Iraqis celebrating in Baghdad this morning after Iraq qualified for the football World Cup at a game held 6AM Iraq time. They chant "we're brothers, Sunnis and Shia and we won't betray/sell this homeland".
Iraqis are united in their rabid love for football. Congratulations 🇮🇶
I wrote about one of the East India Company's two occupations of Kharg Island in my book Return of a King. The Company actually occupied Kharg twice: once from 1838-1842, on the orders of Lord Auckland (shown below) when they eventually withdrew in confusion after the disasterous Retreat from Kabul. Then the Company occupied Kharg for a second time from 1856-7. This time they pulled out again, due the outbreak of the Great Uprising of 1857, and the Highland regiments who had occupied it under Sir Jamew Outram were rushed eastwards to break the Siege of Lucknow.
On both occasions, occupying Kharg seemed like a good idea at the time, but proved a strategic dead-end. It showed that the Company could project power into the heart of the Persian Gulf at will, but it also highlighted their inability to translate naval dominance into lasting political stability in the region.
Shame our current leaders seem unable to learn the lessons of history...
The RuBab team is out now of Iraq anticipating the escalation within the country!
Many thanks for the advises from the Spanish (via telephone and whatsapp group), Austrian (via telephone and email) and Polish (via email) embassies!
To all our friends in the region,
Stay Safe!!! Hopefully the power supply can be reestablished soon!
#Iran #Iraq #IranWar2026 #NCN #PolonezBis #Horizon2020
"As of 2025, Iraq ranked ninth among Arab countries for the number of UNESCO World Heritage sites, holding five cultural and one mixed cultural and natural sites:"
https://t.co/L24DBpyZw3
Save Classics at the University of Ottawa! #sosclassicsuo
The #UniversityofOttawa administration has decided to suspend admissions to the BA program in Ancient Greek and Roman Studies (in February 2026).
Please support the fight against this measure via
https://t.co/EqgSU2GwDn
🇵🇱🏛️
For decades, Polish archaeologists have shaped our understanding of Palmyra — uncovering temples, restoring sculptures, and decoding Aramaic inscriptions. From Michał Gawlikowski to Aleksandra Kubiak-Schneider, their work continues to bring the ancient city’s voice back to life.
With sincere appreciation — we invite researchers, heritage lovers, and friends of Palmyra everywhere to share their thoughts and memories.
@PCMA_UW@AL_SAALEH@A_Kub_Schn@SokolowskiLuk
#Palmyra #Poland #Syria
Under the supervision of Syria’s Directorate-General of Museums and Antiquities, and in partnership with the Aleph Foundation, Palmyra’s treasures are being revived ✨🏛️
Artifacts are currently undergoing restoration in Damascus, ahead of the Palmyra Museum restoration, which begins in early 2026. 🛠️🇸🇾 @mocsyr@ALIPHFoundation
#Palmyra #Syria
If you want to take part in the continuation of the workshop which led to our edited volume, please have a look at the Call for Submissions, deadline already on February 5!
With outside temperatures around -20°C here in Poland, we were warmly welcoming the printed version of our shared edited volume!
The open access version is available via this link:
https://t.co/S9JFctrySS
Za zniszczenie kamiennego bloku starożytnej świątyni z Bliskiego Wschodu groziła kara śmierci, a skradziony z niej młotek mógł sprowadzić gniew bóstwa. O pracy budowniczych świątyń opowiada dr Aleksandra Kubiak-Schneider z @uniwroc. #archeologia
https://t.co/3mVgKIXeby
Farming and #irrigation (especially using shovel craft) are part of my early life. Later, it became my speciality in academia.
Now, Dr. Roberto Arciero, Dr. Johanna Lhuillier and I are organising a session in:
32nd EAA Annual Meeting | 26–29 August 2026 | #Athens
Session #93
Tracing the Flow: New Perspectives on Ancient Irrigation Systems and Their Legacies.
Read more about it and submit your abstract here:
https://t.co/5ViyRYv3Je
Hope to see you there so we can enjoy that discussion