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To: classics@u.washington.edu
From: Nick Lowe <n.lowe@rhbnc.ac.uk>
Subject: The Babylonian Marriage Market (was "cultural archaeology", "Cultural
         Studies Stew," etc.)

David Lupher was captured by Long's "The Babylonian Marriage Market":

>Though I haven't
>gotten very far into [Kurke's] book yet, I am grateful to it for one thing:
>its cover's marvelously kitschy painting by Edwin Long (1829-1891)
>illustrating a passage in Herodotus that never fails to get a vigorous
>class discussion going: 1.196, the Babylonian bride-auction, a custom
>Hdt. praises (and here's where my classes hit the roof) as a "nomos
>sophwtatos."

The original gloriously hangs in the Picture Gallery of Royal Holloway,
University of London, where it (and many another astounding Victorian
historical or sentimental tableau) offers annual distraction to students
sitting end-of-session written examinations. No-cost reproductions may be
obtained by the simple expedient of requesting a display poster for the MA
in Hellenic Studies.

Nick Lowe
n.lowe@rhbnc.ac.uk


.