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This episode we look at time and direction and the influence of geomancy--theories of Yin and Yang and a little bit of how people viewed the world through that lens. For more, check out the blog page: https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-127 Rough Transcript Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan. My name is Joshua, and this is episode 127: Time and Direction in Ancient Yamato Officers of the court stood in the pavilion. The soft trill of water could be heard trickling from one reservoir to the next. They watched closely, as the figure of a court official, one hand out, pointing at a measuring stick, slowly rose along with the water. Eventually, the figure's outstretched arm indicated a line with a single character next to it. On cue, one of the officials began to beat the large drum that was nearby. The rhythm was slow, but deliberate, and the sound was loud, echoing out to the mountains and back, showering the nearby palaces in a layer of sound. Across the palace, people briefly paused, took note of the number of strokes, and by that they knew the time of day. Without giving it much more thought, they then went about their business. This episode we find ourselves partway through the reign of Naka no Oe, aka Tenji Tennou—his formal reign started in 668, but he had been pretty much running things since the death of Takara Hime in 661 and, arguably, for much longer than that. 668, however, saw Naka no Oe ascend the throne in his new palace of Otsu no Miya, officially making him the sovereign. And although 645 is the year Naka no Oe and others had started the Taika Reforms, it's not wrong to say that that 668 and the start of Naka no Oe's official reign, brief as it would be, that he finally had the ability to bring it all together and set it into stone. We've talked about many of these reforms before on the podcast, but a lot of them were associated with the continued push to incorporate continental concepts into Yamato society, covering everything from court ranks to how to organize agricultural production. Of course, there was also Buddhism, which we've covered numerous times, but there were other concepts coming across as well, including ideas about history and writing, as well as ancient STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. This included architects, and new ways of constructing buildings. And it also meant ways of seeing the world, including things like directions and time. And this is what I want to focus on this episode, taking a break from the primary narrative to spend some time on what we might call Yamato concepts of science, especially how they thought about the structure of reality organization of time and the universe – their cosmology, as it were. After all, to better understand the reasoning and motives of people, it is helpful to try and understand how they saw the world, not just for translation—understanding what it means when an entry says something like the “Hour of the Horse” on an “Elder Wood” day—but also for understanding how things actually worked in their eyes. For instance, the idea of ”auspicious” and “inauspicious” times and directions is something that most listeners probably don't incorporate much into their daily lives, but the Chroniclers and the people of Yamato absolutely did, so understanding concepts like this can sometimes be the key to unlocking why historical people may have taken the actions that they did. In particular, we'll talk about things like yin and yang, five elements, ten stems and twelve earthly branches, and what all this meant for the Yamato ideas of organizing time and space. A large part of Yamato cosmology is tied to something called Onmyoudou, literally the Way of Yin and Yang, which in the organization of the Ritsuryo state fell under a particular ministry, known as the Onmyo-ryo. If you've heard of Onmyoudou before, you likely have heard about the “Onmyouji”, practitioners who studied the flow of yin and yang—and who could reportedly do miraculous things with that. A 10th century Onmyoji, the famous Abe no Seimei, is perhaps the most well-known, with numerous stories about his exploits, which were then turned into a fantastical series of stories by the award-winning author, Baku Yumemakura. Those were then turned into Manga, movies, and more. Abe no Seimei is like Japan's Merlin, or Gandalf, at least in the stories. Back to the organization we mentioned, the Onmyou-ryou was responsible for Yin-Yang theory, or Onmyou-dou, which included divination, as well as astronomy, or Tenmon-dou, and calendar making, or reki-dou. While some of this was based on straight up natural observances, a lot of it was explained through older concepts of Yin and Yang theory. Today, you might encounter a lot of this in the theories around Feng Shui, and this can also be referred to as “geomancy”, or earth divination. To give a broad overview of Onbmyoudou and its origins, it is part of a large corpus of concepts focused around a concept of energy known as qi or ki—which forms the basis for a lot of Chinese and Japanese cosmology, or their concept of how the world worked. Much of this is tied up in concepts that are modernly broadly called “Daoist” or associated with so-called Daoist practices. That term can be a bit misleading, as strictly speaking, Daoism refers to the teachings of the legendary philosopher Laozi, in his book, the Dao De Jing, as well as works attributed to later authors, like the Zhuangzi. There is some controversy as to when and to what extent this strict Daoism came to Japan. However, in the broader sense, the category of “Daoist “ practices includes an entire panoply of various folk practices, including concepts of Yin and Yang – and in the archipelago, many of these concepts were imported with the various books that people had acquired on the mainland, even if they weren't strictly tied to Daoist religious practice. For example, there were aspects that were borrowed by various Shinto shrines, and others formalized into ritual practices under the new government. And of course many of these became linked to various Buddhist teachings and practices, as well. But what did this actually look like in concept and practice for practitioners of Onmyoudo in Japan? Let's start with the idea of yin and yang. One of the earliest references comes from the Zhou Yi, the Zhou Book of Changes, the core of what we also know as the Yijing, the Book of Changes. Here we see the idea that the universe began with a single force that split into two, and those two forces make up all of creation in one way or another. Yin and Yang, or In and You—or even Onmyou—refer to these forces, which are characterized as shadow and light, moon and sun, female and male, cold and hot, etc. So these forces are opposites, but it should be noted that they are not necessarily good or evil. After all, too cold is just as bad as too hot. Likewise too much darkness is as blinding as too much light. As most people have seen, yin and yang are often depicted as a circle divided into two comma shapes, with a smaller circle in each. One side is white with a black circle and the other is black with a white circle. This is the “Tai Chi” diagram, but the diagram itself doesn't seem to have been depicted like this prior to the 11th century, at least that we are aware. But the concepts are much older. Now if you've heard of the Yijing, where it came from is something of a mystery. One theory is that it started as a written account of folk wisdom, and may have even given instructions for things like when to plant and when to harvest, based on changes in various heavenly phenomena. But overall it is organized into 64 chapters, each associated with a particular hexagram. Start with a line, that can either be a full line – representing yang – or a broken line representing yin. Stack three of these on top of one another and you get a trigram. If you chart out every single possible combination of yin and yang lines, you get 8 unique trigrams, sometimes referred to as the baqua. Stack two trigrams atop one another and you get a hexagram, a combination of 6 lines that can have 8 by 8 or 64 unique variants. It's theorized that the Yijing resulted from taking all of the collected sayings or aphorisms and bits of advice and cataloguing and dividing them into 64 chapters, each one associated with a given hexagram. Going further, each line of the hexagram is associated with particular line in Yijing, and various meanings are ascribed to it and its association. It's a complex and fascinating system and I don't have time to go into it fully, but I would note that this was used as a form of divination—yarrow stalks or other means of random lot drawing that gives you a binary outcome – zero or one, yin or yang – could be used to determine the six lines of any given hexagram. This, in turn, would reference a chapter in the Yijing which was then interpreted as a sign as to how to read a given situation that you might find yourself in. What's really important to understanding the worldview of the time is this idea, represented by the hexagrams in the Yijing, that you can encompass everything about the universe by making and cataloging different amounts and arrangements of yin and yang. It's a science, as it were – a systematic approach to understanding the differences in the world by breaking it into component parts. And if this seems preposterous, consider this: today we understand that all things are made up of tiny atoms. And these atoms are all made up of the same material—protons, neutrons, and electrons. And yet, how those atomic particles combine create atoms with wildly different qualities. And how those atoms then combine into molecules and so on and so forth describe how we explain everything around us. So is it really so far-fetched? I'm not saying that we should suddenly start to figure out the measurements of yin and yang in everything, but if we want to understand how the people of the time saw their world, it may be helpful to hold an open mindand understand the assumptions that they were working from and where they came from. As human beings, we naturally look for connections in the world around us, and this was no exception. People would observe facts, know how that it worked, and often then would back into the reason for it. This is a tale told across cultures, and we still see it, today. At the same time, we've developed structured approaches to test out our theories, empirically. So for the moment, let's leave the trigrams and hexagrams, and talk about another idea that also gained traction as people were trying to figure out how the world worked. This was the five elements theory also known as Wuxing, or Gogyou, in Japanese. The five elements in this case are Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, and Earth. Some may notice that these, along with the sun and the moon, are used in Japanese for the days of the week: Nichi (sun), getsu (moon), ka (fire), sui (water), moku (wood), kin (metal), do (earth). Buddhists, by the way, also had an elemental system with only four elements, Fire, Water, Air, and Earth, possibly connected with some Greek influence, and brought along with Buddhist practice. For now, however, let's focus on the five elements. The idea in wuxing is similar to that of yin and yang in that everything in creation is made up of these five elements in some degree and configuration. Furthermore, there are creation and destruction cycles. So fire creates ash, or earth. Earth gives birth to metal. Metal creates water—look at a cold piece of metal in a warm environment and see how the water droplets form on it, and imagine what that looks like without understanding humidity and how there could be water vapor in the air. And then water creates wood, or plants—any farmer could tell you that without water the plants die. And wood is where we get fire from. Of course, the reverse cycle is the opposite. Fire eats the wood. Wood drinks up the water. Water rusts metal. Metal tools plough the earth. And Earth can be used to douse fire. Finally, there is another cycle of weakening. ,. Because fire heats and weakens metal, metal chops down wood, the trees roots break up rocks, the earth soaks up water, and water likewise puts out or weakens fire. So the theory went, if these elements make up all matter, these relationships continue on a more complex scale in everything. So if something was thought to contain a lot of “fire” element, then it would be potentially helpful if you needed “Earth” but destructive or at least weakening to metal and wood. Properly accounting for these elements was important to achieve the results you were looking for, whatever that may be. These were the kinds of things that were incorporated into traditional medicine practices, but also applied to auguries or divination about things like where and how to build a building. Even today, Shrines will sell calendars that help people know the prominence of certain elements, and some folk remedies may look to balance elements, much as medieval European medicine was often designed to balance the four humors that ancient physicians believed were present in the human body. The chart of these five elements and their relationships is something you may have seen. It is a five pointed star, often inside of a circle. Of course this is also similar to a western pentagram, though typically drawn with the point of the star up, but it has nothing to do with Christian values or Satan, or anything similar. Rather, it is just a way to represent these five elements, and you'll see it frequently in reference to Onmyoudou. The elements were used to categorize many different areas into groupings of five. This includes grouping the various directions into five directions. Of course, you may be wondering about that, since most societies usually mark four cardinal directions, and in this case, they did the same, but added the fifth as “center”. And so you get things like the north is water. It is related to cool, or cold weather. It is represented with the color black. To the south, opposite of the north, is fire. It is hot, and the color is red. Of course, this probably doesn't take a huge leap to see the connections they drew: since these civilizations are in the northern hemisphere, the farther north you go, the colder it gets, and the farther south you travel, the warmer it gets, generally speaking, at least until you reach the equator. Meanwhile, the west was related to metal, and the color white, while the east was related to woods and forests, and the color…. Blue. Alright, that last one, in particular, probably doesn't make sense to a lot of us. After all, we likely associate blue with water, and wood, or trees, would be associated with brown or, possibly, green. Well, in this case, it goes beyond that. The north is water, but it is also associated with darkness—shorter days in the winter, and things like that Sothe association of north with black makes sense, but many also look at the ocean and don't necessarily see it as “blue”, or dark or even black, like Homer's famous “wine-dark sea”. Furthermore, although they have a word for it (midori), “green” was not a primary color in Japan, instead considered more of a shade of “aoi”, or blue. Even today they refer to a “green” traffic light as an “aoi shingo, not “midori” shingo. So if you asked someone in the Asuka period to describe the wooded hills and fields, they would have likely used “aoi”. And of course, we are missing the fifth element. In the center we have the element earth and the color yellow. A lot of these different concepts were brought together during the Han period, when they were trying to syncretize all of the various philosophies and attempts to describe the world and bring them all together into a single system. This meant that the Yijing, the wuxing theory, and others were mixed together with various other philosophies and theories of how the world work. Things like the Shanhaijing, the Classic of Mountain and Seas, along with stories about immortals, the Queen Mother of the West, and more were all rolled together, and basically assumed to be true. This included various real-world observations. Therefore, there were many attempts to try and reconcile these various theories together. One of the other concepts, which we've discussed before, was the system of ten heavenly stems and the twelve earthly branches. We've mentioned this before regarding the sexagenary style of counting the years, but we'll recap here. The ten heavenly stems and the twelve earthly branches are concepts that go back to at least the legendary Shang period, and even show up in various bronzes Andit wasn't until later that they would be associated with other ideas. The ten heavenly stems were each associated with one of the five elements, with each element being represented by a greater and lesser, or elder and younger, stem. And then each of the twelve earthly branches were associated with animals—what we often call the Chinese Zodiac. We talked about how this applied to the calendar, in that it was used to track years in 60 year cycles, but also it was used to track days of the year. The twelve earthly branches were also used for earthly directions. The first, the rat, was in the north, and the order continued clockwise to the east, the south, west and then back to the north. Now this means that the four cardinal directions—north, south, east, and west—all match up nicely with one of the twelve earthly branches, but as for northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest? Those were all combinations of two branches. So, for instance, the northeast was a combination of the ox and the tiger, or ushi-tora. Speaking of eight directions, where have we also heard the number eight come up recently? That's right: the eight trigrams, or bagua. So each one of those trigrams, each representing a different concept, got associated with a direction as well. This makes it easier to see where practices of geomancy came from. You had a system with complex, overlapping associations between concepts and the physical world, and in the Tang dynasty, they used all of this to understand not only how things had happened, but also how the world would be in the future—in other words, they tried to use it to make predictions. Hence the “mancy”. In the Yamato state, all of this became an official part of the government under the Onmyoryou: a branch of the government whose job is to make observations and figure things out from there, for the good of the state and the people. They made observations of the heavens to figure out how the calendar should be aligned—which months should come at what time, and when there should be “leap months”, or intercalary months, to keep various astronomical phenomena in the correct seasons, which were also further divided up into 24 periods. They also kept track of the movement of bodies like the various planets, because those planets were also assigned values, and thought to affect the flow of energy within this framework. And so comets, storms, eclipses, and more were all important because of the theory that everything in the heavens impacted and were reflections of how things were happening on the