Greek and Roman
The Kingdom of the Body
“The head is an empire, the stomach a kingdom, the belly a hovel, but the bladder is a hired hand.” […]
Body
Greek and Roman
Wisdom of the Ancients
THE SCENE: On topics as diverse as “what’s the right age to get married?” to “should I shit in a river?”, the 8th Century BC writer Hesiod has an answer to all your ancient etiquette […]
Britons and Celts
An Obituary for the Ages
“The man, indeed, who had been hired, at great expense, to extract the brain, became infected, as it is said, from the intolerable stench, and died; and thus, as the body of the departed Elisha reanimated the dead, so Henry’s dead body gave death to the living.” […]
Humor
The Reappearing Prick
“She bends to carry out her quest
And puts her hand into his breeches
And feels around until she reaches
A proud prick straining at the bit;
She cups her hand and fondles it.” […]
Humor
Smell of a Virgin
“Walter steadies himself and butts
In almost burying his nuts,
And with such vigor plays his part
That from her ass comes a large fart.” […]
Eastern Europe
Barbarians of the North
“They never go off alone to relieve themselves, but always with three companions to guard them, sword in hand, for they have little trust in one another.” […]
Orient
Death of the God Osiris
“Typhon then divided the body of the slain man into twenty-six pieces and gave one portion to each of the band of murderers, since he wanted all of them to share in the pollution and felt that in this way he would have in them steadfast supporters and defenders of his rule.” […]
Eastern Europe
The Cruelty of Beauty
“They warm them to extreme heat, then undress, and after anointing themselves with an acid liquid, they take young branches and lash their bodies.” […]
History
Etiquette for the Great Khan
“Next, every baron or nobleman continually carries with him a little vessel of pleasing design into which he spits so long as he is in the hall, so that no one may make so bold as to spit on the floor; and when he has spat he cover it and keeps it.” […]
Uncategorized
Beware the Women of the Vines
“The man became one plant with the vine, striking root beside it; his fingers turned to vine twigs, the tendrils were all round him, and embryo grape-clusters were already visible on him.” […]