#leam empire

[babymagi]

Rewatching Magi and I have a thing about women's representation and I'm going through the tests right now and checking off the ones that Magi passes

Bechdel Test (Do 2 or more women have a conversation that's not about men): ✅ - Layla and Sasha and Morgiana all have conversations with each other not revolving around men - Morgiana talking to that one little girl and assuring her that she was going to save them from becoming slave - Etc I realize this is not a lot, this is just from the anime there's probably more in the manga but I don't remember, I mostly blame it on the fact that there just aren't as many female characters 😅

Sexy Lamp Test (Could a female character be replaced with a sexy lamp and the story be fairly unchanged): ✅ (passes bc it fails) - Morgiana plays several extremely important roles and the main characters wouldn't be where they are without her - Arba being one of the main villains in the story that impacts many other character's lives - Hakuei being our first introduction to full-body djinn equips - Scheherazade giving up her life in order to help the main characters defeat the medium in Magnostadt - Sheba creating and being able to save Aladdin during the destruction of Alma Torran - Etc

Tauriel Test (Is a female character good at her job): ✅ - Hakuei being a general and successfully uniting the Kouga clan with the Kou Empire - Kougyoku being Empress and uniting the Kou, Leam, and Kina kingdoms as well as generally being a successful ruler of a large country - Meyers being able to teach a class to be successful magicians - Scheherazade leading an entire Empire into being one of the biggest superpowers in the world - Yamraiha being an incredibly skilled magician capable of inventing magical items to store magoi -Etc

There's other tests but those are the main ones. Well-written women in media are so important and I'm really proud of Magi for being able to pass these tests multiple times, Ohtaka really writes some amazing girls :)

[pelpin]

Scheherazade From magi

[iwilldiewithmyship-blog]

If Sinbad's nickname is 'Sin', and he has 7 Djinn equips... would his people call him the Seven Deadly Sins...?

[mgg-theprettiestboy]

a cute mgg blurb about you guys flirting with each other, but both being too scared to make the first move

–

you couldn’t deny your attraction to matthew, just as much he couldn’t deny his attraction to you. but you were scared, insecure, that it was just one sided, and that matthew didn’t feel the same way. and once again, matthew felt the same way. neither of you wanted to be humiliated, and didn’t want to lose each other.

everyone always said how you two would look so good together. and there was nothing you enjoyed more than spending time with matthew. it felt like the entire universe was trying to push the two of you together, while you both tried to pull away.

your typical saturday night consisted of you watching old movies and having a drink, which matthew knew. so it was no surprise to you when he showed up at your apartment with a bottle of wine. he just did that sometimes.

“what are we watching tonight?” he asked, before groaning at seeing the star wars starting credits on the screen, “no, no way, not again.”

“hey, you're the one who's gatecrashing. shut up and open the wine,” you grinned, nudging his side as you went to sit on the sofa. he grumbled, going to open the bottle in the kitchen, before returning with the bottle and two glasses, sitting down beside you, “which one are we watching, then?”

“empire strikes back,” you smiled, “i'm a sucker for Han Solo.”

“oh, I know,” he teased you, handing you a glass before pouring some wine out for you, and then some for himself. he settled on the sofa, putting his arm on the back of the sofa behind you. you subconsciously leaned closer to him as you watched the movie, chatting and drinking between it.

soon enough, the movie ended, and you and Matthew were having a heated conversation about christmas movies.

“I stand by it; the grinch is the best movie,” he argued, and you scoffed, “wrong. ignorant, and wrong. its good, I will admit, but home alone is thee best, by far. runners up would be elf and the polar express.”

“the polar express? come on, seriously?” he said, sitting his glass down on the coffee table, “no, you’re just wrong. i know you’re more than a pretty face, i thought you were supposed to be smart, y/n.”

“i am. i’m smarter than you, gubler,” you narrowed your eyes at him, sitting your glass down beside his, as he scoffed, “but you’re wrong.”

“am not,” you huffed, “you’re just stubborn, and annoying, and I hate you.”

he gasped dramatically, “you- you take that back!”

“nope,” you folded your arms, as he glared playfully at you, leaning in closer, “take it back.”

the air shifted, and suddenly became more tense. it didn't feel like you two were just messing around anymore. still you were adamant to stand your ground, even if you felt breathless as he leaned in closer to your face, “never.”