earth. Similarly, these various discussions of white animals and other omens were likely captured and catalogued by these officials as well, attempting to figure out what they meant. All of this also influenced things like how palaces, buildings, and even capitals, would be built and laid out. For the palace, it was important the the sovereign be in the north, looking south. In fact, many maps would have south at the top because that is how a sovereign would be viewing it, were it stretched out before them. And one would need to consider various features, including mountains and streams, as all of those things carried various meanings, but it wasn't as simple as just finding the one thing that could affect a person. As they observed differences they would also have to catalogue what happened and try to determine what the cause could be, based on their understanding of the world. And in the archipelago this would also include an understanding of Buddhist and local kami-based wisdom and knowledge as well. One of the things in the Chronicles that inspired this episode was something I actually mentioned last time, a record from 666 talking about Chiyu, a Buddhist priest of the Yamato no Aya family, who presented a south-pointing chariot to the sovereign, Naka no Oe. this appears to be the same Chiyu from a similar record in 658, which also refers to him building a south pointing chariot. So did it take him eight years, or is he just now presenting it to the sovereign? And what, exactly, is a south-pointing chariot? Well, as the name implies, a south-pointing chariot is a two-wheeled chariot that always points south. More appropriately stated, it is a wheeled device with a figure on top, much like a weather vane, which always points south. This is usually described as the figure of a person or an official pointing in the appropriate direction. This was a mechanical, rather than a magnetic compass. As the chariot, or carriage, is wheeled around, the two wheels spin. The wheels themselves are independently connected to a series of gears. If the wheels spin at the same rate, then their movement cancels each other out. However, if one wheel turns more than the other, then it will cause the figure on the top to rotate. Of course, as the chariot turns to the right, the left wheel, traveling along the outer diameter, will travel farther than the right. This will cause the figure to turn counter-clockwise to the left, but from an outside observer's perspective, it will continue to point in the same direction, even as the chariot itself turns. Turning to the left would cause the opposite effect. Though it may have been used earlier, there appears to be reliable written evidence of a South Pointing chariot starting from the third century. The first one was based on much earlier stories of a similar device, but it is unclear if it was a chariot, some other device, or even just a legend that was told as historical fact. From the third century on the design appears to have been continuously improved upon. I should point out that all we have is descriptions—we don't have any actual south pointing chariots, let alone diagrams showing how the mechanisms worked. There is the possibility that it used a kind of differential gear to work automatically, but we don't have any actual evidence. There are other theories that it may have required some kind of manual switch, so that it would attach to one wheel or the other as needed. That would require that the chariot be moving in either a straight direction or turning in one particular direction, which seems rather unwieldy. I noted some of the problems with this, and even moreso in a place like Japan, where 70% of the terrain is mountains. Up and down hills, along paths that are likely anything but the smooth, paved surface we have for roads today—and even those have plenty of irregularities and potholes that could throw off any such device. And if you want to use it for any real distance, then you have to factor in other things, including the curvature of the earth. After all, with the earth being a sphere, any chariot traveling due west to east or east to west, other than at the equator, would have one wheel traveling farther than the other one. Granted, at the scale we are talking about, it probably is all but negligible, and the rough terrain and simple slippage of what were most likely wooden gears probably entered a lot more variability than the earth's curvature. One of the other issues is that the chariot only points “south” if you set it up to do so. And if you know that, well, why do you need a south-pointing chariot? Ultimately, it seems that this is more of a novelty item, good for impressing crowds and demonstrating some engineering principles, rather than an actual, useful invention. After all, it was forgotten about and recreated multiple times, often centuries apart. Had it been a truly useful invention, it probably would have been kept in constant use. Meanwhile, I suspect that there were a fair number of farmers and others who knew that you could more easily and reliably use the sun and stars, as long as the weather was clear. There is also some evidence of an understanding of magnetic compasses since at least the 2nd Century BCE. Early Han sources suggest that a spoon made of naturally magnetized ore could be placed on top of a polished bronze surface, and it would align itself north to south. We don't have any actual surviving examples, however—there are later versions that you can find, where the plate is divided up into various directions, and then a magnetized “spoon” is placed on top, but nothing has actually come from Han tombs. Furthermore, this seems to mostly be for geomantic purposes. A more practical compass, with a magnetized needle, seems to have been developed by the 11th century, which could then be used for actual navigation. By the way, the “spoon” as a compass pointer may be in reference to the “Big Dipper” constellation, which was envisioned as a spoon, or ladle, in shape. The seven stars were often used in geomancy, likely because of their importance, at least in the northern hemisphere, of pointing to the north. So there's some thought that the “needles” of these early compasses weren't litterally spoon shaped, but symbolically representive of the Big Dipper or the Northern Ladle. Quick astronomy lesson, here. If you are in the northern hemisphere, particularly from the 35th parallel to the north pole, you can see the seven stars that make up the constellation or asterism we know as the Big Dipper. In English we sometimes also refer to this as Ursa Major, though technically the familiar seven stars are just a part of that larger constellation. In Japan, the same constellation is often referred to as Hokuto Shichisei, the Seven Stars of the Northern Ladle. It can be seen further south, but parts of it may dip below the horizon during the autumn season. It is important for several reasons. One is that it is made up of particularly bright stars, which you can generally see even when other stars may not be visible. Second, its distinctive shape lends itself to being easy to find in the sky. And finally, if you draw a line between two of the stars at the end of the “cup” of the ladle, you can follow that line to find Polaris or hokkyokusei, the north star, which means you know which direction is north- and once you know that, you can use it to figure out any other direction. And Polaris is less than a degree off of true north, making it even more accurate than most magnets, as the magnetic pole can be quite different, depending on its current position, and magnetic north changes over time as the magnetic field around the earth fluctuates. That said, this was not necessarily the case in ancient times. Four thousand years ago, the star closest to true north would have been the star Thuban, in the constellation Draco, a star that most of us probably haven't heard of. Polaris, in the constellation Ursa Minor (the Little Bear, also known as the Little Dipper) apparently took over as the north star around 500 CE. However, even before then, the mouth of the dipper could still be used to indicate north. In fact, if you draw a line between two of the stars in the back of the constellation, then you also end up finding Thuban. So even if the north star itself wasn't accurate, finding the dipper would still help you orient yourself, especially if you can find true north during the day and then compare that with the constellation at night. Which helps to understand why astronomy, or Tenmondou, was so important in the Onmyouryou. Though it wasn't just a study of stars, but of the way of the heavens in general. And the changes in the heavens, brings us to another important concept—the flow of energy across the seasons. From the bright days of summer, filled with sunshine and yang energy, to the dark yin energy of winter's long, cold nights. It wasn't enough to just know what happened, and where, but when was also important. Obviously you need to know when to sow seeds, flood the fields, and harvest the rice. Beyond that, though, you have other concepts, such as how the the day and hour of an event could be symbolically important. And of course, all of these had their own associations with various concepts of the flow of yin and yang energy. Now knowing the year, the month, and even the day is largely just a matter of counting. But let's talk about something a little more tricky: How do you know the hour? This brings us to the vignette at the top of the episode, about the clepsydra, or water clock, that Naka no Oe is said to have built. Now we talked about some of the fountains and similar things that have been discovered in the Asuka region back in episode 118. One thing that they believe they also found evidence of is something called a water clock, which is, as its name suggests, a clock powered by water. It is typically depicted as a series of three or more boxes or reservoirs that each hold an amount of water. Water is placed in the top reservoir, and then a hole towards the bottom is unplugged and it is allowed to drain into the box beneath. The hole is of a particular size, and thus the water flows at a constant rate, filling up the container below, which has a similar hole, etc. all the way to a reservoir at the very bottom. The multiple boxes mean that the water level in the intermediate boxes stays relatively constant, resulting in relatively consistent pressure and flow rate. The last reservoir has a measuring stick on a float, so that as the last box is filled with water, the measuring stick raises up. Since it is rising at a constant rate, one can use that to tell how much time has passed, regardless of anything else. Thus you can keep time even at night. There is a record of Naka no Oe making one in the fifth month of 660, and he would have another one built in 671, which we will discuss later. It is interesting that both of these inventions appear twice in the narrative—once during the reign of Naka no Oe, aka Tenchi Tenno, and once during the previous reign, that of Takara Hime, aka Saimei Tenno. In this case it is said that 671 is the first time that the water clock, or roukoku, was actually used. From what I can tell, there is nothing that definitively indicates that the Mizuochi site in Asuka was definitely the site of Naka no Oe's water clock. There isn't much in the Chronicles telling us what it was like or where, exactly, it was built, and there wasn't anything found at the site naming it as the location of the roukoku. However, the site is in a prominent enough place, with channels for water and a pavilion of some sort. They definitely found evidence of pipes, remnants of lacquered wood, and reservoirs for water, among other things, that suggest something to do with moving water happened in this area. So it seems a very strong choice, as it all fits with theoretical archeological reconstructions. A water clock like this is excellent for keeping accurate time at all hours of the day. However, it does have a slight problem in that anyone without a clock is still going to have to use the sun and similar heavenly cues to know what time it is. So how do you let them know? Well, it turns out that the continent had an answer for that as well, and instituted various systems of drums and bells to let people know the hour. In fact, some of these practices continued, in one form or another, right up to the modern day—with or without a water clock. After all, the key was to give the community some sense of the passing of time, but I doubt anyone was using it to time things more precisely than a general idea of an hour—though they did have the concept of their own minutes and seconds. Which brings us to just how they saw time back then. The system of time that the Chronicles seems to use also came over from the continent, where there appear to have been several different methods for telling time prior to accurate clocks. And while there was an idea of dividing the entire day into twelve segments, the time as it was announced was not always consistent with those twelve segments, or hours. Rather, time was based around the key parts of the day. So, for instance there was sunrise, noon, sunset, and midnight. And while noon and midnight remain exactly twelve hours apart, sunrise and sunset change with the seasons. So if you call out sunrise, and then divide the time between sunrise and noon into equal segments of time, the size of those time segments change with the seasons. On top of that, because of the tilt of the earth and our slightly irregular orbit around the sun, the sun appears to “move” across the sky faster or slower throughout the year, with a difference of about 30 minutes total between the extremes. This isn't going to affect most people's daily lives, but would have been noticeable to those taking accurate measurements. In ancient Han, this appears to have been common in cities and towns, with a watch that would call out as they progressed on their rounds at set points in the day and night, relying largely on heavenly cues—which I suspect did not lead to the most accurate timekeeping, but it was sufficient for what most people needed. The telling of time in this manner was partly to help with keeping track of the time of day, but was just as much an announcement that the watch was on duty and a warning to would-be criminals. Now a water clock was an excellent device for keeping track of a standard, absolute time, such as it were, but it required constant maintenance. If you already have a watch calling out the time, perhaps they can also keep the water clock properly set, but you did have to have someone constantly filling it up and draining it at known points of the day. Plus there was the problem that you only knew the time if you could check it, and this wasn't like a clock tower or something similar. And so in 671 it appears that Nak no Oe instituted the continental idea of drums and bells to announce the time to the people—or at least to those at the court. We don't have a record of exactly how they were, used, but we can infer from other sources on the continent, and what we do know that some tradition of announcing the time with drums and bells continued to be employed in Japan until the Meiji era, though perhaps not without interruption: Temples and the like had bell or drum towers, and as the day progressed they would beat out the time. It was not, however, telling time as we might think of it, with one stroke at the first hour, two on the second, etc.. In fact, in many ways they counted backwards, and they only counted 12 hours, not our modern 24. By the Edo period it seems that it was common practice to toll the bells nine times at noon and at midnight. From there, they would count down, with 8 bells at roughly 2 o'clock, 7 bells at 4 o'clock, and 6 bells at 6 o'clock. That would be another issue. From 6 o'clock, the number of bells that would be tolled continued to decrease, so that at 8 o'clock it would be 5 bells, then 4 bells at 10 o'clock. It would then jump back up to 9 and start over again. Why these numbers were used for the different hours we are not entirely sure, and I have no idea if these numbers were the same ones used back in the 7th century—though it does seem to match similar continental traditions. Even the hours themselves were known by the twelve signs that came to be associated with the zodiac: the hour of the rat, the hour of the ox, the hour of the tiger, etc. Midnight fell in the middle of the hour of the rat, and noon fell in the middle of the hour of the horse, with each hour being almost exactly 2 hours by modern reckoning. There were other systems in use as well. One divided the entire day up by 100 and then each of those divisions by another 10. The key was whether or not it was an absolute or relative measurement. Something like the roukoku would indicate an absolute measurement. After all, the fall of water from one reservoir to another was not affected by the change in seasons—at least as long as the water didn't freeze. The flow was constant, as was the measurement of time. For those using other forms of reckoning, such as celestial phenomena or even a sundial, things might be a bit less accurate. This was especially true when using concepts like “sunrise” and “sunset”. Still, through observing the changes over the year, people eventually figured out charts and rules to help reconcile absolute forms of measurement with solar time. There were other methods for telling time, as well. Perhaps one of the more pleasant was the use of incense sticks. By the time of the Tang dynasty, incense in stick form was relatively common, and it had been noticed that sticks of incense could burn at a fixed rate. This meant that you could use incense sticks like candles were used in Europe, counting down how far they had burned to tell what time it was. If you were really fancy, you could make a single stick out of different types of incense, so that as it hit a new hour, the scent would change, alerting you to the time through your olfactory senses. Speaking of time, we are coming to the end of ours for this episode. We do have some more information on this on our website, Sengokudaimyo.com, and we'll have links to those sections of the website accompanying our blog. Next episode we will focus more on the reign of Naka no Oe, aka Tenji Tennou, from his seat at Otsu no Miya. Until then, thank you once again for listening and for all of your support. If you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts. If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website, SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page. You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com. Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now. Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.
Preview: Author James Romm of Bard College, "Plato and the Tyrant," comments on the apology for Dion and his revolutionary violence, including political assassination, by both Plato in the 4th century BCE and Plutarch in the 1st century AD.
Preview: Author James Romm of Bard College, "Plato and the Tyrant," describes the powerful city state of Syracuse in the 4th century BCE, stage for Plato's descending to the brutal Dionysian conclusion... More later in June.
