It is said that history is an unrolled scroll of prophecy, and that without study and recognition, it unravels itself and we play out our fates unknowingly. But in learning our past—the seminal historical and impactful events throughout history, in recognizing the emergence of powerful civilizations and individuals, empires, tyrants, revolutionaries, and profound achievements—we can move forward with clarity and wisdom. Tradition helps us by keeping alive the old rituals and ancient understandings of the world around us. According to composer Gustav Mahler, “Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.”
Here we feature History and Tradition:
Around 1165 AD a mysterious letter addressed to Manuel Comnenus, Emperor of Byzantium, began circulating around Europe. It was from a Prester John who claimed to “exceed in riches, virtue and power of all creatures who dwell under heaven. S...
The ancient Chinese and South Asian cultures reflected an early interest in the idea that one could build a machine to take to the air, even if the technology to be able to do so was not yet available. What is remarkable, moreover, is the univers...
In the ancient world elephants were worshiped as divine symbols, harbingers of good luck and the carriers of wisdom, but they were also deployed to intimidate opposing armies and as highly-influential tools of diplomacy. Perhaps the most archetyp...
Astrology is a very significant component of traditional magic. Although today it is marginalized even in magical practice, it played a significant role in determining when and how to implement a magical act. Ge...
A few years ago, the world of biblical archaeology was treated to a spectacular mosaic find from the ancient Read More
The simplistic story of the life of Jesus, as it is presented in the New Testament accounts, is well known. He was supposedly a poor carpenter born in a stable, a Read More
It may not be surprising that early cultures pondered the wonder of flight: people in most parts of the world could see birds, bats, and insects flying about, and this likely inspired a great sense of curiosity. Many likely imagined rising aloft,...
What was school like in the ancient world? In the pre-covid-age, the enduring general image of attending school for most pupils is one of learning in a classroom with a group of fellow students with a teacher in the front of the classroom teachin...
Dotted like an ancient matrix in western Iberia are hillforts that once belonged to the ancient Celtic peoples of Iberia. Some of these forts were dismantled, othe...
