Ancient History
The Ghosts of Cannae_Book Review
The Ghosts of Cannae-Hannibal and the Darkest Hour of the Roman Republic by Robert O’Connell Imagine if you will being one of the few survivors of perhaps the worst military disaster of all time-a disaster that saw 90% of your comrades killed! Then imagine your government blaming you and the other survivors for the disaster […]
Who was Bar-Kokhba?
The Jews fought two major wars against their Roman occupiers. The First Jewish War ended in 70 AD when the Roman General Titus stormed Jerusalem and destroyed what is known as the Second Temple. The temple’s destruction fulfilled what Jesus had prophesied in Matthew 24:1-2. The Second Jewish War was fought during the reign of […]
Julian the Apostate_Gods and Legions
Gods and Legions is about a late Roman Emperor by the name of Julian. He was a bit of a military genius and won a smashing victory against the Alamanni (A Germanic super-tribe) invading Gaul in 357 A.D. while heavily outnumbered. Julian was also a bit of an anomaly. He reversed the Roman State religion […]
Lindisfarne Gospels and Vikings
In the History Channel’s new series on the Vikings there is an episode where the Vikings raid the Island of Lindisfarne, a small island off of England’s Northumbrian coast. The raid is thought to be the beginning of Viking adventures on England, Scotland, Ireland, France and just about everywhere else their longships could carry them. […]
OLD ENGLISH: Battle of Brunanburh Poem (937 AD)
I haven’t had much time to write lately but have found a couple of interesting links. This one fascinated me. It’s basically a poem recited in Olde English. The poem commemorates a battle that was fought between the Wessex Saxons (the old English speakers) and the Scots, Picts and Vikings in 937 AD. Linguistics is […]
Yet Another Shameless blurb
Link to Part Two of Buy a sword, said Jesus. My other blog titled Church, State, Faith and Culture.
Star of Bethlehem, Real?
Fascinating combination of history and astronomy. Link to HotAir where I got the story
Augustus Caesar and Jesus
The month of August is named for Augustus Caesar. As an adjective, august means that which inspires reverence or admiration or meaning of supreme dignity or grandeur, majestic, venerable or eminent. “Augustus” is a title, from the Latin, Imperator Caesar Divi F. Augustus (September 23, 63 BC – August 19, 14 AD.) Augustus’ real name […]
Give us a King!
It is risky business making comparisons between ancient Israel and the good old USA. As I noted in yesterday’s post the misuse of 2 Chronicles 7:14 is chronic among evangelicals among whom I count myself. But on the other hand making comparisons between people groups such as ancient Israelites and modern Americans isn’t so risky […]
History and Hobbies 
Molon labe
Molon labe (μολὼν λαβέ) The phrase molon labe means “Come and take”. It is a classical expression of defiance reportedly spoken by King Leonidas I in response to the Persian army’s demand that the Spartans surrender their weapons at the Battle of Thermopylae. Today the expression molon labe has become a motto for Americans that […]