Preview: Author Toby Wilkinson, "The Last Dynasty," reports the arms race for war elephants in the third century BCE. More.1895 AFGHANISTAN
In this episode of the Three Pillars podcast, Chase Tobin concludes the series on the Hero's Journey, focusing on the final stage: the Return with the Elixir. He discusses the significance of this stage, emphasizing that the journey is not complete until the hero shares their transformation and wisdom with others. Through various examples from literature, pop culture, and Christian teachings, Chase illustrates how personal growth and experiences can uplift communities and guide others. He encourages listeners to reflect on their own journeys and the importance of sharing their insights to make a positive impact in the world.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Hero's Journey03:20 Understanding the Return with the Elixir09:34 Characteristics of the Return10:31 Literary and Pop Culture Examples14:46 The Christian Perspective on the Return20:00 Navigating the Return in Our Lives25:07 Conclusion and Call to ActionSUBSCRIBE TO THE NEW PODCAST CHANNEL HERE: https://www.youtube.com/@3PillarsPodcast Takeaways-The hero's journey culminates in the return with the elixir.-Transformation is not just for personal gain but for the benefit of others.-The return signifies a sense of completion and purpose.-Heroes often bring back wisdom or gifts that uplift their communities.-The journey never truly ends; heroes may become mentors.-Literary examples like Odysseus and Prometheus illustrate the return.-Jesus' resurrection exemplifies the ultimate return with a message of salvation.-Personal struggles can be used to guide others in their journeys.-Fitness and faith journeys are interconnected in the process of transformation.-Sharing experiences and wisdom is crucial for community growth.God bless you all. Jesus is King. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 KJV I appreciate all the comments, topic suggestions, and shares! Find the "3 Pillars Podcast" on all major platforms. For more information, visit the 3 Pillars Podcast website: https://3pillarspodcast.com/Don't forget to check out the 3 Pillars Podcast on Goodpods and share your thoughts by leaving a rating and review: https://goodpods.app.link/3X02e8nmIub Please Support Veteran's For Child Rescue: https://vets4childrescue.org/ Stay connected with Joe Russiello and the "Sword of the Spirit" Podcast: https://www.swordofthespiritpodcast.com/ Join the conversation: #3pillarspodcast References-Campbell, J. (1949). The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Princeton University Press.-The Holy Bible (New International Version).-Homer. (8th Century BCE). The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics.-Disney. (1994). The Lion King (Film). Walt Disney Pictures.-Watts, J. (2021). Spider-Man: No Way Home (Film). Marvel Studios.
In this week's episode of the 3 Pillars Podcast we will be introducing the Tenth Stage of the Hero's Journey: The Road Back. What is it, what are it's characteristics and how can we apply our Christian faith and fitness to navigate our story?SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEW PODCAST CHANNEL HERE: https://www.youtube.com/@3PillarsPodcast God bless you all. Jesus is King. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 KJV I appreciate all the comments, topic suggestions, and shares! Find the "3 Pillars Podcast" on all major platforms. For more information, visit the 3 Pillars Podcast website: https://3pillarspodcast.com/Don't forget to check out the 3 Pillars Podcast on Goodpods and share your thoughts by leaving a rating and review: https://goodpods.app.link/3X02e8nmIub Please Support Veteran's For Child Rescue: https://vets4childrescue.org/ Stay connected with Joe Russiello and the "Sword of the Spirit" Podcast: https://www.swordofthespiritpodcast.com/ Join the conversation: #3pillarspodcast References-Campbell, J. (1949). The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Princeton University Press.-The Holy Bible (New International Version).-Homer. (8th Century BCE). The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics.-Tolkien, J.R.R. (1937). The Hobbit. George Allen & Unwin.-Nolan, C. (2012). The Dark Knight Rises (Film). Warner Bros.
In this week's episode of the 3 Pillars Podcast we will be introducing the Ninth Stage of the Hero's Journey: The Reward. What is it, what are it's characteristics and how can we apply our Christian faith and fitness to navigate our story?SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEW PODCAST CHANNEL HERE: https://www.youtube.com/@3PillarsPodcast God bless you all. Jesus is King. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 KJV I appreciate all the comments, topic suggestions, and shares! Find the "3 Pillars Podcast" on all major platforms. For more information, visit the 3 Pillars Podcast website: https://3pillarspodcast.com/Don't forget to check out the 3 Pillars Podcast on Goodpods and share your thoughts by leaving a rating and review: https://goodpods.app.link/3X02e8nmIub Please Support Veteran's For Child Rescue: https://vets4childrescue.org/ Stay connected with Joe Russiello and the "Sword of the Spirit" Podcast: https://www.swordofthespiritpodcast.com/ Join the conversation: #3pillarspodcast References-Campbell, J. (1949). The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Princeton University Press.-The Holy Bible (New International Version).-Homer. (8th Century BCE). The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics.-Tolkien, J.R.R. (1954). The Lord of the Rings. George Allen & Unwin.-Lucas, G. (1977). Star Wars: A New Hope (Film). Lucasfilm.
Laozi, a legendary Chinese philosopher and author of the Tao Te Ching, is regarded as the founder of Taoism. His teachings emphasize living in harmony with the Tao (the Way), advocating simplicity, humility, and wu wei (effortless action) for a balanced life.
In this week's episode of the 3 Pillars Podcast we will be introducing the Eighth Stage of the Hero's Journey: The Ordeal. What is it, what are it's characteristics and how can we apply our Christian faith and fitness to navigate our story?SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEW PODCAST CHANNEL HERE: https://www.youtube.com/@3PillarsPodcast God bless you all. Jesus is King. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 KJV I appreciate all the comments, topic suggestions, and shares! Find the "3 Pillars Podcast" on all major platforms. For more information, visit the 3 Pillars Podcast website: https://3pillarspodcast.com/Don't forget to check out the 3 Pillars Podcast on Goodpods and share your thoughts by leaving a rating and review: https://goodpods.app.link/3X02e8nmIub Please Support Veteran's For Child Rescue: https://vets4childrescue.org/ Stay connected with Joe Russiello and the "Sword of the Spirit" Podcast: https://www.swordofthespiritpodcast.com/ Join the conversation: #3pillarspodcast References-Campbell, J. (1949). The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Princeton University Press.-Homer. (8th Century BCE). The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics.-The Holy Bible (New International Version).-Tolkien, J.R.R. (1954). The Lord of the Rings. George Allen & Unwin.-Lucas, G. (1980). Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Film). Lucasfilm.
https://www.iservalan.com https://www.taletellerclub.comChapter 2: Classical Antiquity – Pleasure, Power, and Myth(Greece, Rome, India, China, Japan)Erotic Art in the Classical World: Sensuality, Divinity, and the Human FormThe civilizations of Greece and Rome profoundly shaped Western attitudes toward eroticism, beauty, and the human body. Meanwhile, in Asia, India, China, and Japan developed their own rich traditions of erotic art, where sexuality was intertwined with spirituality, aesthetics, and philosophy. Across these cultures, erotic imagery was not just about desire—it was deeply connected to mythology, religious devotion, and social identity.The Greek Celebration of the Nude and the DivineAncient Greek art (c. 800–146 BCE) is renowned for its idealized representations of the human form, including sensual and erotic depictions. Unlike later Western traditions, which often moralized sexuality, the Greeks saw eroticism as an essential aspect of life, closely tied to their gods, heroes, and social structures.The Male Nude and Homoeroticism in Greek ArtGreek sculptures and vase paintings frequently depicted the nude male body as a symbol of beauty, strength, and divine perfection. The kouroi (statues of young men) and later the works of sculptors like Phidias, Polykleitos, and Praxiteles showcased a balance of realism and idealism.Homoeroticism played a significant role in Greek culture, particularly in the institution of pederasty, where older men (erastai) mentored and formed relationships with younger men (eromenoi). While controversial today, these relationships were embedded in Greek education, social bonding, and military camaraderie. Erotic vase paintings and sculptures, such as those on the Warren Cup, openly depicted same-sex relationships without stigma.Aphrodite and the Feminine EroticThe goddess Aphrodite, associated with love and beauty, was a central figure in Greek erotic art. The first known fully nude female sculpture, Aphrodite of Knidos by Praxiteles (c. 360 BCE), marked a shift in the portrayal of female sensuality. While earlier depictions of women were clothed, this work introduced the eroticized nude female body as an artistic norm in Western art.Rome: Eroticism, Excess, and Moral ContradictionsThe Romans inherited much from Greek artistic traditions but added their own flair for luxury, satire, and explicit eroticism. Roman erotic art ranged from refined frescoes in wealthy villas to bawdy graffiti in brothels, revealing a culture that embraced sexuality in both elite and everyday contexts.Pompeii and Herculaneum: A Window into Roman EroticismThe eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE preserved vast amounts of erotic art in Pompeii and Herculaneum, offering an unparalleled glimpse into Roman attitudes toward sexuality. Frescoes from the Villa of the Mysteries and Lupanar (brothel) depict explicit scenes, suggesting that sexuality was not hidden but woven into public and private life.One of the most famous artifacts, the Priapus fresco, shows the god Priapus weighing his exaggerated phallus against a bag of money—a humorous but symbolic image of fertility and prosperity. Romans often associated large phallic imagery with protection, luck, and virility.Satire and Social Commentary in Roman EroticaWhile erotic art was common, Rome also saw moral pushback against sexual excess. Writers like Ovid (Metamorphoses, Ars Amatoria) celebrated love and seduction, while others, like Juvenal, satirized the decadence of Roman society. The Augustan moral reforms (1st century BCE) attempted to impose sexual restraint, yet erotic art continued to flourish, reflecting the contradictions within Roman attitudes toward pleasure.Erotic Art in Ancient India: The Sacred and the SensualEroticism in ancient India was deeply entwined with spirituality, particularly through Hinduism and Tantra. Unlike in the West, where sexuality was often seen in opposition to religious purity, Indian art frequently depicted sensuality as an extension of divine energy.Temple Eroticism: Khajuraho and KonarkThe Khajuraho temple complex (c. 950–1050 CE) and the Konark Sun Temple (c. 13th century CE) feature intricate sculptures of deities, lovers, and erotic acts. These reliefs, far from being mere decoration, reflect the Hindu belief that sexual union mirrors cosmic unity and divine creation.The Kama Sutra and Indian Erotic TextsAttributed to Vātsyāyana, the Kama Sutra (3rd century CE) is one of the most famous texts on love and eroticism. Contrary to its popular perception as a sex manual, it is a sophisticated treatise on pleasure, relationships, and aesthetics. Accompanying illustrations in later manuscripts helped visualize its teachings, making it one of the most influential works of erotic literature.Erotic Art in Ancient China: Daoism and Sensual BalanceIn China, erotic art was shaped by Confucian ideals, Daoist philosophy, and later Buddhist influences. While Confucianism promoted restraint, Daoism embraced sexuality as a path to harmony and longevity.Daoist Sexual Arts and Painted ScrollsDaoist texts, such as the "Art of the Bedchamber", describe sexual practices believed to extend life and health. Erotic scroll paintings from the Tang (618–907 CE) and Song (960–1279 CE) dynasties often depicted intimate scenes with poetic inscriptions, emphasizing sensuality rather than crude explicitness.Later, during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasties, erotic books known as "spring pictures" (春宫图) became popular among the elite, blending humor, philosophy, and eroticism.Japan's Shunga: The Floating World of SensualityJapanese erotic art, or Shunga (春画), flourished during the Edo period (1603–1868). These woodblock prints, created by masters such as Hokusai and Utamaro, depicted erotic encounters with both aesthetic refinement and explicit detail. Unlike in the West, where erotic art often faced suppression, Shunga was widely enjoyed across social classes.Shunga as Art, Satire, and InstructionShunga prints were not just pornographic; they served multiple purposes, including sexual education, humor, and even political satire. Some depicted fantastical elements, such as Hokusai's famous "The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife", blending eroticism with mythology.Conclusion: Classical Eroticism as a Reflection of CultureThe erotic art of classical antiquity reveals a diversity of attitudes toward sexuality:Idealized beauty and divine connection – Greek and Roman art celebrated the nude as an emblem of perfection.Religious and cosmic symbolism – Hindu and Daoist traditions saw sexuality as a path to spiritual enlightenment.Humor and satire – Roman and Japanese art often infused eroticism with wit and social commentary.While some traditions embraced erotic art as sacred, others saw it as a source of indulgence or controversy. The tension between openness and censorship would continue to shape erotic art in the centuries to come.The Warren Cup (1st century CE, Roman) A silver drinking cup featuring detailed homoerotic scenes, the Warren Cup provides insight into Roman attitudes toward male-male relationships. Hidden for centuries, it is now a key artifact in LGBTQ+ art history.Khajuraho Temple Reliefs (10th–11th century CE, India)These intricate sculptures depict a range of erotic acts, reinforcing the Hindu belief in sexuality as a divine force. Unlike Western art, which often separated the sacred from the sensual, Khajuraho integrates both seamlessly.The Frescoes of the Villa of the Mysteries (1st Century BCE, Pompeii, Roman Empire)The Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii contains one of the most famous and enigmatic fresco cycles from ancient Rome. While not explicitly erotic, many scholars believe the images depict a Dionysian initiation ritual, potentially related to sacred sexuality and mystery cults. The frescoes feature semi-nude figures, suggestive interactions, and themes of divine ecstasy, linking sexuality to spiritual transformation. This example highlights how Romans often blended eroticism with religious and ritualistic themes rather than treating it as purely physical pleasure.Shunga by Kitagawa Utamaro (1753–1806, Edo Period, Japan)Kitagawa Utamaro, one of the most celebrated ukiyo-e artists, created numerous Shunga (春画, "spring pictures"), which depicted intimate encounters with exquisite detail and elegance. His prints, such as Poem of the Pillow, emphasized the sensuality of touch, fabric, and movement, offering a refined and almost poetic take on erotic imagery. His work also often featured women's pleasure and agency, making it a significant contribution to the study of feminine desire in erotic art.#stencilart #originalart #investment art #blinkfrictionart #blinkfrictionfashion #reclaimart #reclaimfashion
An excavation in southern Jerusalem revealed a tax office belonging to Hezekiah. This raises a question, was Jerusalem really a capitol district and not just a city? A more pressing question, however, is why Hezekiah thought rebelling against the Assyrians was a good idea in the first place.
Cáel's tombstone: For the love of women, women put him here.In 25 parts, edited from the works of FinalStand.Listen and subscribe to the ► Podcast at Connected..
The fifth century BCE saw the idea of the Roman republic flourish and falter only to flourish again. We review the major developments in Rome across the century taking a bird's eye look at the big issues now that we've completed our deep dive!
08/27/2024, Jan Willis, dharma talk at Tassajara. In this talk, Jan Willis discusses the conditions around the time of Buddha's lifetime, and how the Buddhist community was created.
