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How Does One Tell Shabtis From Ushabtis?
The easiest answer is that shabtis and ushabtis are related names for an ancient Egyptian funerary figurine. At first glance, a small blue-green figure may look like a decorative doll, but it was meant to serve its owner after death. A search for shabti ushabti brings up several spellings, several dates, and a surprising amount…
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How Does One Understand Roman Lemuria at Home?
A dead relative could be a comfort in Roman religion, but an uninvited dead person was another matter. The response involved household spirits and a firm instruction to leave, not a haunted-house spectacle. Roman Lemuria was a Roman festival observed in ancient Rome, associated with restless spirits and ghosts of the dead. It shouldn’t be…
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How Does One Understand Indus Valley Weights?
At first glance, an Indus Valley weight looks almost comically plain. It is often a small, dark stone cube, with no royal portrait, grand inscription, or obvious drama. Yet the Indus Valley Civilisation used these humble weights to support fair exchange in Bronze Age markets. Their material culture offers a window onto busy markets, skilled…
