M.J. Rose

The artifacts recently brought up from the depths of the bay of Aboukir are an absolute feast for the eyes…

From The Daily Berries,

What Scientists Just Found Deep In The Ocean Is Seriously Unbelievable….

“Off the coast of Egypt divers have discovered something that was thought to be lost a long time ago. It was said that the ancient city of Heracleion was lost under the sea for good. Well 1200 years later, off the bay of Aboukir, this ancient city has finally been discovered. The city dates back to the 6th century B.C. and holds some of the most beautiful artifacts you could imagine. Things like grand statues of gods and goddesses standing well over 15 feet tall and carved out of red granite, treasures of gold and rare stones, elaborate temples and enormous tablets. This find is enormous in the historical preservation community and has been commissioned by museums around the world. Take a look at this incredible city found underwater…”

A bronze oil lamp dating back to the 2nd century B.C.

The divers carefully lift the stele out of the water where it has been for well over 1200 years.

For many more photos, click here.

A Friday the 13th in October is very witchy indeed…

From National Geographic,

Friday the 13th Is Back. Here’s Why It Scares Us.
Find out how the date got its unlucky reputation and how even nonbelievers may be influenced by our collective triskaidekaphobia.

By Brian Handwerk

“As if October wasn’t spooky enough, this year the creepiest month also features the return of Friday the 13th.
October 13 is the second ill-fated Friday to fall in 2017. And while January the 13th wasn’t especially sinister, it seems that no matter how many such moments pass us by, the dreaded day continues to inspire unease and fears of misfortune.
There’s no logical reason to fear the occasional coincidence of any day and date. But Friday the 13th can still have noticeable impacts. Sometimes we create them in our own minds—for good and ill.

Jane Risen, a behavioral scientist at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, has found that superstitions can influence even nonbelievers. In one study, Risen found that people who identify as superstitious and non-superstitious both believe a bad outcome is more likely when they’ve been jinxed, such as by stating they definitely won’t get into a car accident…”

For the rest, click here.

And from HuffPost, here’s another piece that may interest you today: Friday The 13th – Why Is It Considered So Unlucky?

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From Nerdist,
Calling All Witches: Museum Needs Ancient Spells Translated
by Rosie Knight

“Do you love libraries? Have a penchant for casting spells? Particularly well versed in 17th century archaic Latin and English? Well the Chicago Newberry Library might have the perfect job for you!

Crowdsourcing for spells is probably one of the coolest techno-magic surprises that 2017 has bestowed upon us, and Christopher Fletcher, the project lead, says you don’t even have to be an expert to get involved. “[The initiative] is a great way to allow the general public to engage with these materials in a way that they probably wouldn’t have otherwise,” Fletcher told Smithsonian.com.

The three magical manuscripts are called The Book of Magical Charms, The Commonplace Book, and Cases of Conscience Concerning Witchcraft. You can explore them at the research library’s online  “Transcribing Faith” portal.

Thought to be composed by two anonymous witches in England in the 1600s, The Book of Magical Charms has spells for every occasion, whether it’s to cheat your friends out of some quick cash at a dice game, fix your painful period cramps or speak to your local spirit bud, this book has it all…”

For the rest, click here.