When Cnopus goes to invade Erythrae he calls on an oracle to provide some wartime guidance. This oracle advises he put a Priestess of Hecate from Thessaly in charge of his army. Chrysame is sent forth from Thessaly and she immediately sets to work devising one of the most epic strategies of 11th Century BCE using none other than her Hecate-given knowledge of animals and poisons. So epic, in fact, that her name appears in Polyaenus' Stratagems in War - one of the only women even mentioned in it. What does she do? You'll have to listen to find out! — A Broad is a woman who lives by her own rules. Broads You Should Know is the podcast about the Broads who helped shape our world! BroadsYouShouldKnow.com YT/IG/FB @BroadsYouShouldKnow & TW @BYSKpodcast — 3 Ways you can help support the podcast: Write a review on Apple Podcasts Share your favorite episode with a friend or on social Send us an email with a broad suggestion, question, or comment at BroadsYouShouldKnow@gmail.com — Broads You Should Know is hosted by Sara Gorsky. IG: @SaraGorsky Web master / site design: www.BroadsYouShouldKnow.com — Broads You Should Know is produced by Sara Gorsky & edited by Chloe Skye
We continue our long running Ancient Mysteries series this week with the beginning of a deep dive into Roman Britain and its rituals and customs. Today we begin by looking at the Druids of Britannia in the 1st Century BCE before the coming of the Romans and look at the attitudes of the Romans to the Druids during and after the conquest of Britannia. Then, we will discuss how the Roman era of Britannia brought new cults to the island and its traditions. You may join the naked blue men on Twitter: @leftunreadpod (Twitter and Instagram) @poorfidalgo @gluten_yung You can subscribe to us on Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/LeftUnread You can reach out to us at leftunreadpod@gmail.com. Suggestions, questions, and hate mail welcome. Theme music by Interesting Times Gang. Check them out at: itgang.bandcamp.com.
In the 6th Century BCE, on a tiny island in the Nile River, once stood a Temple to Yahweh. Far from Jerusalem, the ancient Jews of Egypt's Elephantine Island worshipped a mighty god they called "Yaho" in one of the first diaspora Jewish communities outside of Palestine. How they got there and who they became is a fascinating and little-known story. On today's episode, Helen and Dave talk with historian Karel van der Toorn, professor of ancient religion at the University of Amsterdam and author of Becoming Diaspora Jews: Behind the Story of Elephantine. Win an SBL Study Bible!We're giving away 10 copies of the newly revised SBL Study Bible. This academic Bible is tailor-made for fans of Biblical Time Machine. It takes a scholarly approach to understanding the Bible — full of essays, footnotes, maps and more — and doesn't assume any past knowledge or religious background. It's the perfect companion for a fresh look at these ancient texts.Each week we'll randomly pick a winner from the members of the Time Travelers Club, our Patreon site. Subscribe today to support the show and put your name in the running for this useful and in-depth resource.For legal reasons, this giveaway is only available to Time Travelers Club members 18 or older and living in the continental United States.Support the showJoin the Time Travelers Club!Join our Patreon to support the podcast and get special perks like bonus content and direct messaging with the hosts. Learn more and subscribe at the Time Travelers Club. Theme music written and performed by Dave Roos
MASTERS OF WAR (2) - We travel back in time to the 4th Century BCE and the tension filled world of the Greeks and Persians, where the greatest military commanders needed to be truly great to prevail. Featuring Epaminondas, Philip II of Macedon, Darius III of Persia and Alexander the Great.
One of the most popular verses about "vision" that is used in teaching about personal and group vision statements is Habakkuk 2:2, but what is the original context of this verse? Understanding what is meant by "vision" both generally and specifically in the book of Habakkuk is essential to not taking this verse out of context. Unfortunately, Habakkuk 2 also causes confusion due to an unhelpful chapter division. Once the flow of Habakkuk as a book is seen, the themes and message of the book come to the forefront. The ideas behind "vision" are different but more important than we might have ever thought. Chapters0:26-2:44 Intro2:45-5:18 Habakkuk Overview: Can we trust YHWH?5:19-7:18 The unique opener of Habakkuk7:19-11:22 the 6th Century BCE of the ancient Near East11:23-20:26 An unhelpful chapter division: the context of the vision verse20:27-22:59 What is “vision”?23:00-24:01 Habakkuk's Problem with God24:02-30:05 Proverbs of Doubt30:06-36:41 Equating God to idols36:42-40:01 The Heart of Habakuk40:02-43:16 Prophet Giving Complaint in Divine Council43:17-51:33 Write the Vision and Live by Faith51:34-54:16 Covenant in Habakkuk 254:17-60:20 From Questioning to Awe through FaithJoin the Hebrew Bible Book Club https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights WHERE TO FIND US Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLRSNQ7xVw7PjQ5FnqYmSDA Podcast Platforms: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2268028/share Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_hebrewbibleinsights/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@hebrewbibleinsights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebrewBibleInsights Threads: https://www.threads.net/@_hebrewbibleinsights Website: https://www.hebrewbibleinsights.com
Come dream with me as we go Deep into 2nd Century BCE and experience Celtic Europe in The Late Republic's Barbarian Wars. Witness the curse of Apollo unleashed on Rome at the catastrophic Battle of Arausio in 105 BCE. Please support the show : https://www.patreon.com/deepintohistory Music: Sad Dramatic March by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6240-sad-dramatic-march Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Other music in this episode is licensed under Epidemic Sound
In the 6th Century BCE, Ancient Greeks began thinking about the cosmos in a fundamentally new way. Their novel approach led them to believe the things they saw in the night sky were not ethereal, but solid bodies—balls of fire or rock that may even have inhabitants of their own.
Come dream with me as we go Deep into 2nd Century BCE and experience Celtic Europe in The Late Republic's Barbarian Wars. Witness origin of the curse that would doom Rome to defeat at the catastrophic Battle of Arausio in 105 BCE. Please support the show : https://www.patreon.com/deepintohistory Music: Sad Dramatic March by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6240-sad-dramatic-march Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Other music in this episode is licensed under Epidemic Sound
In this episode we discuss:(00:00) Introduction(06:03) Proposition209(09:37) Yascha Mounk(10:42) Kenan Malik(12:27) Ancient World(13:33) Greeks 6th Century BCE(19:10) Monotheism(19:32) 16th Century(20:56) Alasdair MacIntyre(27:53) Identity Trap(30:14) The Lure(31:13) The Problem(34:37) The Origin of Identity Synthesis(34:49) Historically The Left Was Universalist(37:21) Post WW2(37:41) Foucault(38:16) Spivak(47:44) Derek Bell(50:09) Crenshaw(54:15) Mainstream Adoption(55:28) Standpoint Theory(01:04:32) Time Limits on Race Laws(01:07:42) Chris HedgesChapters, images & show notes powered by vizzy.fm.To financially support the Podcast you can make a per-episode donation via Patreon or donate through PaypalWe Livestream every Tuesday night at 7:30pm Brisbane time. Follow us on Facebook or YouTube, watch us live and join the discussion in the chat room.You can sign up for our newsletter, which links to articles that Trevor has highlighted as potentially interesting and that may be discussed on the podcast. You will get 3 emails per week.We have a website. www.ironfistvelvetglove.com.auYou can email us. The address is trevor@ironfistvelvetglove.com.auYou can send us a voicemail message at SpeakpipeWe have a sister podcast called IFVG Evergreen. It is a collection of evergreen content from the weekly podcast.
Come dream with me as we go Deep into 2nd Century BCE and experience Celtic Europe in The Late Republic's Barbarian Wars. Witness origin of the curse that would doom Rome to defeat at the catastrophic Battle of Arausio in 105 BCE. Parts II & III coming soon. The full epic is available now on Patreon & Spotify. Support the show: Patreon.com/DeepintoHistory
Hello everyone! This week on The Cosmic Companion, we are pondering why Greece is the Word, discussing the birth of science in the ancient world, and what it means for us today. Later on, we'll be talking with Kenny Curtis and Jillian Hughes, hosts of the Greeking Out podcast, and authors of a new book of the same name, from Nat Geo Kids.Once upon a time, in the sunny lands of Ancient Greece more than 25 centuries ago, a bunch of curious folks decided to ask some big questions. "Why does the sun rise?" "What are stars?" "Why do planets move?". They were tired of attributing everything to the whims of gods. Much like overgrown toddlers, they wanted ANSWERS, and they wanted them NOW! (errr… then)...Jillian Hughes and Kenny Curtis appear on The Cosmic Companion 7 October 2023. Creative Commons 4.0 Attribution 2023 The Cosmic CompanionThe Greeks had a knack for asking questions that were way ahead of their time. More than 2,500 years before our age, a woman named Aspasia was known for holding gatherings of some of the greatest minds of her day, including Plato and Socrates. A gifted conversationalist, tales tell that she founded a school for girls, a groundbreaking advance for the era. Democritus of Abdera had the crazy idea that all matter was composed of individual bits, which we call atoms. Building on the work of his mentor, one day around 425 BCE, he may have just been walking around, minding his own business when he thought, "What if everything is made up of tiny, invisible particles?" Boom! The concept of atoms was born.Then there was Pythagoras who had a thing for triangles. He may have been sitting around one day, doodling triangles in the sand when he realized that the square of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. Mind blown! And thus, the Pythagorean theorem came into existence.During the 4th Century BCE, Hippocrates took one look at medicine and said, "This needs some work." [Not my words exactly, but… Yeah, sure.]He insisted that diseases were not punishments from angry gods but had natural causes that could be studied and treated. This revolutionary idea paved the way for modern medicine.Not long after, Agnodice of Athens practiced medicine dressed as a man, at a time when women were not allowed to be doctors. Thanks to her, laws in Athens preventing women from becoming doctors were overturned. [AGN: You're welcome!]But it wasn't all work and no play for these ancient scientists. Legend has it that Archimedes discovered his principle while taking a bath. He noticed that the water level rose as he got into his tub and realized this could be used to determine volume. He was so excited that he ran through the streets naked shouting "Eureka!" (which means "I found it!"). Now that's what I call a eureka moment!The birth of science in ancient Greece is a story of curiosity, ingenuity and occasional naked sprinting through the streets. The ancient Greeks might not have had all the answers, but they sure knew how to ask interesting questions!With questions come answers, and for a few of each, we're talking with Jillian Hughes and Kenny Curtis about their new podcast and book, Greeking Out, from Nat Geo Kids. ---Now. Let's talk about our friend Pythagoras. Remember him? The triangle guy? Well, his theorem is still used today in everything from architecture to video games. Yes, you heard it right! Every time you play a game of Fortnite or Minecraft, Pythagoras is there, making sure everything looks just right.Next up is Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine. His idea that diseases have natural causes was a game-changer. Today, doctors across the globe follow his principles. So, the next time medicine helps you out, remember to say a silent thank you to Hippocrates (but maybe skip on the leeches and bloodletting).And who could forget Archimedes? His principle helps us design ships and submarines. And yes, he's also the reason why your bathwater rises when you get in. So, the next time you're enjoying a relaxing bath, spare a thought for Archimedes (and maybe keep your "Eureka!" moment to yourself).Last but not least, Democritus' atomic theory is at the heart of modern physics and chemistry. It's why we can build everything from skyscrapers to smartphones. So every time you send a text or take a selfie, remember that it's thanks, in part, to a Greek guy who lived over 2000 years ago.So there you have it! The Ancient Greeks might be long gone, but their discoveries are still very much alive and kicking. It just goes to show that great science never goes out of style!Next week on The Cosmic Companion, we look at Global Warming: It's Not Just Hot Air!. We'll look at the science of climate change, and how our world could change in the coming decades. We'll be talking with Elizabeth Rusch, author of The Twenty-One, telling the story of a group of young people using the legal system to help reverse climate change.Make sure to join us, starting on 14 October, anywhere you see or hear The Cosmic Companion. While you are there, go ahead and do all that sharing and subscribing stuff. It'd be pretty cool if you did. Yup. Pretty cool indeed… Clear skies!---[COLD OPEN]So this is the future. Interesting.Well, good evening, everyone! I must say, when I was told I'd be time-traveling, I expected to see the future of Greece, not to land in 'Grease.' However, I am not entirely to blame, by Jove!Here are "The Top 10 Reasons I Thought Grease was Greece:"#10 When my agent said he booked me on a tour of Grease, I thought he said Greece. A natural mistake.#9 I thought I saw young people in togas and a group of Spartan warriors. It turns out they were wearing "poodle skirts" and "leather jackets."#8 All the spontaneous singing and dancing made me think I was near a Greek theatre.#7 I saw chariots without horses. I'm a scientist. Studying those was just natural. #6 One of the horseless chariots had lightning bolts on it. I naturally believed it to be a chariot of Zeus.[ZEUS APPEARSNo. Not me. I wouldn't drive anything that ostentatious.FADE]#5 The sight of people eating in a diner reminded me of symposiums, though I have been told that wine has been replaced with milkshakes. Those are pretty good, honestly. Have you ever tried a flavor called "chocolate?" #4 Hearing about a beauty school dropout, and seeing a woman surrounded by other women in pink, I naturally believed them to be Aphrodite and her priestesses. She still owes me 10 drachma. #3 Watching a dance-off at the local gymnasium made me think of athletic competitions in Ancient Greece. Plato would have loved it.#2 Coming across what I thought was an open-air play, it turned out to be something called a "drive-in movie." I think those are going to be pretty popular in a few decades. #1 And, the NUMBER ONE REASON I Thought Grease was Greece is… [DRUM ROLL] Seeing this teenage drama unfold, I mistook it for a Greek tragedy.OK. I'm ready to go back. Send James Maynard in, already…[FADE. OFF SCREEN:-unintelligible-What do you MEAN the chariot flies? That's ridiculous.]Clear skies! JamesThe Cosmic Companion w/ James Maynard is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Cosmic Companion w/ James Maynard at thecosmiccompanion.substack.com/subscribe
Would you like to spend an entire week digging in the ground, scanning for ruins, and taking photographs of the world's most surreal archeological sites? The Roman Emperor Nero ordered to build the magnificent Domus Aurea back in 64 BCE. In its glory days, it occupied an area three times the size of the Vatican City. After flying halfway across the world, you're deep in the Cambodian jungle admiring the beauty of the city of Angkor. If you like terracotta landscapes, you should visit the city of Petra, which was a commercial hub back in the 4th Century BCE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
When looking at the Hebrew Bible, the city of Babylon plays a prominent role - especially in the Old Testament. A city famed for it's architectural beauty and gardens, also holds stories of suffering and captivity. Travelling back to the 6th Century BCE, the Babylonian Captivity was a defining moment in both Judaean history, and faith. With enormous numbers of the Judaean elite banished to Babylon, there was a religious, and social, overhaul for all involved. So what happened in this pivotal moment in history - and what sources can we use to examine this event?In the final episode in our Babylon mini-series, Tristan welcomes Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones back to the podcast to look at Babylon within the Bible. Looking at surviving art and archaeology, cuneiform texts and biblical passages - what can we learn about this moment in ancient history, and the legacy that can still be felt today?If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today! To download, go to Android or Apple store Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We talk about Alexander the Great, and how he (may have) conquered the Achaemenid Persian empire.
