Gruesome Roman Emperor Deaths: Julius Caesar to Domitian
From the assassination of Caesar to the defecation of Vespasian, here are the dramatic Roman emperor deaths.
Alexander Meddings
Based in Rome, Alexander Meddings is a published writer and historian. After completing his Roman History MPhil at Oxford University, he moved to Italy to pursue his passion at the source.
Where Did Christopher Columbus Come From?
The feats of Christopher Columbus are world-renowned. For generations, the mnemonic “in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue” has echoed around Anglo-American classrooms, helping schoolchildren drill to memory his discovery of the Americas. It is now accepted that Columbus did…
A Letter from Norway
A letter my grandfather, Ronald Jack Meddings, wrote to his family from Norway May 1940.
A Letter from May 1940
A letter my grandfather, Ronald Jack Meddings, wrote to his family from Norway May 1940.
A Letter from Quetta, India, May 1941
A letter my grandfather, Ronald Jack Meddings, wrote to his family in May 1941 during his posting in India.
A Letter from India, October 1941
A letter from my grandfather to his family, written in 1941 while serving in India.
A Christmas Letter from India, 1941
A Christmas Letter from my grandfather to his family, written in 1941 while serving in India.
Victorian Christmas Traditions: the Good, the Bad & the Batsh*t Mad
I’m going to take a punt in saying that whatever you know about Victorian Christmas traditions probably comes from Charles Dickens’s 1843 novel “A Christmas Carol” (or, if you’re a 90s kid like me, from the rather less bleak adaptation…
Caligula’s Palace on the Esquiline Hill
The scale of the site pays testament to the the emperor's excesses. As well as identifying a large, luxurious villa and multi-levelled gardens, archaeologists discovered the remains of various animal fauna (including ostriches, deer and even a bear) suggesting this is where Caligula kept his own personal menagerie. But what's most exciting about the discovery is that we most probably have an ancient author who describes it. And I think this ancient author depicts Caligula in a realistic light, as an irascible pampered prince more concerned with his interior decor than the plights of his people.
The Legendary Afterlife of Alexander the Great
Many of us are familiar with Alexander's historical exploits, but few have heard of his legend. As an intrepid adventurer, moralistic journeyman, and messenger of god.
