Education

2008

12/31/08 - Major ANE Monarchs
For the last day of the year, I have revised an old article on some of the major ANE and particularly Persian monarchs, including more pictures.

12/30/08 - Book Review: Democracy and Knowledge, by Josiah Ober
My summary of a scholarly book by Josiah Ober on what made Athens so successful. As opposed to modern democracies, Athens was a participatory one where decisions were made in public and where rewards and punishments were also very public and lasting.

12/25/08 - Egyptian Pyramids
An illustrated look at the development of the pyramids of Egypt from the mastaba to the familiar Great Pyramid.

12/24/08 - Isaiah Prophecy
The passage from the Biblical book of Isaiah on Jesus' lineage from David's father Jesse.

12/24/08 - Maps of Egypt
Public domain maps of ancient Egypt and the Nile delta.

12/23/08 - City Dionysia
Glossary entry on the Greater or City Dionysia.

12/21/08 - Hermes - Thief, Inventor, and Messenger God
A reworking of an introduction to the god Hermes, with added pictures and details, as well as a new format.

12/17/08 - Nominative Case
Basics of the easiest Latin cases, the nominative.

12/12/08 - Fast Facts About Italy
Here's a modern map and list of major mountains, lakes, and other features of Italy.

12/12/08 - Demophon (2)
Information on the other Demophon -- the one who may have been consecrated by Demeter and her daughter.

12/06/08 - Demophon
Demophon was a son of the legendary hero and Athenian king Theseus.

November

11/30/08 - Book Review: Ben Kane's The Forgotten Legion
The Forgotten Legion is a great read for those who enjoy the sword and sandal genres, with strong visuals and unusual settings. It is not for those who demand historical accuracy in their late Roman Republican fiction or for the impatient.

11/29/08 - How the G Got Its Tail
Have you ever wondered about the form of letters or, more specifically, about the tail on the G? Originally the G was a C, so the regular abbreviation for Gaius Julius Caesar's praenomen was C., not G.

11/26/08 - Basic Latin
A list of the pages on this site on Latin grammar divided into parts of speech.

11/26/08 - 7 Latin Cases
A look at the basic uses for the seven Latin cases and an example of the complete noun paradigm for a second declension noun.

11/26/08 - Thanks in Latin
An alternate, more casual way to say thank you in Latin.

11/24/08 - Ancient Philosophers Gallery
A portrait gallery of a dozen philosophers, including Presocratic philosophers, and Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

11/23/08 - Iris Profile
More information on Iris, including her roles in the Homeric epics and Roman literature.

11/23/08 - Nolo
Paradigm of the irregular Latin verb nolo.

11/20/08 - Iris
Glossary entry on the rainbow goddess Iris.

11/19/08 - Book Review: Margaret Malamud's Ancient Rome and Modern America
If your knowledge of American political history is shaky or if you've been puzzled by comparisons between ancient Rome and America that seem lacking, Malamud's Ancient Rome and Modern America is just for you. If you're not already interested, perhaps you should be. As Malamud writes: "The Roman-themed mall and other sites like it... present simulations of and references to the kind of traditional urban public and democratic spaces that they are in the process of obliterating."

11/17/08 - Which Brutus Could Have Been Caesar's Son?
This is a separate issue from the question of whether or not Caesar sired a son born in 85 B.C. This is a question about which of the conspirators could have been his son.

11/15/08 - Roman Virtue in Women
Women in ancient Rome had little independent importance, but could be very influential in their primary roles as mothers and wives. Devotion to one man was the ideal. A good Roman matron was chaste, honorable, and fertile. The following ancient Roman women have since been considered the embodiment of Roman virtue.

11/12/08 - Vergil or Virgil?
The name of the Augustan Age poet and creator of the Roman national epic, The Aeneid, is sometimes spelled Virgil and sometimes Vergil. Which is right?

11/12/08 - Fast Facts About Greece
Based on the popularity of my fast facts about Mesopotamia, I've put up a modern map and list of major cities and other features of Greece.

11/08/08 - Major Countries of the Ancient Near East
A quick pictorial tour of nine of the countries of the ancient Near East.

11/07/08 - What Is a Theotokos?
Theotokos was the preferred term when Nestorius, the Patriarch of Constantinople, was condemned for heresy.

11/04/08 - Book Review: Mary Beard's The Fires of Vesuvius
Fires of Vesuvius is like a guided tour of Pompeii given by someone with expert command of all the relevant background.

11/03/08 - Chemosh
Chemosh is a god of the Moabites, neighbors and relatives of the Israelites. His worship included an Israelite cult.

October

10/28/08 - Houses of Pompeii
A photo gallery of some of the famous buildings in Pompeii.

10/24/08 - What Do the Tenses Mean?
This page explains the differences among and between the Latin tenses and gives suggestions on how to translate Latin tenses into English.

10/24/08 - Uruk
Information about the first colonial power, Uruk. Also see Periods of Uruk.

10/19/08 - The Indus Valley Civilization and the Aryan Theory
When 19th century explorers and 20th century archaeologists rediscovered the ancient Indus Valley civilization they had to re-write the history of the Indian sub-continent. Many questions remain unanswered.

10/16/08 - Was Akkadian on Clay Tablets the Earliest Known Rendering of Language?
An answer to the forum question looking at the development of cuneiform from pictographs.

10/14/08 - Book Review: Ancient Greek Divination
Sarah Iles Johnston's Ancient Greek Divination provides a pretty detailed overview of the major ways of obtaining advice from oracles and manteis in the ancient world. Includes information on the connection between divination and magic.

10/13/08 - Expansion of Roman Power
Maps showing the expansion of Rome from a city centered on Rome's 7 hills to the power controlling much of Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa to its gradual loss of territory.

10/11/08 - Wordless Wednesday Gallery
A collection of the pictures that have shown up on the weekly wordless Wednesday blogs.

10/10/08 - Babylonian Mathematics - Table of Squares
A look at some representations of cuneiform numbers denoting a table of squares and an explanation of how to read them. There's a challenge for the reader at the end.

10/08/08 - Meleager
An expanded glossary entry on the hero of the Calydonian boar hunt, Meleager of Calydon.

10/08/08 - Calydonian Boar Hunt
A profile of the Calydonian Boar Hunt, including lists of major and minor characters.

10/08/08 - Calydonian Boar Hunt Quiz
Multiple choice quiz on the Calydonian Boar Hunt story.

10/06/08 - Cornelius Nepos
Glossary entry on Nepos, a contemporary of Cicero, who wrote biographies in a Latin that is popular in schools because of its simplicity.

10/05/08 - I Ching
Glossary entry on this very ancient but still popular Chinese method of divination.

10/03/08 - Books on Ancient Magic and Religion
Capturing the interest of a modern woman may involve the application of products "guaranteed" to make her swoon or the writing of love poetry. How different is this from an ancient Greek man using a magical potion or writing a spell? Read about the real life ancient practices that often crossed the line between religion and magic.

10/01/08 - Confusing Word Pairs
A look at English words, mostly with Greek or Latin roots, that confuse and/or annoy.

September

09/26/08 - Ancient Egypt Picture Gallery
Photos of artifacts from ancient Egypt highlighting the role of the pharaohs and their queens.

09/23/08 - Book Review: Household and Family Religion in Antiquity, edited by John Bodel and Saul M. Olyan
Even if you lack the background to absorb many of the details, a careful reading will reward any reader who wants to know how individual families in different ancient countries worshiped their gods and practiced their religions.

09/16/08 - Labrys
Glossary entry on the double-axe now used as a symbol.

09/14/08 - Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie
Glossary entry on an important Egyptologist and archaeologist who died in 1942.

09/11/08 - Narmer Palette
Considered a possible first historical document, this 2-sided, shield-shaped slab appears to show the conquests of Pharaoh Narmer and his unification of Egypt.

09/11/08 - Pepy I
Some consider his reign the height of Old Kingdom Egypt.

09/10/08 - Book Review: How the Barbarian Invasions Shaped the Modern World, by Craughwell
Although not limited to the ancient world, so much is based on and takes place there that this is a suitable world history for this site. It is well-written and entertaining, as well as factual. Covering the ancient barbarians makes it exciting.

09/10/08 - Comparison of Latin and Italian Numbers
Here's a chart of the counting numbers in Italian and Latin with some observations on the changes from Latin to Italian.

09/10/08 - Cardinal Numbers Quiz
This is a quiz on the Latin cardinal numbers. Some of the multiple choice questions challenge you not only to know the basic form of the number but also to decline it.

