Latest news with #Herodotus
New Indian Express
15-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
'Peace' of art
When ancient Greek historian Herodotus famously stated, 'In peace, sons bury fathers; but in war, fathers bury their sons', it perfectly defined what a conflict does to those who are left behind to rebuild life and what's left of it from the rubble. We may have come a long way with our modes of combat, but eventually, a war is a war, and it affects generations to come. Hostilities simply do not vanish with a ceasefire. The wounds run deep enough to write histories. Peace has always been a precious commodity for humankind. It is perhaps the fragility of it that makes it so. Which is why the world today, more than any other time, needs the gentle, sane touch of art. Here's how art can be a catalyst for peace: FOSTERING THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION It has been said that fear survives only until the moment you confront it. It is the same with hate and prejudice. The origins of hate often stem from conditioning and indoctrination, which happen to most of us in some form as we make our way through the world. Many times, all it takes is for us to come out of that cocoon of bias, try to understand the object of our loathing, and watch as resentment gives way to acceptance.
Epoch Times
06-05-2025
- Epoch Times
The Singing Historian: The Ancient Greek Herodotus
Some may know Herodotus of Halicarnassus as 'the world's first historian.' Fewer realize that the man credited with inventing history was a traveling bard and a gifted one. Although he didn't always stick to the facts, Herodotus (484 B.C.–425 B.C.) devoted his life to studying the past with care, reminding countless generations after him that history matters. Herodotus of Halicarnassus Halicarnassus, now called Bodrum, is in modern-day Turkey. When Herodotus was born, the Persian Empire controlled the Greek-speaking city. Herodotus's family was wealthy and influential, certainly more than the average Halicarnassian. He was related to the revered epic poet Panyassis, who in 454 B.C. led an uprising against Halicarnassus's despot. Though Herodotus lived almost 2,000 years before Bodrum Castle was built, the area was already inhabited by thousands, who called their thriving metropolis Halicarnassus. A Byzantine encyclopedia from the 10th century suggests that Herodotus returned home after several years of self-imposed exile, took over the uprising after Panyassis was executed, and overthrew the tyrant. It's the only account that portrays Herodotus as his city's liberator. It's more likely that he used the tyranny as a pretext to leave home and voyage across the Mediterranean. Herodotus was indeed well-traveled. He loved Egypt and visited it at least once on a diplomatic trip with Athenians who had helped Halicarnassus repel a Persian naval attack. He also visited Tyre, in modern-day Lebanon, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, and Babylon, home to the ancient King Hammurabi and source of one of the earliest written legal codes. As he traveled far and wide, Herodotus gathered thousands of stories. He heard s ome from locals, and some he witnessed. Although he eventually wrote down many of the stories he had heard, he first made them known through oral recitations. Like virtually every other civilization at this time, Greece was primarily an oral culture. , one of Athens' first democratic lawgivers, composed and performed poetry to advance his political platform. Even the first philosophers showcased their arguments about the nature of things in poems they often delivered publicly. Related Stories 4/18/2025 4/14/2025 The ancient Syrian writer tells of how Herodotus made frequent trips to Corinth, Sparta, Argos, and many other cities in the Greek peninsula to share his stories. His status in the cities that hosted him depended on his public performances. Herodotus needed to entertain. Speculation about the Nile's frequent floods probably wasn't as interesting as war, conquest, abduction, and other exciting themes. Much like a street performer today, Herodotus set up camp in public spaces and delivered extemporaneous speeches about his most exciting stories with enough charisma to gain a reputation around Greece. Solon was a renowned Athenian speaker in his day, as depicted in this 1907 illustration by Paul Woodroffe. Public Domain But Herodotus eventually grew tired of frequent travel. When he was 37, he settled in Athens. Around 440 B.C., the Athenian golden age was at its peak. Statesmen like Pericles were strengthening Athens' world-shaping democracy with radical reforms. Philosophers like Socrates were asking questions about virtue and the nature of reality that forever changed the West. All the while, Athens expanded its hegemony in the Mediterranean with a mighty fleet. Eager for fame, the traveling historian decided to make a grand appearance at the Olympic Games. According to Lucian, ' He waited for a packed