Category Archives: religion

How to Behave in Rome

Posted on October 5, 2008 by 100swallows

Strictly speaking, the Romans didn’t have a religion. There were gods, of course, and you had to keep them happy. Each of them had his own department: Mars handled war and Juno looked after women and Venus was in charge … Continue reading →

Posted in books, history, literature, religion, Romans | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

The Crow: or the First Punic War (Part 1)

Posted on May 5, 2008 by 100swallows

What if you are a great army but your enemy is a great navy? You know how to march with fine discipline over hill and dale. You pitch a dandy camp, a real fortress with high walls and a ditch, … Continue reading →

Posted in books, engineering, history, literature, Punic War, religion, Romans, warfare | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Valley of the Fallen

Posted on April 8, 2008 by 100swallows

At Appomattox, at the end of the American Civil War, the surrender of the Southern armies was unconditional. The parlor of the (reconstructed) McLean House, Appomattox Court House, Virginia, site of the surrender of Gen. Robert E. Lee at the … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, history, Madrid, religion, Spain | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments