Category Archives: History
The Emperor Julian – last ‘pagan’ ruler of the Roman Empire
The emperor Julian ruled the Roman Empire for a brief 20 months in 361-3, after a 50-year period of Christianity as the state religion under Constantine and Constantius II. Immediately on assuming the role with the death of Constantius II, … Continue reading
Another detour: What is Shia Islam?
Before we progress deeper along the Iranian tourist trail, it’s is a good time to clarify the dominant (95%) Muslim sect in Iran, Shi’ism. To the outsider, the differences between Sunni and Shia Islam appear slight, even trivial. Both apply the confessional … Continue reading
The Arad and Lachish Letters, and the last moments of the Kingdom of Judah
The Arad and Lachish letters are military communications that date to the final years of the Kingdom of Judah. Carefully read, they provide a valuable insight into the daily lives of the military personnel and their attitudes to events as … Continue reading
Countering Christian Apologists. Important work.
If mainstream classical scholars are to keep people with an agenda from scaling the walls and inserting their beliefs into the academic agenda.. this is the lengths they have to go to. All I can do is reblog and congratulate … Continue reading
What were the ethnic origins of earliest Israel?
It is commonly believed that the establishment of ancient Israel is substantially as presented in the Bible – an invasion of the land of Canaan by Israelite slaves, descended from Jacob and led out of Egypt by Moses. In this … Continue reading
the suppository depository 