inscription on sling projectiles

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 15/12/2023

Can you believe it? > $30 for some tomatoes and some seasoning!

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 01/11/2023

Any Neoplatonist fanciers out there? / Looking for Neoplatonic texts in audiobook form? I’ve got some Plotinus (selections from the Enneads) and Sallustius (On the Gods and the World) available — with more on the way eventually! mischahooker.bandcamp.com

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 23/10/2023

Or this, from Latmos, seems like the perfect shape! www.latmos-felsbilder.de/0701.php?l=eng

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 25/09/2023

@pseudepigraphon.bsky.social Apparently there’s a Zelazny show and tell party going on? I plead guilty …

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Mischa Hooker @pseudepigraphon.bsky.social · 22/09/2023

Ironically, there was an option to “translate this post”! The results:

Google translate output: same as original

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