bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Re-dating the Fall of Sardis
Authors: Kokkinos Nikos
Published: February 2025

Claiming to be based on strong Greek tradition, the prevailing view that the Fall of Sardis to the Persians occurred in 546 BC lacks justification. An analysis of all the relevant fragments of ancient Greek chronography shows that while a date of 548 BC is found in the Latin version of Eusebius (the end result of centuries of number juggling), a much lower date was current in the earliest Hellenistic period when chronography began. This was based on a Lydian king list different from that in Herodotus, and evidently that used by the chronographer of the Parian Marble to set the Fall as low as 542/1 BC (or 541/0 BC). The origins of this list may ultimately go back to the Lydian historian Xanthus, an older contemporary of Herodotus. Moreover, alleged support for the standard date from the Nabonidus Chronicle has fallen through – a new reading of the damaged toponym in the entry for Year 9 (547/6 BC) reveals that Cyrus attacked ‘U[rartu]’ not ‘Ly[dia]’. Further, analysis of the Chronicle shows that the Fall of Sardis can only have taken place between 544/3 and 540/39. Given this, it would be unwise not to give credit to the date of the Parian chronographer as restored here.
New Greek Inscription from Byzantine Apollonia-Arsuf / Sozousa: A Reassessment of the εἶς θεὸς μόνος Inscriptions of Palestine
Authors: Roll Israel , Tal Oren
Published: February 2025

This article examines a Greek inscription of the Byzantine period set in a mosaic floor discovered during the 2006 season of excavations at the site in Area O, in the northern part of the Apollonia National Park, in proximity to the excavated areas of the site’s first digs held in 1950. It argues that the current εἷς θεὸς μόνος formula inscription reflects a Samaritan property that went out of use in the contexts of the edicts against the property rights of the Samaritans included in the Novellae enacted during the period of the Samaritan Rebellion (529 CE).
Notes philologiques et épigraphiques
Authors: Lifshitz Baruch
Published: February 2025

Notes philologiques et épigraphiques
Plutarch, Perikles 15.3
Authors: Weissert David
Published: February 2025

Plutarch, Perikles 15.3
Verfolgung der jüdischen Religion unter Hadrian: Zwischen Wirklichkeit und Martyrologie
Authors: Stemberger Günter
Published: February 2025

Most historians still accept the traditional position that in the years after the Bar Kokhba-revolt the Roman government prohibited most expressions of Jewish religious life, above all circumcision and Torah study, although some recent studies are much more cautious. Only the late Historia Augusta mentions a prohibition of circumcision in the context of the Bar Kokhba-revolt; but it is not clear whether this prohibition was the cause of the revolt or came after its suppression. All other texts used in the reconstruction of this persecution are rabbinic, becoming ever more detailed in later texts. No single early text explicitly connects such prohibitions with Hadrian. Jewish martyrology seems to have become a fashionable topic in later times. Without doubt, after the revolt the Romans reacted with repressive measures in Palestine, restricting the right of assembly which might have been understood as prohibition of public study of the Torah, and prohibiting the circumcision of non-Jews. In rabbinic memory this became an outright prohibition of Jewish religion; religious persecution soon became a topos of Jewish historiography, but only very little, if anything, can be based on historical sources.
Marius Speaks to the People: "New Man", Roman Nobility and Roman Political Culture
Authors: Yakobson Alexander
Published: February 2025

The paper examines a specimen of aggressive populist rhetoric produced by Sallust in Bellum Jugurthinum: Marius as consul 107 BCE addressing the people in a contio on the eve of his departure to Africa. He is said to have spoken in order ʻto encourage men to enlist and at the same time, according to his custom [at that time], to bait the nobility (Sall. Jug. 84.5). How could the Roman nobility be successfully baited by a homo novus like Marius in a speech before the people, whose usual attitude to nobility is usually assumed to have been deferential? The system’s legitimacy and stability is often assumed to have rested on this deference, as a crucial element of a political culture that emphasized tradition, order and hierarchy. The passage shows how it was, nevertheless, sometimes possible to launch an effective attack on the nobility within the same political culture, using notions and motifs that enjoyed wide and traditional legitimacy. There was more to the Republican political culture than deference to hierarchy, and this deference itself was a double-edged sword when the nobility was baited by an elected official – all the more so, by a Roman consul.
Seleukos I and the Origin of the Seleukid Dynastic Ideology
Authors: Nawotka Krzysztof
Published: February 2025

The origin of the idea of a particular protection of Apollo which was a basic tenet of the early-Seleukid ideology can be traced to the reign of Seleukos I. It was not derived from Seleukos' personal piety whose preference was for Zeus. Anchoring his rule in Babylon and in the whole empire in the spurious testament of Alexander the Great was another tenet of the early Seleukid ideology. After 300 B.C. Apollo’s portrait and attributes appear on Seleukos’ coins, while an epigraphic dossier from Didyma controlled by Miletus, attests to Seleukid largess for Apollo’s temple. Inscriptions from Didyma show Milesian Demodamas instrumental in honouring the members of the house of Seleukos by the people of Miletus on account of their services to Milesian soldiers, ambassadors and to the shrine of Apollo of Didyma. Demodamas was a Seleukid general known to have erected altars to Apollo of Didyma while campaigning beyond the Jaxartes. It was Demodamas who successfully promoted cult of Apollo at the court of Seleukos I giving origin to the idea of Apollo's protection of the house of Seleukos as the constituent part of the Seleukid ideology and to the legend of Apollo of Didyma fathering Seleukos.
Euripides Helen 375-85 and Sophocles Electra 150-2 as ‘Mythological Hyperboles’
Authors: Davies Malcolm
Published: February 2025

