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The Raucous Rise Of Emperor Leo III

The future Emperor Leo III of Constantinople (r. 717-741) was born near what is now Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye, and heralded from the Isaurian stock of...

Were Music Competitions Once Part Of The Olympic Games?

Ancient Greece’s Olympic Games were part of a large religious festival honoring the god, Zeus. They were hosted in the hilly environs of Olympia,...

Who Really Slew Goliath?

King David is often deemed the most famous king of ancient Israel and arguably ranks as one of the most memorable figures whose legends...

The Tricky Treachery Of Palaepolis And Its Samnite Allies During A Roman Siege

In the second half of the 4th century BCE, the Romans began aggressively consolidating power and territory in Italy. Their rapid expansion forced neighboring...

The Biblical Naming Scheme Of Champagne Bottles

The typical champagne drinkers will likely only come across the first 4 sizes of champagne bottles. These consist of the piccolo, filled with what...

The Life Of Emperor Bardanes Philippikos And His Blinding Birthday Surprise

In the 7th and early 8th centuries, Bardanes Philippikos (also commonly known as Philippicus Bardanes) was a prominent member of the ruling elite involved...

The Ironic Rise, Fall, And Belated Execution Of Leontios

Leontios (or Liontius) was a decorated army and navy military leader who commanded forces on the behalf of the emperors of Constantinople along the...

The Fiery Failure Of The 703/704 Armenian Rebellion Against Umayyad Rule

Armenia, in the 7th century, was caught between two feuding empires. On the one hand, the region had been under Roman influence for well...

Pliny the Younger’s Perfectly Round, Sacred Lake With Floating Cows

Pliny the Younger (c. 61/62-113), like his uncle Pliny the Elder (c. 23-79), was a man of well-rounded scholarly interests, including natural history. The...

Did You Know? Ancient Iberian Warrior Tombs Were Reportedly Adorned With Spikes

Ancient Greeks observed that Iberian warriors received special burial monuments in their native land and culture. For full disclosure, the ancient Greek sources (such...