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Classical History

Tales of tragedy, ambition and heroism from the Battle of Marathon and Hannibal’s passage of the Alps to Caesar’s fateful crossing of the Rubicon.

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7

An Execrable Crime

By Anonymous (‘A. H.’)

Marcus Furius Camillus knew he must make the Falisci submit to Rome, but the method one man proposed was more than he could stomach.

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Picture: By Francesco de’ Rossi (1510–1563), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.

Posted August 28 2022

8

The Tragedy of Coriolanus

By Anonymous (‘A. H.’)

Roman statesman Gnaeus Marcius Coriolanus was thrust out the City for his hardline politics, but he did not stay away for long.

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Picture: By Heinrich Friedrich Füger (1751-1818), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.

Posted August 21 2022

9

Treat Me Like a King!

By Flavius Arrianus

When Porus, the Indian king, surrendered to Alexander the Great at Jhelum, he had only one request to make of him.

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Picture: From the Walters Art Museum, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.

Posted June 25 2022

10

An Errand of Love

By Publius Ovidius Naso (Ovid)

Leander recalls that first night when he dared the perilous waters of the Hellespont, and swam to meet his lover Hero.

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Picture: © Lure, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.. Source.

Posted May 29 2022

11

The Night Vesuvius Blew

By Pliny the Younger

Pliny was only about nine when his uncle left to go and help rescue the terrified townspeople of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

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Picture: Photo by NASA, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.

Posted May 8 2022

12

A Surfeit of Lampreys

By Lucius Cassius Dio Cocceianus

Augustus, the Roman Emperor, invited himself to dine at the luxury Naples villa of Publius Vedius Pollio, but a broken goblet thoroughly spoilt the evening.

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Picture: © Salvatore Capuano, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain image.. Source.

Posted February 26 2022

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★ Trial and Crucifixion In ‘Do-bet,’ the sequel to his popular ‘Vision of Piers the Ploughman,’ Will Langland dreams about the trial of Jesus Christ before Pontius Pilate, and what followed.

For Today • April 5 • Good Friday

★ The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere When Parliament sent the Army against American colonists, people still calling themselves ‘British’ had to decide very quickly what that meant to them.

For Today • April 18 • Paul Revere warns American Colonists

In This Sign Conquer Bishop Eusebius recalls what Constantine told him about the vision that brought him the crown.

Posted February 26 • The Copy Book

Phrases Use phrases such as ‘to the town’ in sentences, with nouns or with verbs.

Posted February 26

The Marks of a Tyrant Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle explains what it is that defines a tyranny.

Posted February 25 • The Copy Book

Keep It Short Plutarch argues that it when it comes to strong speech, less is always more.

Posted February 24 • The Copy Book

Anagrams Shuffle the letters of each of these words to make new ones. See if you can match the number indicated.

Posted February 23 • Think and Speak

Polyword: Mere Make as many words as you can using the letters of one nine-letter word. Can you beat our score?

Posted February 21 • Think and Speak

Go to the Ant Solomon recommends taking lessons from one of God’s smallest but most hard-working creatures.

Posted February 20 • The Copy Book

Chariots of Steam Erasmus Darwin imagines how steam power will change the world.

Posted February 16 • The Copy Book

Music Video Modest Mussorgsky: Sorochinsky Fair: Gopak

Posted February 16

Fragments Develop these short phrases into complete sentences.

Posted February 15 • Think and Speak

The Moral Case for Family Farms Richard Cobden called on Parliament to support small, family-owned farms.

Posted February 14 • The Copy Book

Hiawatha Takes a Photograph Lewis Carroll records a suburban photoshoot in the style of Longfellow.

Posted February 13 • The Copy Book

Nouns of Number William Cobbett gives his son James some helpful examples of collective nouns.

Posted February 13 • The Copy Book

Hiawatha’s Inspiration Henry Longfellow tells us how his tale of a heroic Native American warrior came to him.

Posted February 12 • The Copy Book

Near Synonyms These words have very similar meaning but they are not the same — can you show the difference?

Posted February 12

Music Video Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Hiawatha: And They Said Farewell Forever

Posted February 12

Music Video Leroy Anderson: Irish Suite: II. The Minstrel Boy

Posted February 11

The Travellers and the Axe Two men find an axe, and then find some trouble, but they aren’t keen on sharing either of them.

Posted February 11 • The Copy Book

Train

Posted February 9 • Think and Speak

The Prophecy of Peter of Pomfret Peter foretold that King John would cease to be England’s sovereign, and he was right, though John still wore his crown.

Posted February 9 • The Copy Book