Who Was Bloody Mary? The Face Behind the Legend
Who exactly do scare-seekers expect to come face-to-face with when they summon the spirit of Bloody Mary? Read on to find out!
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.
London’s Hidden History
With over 2,000 years of continuous settlement, London is bursting with history. Beneath the very streets you walk, and within the walls of the buildings that line them, are countless stories of the city's dark and violent past. You have just to scratch beneath the surface to find them.
The Truth Behind Caligula’s Nemi Ships
Caligula’s Nemi Ships may have been destroyed by fire in 1944. But they live on conceptually as vessels for the emperor’s debauchery and excess. According to the ancient sources, when Caligula wasn’t busy indulging his scandalous sex life and shagging…
Ancient Jobs from Hell
Read on for a list of ancient jobs that make being a call-centre worker (sorry), a corporate lawyer (sorry again) or a White House Press Officer (actually not sorry here) seem like a walk in the park.
Bologna for Foodies
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you read the word Bologna? If you’re anything like me, I imagine it’s a certain world-famous culinary creation, ragù alla bolognese, which we tend to serve with spaghetti. Every Italian city,…
Fry Me to the Moon: A Short Guide to Italian Fried Food
I first came to Italy in 2015, when I took on an internship at Florence’s Institute of Prehistory. I loved the work, the weather and the people (not to mention the language — difficult though it was). But as the…
How to Visit Puglia on a Budget
How to Visit Puglia on a Budget By Alexander Meddings Stretching along the side of Southern Italy’s heel, the coastal region of Puglia is an unspoilt gem of beautiful beaches, little known cities, and architectural wonders. It doesn’t have the…
How to Survive a Long-Distance Relationship
Now and then in today’s interconnected world, it happens that the person you love fucks off to another country. This leaves you in a bit of a tricky predicament. Either you continue to be together (although not technically together), or…
The Lions that Led: Redeeming the Generals of the First World War
The scale of the First World War's slaughter is almost incomprehensible - the bloodshed of millions resulting in the loss of a generation. And the sluggishness of its commanders to adapt to its technological demands popularized the phrase: “lions led by donkeys”. But there were some generals whose brilliance shone out even through the gas clouds and hellish shellfire of the war’s front lines. This article endeavours to redeem them.
The Sex Lives of the Caesars
From Augustus' serial adultery to Nero's maternal incest, read on for a fun, factual exposè into the scandalous sex lives of the Caesars.
