Category Archives: The Greeks

How Xenophon Saved His Army

Posted on February 19, 2015 by 100swallows

“So—is this the end?” Xenophon asked himself. “You asked for it and now you got it.” He was lying in a tent in the middle of the Persian Empire. He was with a batallion of Greek mercenaries, though he was … Continue reading →

Posted in books, history, literature, The Greeks, war, warfare | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

How Did They Lift Those Stones?

Posted on August 27, 2010 by 100swallows

The Egyptians had to construct ramps and pull the blocks up with ropes and brute force. But the Greeks invented the lifting tongs, the block and tackle, and this ingenious wedge device: the Holivela Holivela Most people have never seen … Continue reading →

Posted in 1, architecture, engineering, inventions, Romans, Spain, The Greeks | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

He Founded Rome

Posted on October 23, 2009 by 100swallows

What is this? Who is that burly guy and why is he carrying an old man? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gian_Lorenzo_Bernini_cat01.jpg–photo licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. The burly guy is Aeneas, the legendary founder of Rome; and he’s caring … Continue reading →

Posted in 1, art, history, Romans, The Greeks, war | Tagged , , , , , | 34 Comments