Saturday, September 30, 2023

Bronze Asses Were A Requirement For Early Ancient Roman Upper Classes

Unfortunately, information on the earliest periods of Rome’s history are scant and heavily obscured under thick layers of folklore and myth. The city by...

The Story Of Sam, The Medieval Irish Guard Dog

A flashy figure named Olaf “Peacock” Hoskuldsson was said to have been a chieftain in the Laxardal region of Iceland and reportedly lived around...

The Battle of Svolder, by Halfdan Egedius (c. 1877-1899)

This drawing, by the Norwegian artist Halfdan Egedius (c. 1877-1899), was inspired by the last battle of the Norwegian king, Olaf I Tryggvason (r....

The Tale Of Thrain Sigfusson’s Bizarre Divorce And Remarriage At The Wedding Of His Nephew

According to folklore set in 10th-century Iceland, a man named Thrain Sigfusson was invited to attend the wedding feast of his prominent nephew, Gunnar...

Njal Thorgeirsson (Njal’s Saga)

Njal’s Saga (written anonymously in the 13th century) "It's not breaking a settlement...if a man deals lawfully with another—with law our land shall rise, but...

Charlemagne, By Jean Marie Mixelle (c. 18th-19th century)

This illustration, vaguely labeled “Charlemagne” or “Charlemagne: Emperor of West and King of France,” was created by the French artist Jean Marie Mixelle (c....

Dante Alighieri

Dante Alighieri (c. 1265-1321) "Just as a swimmer, who with his last breath flounders ashore from perilous seas, might turn to memorize the wide water of his...

Mark Twain

Mark Twain (c. 1835-1910) "No sound and legitimate business can be established on a basis of speculation." From chapter 19 of Mark Twain’s A Connecticut...

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Apollo and Daphne, By An Unknown 17th-Century Workshop

This tapestry, by an unknown 17th-century workshop, depicts the beginning of a raucous myth involving three deities. The female character on the right side...

Diana and Endymion, by Magnus Enckell (c. 1870-1925)

This rather abstract painting, by the Finnish artist Magnus Enckell (c. 1870-1925), was inspired by the ancient Greco-Roman myth of Endymion. His tale is...

The Story Of Sam, The Medieval Irish Guard Dog

A flashy figure named Olaf “Peacock” Hoskuldsson was said to have been a chieftain in the Laxardal region of Iceland and reportedly lived around...

The Buddha

  The Buddha (this saying recorded c. 3rd century BCE) "Better than a thousand statements composed of meaningless words is a single meaningful word which, having been heard, brings...

The Covert Night Raid Of Xenophon Against A Well-Guarded Persian Tower

  In 399 BCE, the philosopher, historian and mercenary, Xenophon, was in the last year of his famous adventure with the so-called Ten Thousand. The...

Xenophon

  Xenophon (c. 420-350 BCE) "Let us be the ones who first arouse others to demonstrate their valour. Prove yourselves the best possible officers! Prove yourselves...

The Buddha

  The Buddha (6th-5th century BCE) "The night is long for the wide awake. The mile is long for the weary. The round of birth and death is...

King Cleomenes I of Sparta—His Eventful Reign And His Odd Demise

The co-kings of Sparta, Cleomenes I (of the Agiad royal house) and Demaratus (of the Eurypontid royal house), ruled in the opening years of...
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The Burning Of Troy, by Claes Jansz. van der Willigen (c. 1630-1676)

This painting, by the Dutch artist Claes Jansz. van der Willigen (c. 1630-1676), depicts the end of the Trojan War and features a family...

Bendis—A Famous, Yet Mysterious, Thracian Goddess

Bendis was the name of a goddess of Thracian origin whose worship spread to Athens by the late 5th century BCE. Despite having a vibrant...

Caesar Defeats The Troops Of Pompey, By Justus van Egmont (1601–1674) and Gerard Peemans (1637/39–1725)

This tapestry, titled Caesar Defeats The Troops Of Pompey, was designed by Justus van Egmont (1601–1674) and woven by the workshop of Gerard Peemans...

Apollo and Daphne, By An Unknown 17th-Century Workshop

This tapestry, by an unknown 17th-century workshop, depicts the beginning of a raucous myth involving three deities. The female character on the right side...

There Were Hair Rinses And Curling Irons In Ancient Rome

Ovid (43 BCE-17 CE), a masterful Roman poet, wrote verses about romance, love, eroticism, and all manner of topics related to women—including fashion trends—in...

Lucan

Lucan (c. 39-65) "Virtue and absolute power do not mix." From Lucan’s Civil War (Book 8, approximately between lines 600-610), translated by Matthew Fox (Penguin...

Winston Churchill

Sir Winston Churchill (c. 1874-1965) "How else are we going to marshal adequate and if possible overwhelming forces against brazen, unprovoked aggression, except by a...

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare (c. 1564 – 1616) "Lovers and madmen have such seething brains, Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend More than cool reason ever comprehends. The lunatic, the...

Religious Tolerance In The Reign of Hákon The Good Of Norway

Harald Finehair, the first king to unite Norway, is believed to have retired or died around the year 940, ending his momentous reign. His...
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Strange, But Successful, War Strategies—Japan’s WWII Bicycle Infantry

(Bicycle-mounted Japanese troops in the Philippines c. 1941-1942, via Creative Commons)       The Japanese literally pedaled their way to victory in the Battle of Singapore The military...

The Ancient Mystery Religion Cults of Rome – Part One

  (Ceremonies of the cult of Isis. Coloured engraving by Ron von Spalart, via Welcome Images and Creative Commons) What is a Mystery Religion? Information is scarce...

Fire, Fairies and Folklore—The Murder of Bridget Cleary

(Bridget and Michael Cleary c. 1887, via National Archives of Ireland)       A witch? A fairy? Who was the murdered wife of Michael Cleary?   Mr. and Mrs....

A Commoner Who Killed An Emperor, Became An Emperor and Was Killed By An Emperor

(Coin of Phocas, via Creative Commons and Classical Numismatic Group)       The Incredible Story of the Byzantine Emperor Phokas (Ruled 602-610) When we usually think of ancient...

Erasmus

Erasmus (1466-1536) "No veneration of Mary is more beautiful than the imitation of her humility. No devotion to the saints is more acceptable to God...

Strange, But Successful War Strategies—Divide Yourself And Conquer

(Battle of Arcadiopolis by John Skylitzes c. 11th century, via Creative Commons)     The Byzantine Battle of Arcadiopolis   In the spring of 970, the Byzantine...

WWI’s Incredible Battle of Messines

(Artillery at Messines in 1917, via Australian War Memorial)     This Shocking Allied Plan Made The German Defenses Just Disappear   (Map of the Battle of...

The Golden Rule Is Older than You Think!

(Christ Carrying the Cross c. 1565 by Titian, via Creative Commons)     Confucius and Jesus Preached the Golden Rule Centuries Apart Most people know that one of...

Ancient Pontus and the ‘Poison King’

(Mithridates bust in Louvre Museum, via Creative Commons)   As each new year passes, the cumbersome encyclopedia of history continues to grow larger and larger....

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

(Portrait of Martin Luther as an Augustinian Monk, from the Workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553) , via Creative Commons) On Halloween day,...

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