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Sometimes One Must Speak In An Indirect Way
There are times when one’s communications must be protected from the unwelcome attentions of third parties. The richness of a language’s vocabulary, and its embedded metaphors and cultural allusions, are powerful assistants to this end. I was recently reminded of this when reading an anecdote related by that most colorful of biographers, Ibn Khallikan. We…
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The Emperor Julian Cleans House With Bold Reforms
When a new leader assumes a position, it is often necessary for him to undertake significant reforms. If he wishes to make lasting changes to the system, he should undertake to do so both quickly and boldly. To wait too long is to risk seeing one’s foes united against you; and when embarking on a…
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The Special Fruitfulness Of Verona In Northern Italy
The humanist and historian Biondo Flavio (1392–1463) conducted a historical survey of all of Italy, going through the country region by region. The result of his labors was the massive Italia Illustrata, probably the first topographical survey since ancient times. We have recorded elsewhere his description of bird-hunting in Anzio. We will now linger over…
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Knowledge Is One Thing, But Implementing That Knowledge Is Something Else
For those who wish to seek it, precious knowledge can be found in many different places. The secrets of history, warfare, personality, leadership, good, evil, life, love and many other things can usually be located by diligent seekers. But it is one thing to know something: and it is quite another to put that knowledge…
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Charles Étienne Brasseur de Bourbourg: An Early Pioneer In Mesoamerican Studies
We have previously discussed the career and work of Fray Bernardino de Sahagún. Another major pioneer in the study of early Mexican antiquities was the intense French abbé Charles Étienne Brasseur de Bourbourg (1814–1874). He remains another name nearly lost to history, but a good case can be made that without his work, we would…
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Fate And Struggle (Podcast)
In this podcast, we discuss some questions about the role of “Adrastia” or “Nemesis,” the ancient goddess of retribution. We also talk about the redemptive power of struggle as the theme of the compelling 2011 film The Grey, which starred Liam Neeson.
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Adrastia: The Goddess Who Punishes Hubris And Arrogance
We have observed that one of the themes of ancient literature is the concept of Fate or Fortune. We find it first expressed in the plays and heroic poems of the Greeks; the idea then seeped into the writing of history and biography. Closely associated with this concept is the idea of divine retribution for…
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Fray Bernardino de Sahagún: The New World’s First Ethnographer
Little known today is the courageous Catholic friar, linguist, and ethnographer Fray Bernardino de Sahagún. He was born in Sahagún, Spain, in 1499 and drank deeply from the well of Renaissance humanism that had been washing over Europe for several decades. Mastering Latin at an early age, he startled his instructors with the intensity and depth…
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How To Solve The North Korea Problem (Podcast)
What is the motive behind North Korea’s belligerent behavior? Who is pulling the strings in the background? And what is the best way to resolve this situation? We discuss the power realities in East Asia and explore some options for the United States at home and abroad.
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To Curb North Korean Provocations, Pressure Must Be Placed On China
There is a steady stream of news these days about North Korean missile launches and nuclear tests. Accompanying this news are debates and discussions about how the United States should handle the situation. I wanted to offer my own assessments and opinion on the matter.
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Even When Glory Departs, Something Always Remains
The Italian humanist Ciriaco de’ Pizzicolli lived from 1391 to 1452. He is more commonly known as Cyriac of Ancona. While most humanists of his era were content to labor at their desks, he was unusual in that he sought to observe ancient monuments and inscriptions in person. He was, in fact, one of the…
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The Trial Of Galileo (Podcast)
The Italian astronomer Galileo was examined by the Inquisition for heresy in 1633. At issue was his advocacy of the heliocentric (sun-centered) view of the solar system. What was the significance of the trial, and what were the motivations of the participants?
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Sunday Movie Roundup (9/11/2017)
Maelstrom (2000) Director: Denis Villenueve
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Robert Leckie’s “Helmet For My Pillow” (Review)
I very much enjoy reading war memoirs. I think it’s because I recognize that the authors have tapped into special knowledge that the rest of us cannot access. They have seen beyond, somehow. Their experiences have stamped on them an indelible impression that neither time nor distance can erase. I will be honest: I am…
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Catching Birds In Anzio, Italy
The Italian humanist Biondo Flavio of Forli (1392-1463) was one of the great names of Renaissance humanism. His extensive Description of Italy (Italia Illustrata) collected anecdota and geographical information about every region of the country from ancient times until his own day. It was first published in 1451, but saw frequent additions and revisions until Flavio’s…
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The Wisdom Of Ibn Al-Sammak
The biographical encyclopedia of Ibn Khallikan–that deep well of collective anecdotal wisdom–has an interesting entry for one Abu Al-Abbas Muhammad Ibn Sabih. His surname was Al Mazkur, but like many famous figures it is his nickname that posterity recalls best. This nickname is Ibn Al-Sammak, which literally means “son of a fish-monger” in Arabic (the…
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A Video Review Of My Translation Of Sallust
Literary critic and reviewer Andrew Vittoria today released a video review of my latest book (published in June), a new translation of the works of the historian Sallust, The Conspiracy Of Catiline and The War Of Jugurtha. I very much appreciate the time he took to put together this quite detailed review:
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Bequeath Your Problems To Those Who Deserve Them
There is an amusing anecdote related in Chapter 60 of Gibbon’s Decline and Fall. The author is describing an encounter between Fulk of Neuilly (d. 1201), a mendicant preacher trying to win support for a Fourth Crusade, and Richard I Plantagenet of England. Fulk had been shopping his plans to various European monarchs, most of…
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When Embarked On A Great Enterprise, Do Not Look Back
When you have begun a great project, press forward until it is completed. Do not look back; do not be distracted by the ambient noise of life, the doubting whispers of others, or the gnawing doubts that will inevitably bore their way into your consciousness. Nothing great was ever accomplished by half-measures; and the failure…
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Are Paranormal Phenomena Real?
Is there any truth to the proposition that paranormal phenomena are real? If so, in what way? Is there more to this world than just atoms and the void? And does science have all the answers? We discuss these issues.
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The Loss Of The Liner “Empress Of Ireland”
I have long had a fascination with nautical lore. It is one of these interests that comes as a residue from having spent much time–perhaps too much time–by the ocean as a boy, toying with sailboats and motorboats, quahogs, crabs, bluefish, and what lies beyond the surf. It is impossible for me not to be…
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Sunday Film Roundup (8/27/2017)
I haven’t done a film roundup in a while. As you know, the recent articles here have been focused on subjects of more gravity. The following represent the most recent “new” movies I’ve seen.
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What You First Create, You Must Then Defend
Some people think that one big home run will set them on easy street for life. They think that when they accomplish something, the game is essentially finished, and they can move on to something else. But the world doesn’t really work that way. Very often, the reward of labor is more labor: but the…
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Why Worrying Is Pointless
For a good part of my life I used to worry excessively about things. When I was in college I worried about keeping up my grade point average and being able to complete Marine Corps Officer Candidate School; when I was on active duty I worried about doing my job well; when I started my…
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“Italy Is Excellent In All Things”
The Roman engineer and architect Vitruvius believed that one of Italy’s special gifts was its geographical location. The nation was so situated, he believed, to combine the positive aspects of both cool and warm climates. In his treatise De Architectura (VI.11), he notes that
Original copy of Cicero’s De Officiis (On Duties) published in Holland in 1642. From the collection of Fortress of the Mind.
Quintus Curtius 
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