“i recommend you take it back. last chance, y/n,” he said, his hand coming down on the sofa on the other side of you, effectively trapping you on the couch. you looked into his eyes, that seemed to be just a shade darker than usual, as you muttered, “make me.”

and just like that, his lips were against yours. finally. you both had only had one glass of wine each, so there was no way you could blame this on the alcohol. no, this was a long time coming. and clearly, matthew thought so too, considering he was kissing you like it was the last time he ever would. maybe thats what he was afraid of.

slowly, you began to kiss back just as passionately, as one of his hands moved to tangle in your hair, tugging softly as he deepened the kiss. it was so perfect, he was just the right balance of gentle and rough. he wasn't hurting you, and you could feel the love in the kiss, but my god, he was taking what he wanted and no one was going to interrupt.

he finally pulled back when he had to breath, when he felt like his chest was going to explode, but after a few beats to catching his breath, he leaned right back in and captured your lips with his again. he pulled you onto his lap to straddle him, as you both were completed absorbed in the kiss. 

your senses slowly came back to you, as you pulled back slightly. you smiled as matthew leaned forwards again to try reconnect your lips, so you leaned back further, laughing softly, “wait, wait a second.”

his brow furrowed as he pulled back to look at your face, his hands on your hips, “is-is this not okay?”

“this is more than okay,” you said quietly, moving to cup his cheek, “i just wanna know what this means to you.”

“everything,” he answered instantly, “i have wanted to do that for the longest time. let me kiss you again. let me take you on a date. let me make you the happiest woman on this earth.”

“well when you put it like that, how can i say no?” you teased him, making him grin, before you did as he asked, and kissed him again.

–

taglist: @slutforthegubes @pinkdiamond1016 @itsmyblogandillreblogifiwantto @fallinallinmendes @beyonces-breastmilk @spencerlikesapplejuice @pastathighs @gcblers @hushfakebitches @ijustcomeheretoread @thelovelyrose @leam-2001

[highqueenofelfhame]

“You come here often?” “Well, I work here. So I think I’d have to say ‘yes’.” Any pairing!

Without clients, there wasn’t much for Aelin to do. Today she had mostly open, and she had already sanitized her station about ten times for the morning and laid out the tools she would need for her next appointment. With nothing else to do, she wandered out of her piercing room and dropped into a chair next to Nox, who was prepping for a client that would walk in at any moment.

Nosy as ever, Aelin picked up the sheet with the tattoo sketch draw out. To her surprise, she was able to read the tattoo effortlessly. It was artistic in design, but it was a story written in a language nearly forgotten. Not by Aelin and her family, she herself had a tattoo in the same language. It just surprised her that anyone else around here would, too.

The story itself was one of pain, grief, and loss. It told a story that Aelin felt wasn’t for her eyes to see, so after reading bits and pieces she lay the picture back down before shifting her eyes to her friend and colleague to say, “Did you design that? It’s translated perfectly.”

“No, actually. The guy coming in did, and that’s only part of it. Today we’re doing his entire left arm. As much as he can take, anyway,” Nox told her, grabbing a bottle of black ink from the cabinet behind him.

Aelin hummed in response and made her way over to one of the couches that she instantly plopped down on, a sigh escaping her lips as her eyes fluttered shut. Two more hours until she had an appointment unless there was a walk-in, which she would be completely fine with. Until then, she would annoy Nox and his clients, wait for Aedion to come in for his, and bug Lysandra at the front desk until it was time for her to stab people with little needles.

In the back of her mind, she registered the door opening and closing, followed Nox greeting the man. Eyes still closed, all she could really judge was his voice which was absolutely lovely. He had the soft and subtle purr of a Wendlynite accent, his voice curling over some letters and gliding over others. Gods, she hoped that he was as hot as his voice. It would give her something nice to look at.

“Hey, Ace?” Nox half shouted across the wide open room. The leather of the couch hissed and groaned as she got to her feet, the soft thumping of her footsteps almost echoing through the space as she padded over to his station. “This is Rowan. He designed the tattoo you were admiring earlier.”

“Admiring?”

“I was surprised. It’s an interesting design but what got me was that it’s in the old language. Do you speak it?”

“An tug thu an seo gu tric?” Rowan asked her, and her brows rose. Do you come here often?

“Is e sin a tha thu a ‘dol leis?” That’s what you’re going with? Aelin cocked a brow at him and tilted her head ever so slightly. The man huffed a laugh and shook his head, clearly surprised that she was clearly fluent herself. Her pronunciations were perfect, her lips and tongue tumbling over the words with gracious ease. She had to admit, it sounded far better on his lips than hers. “I work here. So...yes.”

