Amy Ione Online

Ann: U.N.'s World Digital Library Goes Online

A globe-spanning U.N. digital library seeking to display and explain the relics of all human cultures has gone into operation on the Internet for the first time, serving up mankind's accumulated knowledge in seven languages for students around the world. Full article

Conf. Writings of Early Scholars in the Ancient Near East, Egypt and Greece

Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany 27-29 July 2009

The historiography of the sciences in antiquity (including Egyptian and Mesopotamian cultures) has changed fundamentally during the past 40 years. Changing methodologies and aims have led to a focus on recognition and reconstruction of ancient scientific concepts, which can differ significantly from “similar” modern concepts. As a way of bringing these changes to light in a useful way, the conference will focus on the problem of translations.

Conf: Medicine, Laboratory and Society

Conference: Medicine, Laboratory and Society
Paths and Representations of Medicine and Public Health in Portugal – a Tribute to Ricardo Jorge (1858-1939) | Conference dates: 25- 27 May 2009 | More information: http://www.medicinaeimperio.net

FYI: Archeologists find rare Maya panels in Guatemala

Archeologists have uncovered carved stucco panels depicting cosmic monsters, gods and serpents in Guatemala's northern jungle that are the oldest known depictions of a famous Mayan creation myth. The newly discovered panels, both 26 feet long and stacked on top of each other, were created around 300 BC and show scenes from the core Mayan mythology, the Popol Vuh. Full article

Article: Museum of Islamic Art Opens in Doha, Qatar

In 2003, I was invited to give a talk in conjunction with an art and science symposium organized under the leadership of the queen of Qatar and the Qatar Foundation. [Here and below are pictures from my trip.] The invitation was part of a multi-faceted plan to make Doha a cultural destination.

Exhibition: The Life of Meresamun: A Temple Singer in Ancient Egypt

"The Life of Meresamun: A Temple Singer in Ancient Egypt" at the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute Museum reconstructs the world of the religious performer. Exhibited from February 10 to December 6, 2009 are the results of computerized tomography or CT scans of the mummy of Meresamun (ca. 800 B.C.), a singer-priestess. Seventy-two pieces of jewelry and pottery, are on display. [More information]

CFP: Visions of Tomorrow: Science and Utopia in German Culture

Call for Submissions for a Special Issue of "Seminar: A Journal of Germanic Studies" "Visions of Tomorrow: Science and Utopia in German Culture"   | Submission due date: September 1, 2009.

Link: Ancient Rome in Google Earth

Google has added an Ancient Rome layer to their Google Earth program. This allows interactive flythroughs of 320 CE Rome, with weblinks to information about the buildings. More info is here:<http://earth.google.com/rome/index.html

Exhibition: Pompeii and the Roman Villa

The National Gallery of Art unveils close to 150 works of art excavated from or inspired by the ancient city of Pompeii. Slide show | Review | National Gallery web site

Article: Copying the Koran

A number of years ago I had dinner at the home of the queen of Qatar. The Quatari official sitting next to me explained that all the calligraphic lettering that adorned the absolutely gorgeous banquet room displayed various spellings of Allah's name. The beauty of the script, the beauty of the palace, and my recollection of this conversation perhaps explains my fascination with Islamic art and writing. Yesterday's New York Times reviewed two shows that brought this visit to mind: "Traces of the Calligrapher: Islamic Calligraphy in Practice, Circa 1600-1900" and "Writing the Word of God: Calligraphy and the Qur'an."