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Odysseus & His Epic Odyssey - The Ultimate Homecoming Voyage of Greek Mythology
Homer's epic poem, the Odyssey, is Greek mythology's greatest road trip, journey of redemption, and homecoming voyage all rolled into one. Our hero...
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Seven Invasions of Great Britain, 43-1940. - Major Foreign Attempts to Conquer the Island
Great Britain’s insular position has long made it both protected and coveted. Situated between the North Sea and the Atlantic, the island commanded...
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Article
J. E. B. Stuart's Sabers and Roses Ball of 1862 - An Evening's Break from the War - Almost
In September 1862, while in Urbana, Maryland, on the Maryland Campaign, Confederate Cavalry General J. E. B. Stuart (1833-1864) decided to take a break...
Definition
Winfield Scott - The General Who Mapped the Union Victory
Winfield Scott (1786-1866) was an American military leader famous for his brilliant tactics in battle, for his insistence on the value of a highly trained...
Article
Enki's Journey to Nippur - A Celebration of Life
Enki's Journey to Nippur (circa 2000 BCE) is a Sumerian origin myth explaining the creation of the temple at Eridu by the god Enki and how musical instruments...
Definition
Battle of Philippi (Philippi Races) - The First Organized Land Battle of the American Civil War
The Battle of Philippi (3 June 1861) was the first organized land engagement of the American Civil War, fought in Philippi, Virginia (present-day West...
Article
The Queen of the Night - The Mysterious Burney Relief
The Queen of the Night (also known as the "Burney Relief") is a high-relief terracotta plaque of baked clay, 19.4 inches (49.5 cm) high, 14.5 inches...
Definition
Early Dynastic Period In Egypt - Unification and the Rise of the First Egyptian Kings
The Early Dynastic Period in Egypt (circa 3150 to circa 2613 BCE) is the beginning of the historical era of the country during which the regions of...
Definition
Hara Castle
Hara Castle was originally built in 1496 as a subsidiary fortification to nearby Hinoe Castle, with upgrades made from 1599 to 1604. Later dismantled...
Definition
Assur - The Supreme God of the Ancient Assyrians
Assur (also Ashur, Anshar) is the god of the ancient Assyrians who was elevated from a local deity of the city of Ashur to the supreme god of the Assyrian...
Definition
Mahmud II - Reformist Sultan of the Ottoman Empire
Mahmud II was one of the most influential sultans of the Ottoman Empire. As a radical reformer, he strove to implement military and governmental reforms...
Definition
Fourteenth Amendment - Defining Birthright Citizenship
The Fourteenth Amendment is one of the most important and consequential additions to the United States Constitution. Ratified in 1868, it defines American...
Definition
Pazuzu - The Mesopotamian Demon of Destruction and Protection
Pazuzu is a Babylonian/Assyrian demon who was most popular in the first millennium BCE. He was the son of Hanbi (also Hanba), king of the demons of...
Definition
Nergal - The Mesopotamian God of Death, War, and Destruction
Nergal (also known as Erra and Irra) is the Mesopotamian god of death, war, and destruction. He began as a regional, probably agricultural, god of the...
Definition
Predynastic Period in Egypt - The Time Before History Began
The Predynastic Period in ancient Egypt is the time before recorded history, from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic Age and on to the rise of the First...
Definition
Penelope - The Loyal Wife of Odysseus
In Greek mythology, Penelope is the wife of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, and the mother of Telemachus. She is best known for her unwavering loyalty...
Article
Hymn to Nungal - A Praise Song for the Sumerian Goddess of Prisons
The Hymn to Nungal (circa 1894-1595 BCE) is a Sumerian poem praising Nungal, the goddess of prisons and rehabilitation (also associated with the underworld...
Definition
Ninurta - The Sumerian Hero-God of War
Ninurta (identified with Ningirsu, Pabilsag, and the biblical Nimrod) is the Sumerian and Akkadian hero-god of war, hunting, and the south wind. He...