Rowan’s eyes fell shut as Nox wrapped the transfer paper over his skin and pulled it away to leave the purple sketch behind so he would know what to tattoo where. Judging by the look on his face, Rowan felt like an idiot. It made Aelin want to laugh.

“I didn’t think you’d be fluent. Or that you’d even know what it was that I said. Or that you’d have enough snark to call me out on it.”

“I’ve been nicknamed —“

“Fire-breathing bitch-queen.” Nox finished for her as she dropped into a low bow. Her co-worker was grinning as he lifted his tattoo gun and dipped the needles into the black ink. “Aelin is nothing but sass and snark.”

“An leigeadh tu leam do thoirt a-mach uaireigin?” The words fell from his lips like precious rubies that Aelin wanted to collect. She wanted him to whisper the old language against her skin while he worshiped her. Would she let him take her out sometime? Big possibility if it would end the way she desired.

“I’ll think about it.”

One of my friends used Scottish-Gaelic for the old language and i can’t remember which one of you it was, but i stole it. I used google translate so if anything isn’t right don’t come for me. Love youuuu

@musicmaam @starseternalnighttriumphant @myfeyrelady @mariamuses @westofmoon @empire-of-wildfire @nalgenewhore @schmlip-scribble immmmmm forgetting ppl I’m sorry

[kyogre-blue]

Magi, ep17

Man, the Balbadd arc is indeed kinda long. Something is always happening, but first we’re like “to the slums, to the palace, to the slums, to the palace,” over and over. And then Cassim comes in and the spiral down into “the situation is worst possible” goes on and on. 

Anyway, noting down what Netflix subs use for various names, terms and timeline items: 

Katarg, Leam (wtf), Partevia, Kou Empire

Saasa, Leila

Maurenian saber tigers

North Tian Shan Plateau (Nothing else in the series uses Chinese character readings, so this should really be Tenzan) 

herb-baked Eumera sea bream

in Balbadd: merchant Aljaris, nobleman Haldub

Cassim, Mariam, Anise

Fog Troop

Fan currency

Balkak (??), Sahbmad the Deputy King, Ahbmad the 23rd hing

Markkio the Banker, “Lord Moron” for Sinbad

Enshin, Entai (elephant), Engi, the three beastmen accompanying Kogyoku

Ka Kobun, Kogyoku

Alibaba was at the palace for 3 years before sneaking out and meeting Cassim. iirc he was on the road for 2 years, and since he’s 17 at the start, that means he was 12-13 when he entered the palace. SnB got this wrong with their second cameo of him. 

Mariam died a year after Alibaba went to the palace. 

Ocean rights, land concession contracts, trade authority, citizens’ human rights as collateral

Balbadd Citizens’ Human Right Transfer Treaty

King’s Candidate (lol) 

Interestingly, Sinbad says he captured a dungeon summoned by Judar without being invited, in response to whether he was guided by a magi. This is true for several of the dungeons for sure, and he might just not want get into the whole thing with Yunan. But it makes me wonder if it’s actually true that Yunan raised Baal’s dungeon. I can’t remember atm whether it was confirmed. If so, it’s very... provocational of him, to raise it on Reim’s border, right in Scheherazade’s backyard. 

subs: “Balbadd has had a close relationship with Sindria since three generations back!” me: ....lol what

The way Alibaba pushes on Kogyoku, no matter how ridiculous his requests, is really the same as his phone calls to Sinbad during the Kou economics very late in the story. I completely forgot that he was always like this. 

Kashgan, the desert city-state that transitioned to a republic

Balalark Kauza, Balalark Sei, Balalark Saika

Al Tharmen

[unwrathful]

you know that leam empire’s magi’s first chosen king? the general guy? I need more info abt him

[surejaya]

Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, Vol. 25

Download : Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, Vol. 25 More Book at: Zaqist Book

Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, Vol. 25 by Shinobu Ohtaka

An epic dungeon-busting adventure inspired by One Thousand and One Nights! The three nations of Sindria, Leam and the Kou Empire now ponder the story of Alma Tran as told by Aladdin. The tragedy of that fallen world has lessons for all, but disagreements among these powerful countries could mean tragedy might happen all over again! Then, shocking news arrives from the east—a new power is rising in the Kou Empire!

