Ancient Greece
In the ancient world, the Greek world encompassed a far larger area than that currently occupied by the modern country of Greece. In the first half of the first millennium BC, they spread to the western coast of Asia Minor, Southern Italy, Sicily, Spain, southern France, and the coast of the Black Sea. By the fourth century BC, the Athenian philosopher Plato was able to state that the Greeks had spread around the Mediterranean Sea “like frogs around a pond” (Phaedo 109b).
Steve Reeves' turn as Hercules
Some of the best so-called Peplum movies are two Italian-produced films about Hercules starring Steve Reeves.
The shield of Heracles
The earliest known text about one of Heracles’ adventures is the so-called Shield of Heracles, attributed to Hesiod.
Hercules 3D (2014)
Based on the comic book by Steve Moore, this energetic Hercules movie also borrows from classic Peplum films.
Hercules: The Thracian Wars (2008)
A review of the inspiration for the Dwayne Johnson vehicles Hercules 3D: a graphic novel by Steve Moore.
Hercules Reborn (2014)
Just when you thought movies about Heracles couldn’t get much worse than The Legend of Hercules, along comes Hercules Reborn.
The Legend of Hercules (2014)
A joyless, soulless exercise in tedium with mediocre performances by way of an added “bonus”. Avoid at all costs.
Ares, the god of war
A closer look at Ares (known to the Romans as Mars), who wasn’t so much the god of war as he was the god of slaughter and strife.
Sports in ancient Greece
Currently, the soccer World Cup is going on: a good opportunity to write about ancient Greek sports.
300 (2006)
An in-depth look at the good, bad, and downright ugly aspects of Zack Snyder’s movie 300, based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel.
The Alexander Sarcophagus
An interesting, if perhaps not highly informative ancient object, is the so-called Alexander Sarcophagus.