Manolis is inspired by the economic crisis today! In 2001, when we last used drachmas, 1000 of them was a very small amount, about 3 euros. But in antiquity when this man was fined 1000 drachmas for reminding the Athenians of their own misfortunes, it WAS a big deal. Who was he? »
In the modern era of New Media, Television still reigns supreme. Some archaeologists and historians relish the opportunity of being in the spotlight, while the rest dread it. The following announcement will benefit the ones who wish to visit their audience in their own home through the small screen. “We are looking for a person with good knowledge of the Norman invasion of Britain and consequent Norman architecture- castles and fortifications, keeps, cathedrals, monasteries and more. The r... »
On the night of May 30, 1941 two young men, Manolis Glezos and Apostolos Santas were wondering in Athens. By then, the city was occupied by the brutal German forces. The men avoided carefully the military patrols while they walked across Plaka, the nineteenth century neighbourhood. Their footsteps brought them at the foot of the Acropolis. The climbed carefully uphill and they headed for the top of the Sacred Rock. Without losing valuable time, they reached for the Swastica that was desecrating ... »
History… is indeed little more than the register of the crimes, follies and misfortunes of mankind. (Edward Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire) »
For the past few months the Greeks have been the target of many demeaning jokes across the European Union. The near-bankruptcy of Greece caused the indignation of our European ‘Allies’, because of the fear that they will have to pay for my country’s alleged bailout. We have been called many things: disorganized, irresponsible, crooks, swindlers, fraudsters, cheaters. The image they forged for us hurts! My new identity as a fraudster is impossible to swallow or accept without protest. I have been... »
Manolis is lamenting the easiness of this question. Do not let him down! He was a very good Athenian general. But Thucydides says of him that “he was given to divination a bit too much”. Who was he? »
Today my twitter account has been attacked by phishers. Only yesterday have I received a direct email message from one of my followers, who wrote “Ha, ha. This you?”. A shortened url completed the sentence. I should have known instantly that a person who wrote such grammatically incorrect emails could not have been one of my followers. Despite my premonition, I clicked on the link at the bottom of the page, which said “If you want to read the full message, click here”. In my confused mind, I tho... »
“Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe” (H.G. Wells, Outline of History, 1920) »
There have been complaints that the previous competition was way too easy! So, here goes a new, improved and difficult quiz He is roasting you alive in a bull made of brass. And you’re thinking (!): ‘I shouldn’t have pissed off this tyrant’. Who is this tyrant? »
As you probably already know, I am teaching a third year module on Roman and American Slavery in Leicester. This year, and for the first time, I decided to encourage my students to contribute to a collective blog http://romanandamericanslavery.wordpress.com . Only then, it became obvious that they were intensely preoccupied more with issues of racism than with the generic topic of slavery. I suspect that the reason for such a preference is the fact that they have had no direct experience with sl... »