Download : Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, Vol. 25 More Book at: Zaqist Book

[babymagi]

I'm about the overanalyze the shit out of that statement I apologize in advance-

Talked a while ago about Magis being relatively smaller in size because of how they use their magic which is different than normal magicians so, yes, compared to someone like Sinbad or Kouen or most of the people in Leam actually, they will be smaller in size.

Gyokuen is still an active Magi because of Arba corruption so that obviously comes into play.

Now if we're just talking Gyokuen specifically and her genetics then we gotta look at the Kou Empire because if I'm correct and it is based on a Chinese Dynasty or some other Eastern Asian great power then, again, it makes sense that she's small compared to Judar, who was born in the Middle East, likely Saudi Arabia area, because of ancestry and genetics from those two places.

I think his hair and pants are giving him an advantage as well. Mans probably has the skinniest thighs.

Aside from all that I remember watching that scene and just being like "GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF HIM B I T C H D:<" It was late tho and everyone was asleep but if I could've screamed at the screen I would.

I love how Judar usually seems like a relatively slim character of average height but next to Gyokuen he's just... massive???

also, the fake smile screaming bloody murder. must've been so revolting to be touched by her like no ma'am.

[bookinghotelbg]

Empirical Schliemann

In speaking of the system by which this technique was developed in its early stages, I have used the word “empirical”, for it would seem to be an appropriate one. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as—“based or acting on observation and experiment rather than theory”; and that in this case seems exactly applicable.

One might perhaps alternatively use the phrase, “trial and error”; but in that case one would claim that such errors as there were, occurred in the early stages only and were soon corrected. For it is necessary to bear in mind the general situation in field archaeology at the end of the second decade of the present century. It was not possible in those days to leam how to excavate a mound from textbooks or university courses. One could profit to some extent from the mistakes made by one’s predecessors in the field, as far back as Schliemann or even Layard.

One could leam something from the meticulous reports of the German excavators at Babylon and Ashur, (strangely inarticulate as these were when any explanation of practical expedients was concerned). One could, in addition to the Germans, visit and see excavations which had been started since the first German War by British, French and American archaeologists, each with its own complement of improvised expedients.

American expeditions

There were the American expeditions, with their multiple card indexes and photographic kite balloons, often seeming to be involved in trying to apply a kind of prefabricated methodism under obstinately unsuitable circumstances: British expeditions, usually under subsidised and dependent on the popular interpretation of their finds to obtain funds for the continuation of their work and French missions, still curiously intransigent, inspired by Champollion but clinging to the methodical dogma evolved by de Morgan at Susa.

There was a limit to the amount one could leam from all these. Admittedly it was possible at some sites even for an inexperienced eye to see how the technical inadequacies of the actual digging could impair the logic of the excavator’s conclusions. But at others, little could be leamt at all, either about technique or about logic, since both the strategy and the purpose of the various operations seemed to be an esoteric mystery, whose understanding was the exclusive prerogative of the mind directing the excavations. The field staff were then mere acolytes, each with his appointed routine of practical duties.

[huytas]

Empirical Schliemann

In speaking of the system by which this technique was developed in its early stages, I have used the word “empirical”, for it would seem to be an appropriate one. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as—“based or acting on observation and experiment rather than theory”; and that in this case seems exactly applicable.

One might perhaps alternatively use the phrase, “trial and error”; but in that case one would claim that such errors as there were, occurred in the early stages only and were soon corrected. For it is necessary to bear in mind the general situation in field archaeology at the end of the second decade of the present century. It was not possible in those days to leam how to excavate a mound from textbooks or university courses. One could profit to some extent from the mistakes made by one’s predecessors in the field, as far back as Schliemann or even Layard.

One could leam something from the meticulous reports of the German excavators at Babylon and Ashur, (strangely inarticulate as these were when any explanation of practical expedients was concerned). One could, in addition to the Germans, visit and see excavations which had been started since the first German War by British, French and American archaeologists, each with its own complement of improvised expedients.

American expeditions

There were the American expeditions, with their multiple card indexes and photographic kite balloons, often seeming to be involved in trying to apply a kind of prefabricated methodism under obstinately unsuitable circumstances: British expeditions, usually under subsidised and dependent on the popular interpretation of their finds to obtain funds for the continuation of their work and French missions, still curiously intransigent, inspired by Champollion but clinging to the methodical dogma evolved by de Morgan at Susa.