The late Netta Zagagi's interpretation of this passage as constituting a "mythological hyperbole" is bolstered on stylistic grounds (as is Diggle's confirmatory but independently advanced emendation of v. 377), and the interpretation is shown to exclude a more recent reading of the stanza which distracts from the mythological hyperbole's effect.
Third or the Fourth? Which of the Two Ptolemaic Kings Visited Jerusalem?
Authors: Orian Matan
Published: February 2025

Scholars are divided on the reliability of the report by Josephus, in Against Apion, of a visit by King Ptolemy III to Jerusalem. This paper suggests, firstly, that in all likelihood Ptolemy III did not visit Jerusalem during the Third Syrian War, and secondly, that Josephus’ report echoes King Ptolemy IV’s visit to Jerusalem following the battle of Raphia, as paralleled in III Maccabees. This would make Josephus’ Against Apion parallel the two acmes of III Maccabees, namely, this visit and the elephant story.
Ethnarchentitel des Simon (Makkabaios) und die Verleihung der Souveränität durch Antiochos VII. Sidetes
Authors: Coşkun Altay
Published: February 2025

A systematic enquiry into the oldest occurrences of the titel ‘ethnarch’ has yielded the result that the two first instances, Jos. ant. Jud. 13.6.7 (on 142 BCE) and 1Macc 14.47 (on 140 BCE) are anachronistic. This does not justify, however, the conclusion that the next known instances, 1Macc 15.1-2 (on 138 BCE) are likewise not authentic, and that the title was first introduced under John Hyrkanos II, as is now a widespread belief. The attestation of ‘ethnarch’ in Antiochos VII’s letter to Simon is rather entirely plausible. After the Parthians had captured his brother Demetrios II, and while the usurper Diodotos Tryphon was holding large parts of Syria, Antiochos was ready to make substantial concessions to gain the support of the Judaeans, including their full immunity and liberty. This view is not contradicted by the fact that the king showed himself less generous after defeating Tryphon, when he refused to accept some of Simon’s conquests. At any rate, Simon and after him John Hyrkanos I bore the titel ‘ethnarch’ besides that of the ‘great priest’ (hiereus megas), which is often rendered as ‘high priest’ (archiereus) in the Graeco-Roman context. The rank of ethnarch did not imply any limitation of sovereignty, but rather reflects hesitation as regards kingship among the Jews. Only after the end of Hasmonaean kingship, if not after the death of Herod the Great, ‘ethnarchy’ gained a connotation of second-class rule.
Echo der Katastrophe: Die Resonanzen der Niederlage Athens in Flavius Josephus’ Bellum Judaicum
Authors: Pothou Vassiliki
Published: February 2025

Two wars, two defeats, two historians: what traces did Thucydides’ Peloponnesian War leave on Flavius Josephus’ Bellum Judaicum? ‘Quid ergo Athenis et Hierosolymis?’ Josephus tried to use certain elements of Thucydidean style, although with a great deal of flexibility. Great war disasters were a topos the two historians had in common; Josephus was overall a historian of disasters. The defeat of Athens deeply influenced the Jewish historian as the exemplary representation of a disaster. At the same time, Josephus’ relation to his predecessor lacks clearly discernable contours. Our lack of certainty in this regard perhaps points to his method and perhaps also to his deficient critical acumen.
The article examines some of Josephus’ references to Thucydides. In respect to the arrival of the news that the Sicilian expedition had been destroyed and that Jotapata had been conquered, Josephus and Thucydides display similarities of presentation. In both historians the scenes in which the news of the disaster are brought divide into two phases. First, the public reacts with mistrust in respect to the announcement of disaster. Since the news of a catastrophe could traumatize those who receive it, public mistrust in the far away homeland was a symptom of their extreme shock. The geographical distance between the battle front and those who received the news played an important role in this response. The criterion of eyewitness (Autopsia) was a decisive aspect of the reliability of the demoralising message.
The deadly news provoked anger and panic. The result was the suppression of the true causes of the defeat by means of speculation. People looked for the possible causes of the spectacular panolethria. They blamed priests, soothsayers or false prophets because of the incomprehensible character of the disaster. In this regard the two historians differ: Thucydides emphasizes the collective, whereas Josephus brings forward the grief of individuals.
Josephus therefore used some elements of Thucydides’ description of the Sicilian disaster as a point of reference for his own depictions of military disasters. However, his descriptions often differ from his example, since his work had other goals and attitudes like accomodation of Roman propaganda. For this reason, the defeat of Athens finds recognizable echoes in his work, but has no exact mirror image.
Modal Substitution in Koine Greek: The Gospels of Mark and Luke
Authors: Redondo Jordi
Published: February 2025