audience to assemble, one containing the most eminent men from all Greece; he appeared in the temple chamber, presenting himself as a competitor for an Olympic honour, not as a spectator; then he recited his Histories and so bewitched his audience. ' His performance was so captivating that he became ' much better known than the Olympic victors themselves .' "Throwing the Discus," 1875, by Edouard-Joseph Dantan. Oil on canvas; 45 1/2 inches by 84 inches. Public Domain Was glory Herodotus's only reason for writing his ' '? If oral performances were enough to become famous, why write at all? Why Herodotus Wrote History The modern notion of history as a collection of information about the past was foreign to the 5th century B.C. People shared myths in temples, theaters, and markets. But ancient tales almost always featured divine characters or mythical figures like Hector and Achilles. Everyday people weren't part of history. Their mundane lives went largely unnoticed, unless they committed patricide, sacrilegious vandalism, or something equally outrageous. Herodotus was not a 'people's historian,' but he was more interested in life's mundane aspects than his predecessors and contemporaries. The 'Histories' opens with a statement of purpose: ' To prevent the traces of human events from being erased by time, and to preserve the fame of the important and remarkable achievements produced by both Greeks and non-Greeks; among the matters covered is, in particular, the cause of the hostilities between Greeks and non-Greeks.' Famous ancient battles between the Greeks and Persians are memorialized in art and literature. 'The Heroes of Marathon,' 1911, by Georges Antoine Rochegrosse. Public Domain Reciting his accounts wasn't enough to ensure their survival. Herodotus wrote them down to prevent time from erasing 'the traces of human events.' While he wrote 'Histories,' Greek city states were fighting in coalitions against the Persian Empire, which wanted to colonize them. His main aim was to know the reasons behind these conflicts. Why did the Greeks and the Persians go to war? Who started the conflict, and how? Understanding the conditions that led to war might prevent them from arising again in the future. Although he was particularly attracted to exceptional generals and statesmen and once-in-a-lifetime accomplishments, he was also interested in writing about the working class, non-Greeks, women, and other underrepresented groups, moving back and forth between accounts of the past and descriptions of current customs and beliefs. The rationale was the same: to preserve as many interesting details about Greeks and non-Greeks as possible, so others could look to the past as a source of insight, caution, and inspiration. But how much could his accounts be trusted? Myths, Lies, and Propaganda? The Roman orator and statesman was the first to Herodotus as 'the father of history.' Cicero thought history was judged on ' the truth, while in poetry it is generally the pleasure one gives' that determines its value. Although he admired the historian's inventive style, Cicero acknowledged that his reports were full of 'fabulous tales.' Herodotus cared about the truth, but he also wanted to entertain his audiences. To do so, he happily sprinkled his reports with sensational details. Orpheus rescues his love Eurydice from Hades, but loses her a second time. 'Orpheus and Eurydice' by Gaetano Gandolfi. Public Domain His tales resemble other stories from Greek mythology, like Hercules's 12 feats and Orpheus's attempted rescue of . Herodotus speaks of the Argippaeans, a mysterious pacifist people ' who are said to be all bald from their birth (male and female alike),' and of a tribe of 'one-eyed men' who often battle 'griffins that guard gold.' He describes the legendary phoenix, known for its ability to come back to life from its own ashes, as a real creature, and mentions equally anomalous creatures without skepticism. These bizarre anecdotes would be most exciting for a live audience, but they're very likely untrue. Writing arou nd the time of Herodotus's death, the Greek comedian Aristophanes made fun of this peculiar blend of history and myth. His comed y ' ' tells of an Athenian citizen who tries to end war by declaring a private peace in his house. He blames the war on the abduction of three prostitutes. The tone is sarcastic, and the audience would've easily caught the reference to Herodotus. In the first of his nine books, Herodotus blamed a series of large-scale conflicts on the abduction of important women. This trope was popular in ancient Greece, but it was also absurd enough as an explanation of war for a shrewd playwright like Aristophanes to make Herodotus the butt of his joke. In addition to glamorous tales, Herodotus was also accused of showing partiality towards Athens. He portrayed the Athenians as the morally righteous champions of freedom and democracy and the Persians as the evil perpetrators of slavery and injustice, leaving