09/10/08 - Minoan Frescoes
When asked "what is the latest theory on bull-leaping?" my initial thought was "I don't have the time or inclination to chase down that answer," but then I realized I really did want to understand the codpiece in Minoan bull-leaping art. These 7 Minoan or Minoan-Cycladic frescoes are annotated with recent theories about representational Minoan art that in at least a round-about way explain the codpiece.

09/08/08 - Creation Myths
A look at some of the ancient stories of creation mostly based on the principle of something evolving out of chaos.

09/06/08 - Scalae Gemoniae
Glossary entry on this imperial Roman place of execution.

09/04/08 - Catullus
Profile of the neoteric Latin poet Catullus, a contemporary of Julius Caesar and Cicero.

09/02/08 - Bronze Age Greece
Basics on the Bronze Age, particularly the Mycenaean and Minoan Bronze ages.

09/01/08 - Roman Forum
Not a new article, but a substantial update to the profile of the Roman forum.
Another updated page is the pictorial Monsters in Greek Mythology.

Also, remember that on the first of each month the quote-of-the-day and the word-of-the-day are updated. For the first half of this month, all the words are Latin words used directly in English.

August

08/31/08 - Ashoka
Profile of the Mauryan dynasty king of India Ashoka.

08/28/08 - Augustine Pictures
Paintings of St. Augustine of Hippo.

08/26/08 - Latin-Based Words - English Words Derived From Latin and Greek
Although English has its own native vocabulary, it has also imported words from many other languages. The classical languages, Greek and Latin, play a starring role in technical vocabularies and even in daily use, Latin rears its lovely head. Here are articles from this site on the classical elements of our language and words. You'll find confusing pairs of words and abbreviations, word import lists, a word of the day, and some basics on translation.

08/22/08 - Bolchazy-Carducci Books
Bolchazy-Carducci publishes great books for Latin and ancient history students in homeschool or traditional school settings. Here's a look at ten of their books I've recommended.

08/21/08 - Alaric the Goth Study Guide
Alaric (c. 370-410), a Gothic chieftain, Arian Christian, and eventually, pillager of Rome, led the Goths under him out of the Balkans and into the Roman Empire where he sought land for their settlement.

08/21/08 - What is the Difference Between Affect and Effect
It may help to understand something about the derivation or etymology of the two closely related words, affect and effect, so in this FAQ I will explain the (I) etymology, (II) provide definitions, and (III) suggest how to decide between the two.

08/19/08 - Book Review: Lives of the Caesars
Lives of the Caesars is a great treat for those who already know the general outline of the history of the Roman Empire. It delves deeply into the reigns of 12 emperors in bite-sized (roughly 25 page) chapters. You can read Lives of the Caesars to sample 13 top scholars in the field, to read those scholars' unique interpretations, or to learn about the emperors and their times.

08/19/08 - Alaric Quiz
Quiz on Alaric and the sack of Rome.

08/18/08 - Names of Rome
As if it's not confusing enough that ancient Rome refers to a city and an empire, over the centuries, it has attracted descriptive titles as well. Here are some of the names which signify "Rome".

08/16/08 - City of Rome
Monuments and special places in the ancient city of Rome.

08/15/08 - Origins of the Swastika
Folklore about the ancient charm and religious symbol now associated with the Nazis.

08/14/08 - Clement of Alexandria
A short glossary entry identifying the early Christian theologian Clement of Alexandria.

08/12/08 - Vedas
Basic glossary-type information on these articles of Hindu scripture.

08/09/08 - Brahmanism
Basic glossary-type information on Brahmanism.

08/09/08 - Caste System
Basic glossary-type information on the stratification known as the caste system.

08/09/08 - Greek Mummy
A 1700-year-old Thracian mummy has been found that shows signs of Egyptian mummification techniques.

08/07/08 - Why Didn't Women Participate in the Ancient Olympics?
With the advent of equal rights amendments and whatnot, it is no longer seemingly obvious that women should have been excluded from the ancient Olympics and shuffled off into their own games, but think about professional sports. How many women play in professional U.S.-style football? At any rate, in case, you're interested, here are my ideas on why women were excluded from the ancient Olympic games.

08/06/08 - What Is the Origin of the Ancient Olympics?
A look at the explanations the Greeks made for the start of the ancient Olympic Games.

08/06/08 - Ancient Roman History Books
My recommendations on various topics. Some are classics in ancient Roman history.

