History, Mythology, Folklore, Philosophy
Ptolemy XII, nicknamed Auletes (“the flutist” or “the piper”), lived a life thoroughly suffused with ruthless dynastic intrigue. He grew up during the reign of his formidable grandmother, Cleopatra III (queen of Egypt since 141 or 140 BCE), who, after the death of her husband Ptolemy VIII in 116 BCE, continued to wield power through […] The post Ptolemy “The Flutist” Executed His Own Daughter…
This painting, by Gerard Hoet II (1698-1760), was inspired by the myths and legends of the Greek hero, Theseus. In particular, Hoet’s scene draws from an early event from when Theseus was living with his mother in Troezen. Theseus’ story began when King Aegeus of Athens visited Troezen and struck up an affair with Princess […] The post Theseus Finds His Father’s Sword, by Gerard Hoet II…
Alexander Hamilton (c. 1755/1757-1804) “Among the most formidable of the obstacles which the new Constitution will have to encounter may readily be distinguished the obvious interest of a certain class of men in every State to resist all changes which may hazard a diminution of the power, emolument, and consequence of the offices they hold […] The post Alexander Hamilton appeared first on The…
Musa, also known as Thermusa, was an Italian slave who was sent by a Roman emperor to live in the exotic court of a Parthian king. She orchestrated a remarkable social ascent through slavery, concubinage, and courtly consort politics to become Queen of the Parthians and the mother of a future Parthian king. To understand […] The post The Tale Of Musa—The Italian Slave Who Became A Queen Of Parthia…
This rich banquet scene by the Dutch artist Cornelis Troost (c. 1697 –1750) contains a subtle but deadly secret. If one looks closely at the space just above the banqueters, a sword can be seen precariously dangling from a thin cord. If the knot loosened or if the cord broke, the exposed blade would plunge […] The post Damocles At The Table Of The Tyrant Dionysius Of Syracuse, By Cornelis Troost…
Murasaki Shikibu (c. 970s-1014?) “As far as I can see, halfhearted refuge in religion is more likely to get you lost in an evil rebirth than staying on in the mire of this world.” From Murasaki Shikibu’s The Tale of Genji (chapter 2), translated by Royall Tyler (Penguin Classics, 2003). The post Murasaki Shikibu appeared first on The Historian's Hut .
Olaf Haraldsson, also known as Saint Olaf, was a former Viking and mercenary who returned home to seize the throne of Norway around 1015. Successful in his campaign, he became King Olaf II of Norway by 1016 and asserted the kingdom’s independence against Danish and Swedish influence. Olaf zealously, if not heavy-handedly, championed the imposition […] The post The Tale Of Saint-King Olaf’s…
This unsigned print was published by Johann Schöffer (lived approximately 1468-1531) as part of a collection of illustrations inspired by ancient Roman history. In particular, the artwork draws from the writings of the historian Livy (c. 59 BCE-17 CE) to illuminate a dramatic legend about a clash between the ancient kingdom of Rome and its […] The post Horatii And Curiatii Print Published By…
Diodorus Siculus (c. 1st century BCE) “It is an excellent thing to be able to use the mistakes of others as warning examples for the correction of error, and, when we confront the vicissitudes of life, instead of having to re-investigate for ourselves, to be able to initiate the successes which have been achieved in […] The post Diodorus Siculus appeared first on The Historian's Hut .
Thomas Godfrey’s Prince of Parthia has a complicated legacy. It is credited as being the first theatrical play written and performed by Americans. Yet, this is a complicated claim, as Godfrey—who died in 1763—wrote the work more than a decade before the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). Godfrey never saw his play performed; […] The post Thomas Godfrey And His Controversial…