The 108-foot bronze statue known as the Colossus of Rhodes was both an ancient wonder and a proud monument. It was a tribute to the god Helios. It was destroyed in an earthquake just five decades after it was built. To see it standing over the harbors of Rhodes as ships sailed beneath it would …
The Colossus of Rhodes: A Look at the Ancient Wonder Read More »
In 1831, under a mountain of volcanic ash in the ancient city of Pompeii, a mosaic was uncovered. This mosaic, one of the most important pieces of art to ever be rediscovered, covered the floor of one room in the House of Faun. Dubbed the “Alexander Mosaic”, it was remarkably well preserved, and while parts …
Becephalus: The legendary horse of Alexander the Great Read More »
Amidst the many forgotten battles and long-lost heroes of history, a tale of extraordinary warriors emerges from the beautiful Mediterranean shores of the Balearic Islands. Picture a band of audacious, fearsome men armed with nothing more than a leather pouch. With a flick of the wrist, they unleash a tempest of stones with uncanny precision …
Hannibal’s Secret War Weapon: The Balearic Slingers Read More »
In ancient Athens, amidst wealth and greatness, there lived a man who sought to understand the world and the human condition through formal logic. His name was Socrates. Socrates was a philosopher whose influence on ancient philosophy and the Western philosophical tradition is immeasurable. His name is recognizable to almost everyone. Despite that, Socrates wrote …
The Suicide of the Ancient Greek Philosopher, Socrates Read More »
Memnon was known to the ancient Greeks as the greatest African warrior who ever lived. Born of a goddess and a prince, he grew up to become king of the land of Ethiopia. When he brought his vast army of warriors to Troy to aid in the defense of the city, the beleaguered Trojan king …
Memnon: The Greatest African Warrior of Greek Mythology Read More »
According to Ancient Greek mythology, Hermes was known for his cunning and mischievous nature. On the day he was born, it was said that Hermes invented the lyre, stole 50 head of cattle from his brother Apollo, and then hid the cattle in a cave so well that even Apollo couldn’t find them. When Apollo …
In Greek mythology, Zeus is a powerful deity of sky and thunder who ruled as the monarch of Mount Olympus and the head of all gods. In his private life, Zeus was quite the casanova, fathering over 100 children with various mortal and divine women. Among these children were some of Greek mythology’s most famous …
Skyscrapers, concrete behemoths, and monumental architectures aren’t technological marvels peculiar to the modern world. Since the first man began using sticks and stone as weapons, innumerable human inventiveness has given birth to some famous architectural creations that even many modern marvels cannot compare. The most spectacular of these recorded achievements have come to be recognized …
Alexander III of Macedon, or Alexander the Great as popularly called, is one of the world’s most successful commanders. He is a half-Macedonian who became the most famous emperor of Greece. He inherited the crown at age 20, in 336 B.C. He spent most of his ruling years conducting a lengthy military campaign across Western …
The brazen bull was a horrifying torture device that originated in ancient Greece. It was essentially a hollow metal sculpture of a bull, with an entrance at the top for the victim’s head. Supposedly, the victim would be locked inside and burned to death. The brazen bull was used to execute criminals and political opponents, …
The Brazen Bull: One of History’s Most Notorious Punishments Read More »