08/04/08 - Book Review: Rose Williams' Once Upon the Tiber
Rose Williams' history of Rome for school kids contains all the main details from founding to Fall accompanied by a great deal of humor.

08/02/08 - Latin Verbs With Prae- (Pre-) Prefix
Here is a list of many of the Latin verbs with a prae-prefix. Where these verbs come into English, the prae- prefix becomes pre-.

July

07/30/08 - Cheating at the Ancient Olympics
Cheating was less common at the ancient Olympics than one might think. Here are some of the known cheaters.

07/29/08 - Book Review: Adrian Murdoch's The Last Pagan
In The Last Pagan: Julian the Apostate and the Death of the Ancient World, historian and journalist Adrian Murdoch explores the other late Roman emperor everyone should know, Flavius Claudius Julianus (332-363).

07/28/08 - Sinis
Sinis is one of the interesting villains Theseus encounters early on in his career and voyage from Troezen to Athens.

07/25/08 - Antikythera Mechanism
Basic information about a bronze clockwork-like mechanism from about 100-150 B.C.

07/24/08 - Greek Heroes Portraits
Pictures of the main Greek heroes.

07/23/08 - Which Greek Hero Are You?
You've taken the Greek heroes quiz and know who all the heroes are. Now find out which one you're most like.

07/21/08 - Greek Heroes Quiz
While you may know the Greek heroes in general, this quiz forces you to distinguish among them.

07/16/08 - Essenes
The Essenes, presumed writers of the Dead Sea scrolls, were a Jewish group in the Second Temple Period who lived ascetically in a monastic community.

07/14/08 - Which Greek Goddess Are You Quiz
Which goddess from Greek mythology do you most closely resemble? Are you the goddess of love? ow about war? Answer these questions and find out on this not-to-be-taken seriously personality quiz.

07/13/08 - Colosseum Quiz
Short self-grading quiz on the Roman colosseum.

07/11/08 - Cornelia
Cornelia (Mother of the Gracchi) added to the most beautiful women in the ancient world.

07/10/08 - Scipio Africanus
Basic information on the Roman victor of the Second Punic War.

07/10/08 - Cato the Elder
Basic information on Cato the Elder, the great-grandfather of Caesar's opponent.

07/07/08 - Vision of Gabriel
The Vision of Gabriel is the name some apply to a 30x90 cm tablet with a messianic message from the first century B.C.

07/03/08 - Book Review: The Return of Ulysses, by Edith Hall
One of the main points of The Return of Ulysses is that Homer's Odyssey has had such an enormous impact on us that we've been influenced by him if we ever went to school, watched television, went to the movies, or read.

June

06/28/08 - Saqqara
Glossary entry for the Saqqara Plateau in Egypt.

06/25/08 - Odyssey Paintings
Oil paintings and vase paintings based on scenes described in the Odyssey.

06/23/08 - How to Read Latin Adjectives
An answer to a question on how to read the dictionary entry for Latin adjectives.

06/23/08 - Book Review: Magic in the Ancient Greek World, by Derek Collins
Review of Derek Collins' Magic in the Ancient Greek World. It starts with an introduction to the anthropological study of magic, proceeds to the 5th and 4th century in Athens, the Sacred Disease (epilepsy), Pre-socratics, binding magic, legislation, and incantations.

06/22/08 - Ostraka
Glossary entry on the sherds of pottery used for votes and more.

06/21/08 - Binding Magic
Glossary entry on a type of magic used for love or cursing.

06/21/08 - Ancient Important People Trivia Quiz
This set of 12 questions on a Javascript quiz ask questions at various levels. Even if you know very little about ancient history, you may be pleased to find you do know something. Some of the questions are pretty sticky. At least one question has added details in the question to help you pick the logical or chronologically plausible answer. Enjoy!

06/20/08 - Ancient Literature Quiz
On this quiz, you answer questions about Greek and Latin drama, poetry, and prosody. Ten questions are available, but there are shorter options. The questions are randomized. This is a test in the stuff I like best. The word from one of my forum-regular testers is that it's hard.

06/19/08 - Ancient Literature: Authors and Titles Quiz
In this quiz you match up authors with the titles of their works. Most are Roman and extend into the Christian era. I find this a hard test. My forum-regular testers did not.

