A collection of great stories that teach, inform, and inspire millions of readers.
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ANCIENT HISTORY
View All PostsDespite being only a few lines long, Odysseus’ episode with the Lotus Eaters is one of the most poignant parts of Homer’s Odyssey.
The size of the legion varied quite drastically throughout the course of Rome’s long history.
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HISTORY
View All PostsDuring the Medieval Period, the arming sword and longsword dominated. As time progressed, so did the weapons, leading to the development of the rapier.
Old West Saloons are one of the quintessential tropes of the Wild West, but what were they really like inside?
PHILOSOPHY
View All PostsWhile hedonism advocates seeking fleeting delights, Epicureanism suggests cultivating long-term peace and fulfillment.
Piet Mondrian’s theory of rhythm in painting is original and alien to classical conceptions of rhythm, as is evident from his complicated writings on art.
ART & ARTISTS
View All PostsNineteen-seventies New York City was on the edge of bankruptcy, its neighborhoods and infrastructure disintegrating, but artists embraced this urban decay in their work.
The forces of darkness in Beowulf pervade the epic poem. Let’s understand them.
TRAVEL & CULTURE
View All PostsDiscover the unmissable highlights at Los Angeles’s Getty Museum, where masterpieces, modern design, and sun-soaked gardens collide in true California style.
Japanese paintings were often created to serve a religious or authoritative purpose, and that original intent explains far more than style ever could.

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View MapsReligion
View All PostsThe Gospels record seven times that Jesus Christ spoke while enduring crucifixion. What did he say?
The Book of Revelation blends ancient symbols with 1st-century political protest to picture history’s end as the triumph of Heaven and hope over evil.
Stories
View All PostsJane Austen drew on her family life, social circle, and extensive education to write her beloved novels that reinvented the narrative of morality.
Discover the life, legend, and literature of one of the Romantic era's greatest authors, Frankenstein creator Mary Shelley.




