Ancient Greece in the 4th Century BCE was pretty tough for women. Women weren't allowed to practice Midwifery legally, and it was inappropriate for male Doctors to see female patients, so women and babies are dying in childbirth in record numbers and Agnodice is SICK OF IT! She bucks the law, deceives the teachers at med school by dressing as a man, and she becomes a gynecologist. When her practice begins to blossom, her male competition accuse her of committing the worst crime a Doctor at the time could commit: Seducing her female patients. How does Agnodice get out of this dangerous pickle she found herself in? You'll have to listen to find out! — A Broad is a woman who lives by her own rules. Broads You Should Know is the podcast about the Broads who helped shape our world! 3 Ways you can help support the podcast: Write a review on Apple Podcasts Share your favorite episode on social media / tell a friend about the show! Send us an email with a broad suggestion, question, or comment at BroadsYouShouldKnow@gmail.com — Broads You Should Know is hosted by Sara Gorsky. IG: @SaraGorsky Web master / site design: www.BroadsYouShouldKnow.com — Broads You Should Know is produced by Sara Gorsky & edited by Chloe Skye
Where in your own scholarship do you think you insert yourself--your personality, your religious beliefs, your ethics, your political beliefs, your worldview--most? And how do you, as a scholar, try to avoid falling prey to that common fate? Is there an early form of Christianity that, had it somehow won out over what became mainstream Catholic (and then eventually also Protestant) Christianity, you think would have better served humanity through the millennia? If so, how and why? Do you think the doubting Thomas passage in John was meant to be a polemic against the gospel of Thomas which seems to have been authored and gaining traction at the same time? Be fruitful and multiply AND Replenish the earth are two separate commands, not one joined together with a comma. In other words, God didn't command Adam and Eve to replenish the human population. Are we to assume that some unknown author in the first century/early second century put together the so-called Q sayings? And for what purpose? Did the author ascribe the sayings to some fellow named Jesus prior to the fleshing out of the Jesus character in the gospels? Is the Q theory wholly dependent on an assumption of a historical Jesus? A recent Facebook posting from the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, showed a picture from their collection and gift shop book of a message written out on a potshard. This message, written in Aramaic from the 5th Century BCE includes the sentence "Let me know when you will be celebrating Pascha (Passover).” Doesn't that imply it was a “moveable feast” reflecting agriculture rather than commemorating a historical occasion, the exodus? In the Parable of the Two Sons in Matthew, it reads: “But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' The son answered, ‘No, I won't go,' but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,' and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.' But he didn't go. “Which of the two obeyed his father?” They replied, “The first.” The footnote reads: "Other manuscripts read “The second.” In still other manuscripts the first son says “Yes” but does nothing, the second son says “No” but then repents and goes, and the answer to Jesus' question is that the second son obeyed his father." What do you think is the origin and reason behind the contradicting manuscripts of this parable? What do you think is the intended meaning? I still find intriguing is Saul's
Jewish Diaspora Report - Episode 44On this episode of the Jewish Diaspora Report, Host Mike Jordan discusses the history of Hanukah and how the festival of lights is celebrated around the Jewish diaspora.Explore these challenging issues and join the Jewish Diaspora Report for future episodes on issues of Politics, Culture, Current Events and more! Check us out on Instagram @jdr.podcast
Photo: No known restrictions on publication. Thebes 1885 @Batchelorshow #Egypt: "Indiana" Hoenlein and the 13th century BCE tablet of office excuses for sick days. Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1@ThadMcCotter @theamgreatness https://news.yahoo.com/ukraine-nuclear-boss-says-sees-152704305.html
Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow #IndianaHoenlein and the 17th century BCE Lost Canaanite Comb. Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 https://www.sciencenews.org/article/canaanite-comb-lice-israel-alphabet
Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow #IndianaHoenlein, The Lost Stele and Gate of 11th Century BCE Golan Heights. Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1@ThadMcCotter @theamgreatness https://www.timesofisrael.com/king-david-era-fort-found-in-golan-may-be-1st-evidence-of-bibles-geshurites/
Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow #BigAstronomy: Discovering Hipparchus's Second Century BCE star catalog. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-03296-1?error=cookies_not_supported&code=8bb82a4c-36e5-4043-82b1-e104bd63807a
Oranges have long represented love, wealth and status - since they originated in South East Asia, around the 8th Century BCE. The orange tree's ability to carry fruit and blossom at the same time made it a symbol of fertility and purity in religious art and painting, and the intoxicating fragrance of the blossom, the perfect sphere of the mature fruit and its sensuously refreshing taste inspired writers and artists, as well as growers to produce ever more spectacular creations. With the advent of artificial refrigeration in the 19th Century, oranges then became big business and widely available to all. By the mid 1880's it's said more than 2.5 million cases of Italian citrus fruit arrived in New York every year. Today, while oranges are enjoyed by many, their production also has a bitter side – the sad plight of many of the orange pickers, and the impact of the orange juice industry affecting the diversity of orange trees and profit margins of the growers. Joining Bridget Kendall is Cristina Mazzoni, professor of Romance Languages and Cultures at the University of Vermont, and the author of Golden Fruit: A Cultural History of Oranges in Italy; the food and travel writer Clarissa Hyman, who has written Oranges: A Global History; and Dr Alissa Hamilton, the author of Squeezed: What You Don't Know About Orange Juice. Producer: Anne Khazam (Photo: Orange cross section on top of a pile of oranges. Credit: Alexander Spatari/Getty Images)
The Art of War is a two thousand year old treatise on war, written By Sun Tzu in China in the 6th Century BCE. As a timeless reference point for military strategy and planning, it is not limited to politics alone. We can use the knowledge from this timeless classic to triumph over our greatest enemies.In today's episode, Kristina leads, and she examines how one may use The Art of War to confront one's own illusions and delusions on the spiritual path. The episode includes an examination of the definition of "the enemy" across cultures and religions.Links:Non-denominational People in USASubmit your Primal Wound Story anonymouslyHoopla - Free Books through your Local LibraryMasterclass - The Art of NegotiationThe Art of War - By Sun TzuAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Oliver is joined by Susan Whitfield, Professor in Silk Road Studies at the Sainsbury Institute, to gain a new perspective on the mass of historic maritime and land-based routes known as the Silk Roads. Susan gives us a taste of the material and cultural impact of the enormous trade network stretching to the ends of Europe, Africa and Asia from the 2nd Century BCE, as well as highlighting the role of Japan and China in establishing the network as World Heritage. Read Susan's article, 'The Expanding Silk Road: UNESCO and the Belt and Road Initiative' (2020) Read Susan's book, Silk Roads: Peoples, Cultures, Landscapes (2019) Visit the Nara to Norwich online exhibition Find out more about the Nara to Norwich project Download the full transcript here (PDF) Watch with subtitles on YouTube IMAGE AND AUDIO CREDITS Intro-outro music: jasonszklarek / MotionElements.com [L] Caravan on the Silk Road (1375). Gallica Digital Library. ID: btv1b55002481n. [R] Photographing remains of a 3rd century farmstead in Niya, an oasis kingdom in the Tarim Basin on the Silk Road, and the site of a multi-year Sino-Japanese archaeological collaboration. Provided by Susan Whitfield. Copyright © 2022 Oliver Moxham, ℗ 2022 Oliver Moxham. May be freely distributed for education purposes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/beyond-japan/message
For this episode we read both the play "King Lear," written by William Shakespeare, and the 2009 book “Fool,” by Christopher Moore. King Lear is one of Shakespeare's tragic plays, and is based on a legendary 8th Century BCE king of Britain (which would have been around the founding of Rome), as recounted in Geoffrey of Monmouth's pseudohistorical 12th-century History of the Kings of Britain. “Fool,” on the other hand, is a comedy. Reminder: this is a spoiler-filled podcast. So if you're not into that kind of thing, read the books first and come back later. Episode Links “Fool” by Christopher Moore “King Lear” by William Shakespeare Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespeare Unlimited podcast Reading Jennie – “Collective” Documentary on DVD Pete – “Dead Mountaineer's Inn” by Boris & Arkady Strugatsky Tell us what YOU think about this book, or anything else you're reading, in our GoodReads or Facebook groups, or talk to us on twitter using the #BigBookPodcast hashtag. If you'd like to make a suggestion for future reading send us your recommendations on the Big Book Club Podcast page on the Arlington Public Library website. Up Next "Beowulf: a New Translation” by Maria Headley and “The Mere Wife” by Maria Headley
Mediterranean, Aegean, Pirates. In the 14th Century BCE, records from Egypt hint at piracy and raiding across the sea. And artistic images even show Mycenaeans(?) at the pharaoh's court. All of this may reflect the history behind great stories like the Odyssey...Date: c.1400 - 1300 BCE. Music: Michael Levy, "Odysseus and the Sirens," www.ancientlyre.com. Audio editing by www.yourpodcastpal.com. See the "Mycenaean Papyrus" at the British Museum website. Mycenaean pottery from Amarna, at the Petrie Museum University College London. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Egypt, Canaan, Babylon, Assyria. In the 14th Century BCE, travellers criss-crossed the world. Many came to Egypt for diplomacy, trade, and to live. In this episode, we explore three short stories relating to Egypt and its neighbours... Episode detailsPictures and references at www.egyptianhistorypodcast.comSupport the show at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcastMusic intro: Michael Levy, "Babylonian Banquet" and "The Magic of Marduk," www.ancientlyre.comSelect ReferencesThe Egyptian-Akkadian Phrasebook: S. Izre'el, The Amarna Scholarly Texts (1997).Assyria Joins the Scene: Amarna Letter EA15, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.Aper-el, Pharaoh's Man: Alain Zivie, 2018, Biblical Archaeology Review. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Photo: Bulla from a much later age "Indiana" Hoenlein and the lost Treasury bullae of 8th Century BCE. Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 @ThadMcCotter @theamgreatness https://www.timesofisrael.com/tiny-clay-seals-reveal-first-temple-royal-treasuries-in-jerusalem-researchers-say/
Perhaps it's part of the human condition, but most of us seem to have difficulty accepting the way things are. Instead, we find ourselves angered by what we see on the news, enraged by some enemy we are told is out to get us, disappointed by the quality of our lives, or the numbers on our bank balances, or the measurements on our waistbands. Constantly striving for more, and better. There always seems to be something to complain about, to be dissatisfied with, to feel aggrieved about, and always someone or something to blame. It's almost as if we've become addicted to chaos and negativity, and that we have created a system that feeds off this addiction, requiring us to exist in a constant state of low level emotional trauma in order to sell us clicks, clothes and vacations. Requiring us to act and think and behave and identify in certain ways which, when examined closely, are not actually in alignment with who we really are. And it is when we are out of alignment with our authentic selves that we don't realise our potential. As Maslow might say, we remain un-actualized and, indeed, this whole system that we have created for ourselves seems designed to keep us that way. Simply put, we aren't who we came here to be, and we aren't living the lives we came here to live. Even though we are experiencing this existence, are we actually the ones pulling the strings? So how do we break free from this state inauthentic living, and step into our most real, most authentic, most true selves? It's not a new question, but one that has been played with for thousands of years. Lao Tzu said it sometime around the 6th Century BCE, when he stated “when I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” Rumi, the Sufi poet, hinted at it in the 1200s, when he wrote “You think you belong to this world of dust and matter. Out of this dust you have created a personal image, and have forgotten about the essence of your true origin.” Mooji, the modern day spiritual teacher, said it when he wrote “step into the fire of self-discovery, it will not burn you, it will burn everything you are not.” This quest to discover who we really are, despite the trappings of culture, society, and expectation, and to create a life that is in alignment with this true version of ourselves can itself take a lifetime. And perhaps we may never get there, living a life shaped by the dictates of expectation, convention, tradition and culture. But while we settle for anger, discontent, for resentment, and the exhausting bitterness of carrying around a thousand injustices, while also straining to be something we are not, in a world that is not built for us, we cannot begin that journey. At some point there will come a day when many of us decide that it's time to put down the baggage, and start taking the action of change to unravel and unload everything we've accumulated over the course of our lives, and in the process dig down closer to the truth of who we are. This notion of our unique truth, of finding out who we are once we remove all that we are not, is explored by Jim Phillips, the author of the book “The Key to LIFE: Living in Full Expression”. Jim is an entrepreneur, speaker, and coach, and he joined me on the podcast to talk about how our truth, our reality, and who we really are, are shaped by a lifetime of experiences. But once we learn to let it go, we can live a more fulfilling, real, and rewarding existence. http://www.livinginfullexpression.com
In this episode, we discus history from the 5th century BCE to the 3rd Century BCE. We reflect on cultures in Greece, Rome, China, Persian, and the Middle East.
The Samnites were a group of communities from the central Apennine Mountains who shared certain traits and that predominantly appear in the historical sources in the second half of the first millennium BCE. Historian, Dr Rafael Scopacasa, returns to the show to discuss what scholars know about the Samnites in fifth century BCE.
Three major wars, substantial territorial annexation, and a new form for Consuls to be elected, all occurred between 349 to 300 BCE (late 4th Century BCE). Dr. Gary Forsythe, Associate Professor, Texas Tech University, makes a fifth appearance on the show to explain the events.
The Etruscans were a group of communities, connected through language and culture, that flourished on the Italian peninsula before the Romans. Professor Alexandra Carpino, Northern Arizona University, returns to the show to discuss what scholars know about the Etruscans in the sixth century BCE.
The fifth century BCE was not only important for the history of theatre in Athens, but formative for the industry, as a whole. Dr. Andrew Walker White, George Mason University, joins the show to treat this period in history and drama.
Pompeii comes into the records in the seventh century BCE, and more materially, in the sixth. Dr. Ivo van der Graaff, University of New Hampshire, Durham, joins the show to discuss what scholars know about Pompeii in the sixth century BCE.
We may be devout believers, performing all the traditions and mechanics of our religion, yet be rejected by God because of iniquity. In this jarring lesson, Brother Singh compares the Body of Christ today to Israel during the 8th Century BCE. Iniquity may be the most misunderstood offense in scripture. It offends God, and He utterly rejects it, yet it is so easy for God's people to fall into the trap of this pernicious offense. Iniquity is “any form” of religious activity that God has not approved. It typically involves human traditions and philosophy that circumvent the requirement that we "must worship Him in Spirit and truth." (John 4:24) In Isaiah chapter one, God laments over children He reared and brought up, yet they rebelled against Him. He accuses them of being less appreciative than animals, “for an ox knows its owner and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know” — God's people are devoid of understanding.
