Ancient Art Podcast, Ancient Worlds

http://ancientartpodcast.org/93 This short excerpt from my lecture on the art and history of the Egyptomania phenomenon delves into its early origins. As Europe emerged from the Middle Ages, Egyptian antiquities pillaged during the Roman Empire were excavated from their slumber under Roman soil and newly erected across the city. Even before the translation of the Rosetta Stone, before Napoleon's epic Egyptian expedition and publication of Description de l'Égypte, artists such as Giovanni Battista Piranesi and Louis Jean Desprez were already experimenting and defining what we would come to call Egyptomania. In the subsequent generation, academic painter Jean Léon Gérôme reveals a mature appreciation for ancient Egyptomania in his meticulous renderings of the the Roman Empire. Connect: Donate to the Ancient Art Podcast at http://ancientartpodcast.org/ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/cr/podcast/ancient-art-podcast-ancient-worlds/id205535627 Feedback http://ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast http://youtube.com/SCARABsolutions https://www.instagram.com/thereallucas/ http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston

http://ancientartpodcast.org/92 This extended episode takes us on an unexpected journey across the Art Institute of Chicago to explore the artistry and influences of rings. We go well beyond personal adornment and discuss the significance and many meanings of "ring" as it appears in visual culture. Image: Le Grenouillard (Frog-Man), 1892 Jean-Joseph Carriès French, 1855–1894 Art Institute of Chicago, 2007.78 Connect: Donate to the Ancient Art Podcast at http://ancientartpodcast.org/ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/cr/podcast/ancient-art-podcast-ancient-worlds/id205535627 Feedback http://ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast http://youtube.com/SCARABsolutions http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston

http://ancientartpodcast.org/91 In this excerpt from my lecture on the Art Institute's recent special exhibition Painting the Floating World: Ukiyo-e Masterpieces from the Weston Collection, I set the stage for what was Japan's Floating World culture during the Edo Period of the Tokugawa Shogunate, 1615-1868. We touch on the origin of the term, the cultural climate in which it rose the popularity, and how the floating world psyche was expressed in Japan's visual arts at the time. Image: Hishikawa Moronobu Flower-Viewing Party with Crest-Bearing Curtain, from the series Flower Viewing at Ueno Japanese, 1676–1689 Art Institute of Chicago, 1925.1689 Connect: Donate to the Ancient Art Podcast http://itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 http://ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast http://youtube.com/SCARABsolutions http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston

http://ancientartpodcast.org/90 In yet another nod to alcoholic inebriation's polymorphic magical potency, we encounter one of my favorite tales of the god of wine, ecstasy, reverie, and madness ... Dionysus. Here we learn the tale of Dionysus versus the Pirates as originally recounted in Homeric Hymn number 7 and alluded to on the exquisite black-figure "Dionysus Cup" kylix by the master painter and potter Exekias. For detailed credits, visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/90. Featured Work of Art: The so-called Dionysus Cup Exekias, ca. 540/530 BC Attic black-figure kylix; from Vulci Munchen Staatliche Antikensammlungen Photo by Matthias Kabel, wikimedia Music: Brave Pirates By fri.events Orchestra Licensed under Creative Commons freemusicarchive.org The Precession of the Equinoxes in the Inverted Alps By Azureflux Licensed under Creative Commons freemusicarchive.org I Dunno By grapes Featuring J Lang, Morusque Licensed under Creative Commons ccmixter.org Pirates By Jack and the Pulpits Licensed under Creative Commons freemusicarchive.org Connect: Donate to the Ancient Art Podcast http://itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 http://ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast http://youtube.com/SCARABsolutions http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston

http://ancientartpodcast.org/89 In this excerpt from a recent tour, I explore some of the highlights from Homer's Odyssey in a 15th century Florentine painting and learn a little about Italian Renaissance marriage and fidelity. Names and terms dropped: Homer, Odysseus, Penelope, Nausica, cyclops, Polyphemus, the Sirens, Hermes, moly, Circe, Calypso, Argos, Apollonio di Giovanni, James Joyce, Trojan War, Tuscan, gilding; important terms not dropped: cassone. For images of the featured work of art, visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/89. Featured Work of Art: Apollonio di Giovanni Italian, 1415/17-1465 The Adventures of Ulysses, 1435/45 42 x 131.7 cm (16 3/4 x 51 7/8 in.) Art Institute of Chicago, 1933.1006 Connect: Donate to the Ancient Art Podcast http://itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 http://ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast http://youtube.com/SCARABsolutions http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston

http://ancientartpodcast.org/88 In this short excerpt from my lecture on Tibetan Buddhist art, we skim the surface of the spiritual meaning, function, and structure of Tibetan mandalas. For images of the featured works of art, visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/88. Featured Works of Art: Drepung Gomang Monastery Mandala of World Peace September 21, 2014 Miller Beach, Indiana Photo by Lucas Livingston, ancientartpodcast.org/88 Arjia Rinpoche Architectural Model of the Kalachakra Mandala researchdtmack.com/mandalas.html Tibet Mandala 18th/19th century Opaque watercolor and gold on cotton and wood 35.2 x 35.2 x 5.4 cm The James W. and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection (151.1996) From Pal, Pratapaditya, A Collecting Odyssey, 1997, fig. 210. Tibet Mandala 18th/19th century Opaque watercolor and gold on wood 26.7 x 26.7 x 12.8 cm (10 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 5 in) The James W. and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection (150.1996) Gallery label: Mandala, literally meaning "circle," is a diagram of the spiritual universe that is used as a meditational device. The circle encloses a sacred area, into which the devotee enters via meditation. The only figures shown in this abstract mandala are the demons who inhabit the charnel ground within the circle of flames. The central hexagon is a yantra (a meditation device) that symbolizes the combination of masculine and feminine aspects, shown as two overlapping triangles. Their union induces cosmic harmony. A circle connects the points of the hexagon, symbolizing the unification of the souls of everything living and divine. Connect: Donate to the Ancient Art Podcast http://itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 http://ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast http://youtube.com/SCARABsolutions http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston

http://ancientartpodcast.org/87 This is a short excerpt from my lecture "Things That Go Bump: A Visual Survey of Witches, Demons, and Ghosts." Herein we explore the ancient Greek tradition of witchcraft and metamorphosis in two images — one ancient and one modern — of Circe, the definitive witch of Grecian lore and seductive sorceress of Odyssean fame. Waterhouse masterfully betrays her jealous cruelty in those cold, dark, uncaring eyes. Vying for the affection of a handsome lover, the hateful witch Circe poisons the placid pool where the her rival Scylla bathed. Circe's potion of polymorphism transforms the beautiful nymph Scylla to the proverbial "hard place," the loathsome multi-mawed many-tentacled monster, who'd dash the hopes (...and heads) of Odysseus's men sailing "between Scylla and Charybdis." And in the Grecian cup in the MFA, we see a magical elixir similarly perched in wicked Circe's hands while Odysseus's men are in the midst of metamorphosis from her arcane magicks. For images of the featured works of art, visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/87. Featured Works of Art: John William Waterhouse Circe Invidiosa (Jealous Circe), 1892 South Australian Government Grant 1892 Art Gallery of South Australia Drinking cup (kylix) depicting scenes from the Odyssey Greek, Archaic Period, about 560-550 BC The Painter of the Boston Polyphemos © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (99.518) Connect: Donate to the Ancient Art Podcast http://itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 http://ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast http://youtube.com/SCARABsolutions http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston

http://ancientartpodcast.org/86 Happy Halloween! In this very brief excerpt from my lecture "Things That Go Bump: A Visual Survey of Witches, Demons, and Ghosts," we introduce Goya's 1797/99 published volume The Caprices (Los Caprichos). This tome of nightmares, witches, and devils satirizes human vice and intolerance of late 18th century Spanish society through the demons born of religion and power. We conclude with a brief glimpse at our modern icon of the Wicked Witch through the lens of art history and tradition. For greater depth, background, and context, watch episode 59, A Witches' Sabbath. For images of the featured works of art, visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/86. Featured Work of Art: Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (Spanish, 1746-1828) "The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters," plate 43 "When Day Breaks We Will Be Off," plate 71 "Pretty Teacher!" Plate 68 From Los Caprichos, 1797/99 (Museo Nacional del Prado) Connect: Donate to the Ancient Art Podcast http://itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 http://ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast http://youtube.com/SCARABsolutions http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston

http://ancientartpodcast.org/85 A very brief excerpt from my lecture "Things That Go Bump: A Visual Survey of Witches, Demons, and Ghosts!" Odysseus Journeys to the Underworld and holds a seance with the souls of Hades through necromantic blood magic so the countless shades of the dead and the gone would surge around him. Featured Work of Art: Jar (pelike) with Odysseus and Elpenor in the Underworld Greece, Athens, Classical, about 440 BC The Lykaon Painter Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (34.79) Connect: Donate to the Ancient Art Podcast http://itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 http://ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast http://youtube.com/SCARABsolutions http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston

http://ancientartpodcast.org/84 Diving head first into the many myths of the celebrated god of wine, ecstasy, theater, and madness, episode 84 of the Ancient Art Podcast's Ancient Worlds series explores The Birth of Dionysus. Drawing inspiration from the famed sculpture Hermes and the Infant Dionysus, we explore the wine god's parentage, his mother Semele's tragic fate, and the curious case of the twice-born god. Names dropped: Zeus, Semele, Hera, Hermes, Cadmus, Harmonia, Europa, Ovid, Hyginus, Pseudo-Apollodorus, Diodorus Siculus, Pausanias, Praxiteles, Rhys Carpenter Features Work of Art: Hermes and the Infant Dionysus Roman-era, 2nd century after an original by Praxiteles, 4th century BC, Greece Archaeological Museum of Olympia Music: Colocate by Podington Bear Nova by Go Ask Alice from the album Perfection is Terrible The Shout by Go Ask Alice from the album Perfection is Terrible Lightfeet by Podington Bear Connect: http://itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 http://ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast http://youtube.com/SCARABsolutions http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston

http://ancientartpodcast.org/83 In this excerpt from one of my museum tours, we walk through two starkly contrasting Japanese folding screens celebrating the time-honored, iconic subjects of dragons and tigers with exceptional energy and dynamism. Features Works of Art: Kishi Ganku (1749-1838) Dragon and Tiger, 1835 Pair of six panel screens; ink and gold on paper Art Institute of Chicago, 2016.314a-b Morita Shiryu (1912-1998) Dragon (Ryu), 1965 Four-panel screen; aluminum-flake pigment in polyvinyl acetate medium, and yellow alkyd varnish, on paper Art Institute of Chicago, 1971.873 Connect: http://itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 http://ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast http://youtube.com/SCARABsolutions http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston

http://ancientartpodcast.org/82 How do artists' choices of materials assign identity and meaning to works of art? How does meaning assign material? In this excerpt from one of my museum tours, I explore the meaningful material of the semi-precious blue stone lapis lazuli in a Tibetan painted banner (thangka) of the Buddha of medicine and healing, Bhaishajyaguru. Features Works of Art: Painted Banner (Thangka) with the Medicine Buddha (Bhaishajyaguru) Central Tibet, 14th century Pigment and gold on cotton 104 x 82.7 cm (41 x 32 1/2 in.) Art Institute of Chicago, 1996.29 Connect: http://itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 http://ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast http://youtube.com/SCARABsolutions http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston

http://ancientartpodcast.org/81 How do artists' choices of materials assign identity and meaning to works of art? How does meaning assign material? In this excerpt from one of my museum tours, I explore the meaningful material of Chinese jade — its symbolic and medicinal value, function, materiality, artistry, and poetic inspiration. Features Works of Art: Dragon Pendants Jade China, Eastern Zhou dynasty Warring States period (c.480-221 BC) c. 4th/3rd century B.C. 9.2 x 16.8 x 0.7 cm (3 3/5 x 6 3/5 x 3/10 in.) 8.6 x 16.5 x 0.6 cm. (6-1/2 x 3-3/8 x 1/4 in.) Art Institute of Chicago, 1950.640 Art Institute of Chicago, 1950.641 Connect: http://itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 http://ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast http://youtube.com/SCARABsolutions http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston

http://ancientartpodcast.org/80 How do artists' choices of materials assign identity and meaning to works of art? How does meaning assign material? In this excerpt from one of my museum tours, I explore the meaningful material of gold in Incan art and culture. We also discuss the traditional Andean corn beer called "chicha." Features Works of Art: Beaker Inca, Ica Valley, south coast, Peru Late 15th/early 16th century Gold 16.5 x 6.4 cm (6 1/2 x 2 1/2 in.) Art Institute of Chicago, Kate S. Buckingham Endowment, 1955.2587 Pair of Beakers Depicting Birds in a Cornfield Inca, Ica Valley, south coast, Peru A.D. 1100/1438 Gold Each 7 x 7.3 cm (2 3/4 x 2 7/8 in.) Art Institute of Chicago, Kate S. Buckingham Endowment, 1955.2589 a-b Ceremonial Vessel (Aryballos) Inca, Probably vicinity of Cuzco, Peru 1400/1532 Ceramic and pigment 78 x 49 cm (30 3/4 x 19 1/4 in.) (max.) Art Institute of Chicago, Kate S. Buckingham Endowment, 1955.2214 Ritual Vessel Representing a Woman Carrying a Vessel (Aryballos) and Nursing a Child Chimú-Inca, Lambayeque Valley, north coast, Peru A.D. 1200/1450 Ceramic and pigment 23.9 x 18.4 cm (9 3/8 x 7 1/4 in.) Art Institute of Chicago, Kate S. Buckingham Endowment, 1955.2411 Connect: http://itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 http://ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast http://youtube.com/SCARABsolutions http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston

ancientartpodcast.org/79 How do artists' choices of materials assign identity and meaning to works of art? How does meaning assign material? In this excerpt from one of my museum tours, I explore the meaningful materials in a Boli Ritual Object of the Bamana people in Mali, Africa. This recording comes complete with all the juicy, unscripted, live-action museum gallery accents including background chatter and beeping proximity alarms. Permanent collection label: Bamana sculpture often functions as a mediating force between the spirit and human realms. Ritual objects, such as this amorphously shaped boli, are commissioned and cared for by age-grade associations. A boli has a wood core wrapped with cotton cloth, into which spiritually charged packets are bound. Sacrificial materials, including animal blood and grains, are applied to its surface, giving it a crusty exterior. These sacrifices symbolize the layering of secret knowledge, imbuing the boli with nyama (life force). A boli is stored with other sacred objects in a shrine house and may only be seen by members of the association to which it belongs. Image: Ritual Object (Boli) Bamana, Mali Mid-19th/early 20th century Wood, cloth, mud, and sacrificial material H. 43.8 cm (17 1/4 in.) Art Institute of Chicago, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harold X. Weinstein, 1961.1177 Connect: http://itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 http://ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast http://youtube.com/SCARABsolutions http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston

ancientartpodcast.org/78 How do artists' choices of materials assign identity and meaning to works of art? How does meaning assign material? In this excerpt from one of my museum tours, I explore the meaningful materials in a Nkisi Nkondi Power Figure of the Vili people in central Africa. This recording comes complete with all the juicy, unscripted, live-action museum gallery accents including background chatter and beeping proximity alarms. Image: Power Figure (Nkisi Nkondi) Vili, Republic of the Congo or Democratic Republic of the Congo Early/mid-19th century Wood, metal, glass, fabric, fiber, cowrie shell, bone, leather, gourd, and feather Art Institute of Chicago, 1998.502 Connect: http://itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 http://ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast http://youtube.com/SCARABsolutions http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston

ancientartpodcast.org/77 How do artists' choices of materials assign identity and meaning to works of art? How does meaning assign material? In this excerpt from one of my museum tours, I explore the meaningful materials in an African Congolese ceremonial mask of the Kuba Kingdom. This recording comes complete with all the juicy, unscripted, live-action museum gallery accents including background chatter and beeping proximity alarms. Image: Mask (Mukenga) Kuba, Western Kasai region, Democratic Republic of the Congo Late 19th/mid-20th century Wood, glass beads, cowrie shells, feathers, raffia, fur, fabric, thread, and bells Art Institute of Chicago, 1982.1504 Connect: http://itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 http://ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast http://youtube.com/SCARABsolutions http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston

ancientartpodcast.org/76 In this excerpt from one of my museum tours, I discuss the techniques of Greek vase painting and the differences between the black-figure and red-figure styles. We also dip a toe into some Greek history, talk about the names of Greek vase painters, artists signing their works, and compare Greek vase painters to the French Impressionists. This recording comes complete with all the juicy, unscripted, live-action museum gallery accents including background chatter, construction noises, and beeping proximity alarms. Images: Black-figure Belly-Amphora (Storage Jar) Showing Herakles Wrestling the Nemean Lion Attributed to the Painter of Berlin 1686 or the Painter of Tarquinia RC 3984 Greek, Athens c. 550-540 B.C. Art Institute of Chicago, 1978.114 Hydria (Water Jar) Attributed to The Leningrad Painter Greek, Athens c. 470/460 B.C. Art Institute of Chicago, 1911.456 Connect: http://itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 http://ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast http://youtube.com/SCARABsolutions http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston

ancientartpodcast.org/75 Why are the heads, crowns, and hands of magnificent Tang Dynasty Chinese tomb figurines so startlingly bare compared to their brilliantly colored bodies? This is an excerpt from my gallery talk "Coloring the Past" in the Art Institute of Chicago from March 9, 2017. This recording comes complete with all the juicy, unscripted, live-action museum gallery accents of background chatter, beeping proximity alarms, and echoing reverb. Please forgive the poor sound quality. Terms: sancai, glaze, funerary, earthenware, ceramic, polychromy, pigment, paint, sculpture, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism. Gallery Talk: Coloring the Past (American Sign Language-interpreted) Art Institute of Chicago March 9, 2017 "How does our modern lens shape the way we see ancient works of art? Explore the use, meaning, and manufacture of color in ancient art with museum educator Lucas Livingston. This gallery talk will be interpreted in American Sign Language." Image: Armored Guardian King (Tianwang) Trampling Demon China, Tang dynasty (AD 618–907) First half of 8th century Earthenware, glaze, and pigment Art Institute of Chicago, 1970.1069 Connect: http://itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 http://ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast http://youtube.com/SCARABsolutions http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston

ancientartpodcast.org/74 We examine the use of color in ancient art to designate role, status, nature, and more, and discuss causes for the disappearance of polychromy in ancient art. Side note: Why does the Egyptian God Osiris sometimes appear with black skin and sometimes with green skin? Names dropped: Zeus, Athena, Olympians, Giants, Gaia, Osiris. This is an excerpt from my gallery talk "Coloring the Past" in the Art Institute of Chicago from March 9, 2017. This recording comes complete with all the juicy, unscripted, live-action museum gallery accents of noisy kids, beeping proximity alarms, and echoing reverb. Please forgive the poor sound quality. Gallery Talk: Coloring the Past (American Sign Language-interpreted) Art Institute of Chicago March 9, 2017 "How does our modern lens shape the way we see ancient works of art? Explore the use, meaning, and manufacture of color in ancient art with museum educator Lucas Livingston. This gallery talk will be interpreted in American Sign Language." Image: Architectural Relief Showing Gigantomachy (Battle Between Gods and Giants) Etruscan, 3rd-2nd century BC terracotta & pigment Art Institute of Chicago, 1984.2 Connect: itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] facebook.com/ancientartpodcast youtube.com/SCARABsolutions twitter.com/lucaslivingston

ancientartpodcast.org/73 Pliny the Elder shares with us the tale of dueling artists Zeuxis and Parrhasius as they battled for the title of who could paint a more beguilingly realistic trompe-l'oeil ("fools the eye") masterpiece. We also hear another short story of Zeuxis's dashed pride. This is an excerpt from my gallery talk "Coloring the Past" in the Art Institute of Chicago from March 9, 2017. This recording comes complete with all the juicy, unscripted, live-action museum gallery accents of noisy kids, beeping proximity alarms, and echoing reverb. Please forgive the poor sound quality. Gallery Talk: Coloring the Past (American Sign Language-interpreted) Art Institute of Chicago March 9, 2017 "How does our modern lens shape the way we see ancient works of art? Explore the use, meaning, and manufacture of color in ancient art with museum educator Lucas Livingston. This gallery talk will be interpreted in American Sign Language." Image: Adriaen van der Spelt (Dutch, 1630-1673) and Frans van Mieris (Dutch, 1635-1681) Trompe-l'Oeil Still Life with a Flower Garland and a Curtain, 1658 Oil on panel 18 1/4 x 25 1/8 in. (46.5 x 63.9 cm) Inscribed lower left: van der Spelt.1658 Art Institute of Chicago, 1949.585 Connect: itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] facebook.com/ancientartpodcast youtube.com/SCARABsolutions twitter.com/lucaslivingston

ancientartpodcast.org/72 Many sculptural works from the ancient world were once beautifully colored. This is an excerpt of my gallery talk "Coloring the Past" in the Art Institute of Chicago from March 9, 2017. Here we discuss the original polychromy of the famous Aphrodite of Knidos by Praxiteles and the 1862 Tinted Venus by English sculptor John Gibson. This recording comes complete with all the juicy, unscripted, live-action museum gallery accents of noisy kids, beeping proximity alarms, and echoing reverb. Please forgive the poor sound quality. Gallery Talk: Coloring the Past (American Sign Language-interpreted) Art Institute of Chicago March 9, 2017 "How does our modern lens shape the way we see ancient works of art? Explore the use, meaning, and manufacture of color in ancient art with museum educator Lucas Livingston. This gallery talk will be interpreted in American Sign Language." Image: John Gibson (1790-1866) The Tinted Venus, 1862 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool Photo by ketrin1407, 19 July 2012 Connect: itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] facebook.com/ancientartpodcast youtube.com/SCARABsolutions twitter.com/lucaslivingston

