People
While modern philosophers may face criticism and debates regarding their ideas, the early thinkers of Ancient Greece endured challenges far beyond what most could imagine today. From sacrificing relationships and livelihoods, to risking imprisonment or death, the fathers of Western philosophy braved immense adversity in their relentless pursuit of knowledge and understanding. Their devotion to … Read more
The ancient city of Rome has captured people’s imagination for centuries with its tales of war, power struggles, debauchery and dramatic downfalls of some of the most influential figures in history. From its very beginnings under the mythological twins Romulus and Remus, to its rise as the seat of a massive empire under legendary rulers … Read more
The Polymath Philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria was a mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, teacher, political advisor, and writer. The daughter of well-known mathematician Theon of Alexandria and an unknown mother, Hypatia was born in Alexandria, Egypt sometime between 350 and 370 CE. Alexandria was then part of the Roman Empire and was the third largest city in … Read more
Poison and Imperial Intrigue Many centuries before the likes of Charlotte Corday, Shi Jianqiao and Mata Hari stalked their victims, a female assassin struck terror into the hearts of the wealthy and powerful citizens of Imperial Rome. Locusta was an assassin specialising in poison who thrived during the reign of the Emperor Nero (54-68 CE) and was … Read more
Sparta’s Charioteer Champion Today, women in sport are campaigning to ensure that they have equal pay and access to the same training and facilities as their male counterparts. Unfortunately, women across the world are fighting for their place in sport. For years professional sport has suffered from culturally and institutionally ingrained sexism which excludes women. … Read more
Priestess and Property Developer Lying in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius on the Bay of Naples, Pompeii is an enduring reminder of the power of nature and the ordinary people who lived in the complex, advanced and often cruel Roman world. Once a large town with a busy port, Pompeii was buried by a volcanic … Read more
Before Rome was established as an ancient superpower, it had a series of kings from bordering tribes. Two of these kings were brought to power by Tanaquil: the queen of Rome and kingmaker. The daughter of a powerful Etruscan family, Tanaquil married Tarquinius Priscus from the nearby kingdom of Etruria. She knew that while they … Read more
The Ashes-Eating Wonder Builder The Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Lighthouse of Alexandria… You may have heard of some if not all of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but did … Read more
Swimming for Victory What is lurking beneath the waves? Do we know what unseen dangers we may encounter as we explore the world’s oceans? What is watching us in the dark depths of the seas? If you’ve seen any disaster movie set on the high seas, you’ll know what we mean. You may even be … Read more
Singing Both Ways Only three sources of information about Sappho’s life survive: what we find in her poetry, contemporary histories and testimonies written by readers of her work, hundreds of years after Sappho was writing. If we read her own work biographically, we learn in the Brothers Poem (discovered as recently as 2014!) that Sappho … Read more