This paper continues our former research on the Greek Koine from a diachronic perspective. Our main goal deals with the use of the subjunctive and optative moods both in main and in subordinate clauses. The direct corpus of our analysis consists of the Gospels of Luke and Mark, as they represent a more literary (Luke) and a rather non-literary Greek Koine (Mark). Other contemporary texts, including non-literary evidences, are also used as a reference in order to establish the extent of some tendencies. The results obtained contribute to the understanding of the decline of the subjunctive and optative moods.
Marcus Antonius’ Funeral Oration for Iulius Caesar: Fragments and Testimonies in Classical Literature: Modes of Citation and Representation
Authors: Shoval-Dudai Nurit
Published: February 2025

Marcus Antonius' lost works serve as instructive case studies to review ancient citing practices. His eulogy in honour of Iulius Caesar, the exchange of political invective with Cicero, and the war of propaganda against Octavian, illustrate different modes of reported speech or text. These works, which reflect the political strife of the late Roman Republic, enable us to reveal specific characteristics of testimonies and fragments.The importance of literary remains for the study of the ancient world has long been acknowledged by classical scholars. Nevertheless, the practice of collecting fragments and testimonies still lacks systematic theorization. This study aims to provide a comprehensive discussion of fragments and testimonies and classify them into their different types.
Where Were the Romans and What Did They Know? Military and Intelligence Networks as a Probable Factor in Jesus of Nazareth’s Fate
Authors: Bermejo-Rubio Fernando , Zeichmann Christopher B.
Published: February 2025

In the wake of the Gospels’ accounts, modern scholars do not pay much attention to the role Romans played in Jesus of Nazareth’s arrest, and are prone to give credit to manifestly biased sources. Besides, some misconceptions (e.g. that the military in pre-War Judaea was exclusively confined to its largest cities) prevent them from seriously weighing up the possibility that the role of the Romans in Jesus’ fate was more decisive than usually recognized. In this article, we reconsider a number of issues in order to shed light on this murky topic. First, the nature and functions of the Roman military in Judaea are surveyed (for instance, Palestine before the Jewish War had a robust network of fortlets and fortresses, which Benjamin Isaac has argued largely served to facilitate communication into the hinterlands). Second, we track some traces of anti-Roman resistance in the prefects’ period (6-41 CE), Third, the widely overlooked issue of the intelligence sources available to Roman governors is tackled. Fourth, the extent of the problems of the Passion accounts is seriously taken into account. The insights obtained are then applied to the Gospels’ story, thereby rendering it likely that Pilate had some degree of “intelligence” regarding Jesus and his followers before their encounter in Jerusalem that led to the collective execution at Golgotha.
Latin Inscriptions of the Legio VI Ferrata from Legio / Lajjun and its Vicinity
Authors: Eck Werner , Tepper Yotam
Published: February 2025

Although only fragments of new Latin inscriptions were found in and around the legionary base of Legio they are more or less representative of the life of a Roman legion as far as it was voiced by inscriptions — here in the province of Syria Palaestina as in other provinces. Some of the inscriptions were found inside the legionary base, others in different places in the vicinity outside the military base. We can suppose that these sites were connected with the legion, perhaps even organized and managed by the legionaries and maybe even “families” of the soldiers at the nearby civilian Jewish-Samaritan village of Kefar ʻOthnay. That two of the inscriptions are dedications to deities of the Roman pantheon is not surprising. Most military people were aware that their life needed the protection of the gods, maybe even more than the life of civilians.
Byzantine Tombstone from Tel Bet Yeraḥ/Khirbat al-Karak (Israel)
Authors: Ashkenazi Jacob , Aviam Mordechai , Greenberg Raphael , Tal Oren
Published: February 2025

A tombstone of the Byzantine period (fifth-sixth centuries CE) was discovered during recent conservation work in the bathhouse of the Early Islamic palace of al-Ṣinnabra at Tel Bet Yeraḥ/Khirbat al-Karak in the Jordan Valley. The stone appears to identify a functionary, possibly of the adjacent church excavated by Delougaz and Haines in 1952-53. We discuss the status of the church and possible significance of the reuse of the stone in the bathhouse floor.
Gems in Ancient Rome: Pliny’s Vision
Authors: González Jordi Pérez
Published: February 2025

