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Mars: From Roman God to Science Fiction
The month of March is the third month of the calendar year in the Gregorian calendar. It is named after Mars, the Roman god of war. From this name we also get the word ‘martial’, personal name Martin and of course word ‘Martian’ for the home of extraterrestrials. So how does an ancient Roman god…
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Zhuangzi and The Parable of the Useless Tree
The parable of the Useless Tree by Zhuangzi or Chuang Tzu (369 BC – 286 BC), is an amusing and paradoxical story. It illustrates the limitations of looking at the world in a utilitarian way and the true value of being ‘useless’. The Paradox of Being Useful by being Useless In one version of the…
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The Course of Empire: A Visual Allegory of Civilisation
The Course of Empire, is a series of paintings (1833-1836) by the American landscape artist Thomas Cole (1801-1848). In the artworks, he depict’s the course of human civilisation and its rise and fall using the metaphor of the sun in the sky. From civilisation’s primitive beginnings to its great heights, decay and final destruction. In…
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Sais and its Ruins: Lost forever or still to be found?
The Ruins of Sais in the mid 19th Century. (Source: Wikipedia)
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Marcus Aurelius on How to Secure an Everlasting Spring
Bust of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180AD)
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The Zhuangzi and the Important Lesson of Po Lo
Polo Player, China, Tang Dynasty c. 7th Century (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
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