You can find a complete listing of all the articles on this site here. They are listed in reverse chronological order, and are all clickable links. Twenty-five articles are displayed per page, with the publication date included. To find older articles, click on the page numbers at the bottom.
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The Brutal Siege Of Amida
The Persian king Shapur II (A.D. 309–379) decided early in his reign to recover by force several of the Roman Empire’s eastern provinces, especially the rich lands of Mesopotamia and Armenia. In the year 359 he focused his attention on capturing the city of Amida; the city was located in the spot currently occupied by…
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Film Roundup (10/25/2017)
L’Argent (1983) (Money) Director: Robert Bresson
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Trust In Fate, Rely On Your Abilities, And Keep Moving
There are times in life when we need to have blind faith in forward momentum. We need cease the deliberations, the doubts, the equivocations, and the rationalizations. We should, instead, resolve to maintain a steady forward pace, trusting to our own abilities and the favorable intercession of Fortune. We may not have contingency plans for…
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The Man Of Action Should Not Expect Gratitude From Others
We have recently discussed ways of handling a lack of appreciation. A certain independence of spirit–a soaring greatness of soul–is one of the main ways we can limit our expectations of appreciation from others. Consider again, if you need to, the verses of Ibn Munir on this subject, which capture perfectly this spiritual independence. As…
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How To Deal With Feeling Underappreciated (Podcast)
A reader who is doing volunteer work says he’s feeling underappreciated and taken advantage of in his work. He wants to know to maintain his focus and positivity, and at the same protect himself from being used. We discuss some strategies and insights.
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At What Point Can A Man Be Called Happy?
The historian Herodotus (I.30) relates an anecdote involving a conversation between the Lydian king Croesus and the Athenian statesman Solon. Solon once found himself as a guest at Croesus’s court. The king knew that Solon was renowned for his wise judgment and careful consideration of life’s important questions. So he could not resist asking the…
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John Ireland: Captured By Cannibals In The South Seas
We have here related incredible tales of suffering, adventure, and endurance. The little-known account of the adventures of John Ireland ranks high on the list of harrowing stories of nineteenth century explorations. The world was a larger place then, vastly less explored than now, and some places in the remoter regions of the globe were…
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Dealing With Treachery And Treason
Betrayal, treachery, and treason are among the most hated of crimes. From antiquity until our own time, commanders have devised numerous ways to prevent or limit them. Some examples are presented here. The reader will discover that all of them involve either incentives or punishments; sometimes a mixture of the two is employed. The Roman commander…
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Why You Should See “Blade Runner 2049” (Podcast)
In this podcast we talk about Denis Villenueve’s new film, the visually dazzling Blade Runner 2049. In conception and execution, this film accomplishes the rare feat of being a sequel that is entirely worthy of its predecessor. We’ll give a few reasons why this movie is worth a careful viewing, and why I think it…
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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…
Original copy of Cicero’s De Officiis (On Duties) published in Holland in 1642. From the collection of Fortress of the Mind.
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