Archaeology provides tangible proof of past actions, civilizations, cultures. It is an essential tool for the writing of ancient history. And yet, its results can be abused, falsified or distorted. In the hands of an archaeologist the following pictures are nothing more than an amusing hoax. In the hands of others, though, it could turn into an undoubted proof that giants existed in Biblical times... »
Two weeks ago, from the 26th to the 28th March, the International Conference „Mediterranean Identities: Formation and Transformation” took place in Leicester. This was part of the successful and long standing collaboration between the Department of Classics at the University of Nottingham and the School of Archaeology and Ancient History at the University of Leicester. The participants, who came f... »
“History started badly and has been getting steadily worse.” (Goeffrey Williams and Ronald Searle, Down with Skool!, 1953) »
In 425 Aristophanes makes fun of this man’s love for war. In 405, 9 years after this man’s death, Aristophanes laments his loss and calls him a ‘hero’. He is speechless in Thucydides. Who is he? »
“It is a fair summary of history to say that the safeguards of liberty have been forged in controversies involving not very nice people.” (Felix Frankfurter, dissenting opinion in United States v. Rabinowitz, 1950) »
Manolis is rested and back on track after a wonderful, sunny Easter in Greece. So, he sent me this new and exciting quiz. He invaded a town in time of truce, surrounded the theater in which an assembly was taking place, shot everybody down, then killed all adult males and sold the women and children as slaves in order to get money for his mercenary army. An ancient historian says of him: “He... »