Ancient Roman Fiction

Here we find a history of a historian, the great Roman statesman Cato who was one of the few who resisted the Hellenization brought about by Alexander the Great. A man of many talents, he soon garnered the title of "Cato the Wise" and carried out every job from treasurer to military leader. Witness his valiant fight for Roman culture and customs in the face of enroaching outside influence.

Though Nepos largely focused on the Greco-Romans in his writings, some men accomplished so much he was willing to break this rule. Datames was a commander of armies, man of the kings of Persia and Egypt, and outwitter of plots. Follow his intricate and exciting life as he attempts to outpace the powerful men around him.

Hannibal, called by Nepos "the greatest of generals", is most remembered today for being the man who marched a contigent of battle elephants over the Alps. But this was only one of his many victories and strategems. Listen in wonder as Hannibal manages, again and again, to repel the army no other man could repel: the ancient Romans.

Eumenes lived in the shadows of conquerers - Philip and Alexander the Great - until he rose up to claim his own title. He was one of the many who grappled for power in the wake of Alexander's sudden death. Dive into his life and the machinations behind the thrones of ancient Greece and Egypt. Will Eumenes be victorious, claiming a crown of his own, or will he fall prey to the wiles of others?

Conon the Athenian (not the Barbarian of a similar name) was the general who set Greece free. March along the shores of the Peloponese and launch attacks at sea with him as Nepos regales the life of this famed hero. Here is the man who would see the great walls of Athens rebuilt but find his own life finished in prison.

How could a man be reviled, even assassinated, during his own life, and yet have people's opinion of him change after his death? Explore the life of Dion, a wealthy Syracusian aristocrat of great learning whose life brutally ended on a feast-day. How could a man of acclaimed courteous temperment be accused of such horrible crimes?

Pelopidas and Epaminondas' lives are inseperable in history. One's actions would not have been possible without the other by their side. Listen as Pelopidas reclaims his homeland and challenges one of the great Alexanders of history as he seeks his own kleos, or eternal glory.

In this epic history, find yourself on the eons-old battlefield between Athens and Sparta. Lysander will appear on the scene as a genius commander who changes the course of history. Will he conquer Athens? Or will he himself be conquered?

Cimon was forced into prison because of his father's debts, but rescued by his wife. From then, he sought great heights, battling the Persians on land and sea within the same day. His power grew so great he was kicked out of Sparta; would he manage to make a triumphant return?

Hamilcar was a Carthaginian so brilliant and so brutal that even a Roman like Cornelius Nepos - one of Carthage's sworn enemies - could not help but respect him and write of him. Hamilcar, much like Philip the Great, was a great father of an even greater son. Explore Spain and Carthage with him and Hannibal as he trains his son in the arts and wiles of war.

The biography of Titus Pomponius Atticus was one of Nepos' greatest writings during his life. Considered by many to be one of the most upstanding men in ancient history, and the friend of Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, he lived during one of the most turbulent and important periods of ancient Rome. Learn how a politican could actually manage to maintain honor and fulfill his duty without being swayed or tempted by personal interest and gain.

Cornelius Nepos greatly admired Timoleon, a man of wisdom and patience who knew evil when he saw it. He was ready and willing to do right by his homeland of Corinth, even when it meant betraying his own brother, the dictator. Timoleon stands through time as a model citizen and leader who, in his old age, became blind just like true justice.

"Aesop's Fables" is a collection of fables credited to Aesop, a slave and storyteller believed to have lived in ancient Greece around the fifth century BC. These fables are charming stories, each one leading towards a wise moral. They have been the inspiration for La Fontaine, one of the greatest French writers of all time, and are a perfect tool for educating young children as well as a delight for lovers of elegance and simplicity.

You will never see war the same way after reading this extraordinary retelling of an ancient Greek fable about a tragically unnecessary battle between mice and frogs. This miniature masterpiece ranks with Animal Farm as one of the greatest parables of human foibles. Originally published in 1962, The Battle of the Frogs and the Mice tells in words and pictures a classic tale of the foolhardiness of war. When Crum-snatcher, a Mouse, cautiously mounts the back of Puff-jaw, King of the Frogs, to explore the frogs pond, the Mouse meets with a disaster which soon brings the two nations into mortal conflict.

After finally winning the decade-long war against the Trojans, Odysseus, captain of the Greek army, only has to guide his men back home across the sea. Yet the journey will prove just as perilous as the battles they have just won, as they encounter the monstrous, man-eating cyclops, the irresistible song of the siren, and the wrath of an angry Poseidon, god of the sea. Are he and his men destined to die at sea? Or can Odysseus's cunning, strength, and courage bring them safely home?

Quando una nave arriverà da Delo, Socrate dovrà morire. Bisogna forse sottrarsi a questo destino, come vorrebbero gli amici? Ma così verrebbe negato tutto quanto Socrate ha costruito nella sua vita, tutto il patrimonio di coerenza e dirittura morale che lo ha sempre contraddistinto e guidato. No, si deve affrontare ciò che è stato deciso secondo la legge, quella legge che è ossatura e anima dell’amata città. A chi piacerebbe una città senza leggi?

More than 2,000 years ago, the Greeks told stories about their important god called Apollo. He was the god of poetry, the sun, laws, healing, and more. Apollo was also the god of music. He played a small harp-like stringed instrument called a lyre. Apollo gave a lyre to his son named Orpheus. Apollo was so surprised when Orpheus played perfectly! Nothing could resist the beautiful music of Orpheus. Trees, rocks, humans, and other animals were hypnotized by his melodies.

Myths and legends form the foundation for all cultures. The Greek and Roman myths were early tales created to explain the world and are now inextricably woven throughout music, art, film, theater, literature, politics and daily life. Thousands of years old, these myths continue to inspire and intrigue. Myth: Dreams of The World, keeps these stories vibrant with new recordings by an intriguing array of artists including Iggy Pop, George Clinton, Lori Carson, Suzanne Vega, Lemmy, Jaron Lanier, and more.

Hold onto your magic hats for another spellbinding adventure! All aboard for Rome! Maxat sets sail for the city of history, song, gods and goddesses, art...and delicious ice cream. There are a thousand sights to see...but the one sight Maxat could do without seeing is the figure staring back at him from a very old mirror. After a fierce and shocking fight, it becomes clear that a perilous piece of history is repeating itself here and now, threatening to tear apart a lifelong friendship. Usually the rescuer, Maxat now needs to be rescued.

A woman's envy is very much alive, even in the olden times! Case and point, you have the story of Minerva and Arachne.