Category Archives: Inventing the Past

Remembering Thermopylae – ARGHHHH

Posted on 06/02/2020 by Maria Pretzler

  Right. Long time, no blog. But this one is going to be a heartfelt post that may well put some noses out of joint. But it needs saying. The Greek government is issuing memorial coins for the battle of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, Current events, Europe, Greece, Inventing the Past, Peloponnese, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Ben-Hur (2016) – a few first thoughts

Posted on 09/09/2016 by Maria Pretzler

Well, I could hardly not go and see the new movie version of Ben-Hur which opened today. Films set in the ancient world, if they are successful, such as Gladiator (2000) and 300 (2007), make a difference to how people think … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, Inventing the Past, Religion, Roman Empire | Tagged | Leave a comment

How to make history historical…

Posted on 16/06/2016 by Maria Pretzler

Yesterday, an entirely farcical event took place on the Thames in London, as a stunt by the Brexit campaign, designed to highlight the concerns of fishermen, turned into a scuffle carried out with water hoses, sound systems and rude gestures. … Continue reading →

Posted in Current events, History, Inventing the Past | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Call the Royal Baby Mohammed – here is why:

Posted on 23/07/2013 by Maria Pretzler

As everybody is still speculating about the names for the royal baby, there are two distinct approaches: one is to find the name that would seem silliest with the royal number I behind it, and the other is to speculate, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current events, Inventing the Past, Life in the UK | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

London 2012 and the Pastoral Idyll

Posted on 03/07/2012 by Maria Pretzler

(Do shepherds dream of idyllic sheep?) Danny Boyle’s set for the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony A few weeks ago, when the design for at least part of the Olympic opening ceremony was revealed, I was nothing short of appalled. … Continue reading →

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Greek Treasures: ancient and modern

Posted on 06/03/2012 by Maria Pretzler

I just came across this opinion piece in the LA times of 26th February by James Romm, a scholar I admire greatly. But here he offers an example of  highly emotional rhetoric which is historically unjustified. At the same time, his article … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Inventing the Past | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

In the Poet’s Own Hand?

Posted on 26/02/2012 by Maria Pretzler

Some time ago, I came across this photograph: It’s such an intriguing image – you wonder: was it just a mistake by some sales assistant, or was somebody in that bookshop making a very thoughtful comment on an age-old mystery? … Continue reading →

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Tyrant Slayers

Posted on 20/10/2011 by Maria Pretzler

Thoughts on the day Muammar Gaddafi was killed This will be a crucial day in Libya’s history – so much is certain. The day a tyrant dies cannot be anything else. But what will we, what will the Libyans remember? … Continue reading →

Posted in Current events, Inventing the Past | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Building the Parthenon

Posted on 13/10/2011 by Maria Pretzler

It’s time to talk about the photograph at the top of my blog. It’s part of a picture I took on the Acropolis of Athens in summer 2007: let’s call it The Parthenon Under Construction (Again). Of course, ancient buildings … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Inventing the Past | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Working Memories

Posted on 11/10/2011 by Maria Pretzler

One of those magnificent German words which can’t quite be translated into English is Erinnerungsarbeit. It describes the effort that goes into remembering, into giving the past its due and making sure that important lessons are not forgotten. As you might … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Inventing the Past | Tagged , | 1 Comment