Classicist Argues Ancient Greek Pharmacology and Ritual Shaped Early Christian Practices In a long-form interview with Polarity, Dr. Ammon Hillman, a classicist specialized in ancient Greek medical literature, contends that key religious concepts including “Christing” originated in pharmacological and ritual contexts rather than exclusively theological ones. He links serpent veneration, venom-based rites, and ecstatic practices to Greek textual traditions and offers controversial interpretations of early Christian sources, while also recounting personal experiences he characterizes as demonic and predictive.

Ammon Hillman argues core Christian concepts like 'Christing' arose from Greek pharmacology, serpent veneration, venom rites and ecstatic ritual—offering controversial readings of early sources and personal demonic claims. #EarlyChurch #AncientMed #Classics

The madness of crowds The sense of belonging that comes with following a multitude can blind crowds to rational debate and reason.

Read this thought-provoking and timely essay by @armanddangour.bsky.social for @engelsbergideas.bsky.social

"The sense of belonging that comes with following a multitude can blind crowds to reason and debate."

🗃️🏛️🏺 #AncientBluesky #EduSky #AncientMed #History

engelsbergideas.com/notebook/the...

#MosaicMonday Mosaic floor of stone & glass tesserae w/ an Egyptianizing scene while the geometric & floral designs are typically Roman. Egypt held a special fascination for the Romans as a land of great wealth & antiquity.

🏛️ Prima Porta, just north of Rome,
🏺🗃️ #art #AncientMed #History
130/150 CE

Description from the museum: “The central tondo shows a winged deity of Assyrian type felling a rampant lion with a sword. The surrounding frieze presents a variety of animal and narrative motifs, including two specifically Egyptian subjects: a sphinx wearing the Egyptian double crown and a lion treading over a dead man, symbolizing the pharaoh dominating his enemies. The broad outer band features a variety of combats. Of greatest importance, however, are two inscriptions. At the top, above an Assyrianizing figure killing a lion, a Cypriot syllabic inscription reads, "I am [the bowl] of Akestor, king of Paphos." It was partly obliterated and replaced by "I am [the bowl] of Timokretes," presumably the next owner. The bowl is exceptionally significant for its excellent condition, high quality, and amalgam of Egyptian, Assyrian, an d Phoenician features.”

Cypriot silver-gilt bowl ~ c. 725–675 BCE

This piece shows a range of cultural influences. Assyrian style in the central tondo with Egyptian motifs surrounding it. The Cypriot inscription reads: “I am [the bowl] of Akestor, king of Paphos.”

🏛 The Met
#AncientMed #History
🏺AncientBluesky