06/13/08 - Famous Ancient People
Here's a list of the people you really should know if you're studying Ancient/Classical history.

06/11/08 - Famous Ancient Epileptics
Some of the famous ancient people who suffered from Hercules' disease.

06/08/08 - Book Review: Always I am Caesar, by Jeffrey Tatum
Tatum has something on Julius Caesar for everyone, from a refresher on the social and political structure of Republican Rome, to a new slant on the significance of Caesar's famous dying words, to a comparison between Caesar and notable modern leaders. Since the material is taken from public lectures, the prose flows like that of engaging modern professor or storyteller.

06/07/08 - Giza FAQs
What Is the Great Sphinx?
How Tall Was the Great Pyramid?
For Which Pharaoh Was the Great Pyramid Built?

06/06/08 - Barbarian Migrations
Map of the barbarian migrations listing the names of the groups, the direction of their path, their languages and language groups.

6/06/08 Athens
Map showing the Acropolis, Piraeus, and long walls.

06/04/08 - Advances by Period and Dynasty in Ancient China
This article looks at ancient Chinese advances -- the often technological progress made beginning in the neolithic period through the Northern Dynasties period. This covers anceint China from roughly 12,000 B.C. through the 6th century A.D

May

05/31/08 - Ovid's Metamorphoses
Stories from Greek mythology that Ovid incorporated into his Metamorphoses have inspired painters through the ages. This is a collection of 15 masterpieces from Medieval/Renaissance and later painters, one for each book of Ovid's Metamorphoses.

05/23/08 - Constantinople
A basic description of that very important city that served as the capital of the Byzantine Empire for a millennium.

05/22/08 - Tabloid Tyrant Nero
What do Elvis Presley and the emperor Nero have in common? Beyond their both being musicians, overweight, and having a shared taste for flamboyant dress, they were also believed to be alive and well long after their officially reported deaths. A guest article by Lancelot Kirby.

05/21/08 - Book Review: Cleopatra and Egypt, by Sally-Ann Ashton
Cleopatra and Egypt is a must-read, scholarly book on Cleopatra for students and teachers of ancient Egypt, Cleopatra, and ancient art. Also suitable, perhaps, for non-academics who want the latest research on Cleopatra and her family, the Ptolemies.

05/12/08 - Book Review: Greek Tragedy, by Nancy Sorkin Rabinowitz
Greek Tragedy is like a modern, lecture-based course on Greek Tragedy, but in book form. As a supplement to a college course on the topic or for someone who has already studied Greek tragedy, yet wants a look at modern scholarship and perspectives, Greek Tragedy is a vein of gold.

05/11/08 - Medusa
Pictures of the Gorgon, the head of Medusa, and Perseus holding the head of Medusa.

05/08/08 - Pentecost
Pentecost is the name of a holiday held 50 days after another. There is a Jewish Pentecost and a Christian one.

05/07/08 - Book Review: The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome
Susan Wise Bauer tells ancient (political) history as an entertainingly detailed story. Her approach to the civilizations of the Mediterranean, Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and China is unusual, because instead of covering one civilization through time, she shows what each was doing during a given period. It is a great read for people who want an overview of the entire "Old World".

05/03/08 - Apollo
All together in one page, the major articles on this site on the Olympian God Apollo.

April

04/21/08 - Epidauros
Epidauros was the site of a healing shrine that was lucrative enough to fund a wonderful open air theater.

04/21/08 - Faiyum
Faiyum was an oasis in the desert.

04/21/08 - Nomes
Government of Egypt was divided into districts the Greeks called nomes.

04/19/08 - Greatest Ancient Warriors
Great ancient military leaders and tacticians have had a lasting impact on the military; modern military schools study some of their battle tactics. Here are my top 10 military leaders, warriors, and tacticians -- ancient fighters with a lasting impact.

04/17/08 - On the Nature of Things
An etext of a public domain translation of Lucretius' De rerum natura.

04/17/08 - Pontifex Maximus
Basic information on the office of Pontifex maximus in ancient Rome.

04/12/08 - Battle at Issus
Alexander the Great defeated the Great King of Persia, Darius III, at the Battle at Issus in November 333 B.C. Victory was so costly -- even Alexander was wounded, in the thigh -- the Pinarus River was said to have been run red with blood.

04/10/08 - Indo-European Languages
What are the Indo-European languages and how are they different from Proto-Indo-European?