Greco-Roman culture classified a great variety of gems. Authors such as Theophrastus, Plutarch and Pliny the Elder dealt with the subject. To know which gems were most highly valued in ancient Rome, it is essential to consult book 37 of Pliny the Elder. Book 37 of Pliny’s Natural History is one of the few accounts on precious stones, gems and amber that collects information from various sources of antiquity, which in many cases have survived only thanks to Pliny’s transcription. He catalogued the most prestigious gems, and discussed their origin, their exploitation techniques, their properties and their etymology. This corpus collects a total of 240 different variants of gems, of which, in 93 cases, its place of origin is known. In order to know to what extent the words of Pliny reflect the reality of the Roman market, we have analyzed as examples ten catalogs of modern collections of gems from various places and compared them with Pliny’s comments. This analysis confirms the fact that the urban Roman elites valued precious stones extracted from the territories beyond the Roman Empire, especially those of the East. The ten catalogues contain more than 4000 different gems and glasses. It compares the information in Pliny’s book on gems with ten current catalogs of various museums, adding more than 4000 analyzed copies. Both of these sources similar results and therefore confirms the interest of the Romans for these productions.
Drunkenness and Philosophical Enthusiasm in Seneca’s De Tranquillitate Animi
Authors: Anagnostou-Laoutides Eva , Van Wassenhove Bart
Published: February 2025

The paper revisits Seneca‘s endorsement of wine-drinking as a remedy for mental anxiety in De Tranquillitate Animi (17.4-12). Although the locus has been often interpreted as Seneca‘s endorsement of Platonic enthusiasm, we argue that Seneca does not deviate from the Stoic rejection of drunkenness (e.g. Ep. 83.9). Furthermore, a close reading of Platonic texts suggests that Plato opposed physical drunkenness as much as the Stoics. According to Plato, the philosopher may appear but can never be drunk, a notion especially explored in the Symposium (e.g. 220a). In his footsteps, Seneca, appreciates the correct use of wine as a means of inducing or maintaining a higher state of consciousness, a state of hyper-reality that is crucial for achieving philosophical breakthroughs. Seneca‘s De Otio offers additional evidence towards this understanding of the role of wine in achieving philosophical enthusiasm.
Time and Time-Before-Time: An Ancient Puzzle
Authors: Delle Donne Carlo
Published: February 2025

If time began, had a “time-before-time” ever existed? What kind of time could it be? Seneca (Ep. Mor. 88.33) considered this question as one of utmost importance, as far as the the concept of time was concerned: “discendum est [...] an aliquid ante tempus sit sine tempore; cum mundo coeperit an etiam ante mundum quia fuerit aliquid, fuerit et tempus”. In ancient times, this topic had to be debated, although our knowledge is unfortunately meagre. The discussion is likely to have been raised on cosmological grounds. A passage of text by Proclus (In Tim. 1.277.1 ss.) is worth examinig. There, both Atticus and Plutarch are told to have defined the “pre-cosmic time” as “the number of the disordered movement which existed before the birth of the world”. Such a definition seems to derive from the following theoretical assumptions. 1) Both of them proposed a “temporal” interpretation for the Timaeus‟ cosmogony: therefore, there should have been a time when the demiurge ordered the pre-cosmic matter and its movement, 2) thus making cosmic time begin. 3) Nevertheless, the two believed that any movement had to imply time somehow; but there had been a pre-cosmic movement, so there should have been a “pre-cosmic time”. Now, we are presented with two possibilities as to how to think of such a time. For the Epicurean Velleius (Cic.Nat.deor.1.21), time-before-time nulla circumscriptio temporum metiebatur, spatio tamen qualis ea fuerit intellegi potest. This aeternitas needs to be deemed as a spatium because the pre-cosmic time is not unidirectional. Instead, Plutarch (VIII PQ, 1007c) describes the pre-cosmic movement as “a kind of amorphous and indefinite matter ιε of time”. Thus, time-before-time turns out to be a potential reality in so far as it is numerically disordered.
Some Comments on Thucydides 1.20-23
Authors: Golan David
Published: February 2025

Some Comments on Thucydides 1.20-23
ἐκπίπτω vs. ἐκβάλλομαι in Euripides’ Medea
Authors: Meridor Ra'anana
Published: February 2025

This article investigates the careful, distinctive use of the passive forms of ἐκβάλλω versus the use of intransitive active forms of ἐκπίπτω in Euripides’ Medea, when referring to Medea’s banishment. The use of the passive verb implies an agent, while the intranstive active does not.
Caesarea: before and after the Corpus of Inscriptions (CIIP)
Authors: Isaac Benjamin
Published: February 2025

This paper briefly asses the information provided by the inscriptions from Caesarea, brought together in the Corpus Inscriptionum. On matters concerning the social history of the city, the various elements of the population and language use they tend to confirm the impression created by the inscriptions from other, comparable cities in the Roman Near East. Latin was present, but far from dominant. It was used for a variety of reasons, by those associated with the provincial government, the army and the city magistrature. There is no evidence that Latin was widely spoken in daily life by the population at large.
Greek Inscription and Architectural Fragments, Possibly of a Synagogue, from Sejara (Ilaniya)
Authors: Price Jonathan , Aviam Mordechai
Published: February 2025

An unexcavated ancient building in the ruins of the Arab village of Sejara is tentatively identified as a synagogue from the Roman or Late Roman period. This suggestion is based on architectural fragments found on the site, in the modern village Ilaniya and at a nearby moshav, as well as an inscription in secondary use photographed in the 1920s. The surviving portion of the dedicatory text seems to mention two women with Latin names, Lucilla and Sacerdotilla, the second being quite rare.
Bar-Kokhban Seals from Ḥorbat Yatir
Authors: Vainstub Daniel , Fabian Peter
Published: February 2025