We are going to continue with our exploration into the history of education for this episode. Although we have some more teacher stories, interviews, and big ideas to share very soon, I figure that as we are on a roll, we should do what we can to do the topic justice. This podcast is available in iTunes, Google, Spotify, and many other pod catchers. Subscribe with this URL: https://feed.podbean.com/teatimeteaching/feed.xml Part one: Before we can discuss the history of education in Ancient Greece, we first must define where end when we are talking about. When we talk about Ancient Greece, we are referring to the civilizations, states, and people who inhabited the Greek peninsula and islands of the Aegean from around the 12th century BCE to the 6th Century AD. During this time, there were several epochs, or ages. The earliest evidence we have of civilizations in the area is from around 12th century BCE with the Minoan civilization. If you are familiar with the stories of the Iliad and the Odyssey, they come from this era. The Mycenean civilization was a literate and complex one, but when it collapsed – and we are not sure how exactly, although natural disaster is likely – so was their writing. What was left behind were a scattering of smaller villages, towns, and cities, usually on the coast, and reliant on trade with other Mediterranean civilizations. This period between the 8th century BCE, and the 6th Century BCE is sometimes referred to as the Greek Dark Ages. Over this time, the city states, evolved into their own systems, referred to themselves as Polis, and borrowed and adapted the Phoenician alphabet into what we recognize as Greek. With a script in place, knowledge began to be written down again, and so we have our first historian Herodotus wrote between the 450s and 420s BCE, and his tradition was followed by such as Thucydides, Xenophon, Demosthenes, Plato and Aristotle. One of the things we need to be aware of when we talk about Ancient Greece is that we are not referring to one Empire or political entity. Effectively Greece was a collection of independent city states geographically cut off from one another by mountains and the sea. It is through trade that knowledge was passed, and ideas spread, but effectively we are talking about areas which evolved their own laws and traditions – for example, Athens, Sparta, Thebes, and Macedonia. I could spend hours talking about ancient Greece, but we need to focus on our main question. What was education like in classical Greece? There were some general similarities between city states in Ancient Greece. For example, by the 5th Century BCE there was some “democratization” of education. Most free males could go to a public school, referred to as a gymnasium, while wealthy young men were educated at home by a private tutor. How you were education was a central component of your identity. For example, we know that Alexander the Great was tutored by Aristotle. For most Greeks, education reflected your social status and who you were as a person. We have a similar attitude today, often asking folks where they went to college, or who conferred their degree, as a sign of status and rank. You will notice that slaves did not have access to an education (in some city-states, slaves were forbidden), and women did not get a formal education (although this varied from city state to city state). In Athens, until about 420BCE, every free male received an elementary education. This was split into two parts – physical and intellectual. The physical aspect, “gymnastike” prepared citizens for their military service – they were taught strength, stamina, and military tactics. For Athenians, physical fitness was important for both aesthetic and practical reasons. Training was conducted in a “gymnasium” (a word still used to describe some elementary schools in this area today). The intellectual aspect, “mousike” was a combination of music, dance, lyrics, and poetry. Students learned to write with a stylus on wax tablets. When students were ready, they would read, memorize, and recite legends and Homeric stories. In this period, once a boy reached adolescence, his formal education ended. Around 420 BCE, we begin to see Higher Education in Athens. Philosophers such as Socrates, along with the sophistic movement led to an influx of teachers from all over the Mediterranean. It became fashionable to value intellectual ability over military prowess. This causes a clash between traditionalist, who feared that intellectuals would destroy Athenian culture and lead to a military disadvantage, while sophists believed that education could be a tool to develop the whole man, including his intellect, and therefore move Athens forward. (I'm sure you can think of similar arguments between traditionalists and progressives today – some things never change). Anyway, the demand for higher education continued and we begin to see more focused areas of study – mathematics, astronomy, harmonics, and dialectic – all with the aim of developing a philosophical insight. For these Athenians, individuals should use knowledge within a framework of logic and reason – what we call today – critical thinking. However, this level of education was not democratized. Wealth determined your level of education in ancient Athens. These formal programs were taught by sophists who charged for their teaching and advertised for their services, more customers meant more money could be made. So, if you were a free peasant, your access to higher education was limited (something that also resonates today), while women and slaves were excluded from this process altogether. Women were considered socially inferior in Athens and incapable of acting at a high intellectual capacity, while it was dangerous to educate slaves, and in Athens, illegal. Part Two: So, who were the sophists? Let's begin with the most famous – Socrates, or as Bill and Ted call him Socrates. Now the problem with learning about Socrates is that he didn't write anything down himself. Indeed, most of what we learn about him comes from two of his students: Plato, and Xenophon. Some of their writings about Socrates, particularly Plato's often contradict themselves. But generally, he is considered the father of philosophy. He advocated that a good man pursues virtue over material wealth, and he mused upon the idea of wisdom. The story goes that he decided to ask every wise man about what they know, and he found that they thought themselves wise, yet they were not, while Socrates himself knew that he was not wise at all, which paradoxically, made him wiser since he was the only person aware of his own ignorance. This stance threatened the status of the most powerful Athenians, so he was eventually tried and when asked what his punishment should be, he proposed free dinners for the rest of his life, as his position as someone who questions Athens into action and progress should be rewarded. Unfortunately, Athenians didn't see it that way, and he was found guilty of corrupting the minds of the youth of Athens, and of “impiety” (not believing in the official gods of the state). As punishment he was sentenced to death by poisoning. Again – we see a similar theme in today's educational debate, where educational stances that encourage students to question the status quo and take a critical stance are considered threatening to those in power. Some things just don't change, do they? Isocrates was a student of Socrates who founded a school of Rhetoric around 393BCE. He believed education's purpose was to produce civic efficiency and political leadership, therefore the ability to speak well and be persuasive was the cornerstone of his approach. While his students didn't have to write 5 paragraph persuasive essays, you can see this approach in modern day social studies classes as well as middle and high school English curricula. Plato, on the other hand, travelled for ten years after Socrates' execution, returning to establish his Academy, named after the Greek hero Akedemos, in 387 BCE. He believed that education could produce citizens who could cooperate and members of a civic society (like the aims of 19th and 20th century public educators). His curriculum focused on Civic Virtue. The idea that a good citizen would act for the common good, at the expense of their individual gains. In his work “the Republic” he outlines that everyone needs an elementary education in music, poetry, and physical training, two to three years of military training, ten years of mathematics science, five years of dialectic training, and 15 years of practical political training. Those who could attain all that knowledge would become “philosopher kings”, the leaders in his ideal society. Aristotle was a student of Plato, learning in his academy for 19 years. When Plato died, her travelled until he was invited by Philip of Macedon to educate his 13-year-old son, Alexander (later the Great). In 352 BCE he moved back to Athens to open his school, the Lyceum. Aristotle's approach was based around research. There was systemic approach to the collection of information, and a new focus on empirical methods, like what we see as the foundation of our modern research methods. So, these were the developments in Athens, however, this was not the same for all of Greece. Whereas the Athenian system evolved away from a focus on preparation of male citizens for military service, Spartan society kept military superiority as the focus for its education system. Education in Sparta was focused around what we would probably call a military academy system – called “agoge” in Greek. In general, all Spartan males (except for the first born of the two ruling houses), went through a system which cultivated loyalty to Sparta through military training, hardships, hunting, dancing, singing, and social preparation. It was divided in three age groups, young children, adolescents, and young adults. Spartan girls did not get the same education, although we think there was a formal system for them too. The three age categories were the paides (7-14), paidiskoi (15-19) and the hebontes (20-29). Within these age groups boys were divided in to agelai (herds) with whom they would sleep (consider these like a house system in British private schools, or the Harry Potter stories). They answered to an older boy, and an official who was the paidonomous, or “boy-herder). So, the Paides, were taught the basics of reading and writing, but the focus was on their athletic ability. They did running and wrestling, they were encouraged to steal their food, but according to Xenophon, if they were caught, they were punished. Boys participated in the agoge in bare feet, to toughen them up, and at the age of 12 were allowed one item of clothing, a cloak, per year. Around the age of 12, a boy would gain a mentor who was an older warrior, called the “erastes”. As the boy transitioned into the Paidiskoi, so the mentor would act as a sponsor, while the student further developed his physical and athletic training. By the age of 20, the young Spartan graduated from the paidiskoi into the hebontes. If he had developed leadership qualities, these would be rewarded. At this stage, they were considered adults, they were eligible for military service, and could vote in the assembly, although they were not yet full free citizens. By 30 a Spartan man should have graduated, been accepted into the military, and was permitted to marry. He would also be allocated an allotment of land. This state education system not only prepared Spartan men for war, but also instilled a strong Spartan identity. They were away from their families for most of their childhood and this likely instilled a sense of favoring the needs of the collective over themselves as individuals or their own families. Indeed, the legend of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae clearly illustrates this concept of individual sacrifice for the collective good. This Spartan education provides a contrast to Athenian education. In Sparta education was state sponsored, designed to create a citizen who put the collective first. In Athens, higher education was private, and intended to create a citizen who put the collective first by way of virtue. However, Plato intended only a select few to be philosopher-kings, while Sparta expected everyone to be a military citizen. There is one other aspect of Ancient Greek education that I want to talk about. The symposium. In ancient Greece this was a part of the banquet that took place after the meal, where men would retire to the andron (men's quarters) recline of couches, and drink, and be entertained, and discuss a multitude of topics. While these were the precursors to the drinking parties that we associate with Ancient Rome, I can see many parallels with academic conferences in the modern day, where scholars share their research in a common location, eat and drink together, and find excuses to sample local entertainments. Of course, the pandemic has curtailed many of these activities, but one day we might be able to meet and talk in person again. One thing we all have in common is that we've been to school. So, if you would like to contribute to the pod in any way, if you have a story to share, long, short, tragic, or comic, if you have comments to make about the podcast, or just want to say “hi”, you can send an email to TeachersTeaTimePod@gmail.com or alternatively you can send emails to me directly using mark@edjacent.org I love to read what you have to say. If social media is your thing, you can follow me on Twitter @markdiacop. You can find our contact information, copies of the show notes, and you can download previous episodes of the podcast at www.teachersteatimepod.com The podcast artwork was created by Phaedra. Opening and closing music is by Bryan Boyko. Part One: Before we can discuss the history of education in Ancient Greece, we first must define where end when we are talking about. When we talk about Ancient Greece, we are referring to the civilizations, states, and people who inhabited the Greek peninsula and islands of the Aegean from around the 12th century BCE to the 6th Century AD. During this time, there were several epochs, or ages. The earliest evidence we have of civilizations in the area is from around 12th century BCE with the Minoan civilization. If you are familiar with the stories of the Iliad and the Odyssey, they come from this era. The Mycenean civilization was a literate and complex one, but when it collapsed – and we are not sure how exactly, although natural disaster is likely – so was their writing. What was left behind were a scattering of smaller villages, towns, and cities, usually on the coast, and reliant on trade with other Mediterranean civilizations. This period between the 8th century BCE, and the 6th Century BCE is sometimes referred to as the Greek Dark Ages. Over this time, the city states, evolved into their own systems, referred to themselves as Polis, and borrowed and adapted the Phoenician alphabet into what we recognize as Greek. With a script in place, knowledge began to be written down again, and so we have our first historian Herodotus wrote between the 450s and 420s BCE, and his tradition was followed by such as Thucydides, Xenophon, Demosthenes, Plato and Aristotle. One of the things we need to be aware of when we talk about Ancient Greece is that we are not referring to one Empire or political entity. Effectively Greece was a collection of independent city states geographically cut off from one another by mountains and the sea. It is through trade that knowledge was passed, and ideas spread, but effectively we are talking about areas which evolved their own laws and traditions – for example, Athens, Sparta, Thebes, and Macedonia. I could spend hours talking about ancient Greece, but we need to focus on our main question. What was education like in classical Greece? There were some general similarities between city states in Ancient Greece. For example, by the 5th Century BCE there was some “democratization” of education. Most free males could go to a public school, referred to as a gymnasium, while wealthy young men were educated at home by a private tutor. How you were education was a central component of your identity. For example, we know that Alexander the Great was tutored by Aristotle. For most Greeks, education reflected your social status and who you were as a person. We have a similar attitude today, often asking folks where they went to college, or who conferred their degree, as a sign of status and rank. You will notice that slaves did not have access to an education (in some city-states, slaves were forbidden), and women did not get a formal education (although this varied from city state to city state). In Athens, until about 420BCE, every free male received an elementary education. This was split into two parts – physical and intellectual. The physical aspect, “gymnastike” prepared citizens for their military service – they were taught strength, stamina, and military tactics. For Athenians, physical fitness was important for both aesthetic and practical reasons. Training was conducted in a “gymnasium” (a word still used to describe some elementary schools in this area today). The intellectual aspect, “mousike” was a combination of music, dance, lyrics, and poetry. Students learned to write with a stylus on wax tablets. When students were ready, they would read, memorize, and recite legends and Homeric stories. In this period, once a boy reached adolescence, his formal education ended. Around 420 BCE, we begin to see Higher Education in Athens. Philosophers such as Socrates, along with the sophistic movement led to an influx of teachers from all over the Mediterranean. It became fashionable to value intellectual ability over military prowess. This causes a clash between traditionalist, who feared that intellectuals would destroy Athenian culture and lead to a military disadvantage, while sophists believed that education could be a tool to develop the whole man, including his intellect, and therefore move Athens forward. (I'm sure you can think of similar arguments between traditionalists and progressives today – some things never change). Anyway, the demand for higher education continued and we begin to see more focused areas of study – mathematics, astronomy, harmonics, and dialectic – all with the aim of developing a philosophical insight. For these Athenians, individuals should use knowledge within a framework of logic and reason – what we call today – critical thinking. However, this level of education was not democratized. Wealth determined your level of education in ancient Athens. These formal programs were taught by sophists who charged for their teaching and advertised for their services, more customers meant more money could be made. So, if you were a free peasant, your access to higher education was limited (something that also resonates today), while women and slaves were excluded from this process altogether. Women were considered socially inferior in Athens and incapable of acting at a high intellectual capacity, while it was dangerous to educate slaves, and in Athens, illegal. Part Two: So, who were the sophists? Let's begin with the most famous – Socrates, or as Bill and Ted call him Socrates. Now the problem with learning about Socrates is that he didn't write anything down himself. Indeed, most of what we learn about him comes from two of his students: Plato, and Xenophon. Some of their writings about Socrates, particularly Plato's often contradict themselves. But generally, he is considered the father of