04/05/08 - Battle of the Granicus
Overview of the battle fought by Alexander the Great against the Persians at the Granicus.

March

03/29/08 - Robert Fagles
Identification entry on the late translator of classical epics.

03/28/08 - Bible People
Bible names you should know: some of the major historical figures from the Bible.

03/28/08 - What Was Greek Religion?
Tales from Greek mythology entertain and instruct, but they can't possibly form the totality of Greek religion, just as the Bible and Koran are not the totality of modern monotheistic religions. What was the religion of the ancient Greeks?

03/27/08 - Olympic Torch
What is the ancient history of the Olympic Torch? Find out.

03/25/08 - Greek Pottery Types
Names, descriptions, and pictures of Greek pottery types.

03/23/08 - Greek Pottery Pictures
Picture gallery of Greek pottery.

03/23/08 - Athletics in Pottery
Pictures of mostly boxers and wrestlers on various types of Greek pottery.

03/19/08 - Introduction to Red-Figure Pottery
A step-by-step look at some of the major elements of Red-Figure pottery in Athens, Greece.

03/21/08 - Kantharos
Greek pottery entry on kantharos.

03/21/08 - Kylix
Greek pottery entry on kylix.

03/18/08 - Assume the Purple
Do you know what it means to assume the purple? If not, read this explanation.

03/17/08 - Socrates
Profile of the philosopher Socrates.

03/14/08 - Frieze
Glossary entry on the architectural element called a frieze.

03/14/08 - Architrave
Glossary entry on the architectural element called the architrave.

03/14/08 - Orpheus
Profile of Orpheus, a musician so talented be could tame beasts, including the hound of Hades, and move mountains. Orpheus braved the Underworld and returned to light on his own power. He is also credited with the institutions of Greek pederasty and the Orphic mystery religion.

03/10/08 - Rhea Silvia
Glossary entry on the mother of Romulus and Remus.

03/08/08 - Orpheus
Glossary entry on the musician Orpheus.

03/07/08 - People in the Life of Hercules
An index of people Hercules encountered mostly outside the 12 labors. For the 12 labors, see the Apollodorus Concordance.

03/07/08 - More You Should Know About Hercules
Besides the 12 Labors, the legendary hero Hercules led an eventful and excess-filled life that ended when he became one of the gods and gave a weapon needed to win the Trojan War to Philoctetes.

03/0508 - Icarus
Glossary entry on Daedalus' son, Icarus.

03/02/08 - Jason
What you need to know about the legendary Greek hero Jason -- aside from the adventures of the Argonauts on their quest for the Golden Fleece.

03/01/08 - Apollonius of Rhodes' Argonautica
An etext of an public translation of Apollonius of Rhode's story of the adventures of Jason and the Argonauts.

February

02/28/08 - Glossary
Capernaum
Isthmian Games

02/27/08 - Theseus
Articles and information on Theseus, one of the heroes and founder-kings of ancient Greece.

02/25/08 - Ahura Mazda
Glossary entry on the Zoroastrian sky god.

02/22/08 - Periods of Ancient Egypt
An illustrated step-by-step of the periods in Egyptian history from the Old Kingdom to the Roman period.

02/22/08 - 2nd Intermediate Period
The 2nd Intermediate Period of ancient Egypt -- another period of de-centralization, like the first -- began when the 13th Dynasty pharaohs lost power and Asiatics known as "Hyksos" took over.

02/21/08 - Paul Cartledge
Paul Cartledge is a Cambridge historian known for his books on ancient Sparta.

02/21/08 - Donald Kagan
Donald Kagan is a Yale historian of ancient Greece and recipient of numerous awards -- and controversy.

02/20/08 - Middle Kingdom Egypt
During the Middle Kingdom the pharaoh regained strength and power. Mining expeditions and trade increased building projects. Osiris became an important god.

02/18/8 - 1st Intermediate Period Egypt
Intermediate periods were times when the centralized government of Egypt broke down. The first intermediate period was partly caused by rising power of local nomarchs rather than foreign powers.

02/18/08 - Mt. Lycaeon
Mt. Lycaeon was the site in Arcadia where Zeus turned a man into a wolf, according to Greek mythology.

02/16/08 - Old Kingdom Egypt
A look at what went on in the period known as the Old Kingdom of ancient Egypt.

