A quick Google search is enough to plant the seed of doubt. Type in “the best horror movies of 2024” and dozens of results appear—but with a subtle difference: most of them are listed under another heading, “the best terror movies of 2024.” The reader may not even have noticed: in almost all of them, […]
Literature
Posted inCulture, Middle Ages
Intriguing Details Revealed About the Mysterious Medieval Manuscript Containing the Only Surviving Version of “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”
Two years ago, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) literature professor Arthur Bahr experienced one of the most memorable moments of his academic career. At the British Library, he had the privilege of examining firsthand the Pearl manuscript, a unique medieval volume dating back to the 14th century that preserves the only known copies of four […]
Posted inAncient Egypt, Culture
The “Instructions of Amenemhat”, the First and Only Pharaoh Assassinated by a Conspiracy in the Royal Harem
The Instructions of Amenemhat, also known as The Teaching of King Amenemhat I to His Son Senusret, is a literary work from ancient Egypt that belongs to the sebayt genre, characterized by the transmission of teachings and moral advice. This poem, written during the Middle Kingdom, takes the form of a dramatic monologue in which […]
Posted inBronze Age Archaeology, Culture
The Hittite Version of the Epic of Gilgamesh, Discovered on Tablets in Hattusa, Has Differing Structure and Narrative Details
The Epic of Gilgamesh, considered the oldest literary work of humanity, has been studied for centuries. Its influence has spread across different cultures, and its story has been transmitted over millennia. Recently, studies on a Hittite version of the poem have opened new perspectives on its transmission and adaptation in the ancient world. Recent research […]
Posted inGeography, Travel
Othonoi, the westernmost island of Greece, is the mythical Ogygia from The Odyssey
In the crystal-clear waters of the Ionian Sea, 47 nautical miles east of Italy’s Cape Santa Maria di Leuca, lies Othonoi (Οθωνοί in Greek), an island that blends history, mythology, and unparalleled natural beauty. Recognized as the westernmost point of Greece, Othonoi is the largest and most populated of the Diapontia Islands. For mythology enthusiasts, […]
Posted inCulture, History
Analysis of Mesopotamian Texts in Akkadian Reveals How Emotions Were Experienced: Love Was Felt in the Knees
Love and emotions have been universal themes throughout human history, expressed in diverse ways but with commonalities across different cultures and eras. A fascinating recent study reveals that people in ancient Mesopotamia experienced and conceptualized love and emotions in ways that, surprisingly, resonate with our modern understanding of these feelings. Using a multidisciplinary approach, researchers […]
Posted inModern Era
“Clisson and Eugénie”, the Romantic Novel Written by Napoleon Bonaparte
Artilleryman, strategist, statesman, legislator… One of the things that sets Napoleon Bonaparte apart from other military leaders and politicians is his extraordinary ability to excel in various fields. Well, there is one more quality to add to the most famous Corsican of all time, though it is practically unknown to most: that of a writer. […]
Posted inModern Era
“The Adventures of Baron Trump”, the 19th-century literary saga that has parallels with Donald Trump
Can you imagine a novel where a boy named Trump embarks on thrilling adventures, discovers strange civilizations, and gets into trouble with natives for unintentionally insulting them in their unfamiliar language? Well, you don’t have to imagine it because it exists; however, its protagonist is not the ineffable former U.S. president, but another who calls […]
Posted inArt, Culture
Alphonse Allais, the Writer Who Painted White Paintings and Composed Silent Scores Long Before Conceptual Art
Alphonse Allais is a name that perhaps not everyone immediately recognizes, but his influence in art, literature, and humor is undeniable. This French journalist, writer, and humorist from the Belle Époque left an indelible mark thanks to his unmistakable style, full of irony and absurdity. Born on October 20, 1854, in Honfleur, Normandy, Allais is […]
Posted inCulture
Utsuro-bune, the Japanese legend about a strange ship and its mysterious passenger
In Japanese folklore, there is a curious legend that is repeated in various current provinces of the country such as Hitachi, Kaga, Echigo, in addition to other historical territories like Owari no Kuni, Atsuta, or Iyo: the one about a boat of strange shape that came from the sea without anyone knowing its origin and […]