little room for nuance. Title page of a 1533 translated copy of Herodotus's "Histories," at Yale University, New Haven, Conn. Public Domain It's an understandable bias, since Herodotus was directly affected by the Persians' war-mongering. But it undermines his credibility, especially when read alongside his preposterous tales. The Beauty of Facts and Fantasy Although historians today generally view Herodotus as a reliable source, they share Cicero and Aristophanes's suspicions. If Herodotus taught at a modern university, he'd probably be a creative writing professor or an instructor in theater and performance. He certainly wouldn't be in a history department. His historical method was quickly superseded by Thucydides, a younger contemporary who wrote the ' .' Thucydides was much less interested in myths and ordinary individuals. He thought history should focus on powerful men and their notable accomplishments. Yet Thucydides owed a great deal to Herodotus, who was one of the first people to study the past systematically, for the sake of the present and posterity. Propaganda comes from good storytelling , but so do awe and wonder. Although Herodotus didn't always stick to the facts, he devoted his life to learning about people, places, and events with exemplary care. His original combination of storytelling and factual reports makes the 'Histories' an intriguing and enjoyable text. It has reminded countless generations about the importance of understanding the origins of things, and the beauty of doing so with facts and fantasy. What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
Telegraph
29-04-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
UK mosquitoes: Everything you need to know
Humans have been locked in a war with mosquitoes for thousands of years. The Ancient Greek historian Herodotus wrote of workmen on the Egyptian pyramids who were given garlic as a deterrent, while in 835 the festival of Hallowmas (All Saints' Day) was moved from May to November by the Pope, because of the sheer number of pilgrims dying of malaria on their trek to Rome. We are lucky enough not to have any mosquito-borne diseases circulating in the UK, but in recent summers there have been reports of swarms of them in parts of the country – and if temperatures follow a similar pattern we could suffer through another bite-filled summer. It seems as if our ways of repelling them haven't progressed that much since the days of Herodotus. Research from Johns Hopkins University suggests that eating herbs or spices like sage and cardamom could be the key to keeping your blood supply to yourself. Here, we look at whether a nightly curry really can repel the little blighters – and everything else you need to know about mosquitoes. Skip to: Are there mosquitos in the UK? What do British mosquitos look like? Is Britain's mosquito problem getting worse? Do some people really get bitten more than others? Can what you eat ward them off? Mosquitoes vs midges How to control mosquitoes What are the best treatments for mosquito bites? Are there mosquitoes in the UK? There are 36 species of mosquitoes which are native to Britain and more than 3,500 species worldwide. Of the 36 native to Britain, Culiseta annulata is one of most common and the most unwelcome: it has a wingspan of nearly an inch and a painful bite that leaves a red itchy lump. Unfortunately, they are particularly partial to people. Hope instead that the whining in your ear comes from the Culex pipiens, another common species which often invades British homes, but which prefer feeding on birds. That said, a sub-type of the Culex pipiens is found in cities – particularly on the London Underground – and has evolved to have rather a penchant for you and me. What do British mosquitoes look like? The Culiseta annulata variety has a wingspan of 13 to 15 mm and they are one of the largest mosquitoes. Their wings are spotted. Members of this family have a long forward pointing proboscis and the males have feathery antennae. Culex pipiens are medium-sized mosquitoes and tend to be 4 to 10mm. They are brown and don't have any obvious distinguishing patterns. Is Britain's mosquito problem getting worse? The amount of mosquitos changes every year due to the weather: long, hot summers punctuated by periods of rain, when they can breed, will produce far more than cooler and dryer spells. Kent is one of the worst affected parts of Britain – in recent summers, areas around the River Stour have become inundated – because it is warm with plenty of marshland. 'Overall, I don't think there are more mosquitoes, but there are new species,' says Prof James Logan, a principal investigator at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. He cites the recent arrival of the Aedes mosquito – a particularly dangerous species that originated in Africa and which bites 24 hours a day, rather than just at night. It can transmit dengue and yellow fever and has been the cause of hundreds of thousands of deaths in other parts of the world. In the UK, Aedes tend to congregate in areas near motorways as they are usually brought over on lorries; thankfully, they can't yet survive a British winter so mass dengue and yellow fever transmission remains unlikely (while still being possible) until the climate gets significantly warmer. Do some people really get bitten more than others? Yes. The hotter and sweatier you are, the more likely you are to get bitten. But mostly, it's about luck: certain people produce higher levels of carboxylic acids and other natural repellents on their skins and so will always bat away more mozzies. 'There is still more research to be done on where this natural repellent comes from – but it could have a genetic component, or it could be down to our individual microbiome,' says Logan. Less fortunate are those who react strongly to the anticoagulants mosquitoes inject to ensure they get a decent amount of blood, meaning their bites will be bigger, itchier and more noticeable – although this changes over the course of your life. 'The first time you are bitten you don't react,' says Logan. 'The next time there is a bit of a reaction, and so on, until you become sensitive and every site gets swollen and very itchy.' Conversely, if you get bitten enough, the body eventually gets used to it and stops having much of a reaction at all. 'When we travel to countries with lots of mosquitoes, it feels like we are getting bitten more than the locals,' says Logan. 'But we aren't – we're just reacting more.' Can what you eat ward them off? Over the years, studies have suggested that everything from drinking beer to smoking might make you a mosquito magnet. More recently, experts from Johns Hopkins University set up a trial in Zambia and discovered that the mosquitoes were consistently repelled by people with elevated levels of eucalyptol. Eucalyptol is an aromatic component of many plants, and is found in the sort of ingredients many of us cook with: sweet basil, rosemary, sage and cardamom. One particular study subject had very elevated levels of eucalyptol and hardly any bites. 'We think this person likely obtained this compound from plant-based foods in their diet,' says a researcher, 'but it is also possible it could also have been from exogenous [external] products as eucalyptol is also a common ingredient in toothpaste and mouthwash.' Logan is more sceptical. 'It is possible that plant essential oils have a repellent effect,' he says. 'But over years of research, I have never really been able to show anything you eat or drink [including garlic or beer] has any impact.' Mosquitoes vs midges Midges are much smaller than mosquitoes – they tend to be just a couple of millimetres whereas mosquitoes are about a centimetre, Prof Logan says. 'Mosquitoes have mouthparts that pierce the skin like a needle and you usually don't feel it. Midges have mouthparts that cut the skin which is why you feel them nip – they then feed from a pool of blood on your skin,' he adds. Whilst midges tend to appear in high numbers (up to thousands), particularly on the west coast of Scotland, mosquitoes usually occur in smaller numbers. How to control mosquitoes Wear long trousers and socks. Mosquitoes are likely to strike at dawn and dusk, and you are most vulnerable below the knee. Don't bother with citronella, as there is a dearth of evidence to support its use, or with anti-mosquito wristbands; one study showed that people wearing wristbands got bitten five times faster than those who sprayed their skin. Use lemon eucalyptus and Deet repellent. Logan confirms that both work ('if you cover one of your arms in Deet and stick it in a box of mosquitoes you won't get bitten') and says the only problems arise from not reapplying enough. You also don't need 100 per cent Deet, as the concentration doesn't make it more effective, simply more long-lasting. A 30 per cent formulation is fine, so long as you reapply every few hours. Also, try not to keep any stagnant water in your garden: pour out paddling pools in the late afternoon and empty buckets. 'Mosquitoes will breed in a bottle top with water in it,' says Logan. 'So you need to be vigilant.' Use insect screens on your windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out, and ensure your home is well ventilated to avoid creating an attractive humid environment. What are the best treatments for mosquito bites? Oral antihistamine works but you need to start taking it a few days before your holiday, as it takes a while to have an effect. There's no point sucking poison out, as there's no venom in a mosquito bite; instead try a block of ice to reduce swelling. Or dab the area with either a mix of bicarbonate of soda and water or an antihistamine cream (which should calm a reaction but not as effectively as tablets). Whatever you do, don't scratch. 'If you scratch, you can break the skin and let in bacteria,' says Logan. 'People have lost limbs from something as mild as scratching a mosquito bite.'
