The Relationship Woes of Dido and Aeneas
Advice for all men: When you mess up, fess up! Part of what makes the Aeneid such a timeless classic is that it captures so many aspects of human nature. Wes Callihan brings these alive in the Old Western Culture curriculum. This excerpt from The Aeneid (unit 1 of The Romans) is an example of how Wes Callihan brings the classics alive. This is learning literature re-imagined!
Why Christians Should Celebrate Halloween
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he origins of Halloween are often confusing, but there is evidence of some clear influences. Traditionally, Halloween is thought to have arisen from three sources: The pagan celtic holiday Samhain The Roman festivals of Pomona and Feralia Christian celebration of All Saints’ Day. Let’s look at each of these festivals. Celtic Samhain [dropcap]S[/dropcap]amhain was something of a combination of a harvest festival and a day of the dead for the Celts of Britain and northern France. As counterpart to the May festival, Bealtaine, which ushered in the summer months, Samhain announced the coming of winter, and thus a kind of death … Continue Reading “Why Christians Should Celebrate Halloween”
7 Ways Henry V was a Christian King
The Mirror of all Christian Kings Was Henry V a “Christian King?” William Shakespeare, in his play Henry V, seems to say “yes!”. There is a famous line in the play which calls Henry “the mirror of all Christian kings.” What does Shakespeare tell us about his ideals of kingship through Henry V? Let’s look at some examples: He is valiant. We began to see this in Henry IV Part One, when Henry is wounded, he keeps fighting. In Henry V, he courageously leads his men, both at Harfleur and Agincourt. He sends away the French herald who has come to … Continue Reading “7 Ways Henry V was a Christian King”
What a teacher loves his subject, that love is contagious.
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Can I use your DVDs in another country?
We have received several questions about whether our video courses will work in other countries. The short answer is: YES! For many of us in the USA, this question seems absurd, since DVDs are digital. For various reasons, mostly surrounding distribution of major motion pictures, MOST movies distributed on DVD and Blu Ray are region coded. DVDs in the US are from region 1, DVDs from Europe are region 2, etc. See the map below to see how the 6 regions are divided. The DVDs released by Roman Roads Media, including the Old Western Culture series, Grammar of Poetry, Introductory … Continue Reading “Can I use your DVDs in another country?”
Fashion in Ancient Rome
In many aspects, ancient Rome was a modern state. They had city planning, sewage, hot baths, heated floors, elaborate customs, traditions, and a rich culture. After the fall of Rome, there was a brief “dark ages” in which much of the technology and culture of Rome disappeared. That period is not as long as some would have you think (a subject discussed in the Old Western Culture curriculum), but there was a decline. But when we think back to Rome’s height, we normally think of its technology, conquests, or even its debauchery as it declined. But what about ancient Rome’s … Continue Reading “Fashion in Ancient Rome”
The Chrysler Motor Company and Classical Art
The Benefits of a Classical Education for…Car Design? We can see the influences of ancient classical art all around us, from the symmetrical lines of early 19th century architecture and the imposing columns on government buildings, to the classically inspired clothing of Jane Austen’s day. But have you ever heard of a classically-inspired car? I certainly hadn’t! However, while doing work for a project, I came across this 1929 Chrysler car advertisement: Yes, in the 1920s, Chrysler decided to look forward by looking back to the classical age for inspiration in the design of their elegant new Coupe. In this … Continue Reading “The Chrysler Motor Company and Classical Art”
Psalm 13 & G. F. Handel’s Suite No. 4 in D Minor
Dr. David Erb recently composed a new setting to Psalm 13 influenced by Handel’s Suite No. 4 in D Minor (HWV 437) Sarabande, and it’s beautiful! Hear Dr. Erb explain how this came about in this little out-take from the recording of Psalm 13. And here is rendition of the original piece by G.F. Handel: (If audio player does no appear, click HERE) Now listen to Dr. Erb’s Psalm 13 recording: YouTube version HERE. If you would like to hear Psalm settings by Dr. Erb, click here: romanroadsmedia.com/learning-the-psalms
Guédelon: A Modern Building of an Ancient Castle
Have you ever found yourself reading a very old book and wondering “How did they do it all?” The castles, the battles, the art, the clothing? I still can’t read a history book, or even a historical novel, without trying to imagine the historical context around each story. So when I found out about Guédelon, I got really excited! In a century when houses are built in less than a year, and even skyscrapers take only a few years, it’s hard for us to fathom what the architectural feats of yesteryear actually involved. Guédelon bridges the gap between our imaginations … Continue Reading “Guédelon: A Modern Building of an Ancient Castle”
Roman Feasting | Friday Foray
Friday Foray is a series of posts about fun and interesting facts about the classical world, education, or trivia. Enjoy and share! Roman Feasting Gastronomy is nothing new under the sun. In fact, the Romans beat many of even our most avant-garde efforts. Sumptuous feasts were a way to impress your friends and potential allies, so no expense was spared by rich citizens. One Roman, Lucullus, even had different rooms where he would receive different guests of varying worth–and of varying cost to himself. The highest guests were said to cost around 25,000 sesterces (circa $2,500) per person. The wilder the … Continue Reading “Roman Feasting | Friday Foray”