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The Pungent Origin Story Of Emperor Constantine V Kopronymos

Emperor Constantine V was the son of Emperor Leo III of Constantinople (r. 717-741), a ruler who brought much-needed stability to the Byzantine Empire...

Ptolemy “The Flutist” Executed His Own Daughter

Ptolemy XII, nicknamed Auletes (“the flutist” or “the piper”), lived a life thoroughly suffused with ruthless dynastic intrigue. He grew up during the reign...

The Tale Of Musa—The Italian Slave Who Became A Queen Of Parthia

Musa, also known as Thermusa, was an Italian slave who was sent by a Roman emperor to live in the exotic court of a...

The Tale Of Saint-King Olaf’s Miraculous, Flameproof Hair

Olaf Haraldsson, also known as Saint Olaf, was a former Viking and mercenary who returned home to seize the throne of Norway around 1015....

Thomas Godfrey And His Controversial Prince of Parthia—The First Play Written And Performed In America

Thomas Godfrey’s Prince of Parthia has a complicated legacy. It is credited as being the first theatrical play written and performed by Americans. Yet,...

A Tale Of An Ancient Traveler Who Survived A Fatal Prophecy Of His Death

In the region of Paphlagonia (bordering the Black Sea in north-central Anatolia), a family of some means and influence was reported to have experienced...

The Opportunistic Italian Rebellion Against The Newly Crowned And Besieged Emperor Leo III Of Constantinople

In the early 8th century, a decorated warrior and administrative official named Sergios came to be appointed as the Byzantine governor of Constantinople’s imperial...

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...