Michael Freeman, PhD

Ancient Med. social historian and PhD @DukeU; Coordinator @LabManuscript; Papyrologist, myth buff, chocolate chip cookie researcher | views my own | he/him

[Michael Freeman, PhD @M_A_Freeman]

@toriflee You should get paid for this. By both companies. Incredible promotion.

[Michael Freeman, PhD @M_A_Freeman]

@GarettJones Victor Frankenstein

[Michael Freeman, PhD @M_A_Freeman]

@dieworkwear What do you think about Taft brand shoes? I know they are heavily marketed on social, but I got a few pairs as gifts/on sale and I like them.

[Michael Freeman, PhD @M_A_Freeman]

@mythsbaby Euripides’ Helen (Helen and Menelaus)
Homeric Hymn of Aphrodite (Anchises and Aphrodite)
Hesiod’s account of Dionysus and Ariadne

I’m sure there are more but these are the ones that come to mind first, if you’re looking for older stuff.

[Michael Freeman, PhD @M_A_Freeman]

@eduardo_garcmol The ‘mon that launched a thousand Pokeballs…

[Michael Freeman, PhD @M_A_Freeman]

@NathanielSKatz Personally I hope at least 700 of the bookrolls Petaus practicing his signature some more.

[Michael Freeman, PhD @M_A_Freeman]

Taylor Swift AND Epicurus announce new albums on the SAME DAY? What are the odds?

[Nat Friedman @natfriedman]

Ten months ago, we launched the Vesuvius Challenge to solve the ancient problem of the Herculaneum Papyri, a library of scrolls that were flash-fried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Today we are overjoyed to announce that our crazy project has succeeded. After 2000 years, we can finally read the scrolls:
This image was produced by @Youssef_M_Nader, @LukeFarritor, and @JuliSchillij, who have now won the Vesuvius Challenge Grand Prize of $700,000. Congratulations!!

These fifteen columns come from the very end of the first scroll we have been able to read and contain new text from the ancient world that has never been seen before. The author – probably Epicurean philosopher Philodemus – writes here about music, food, and how to enjoy life's pleasures. In the closing section, he throws shade at unnamed ideological adversaries – perhaps the stoics? – who "have nothing to say about pleasure, either in general or in particular."

This year, the Vesuvius Challenge continues. The text that we revealed so far represents just 5% of one scroll.

In 2024, our goal is to from reading a few passages of text to entire scrolls, and we're announcing a new $100,000 grand prize for the first team that is able to read at least 90% of all four scrolls that we have scanned.

The scrolls stored in Naples that remain to be read represent more than 16 megabytes of ancient text. But the villa where the scrolls were found was only partially excavated, and scholars tell us that there may be thousands more scrolls underground. Our hope is that the success of the Vesuvius Challenge catalyzes the excavation of the villa, that the main library is discovered, and that whatever we find there rewrites history and inspires all of us.

It's been a great joy to work on this strange and amazing project. Thanks to Brent Seales for laying the foundation for this work over so many years, thanks to the friends and Twitter users whose donations powered our effort, and thanks to the many contestants whose contributions have made the Vesuvius Challenge successful!

Read more in our announcement: https://t.co/rUlrdGXBMs

[Michael Freeman, PhD @M_A_Freeman]

@emilykmay My take on the Living Room(TM):

“Lived-In” Living Room=Family Room
Big A/V Setup in Living Room=TV/Media Room
Fancy, Decorative Living Room=Parlor
Fancy “in a Cozy Way”=Den

[Michael Freeman, PhD @M_A_Freeman]

@MetalClassicist @maniagnosis I’d be honored.

[Michael Freeman, PhD @M_A_Freeman]

@maniagnosis @MetalClassicist Oh yes. Once the box was opened by mistake and all 308 Declensions escaped. Nearly put the whole
Latin faculty out of jobs.

[Michael Freeman, PhD @M_A_Freeman]

@MetalClassicist Personally, I keep mine in Declension Cabinets below my bookshelf in my study at home.

[Michael Freeman, PhD @M_A_Freeman]

@MetalClassicist If you had to, where would you hide the declensions so that your students wouldn’t find them?

[Michael Freeman, PhD @M_A_Freeman]

@clhubes Hello, we have been trying to contact you about your window’s extended warranty.

[Candida Moss @candidamoss]

Interested in the bible, ancient writing, ancient slavery, and invisible labor? My new book God's Ghostwriters is on flash sale @BNBuzz now! Get 25% off if you order before the end of day tomorrow https://t.co/ytfeGKZ1iO #ClassicsTwitter #Bible #Christianity

[Michael Freeman, PhD @M_A_Freeman]

@DraculaActual Keanu Reeves?

[Michael Freeman, PhD @M_A_Freeman]

@ThePhDPlace Everybody wants to be a cat…because a cat’s the only cat who knows where it’s at.

[Michael Freeman, PhD @M_A_Freeman]

@shaindelr Name every simile.

[Michael Freeman, PhD @M_A_Freeman]

@rebeccamakkai Would “materialize” capture the sense you are looking for?

[Michael Freeman, PhD @M_A_Freeman]

@RyanMBaldwin Looking forward to seeing you there!