Adrienne Mayor
@amayor
Historian of Ancient Science & Human Curiosity, author of Mythopedia Flying Snakes Gods and Robots The Amazons Poison King First Fossil Hunters Fossil Legends Greek Fire Poison Arrows
Whirlpools, fearsome, irresistible vortexes From Homer's Odyssey to Edgar Allan Poe! open.substack.com/pub/laphamsq...
How did Native Americans explain the fossils of long extinct creatures? David Yorke imagines the discovery of a fossil dinosaur "Fossil Legends of the First Americans" describes discoveries and interpretations
Ancient Amazons loved their horses! Check out these fine portraits Kerch-style vases painted 2,400 years ago
Could geology explain the lethal reputation of the Styx River, also known as the Black River/Mavroneri? Why did people believe its water killed Alexander the Great? link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Amazon warrior helping her fallen companion, with worried horse ancient cameo, Beazley Archives, Oxford
Excited for the Polish translation of Gods and Robots! "Made, Not Born"
Have you ever seen a baby Sphinx? Sphinxes playing with fawns ancient Greek vase painting, oil flask, 5th century BC
Animals are their own doctors! They self-medicate with powerful plants doi.org/10.64628/AAI...
In ancient Greece one could marvel at self-moving devices to open temple doors, animated statues that could lift their arms and move their eyes, and other wonders For more see #GodsandRobots
The message of my book #Mythopedia is that observations and explanations of earthshaking or strange natural events in ancient times contain insights and kernels of historical and scientific reality. Pub by Princeton Univ press for general readers.
Perfect gift for everyone on your list! Little encyclopedia of fantastic myths about amazing Nature wonderfully illustrated and fun
Many film references in my book "Gods and Robots" about how the ancient Greeks imagined automatons and Artificial Life--and the dilemmas that arise
the huntress on the left is a Maenad, often shown with snakes in ancient Greek iconography
Thanks to @ichnologist.bsky.social Tony Martin for figuring out that the rodent of the Rat/Squirrel Hole of Chicago escaped a "cement overcoat"! #Mythopedia p 121
A couple of cool stripey cats! Ancient Greek vase paintings, 5th century BC
Courting scene: Maenad huntress offers a hare, typical love gift to Amazon Penthesilea. The heron suggests that the couple intends to form a household: herons were common pets in Greek women's courtyard scenes. 5th century BC Greek vase
Victims of sea monsters/dragons in ancient art Vase painting 500 BC and sculpture 3rd century AD
Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, and Scorpion Bombs Biological and Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World is out in English, Spanish, Russian, French
Read the latest, revised edition of Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, and Scorpion Bombs!
Mythopedia has 50 fantastic illustrations by Michele Angel. 3 examples: Sahara quicksand, Frost Giant Ymir, Zambezi river god Pre-order now, in stores Oct 7
Love this review of my new book Mythopedia in @harpers.bsky.social by Dan Piepenbring “I can’t say that Mythopedia deepened my relationship to the land, but it has shaken and shifted it like so many toads in a tornado.” harpers.org/archive/2025...
Mythopedia coming out Oct 7, 2025, preorder now! "Mayor draws on the new field of geomythology to explain the historical background & science behind 53 legends and myths of the earth. A fascinating catalog of ancient cultures and unique geological events" ―Kirkus Reviews
Amazons in the heat of battle! details, lace-up fur-lined boots, leopard skin capes, gold armbands, lost cap and shields on ground... Baltimore Painter, Florence Museum
Who is the Amazon in the Wolfskin Cap? ancient coin of Amisos, during the reign of Mithradates VI of Pontus, first century BC