philosophy. He advocated that a good man pursues virtue over material wealth, and he mused upon the idea of wisdom. The story goes that he decided to ask every wise man about what they know, and he found that they thought themselves wise, yet they were not, while Socrates himself knew that he was not wise at all, which paradoxically, made him wiser since he was the only person aware of his own ignorance. This stance threatened the status of the most powerful Athenians, so he was eventually tried and when asked what his punishment should be, he proposed free dinners for the rest of his life, as his position as someone who questions Athens into action and progress should be rewarded. Unfortunately, Athenians didn't see it that way, and he was found guilty of corrupting the minds of the youth of Athens, and of “impiety” (not believing in the official gods of the state). As punishment he was sentenced to death by poisoning. Again – we see a similar theme in today's educational debate, where educational stances that encourage students to question the status quo and take a critical stance are considered threatening to those in power. Some things just don't change, do they? Isocrates was a student of Socrates who founded a school of Rhetoric around 393BCE. He believed education's purpose was to produce civic efficiency and political leadership, therefore the ability to speak well and be persuasive was the cornerstone of his approach. While his students didn't have to write 5 paragraph persuasive essays, you can see this approach in modern day social studies classes as well as middle and high school English curricula. Plato, on the other hand, travelled for ten years after Socrates' execution, returning to establish his Academy, named after the Greek hero Akedemos, in 387 BCE. He believed that education could produce citizens who could cooperate and members of a civic society (like the aims of 19th and 20th century public educators). His curriculum focused on Civic Virtue. The idea that a good citizen would act for the common good, at the expense of their individual gains. In his work “the Republic” he outlines that everyone needs an elementary education in music, poetry, and physical training, two to three years of military training, ten years of mathematics science, five years of dialectic training, and 15 years of practical political training. Those who could attain all that knowledge would become “philosopher kings”, the leaders in his ideal society. Aristotle was a student of Plato, learning in his academy for 19 years. When Plato died, her travelled until he was invited by Philip of Macedon to educate his 13-year-old son, Alexander (later the Great). In 352 BCE he moved back to Athens to open his school, the Lyceum. Aristotle's approach was based around research. There was systemic approach to the collection of information, and a new focus on empirical methods, like what we see as the foundation of our modern research methods. So, these were the developments in Athens, however, this was not the same for all of Greece. Whereas the Athenian system evolved away from a focus on preparation of male citizens for military service, Spartan society kept military superiority as the focus for its education system. Education in Sparta was focused around what we would probably call a military academy system – called “agoge” in Greek. In general, all Spartan males (except for the first born of the two ruling houses), went through a system which cultivated loyalty to Sparta through military training, hardships, hunting, dancing, singing, and social preparation. It was divided in three age groups, young children, adolescents, and young adults. Spartan girls did not get the same education, although we think there was a formal system for them too. The three age categories were the paides (7-14), paidiskoi (15-19) and the hebontes (20-29). Within these age groups boys were divided in to agelai (herds) with whom they would sleep (consider these like a house system in British private schools, or the Harry Potter stories). They answered to an older boy, and an official who was the paidonomous, or “boy-herder). So, the Paides, were taught the basics of reading and writing, but the focus was on their athletic ability. They did running and wrestling, they were encouraged to steal their food, but according to Xenophon, if they were caught, they were punished. Boys participated in the agoge in bare feet, to toughen them up, and at the age of 12 were allowed one item of clothing, a cloak, per year. Around the age of 12, a boy would gain a mentor who was an older warrior, called the “erastes”. As the boy transitioned into the Paidiskoi, so the mentor would act as a sponsor, while the student further developed his physical and athletic training. By the age of 20, the young Spartan graduated from the paidiskoi into the hebontes. If he had developed leadership qualities, these would be rewarded. At this stage, they were considered adults, they were eligible for military service, and could vote in the assembly, although they were not yet full free citizens. By 30 a Spartan man should have graduated, been accepted into the military, and was permitted to marry. He would also be allocated an allotment of land. This state education system not only prepared Spartan men for war, but also instilled a strong Spartan identity. They were away from their families for most of their childhood and this likely instilled a sense of favoring the needs of the collective over themselves as individuals or their own families. Indeed, the legend of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae clearly illustrates this concept of individual sacrifice for the collective good. This Spartan education provides a contrast to Athenian education. In Sparta education was state sponsored, designed to create a citizen who put the collective first. In Athens, higher education was private, and intended to create a citizen who put the collective first by way of virtue. However, Plato intended only a select few to be philosopher-kings, while Sparta expected everyone to be a military citizen. There is one other aspect of Ancient Greek education that I want to talk about. The symposium. In ancient Greece this was a part of the banquet that took place after the meal, where men would retire to the andron (men's quarters) recline of couches, and drink, and be entertained, and discuss a multitude of topics. While these were the precursors to the drinking parties that we associate with Ancient Rome, I can see many parallels with academic conferences in the modern day, where scholars share their research in a common location, eat and drink together, and find excuses to sample local entertainments. Of course, the pandemic has curtailed many of these activities, but one day we might be able to meet and talk in person again.
In the 6th Century BCE, an Indian physician named Sushruta, who was widely regarded in India as the “father of surgery”, wrote one of the world's earliest works on medicine and surgery. The work included the method of skin grafting, which entail transplanting pieces of skin from one part of the body to another. His treatise also provides the first written record of a forehead flap rhinoplasty, a technique still used today, in which a full-thickness piece of skin from the forehead is used to reconstruct a nose. However, Sushruta was not the first inventor of plastic surgery. The first known record of plastic surgery was in 1213 BCE, when ancient Egyptians tried to preserve the nose of their dead king by surgically inserting bones and seeds into it. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2020/08/28/scar-removals-and-breast-reductions-graeco-roman-practices-of-plastic-surgery/
Discover the most ancient Bible reading plan in the world, that was first established in the 6th Century BCE and is followed by Jews around the world today. On today's program, Yael Eckstein will share why this tradition is so relevant to Christians and how it can profoundly impact your walk with God. For more information on today's episode visit mybiblicalroots.org.
Episode 31 An interview with Dr Elodie Paillard discussing her work on the non-elite characters in the plays of Sophocles and what they tell us about changes in athenian society in the 5th Century BCE. Dr Paillard is Honorary Associate in the Department of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Sydney and lecturer and scientific collaborator in the Department of Ancient Civilizations at the University of Basel. She is currently leading a research project on Greek theatre in Roman Italy, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. She is the author of 'The Stage and the City. Non-élite Characters in the Tragedies of Sophocles' (Paris 2017). She is currently co-editing two forthcoming collective volumes, one on Greek Theatre and Metatheatre: Definitions, Problems & Limits and one on Theatre and Autocracy in the Ancient World. In parallel to her interest in ancient Greek theatre, she is also working on the social structure of Classical Athens and the emergence of democracy. You can connect with her on Twitter @elopai Please support the podcast at www.patreon.com www.ko-fi.com This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy
Come dream with me as we go Deep into the 2nd Century BCE and discover the origins of Lucius Cornelius Sulla. Then Total War, as we experience the epic 2nd Battle of Cirta. patreon.com/deepintohistory
Legend has it that the Circus Maximus was founded by the early kings of Rome in the 6th Century BCE. It is undoubtedly the oldest and was by far the largest public sports venue of ancient Rome. It occupies most of the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills, and served Rome’s chariot-racing stadium for over 1,000 years. That said, use of the Circus was not limited to chariot racing, it also served as a venue for public games or Ludi connected to Roman religious festivals. Ludi were typically sponsored by leading Romans or the Roman state for the benefit of the Roman people and gods. The earliest triumphal ludi at the Circus were vowed by Tarquin the Proud for his victory over Pometia and dedicated to Jupiter, the god of the sky, Ludi ranged in duration and scope from one-day or even half-day events to spectacular multi-venue celebrations held over several days, with religious ceremonies, gladiatorial combat, public feasts, horse and chariot racing, athletics, plays and recitals and wild animal hunts. Some included public executions. The race track is roughly 550m long and 80m wide. The spectator stands are 30m deep and surround almost the entire perimeter giving, in the first century, a maximum capacity was reported to be roughly 250,000 spectators although this may include people sitting on the sides of the adjacent hills – in any case this is over four times more people than the maximum capacity of the Colosseum.
The Temple of Castor and Pollux is readily recognizable by its remaining 3 white columns standing in a line close by the Temple of Vesta. These columns are part of the side of a much later rebuild of what was originally a 5 Century BCE temple. The original temple to the semi-divine twins Castor and Pollux was pledged just after 500 BCE by Aulus Postumius Tubertus - an early Roman military leader. According to legend, Jupiter’s mortal son Castor and his immortal son Pollux came riding into battle in aid of Rome’s forces – the twins were seen by Postumius and his immediate troops. The semi-gods were carrying spears, riding white horses and helped guide an attack of the Roman troops. They were then seen again, later that same day, at the spring of Joturna where they spread news of Rome’s victory. The Temple and Spring of Joturna are very close by. In the early second century BCE the temple was repaired by possibly Aemilius Paullus in celebration of his victory over the Macedonians. Further modifications and updates were made by Lucius Caecilius Metellus and then by the Emperor Augustus following the devastating fire of 14 or 9 BCE. He used the repairs to better associate the temple and the divine twins with his own two sons - Gaius and Lucius Caesar. Sadly, both children would die before completion of the project and so, in time, the association changed to be with Tiberius and his late brother Drusus. In the course of all these repairs and updates the design was changed to be of a form similar to other adjacent forum temples such as that of Divus Julius. The updated version had two sets of steps flanking the entrance, a row of 8 columns at the front and back and 11 columns on each side. The 3 remaining columns, which have Corinthian capitals, are from the middle section of the east side. They support a simple but elegant entablature that would have run around the entirety of the edge of the roof – most likely with a carved dedication on the front that faced North. Ascending the steps at the front one would have passed through the front columns, under a large triangular pediment and into a single main temple hall that likely contained statues of Castor and Pollux. Given that the temple has a raised podium fronting directly onto the Forum it also served as an orators platform. Perhaps surprisingly, the extremely solid base of the temple’s foundations was divided into chambers for various official public services - particularly those needing the protection of thick walls. In addition to its civic function, the Temple was the center of annual celebrations commemorating the victory at Lake Regillus. A major cavalry parade was held each year on July 15th and featured as many as 5,000 young men carrying shields and spears.
You’re listening to an Audio Guide to Ancient Rome. This episode is one in a series of short descriptions of monuments in the Roman Forum. In this episode I’m describing the Black Stone, Rostra and the Column of Phocas. The Roman Forum sits in a saddle between the Capitoline and Palatine Hills. Originally a marshy area, successive improvements to the land’s drainage allowed this to eventually become the center of power for the city. As its armies conquered new territories and money flowed into Rome, the Forum’s original meat and produce sellers were pushed out, to be replaced by majestic temples and monumental structures that accommodated the key societal, political and judicial systems needed for the empire to function. This area served as a central market and meeting place over many centuries although the nature of the proprietors and clientele changed significantly over time. The Forum and its surrounding buildings grew to be the focal point for nearly everything associated with the lives of the people of Rome including political discussions, legislative processes, civic entertainment, as well as a logical place to hold a riot or even a cremation. The area was first surfaced with gravel in 7th Century BCE around the time of the establishment of the Comitium and Senate House (or Curia). Although lost for many centuries and no longer recognizable other than through its archaeological footprint, the Comitium was sited in front of where you now see the meeting house of the Roman Senate (which is often called the Curia Julia). If you’re having trouble locating this, it is to the south east of the Arch of Septimius Severus and hidden underneath a low sloping temporary roof that covers ongoing excavation work. Also the location of the sanctuary for the fire god Vulcan, this was an important cult center from the very beginning of Rome’s development. The sanctuary consisted of an open-air U-shaped altar, a column which was probably for a cult statue, and an inscribed stela, known as the Lapis Niger (or Black Stone).
This area, at the side of the Capitoline Hill, was the border between two of the ancient tribes and a site for burials roughly 3,000 years ago. Archaeological evidence shows that at times there were also huts, a forge and in the 6th Century BCE, it was the site of a large house – potentially that of a king. The major redevelopment of this site happened after Julius Caesar prevailed in his civil war with Pompey and reclaimed his position as Consul. He then began a major overhaul of the Roman Forum replacing some of its older buildings and enlarging it into this area behind the Curia. Acquiring the buildings, land and levelling the whole site would have been an extremely expensive undertaking but Caesar had amassed a huge fortune from the spoils of his campaigns across Europe and, in particular, in Gaul. Excavations have revealed that the space provided a vast open colonnaded court that focused attention on the Temple of Genetrix that stood on the north western short side of the square. The temple had been promised by Caesar the evening before the battle of Pharsalus in 48 BCE as his forces prepared to engage directly with Pompey’s troops. Caesar’s promise was made in a late attempt to win favor with Pompey’s preferred deity, Venus Victrix. Although significantly outnumbered, Caesar won the battle but failed to capture Pompey who fled to Egypt only to be subsequently executed by the young Pharaoh Ptolemy. In the end Caesar didn’t keep his word and instead dedicated the building to the Julian family’s preferred deity Venus Genetrix. Never one to miss an opportunity for self promotion, in the center of this courtyard was a military equestrian statue of Caesar in the style of Alexander the Great riding Bucephalus. It was likely twice normal size. This new Forum was dedicated to Caesar in September 46 BCE to celebrate his combined victories over Gaul, Egypt, northern Africa and The Kingdom of Pontus (which is part of what we now know as Turkey).
Uncovering History Episode 10 Plague Prayers of the Ancient Hittites Part 2 Theo van den Hout Early in the 14th Century BCE, the Hittites faced a twenty year plague. How did these ancient Anatolians deal with pandemics? While the methods may be different, not much has changed. Join Theo van den Hout, the Arthur and Joanne Rasmussen Professor of Anatolian Languages and Cultures, OI, for part two in the discussion on plague prayers and scapegoating rituals used to combat plague in the ancient Hittite world. A video version of this discussion with images can be viewed on the Oriental Institute YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/7rhpDi86xm4 To support this and all of our research, become a member of the Oriental Institute. To explore the benefits of joining, please visit: oi.uchicago.edu/member Please excuse the audio and video, this podcast was recorded at-home.
Isaiah means “Yahweh is Salvation.” He prophesied to the southern kingdom Judah during the 8th Century BCE. There are two principle parts to the book, chapters 1 to 39 and 40 to 66, covering a period from 740 BCE to 538 BCE. It is speculated that there are two Isaiah’s, one the prophet and then his work continued by those members of his “school of prophets.” But then as a prophet of God, he could have foreseen what was to happen to ages far past his own life time. Isaiah’s descriptions of the Messiah perfectly fit the life and times of Jesus, and so very perfectly that the book is often described as the proto-Gospel.
Watch the Making of the epic historical drama film Asoka. This Hindi film stars Shahrukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor in lead roles. It was directed by Santosh Sivan and produced by Gauri Khan and Juhi Chawla. The film is based on the life of emperor Ashoka of the Maurya dynasty who ruled major part of India in the 3rd Century BCE. The film was released in 2001. The songs of the film were created by Music composer Anu Malik.
