Category Archives: Hellenistic Greece

Some Say It’s True, and Some Say It’s a Fable

Posted on June 17, 2023 by Nathan

Breverton’s Phantasmagoria: A Compendium of Monsters, Myths and Legends, by Terry Breverton – This is a collection of myths and legends, some ancient and others pretty recent. They include people, places, artifacts, and both mythical animals and weird beliefs about … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Art, Authors, Book Reviews, Comics, Conspiracy Theories, Dreams, Greek Mythology, Hellenistic Greece, Historical Personages, History, Humor, Jonathan Swift, Language, Magic, Monsters, Mythology, Philosophy, Roman, Sesame Street, Television, William Shakespeare | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Spring Queen and the Demon Queen

Posted on May 20, 2023 by Nathan

The Madman’s Library: The Strangest Books, Manuscripts and Other Literary Curiosities from History, by Edward Brooke-Hitching – This was one I bought based on an Amazon recommendation, or something of the sort. It’s not what I would have expected from … Continue reading →

Posted in African, Art, Authors, Book Reviews, Conspiracy Theories, Economics, Egyptian, Fairy Tales, Feminism, Food, Greek Mythology, Greek Philosophy, Hellenistic Greece, Hinduism, History, Islam, Judaism, Language, Libraries, Magic, Monsters, Mythology, Philosophy, Relationships, Religion, Robert Rankin, Socialism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A Day for Esther

Posted on March 22, 2019 by Nathan

Purim ends at sundown today. I can’t say I grew up knowing much at all about Jewish holidays. I wonder if kids growing up in New York City do, or if they just know that they’re days some people get … Continue reading →

Posted in Feminism, Hellenistic Greece, History, Holidays, Judaism, Middle East, Prejudice, Religion, Roman Empire | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

I’m on Top of the World

Posted on October 22, 2018 by Nathan

I saw a link on Twitter to this article on Ancient Origins, a site that presumably isn’t always reliable. What it says here seems to have all been verified elsewhere, however, with nothing about aliens building the pyramids or anything. … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, Authors, Babylonian, Christianity, Conspiracy Theories, Douglas Adams, Greek Mythology, Hellenistic Greece, History, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Humor, Islam, Judaism, Maps, Mesopotamia, Monsters, Mythology, Philosophy, Religion, Science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Doubters of the Divine

Posted on February 14, 2016 by Nathan

Battling the Gods: Atheism in the Ancient World, by Tim Whitmarsh – This book is partially a response to the idea that atheism is a new idea, a product of the age of science and reason that turns against ancient … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Book Reviews, Christianity, Fairy Tales, Feminism, Greek Mythology, Greek Philosophy, Hellenistic Greece, History, Humor, Mythology, Philosophy, Religion, Robert Rankin, Roman Empire | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eye on the Ideal

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Nathan

The phrase “ship of fools” is pretty common, being the title of a few different books and songs, as well as a play that the Unabomber wrote while in prison. It originates, however, with Plato, who intended it as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Greek Philosophy, Hellenistic Greece, History, Philosophy, Politics, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

You Say You’ve Seen Seven Wonders

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Nathan

We’ve all heard of the Seven Wonders of the World, even though only one of them is still standing today. Why seven, though? I don’t know. Something about the ancient Greeks who chose it considering it a number of wholeness. … Continue reading →

Posted in Hellenistic Greece, History, Music, They Might Be Giants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments