Classical Influences
This structure in Washington DC traces its design origins to Ancient Egyptian temple architecture, a symbol for Ra. However, Robert Mills chose a white marble as opposed to the classical choice of limestone.
What is the Washington Monument?
This philosopher met his tragic end in a jail cell, condemned to death for "corrupting the youth."
Who is Socrates?
This Babylonian king felt the need to live forever, but his hopes were dashed by a skin-shedding snake.
Who is Gilgamesh?
This modern day country houses the once grand Greek colonies of Miletus and Ephesus.
What is Turkey?
This Roman emperor won the Battle of Actium and went on to have a whole month named after him.
Who is Augustus?
This video game series has had games located in Classical Greece, Ptolemaic Egypt, and Rome. They provide the player with an opportunity to explore the ancient civilizations, with of course your fair share of murder.
What is the Assassin's Creed Series?
This Roman philosopher is heralded as one of the key contributors to the Latin language. His contributions of the ideas of humanitas and essentia to philosophy must also be applauded.
Who is Cicero?
This Egyptian goddess, wife of Osiris, soon developed fame outside her original civilization, spreading to Greece and Rome in the form of magical cults.
Who is Isis?
This structure was supposedly built in 122 AD by Roman legions to ward off barbarians from the north. Its efficacy is... doubtful at best.
What is Hadrian's Wall?
This famous kid Egyptian pharaoh's tomb was uncovered in 1922 by Howard Carter. Some hold that he released a curse the day the tomb was opened.
Who is King Tut/Tutankhamun?
This movie series of four films, took inspiration from Egyptian funerary practices. The scarab scene from the first installation, which premiered in 1999, haunts me to this day.
What is The Mummy?
The philosophy of an "eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth" originate in this set of laws from a Mesopotamian ruler, not the Bible as most people assume.
What is the Code of Hammurabi?
Angry at this god of the desert for his fratricidal tendencies, Horus sought the throne of Egypt by challenging the god to a boat race.
Who is Set?
This city in Egypt was the seat of power in Upper Egypt during the Dynastic periods of history.
What is Thebes?
Wife of Leonidas I, this warrior queen of Sparta is one of the few women mentioned in Herodotus' writing by name.
Who is Gorgo?
What is mens rea?
This play by Aristophanes challenges the ideals of Socratic dialogues and superimposes his method of persuasion, the arts, as more influential.
What is The Clouds?
In this tale of Babylonian founding, the gods Apsu and Tiamat filled the earth with their children. However, Tiamat's wandering eye leads to Apsu's death and the rise of Marduk to claim his father's throne.
What is the Enuma Elish?
This city in ancient Greece was pretty famous. So famous that it became the namesake for a state capital in the western United States.
What is Olympia?
This King of Israel has been "credited" with writing three books of the Old Testament, including Ecclesiastes and Proverbs.
Who is Solomon?
Many bands and singers have named their albums after historical and mythological characters, including Kylie Minogue's Aphrodite, and this album by The Lumineers.
What is Cleopatra?
While traces of the philosophical lifestyle date back ages before, this idea is most commonly associated with John the Baptist of Judea and later Siddhartha Gautama.
What is asceticism?
This goddess of poison and scorpions was one of the four deities who watched over the canopic jars after death. She was known as a protector goddess, that is, unless you evoked her wrath.
Who is Serqet/Selket?
This ancient civilization covered much of modern day Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Their nomadic tribes were notable for having female warriors and leaders.
What is Scythia?
Queen of Tyre, this Phoenician woman allegedly founded the city of Carthage on a journey around the Mediterranean.
Who is Dido?