ancientartpodcast.org/71 Many sculptural works from the ancient world were once beautifully colored. This is an excerpt of my gallery talk "Coloring the Past" in the Art Institute of Chicago from March 9, 2017. Here we explore the use of color on a Cycladic Statuette of a Female Figure from the Early Bronze Age, 2600-2400 B.C. Please forgive the poor sound quality. Gallery Talk: Coloring the Past (American Sign Language-interpreted) Art Institute of Chicago March 9, 2017 "How does our modern lens shape the way we see ancient works of art? Explore the use, meaning, and manufacture of color in ancient art with museum educator Lucas Livingston. This gallery talk will be interpreted in American Sign Language." Image: Statuette of a Female Figure Early Bronze Age, 2600-2400 B.C. Cycladic; probably from the island of Keros Marble 39.9 x 11.6 x 4.9 cm (15 11/16 x 4 9/16 x 1 15/16 in.) Art Institute of Chicago, 1978.115 Connect: itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] facebook.com/ancientartpodcast youtube.com/SCARABsolutions twitter.com/lucaslivingston

ancientartpodcast.org/70 We dig up the dirt on vines and wines in China's Tang dynasty and beyond, explore the wares of our Central Asian caravan, marvel at the magnificent horses of the Fergana Valley, and sip the delicious nectar from the Grape Valley of the Flaming Mountains to the accompaniment of colorful poetry. Names dropped: Poets Li Qi and Li Bo, the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, emperors Li Chen and Mu Tsung, Zhang Qian, Dogfish Head Brewery, Dr. Patrick McGovern, Chateau Jiahu, Strabo, Taklamakan Desert, Dunhuang, Sogdiana, and Chang'an Ancient Worlds is an audio segment of the Ancient Art Podcast where we choose a single work of art as a launchpad for inspiration. Selected Artwork: Horse, China, Tang dynasty (618–907 A.D.), first half of 8th century, Art Institute of Chicago, 1981.1212. View a gallery of additional relevant works of art here. Music: Rainbow Dance and Galloping Horses by Yang Wei and DaXun Zhang. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Ancient Battle Field by Yang Wei. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Connect: itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] facebook.com/ancientartpodcast youtube.com/SCARABsolutions twitter.com/lucaslivingston

ancientartpodcast.org/69 In this episode, we trek along the dusty trails of the famed Silk Road. We meet some of the people traipsing this network, hitch a ride on a merchant's camel, pass by some pilgrims, and meet a young religious faith called Buddhism. And we'll look at a lot of ceramics. Ceramics from China's Jin, Tang, Yuan, and Ming dynasties. Selected Artwork: Funerary Urn (Hunping), China, Western Jin dynasty, late 3rd century, Art Institute of Chicago, 1987.242. Silk Road Caravan, China, Tang dynasty (618–907 A.D.), first half of 8th century, Art Institute of Chicago. Music: M A Y U R A part 1 & 2 & 3 by CSoul (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial Share-Alike (3.0) license. Featuring: Jeris (VJ_Memes) , skoria itunes.com/podcast?id=205535627 ancientartpodcast.org/feedback [email protected] facebook.com/ancientartpodcast youtube.com/SCARABsolutions twitter.com/lucaslivingston

