ἀνθρώποισι πᾶσι μέτεστι γινώσκειν ἑωυτοὺς καὶ σωφρονεῖν.
In Hellenistic and Roman times, the prevailing view was still the geocentric one. The brilliant heliocentric theory advanced by Aristarchos in the early third century B.C. was never established, because it met with hostility in Athens—Aristarchos was accused of impiety and faced the death penalty. Continue reading “Theocracy against Science and Philosophy; the less known face of ancient Athens”
We propose the working hypothesis that the actual belief of the early Greek philosophers and astronomers was the heliocentric, rather than the geocentric, view of the Solar System. Continue reading “The ancient Greek philosophers’ and astronomers’ heliocentric view of the world”
Through a careful examination of the accounts of Daqin (大秦) – presumably the Roman Empire – and Fulin (拂菻) – Byzantinum –, we can depict a picture of how the Chinese imagined another ancient empire far away in the West. Continue reading “Daqin: The Roman Empire in the Ancient Chinese Sources”
The Byzantine noble women were burning with anxieties and were passionately pursuing to participate in political chess, to excel in letters and to spread the culture of Byzantium. Continue reading “Woman’s position in the Eastern Roman (‘Byzantine’) society”
The Carthaginians, having thus been twice defeated, shortly before at sea and now on land, in both cases owing to no lack of bravery in their troops, but owing to the incompetence of their commanders, had now fallen into a thoroughly difficult position. Continue reading ““One wise counsel conquers many hands” – Regulus’ instructive defeat against the Carthaginians”
Trepanation of the skull is perhaps the earliest recorded surgical procedure in history. Continue reading “Trepanation and Roman medicine”
Novo Scriptorium 