Uncovering History Episode 9 Plague Prayers of the Ancient Hittites Theo van den Hout Early in the 14th Century BCE, the Hittites faced a twenty year plague. How did these ancient Anatolians deal with pandemics? While the methods may be different, not much has changed. Join Theo van den Hout, the Arthur and Joanne Rasmussen Professor of Anatolian Languages and Cultures, OI, for a discussion on plague prayers and scapegoating rituals used to combat plague in the ancient Hittite world. A video version of this discussion with images can be viewed on the Oriental Institute YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/CNAEjsBYFKE To support this and all of our research, become a member of the Oriental Institute. To explore the benefits of joining, please visit: https://oi.uchicago.edu/member Please excuse the audio and video, this podcast was recorded at-home.
Episode 7 The life of Sophocles almost spanned the 5th Century BCE and included events from the defeat of the Persian invasion to the relentless grind of the Peloponnesian wars. We look at his life and times and get an overview of the surviving plays and theatrical innovations the he created. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy
Episode 2 An overview of the history of Greece to the 5th Century BCE including Minoan and Mycenaean periods, the Greek dark age and the rise of the city state. The development of the religious festivals and their main features An overview of the main playwrights and their plays: Aeschylus Sophocles Euripides Aristophanes Menander This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy
Welcome to the greatest mystery of the ancient world. In the 12 Century BCE, the greatest civilizations of the ancient world were suddenly and violently either eradicated or weakened so badly that they never recovered. Almost every city of importance was demolished, most of them never inhabited again. The Late Bronze Age was a dynamic, intriguing, optimistic time with vast nations and empires trading, writing letters, building and creating, traveling, intermarrying, and making war. And all of it, incomprehensibly, would end in a period of a few decades. This episode is an introduction to the Empires and Kingdoms of North Africa, the Aegean, Levant, Anatolia, and Mesopotamia -- the worlds original (semi) global society
Looking at the History from the 2nd Century BCE and the Origins of the festival of Chanukah.
Explores the tumultous eighth century BCE which saw the emergence of four of Israel's greatest prophets - Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Micah. Discusses the historical social and political changes that swept across the Ancient Ner East and how they influenced Israel's religious works forever.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tanachtalks)
How can we know God's Word is true? King David’s heart was grieved by the idolatrous practices around him and was longing for the worship of the Living God. This may have been during the time he was living among the Philistines, when King Saul was trying to kill him. He passionately wrote, “I will praise You with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing praises to You. I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name. In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul. (Psalm 138:1-3 NKJV). Even though the majority of people were worshiping false deities, in the very presence of those idols, David lifted His voice with all his heart and sang praises to the living God. His soul longed for the tabernacle in Shiloh. He declared without shame or embarrassment the goodness and majesty of Almighty God and the truth of His Word. It was through this steadfast dedication to Almighty God and the great confidence in the His Word, that David found strength of soul to stand without compromise. He cried out to God in those times and saw answers to his prayers. These are important lessons for the born again believer today. Living in this idolatrous and hedonistic culture, the soul of a child of God is vexed by the open expression of sexual impurity and nakedness. The spirit is grieved by the love affair with the demonic and the acceptance of Spiritism. How do we stand without compromising our faith and convictions? King David gave assurance that we will find such strength in the Holy Scriptures. God honors His Word above His name. The Psalmist proclaimed, “Forever, O Lord, your Word is settled in Heaven” (Psalm 119:89). “Blessed is the man,” wrote King David, “who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the paths of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2 NKJV). This is Why We Can Trust What the Bible Says The written Word reveals the true identity of the living God to mankind. It is by the principles and precepts of His Word we understand His ways. The Holy Scripture makes known the acceptable way to worship Almighty God; and by it we are taught how to live a righteous and godly life. The Holy Bible was written by God, infallible and inerrant. He chose to have men pen and publish His Word so all of mankind, in all ages, and in all nations, may have His Word. No human has the right or the authority to alter His Word. It is the Word of God and no one, regardless of their education, knowledge, or expertise has been given the permission to rewrite, add to, or take away from the Holy Scriptures. God alone holds such authority. He writes Holy Scripture and He has not given permission to any man, angel or spirit to add to it or to take from it. It is quite the opposite. “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:5-6 NKJV). “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19 NKJV). Even if an angel gives a revelation or a spirit gives a vision or dream, they are not Holy Scripture. Such revelation should not be honored or revered as equal to Holy Scripture. Translating the Scripture from the original text into a current language or for a people group, while carefully maintaining accurate word for word meaning, is absolutely necessary. That is quite different from when mankind takes it upon Himself to make the Word of God more relevant; historically accurate; or generationally updated. Truth will always be distorted by such steps. The most expert in the field is viewing and editing the eternal Word of God with a finite mind, a sin nature, and a proud self-will. The best he will ever do is “know in part” linguistic forms, historical data, cultural details, and archaeological facts. Yet, they hold themselves out as capable of judging where a portion of Holy Scripture is divinely inspired and that part is suspect? Would they judge God’s knowledge and writing? For centuries, it was believed by higher critics that King David was a myth, equal to King Arthur, because there was no historical or archaeological documentation, other than Holy Scripture. Then a marvelous discovery was made at Tel Dan in 1993 during an excavation led by Avraham Biran. An inscription on a fragmented shard from the 9th Century BCE commemorates the victory of an Aramean king over two southern kingdoms, “the king of Israel” and “the king of the House of David.” Clearly, this is a reference to the divided kingdom of Israel. Most scholars believe the inscription is a commemoration of Hazael of Damascus when he defeated Jehoram of Israel and Ahaziah of Judah. This means the Bible is true, right? No! The Bible was true all along. If the church fully embraced the higher critics, the story of David and Goliath and all the other lessons from the life of King David were discarded as myth; though they were absolutely true! What is being corrected, edited, rewritten, or completely discounted in the Holy Scriptures by those inside the Evangelical Pentecostal movements, today? Church, do not be disillusioned or deceived. We must fully embrace God has given to us His Word. We can trust it. It is our book of hope. It is a full revelation of God and our instruction for life. God’s word is established forever! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider leaving us a review. This helps the Foundational podcast reach more listeners. Be sure to tell a friend about the Foundational blog and podcast, and share with them about the free Bible Reading Challenge journal they will receive when they subscribe to receive my newsletter! Listen More Foundational Podcasts about Faith here:
Was Yuya the Biblical Joseph? In the Cairo Museum resides the remarkably well-preserved mummy of the Grand Vizier Yuya, who served under two 18th Dynasty Pharaohs, Thutmosis IV and Amenhotep III, in the middle of the 14th Century BCE. Yuya and his wife, Thuya, are the only non-royal persons buried among the Pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings, the New Kingdom's famous royal burial ground. Prior to the discovery of the boy king Tutankhamun's fabled tomb in 1923, the tomb of Yuya and Thuya was the only almost-intact burial found in the Valley of the Kings. Yuya is, in fact, the Biblical patriarch Joseph. Yuya matches up with the Biblical Joseph in virtually every particular. And the recent DNA study published in the Journal of the AMA 2/17/10 shows that Yuya's genes were represented throughout the Royal Family to the end of the dynasty, making his family, the Israelites, very closely related to the Royal Family during the last four generations of the 18th Dynasty. And his son, Aye was the very last Pharaoh of that dynasty.
The Middle way is an ancient Buddhist concept that encourages people seeking enlightenment to follow a path of balance and moderation, not go to extremes. It was developed by the Buddha, originally known as Siddhārtha Gautama, who achieved enlightenment in the 6th Century BCE, and was the founder of Buddhism. So why bring this up? With so many people seeking awakening and greater consciousness, it's more important than ever to tune in to your own guidance, and follow moderate paths that work FOR you - not ones where you sacrifice or suffer in the name of enhanced well-being and enlightenment! So helping you navigate and define your own middle way is what today's show is all about.
In the far northeast end of Ireland, from County Antrim, if you look out just 12 miles across the North Channel of the Irish Sea, you will see the Scottish headland known as the Mull of Kintyre. On a clear day the misty craggy cliffs of the Mull can be seen rising, almost beckoning one to cross the water. I know. I’ve been there. I’ve looked out across the channel and wanted cross over to Scotland, but, I have yet to go there. I’m not the first to long for that crossing. Even before the channel was covered in water, there was a land bridge; archaeologists tell us that the first human beings, hunter-gatherers to arrive in Ireland crossed over on foot near the end of the last ice age, around 10,000 BCE. When the Celts arrived in Ireland in the 6th Century BCE, they called the original inhabitants the Fir Bolg, sometimes called the ‘Dark Men.’ It is believed that the Fir Bolg assimilated with the Celts, probably not of their own volition but through violence and subjugation, and their legends and culture were adopted and morphed into the Celtic mythology. According to legend, the Túatha Dé Danann, translated to ‘the people of the gods,’ came from the North, presumably crossing over from Scotland, and gave the Fir Bolg a home in Ireland. The connection between Ireland and Scotland from the beginning of history has, literally, been legendary.
2016.10.09 Mleiha is considered one of the most important sites in the Arabian Peninsula, standing out from any other site in the United Arab Emirates. Evidence has confirmed that Mleiha had set up trade links amongst major ports of the ancient world. The inhabitants even minted their own currency, proved by large numbers of so called “Mleiha coins.” The city was developed with monumental buildings, consisting of various styles that were used for different purposes. These features contributed towards making Mleiha such a distinguished site, which sustained ancient communities for a period 500 years.
In this new episode (weekly, as advertised), Laszlo introduces a story from the early 4th Century BCE, the Warring States period that preceded the unification of China under Qin Shihuang. It concerns the ruler down in the southwest kingdom of Shu, centered around Chengdu. Thanks to his greediness for a small gift, he ended up losing big later on. He was so busy counting his pennies earned in a quick score that he lost sight of the pounds he'd lose down the road. This ruler's moment of weakness was immortalized by Lü Buwei in his highly respected Lü Shi Chunqiu who called him out as one who Tan Xiao Shi Da. For a full list of the terms used in this episode, please visit our website at teacup.mediaSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-chinese-sayings-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
In this new episode (weekly, as advertised), Laszlo introduces a story from the early 4th Century BCE, the Warring States period that preceded the unification of China under Qin Shihuang. It concerns the ruler down in the southwest kingdom of Shu, centered around Chengdu. Thanks to his greediness for a small gift, he ended up losing big later on. He was so busy counting his pennies earned in a quick score that he lost sight of the pounds he'd lose down the road. This ruler's moment of weakness was immortalized by Lü Buwei in his highly respected Lü Shi Chunqiu who called him out as one who Tan Xiao Shi Da. For a full list of the terms used in this episode, please visit our website at teacup.media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode, we investigate whether a mysterious army known as the Sacred Band of Thebes really dominated Greece in the 4th Century BCE.
Masks. Choruses. Huge prosthetic penises. Before you read Sophocles, Euripides, and company, it’s a good idea to know a bit about Ancient Greek Theater. Episode 26 Quiz: http://literatureandhistory.com/index.php/episode-26-quiz Episode 26 Transcription: http://literatureandhistory.com/index.php/episode-026-ancient-greek-theater Episode 26 Song: "Golden Age Athens" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IPMk-r9QEw Bonus Content: http://literatureandhistory.com/index.php/bonus-content Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/literatureandhistory
Purim commemorates the salvation of the Jewish People from a genocide in the 5th Century BCE in the Persian Empire. On one hand it is the most festive, joy filled day of the year, but to the Jewish mystics it is on a higher level than even Yom Kippur. Mottle and Batya share 'the Stuff Jews Should Know' about this incredible holiday.
In the sixth Century BCE, before Socrates, Plato or Jesus, Siddhartha Gautama lived and awakened in awareness, becoming known as the Buddha, or "the enlightened one." In this program, we compare the teachings of Jesus as described in the five Gospels with the teachings of the Buddha as recorded by his disciples. Join Karen and E.J. as they compare their words in this fascinating study of our spiritual life as taught by two of the greatest spiritual teachers the world has ever known.
Greetings! We're finally back on schedule with our first podcast since May when we were in Reno, about to set out on our summer tour. And now here we are, 3000 miles, dozens of performances and a new rear axle later. We come to you from Philadelphia, the birthplace of the U.S. And the "City of Brotherly Love" Which seems like an appropriate place to present a story about friendship. “Damon and Pythias” is a Greek legend about two friends who were even closer buddies than Damon and Affleck. It was reported by many ancient authorities as being a true incident that occurred sometime in the 4th Century BCE in Syracuse, during the reign of the tyrant Dionysius the Elder. Regardless of how much truth there may be to the story, it has come to symbolize the ultimate friendship, to such an extent that Shakespeare alluded to it as such in Hamlet. We offer this tale on the 18th anniversary of our departure from San Francisco and embarking on our extended tour of duty across the U.S. And while our trek hasn't been as ill-fated as that of Pythias, it has had its adventures and misadventures. Here's to the next 18! Happy Listening, Dennis (Narrator, Damon, Herald, Servant) and Kimberly (Pythias, King) Catch a live show
The theory of the atom first posited by the pre-Socratic philosopher Democritus in roughly the 4th Century BCE. None of his actual writings have survived. The great thing about the pre-Socratics is that so few of their works are available, you can spend about ten minutes (or less!) and have read as much of their stuff as have the world's leading experts. Games Played Last Week:01:53 -Kingdom Rush: Elemental Uprising (Alara Cameron, Helana Hope, and Sen-Foong Lim, Lucky Duck Games, 2023)04:15 -Assault on Doomrock: Ultimate Edition (Tom Stasiak, Beautiful Disaster Games, 2023)06:43 -Caverna: The Cave Farmers (Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout Games, 2013)07:22 -Hidden Leaders (Andreas Müller, Markus Müller, & Raphael Stocker, BFF Games, 2022)08:28 -AQUA: Biodiversity in the Oceans (Dan Halstad and Tristan Halstad, Sidekick Games, 2024)13:05 -Project: ELITE (Konstantinos Kokkinis, Marco Portugal, & Sotirios Tsantilas, CMON, 2020)16:54 -Lacuna (Mark Gerrits, CMYK, 2023)19:33 -5 Towers (Kasper Lapp, Deep Print Games, 2023)News (and why it doesn't matter):24:05 Kemet: Rise of the Gods reprint with additional modules on crowdfunding soon from Matagot25:11 Burned on Kickstarter February 13 from Stone Circle Games and Jon Moffat25:52 Wandering Galaxy: new Crossroads game from Plaid Hat Games26:52 Feature Game: Nucleum (Simone Luciani & Dávid Turczi, Board&Dice, 2023)Our Sponsors:* Check out Manscaped and use my code SOWRONGGAMES for a great deal: https://www.manscaped.com/Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy