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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

A Roman curse, written on metal and thrown into the sacred spring at Aquae Sulis (modern day Bath) as a plea to the goddess, Sulis Minerva. The text complains about the theft of ‘Vilbia’ - probably a woman, possibly a slave. #FindsFriday 📷 my own

Mounted grey metal square inscribed with white Latin letters

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Sharing one of my all time favourites for #findsfriday. This eerily lifelike wooden statue of a priest by the name of Ka-aper dates to around 2,435-2,429 BC - making it more than 4,400 years old! 🤯 Discovered in Saqqara, Egypt 📸 Mine via Egyptian Museum Cairo egyptianmuseumcairo.eg/artefacts/st...

Hyperrealistic wooden statue of an older man with a rotund face made from reddish brown wood, with rock crystal, calcite, copper, and black stone for the eyes.

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Triumph of Neptune and the Four Seasons, Late 2nd-century AD, from La Chebba, Tunisia #MosaicMonday 📸 my own via Bardo Museum, Tunisia

Detailed mosaic showing Neptune with a trident rising out of the sea on a chariot pulled by horses, surrounded by decorative detail including animals, flowers and classical figures representing the seasons

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

A lovely chunk of bog butter for #findsfriday Dated to 400-350 BC, it may have been a votive offering, a way of preserving a valuable commodity, or even a way of maturing the butter #Ancientbluesky 📷 my own via Nat Museum of Ireland. Found in Co. Kildare www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a...

A roughly 60cm high, uneven cylinder of pale, solid ‘butter’ in a display case

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

An exquisitely crafted ceremonial macehead dated to around 3300-2800 BC. Found in Knowth passage tomb in Ireland, It bears spiral motifs similar to those found on the megalithic art surrounding the tomb 📷 my own via Nat Museum of Ireland #findsfriday #Ancientbluesky www.museum.ie/en-IE/collec...

A finely crafted rounded macehead made from cream and brown flint and carved with spiral motifs and ridges

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

A medieval wooden coffin embedded in a ruined wall at St John the Baptist Church, Chester, which dates to C11-12th Supposedly it was installed here after a church sexton unearthed it in C19th. The inscription reads ‘Dust to dust’ #mementomorimonday #MedievalMonday www.atlasobscura.com/places/25205

A warped wooden coffin embedded in a stone wall beside a medieval arch

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Caerphilly Castle, still not talking any shit after 700 years

Formidable castle with high walls and towers in the middle of a moat, one tower leaning sharply

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

🎶 In the jungle, the mighty jungle

A black cat (Monty) peering out from giant leaves

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Happy summer solstice! Had the privilege recently of filming early morning at Stonehenge. To stand in the centre with the trilithons towering over you, it feels like an open air cathedral. An immensely powerful place, even after 4,500 years #Standingstonesunday #summersolstice #summersolstice2026

Centre of Stonehenge, early morning with no one in sight. Trilithon to one side with the outer ring beyond it. 📷 my own

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

The supposed severed hand of a 19th century card cheat clutching his final hand of cards. On display at the 15th century Salisbury pub, the Haunch of Venison www.atlasobscura.com/places/61475

A bony hand with playing cards, covered in dust and brick fragments, on display behind bars and lit by orange light

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Carthaginian jewelry, 6-7th century BC #findsfriday 📷 my own, Bardo National Museum, Tunis

Bracelet with variously colored beads, some gold with intricate designs

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Reposted by Tom the Scribbler

Alexander Luckmann @aluckmann.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Today, and every day, trans rights are human rights

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Banteay Srei, 10th century. Angkor, Cambodia. 📸 my own #ancientsite #Ancientbluesky

Elaborately carved stone temple with three prangs on a raised stone platform. Tall trees in background

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

The beautifully preserved/restored Prambanan temple complex in Central Java, Indonesia, built 9th century CE by the Mataram Kingdom and dedicated to Siva, Vishnu and Brahma 📸 mine #archaeology #Ancientbluesky #temple

An ancient stone temple, elaborately carved, with a layered pyramidal top. In the foreground, a stone walkway with a line of round, crown like decorations on its wall

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

A beautiful Oriental Pied Hornbill (and doesn’t he know it!) 📸 my own. Pangkor island, Malaysia #birds #nature #birdphotography

A large black and white hornbill with a long, curving beak, yellow with and a bony prominence running along the top

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

Beautiful mossy forest in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia (jungle trail 3 - 5 is the way to go!) 📸 my own #forestfriday #treemagic #forests #moss

A cluster of gnarled trees covered in thick moss and lichen, dark and atmospheric like something otherworldly lives there

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Sunset at Taman Negara in Malaysia, the second oldest rainforest in the world at 130 million years old (meaning it was a rainforest when the dinosaurs still roamed the earth!)

Rainforested hillside in silhouette with the orange clouds of a sunset above

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

A short thread of street art from George Town, Malaysia 📸 my own 1/5 by Alex Face

Street mural of cartoon boy with blue and yellow eyes dressed in a cat costume riding a scooter

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

The gleaming temple of Wat Pra That Doi Suthep, just outside of Chiang Mai Taken last Thursday (July 10) on the Buddhist holiday of Asalha Puja, also known as Dharma Day, celebrating the day the Buddha gave his first sermon. melting photographer not pictured, which is for the best 🥵

Buddhist temple with shining gold stupa, golden statues of the Buddha, and worshippers walking it around holding flowers. More flower offerings in the foreground along with red and green paper lanterns overhead

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

‘Personally I’m a big fan of their early material’ 250+ years before Angkor Wat, there was Bakong. It was the 1st Khmer temple mountain - a representation of Mt Meru, centre of the universe & home of the gods in Hindu myth 1/2 en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_a... 📸 mine #ancientsite #Ancientbluesky

A 5 tiered pyramid style temple with a tower on top, located at the end of a stone then dirt path fringed with tall trees

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

Ruins of the 11th century temple, Wat Banan, just outside of Battambang, Cambodia (built by King Udayadityavarman II) #ancientsite #Ancientbluesky 📸 my own en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Banan

Two crumbling stone temples about 10 meters high, roughly pyramidal with a thick stone framed doorway and dark interior. Ground littered with stone and overgrown with flowering plants

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

A 10th century temple at the Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary in Central Vietnam, built by the ancient Hindu kingdom of Champa 📸 my own (this is temple B5 I think) #Ancientbluesky #ancientsite more info here www.vietnamcoracle.com/my-son-sanct...

A crumbling brick temple with statues and decorated pillars on either side of a dark doorway. Trees in background

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Entrance to Bich Dong Pagoda, northern Vietnam, a Buddhist site featuring cave temples dating from 15th to 18th centuries. 📸 my own

Buddhist gateway across a narrow stone bridge with water and boats beside the bridge and lush green hills in the background

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Exploring the 'City of Silence', Pakistan’s vast city of the dead Read my article about Makli, one of the largest necropolises in the world. Published by Globetrotters mag over on Medium medium.com/globetrotter... #Ancientbluesky #Findsfriday 📸 my own: Tomb of Nawab Shurfa Khan

Large, Mughal era mausoleum made of red brick with a blue tiled dome and blue tiled calligraphy over the 4 arched entrances. Built 1639.

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

One of the of the Bản Giốc Waterfalls on the border of Vietnam and China (on the Vietnam side)

Waterfall from green cliffs with aquamarine pool in foreground and green hills in backfield

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Rice and corn terraces, North Vietnam, just outside of Sa Pa, with our guide Su sporting a lovely purple umbrella Highly recommend these folks for trekking if you’re ever in the area: sapaochau.org/sapa-trekkin...

Steep hills with rice terraces and corn. Guide in foreground with purple umbrella. Mountains in distance.

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

A work shift ended (1963) By NGUYỄN SỸ NGỌC (1919 - 1990) Lacquer painting 📸 taken from original

Vietnamese lacquer painting showing workers standing and walking, including a woman in loose black clothing and a traditional hat

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Statue of Avalokitesvara at Vietnam National Museum of History, Hanoi (museum replica, original 1656) Artist Trương (family name), from Northern Vietnam 📸 my own

Large painted red wooden statue of seated bodhisattva with many arms and heads

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Statue of the Fasting Buddha, from the Gandhara civilization, 2nd century AD Excavated from Sikri in modern day Pakistan #FindsFriday 📸 my own via Lahore Museum

Dark stone statue of an emaciated Buddha in meditation posture

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Glacial river in Passu, northern Pakistan

Aquamarine river in foreground with spectacular white capped mountains in distance

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

A view of the Himalayas from 35,000 feet, somewhere between Islamabad and Skardu

High altitude mountain range covered in snow and cloud

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

This week I was lucky enough to visit the 4,500 year old ruins of Mohenjo-daro in Pakistan. Built by the Indus Valley Civilization, it was roughly contemporary with Stonehenge & featured advanced urban planning, public baths (in foreground) & even a sophisticated sewer system 📸 my own #ancientsite

Ancient brick ruins with steps leading down to a bathing area in foreground and a large mound in the distance

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

The mysterious script of the Indus valley civilization still hasn’t been deciphered. These seals are at least 4,200 years old, but no one knows what they say or even what they’re for 📸 my own. Taken at the National Museum at Karachi, Pakistan #FindsFriday

White clay seal with bull and pictograph inscription

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Ceiling of the Shah Jahan Mosque in Thatta, Pakistan (17th century) 📸 my own

Elaborately tiled mosque ceiling,
with blue yellow and orange tiles arranged in a complex geometric pattern

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

The Moche of Northern Peru (AD 100-800) were master potters, capable of producing vividly lifelike portraits in clay. In these examples, the accessories, clothing and use of face paint all indicate they were people of high social status #FindsFriday 📸 My own via the British Museum

Painted clay vessel incorporating a lifelike portrait of a man wearing face paint and a headdress

Painted clay vessel incorporating a lifelike portrait of a man wearing face paint, earrings and a headdress

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

In 1960, an 18th century doll with a curse pinned to it was found in a Hereford house. The curse read: "Mary Ann Ward. I act this spell upon you from my holl heart wishing you to never rest nor eat nor sleep the rest part of your life..." (1/2) #WyrdWednesday 📸Via EatSleepLiveHerefordshire

Old doll in red and black polkadot dress alongside yellowing handwritten note

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

A selection of Viking jewellery showing the transition from Thor’s hammer (top L) to Christian cross. 800 - 1100 AD #FindsFriday 📸 My own, via The Museum of Cultural History, Oslo

Silver, gold, and dark metal jewellery. Some shaped like a hammer, others a Christian cross with arms of equal length

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

In classical myth, the moon goddess Selene falls in love with a shepherd, Endymion, who is blessed (or cursed) to sleep for all eternity. In one version, he is put to sleep so that she may admire his beauty undisturbed forever #Wyrdwednesday www.britannica.com/topic/Endymi... 🎨Victor Florence Pollet

A goddess sits on a crescent moon watching a sleeping shepherd on the edges of a wood

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

A collection of Roman 'face pots' from @museumoflondon.bsky.social Dating from 43 - 200 AD, they were found near the site of the River Walbrook - one of the lost London rivers A specialty of Roman British potters, such pots were often placed in burial sites & shrines #FindsFriday 📸 My own

Three British-Roman clay pots with faces and small handles

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Travellers in Niger's lonely deserts may carry amulets to protect themselves from the Kel Essuf, or 'People of the void’. These unpredictable spirits live in remote, isolated places & can bring illness or bad luck 📸 my own. Amulets from Agadez, Niger. Via Horniman museum #LegendaryWednesday

Silver amulets from Niger: One triangular with smaller triangles hanging from its base. The other square with inwardly curving sides.

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

An exquisite Mughal manuscript of the Persian classic, The Gulistan ('Rose Garden') of Sa'adi. 16th Century. Persian calligraphy by Muhammed Husayn al-Kashmiri of the Mughal court workshops. 📷 my own, via Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Illuminated Mughal manuscript with outer turquoise border, inner gold border, and Persian calligraphy

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

In Shinto mythology, Raijin is the drum-beating god of thunder, lightning & storms He was also said to eat children who didn't hide their belly button! Born in the land of the dead, he didn't have one himself #WyrdWednesday 📸 Temple sculpture, C13th, photo: Ismoon mythopedia.com/topics/raijin

Shinto sculpture of wild faced storm god with circle of drums around him

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Basilisks were serpent-like beasts with poison breath and a lethal gaze. According to medieval & Roman sources, they hatched from an egg laid by a rooster & incubated by a toad. Their vulnerability? Weasels, obviously Historia animalium (1595) #LegendaryWednesday smithsonianmag.com/history/on-t...

A dragon-like basilisk with wings and three tails chases a 16th century man (sepia illustration)

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Tom the Scribbler @tomscribbler.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

The beautiful painted ceiling of the tomb of Ramses V & VI in the Valley of the Kings depicts the sky goddess, Nut, swallowing the evening sun (associated with the god, Ra), which she would protect until its rebirth at dawn (12th century BC) #TombTuesday  📸 My own egyptianmuseum.org/deities-nut

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