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The Betrayal of Thomas Becket (1170)

Words have power. History in under a minute. Short video

L.E. Ataire

Jul 27, 2023 — 1 min read

The Betrayal of Thomas Becket (1170)

Thomas Becket was the Archbishop of Canterbury and a close friend of King Henry II of England. However, they had a falling out over the rights and privileges of the Church. After Becket excommunicated a number of bishops favored by the king, Henry reportedly exclaimed, "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?" Four knights, believing the king wanted Becket dead, murdered him in Canterbury Cathedral. Becket's death shocked the Christian world, and he was quickly canonized as a martyr.

Lesson: Words have power, and can have unintended consequences.

Hera Prays

In Homeric Hymn 3, Hera queen of the Gods, slaps her palms to the earth and prays to Earth and Heaven, as well as the Titans from which both god and man descend, she then looks for a sign her prayer was heard. It is strange to think of the

Xenophanes of Colophon (c. 570 - c.478 BC)

Xenophanes of Colophon, a pre-Socratic philosopher, poet, and critic, was pivotal in the transition from mythopoetic to philosophical thought in ancient Greece. His work laid the groundwork for the development of monotheistic concepts in a culture steeped in polytheistic traditions and provided early criticism of anthropomorphism in theology. Biographical Information

An Introduction to the Yazidi Religion

The Yazidi religion is primarily practised by the Kurdish-speaking Yazidi people. With ancient Mesopotamian origins, Yazidism combines theocentric and cosmological narratives, deeply influenced by regional religions including Zoroastrianism, Islam, Christianity, and ancient Mesopotamian polytheism. It is considered one of the oldest and most enigmatic monotheistic religions still practised today. Cosmology

Homeric Hymn to Dionysus 1 (Fragments)

From the Homeric Hymns. 7th century BC. Modern translation with the ancient Greek text for reference.

The Betrayal of Thomas Becket (1170)

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Hera Prays

Xenophanes of Colophon (c. 570 - c.478 BC)

An Introduction to the Yazidi Religion

Homeric Hymn to Dionysus 1 (Fragments)