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What Are Perfect Numbers?

The Pythagoreans studied these mystical numbers.

Ancient Mathematics

N.S.Gill's Ancient History Blog

Myth Monday - Percy-us and Cheiron

Monday February 8, 2010

Perseus and Medusa's headI read (with a smile) that youngsters reading the books by Rick Riordan that form the basis for the movie, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, are absorbing the Greek myths gladly and effortlessly. Without having seen the movie -- because it opens later this week -- I can only speculate that it actually does adhere to standard myths, based on the previews and the useful teacher's guide to Rick Riordan's books. Read more...

On This Day in Ancient History Emperor Marcian Died

Sunday February 7, 2010
AttilaIn A.D. 457 the Roman Emperor Marcian died. Marcian had been born in 392, probably in Illyria, and began a career as a solider. He appears to have been captured by Vandals in the 430s and then emerged from obscurity to be made emperor when the preceding one, Theodosius II, died without leaving an heir.

While Marcian was emperor, he convened a Church council (Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon) and may have hired an assassin to kill Attila the Hun.

Attila Photo © Clipart.com

On this Day in Ancient History - Augustus Received a Title

Friday February 5, 2010

Augustus. St Petersburg - Hermitage.
CC Flickr User thisisbossi.
In 2 B.C., the first Roman emperor, whom we call Augustus, received the title Pater patriae 'father of the country'. This title was a great honor given for outstanding service. The famous orator and Roman statesman Cicero had earned the title Pater patriae in 63 B.C. Later emperors received the title after years of service to Rome.

Thursday's Term to Learn - Stipendium (Stipend)

Thursday February 4, 2010
Last night's Roman History book chat was the second on Tacitus' Histories, with a focus on the year of four emperors. A topic that came up that we couldn't answer was how (and even whether) the soldiers were paid amid the chaos, especially if they were on the losing side. If you know the answer, please post in the comments. Read more...

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