Posted on

Parthenon Marble Replica – will it help the claim for repatriation?

This is a really interesting story because the scans for the replica were made in a guerilla intervention. The BM did not give permission for it, and the Oxford-based Institute for Digital Archaeology (IDA) undertook the scanning surreptitiously. Salon (see below) says ‘Roger Michel, the founder of the Institute and Alexy Karenowska, the Institute’s Director of Technology, used Lidar cameras to generate an accurate scan.’

I’ve heard it said that the robot created an absolutely faithful replica.

‘The sculptures are accurate to a fraction of a millimetre.’

Photo from Salon: The Society of Antiquaries of London Online Newsletter (see below) mage credits: Roger Michel watches as the head is carved, Institute for Digital Archaeology (IDA)

So, critics of the BM can then say ‘Why not return the original if you have faithful replicas?’

Well, yes but it is still a replica (albeit made of the same Pentelic Marble as the original) and museums are testament to the power of the original. I can see a great reproduction of the Mona Lisa anytime, but it didn’t stop me going to the Louvre to stand with the hordes to see the original. Further, the robot produced sculpture was then finished off with extensive work by a team of humans.

The issue has never been about the quality of a possible copy to replace the returned originals. It is about who owns the originals.

However, this is still a coup of propaganda that has created one more chip in the defensive wall the BM has put up around the issue.

Note: you can subscribe to Salon: The Society of Antiquaries of London Online Newsletter

Posted on

ROMAN LONDON – A LITERARY AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL GUIDED WALK – PODCAST FOR THIS SUNDAY’S WALK

Roman Riverside Wall being built
London Roman Riverside Wall

This is the Podcast which is a taster for the Roman Walk on Saturday.

To find out about the three walks this Saturday click here

Posted on

Why do you think Cutty Sark has been popular as a name for whiskey and sailing ships?

Is the question that Terry Cook asked me, and this is my answer.

Image of the Cutty Sark (from Facebook)

So the Cutty Sark is twice famous. Firstly as one of the first Tea Clippers and secondly, on account of the Witch nicknamed Cutty Sark (short skirt) in Tam O’Shanter, one of Robert Burns’ greatest poems. written in 1791. And everyone knows of Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet. Burns night has become world famous for anyone interested in Scotland.

The rest of this content has been reposted to March 27th

First Published 2022, moved March 27th 2026

Posted on

Making my own Cog Almanac for my Halloween Walk

Making a Cog Almanac

So, my Halloween walks depend heavily on almanacs for at least some of their content. I explain almanacs on another page, but they were a way of helping people keep track of the year, both reviewing past events, and looking forward to future ones.

One third of books published in London in the Stuart period were almanacs, but if you could not read or did not have the money you could buy or make a cog almanac.

British Museum, 17th Century
Clog Almanacs from the Ashmolean Museum, K Flude
Ashmolean Museum
Ashmolean Museum
Ashmolean Museum
Ashmolean Museum
Clog Almanacs

So, I was printing out some images to show my walkers and thought why not make one? So I did.

Home made Clog Almanac (not yet finished!)

Bit of wood, saw off 35cms. Each edge needs to represent a quarter of the year, so each centimetre mark represents 3 days, and one day extra 30 * 3 +! = 91 days per quarter. Use bread knife or hacksaw to mark the days off. Buy wooden drawer knob and double ended screw, fit to end of the piece of wood, stain or vanish the wood.

Then I need to find out what all the symbols mean, but they represent notable days like Saint’s Days (Michaelmas, Martinmas, Candlemas etc. , equinoxes, solstices, Christmas, Easter etc. etc..

You count the days off as the year passes.

Simple.

Posted on

Walks coming up this Weekend!

ROMAN LONDON – A LITERARY & ARCHAEOLOGICAL WALK

Reconstruction View of Roman Riverside Wall being built
Reconstruction View of Roman Riverside Wall being built

Saturday 30 October 20/22 11.30 am Monument Underground Station

This is a walking tour features the amazing archaeological discoveries of Roman London, and looks at life in the provincial Roman capital of Londinium.

To book

Myths, Legends & Halloween Walk

Druids at All Hallows, by the Tower
Druids at All Hallows, by the Tower

Sunday 30th October 2022 2.30pm Tower Hill Tube

The walk tells the story of London’s myths and legends and the celtic origins of Halloween

To book

Myths, Legends & Halloween Virtual Tour

MONDAY 31st October 2022 7.30pm

The tour tells the story of London’s myths and legends and the celtic origins of Halloween

To book

Posted on

Nice to get a call out (and a photo)!

Image from Linkedin Ksplore project

This is a project I had a small part in.

https://lnkd.in/e-PSpfyB

Posted on

Athena – Clone Goddess of a dysfunctional family

Zeus (sitting) Hephastus to right (looking back with Axe) Athena just visible above Zeus’s head

I didn’t know the full story of the birth of Athena until I went to the Feminine Power exhibition at the British museum.

So Zeus eats Athena’s mum, Metis, who is pregnant with her. Sometime later he has a cracking headache. Hephaestus, the disabled artificer God hits Zeus over the head to clear the headache.

Zeus gives birth to a fully formed Athena from the split in his head.

The point, I think, is that Athena being partially a clone of Zeus had both male and female virtues and is thereby the most powerful Deity.

And even the most elite families are deeply f***** up.

There is a lesson in there somewhere.

Posted earlier today on Facebook.

Posted on

British Museum is talking about a deal with Greece over the Parthenon Marbles

Copies of the Parthenon available in BM shop! Photo: KFlude

AKA the Elgin Marbles. All my life it seems as if we haven’t been talking to Greece about sending them home. Recently, there was a strong dismissal of any such hope. But today, I read that the British Museum is open to discussion. Statements from the Deputy Jonathan Williams and even the Chairman, ex Tory Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, have expressed optimism that there is a ‘deal to be done’.

Reading between the lines, the position appears to be based on the ‘fact’ that we own them legally, and that, by discussion of mutual loan arrangements, some, if not all, of the stones, can go home on loan, in exchange for other loans from Greece coming to the UK.

https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2022/08/british-museum-opens-door-to-parthenon-deal-with-greece/#msdynttrid=sQLCQs-9urbZY6tAcOyVSPE4FS0zrRWKh9OGeB5eDD0

Nearly, all ‘restitution’ cases are settled by the realisation that there are mutual benefits to be had for the return of items. The Horniman is leading the way with its announcement to return 72 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria.

The statement from Nigeria suggests that mutual loans are a part of the deal here too.

Abba Tijani, director-general of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), said: “We very much welcome this decision by the trustees of the Horniman Museum & Gardens. Following the endorsement by the Charity Commission, we look forward to a productive discussion on loan agreements and collaborations between the NCMM and the Horniman.”

Posted on

Source of the River Thames Dries up

Source of the River Thames to right middle of map. In drought, the source is now bottom middle of the map. Cirencester Top middle.

As a keen boat user of the River Thames, I am distressed to read that the source of the River Thames has ‘dried up’ for the first time. It is now five miles further down the River than it was.

Full details in this Guardian Article.

Posted on

A visual feast illustrating the changing businesses in Stoke Newington Church Street from 1847 to 2017

Ghost Sign. Church Street, Stoke Newington photo K Flude

This is a graph by Flourish who make superb business graphics. Just watch as you see the composition of the Stoke Newington Church Street change year by year before your eyes.

Stoke Newington Church Street businesses by type 1847-2017

Join the Mailing List

For occasional news of events