Excavations carried out in a fortress in the northern Negev dated to the period of the Bar-Kokhba Revolt against the Romans (132–135 C.E.) uncovered locally made stone seals and related objects used by the rebel authorities of the place, which possibly functioned as an administrative center for the preparation of special fabrics.
A round seal bears a Paleo-Hebrew inscription forming a date, while a rectangular seal bears a Paleo-Hebrew inscription related to the spinning of yarn. A stone with a flattened surface was used to practice the engraving of mirrored Paleo-Hebrew and Jewish letters on seals. Another seal bears indecipherable scribbles, and a fifth object bears geometric designs.
The Paleo-Hebrew inscriptions on the seals are hitherto the only known exemplars, apart from the Bar-Kokhban coins and two unprovenanced lead weights, of inscriptions in this script related to the Bar-Kokhban administration.
Décret Mégarien
Authors: Bar-Hen Elie
Published: February 2025

Le Décret Mégarien
Pausanias and the Ephorate
Authors: Schieber André Shimon
Published: February 2025

Pausanias and the Ephorate
COMMENTO A PLUTARCO: Agide, 6, 1-2
Authors: Campagnano Di Segni L.
Published: February 2025

In describing the attempt of the Spartan king Agis to restore the way of life dictated to Sparta by Lycurgus, Plutarch uses the term eleutheria (freedom) neither in its normal political sense nor in the socio-economic sense attested in the Siceliot society, but in a particular meaning adapted to the Spartiate elite, in which it is connected with the concept of areté (virtue). Eleutheria is the total adhesion to the ethos and the lifestyle of the Lycurgan kosmos, so to realize the areté of the Spartiates, consisting of war ardor, forbearance, sophrosyne, practice of the noble activities and abstention from the vulgar ones. Restoration of economic equality through the recovery of ownership of the kleros was instrumental in the renovation of the Spartan areté and eleutheria.
Cassius Dio on the Revolt of Bar Kokhba
Authors: Isaac Benjamin
Published: February 2025

This paper assesses the value of Cassius Dio’s description of the Bar Kokhba revolt in the abbreviated form available.  Dio’s brief account clearly brings out the distinctive nature of this war as compared with various other provincial revolts in the first and second centuries.  This reinforces the impression that this is a reliable source of information.
Klearchos in Xenophon’s Anabasis
Authors: Roisman Joseph
Published: February 2025

Scholars have largely ignored the differences between Xenephon’s character sketch of the Spartan leader Klearchos in the Anabasis 2.76.1-15, and his description of the general elsewhere in the work. The paper traces the career of Klearchos and the nature of his leadership as described in the Anabasis. It also examines to what extent the character sketch of Klearchos corresponds to, complements, or contradicts his portrayal in the rest of his narrative, and why.
Form and Content in Jewish-Hellenistic Historiography
Authors: Geiger Joseph
Published: February 2025

Were Jewish historians who wrote Greek historians no different from other Greek historians but in their descent and in the contents of their works, or were they Jewish historians who resorted to Greek rather than to one of the Jewish languages because of the specific historical circumstances of their times? It is a well-known characteristic of ancient literature that it was divided into a number of genres. The literary genre and the way it defines works may serve to guide us in investigating the scattered remains of some works of Jewish historians who wrote in Greek. Once a Jewish author writing in Greek made up his mind to write a book, inevitably he had to make a decision as to the genre to which his work was to belong. His decision would influence the structure and contents of the work. Moreover, since the requirements of Greek literary genres did not correspond to the requirements of biblical and post-biblical Hebrew and Aramaic literature, a Jewish writer could not compose a Greek work whose essential characteristics were those of Hebrew literature. The inevitable discrepancy between the Greek form and Jewish contents is a phenomenon that was to characterize much of Jewish Hellenistic literature.  Thus a rift was created in Jewish literature, most easily demonstrated by the differences between I Maccabees and II Maccabees: the former a Hebrew or Aramaic work, by chance preserved only in Greek translation, written by a conscious adherent to biblical historiography; the latter a Greek work, though one that displays the ideals and beliefs of contemporary Judaism. The extent of Greek influence on the various aspects of Jewish life and literature can be estimated only by means of detailed investigations of specific issues. This survey of certain points of Jewish Hellenistic historiography strongly supports the view that the influence of Greek literary forms on Jewish writings was great indeed.
From the Indus Valley civilization to British rule: Examining the evolution of governance of the Punjab and its contemporary implications
Authors: Sharoon Osama , Mustafa Dr. Ghulam , Shahrukh Muhammad
Published: February 2025