Hey folks! This is Lucas Livingston from the Ancient Art Podcast, serving up hot meals of antiquity since 2006 with a healthy side of smack! Yeah, that's right. 10 years. A good decade now. Going way back to when smartphones were still cool and your friends were telling you all about why you gotta join this Facebook thing. So I got 2 things I wanna tell ya now: 1. There’s this awesome class coming up at the the University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute. It’s a 3-part series called "Drinking in Antiquity" and I’m teaching it. It’s on 3 Saturdays in 2016, October 8, Nov 12, and Dec 10. We’ll cover Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, Mongolia and Central Asia, the Silk Road, and ancient Greece. We’re gonna visit the collections in the Oriental Institute and University of Chicago's Smart Museum, and we’re gonna get "experimental" with multiple ancient-inspired beer tastings. If you’re interested, visit ancientartpodcast.org/drink. 2. So, we're gonna try something different and change up the podcast. In a perfect world I love producing the glitzy hi def video episodes. The reality, though, is that the effort has become rather prohibitive for me at this current point in my life. Don't worry! The Ancient Art Podcast is still here, but I'm going to switch over to publishing a largely audio podcast for a while and see how that goes. I'll continue to produce a simplified video version for YouTube, where video continues to make the sense. And I’m still going to show my love for the arts and material culture, but with this new turn in the road towards audio, we’ll likely stray into the broader realm of narratives about the ancient world. I've got plenty of fodder with the legends of Dionysus and, heck, I could do a whole series on boozing it up in ancient times, combining my passions for antiquity and brewing! But first up, you and I are going to take the little journey down the Silk Road. So strap on them sandals, dust off your camel, and buckle up, because episode 69 of the Ancient Art Podcast is just over that sand dune! Visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/ Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Last time in episode 67 we learned all about a Buddhist relief carving in the Art Institute of Chicago. We met two Buddhas — one legendary and one historical — Dipankara and Shakyamuni. Now the promised bombshell. The reason you all came back. This muscular, shaggy-bearded, club-wielding brute next to Buddha. Why in the world in a Buddhist work of art does the legendary Greek hero Hercules make an appearance? Image: Relief with Buddha Shakyamuni Meditating in the Indrashala Cave (top) and Buddha Dipankara (bottom), Gandharan region, Kushan period, 2nd/3rd century, Art Institute of Chicago, 2015.447. For the transcript, image credits, and more, visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/68. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Two tales from the many lives of Buddha. The top scene depicts Buddha Shakyamuni meditating in the Indrashala cave awaiting his rebirth on Earth. The bottom scene shows Buddha Dipankara meeting the hermit Sumedha. Among other Gandharan works of art, this Buddhist carving might include representations of the Hindu gods Indra and Brahma. But that's only the tip of the iceberg. The big bombshell is that we have an honest to goodness cameo of the legendary Greek hero Hercules! Image: Relief with Buddha Shakyamuni Meditating in the Indrashala Cave (top) and Buddha Dipankara (bottom), Gandharan region, Kushan period, 2nd/3rd century, Art Institute of Chicago, 2015.447. For the transcript, image credits, and more, visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/67. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Two tales from the many lives of Buddha. The top scene depicts Buddha Shakyamuni meditating in the Indrashala cave awaiting his rebirth on Earth. The bottom scene shows Buddha Dipankara meeting the hermit Sumedha. Among other Gandharan works of art, this Buddhist carving might include representations of the Hindu gods Indra and Brahma. But that's only the tip of the iceberg. The big bombshell is that we have an honest to goodness cameo of the legendary Greek hero Hercules! Image: Relief with Buddha Shakyamuni Meditating in the Indrashala Cave (top) and Buddha Dipankara (bottom), Gandharan region, Kushan period, 2nd/3rd century, Art Institute of Chicago, 2015.447. For the transcript, image credits, and more, visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/67. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Episode 66 of the Ancient Art Podcast picks up where we left off in episode 65 with the Gandharan Stupa Reliquary in the Art Institute of Chicago. We briefly touch on some commonalities between Buddhism and Star Wars. We also learn more about the historic origin of the four pillars around the dome, discover what the deal is with those lion capitals, and revisit the Persians, Persepolis, Alexander the Great, Ashoka the Great, and Buddha humbly giving his first sermon in the deer park at Sarnath. And keep a sharp eye open for a passing nod to the great science fiction author H. P. Lovecraft. For the transcript, image credits, and more, visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/66. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Episode 66 of the Ancient Art Podcast picks up where we left off in episode 65 with the Gandharan Stupa Reliquary in the Art Institute of Chicago. We briefly touch on some commonalities between Buddhism and Star Wars. We also learn more about the historic origin of the four pillars around the dome, discover what the deal is with those lion capitals, and revisit the Persians, Persepolis, Alexander the Great, Ashoka the Great, and Buddha humbly giving his first sermon in the deer park at Sarnath. And keep a sharp eye open for a passing nod to the great science fiction author H. P. Lovecraft. For the transcript, image credits, and more, visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/66. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Episode 65 of the Ancient Art Podcast explores a Gandharan Stupa Reliquary in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The subdued appearance of this small reliquary belies its cultural and aesthetic significance at the crossroads of East and West, where great empires collide. Who were the Gandharans and what is their legacy? Walk in the footsteps of godlike leaders, like Alexander the Great, Ashoka the Great, Cyrus, and Darius. Discover the cultural and historic mark they left on the land and its people. For the transcript, image credits, and more, visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/65. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Episode 65 of the Ancient Art Podcast explores a Gandharan Stupa Reliquary in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The subdued appearance of this small reliquary belies its cultural and aesthetic significance at the crossroads of East and West, where great empires collide. Who were the Gandharans and what is their legacy? Walk in the footsteps of godlike leaders, like Alexander the Great, Ashoka the Great, Cyrus, and Darius. Discover the cultural and historic mark they left on the land and its people. For the transcript, image credits, and more, visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/65. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

In my third installment of a three-part series on dogs in antiquity, we're back in our familiar stomping ground of the Classical World to consider the roles of dogs in ancient Greece and Rome. Ancient writings give us the names of prized breeds in antiquity, which we match to magnificent examples in art. Classical authors like Arrian and Xenophon have much to say about the roles of dogs, from hunting and guarding to racing and companionship, but what about warfare? We meet Odysseus and his faithful hound Argos, rub elbows with Alexander the Great's canine companion Peritas, dodge the burning cinders of Patroklos's funeral pyre, and knock on the door to Hell guarded by sturdy Cerberus. Transcript, Credits, Photo Gallery and more at http://ancientartpodcast.org/63. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

