Ancient

The Buddha seated cross legged on a lotus throne, surrounded by scenes from his life. Tibet, 18th century. Photograph © 2023 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. All rights reserved. / Denman Waldo Ross Collection / Bridgeman Images.

The Search for the Historical Buddha

Arriving in the West in the 19th century, the Buddha of legend was stripped of supernatural myth and recast as a historical figure. What do we really know about him?

Vitellius led through the streets of Rome by the people, by Georges Rochegrosse, 1883

The Year of the Four, Five, Six Emperors

For citizens of Ancient Rome, the recurrence of brutal civil war was par for the course. For writers, it was an opportunity.

Panther-Dionysus scatters the pirates, who are changed to dolphins

Ancient Outtakes

Depicting an ancient world in which Amazons fought alongside men, winds had distinct characters, and tortoises sang.

What was the Impact of Julius Caesar’s Murder?

Julius Caesar was killed on 15 March 44 BC. We’ve heard about the ‘Ides of March’ – but what happened next?

How Has the Ancient World Been Appropriated in Modernity?

Nobody owns the past, but many have sought to use it to their own ends. The use, and abuse, of ancient history has been ever-present.

The Battle of Cannae

An unprecedented force of 86,000 men fought against Hannibal’s Carthaginian army on 2 August 216 BC.

Class Dismissed

Entering the ivory tower to investigate the ‘class’ in ‘Classics’.

King Minos and the Minotaur remain shrouded in mystery and mythology, yet evidence of a Bronze Age ‘Bull Cult’ at the Minoan palaces abounds. Were bulls merely for entertainment or did they have a deeper significance?