This research envisions the analytical discourse on the history of development and evolution of the Punjab Governance. Historically, the Indus Valley Civilization incepted the governance machinery in the Punjab that was subsequently developed by various indigenous and foreign powers. The qualitative data, collected through the Historical Research Methodology and analyzed by the tools of Chronological Mapping, unearthed the findings that the governance systems in the Punjab, developed by multiple powers, witnessed unprecedentedly meteoric development in the British Imperial Age. However, Punjab Governance, after the creation of Pakistan remained strangled under the shadow of stagnancy and inefficiency, putting the spanner in the wheels of this evolution. Ipso facto, to resuscitate the spirit of evolution and development of Punjab Governance, in order to meet modern standards, this research recommends the adherence to Data Science, the application of the City Governance Model, the utilization of the Pyramid Solution and the liberation of the Executive from politics.
Exploration of Strategies for Energy-Efficient Design in Architectural Planning Under the Concept of Green Buildings
Authors: Liu Qi , Shukor Rina Abdul , Jiang Yanan
Published: February 2025

The application of green energy-saving technology in building construction is becoming more and more widespread, and this trend not only responds to the tide of global sustainable development, but also meets the urgent needs of modern society for the environment and energy. With the rapid development of the construction industry, the problems of energy consumption and environmental pollution have become more and more prominent, and the introduction of green energy-saving technologies has become an inevitable choice. The application of technologies such as efficient energy-saving materials, renewable energy systems, intelligent construction management and resource recycling has greatly enhanced the environmental friendliness and economy of building construction. However, the promotion of these technologies still faces many challenges and requires joint efforts from both inside and outside the industry to realize a truly green transformation.
DEVELOPMENT OF A HARVEST INFORMATION CIRCULATION WEBSITE AT THE RICE AND PALAWIJA SEED CENTER UPTD
Authors: Achmad Rifai  , Agie Nugraha Pratama  , Tami Handayani
Published: February 2025

Currently, the lack of an information system (website) for harvest data makes it difficult for staff at the UPTD Rice and Palawija Seed Center (B2P2) to manage and report rice harvests from B2P2-owned land. This management and reporting are still carried out manually, so this study aims to facilitate data management and reporting of harvest results, expand access to land area data, target rice contribution data, and harvester information. This research employs the Extreme Programming system development method. Extreme Programming is a Software Engineering model that uses an object-oriented approach. The application development for the rice harvest information system utilizes the CodeIgniter framework to ensure a well-structured system; CodeIgniter is a framework based on PHP and MySQL databases. The study results in a website for planning, reporting, and data management of harvests at the UPTD Rice and Palawija Seed Center, assisting in data retrieval and demonstrating proven reliability.
The right of access to personal data: A genealogy
Authors: Mahieu René
Published: February 2025

In this paper, I analyze several traditions of data protection to uncover the theoretical justification they provide for the right of access to personal data. Contrary to what is argued in most recent literature, I do not find support for the claim that the right follows from the German tradition of “informational self-determination” or Westin’s idea of “privacy as control”. Instead, there are two other less known theories of data protection which do offer a direct justification for the right of access. First, American scholars Westin and Baker developed the “due process” view according to which access helps to expose error and bias in decision-making, thereby contributing to correct decisions and allowing the people who are affected to be involved in the decision making. Second, in what I call the “power reversal” view of access, Italian legal scholar Rodotà argues that, in particular when seen from a collective point of view, the right enables social control over the processing of personal data and serves as a counterbalance to the centers of power by placing them under the control of democratic accountability.
Talking at Cross Purposes?
Authors: Di Porto Fabiana , Grote Tatjana , Volpi Gabriele , Invernizzi Riccardo
Published: February 2025

Since the opaqueness of algorithms used for rankings, recommender systems, personalized advertisements, and content moderation on online platforms opens the door to discriminatory and anti-competitive behavior, increasing transparency has become a key objective of EU lawmakers.
In the latest Commission proposals, the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act, transparency obligations for online intermediaries, platforms and ‘gatekeepers’ figure prominently. This paper investigates whether key concepts of competition law and transparency on digital markets are used in the same way by different stakeholders. Leveraging the power of computational text analysis, we find significant differences in the employment of terms like ‘gatekeepers’, ‘simple’, and ‘precise’ in the position papers that informed the drafting of the two latest Commission proposals. This finding is not only informative for the Commission and legal scholars, it might also affect the effectiveness of transparency duties, for which it is often simply assumed that phrases like ‘precise information’ are understood the same way by those implementing said obligations. Hence, it may explain why they fail so often to reach their goal. We conclude by sketching out how different computational text analysis tools, like topic modeling, sentiment analysis and text similarity, could be combined to provide many helpful insights for both rulemakers and the legal scholarship.
Empowering Vulnerability
Authors: Beck Malou
Published: February 2025

In recent years, critiques of the ‘vulnerability’ label ascribed to specific population groups have gained momentum due to its stigmatising effects. With Martha Fineman at their forefront, these voices contest that vulnerability is not limited to particular groups but universal and inherent to being human. However, operationalizing this universal conception of vulnerability poses challenges and risks, potentially leading to the inadequate protection of groups disproportionately susceptible to harm. This paper discusses the dilemma between universal and particular vulnerability paradigms, focusing on persons with disabilities within the context of digital government. Particular vulnerabilities in this context are mirrored in the digital disability divide, systemic ableism, and public service dependencies. Drawing from legal feminist, socio-legal, and disability scholarship, this paper suggests that a ‘social model approach to vulnerability’ would reconcile vulnerability perspectives and allow for a particular vulnerability approach in digital government without perpetuating stigma. Inspired by the ‘social model of disability’, this vulnerability paradigm emphasises that external factors, such as structural disadvantage and unequal power and opportunity dynamics are the primary causes of vulnerability. This shifts the focus from individual characteristics to systemic accountability.
Legality and Democratic Deliberation in Black Box Policing
Authors: Naarttijärvi Markus
Published: February 2025

The injection of emerging technologies into policing implies that policing mandates in law may become mediated and applied through opaque machine learning algorithms, artificial intelligence, or surveillance tools – contributing to a form of ‘black box policing’ challenging foreseeability and clarity and expanding discretionary legal spaces. In this paper, this issue is explored from a constitutional and rule of law perspective, using the requirements of qualitative legality elaborated by the European Court of Human Rights and the implicit democratic values that they serve. Placing this concept of legality into a wider theoretical framework allows legality to be translated into a context of emerging technology to maintain the connections between rule of law, democracy, and individual autonomy.
Exploring the Representation of the Taliban in Pakistani and American English Newspapers through Corpus Approaches
Authors: Amin Tariq , Tehseen Zahra  , Wasima Shehzad
Published: February 2025

The present study investigated the representation of the Taliban in Pakistani and American English newspapers by exploring the collocations, collocation networks, and concordance. The study used mixed-methods approach. The data were collected from two Pakistani English Newspapers, the DAWN and the News International, and two American English Newspapers, USA Today and the New York Times. A corpus comprising 136,721 tokens was compiled from the news articles section of the selected newspapers. The data were analysed by using LancsBox 6.0 and AntConc-4. LancsBox was used for analysing the collocation and collocation networks of the Taliban, and AntConc for exploiting the concordance of the Taliban. Fairclough’s (1992) three-dimensional model was used to interpret the results provided by the software. The study found that Pakistani English Newspapers use positive words, such as brave, expert, and powerful, as collocates with the Taliban. On the contrary, American English Newspapers use negative words, such as brutal, bloody, and terrorists, as collocate with the Taliban. The study concluded that Pakistani English newspapers positively represent the Taliban and American English newspapers negatively represent the Taliban.
Evaluating the Outcomes of Digital Technologies on Translation Quality: A Comparative Analysis of Machine Translation VS. Human Translation
Authors: Ameer Nawaz  , Saqib Sheeraz  , Syeda Malika Zahra
Published: February 2025

This paper compares machine translation (MT) and human translation (HT) and assess them in terms of their accuracy, cultural nuances sensitivity, time and cost efficiency. Its objective is to draw a demarcation in the respective areas of application of each method in the translation procedure and investigate how they can be used in combination. As NMT technology has considerably improved linguistic accuracy in machine translation but on the other hand human translation still remains unmatched in many aspects of the translation task. This study demonstrates their effectiveness and addresses the question of the possibility of using both strategies within the scope of professional translation.
Marginalizing Authenticity: A Critical Review of Nadeem Aslam’s The Golden Legend (2017)
Authors: Noreen Shah  , Muhammad Hussain Damsaz  , Asad Khan  , Wahid Rahim
Published: February 2025

This research article critiques Nadeem Aslam’s novel The Golden Legend (2017) within the framework of Edward Said’s and Hamid Dabashi’s concepts of the intellectual comprador. The analysis interrogates Aslam’s portrayal of Pakistani society, arguing that the novel caters to Western audiences by reinforcing stereotypes of religious intolerance, communal violence, and systemic oppression. While the narrative claims to highlight the plight of marginalized communities and minorities, this study contends that it perpetuates a reductive and sensationalized image of Pakistan, aligning with Western hegemonic discourses. The paper examines Aslam’s use of symbolism, inter-textuality, and evocative storytelling to construct a narrative that is deeply entangled with orientalist tropes. By analyzing the intersections of religion, politics, and identity in the novel, the research critiques the ways in which Aslam’s work may inadvertently serve as a vehicle for Western cultural and ideological domination. This article argues that The Golden Legend exemplifies the role of the intellectual comprador in postcolonial literature, as it conforms to Western expectations of representing the ‘other’ while marginalizing authentic, multifaceted depictions of Pakistani society. Through this critique, the research contributes to broader debates on the responsibilities of postcolonial writers and the impact of their narratives on global perceptions of the societies they depict.
Error Analysis of 10th Grade Students' Writing: A Case Study of Little Scholar Public Students Lower Swat
Authors: Muhammad Almgir  , Ghulam Abbas Balti  , Altaf Hussain
Published: February 2025

The aim of this paper is to analyze the errors of class 10th students at Little Scholars Public School Kuza Bandai KPK district Swat. This area of the study analyzes the errors of the students in English as a second language, such as sentence structure, subject and verb agreement, punctuation, lexical and functional categories.  It gives the quantification of the students’ errors and their number. It was found that errors occur in a second language due to the interference of first language. On the contrary, errors in the target language also occur due to second language influence. Errors in second language occur due to the following factors: simplification, over-generalization, hyper-correction and faulty teaching. Finally, six lessons have been prepared to provide a solution to the errors of the students.
The Critical Discourse Analysis of Power Dynamics and Hidden Ideologies in Mohsin Hamid’s Novel “MOTH SMOKE”
Authors: Usama Khadim  , Dr. Humaira Irfan
Published: February 2025

The magnum opus novel "Moth Smoke" by Mohsin Hamid features a compelling and thought-provoking narrative. It captivates readers with its unreserved honesty and accurate portrayal of the human condition. Hamid creates a world that is both familiar and strange, transporting readers into the lives of individuals battling with love, power, and morality. The purpose of this research is to investigate the novel's text to uncover societal depictions and hidden ideologies that run throughout the story. Using passages from the novel as examples, the research aims to highlight how language simultaneously maintains and challenges established gender standards, giving insights into the complexities of gender representation in literature. This study looks at gender roles, language usage, and identity crises to see how linguistic choices support or contradict existing narrative norms. Furthermore, by evaluating how characters use language to subvert society norms, the study shows the novel's multidimensional gender portrayal. This study took a rigorous qualitative approach, collecting data through attentive reading and in-depth examination of the text. Using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as a lens, the study investigates the characters' identity crises, stressing the psychological hurdles that people face when balancing their own goals and societal expectations. The analysis is theoretically supported by Norman Fairclough's Three-Dimensional Framework, which highlights CDA's relational, dialectical, and transdisciplinary nature. Daru's journey and Mumtaz's struggles give important insights into the battle between conformity and self-discovery in a rapidly changing world. Themes of alienation, disillusionment, and the quest for authenticity run throughout the novel, stressing the clash between conformity and self-expression. Through meticulous analysis of the work, this study demonstrates how the literary classic skillfully ties together traditional themes, societal change, and human experience. The novelist's wonderful writing transports readers to the unforgettable city of Lahore, where the complexities of society are shown in all their intriguing details.
An Analysis of Grammatical Errors in Bilingual Translation: A Study of Intermediate level ESL Learners
Authors: Saima Anwar Dhamyal  , Muhammad Junaid Akbar
Published: February 2025

This research aimed to identify the key factors contributing to inadequate Urdu-English translation skills among intermediate-level college students in District Layyah. Additionally, the study sought to propose recommendations for improvement based on a detailed analysis of errors found in translation tests given to the students. The research delved into the obstacles hindering translation performance among intermediate college students learning English as a Second Language. Employing a mixed methodology approach, the study combined quantitative and qualitative methods. Participants, selected through random sampling from various Government and private colleges in District Layyah, were ESL learners at the intermediate level. Data collection involved a bilingual translation test, meticulously validated and made reliable. Statistical analysis using SPSS 26 software revealed a total of 1240 grammatical errors among the 32 participants. These errors were examined in the context of bilingual translation errors in local ESL teaching practices. Through careful analysis, reasons for these errors were pinpointed, leading to the formulation of relevant recommendations with pedagogical implications. The study's findings aim to provide valuable insights for bilingual English teaching in Pakistan, aiding English teachers, curriculum designers, and policymakers in understanding the current challenges faced by ESL learners in Pakistani colleges.
Need Analysis of Pakistani English Teachers Teaching at University Level: A Study of Skills and Digital Collaboration
Authors: Mariam Bibi  , Tahira Rafiq  , Muhammad Rashid
Published: February 2025

This article analyses the English language Teachers’ skills and the use of digital tools from two perspectives: Importance and their application in both academic and professional circumstances. Additionally, the researchers review teachers' usage of emails, instant messaging, social networks, and various educational platforms to ascertain key differences in tool usage and preferences across the two groups. The sample of the study is 40 teachers teaching at graduate and postgraduate levels in Pakistan, selected as a convenient sampling process.  Mean and standard deviation values are found through modified questionnaires of digital collaboration and skills used in the study of Mena-Guacas et al. (2024) having 24 questions. The study concludes that while graduates are focused on the verbal tools needed for contact with the professional world, postgraduates concentrate on contact with tools of a higher level, intended for research and teaching. Moreover, the study assesses the importance of educational platforms, wikis, and collaborative tools and reports that such tools were popular with teachers interested in improving the quality of learning. These findings also lead to the conclusion that there is a need to recommend applications and appropriate training programs to promote teachers’ digital literacy and oral communication competence and recommend the integration of advanced digital tools into class settings. Lastly, the article mentions certain areas that could be researched in the future including the role of modern technologies in teaching and learning outcomes, the effectiveness of professional development programs for teachers, and various cultural aspects regarding the use of the tools commonly.
The Mechanism of RNA Virus-mediated Tumorigenesis
Authors: Chen Hubin , Meng Jun , Lin Lizhu
Published: February 2025

Various RNA viruses could lead to tumorigenesis. Since these viruses belong to different genera, they have evolved distinct mechanisms of tumorigenesis, with unique interactions among key oncoproteins, oncogenes and hosts factors. This article reviews the tumorigenic mechanism of two well-known human RNA tumor viruses, and explores the potential tumorigenic effects of SARS-CoV-2, which is also an RNA virus.