02/11/08 - Inscriptions
Epigraphy, which means writing on something, refers to writing on an enduring substance like stone. As such, it was impressed, inscribed, or chiseled rather than written with the stylus or reed pen applied to ordinarily decaying media like paper and papyrus. Common topics of epigraphy include epitaphs, dedications, honors, laws, and magisterial registers.

02/11/08 - Tarpeian Rock
Basics on the place the Romans used for execution.

02/09/08 - Rats Deserting a Sinking Ship
Find out what Latin expression was used to convey the idea of rats deserting a sinking ship.

02/06/08 - Populares
Roman group distinguished from the Optimates.

02/04/08 - Upper Egypt
One of two major divisions of ancient Egypt. Also see Lower Egypt.

02/02/08 - Most Beautiful Women
Myth, history, and legend provide evidence of ancient women who were considered beautiful, but for most of them, we have no reliable portraits.

02/01/08 - Constantine III
Constantine III was a soldier, the last of 3 usurpers, proclaimed emperor in 407 by the army he led into Northern Gaul, for purposes of rescuing Gaul from the barbarian Vandals, Sueves and Alamanni.

02/01/08 - Belisarius
Belisarius (c. A.D. 500-65), Justinian's famous general, who was married to a former actress, Antonina, is known primarily through the writings of Procopius.

January

01/31/08 - Procopius
Procopius was a Byzantine official and historian best known for his unofficial secret history of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora.

01/30/08 - Ancient Queens
Descriptions and portraits of some of the most powerful ancient queens.

01/30/08 - The Te Tao Ching by Lao-Tse
An e-text of an English translation of the Chinese philosophical work attributed to Lao Tsu (Lao Tzu, Lao Zi, LaoZi) known as the Tao Te Ching or The Way. It was important for the religions of Taoism and Buddhism. Lao Tsu lived in th 6th century B.C. at court in the Zhou Dynasty, which was the longest in Chinese history.

01/29/08 - Summary of Book XXIV of the Odyssey
Information on the last book of the Odyssey, a summary, notes, and identification of major characters.

01/27/08 - Stilicho
Glossary entry on the military leader Stilicho.

01/26/08 - Emperor Honorius
Glossary entry on Honorius, son of Theodosius I.

01/25/08 - Logographers
Glossary entry on the predecessors of the historians.

01/25/08 - Abdera
Glossary entry on the Thracian city.

01/22/08 - Domus Aurea
A step by step pictorial look at the domus aurea.

01/22/08 - Valley of the Kings
A glossary entry on the Valley of the Kings.

01/22/08 - Summary of Book XXIII of the Odyssey
Information on the 23rd book of the Odyssey, a summary, notes, and identification of major characters.

01/21/08 - Book Review: Ad Infinitum
Review of Nicholas Ostler's biography of the Latin language.

01/20/08 - Canopic Jars
An FAQ on the uses of the canopic jars.

01/20/08 - Matronalia
Guest article on the Roman festival of Matronalia.

01/18/08 - Appian Way
Pictures of the Appian Way.

01/18/08 - Tyrant
Glossary entry on Tyrant.

01/15/08 - Latin Irregular Verb Eo
Paradigm of the Latin verb eo.

01/15/08 - Augustus on Rome
An FAQ on Augustus' saying about Rome and marble.

01/15/08 - Summary of Book XXII of the Odyssey
Information on the 22nd book of the Odyssey, a summary, notes, and identification of major characters. Also a quiz.

01/15/08 - Glossary
Lustratio
Olympias
Ulysses

01/09/08 - Glossary
Rex sacrificulus
Sacrifice
Dodona

01/08/08 - Summary of Book XXI of the Odyssey
Information on the 21st book of the Odyssey, a summary, notes, and identification of major characters. Also a quiz.

01/06/08 - Glossary
Pomoerium
Prodigium

01/05/08 - Luperci
The Luperci were the priests who officiated at the Lupercalia. Although following its tradition, Mark Antony offended certain spectators by performing his duties as one of the Luperci in the nude.

01/05/08 - Saints
Here are some of the saints, male and female, of the early Christian Church.

01/03/08 - How Many Latin Verb Endings Are There?
The number may seem overwhelming, but people do learn languages with even more.

01/02/08 - Summary of Book XX of the Odyssey
Information on the 20th book of the Odyssey, a summary, notes, and identification of major characters. Also a quiz.

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