It is fair to say that gods are a little different. Whilst most creation myths have mankind created in the image of their immortal, divine benefactors, that image is rarely more than skin deep. True, sometimes gods are wildly different, but in these cases it is usually to make a point about their godhood. The
Ever wondered why proponents of medieval alchemy thought they could turn lead into gold? Such a transmogrification seems the stuff of fantasy to us with our modern understanding of matter, chemistry and physics, but alchemists had none of this. And, as it turns out, their thinking was quite sophisticated for the Middle Ages. Strip away
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
The ancient Greek philosopher Plato, writing about Atlantis, made mention of a fabulous metal which he called “orichalcum”, literally “mountain copper”. This mysterious element was supposedly second only to gold in value, and was highly prized by the ancients for its beauty and its versatility. Plato was not the first to mention this precious metal.