Scroll.in
23-04-2025
- General
- Scroll.in
Why eating three meals a day became the norm in many parts of the world
Pop quiz: name the world's most famous trio? If you're a foodie, then your answer might have been breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's an almost universally accepted trinity – particularly in the Western world. But how did it come about? The first meals Early humans were nomadic. Forming small communities, they would travel with the seasons, following local food sources. While we can only guess what daily mealtimes rhythms looked like, evidence dating back 30,000 years from the South Moravia region, Czech Republic, shows people visited specific settlements time and again. They gathered around hearths, cooking and sharing food: the first signs of human 'commensality', the practice of eating together. One of the best-preserved hunter-gatherer sites we've found is Ohalo II – located on the shores of the modern-day Sea of Galilee (also called Lake Tiberias or Lake Kinneret) in Israel, and dating back some 23,000 years. In addition to several small dwellings with hearths, it provides evidence of diverse food sources, including more than 140 types of seeds and nuts, and various birds, fish and mammals. The development of agricultural knowledge some 12,000 years ago gave rise to permanent settlements. The earliest were in the Levant region (across modern-day Iraq, southwestern Iran and eastern Turkey), in an area called the 'Fertile Crescent'. Permanent agriculture led to the production of a surplus of food. The ability to stay in one place with food on-hand meant the time it took to cook no longer mattered as much. It quickly became common to eat one light meal early in the day, followed by a larger hearth-prepared meal later on. The specific timings would have varied between groups. Eating together as a rule The communal nature of foraging and hunting, and later farming, meant humans almost always ate their meals in the company of others. In the ancient city-state of Sparta, in the 4th century BCE, these practices were codified as common main meals called syssitia (meaning 'eating together'). These meals were consumed at the end of the day in communal dining halls. Food was served by young boys to tables of 15 or so men who lived together and fought in the same military division. The men gradually shared generational knowledge with the young boys, who themselves would join the tables by age 20. In the 5th century BCE, Greek historian Herodotus wrote about how syssitia evolved from a Spartan military practice to having deep political meaning in society. Similarly, Plato wrote common meals were an integral component of civil society, and that missing a meal without good reason was a civic offence. By dining in full view of the rest of society, citizens were compelled to maintain self-discipline. Mealtime was also an opportunity for social linkage, and important discussions ranging from business deals to politics. The eating habits of Spartan women are missing in the texts, although it is implied they ate at home. Bunches of lunches Counter to the tough Spartan way of life, the Romans enjoyed their main meal, cena, earlier in the day, followed by a lighter meal just before bed. The northern European tribes tended towards two larger meals per day, as more sustenance is required in colder climes. To the Vikings, these meals were known as dagmal and nattmal, or day meal and night meal. Nattmal was the cooked evening meal, while dagmal usually consisted of leftover nattmal with the addition of bread and beer or mead. In Australia, evidence suggests Aboriginal peoples tended toward a daily single meal, which aligns with the predominant method of cookery: slow-cooking with hot coals or rocks in an earth oven. This underground oven, used by Aboriginal and also Torres Strait Islander communities, was referred to as a kup murri or kap mauri by some groups. This is similar to other Indigenous preparations throughout the Pacific, such as the New Zealand Māori hāngī, Hawaiian imu, Fijian lovo, and even the Mayan píib. The once-daily meal would have been supplemented with snacks throughout the day. Three's the magic The timing of meals was heavily influenced by class structure, local climate and people's daily activities. Practicality also played a part. Without reliable lighting, meals had to be prepared and eaten before dark. In settled parts of Northern Europe, this could be as early as 3pm. So how did we go from one or two main meals, to three? The answer may lie with the British Royal Navy. Since its inception in the 16th century, the navy served three regular meals to align with the shipboard routine. This included a simple breakfast of ship's biscuits, lunch as the main meal, and dinner as more of a light supper. Some sources suggest the term ' square meal ' may have come from the square wooden trays meals were served in. The Industrial Revolution, which started around 1760, arguably also played a role in formalising the concept of three specific mealtimes across the Western world. The cadence of breakfast, lunch and dinner matched the routine of the longer, standardised workdays. Workers ate breakfast and dinner at home, before and after work, while lunch was eaten with coworkers at a set time. With minimal breaks, and no time for snacking, three substantial meals became necessary. Fall of the holy trinity Today, many factors impact the time and frequency of our meals, from long work commutes to juggling hobbies and social obligations. The Covid-19 pandemic also impacted how and what we eat, leading us to eat larger amounts of higher calorie foods. The rapid growth of delivery services also means a meal is no more than a few minutes away from most people. All of this has resulted in mealtimes becoming less rigid, with social meals such as brunch, elevenses and afternoon teas expanding how we connect over food. And mealtimes will continue to evolve as our schedules become ever more complicated.
