This drawing, by the French artist Jacques Blanchard (c. 1600-1638), was inspired by ancient Greek mythology. Blanchard re-creates a scene from the early life...
In the year 606 or 607, Emperor Phokas of Constantinople (r. 602-610) arranged for his daughter, Domentzia, to marry an influential man named Priskos....
This painting, by the Swedish artist August Malmström (c. 1829-1901), was inspired by famous Germanic and Norse legends and myths. The older man seen...
Emperor Phokas became the ruler of Constantinople and its empire in 602, after successfully leading a military revolt that overthrew Emperor Maurice (r. 582-602)....
This painting, by the Austrian artist Hans Makart (c. 1840–1884), draws inspiration from ancient and early medieval Germanic-Norse religious beliefs. It features a being...
Jonathan Swift (c. 1667-1745)
"Having strictly examined all the persons of greatest name in the courts of princes for an hundred years past, I found...
This drawing, by the French artist Jacques Blanchard (c. 1600-1638), was inspired by ancient Greek mythology. Blanchard re-creates a scene from the early life...
As the title explains, this painting—by the French artist Charles François Jalabert (c. 1819-1901)—depicts a crowd of nymphs gathering to hear the playing and...
Arrian (c. 90-173+)
"Luck, remember, is an unpredictable thing, and against what it may bring no man has any defence."
From Arrian's The Campaigns of Alexander (Book 5),...
This painting, created by the Scottish artist Gavin Hamilton (c. 1723-1798), depicts what is perhaps the most controversial act carried out by the Greek...
Sophocles (c. 496-406/405 BCE)
"For a man to help others
with all his gifts and native strength:
that is the noblest work."
Sophocles, Oedipus the King, approximately...
Around the year 360 BCE, the relatively weak city of Tibur infuriated Rome by allegedly harboring and accommodating Gallic warbands. In response, Rome declared...
Pliny the Younger (c. 61/62-113) was a successful lawyer, bureaucrat, politician, and financial advisor. Judged in the currency of denarii and sesterces of his...
Thorir Olvirsson was an up-and-coming, youthful 11th-century Norwegian nobleman who cultivated a lot of good will with the people living in the regions around...
This painting, created by the Scottish artist Gavin Hamilton (c. 1723-1798), depicts what is perhaps the most controversial act carried out by the Greek...
Jonathan Swift (c. 1667-1745)
"Having strictly examined all the persons of greatest name in the courts of princes for an hundred years past, I found...
Pliny the Younger (c. 61/62-113) was a successful lawyer, bureaucrat, politician, and financial advisor. Judged in the currency of denarii and sesterces of his...
This painting, by the Italian artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (c. 1696–1770), re-creates a scene from a poem written by Torquato Tasso (c. 1544-1595). Although...
This painting, produced by an unidentified artist around 1625, depicts one of the early heroic accomplishments carried out by the ancient Greek god, Apollo....
