The hottest Ancient Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top History Topics

Socrates' Wayward Student

Classical Wisdom • 2220 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Ancient Ethics Hedonism Virtue Morality
  1. Cyrenaic hedonists took a different approach to pleasure than Stoicism, focusing on pursuing pleasure and avoiding pain as the highest good.
  2. Aristippus, a follower of Socrates, diverged greatly from his teacher's principles to indulge in luxury and extravagance, believing in seeking pleasure while maintaining mastery over desires.
  3. Cyrenaic hedonism promotes living a life devoted to pursuing pleasures while also advocating for mastery over desires, without becoming a slave to pleasure.

First letters found in new scroll

Vesuvius Challenge • 62 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
💾 History Ancient Archaeology Literature Culture Research
  1. A new scroll called PHerc. 172 has been discovered, and it was buried during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius around 79 AD.
  2. Scientists are excited because they clearly see ink in the scroll for the first time, allowing them to start reading its Greek text.
  3. The team is looking for help to further analyze the scroll and unlock more of its content, as many words are already close to being readable.

Was 8th Century China Meritocratic?

The Great Gender Divergence • 157 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
💾 History Ancient Social Empires Scholarship Research
  1. In 8th Century China, there was a widespread belief in meritocracy and social mobility, which were endorsed by Confucius and Empress Wu Zetian.
  2. Elites might have had advantages like better education for their sons and using nepotism for promotions, which could challenge the true meritocratic nature of the system.
  3. Recent research on social mobility during the Tang Dynasty provides insights into the career paths, imperial exam pass rates, and ancestral backgrounds of individuals through tomb epitaphs.

You're Gonna Die Too, Friend

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 99 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Mythology Literature Analysis Ancient Classical
  1. Book 21 of the Iliad presents chaotic and intense battle scenes that highlight the brevity of human life and the themes of mortality, violence, and heroism.
  2. Achilles' memorable speech to Lykaon reflects his nihilistic acceptance of fate and mortality, showcasing a transition in his grief from mourning to a thirst for vengeance.
  3. The language used in Achilles' speech also delves into the symbolism of the heroic body, emphasizing the inevitability of death even for heroes with perfect physical forms.
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Theriac: ancient miracle or modern mirage?

The Quack Doctor • 19 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
💾 History Medicine Ancient
  1. Theriac, an ancient panacea, was once believed to be a miracle cure for various diseases, originating with Mithridates VI as a remedy for poison.
  2. Scepticism around theriac's effectiveness dates back centuries, with concerns about its elaborate recipe, potential for adverse effects, and inconsistent composition.
  3. Dr. William Heberden, an 18th-century physician, criticized theriac as ineffective and potentially dangerous, leading to its decline in popularity over time.

War Crimes

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 19 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture History Art Literature Violence Ancient
  1. The epic of the Iliad explores the limits of violence, with scenes like advocating for infanticide and portraying extreme brutality during war.
  2. The depiction of violence in ancient Greek art, like the Mykonos Vase, reflects the harsh realities of warfare and societal practices of that time.
  3. The breakdown of social conventions in the Iliad leads to brutal, dehumanizing violence, showcasing how individual actions can disrupt norms and unleash chaos.