Analysis of the World of Virgil: Eclogues, Georgics, and the Aeneid

Virgil transformed Rome’s past into prophecy and poetry into conscience. From the shepherds of Mantua to the heroes of empire, his voice became the soul of Rome’s Golden Age—and the eternal guide of Western imagination.

The Religion of Ancient Rome: How Romans Worshipped Their Gods

In ancient Rome, religion was a public duty, not a private creed. Through ritual, sacrifice, and the worship of countless gods, Romans sought divine favor to sustain both state and soul, blending piety, power, and tradition into the fabric of empire.

Humble Costume or Smart Branding? Zuckerberg’s Halloween Roman Look Explained

Zuckerberg’s family dressed up as Romans for Halloween—simple costumes, big reactions. The look fits a long pattern: he keeps it low-key while steering attention. Rome had a word for that balance. So do markets.

From Lemuria to Halloween: Rome’s Ancient Festival of Spirits

Long before Halloween, Romans held Lemuria—a midnight festival to appease ghosts with beans and bronze, guarding their homes from restless spirits.

Caesar’s Comet: How a Seven-Day Star Helped Found an Empire

In 44 BCE a bright star rose over Caesar’s funeral games. Romans called it the Julian Star. Poets, coins, and politics made it immortal. What really appeared—and how did it become proof of a god?

The Roman Supernatural: Magic, Omens, Haunted Houses, Ghosts and Rituals

In a world ruled by signs and shadows, the Romans saw meaning in every tremor and whisper. Fear was not weakness but wisdom—their way of reading a universe alive with gods, ghosts, and omens.

Mare Clausum: How Romans Managed Extreme Storms, Floods, and Monsoons

Winter seas closed, rivers burst their banks, and rare “medicanes” raked the coast—yet Rome kept grain and shipping moving. The Empire had enforced weather rules, from mare clausum schedules and storm-proof ports to timed monsoon runs.

A Well Full of War: Skeletons in Croatia May Be Victims of Rome’s Forgotten Battle

A decade-old excavation in Osijek, Croatia, revealed seven intact skeletons in a Roman well. A paper just published in PLOS ONE re-examines the find and argues they were likely soldiers from a third-century clash near Mursa.

Empire Size Comparison: How did the Roman Empire Compare to Alexander’s or the Mongols?

Which empire really “ruled the map”? The answer depends on what we count and when we take the snapshot. Let's set the rules first—then follow three peaks (Rome under Trajan, Alexander’s lightning-built realm, and the Mongol high plateau) to see what the numbers can prove—and what they can’t.

Not Evil by Default: How Romans (and Stoics) Judged Suicide

Romans spoke of voluntaria mors—“a voluntary death”—long before Europe coined the word “suicide.” From Cato at Utica to Seneca in a warm bath, and from battlefield honor to comic threat, the Roman world weighed self-killing through philosophy, law, and performance.

This Surprising Roman Theme Spawned 300+ Paintings — Here’s Why Artists Couldn’t Quit It

Artists treated a specific theme as lesson, controversy, and dare, painting it in registers that range from luminous piety to disquieting eroticism.

Nero Unmasked: The Fire, the Fame, and the Fury of Rome’s Most Infamous Ruler (Part 2)

Through myth, theatre, and fire, Nero transformed scandal into legend. Reviled by elites yet adored by crowds, he turned empire into stagecraft and himself into Rome’s most enduring paradox.