There was a limit to the amount one could leam from all these. Admittedly it was possible at some sites even for an inexperienced eye to see how the technical inadequacies of the actual digging could impair the logic of the excavator’s conclusions. But at others, little could be leamt at all, either about technique or about logic, since both the strategy and the purpose of the various operations seemed to be an esoteric mystery, whose understanding was the exclusive prerogative of the mind directing the excavations. The field staff were then mere acolytes, each with his appointed routine of practical duties.

[babymagi]

Hello yes I would love to hear more about the queer coding in magi

Okay so *pulls out scroll*

We start with the obvious, Judar, enough said

Then we already talked about Ja'far possibly being gay or ace or both

And then actually I think Sinbad might be trans coded because he was supposed to be a woman in the first draft b4 Ohtaka was either told to change it by her editors or switched it up last minute

All Fanalis are polyamorous, it's a culture thing, whether they choose to act on this or not is up to them

Kouha

Homosexuality was much more common in ancient China than I think we're led to believe so whatever that means for the Ren siblings is entirely up for interpretation

There's trans people in Sindria, I think I remember an omake about that

There's no way in hell that Mira doesn't have side chicks

I don't like counting him but that one drag queen that captured Morgiana for a little while

Gay people were very normal in the Roman Empire bc yknow Apollo, and that will translate over to the Leam Empire at least I think it would

Don't even get me started on Orient. Yes, gay stuff was common in samurai bands during that time, doesn't always mean it was consensual unfortunately

But holy hell if everyone we've met so far in the obsidian eight isn't fruity aS FUCK

[travelsinn]

Empirical Schliemann

In speaking of the system by which this technique was developed in its early stages, I have used the word “empirical”, for it would seem to be an appropriate one. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as—“based or acting on observation and experiment rather than theory”; and that in this case seems exactly applicable.

One might perhaps alternatively use the phrase, “trial and error”; but in that case one would claim that such errors as there were, occurred in the early stages only and were soon corrected. For it is necessary to bear in mind the general situation in field archaeology at the end of the second decade of the present century. It was not possible in those days to leam how to excavate a mound from textbooks or university courses. One could profit to some extent from the mistakes made by one’s predecessors in the field, as far back as Schliemann or even Layard.

One could leam something from the meticulous reports of the German excavators at Babylon and Ashur, (strangely inarticulate as these were when any explanation of practical expedients was concerned). One could, in addition to the Germans, visit and see excavations which had been started since the first German War by British, French and American archaeologists, each with its own complement of improvised expedients.

American expeditions

There were the American expeditions, with their multiple card indexes and photographic kite balloons, often seeming to be involved in trying to apply a kind of prefabricated methodism under obstinately unsuitable circumstances: British expeditions, usually under subsidised and dependent on the popular interpretation of their finds to obtain funds for the continuation of their work and French missions, still curiously intransigent, inspired by Champollion but clinging to the methodical dogma evolved by de Morgan at Susa.

There was a limit to the amount one could leam from all these. Admittedly it was possible at some sites even for an inexperienced eye to see how the technical inadequacies of the actual digging could impair the logic of the excavator’s conclusions. But at others, little could be leamt at all, either about technique or about logic, since both the strategy and the purpose of the various operations seemed to be an esoteric mystery, whose understanding was the exclusive prerogative of the mind directing the excavations. The field staff were then mere acolytes, each with his appointed routine of practical duties.

[tripsofia]

Empirical Schliemann

In speaking of the system by which this technique was developed in its early stages, I have used the word “empirical”, for it would seem to be an appropriate one. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as—“based or acting on observation and experiment rather than theory”; and that in this case seems exactly applicable.

One might perhaps alternatively use the phrase, “trial and error”; but in that case one would claim that such errors as there were, occurred in the early stages only and were soon corrected. For it is necessary to bear in mind the general situation in field archaeology at the end of the second decade of the present century. It was not possible in those days to leam how to excavate a mound from textbooks or university courses. One could profit to some extent from the mistakes made by one’s predecessors in the field, as far back as Schliemann or even Layard.

One could leam something from the meticulous reports of the German excavators at Babylon and Ashur, (strangely inarticulate as these were when any explanation of practical expedients was concerned). One could, in addition to the Germans, visit and see excavations which had been started since the first German War by British, French and American archaeologists, each with its own complement of improvised expedients.

American expeditions

There were the American expeditions, with their multiple card indexes and photographic kite balloons, often seeming to be involved in trying to apply a kind of prefabricated methodism under obstinately unsuitable circumstances: British expeditions, usually under subsidised and dependent on the popular interpretation of their finds to obtain funds for the continuation of their work and French missions, still curiously intransigent, inspired by Champollion but clinging to the methodical dogma evolved by de Morgan at Susa.

There was a limit to the amount one could leam from all these. Admittedly it was possible at some sites even for an inexperienced eye to see how the technical inadequacies of the actual digging could impair the logic of the excavator’s conclusions. But at others, little could be leamt at all, either about technique or about logic, since both the strategy and the purpose of the various operations seemed to be an esoteric mystery, whose understanding was the exclusive prerogative of the mind directing the excavations. The field staff were then mere acolytes, each with his appointed routine of practical duties.

[bulgariasya]

Empirical Schliemann

In speaking of the system by which this technique was developed in its early stages, I have used the word “empirical”, for it would seem to be an appropriate one. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as—“based or acting on observation and experiment rather than theory”; and that in this case seems exactly applicable.

One might perhaps alternatively use the phrase, “trial and error”; but in that case one would claim that such errors as there were, occurred in the early stages only and were soon corrected. For it is necessary to bear in mind the general situation in field archaeology at the end of the second decade of the present century. It was not possible in those days to leam how to excavate a mound from textbooks or university courses. One could profit to some extent from the mistakes made by one’s predecessors in the field, as far back as Schliemann or even Layard.

One could leam something from the meticulous reports of the German excavators at Babylon and Ashur, (strangely inarticulate as these were when any explanation of practical expedients was concerned). One could, in addition to the Germans, visit and see excavations which had been started since the first German War by British, French and American archaeologists, each with its own complement of improvised expedients.

American expeditions

There were the American expeditions, with their multiple card indexes and photographic kite balloons, often seeming to be involved in trying to apply a kind of prefabricated methodism under obstinately unsuitable circumstances: British expeditions, usually under subsidised and dependent on the popular interpretation of their finds to obtain funds for the continuation of their work and French missions, still curiously intransigent, inspired by Champollion but clinging to the methodical dogma evolved by de Morgan at Susa.

There was a limit to the amount one could leam from all these. Admittedly it was possible at some sites even for an inexperienced eye to see how the technical inadequacies of the actual digging could impair the logic of the excavator’s conclusions. But at others, little could be leamt at all, either about technique or about logic, since both the strategy and the purpose of the various operations seemed to be an esoteric mystery, whose understanding was the exclusive prerogative of the mind directing the excavations. The field staff were then mere acolytes, each with his appointed routine of practical duties.

[travelinbulgaria]

Empirical Schliemann

In speaking of the system by which this technique was developed in its early stages, I have used the word “empirical”, for it would seem to be an appropriate one. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as—“based or acting on observation and experiment rather than theory”; and that in this case seems exactly applicable.

One might perhaps alternatively use the phrase, “trial and error”; but in that case one would claim that such errors as there were, occurred in the early stages only and were soon corrected. For it is necessary to bear in mind the general situation in field archaeology at the end of the second decade of the present century. It was not possible in those days to leam how to excavate a mound from textbooks or university courses. One could profit to some extent from the mistakes made by one’s predecessors in the field, as far back as Schliemann or even Layard.

One could leam something from the meticulous reports of the German excavators at Babylon and Ashur, (strangely inarticulate as these were when any explanation of practical expedients was concerned). One could, in addition to the Germans, visit and see excavations which had been started since the first German War by British, French and American archaeologists, each with its own complement of improvised expedients.

American expeditions

There were the American expeditions, with their multiple card indexes and photographic kite balloons, often seeming to be involved in trying to apply a kind of prefabricated methodism under obstinately unsuitable circumstances: British expeditions, usually under subsidised and dependent on the popular interpretation of their finds to obtain funds for the continuation of their work and French missions, still curiously intransigent, inspired by Champollion but clinging to the methodical dogma evolved by de Morgan at Susa.

There was a limit to the amount one could leam from all these. Admittedly it was possible at some sites even for an inexperienced eye to see how the technical inadequacies of the actual digging could impair the logic of the excavator’s conclusions. But at others, little could be leamt at all, either about technique or about logic, since both the strategy and the purpose of the various operations seemed to be an esoteric mystery, whose understanding was the exclusive prerogative of the mind directing the excavations. The field staff were then mere acolytes, each with his appointed routine of practical duties.