In my third installment of a three-part series on dogs in antiquity, we're back in our familiar stomping ground of the Classical World to consider the roles of dogs in ancient Greece and Rome. Ancient writings give us the names of prized breeds in antiquity, which we match to magnificent examples in art. Classical authors like Arrian and Xenophon have much to say about the roles of dogs, from hunting and guarding to racing and companionship, but what about warfare? We meet Odysseus and his faithful hound Argos, rub elbows with Alexander the Great's canine companion Peritas, dodge the burning cinders of Patroklos's funeral pyre, and knock on the door to Hell guarded by sturdy Cerberus. Transcript, Credits, Photo Gallery and more at http://ancientartpodcast.org/63. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Last time in our three-part series on dogs in antiquity, we explored the ancient hairless breeds of the New World and had a look at the popular ceramic funerary effigy of the Colima dog from a couple thousand years ago. We were also introduced to a young celebrity, Sputnik, my cute little hairless Xoloitzcuintli-Chihuahua mix. This time in episode 62 of the Ancient Art Podcast we're off to China to discover the prehistoric domestication of dogs and look closely at a 2,000 year old ceramic mastiff dog sculpture of the Han Dynasty in the Art Institute of Chicago! We also learn the roles dogs played in ancient China and try our lot with a cast of the Shang dragon oracle bones. And we might even bump into Loa Tzu! Music: A Concert of Classical Chinese Music by The Flowing Stream Ensemble. Transcript, Credits, Photo Gallery and more at http://ancientartpodcast.org/62. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Last time in our three-part series on dogs in antiquity, we explored the ancient hairless breeds of the New World and had a look at the popular ceramic funerary effigy of the Colima dog from a couple thousand years ago. We were also introduced to a young celebrity, Sputnik, my cute little hairless Xoloitzcuintli-Chihuahua mix. This time in episode 62 of the Ancient Art Podcast we're off to China to discover the prehistoric domestication of dogs and look closely at a 2,000 year old ceramic mastiff dog sculpture of the Han Dynasty in the Art Institute of Chicago! We also learn the roles dogs played in ancient China and try our lot with a cast of the Shang dragon oracle bones. And we might even bump into Loa Tzu! Music: A Concert of Classical Chinese Music by The Flowing Stream Ensemble. Transcript, Credits, Photo Gallery and more at http://ancientartpodcast.org/62. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Just in time for Christmas, episode 64 of the Ancient Art Podcast spins a Yuletide yarn. All decked out for the holidays, this amazing, little, elvish sprite weaves us up a tall mountain pass on an enchanting journey through antiquity. The 5,000 year old horned striding figure from the ancient Near Eastern Proto-Elamite culture captivates our imagination of the enigmatic wild man of collective ancient lore. Herein we meet Gilgamesh's Enkidu, Egyptian gods and Pharaohs, the Greco-Roman Hercules, Olympian athletes, modern statesmen, and Europe's pagan renderings of an untamed, primal Santa Claus and companions Knecht Ruprecht, Perchta, Belsnickel, Zwarte Piet, the Julbocken, and of course Krampus! This video is just a short primer. For the big picture visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/64. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Just in time for Christmas, episode 64 of the Ancient Art Podcast spins a Yuletide yarn. All decked out for the holidays, this amazing, little, elvish sprite weaves us up a tall mountain pass on an enchanting journey through antiquity. The 5,000 year old horned striding figure from the ancient Near Eastern Proto-Elamite culture captivates our imagination of the enigmatic wild man of collective ancient lore. Herein we meet Gilgamesh's Enkidu, Egyptian gods and Pharaohs, the Greco-Roman Hercules, Olympian athletes, modern statesmen, and Europe's pagan renderings of an untamed, primal Santa Claus and companions Knecht Ruprecht, Perchta, Belsnickel, Zwarte Piet, the Julbocken, and of course Krampus! This video is just a short primer. For the big picture visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/64. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Dig in to this feast for the eyes as we discuss the role of dogs in ancient Mesoamerican civilization and art. This is our first in a three-part series on dogs in antiquity. This episodes serves up one of the most popular examples of canines in art, the Colima dog of ancient West Mexico, captured in an exemplary ceramic specimen in Art Institute of Chicago. Our lingua culinaria isn’t too off base, as the hairless hounds and pudgy puppies of ancient Mesoamerica were in fact a common food source. And with their rising popularity on the modern scene, the hairless xoloitzcuintli and Peruvian dog breeds might just be the new black! Music: Nunca Fui a Granada by GranadaDoaba. Transcript, Credits, Photo Gallery and more at http://ancientartpodcast.org/61. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Dig in to this feast for the eyes as we discuss the role of dogs in ancient Mesoamerican civilization and art. This is our first in a three-part series on dogs in antiquity. This episodes serves up one of the most popular examples of canines in art, the Colima dog of ancient West Mexico, captured in an exemplary ceramic specimen in Art Institute of Chicago. Our lingua culinaria isn’t too off base, as the hairless hounds and pudgy puppies of ancient Mesoamerica were in fact a common food source. And with their rising popularity on the modern scene, the hairless xoloitzcuintli and Peruvian dog breeds might just be the new black! Music: Nunca Fui a Granada by GranadaDoaba. Transcript, Credits, Photo Gallery and more at http://ancientartpodcast.org/61. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

It's a cosmic collision of contemporary and antiquity on the Ancient Art Podcast! The prophesied comet of the century, Comet ISON, may have bit the dust, but that's no reason to pile dirt on our exploration of comets of past and present in the world of art. In two rare examples of auspicious comets in antiquity, Augustus Caesar and Mithridates VI of Pontus exploit coinage as vehicle for propaganda. We discuss the cameo of Halley's Comet on the Bayeux Tapestry capturing the Battle of Hastings in AD 1066, then trace Halley's Comet's apparitions back to 87 BC, 164 BC, ... no wait, 240 BC. Holy smokes ... 466 BC!? Chinese observers take the cake with the Comet Atlas of Mawangdui. And does the ancient, sacred, and much-maligned symbol of the swastika owe its origin to ancient comets? Lastly, has the ancient Egyptian demon serpent of chaos, Apophis, set his sights on Earth with a firestorm from above in 2036? Transcript, Credits, Photo Gallery and more at http://ancientartpodcast.org/60. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

