The Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD) was a Roman emperor and a Stoic philosopher, today mostly known for his Meditations. Born in 121 as Marcus Annius Verus, he grew up in a…
Renaissance Music: A Beginner’s Guide
Renaissance Music is traditionally known as the period of classical music from around 1400 to 1600. The term ‘renaissance’ comes from the from the Latin renasci, meaning ‘to be reborn’.…
A Sonnet to Heavenly Beauty by Joachim du Bellay
Whenever I am struck by melancholy and I am in dire need of some distraction, I usually turn to art for consolation. It reminds me of Bertrand Russell’s Conquest of…
Romulus and Remus
According to Roman mythology, Romulus and Remus were the legendary founders of Rome. The story of the twin brothers suckled by a she-wolf would become the city’s iconic foundation myth.…
The Seven Kings of Rome
While most people are familiar with the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, with figures like Cicero, Caesar, and Augustus, few people know of the existence of the Roman Kingdom.…
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) was a French novelist and playwright, mostly known for his historical novels such as The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. Dumas was born in…