Humor
Making an Ass of Himself
“I am your ass, my master; but my tale is a strange one. In my youth I was a bad lad, given to all sorts of disgraceful vice.” […]
Year: 2023
Greek and Roman
Zeus, Father of Gods
“But Zeus himself gave birth from his own head to bright-eyed (Athena) Tritogeneia, the awful, the strife-stirring, the host-leader, the unwearying, the queen, who delights in tumults and wars and battles.” […]
Medieval Mentality
When Trial By Ordeal Goes Wrong
“As Grettir was walking down the aisle a young and quite ugly boy ran up to him and said, ‘What a strange custom in this country that call itself Christian, to allow evil-doers and bandits and thieves to go about in peace and undergo ordeals.'” […]
Human Affairs
A Marriage Arranged by Force
“Simulating an illness, he sent for Giselbert, who stood next in line to succeed to the dukedom of his father, captured him by treachery, and sent him under guard to King Henry.” […]
Eastern Europe
Skiers of Bulgaria
“In this way, he moves over the snow at speed and if it were not for their ingenious contrivance, it would be absolutely impossible to walk, for the snow lies on the earth like sand and never hardens.” […]
Greek and Roman
A Terrifying Oath
“Whichever contenders trample on this treaty first, spill their brains on the ground as this wine spills – theirs, their children’s too – their enemies rape their wives!” […]
Viking
Bold Action Saves the Day
““There’s little we can do,” replied Sigmundur. “The only chance is to row straight at them and get them to drop their sail, and as our ship comes alongside theirs, you both draw your swords and try to cut the rope-lines on their gunnels so they can’t raise the sail again, and I’ll try to do what I can.”” […]
History
Louis the Brawler King
“Thus, although it little befitted a king to do such a thing, he arranged a splendid bath for his foe all the way up to his helmet in that stream.” […]
Greek and Roman
When Octopuses Attack!
“It struggles with him, embracing him with its tentacles, swallows at him with its many suckers and pulls him apart; it attacks shipwrecked men or men who are diving.” […]
Britons and Celts
A Spurned Ultimatum
“Think not, O Caesar, that thou canst entice us, like children, by the blandishments of cajolery like this – that thou canst succeed in leading us astray, leaving the pleasant and noble road of freedom, our birthright, a road wherein our fathers were ever wont to walk straight forwards.” […]