It's a cosmic collision of contemporary and antiquity on the Ancient Art Podcast! The prophesied comet of the century, Comet ISON, may have bit the dust, but that's no reason to pile dirt on our exploration of comets of past and present in the world of art. In two rare examples of auspicious comets in antiquity, Augustus Caesar and Mithridates VI of Pontus exploit coinage as vehicle for propaganda. We discuss the cameo of Halley's Comet on the Bayeux Tapestry capturing the Battle of Hastings in AD 1066, then trace Halley's Comet's apparitions back to 87 BC, 164 BC, ... no wait, 240 BC. Holy smokes ... 466 BC!? Chinese observers take the cake with the Comet Atlas of Mawangdui. And does the ancient, sacred, and much-maligned symbol of the swastika owe its origin to ancient comets? Lastly, has the ancient Egyptian demon serpent of chaos, Apophis, set his sights on Earth with a firestorm from above in 2036? Transcript, Credits, Photo Gallery and more at http://ancientartpodcast.org/60. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Greetings gashlycrumbs! Enjoy this spooktacular free Halloween segment of the Ancient Art Podcast episode 59, "A Witches' Sabbath!" Meet the wicked witches, devilish denizens, and things that go bump in the night in the Art Institute of Chicago's painting "A Witches' Sabbath" by Dutch artist Cornelis Saftleven. Grab the complete episode at http://ancientartpodcast.org/curious. The complete episode explores the peculiar fascination Dutch and Flemish artists had with the proverbial "fire and brimstone," including the famous pioneer of the genre Hieronymus Bosch. A detailed examination of "A Witches' Sabbath" reveals various influences and motivations. We discuss the cultural context of Christian puritanism, the twisted history and legacy of the Witches' Sabbath a.k.a. Walpurgisnacht, and its relationship with legend of Faust. For detailed image credits and more, visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/59. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston. Photography © The Art Institute of Chicago. Cornelis Saftleven, Dutch, 1607-1681, A Witches' Sabbath, c. 1650, Oil on panel, 21 3/8 x 30 3/4 in. (54.3 x 78.2 cm), George F. Porter Collection, 1945.290, The Art Institute of Chicago. http://www.artic.edu/aic

Greetings gashlycrumbs! Enjoy this spooktacular free Halloween segment of the Ancient Art Podcast episode 59, "A Witches' Sabbath!" Meet the wicked witches, devilish denizens, and things that go bump in the night in the Art Institute of Chicago's painting "A Witches' Sabbath" by Dutch artist Cornelis Saftleven. Grab the complete episode at http://ancientartpodcast.org/curious. The complete episode explores the peculiar fascination Dutch and Flemish artists had with the proverbial "fire and brimstone," including the famous pioneer of the genre Hieronymus Bosch. A detailed examination of "A Witches' Sabbath" reveals various influences and motivations. We discuss the cultural context of Christian puritanism, the twisted history and legacy of the Witches' Sabbath a.k.a. Walpurgisnacht, and its relationship with legend of Faust. For detailed image credits and more, visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/59. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston. Photography © The Art Institute of Chicago. Cornelis Saftleven, Dutch, 1607-1681, A Witches' Sabbath, c. 1650, Oil on panel, 21 3/8 x 30 3/4 in. (54.3 x 78.2 cm), George F. Porter Collection, 1945.290, The Art Institute of Chicago. http://www.artic.edu/aic

A short announcement about some changes to the Ancient Art Podcast. The Ancient Art Podcast and Curious.com have teamed up to host episodes of the podcast at Curious.com. Episodes now include quizzes, handouts, discussions, and more. Visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/curious to see more! You can now help support the Ancient Art Podcast. Visit http://ancientartpodcast.org/ and click on the "Donate" link. Thanks for the support and for 7 great years and counting! Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Raise your glass to the most incredible chalice from antiquity. The Lycurgus Cup in the British Museum is truly exceptional for its exquisite beauty, delicate craftsmanship, magnificent detail, and a seemingly magical ability to transform colors before your very eyes. Discover the myth of the doomed Thracian king, Lycurgus, driven mad by Dionysus and ensnared by the wine god's creeping vines. Explore the wondrous curiosity of Roman cage cups found in collections across the world, including the Corning Museum of Glass and the Cologne Cup in the Römisch Germanisches Museum. http://ancientartpodcast.org/58. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Raise your glass to the most incredible chalice from antiquity. The Lycurgus Cup in the British Museum is truly exceptional for its exquisite beauty, delicate craftsmanship, magnificent detail, and a seemingly magical ability to transform colors before your very eyes. Discover the myth of the doomed Thracian king, Lycurgus, driven mad by Dionysus and ensnared by the wine god's creeping vines. Explore the wondrous curiosity of Roman cage cups found in collections across the world, including the Corning Museum of Glass and the Cologne Cup in the Römisch Germanisches Museum. http://ancientartpodcast.org/58. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Episode 57 of the Ancient Art Podcast builds on what we learned in episode 53 about the mythology and artistry of the creepy creature of chaos, the Gorgon Medusa. This episode delves deeper into her primal lair. We confront her petrifying gaze while closely examining a few famous works of ancient art exploring Medusa’s roots, influences, and evolutions. Included are the Bronze Age Minoan "Snake Goddesses," the Polyphemus Amphora, the Nessos Amphora, the Temple of Artemis at Corfu, kylix eye-cups, and the Egyptian god Bes. Most images are of works in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. http://ancientartpodcast.org/57. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.

Episode 57 of the Ancient Art Podcast builds on what we learned in episode 53 about the mythology and artistry of the creepy creature of chaos, the Gorgon Medusa. This episode delves deeper into her primal lair. We confront her petrifying gaze while closely examining a few famous works of ancient art exploring Medusa’s roots, influences, and evolutions. Included are the Bronze Age Minoan "Snake Goddesses," the Polyphemus Amphora, the Nessos Amphora, the Temple of Artemis at Corfu, kylix eye-cups, and the Egyptian god Bes. Most images are of works in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. http://ancientartpodcast.org/57. Connect at http://facebook.com/ancientartpodcast and http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston.