To celebrate Valentine’s day, I chose Ovid for this Gallery about Love. He was the first to write about the art of love and gallantry. Ovid was born in 43 BCE. He was a talented poet. He was educated in Rome and traveled in Greece. He composed many beautiful works. "If there be anyone among you who is ignorant of the art of loving, let him read this poem and,… Read more
This gallery will take you to Delphi in Greece. Plutarch, who was a priest of Apollo in Delphi for several years, wrote a book about the oracles. Here are two passages from his book. Plutarch describes "the shrine of Earth" τὸ τῆς Γῆς ἱερὸν. "Accordingly we went round and seated ourselves upon the southern steps of the temple, looking towards the shrine of Earth and the stream of water" Read more
In December many of us have to find the perfect gift to offer to family and friends. Giving presents was essential in the ancient world. There is a strong tradition of exchanging or giving gifts. This gallery will show some gifts which might have been offered. The Sourcebook contains many passages about presents. Read more
Virgil, who lived during the same era as Augustus, wrote the Aeneid. This epic poem tells the story of the Trojan hero Aeneas and his adventures to found a new city in Italy and to start a new generation for the beginning of Rome. Augustus is cited several times in the Aeneid. This Gallery will show pictures of art inspired from the Aeneid and from the Roman Republic, and the… Read more
This gallery displays different means of transportation used by the Ancient Greeks: chariots, horses, ships. Chariot were also associated with funerals. In the following passage, Achilles is honoring Patroklos: 'But Achilles would not let the Myrmidons go, and spoke to his brave comrades saying, “Myrmidons, famed horsemen and my own trusted friends, not yet, I say, let us unyoke, but with horse and chariot draw near to the body and… Read more
