The examination of Classical Literature is this week's popular thread on the Ancient/Classical History Forum. Not that we've been able to come up with firm definitions, but there have been some responses:

• Twilight is too recent to be a "classic"
• To be "Classical" it must have been written before the 7th century.

Please add your comments and definitions to the discussion.

When news came out about the discovery of the lost Persian army of Cambyses that was mentioned by Herodotus (see Hdt 3.26 f), I noticed Zahi Hawass wasn't involved. Since Hawass is ubiquitous in the area of Egyptian archaeology, this was a big red flag. Hawass subsequently called the reports misleading and the Rogue Classicist posted a "Don't Eat that Elmer" warning blog about it. There are lots of spurious claims made about ancient artifacts, so I decided against blogging about the army bones and other remains.

I changed my mind this morning. The Today Show had a segment on it, so you may want more information. Please read Persianesque Magazine's article King Cambyses's Persian Army: Lost and Found? for details.

If you want even more, the Rogue Classicist posted a long list of articles in his weekly newsletter, Explorator:

"The latest claim that Cambyses' lost army has been found got far too much press coverage this week:

• http://news.discovery.com/archaeology/cambyses-army-remains-sahara.html
• http://news.discovery.com/videos/archaeology-ancient-lost-army-found.html(video)
• http://news.discovery.com/archaeology/cambyses-lost-army-images.html(photos)
• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1226500/Is-lost-Persian-army-Comp\ elling-remains-uncovered-Sahara-Desert.html
• http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33791672/ns/technology_and_science-science/
• http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,573406,00.html
• http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1226500/Is-lost-Persian-army-C\ ompelling-remains-uncovered-Sahara-Desert.html
• http://news.msn.co.nz/article/969711/archaeologists-discover-lost-desert-army
• http://www.ptinews.com/news/370375_The-remains-of-the-lost-mighty-Persian-Army--\ found-
• http://www.foxcharlotte.com/dpp/news/scitech/Legendary_Lost_Persian_Army_Found_i\ n_Sahara_15561325"

Son of a freedman, the Roman poet Horace lived from December 8, 65 B.C. to November 27, 8 B.C.

Suetonius writes:

[Horace] was born on the sixth of the ides of December, in the consulship of Lucius Cotta and Lucius Torquatus; and died on the fifth of the calends of December, in the consulship of Caius Marcius Censorinus and Caius Asinius Gallus; having completed his fifty-ninth year.

Horace fought on the losing side of the Battle of Philippi, under Caesar's assassin Brutus. Later, Augustus commissioned the Roman satirist Horace to compose a poem for the Secular Games, a 3-day event that was meant to mark the end of one era and the beginning of the next. The secular games included theatrical performances and religious rituals.

If you're studying Latin literature, Horace is one of the Roman poets you're likely to encounter. Because he advocates the golden mean, rather than indulging in great passions, he may be less appealing to adolescents than more passionate Roman poets, like Ovid or Catullus.

• Horace
• Suetonius' Life of Horace
• Roman Games
• Roman Calendar Terminology

Horace image © Clipart.com.

"This day in ancient history" caveat: please see Unreliability of Dates.

Extra credit: Where is it?

Give up? Click the image for the answer. Then, look at the article's references for a link to a new article by the photographer, Alun Salt: The Astronomical Orientation of Ancient Greek Temples.

Wordless Wednesday and About.com's Wordless Wednesday