Carnivalesque

Hey ho,
The next Carnivalesque covering ancient, medieval, and early modern "history" (and I'm just sayin', I'll take anything in the periods) will be hosted by me right here on The Ruminate.  So if in the last 6 weeks or so you've read, or written, a post you like quite a bit, send it on to me to include in the Carnivalesque.  Email or include in the comments.

We Need Better Story Telling

AND HOW!    This is so accurate an assessment.  Please read.

Geza Vermes

I've just learned that one of the great minds of Second Temple Judaism scholarship has passed away whilst I was busy being a medievalist in Kalamazoo.  Vermes' books and articles on the Dead Sea Scrolls and on the Jewish context of Jesus were instrumental and foundational on the thinking of hundreds of NT scholars in the 60s, 70s, and 80s when I was coming up the first time and many more since.  It is a sad loss, though he had a long and distinguished career.  Obituary here.