The Spartans were famed throughout ancient Greece for their warrior code. But such quality came at a terrible cost, a series of trials known as the Agoge.

A Cut Above: Agoge, the Ancient Spartan Entry Test

Of all the city states of ancient Greece it is Sparta who stands out as the home of the most formidable fighting force. Athens may have been more powerful and more prosperous, but it was Sparta who bred the best warriors. Soldiery, and physical toughness were an intrinsic part of Spartan life. Famous legends of

Barely able to hit a city: all the places where the Paris Gun struck, with the black line showing the direction of attack (Catsmeat / CC BY-SA 4.0)

Fire from the Sky: The Terror of the Paris Gun

On the 23rd March 1918 at 7.18 in the morning the city of Paris was rocked by a sudden, unexpected explosion on the Quai de la Seine. The blast came without warning, and many thought the initial explosion to be some kind of accident, a gas leak or something of that kind. However as the

666: John’s visions from the Book of Revelations, including the awkward creature with seven heads and ten horns. Source: Dion Art / CC BY-SA 4.0.

666: Making Sense of Revelations and the Roman Connection

The Book of Revelations is a total trip. It is hard to read its apocalyptic foretellings and warnings of chaos and catastrophe without feeling that someone, somewhere, was smoking something pretty strong. Perhaps the most strange thing in all this strange psychic fantasy is its inclusion at all. There have been weirder books and writings

Operation CHAOS was intended to monitor domestic dissent for US foreign policy, but it ended up spying on just about anybody the government didn’t like. Source: TommyJapan1 / CC BY 2.0.

Operation CHAOS and the CIA Plan to Spy on Americans

The United States has, for much of its existence, presented itself as a country who prioritize the rights of its citizens. The founding document of the country, the United States Constitution, starts with “We the people” and much of what differentiates this country from many others is this recognition of the rights of the individual.

The legendary Spanish hero El Cid is said to have had two swords, Tizona and Colada, and it is possible that at least one of them survives today. Source: Zarateman / Public Domain.

Colada and Tizona, the Two Legendary Swords of El Cid

Throughout history the sword has held a special place of pre-eminence. It has evolved beyond a mere practical and versatile weapon to become something symbolic. This is however not entirely fair. The sword was given this prominence because it was the weapon of the officer and the gentleman, a dashing suggestion of violence brought into

The brand new NS Savannah in 1962. Source: US Government / Public Domain.

The NS Savannah and the Brave New World of Nuclear Shipping

Nuclear power is perhaps one of the most divisive inventions in history. Its advocates point to almost unlimited energy with minimal pollution and waste, providing power for an ever-more power hungry world. Of course this is only one part of the story, and its detractors would equally point to the equally unlimited damage which can

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