New review for your Thursday reading pleasure!

Ulla Rajala reviews "Adoption, Adaption, and Innovation in Pre-Roman Italy: Paradigms for Cultural Change" Jeremy Armstrong and Aaron Rhodes-Schroder, eds. (Brepols 2023).

Alan Wilkins, Roman Imperial Artillery: Outranging the Enemies of the Empire, 3rd ed. (Oxford: Archaeopress, 2024). 9781803277837. Reviewed by Evan Schultheis, independent scholar, flavivsaetivs@gmail.com. Alan Wilkins’s Roman Imperial Artillery is written as a standard reference text for specialists and non-specialists alike,…

New review for March madness, spring break, and everything in between!

Evan Schultheis reviews "Roman Imperial Artillery: Outranging the Enemies of the Empire" by Alan Wilkins (3rd ed, Archaeopress 2024)

Christ the Emperor: Christian Theology and the Roman Emperor in the Fourth Century AD Nathan Israel Smolin, Christ the Emperor: Christian Theology and the Roman Emperor in the Fourth Century AD, Oxford Studies in Late Antiquity (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2024). 9780197689547.…

Last review of February and with a bonus author dialogue!!

Leslie Ivings reviews "Christ the Emperor: Christian Theology and the Roman Emperor in the Fourth Century AC" by Nathan Smolin (@oxfordunipress.bsky.social 2024)

Guys, please read the CFP and come and write for Rhea Receptions this summer! This is an experimental series we're launching that considers the ancient world in pop culture, whether that's video games, museum exhibits, movies, podcasts, and more! Come explore the ancient world today with Receptions!

Il Mundus Muliebris a Pompei Ria Berg, Il Mundus Muliebris a Pompei: Specchi e oggetti da toletta in contesti domestici (Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider, 2023). 9788891327406. Reviewed by A. Everett Beek, Case Western Reserve Un…

New review before Valentine's Day!

A. Everett Beek shows some love for "Il Mundus Muliebris a Pompei: Specchi e oggetti da toletta in contesti domestici" by Ria Berg (L’Erma di Bretschneider 2023)

Donate Rhea Classical Reviews is excited to share that – as of December 2025 – we have officially been designated as a 501c3 organization! Obtaining this tax-free, non-profit status opens the …

If you believe in Rhea's mission to bring equity to the book review model, please consider donating to support our new policy of compensating our reviewers. Last two days to have your gift matched by an anonymous donor, so you can double your impact if you give now! Thank you to all who support us!

Egypt, Ethiopia, and the Gre Robert Cioffi, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the Greek Novel (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2024).  9780192870537. Reviewed by Khadija Saigol, University of Victoria, ksaigol@uvic.ca. Cioffi’s monog…

New review for a chilly Thursday!

Khadija Saigol reviews "Egypt, Ethiopia, and the Greek Novel" by Robert Cioffi ( @oxfordunipress.bsky.social 2024)

I can't be in San Francisco this year, but come find our Rhea reps, talk to them about writing for Rhea, or just grab these AWESOME NEW STICKERS!!!!! Have a great time, everyone!

Y'all, I am beyond excited about this non-profit status, which opens so many doors for us! Our immediate goal is to pay our reviewers because writing book reviews is academic labor, but we dream bigger. Please consider donating to support our mission (you'll get a sweet "Children of Rhea" sticker)!

We are taking our holiday break and will be back in your feed come mid-January. May all of you find some well-deserved rest and relaxation, and we hope to see those who will be at the @archaeological.org @scsclassics.bsky.social annual meeting (come find us - we'll have stickers)!

The Body of the Combatant in the Ancient Mediterranean Hannah-Marie Chidwick, ed. The Body of the Combatant in the Ancient Mediterranean. London: Bloomsbury, 2024. 9781350240872. Reviewed by Allyson Blanck, Institute for the Study of the Ancient World,…

New review to get you through the end of the semester, and check out that insightful dialogue at the end!

@bacchicxsapphic.bsky.social reviews "The Body of the Combatant in the Ancient Mediterranean" ed. Hannah-Marie Chidwick (@bloomsburyacad.bsky.social)

Global Classics Jacques A. Bromberg, Global Classics (New York: Routledge, 2021). ISBN 9780367549268. Reviewed by Goran Đurđević, University of Zadar, Croatia. goran.djurdjevich@gmail.com. In Global Classics, Jacq…

New month, new post!

Goran Đurđević reviews "Global Classics" by Jacques Bromberg (Routledge 2021)

What are the most used book review platforms for Egypt and the ANE? Designing sophomore class that walks them through how to do research and wanted to be sure I'm guiding them true. Thanks!

Making and Unmaking Ancient Memory De Marre, Martine and Rajiv K. Bhola, eds., Making and Unmaking Ancient Memory, (New York: Routledge, 2022). 9780367371449. Reviewed by Stephanie Murphy, University of North Texas, Stephaniemurphy3…

First and Last review of November (we're off for Thanksgiving in two weeks), but it's a great one with a fantastic dialogue!

Stephanie Murphy reviews "Making and Unmaking Ancient Memory" ed. Martine de Marre and Rajiv K. Bhola (Routledge 2022).

