Rhea Classical Reviews

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)

Rhea Receptions Introducing Rhea Receptions is a new thematic series comprised of reviews, essays, and other engagements with the ancient world in pop culture and not restricted to academic, peer-reviewed publicat…

Last call for Rhea Receptions this summer! Receptions is a new thematic series of reviews, essays, and engagements that bring the ancient world to a broader audience by examining public-facing, non-specialist depictions of the ancient Mediterranean in modern media. Come write and explore with Rhea!

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)

Critical Archaeology in the Digital Age: Proceedings of the 12th IEMA Visiting Scholar’s Conference Kevin Garstki, ed., Critical Archaeology in the Digital Age: Proceedings of the 12th IEMA Visiting Scholar’s Conference (Los Angeles: The Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press, 2022). 9781950446261…

New review to start off your 2026 - be sure to read the insightful discussion at the end!

David M. Wheeler reviews "Critical Archaeology in the Digital Age: Proceedings of the 12th IEMA Visiting Scholar’s Conference" Kevin Garstki, ed. (UCLA - Cotsen).

rheaclassicalreviews.com/2026/01/15/w...

Should clarify 12-2 PM TOMORROW (Thursday)

Packages of stickers for Rhea Receptions and Rhea Classical Reviews

For all those at AIA/SCS, come find us! We will be at the AIA resource fair 12-2 PM! Come and talk to us about writing a review or participating in Rhea Receptions this summer (rheaclassicalreviews.com/rhea-recepti...), make a donation, or just grab free stickers.

Always, Ulla!

“liar, savior, redeemer, first by birth, mother of gods and mortals!”

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 …

All donations will be matched by an anonymous private donor through January 31, 2026, so you can double your impact if you give now!

Photo of hand holding 6 stickers showing a Greek woman's head in profile with the words 'children of Rhea' under her chin.

But we need your help in putting our principles into practice and we are currently fundraising to support these efforts. Donations can be accepted via PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, cash, or check, and donors will receive a RCR sticker and be listed on our website as “Children of Rhea.”

In accordance with our mission statement, we firmly believe that writing book reviews for public consumption is academic labor and should be recognized as such. Beginning in 2026, our immediate focus shall be to provide our reviewers with a small compensation ($50) upon publication of their review.

New year, new Rhea!
Rhea Classical Reviews is excited to share that we have officially been designated as a 501c3 organization! Obtaining this tax-free, non-profit status opens the door for us to expand, as well as apply for grants and secure funding to support our internal and external operations.

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)

Thanks for the shout out, Hannah!

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)

My review of a collection of articles among which @christophersmith.bsky.social, @lbciddio.bsky.social, @sethbernard.bsky.social, @hilarybeckertxny.bsky.social and others. #Archaeology #AncientBluesky ⚱️🦋

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).

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).

My old teacher Caroline Arbuckle MacLeod wrote a good review!

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!

Religion and the Everyday Life of Manichaeans in Kellis: Beyond Light and Darkness Mattias Brand, Religion and the Everyday Life of Manichaeans in Kellis: Beyond Light and Darkness, Nag Hammadi and Manichaean Studies 102 (Leiden: Brill, 2019). ISBN 9789004510296. Reviewed by…

Rhea is back with a new book review!

@eancients.bsky.social reviews @mbinzurich.bsky.social, "Religion and the Everyday Life of Manichaeans in Kellis: Beyond Light and Darkness" (@degruyterbrill.bsky.social 2019).

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

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!

This looks exciting!

Anyone interested in participating in Rhea Receptions or have any questions or comments, please contact us at rheaclassicalreviews at gmail dot com.