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9 Facts About John Wayne, the Famous Cowboy of Classic Cinema

John Wayne remains one of the greatest stars of classic film. Who was the man behind his many on-screen personas?

How Medieval Britons Remembered the Fall of Roman Britain

How was the fall of Roman Britain remembered by the medieval Britons? Gildas (6th century) provides our best native account, but how accurate is it?

10 Locations from the Odyssey & Where They Are in Real Life

From Troy to Ithaca, where are the real-life places that Odysseus could have visited on his long journey home in Homer’s “The Odyssey”?

ANCIENT HISTORY

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Vampire, by Edvard Munch with Engraving entitled “Death of a Bohemian Vampire”
How Greek Folklore Gave Birth to Eastern Europe’s Vampire Myths
21 hours ago • Elmedin Salihagic
Illustration of Finn McCool with Blunderbore carrying Jack the Giant Killer
The Giants That Haunt Britain and Ireland’s Earliest Myths
a day ago • Heather Reilly
How Medieval Britons Remembered the Fall of Roman Britain

How was the fall of Roman Britain remembered by the medieval Britons? Gildas (6th century) provides our best native account, but how accurate is it?

10 Locations from the Odyssey & Where They Are in Real Life

From Troy to Ithaca, where are the real-life places that Odysseus could have visited on his long journey home in Homer’s “The Odyssey”?

What Was the Real Manpower of a Roman Legion Throughout History?

The size of the legion varied quite drastically throughout the course of Rome’s long history.

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Why the Ohio-Class Submarine is the Most Terrifying Warship Ever Built
5 hours ago • Ryan Watson
christianity church tang china
China as a Forgotten Outpost of Christianity Under the Tang Dynasty
a day ago • Neven Rogić
9 Facts About John Wayne, the Famous Cowboy of Classic Cinema

John Wayne remains one of the greatest stars of classic film. Who was the man behind his many on-screen personas?

How Were Japanese Martial Arts Invented (& Exported)?

The development of Judo, Karate, Korean Taekwondo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can all be linked to the fall of the samurai and the modernization of Meiji Japan.

What Was the Red Ball Express in WWII?

After D-Day, the Red Ball Express was tasked with transporting vital supplies to troops on the front.

 
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PHILOSOPHY

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Albert Camus beside a stylized silhouette and moon
Why Does Camus Write So Much About Sleep? A Guide to His Related Works
4 hours ago • Simon Lea
Bust of Caligula next to Albert Camus
What Camus’ “Caligula” Teaches You About the Absurd
8 hours ago • Simon Lea
The Philosophy of Minimalism: Less Is More in a Consumer Society

Minimalism encourages intentional living by reducing excess, focusing on what truly matters, and finding fulfillment through simplicity and purpose.

What Made Greek Philosophers So Unique?

Ancient Greece is the birthplace of Philosophy, and Greek Philosophers still remain some of the most unique thinkers of Western civilization.

The 5 Most Influential Books on Ethics

Ethics may strike you as the art of arguing whether to save a puppy or a philosopher from a burning building (spoiler: not even philosophers are sure what the right answer is here).

ART & ARTISTS

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Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Death: The Tragic End of an Artistic Genius
a day ago • Anastasiia Kirpalov
Madame de Pompadour before an Indian landscape
How Chintz Became the Indian Textile Craze That Took Over Europe
2 days ago • Stuti Verma
10 English Words You Didn’t Know Had Celtic Origins

Discover the roots of ten words that came into the English language from the neighboring group of Celtic languages.

19 Famous American Paintings Everyone Should Know

Each of these 19 famous American paintings is iconic for its own reasons and showcases a vast range of styles, history, and artistic beauty.

The Real Identity of Grendel and the Monsters of Beowulf

The forces of darkness in Beowulf pervade the epic poem. Let’s understand them.

TRAVEL & CULTURE

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Explore Montmartre Through Van Gogh’s Eyes
4 days ago • Meaghan Branham
Collage of classical and impressionist art
8 Must-See Highlights at the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
10 days ago • Laura Pattara
15 Great History Museums Every History Lover Must Visit at Least Once

From Cairo to London, these 15 world-class history museums house humanity's most breathtaking treasures, ancient artifacts, and cultural milestones.

5 Underrated Historical Gems in Northern England to Visit Beyond London

While the south has no problem attracting tourists, Northern England has some of the most underrated places to visit for history buffs.

10 Must-Visit Historic Villages in Portugal

These historic villages in Portugal preserve medieval walls, Roman ruins, and local traditions that bring the nation’s past to life.

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How Did a Radical English Priest Spark a Secret Reformation Centuries Before Luther?
2 days ago • Ryan Watson
King David Playing the Harp, by Peter Paul Rubens with christ as good shepherd marten van valckenborch
The Bible as a Work of Ancient Literature Is a Different Story
3 days ago • Allen Baird
12 Common Sayings People Might Not Realize Come From the Bible

There are over 300 common sayings people use in everyday conversation that come from the Bible. Some have retained their meaning, while others have changed.

What Were the Four Actions Jesus Took Before Feeding the Five Thousand?

Before the miracle of multiplying two small fish and five loaves, Jesus did four specific things: taking, blessing, breaking, and giving.

The Bible as a Work of Ancient Literature Is a Different Story

The Bible as literature is a library of diverse ancient texts. Its authors used sophisticated literary strategies to craft a story of immense power.

jane austen great english novelist
Was Jane Austen Really the Last Great English Novelist?
Mary Shelley beside a painting of Percy Bysshe Shelley's funeral pyre
The Life and Genius of Mary Shelley, the Literary Giant Who Wrote Frankenstein
The Vantablack Controversy: Anish Kapoor vs. Stuart Semple

The sculptor and installation artist Anish Kapoor bought exclusive artistic rights to the world’s blackest black in 2016, resulting in widespread controversy and a longstanding feud with Stuart Semple.

Blue Fugates: The True Story of Kentucky’s Blue People

The Blue Fugates of Troublesome Creek baffled science for decades, until a rare mutation that caused the color was discovered.

The Seven Stages of Spiritual Alchemy: A Step-by-Step Guide

Spiritual alchemy is a practice that utilizes the ancient occult practice of alchemy as a metaphor to facilitate inner transformation & spiritual awakening.

Not Built in a Day, book by Roman historian Dr. Emma Southon
The Hidden History of Roman Slavery with Emma Southon (INTERVIEW)
Toledo Museum of Art's exhibition of 'Cursed! The Power of Magic in the Ancient World' curated by Jeffrey Spier
Curator Jeffrey Spier on ‘Cursed! The Power of Magic in the Ancient World’
Van Gogh Museum with Curator Edwin Becker
Curator Edwin Becker on van Gogh and the Making of a Multi-Sensory Exhibition

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