Pliny the Elder and the Matter of Memory. An Encyclopaedic Workshop Anna Anguissola, Pliny the Elder and the Matter of Memory. An Encyclopaedic Workshop. London and New York: Routledge, 2023. ISBN 9781032056227. Reviewed by Jazz Demetrioff, University at Buffalo (S…

Last review of October (shouldn't be too spooky for you)!

@medicamentislibris.bsky.social review's "Pliny the Elder and the Matter of Memory. An Encyclopaedic Workshop" by Anna Anguissola (Routledge 2023)

Ordered. And excited to read this critical book in these troubling times.

Production, Trade, and Connectivity in Pre-Roman Italy Jeremy Armstrong and Sheira Cohen, eds., Production, Trade, and Connectivity in Pre-Roman Italy (London and New York: Routledge, 2022). 9780367631727.  Reviewed by Ulla Rajala, Stockholm Unive…

Wake up and smell that new book review, peeps!

@ullamr.bsky.social reviews "Production, Trade, and Connectivity in Pre-Roman Italy" ed. Jeremy Armstrong and Sheira Cohen ( Routledge 2022)

Aristotelianism and Magic in Early Modern Europe: Philosophers, Experimenters, and Wonderworker Donato Verardi, ed., Aristotelianism and Magic in Early Modern Europe: Philosophers, Experimenters, and Wonderworkers (London, New York, and Dublin: Bloomsbury, 2023). 9781350121092. Reviewed by Ad…

Our latest book review!

Adrien Mangili reviews Donato Verardi (ed.), "Aristotelianism and Magic in Early Modern Europe: Philosophers, Experimenters, and Wonderworker" (@bloomsburyacad.bsky.social, 2023).

Trees in Ancient Rome. Growing an Empire in the Late Republic and Early Principate. Andrew Fox, Trees in Ancient Rome. Growing an Empire in the Late Republic and Early Principate (London, New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2023). 9781350237803. Reviewed by Caroline Arbuckle MacLeod, S…

New book review on Rhea!

Caroline Arbuckle MacLeod reviews Andrew Fox, "Trees in Ancient Rome. Growing an Empire in the Late Republic and Early Principate" ( @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social 2023). 🌳🌲🌴

Don't miss the author-reviewer dialogue following the review!

Certainly there are multiple paths and opinions. But IMO jettisoning the humanities in this time of reckless inhumanity is absolutely the wrong call.

Hugs Helma. I'm so upset about and for the department and division...such stupid and reckless and evil bullshit.

Guys, I am SO EXCITED about Rhea's new venture Rhea Receptions!!! Want to write about Percy Jackson? Newspaper articles about discoveries at Pompeii? A cool new museum exhibit or video game? Get in contact with us and let's chat - reviews, essays, creativity encouraged!

Rhea Receptions

Announcing our new forum, RHEA RECEPTIONS!

“We live in an Odyssey time.” —Charlotte Higgins, The Guardian, 12 April 2025

Rhea Classical Reviews could not agree more with Ms. Higgins.

Just wanted to say that @rheaclassical.bsky.social is a peer-review platform exclusively dedicated to reviews of and by alt-ac, pre-tenure, non-tenure, contingent, grad students, and folks outside of academia if anyone is interested in reviewing for us!

Cutting Words: Polemical Dimensions of Galen’s Anatomical Experiments Luis Alejandro Salas, Cutting Words: Polemical Dimensions of Galen’s Anatomical Experiments (Leiden: Brill, 2020). 9789004439184. Reviewed by Matthew J. Chalmers, Independent Scholar, mattjcha…

Our latest book review on Rhea!

Matthew J. Chalmers reviews Luis Alejandro Salas, "Cutting Words: Polemical Dimensions of Galen’s Anatomical Experiments" (@degruyterbrill.bsky.social 2020).

Want a summer project and see a book you like on our book list??? Come write for Rhea! Even if it's your first book review and/or you're a grad student, don't be shy! We have mentorship for grad students!

This is perhaps the most important story for the future of American climate action.

Please share it widely, across any and all platforms if you’re able.

Gendered Politics in Sophocles’ Trachiniae Gesthimani Seferiadi, Gendered Politics in Sophocles’ Trachiniae (Bloomsbury Academic Press:  2022). 9781350260313. Reviewed by Janette Snyder, Florida State University, js23c@fsu.edu. Despite the …

It's new book review day on Rhea!

Janette Snyder reviews Gesthimani Seferiadi, "Gendered Politics in Sophocles’ Trachiniae" (@bloomsburyacad.bsky.social 2022).

Greek Warfare beyond the Polis: Defense, Strategy, and the Making of Ancient Federal States David A. Blome, Greek Warfare beyond the Polis: Defense, Strategy, and the Making of Ancient Federal States (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2020). 9781501747526. Reviewed by Jesse Obert, Univers…

Here's our latest book review on Rhea!

Jesse Obert reviews David A. Blome, "Greek Warfare beyond the Polis: Defense, Strategy, and the Making of Ancient Federal States" (@cornellupress.bsky.social 2020).

Don't miss the author-reviewer dialogue at the end of the review!