Ancient Biography

The tumultuous time that followed Nero’s suicide is known as The Year of the Four Emperors. In rapid succession, the Roman empire was ruled briefly by Galba, Otho, and Vitellius. Vespasian was a military commander, and with the help of his loyal soldiers and military allies, he defeated Vitellius and lay claim to his rule. Vespasian’s assumption of the empire, chronicled in this short biography by Suetonius, marked the start of the Flavian dynasty.

The Life of Cimon is just one of many notable biographies in Plutarch’s informative Parallel Lives series. Cimon, an Athenian Statesman, was the son of the general who won Greece’s battle of Marathon. Battling and defeating the Persian Empire on water, Cimon was crucial in the construction of the Athenian Maritime Empire. However, like so many others in the series, Cimon was eventually ostracized from the empire when his political views took a radical turn.

The importance of Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (or as he was known from birth, Gaius Octavius “Octavian” Thurinus) to the course of Western history is hard to overstate. His life, his rise to power, his political, social, and military achievements, all laid the foundations for the creation of an empire which would endure for almost five centuries, and whose traditions, laws, architecture, and art continue to influence much of Europe and the world today.

The mere mention of his name, Tutankhamun, brings to mind visions of gold and splendor and thoughts of a majestic kingdom, but the reality of this young king is something quite different. His fame has less to do with his position in history and nearly everything to do with the discovery of his tomb by Howard Carter in 1922. There are many questions and mysteries still surrounding this famous king of Egypt. Who was Tutankhamun?

Alexander the Great. A boy, groomed for greatness from the earliest age, who would put his stamp on the world for generations to come. A man who sought immortality and achieved it in just 10 years. A soldier whose genius for strategy and tactics is still studied in the modern world. A ruler who understood how to win the hearts and minds of his subjects. This is the story of a Titan of the ancient world, a man who rose but, though he died, never truly fell.

In 1922, explorers Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon entered the tomb of ancient Egyptian king Tutankhamen after years of searching. No one had been inside for about 3,000 years! What the men found in King Tut's tomb was amazing: gold, riches, and historical artifacts beyond their wildest dreams. But as excavation of the tomb continued, strange things began to happen - and what started as a mosquito bite would soon leave Lord Carnarvon dead.

Mit Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix wird in der Römischen Geschichte Grausamkeit und Terror verbunden. Als er 83 v. Chr. nach dem erfolgreichen Krieg gegen Mithridates aus Asien nach Rom zurückkehrte, begann seine Schreckensherrschaft, während der er seine Gegner ermordete und sich selbst zum Diktator erhob. In verständlicher und unterhaltender Form vermittelt der 1933 verstorbene Altphilologe und Historiker Theodor Birt Römische Geschichte und Sullas komplexe Persönlichkeit.

Caius Gracchus was barely a man when his older brother, Tiberius, was assassinated for his reforms on behalf of the poor. After this, Caius tried to live a quiet life away from the public eye, perhaps afraid of meeting the same fate. Yet in Plutarch’s biography of Caius, he recounts that Tiberius appeared to his brother in a dream, telling him that they were both destined to fight and die for the working class. Caius eventually answered the call, served in the tribune for two years, and was likewise assassinated for his reforms.

You may have heard about him: Attila the Hun. Let's discover who this individual actually was and why he has such a bad track record of being a callous, aggressive conqueror in the first millennium after Christ. Attila the Hun was the ruler of the Huns from the year 434 till his death in the month of March in the year 453. Also, he was the leader of a tribal realm which consisted mainly of Huns, Ostrogoths, Alans and Bulgars, to name a few, in Central Europe and in Eastern Europe.

Genghis Khan was the Mongol emperor who has expanded his region to the biggest empire on the face of the Earth ever. His empire stretched from East Asia all the way to various European countries, the Middle East, and beyond. You will learn more about his early life, his relationships, marriage, families and children, his attacks, his unification of the Mongolian Federations, his death, succession, and the continuing of the Mongolian Empire after his death.

Constantine the Great was one of the most pivotal figures in the history of the Roman Empire and the widespread expansion of the Christian religion. This is in no way an understatement; Constantine was not only one of the last truly powerful Roman emperors, but he also successfully reconstituted the whole empire according to his vision of Rome’s future. He played the most significant role in transforming the Empire from a Greco-Roman pagan dominion into a bulwark of the Christian faith, granting for the first time real temporal power for the early Christian church.

When it comes to ancient history, there are some names that will never be forgotten, and Alexander the Great is, without doubt, a perfect example of this timeless phenomenon. But beyond his rather illustrious title, few people could tell you very much more about Alexander, except, perhaps, that he was rather partial to conquering, had an amazing horse, and died very young.

Christmas is the most important holiday of the year. After the corresponding days that exalt the national pride of each country, such as Independence Day in the US, Victory Day in Russia, or Bastille Day in France, it's December 25 that articulates the life, the work, and the economy in much of the world, including many non-Christian countries. Since ancient times, the beginning of winter has been the occasion for most people to eat, drink, dance, and get together to beat the drum and take a break.

Una visione cosmogonica della follia attraverso una serie di biografie magnifiche e terribili, solari e allucinate di dèi, eroi, tiranni, filosofi, uomini, arricchite da emozionanti ed evocativi brani musicali. Le biografie del secondo volume: Perillo e Falaride, Eraclito, Erostrato, Democrito, Diogene di Sinope, Archimede.

Una visione cosmogonica della follia attraverso una serie di biografie magnifiche e terribili, solari e allucinate di dèi, eroi, tiranni, filosofi, uomini, arricchite da emozionanti ed evocativi brani musicali. Le biografie del primo volume: Dioniso, Orfeo, Eracle, Era, Soma, Aiace, Icaro."Il mito riporta questa catena di azioni: dalla solitudine il desiderio, dal desiderio l'attaccamento, dall'attaccamento l'amore, dall'amore la gelosia, dalla gelosia l'odio, dall'odio la follia, dalla follia la poesia, dalla poesia la conoscenza."

Nepos explores the life of Chabrias, a man as mercenary as he was brave. He would develop new methods of fighting that caused enemies to flee before him and be brought on by foreign kings to fight their wars. Eventually, he would lose his life as he lived it, choosing to die rather than flee in battle.

Iphicrates was one of the first truly respect military tacticians in the ancient world. His skillful planning for battle was respected even by enemies, and he is one of the few Greek generals who managed to live a good life. Brought not too high or low by fate or fortune, his life is an interesting dive into how skill and dedication can pay off in any time.

Phocion, known as "The Good", was one of the most beloved Greek politicans. He was elected military stratego numerous times. Listen to the noble life and death of this Greek hero.

Athens was in the throes of tyranny as a troop of murderous madmen stalked the streets. Who would break the city free from the horrid results of war? Listen as Thrasybulus puts everything on the line to save the city he loves.

Epaminondas was known better for his way with words than his way with a sword. He used his wits on the battlefield to lead armies and took the honor of himself and his men most seriously. Nepos here admires the Theban orator who could out-speak any Athenian.