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Recent Posts In This Sign Conquer The Marks of a Tyrant Keep It Short Go to the Ant
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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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13

The Grandest of All Sepulchres

By Thucydides

On the annual Remembrance Day of ancient Athens, Pericles rose to remind the people of the City that grief alone was not the best way to honour the fallen.

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Picture: © Aleksandr Zykov, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.. Source.

Posted November 13 2021

14

The Glory of Athens

By Thomas Babington Macaulay

Classical Greece has been an inspiration to every generation because she stands for the triumph of liberty and reason over prejudice and power.

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Picture: By William Blake Richmond (1842-1921), Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.

Posted August 18 2021

15

The Liberty of Athens

By Thomas Babington Macaulay

The supreme arts and literature of ancient Athens all sprang from the State’s refusal to interfere in the life of the citizen.

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Picture: Photo by George E. Koronais, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.

Posted August 18 2021

16

A Conqueror Has No Friends

By Quintus Curtius Rufus

When Alexander the Great threatened the people of Scythia, their ambassadors reminded him that a conqueror has many more burdens to carry than an ally has.

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Picture: © Шухрат Саъдиев (Shukhrat Sadiev), Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.. Source.

Posted June 25 2021

17

Caesar Crosses the Rubicon

By Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus

When Julius Caesar defied the Senate’s explicit order to resign his military command, he knew there could be no turning back.

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Picture: © Sergio bellavista, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.. Source.

Posted June 24 2021

18

Nero’s Torches

By Cornelius Tacitus

Sensing that the Great Fire of Rome in 64 (though entertaining) was damaging his public image, the Emperor Nero looked around for someone to blame.

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Picture: By Henryk Siemiradzki (1843–1902), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.

Posted May 10 2021

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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