Greek mythology has been a source of inspiration for artists and philosophers for millennia. This is in part because they are so well documented. But also because the ancient and classical Greeks were incredibly driven in their pursuit of creative perfection, known as arete. Particularly in the city-state of Athens, Greeks were pursuing ideals of […]
Ερμής (er-MEES) Hermes is one of the most popular gods in Greek mythology. He was always considered to be particularly fond of humans – and so the humans were particularly fond of him! The herald god is a crosser of boundaries and moves between the mortal world and the immortal realm – both Mt Olympus […]
The post is a bit different to our usual deep-dives into individual culture’s myths. Instead, I’ve asked a bunch of bloggers to write about the local folktales they grew up with. It’s so interesting to see how many similarities our stories have all over the world. Ghosts and gods, heroes and monsters have always been […]
The ancestors of the Poles were already present in what is now Poland since the earliest Roman records of the area, in the early centuries AD. They lived here first as West Slavic, Lechitic tribes, and later as a swiftly Christianized kingdom (formed by a tribe known as the Polans, hence Poland). This means that […]
Athens is without a doubt one of the most incredible historic destinations in the world. Besides being the birthplace of democracy, it is also the greatest centre of the classic sculptural, architectural, and artistic style that has defined art in the West for as long as the West has had an artistic tradition. In Athens, […]
Many commentators consider the Greco-Persian wars to be part of the foundation of western civilisation, and I largely agree. However, no historical event happens in a vacuum, and this is especially true for one which goes on to shape the world as we know it. So, in this article, I take a look at the […]
Heracles (also known as Herakles and Hercules) is the most important hero in Greek mythology. He features in many myths and plays, and various monsters in Greek mythology are created specifically to battle the heroic demi-god. Heracles is the son of Zeus and the mortal woman Alcmene – considered to be the most beautiful and […]
Feudalism is something that everyone has heard of but that few understand beyond the implication that there is a king, knights, and nobility. In reality, feudalism was a simple but effective (at least at first) form of governance that evolved quite naturally from the chaotic tribalism of Western Europe after the fall of the Western […]
Lisbon, Portugal is a fantastic destination, with beautiful attractions, brightly coloured buildings, and cobblestone streets. And that’s just the aesthetic! When you’re sightseeing in Lisbon, you can’t miss the striking Fado music, the unique seafood dishes, and the famous Pastel de Nata, among many other things. Basically, there’s a lot to love. We spent a […]
Athens is an incredible city to visit, for the beautifully visible history, the vibrant culture,… Heracles (also known as Herakles and Hercules) is the most important hero in Greek mythology…. Many commentators consider the Greco-Persian wars to be part of the foundation of western civilisation,… Rather than existing to scare naughty children and warn people […]
Athens is an incredible city to visit, for the beautifully visible history, the vibrant culture,… Lisbon, Portugal is a fantastic destination, with beautiful attractions, brightly coloured buildings, and cobblestone streets…. Most people who visit Meteora do so for a day, joining a tour that ticks… The Acropolis of Athens has always been so much more […]
The post is a bit different to our usual deep-dives into individual culture’s myths. Instead,… The Mongol culture is one of the most unique and impressive in the world. Their… Heracles (also known as Herakles and Hercules) is the most important hero in Greek mythology…. Rather than existing to scare naughty children and warn people […]
Hungary has an unusual and sprawling history. Today it’s a rather small country located in Eastern Europe, but it was once a very large country located in Eastern Europe, and before that it simply did not exist. It’s easy to forget that Hungary only came into being both as a country and as a people […]
The Balkan country of Croatia is a gorgeous land with a long and complex history. It’s placement between Central and Southeast Europe, and across the Adriatic from Italy, means that it’s been at the center of many military conflicts over the millennia. It is primarily due to these conflicts, that you’ll find some of the […]
