This painting, by the German artist Hans Thoma (c. 1839-1924), was inspired by the Sirens of ancient Greek myth. These mythological creatures were characterized...
This rather abstractly painted artwork, by the Norwegian artist Christian Krohg (c. 1852–1925), was inspired by the storied life of the historical figure, Olaf...
Constantine IV was a son and successor of Emperor Constans II of Constantinople (r. 641-668/669). Constans II, like many emperors of Roman and European...
Dante Alighieri (c. 1265-1321)
"He listens to good purpose who takes note."
Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy (Inferno, Canto XV), translated by Henry F. Cary in the Harvard...
This artwork, by the Norwegian artist Gerhard Munthe (1849–1929), is a depiction of the Norse god, Odin. The print features several key iconographic details...
This painting, by the German artist Hans Thoma (c. 1839-1924), was inspired by the Sirens of ancient Greek myth. These mythological creatures were characterized...
Lucian of Samosata (c. 120-180+), in his satirical work Timon the Misanthrope, envisioned Wealth as a personified god. Wealth, as the account told, was...
This tapestry, designed by the Italian artist Giovanni Francesco Romanelli (c. 1610–1662), was inspired by a specific scene from a poem called The Aeneid,...
King Hrolf Kraki (c. 6th century)
"He flees no fire
who jumps over it."
Poem attributed to Hrolf Kraki in The Saga of Hrolf Kraki (chapter 28), written...
Confucius (approximately 551-479 BCE)
"A gentleman takes as much trouble to discover what is right as lesser men take to discover what will pay."
From The...
Aeschylus (c. 525-456 BCE)
"What good are the oracles to men? Words, more words,
and the hurt comes on us, endless words
and a seer's techniques have...
Constantine IV was a son and successor of Emperor Constans II of Constantinople (r. 641-668/669). Constans II, like many emperors of Roman and European...
Many ancient philosophical writers from Greece and the Roman Empire had reservations and questions about the worldview that was proposed to them by their...
This rather abstractly painted artwork, by the Norwegian artist Christian Krohg (c. 1852–1925), was inspired by the storied life of the historical figure, Olaf...
Winston Churchill (c. 1874-1965)
"Fearthought is futile worrying over what cannot be averted or will probably never happen. Forethought is taking the best means at...
The Romans always had some sort of spies or espionage agents, albeit usually decentralized and directed by individual generals or politicians. Wherever the Roman...
Edgar Allan Poe (American writer, 1809-1849)
"Nothing is more vague than impressions of individual identity. Each man recognizes his neighbor, yet there are few instances...
Geoffrey of Monmouth (Welsh writer, c. 12th century)
"Indeed, when it is obvious that men are no longer using their weapons, but are instead playing...
Mo Tzu (Chinese philosopher and theologian, flourished 5th century BCE)
"The ghosts and spirits of past and present are of three kinds only: the spirits...
