Roman Biography

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?

Pausanias is one of the most interestingly complicated figures in Greek history. A Spartan hero, he was also a Spartan villain; even his own contemporaries did not know what to make of him. Explore his life with Cornelius Nepos and come to your own conclusion - was Pausanias great or terrible?

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.

"Few are considered equal to him," is how Nepos first describes Themistocles in his ancient history of the man. Cast out from his family at a young age, Themistocles suddenly found himself having to face the world on his own. Rising from nothing he became one of the most feared and respected men in Greece, the only who could claim to have driven back Xerxes.

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.

Dive in as Cornelius Nepos, famed ancient historian, tackles the life of Miltiades. He recounts the life of the man who managed to defeat Darius the Great at the Battle of Marathon but was then scorned and betrayed by his countryman. How could a man who have achieved so much die with nothing?

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.

Quella della Curia Romana è una storia plurimillenaria fatta di luci ed ombre, di grandi personalità e di foschi individui. La vicenda dell'elezione e della prematura scomparsa di Papa Luciani si inserisce a pieno titolo nella lunga serie di episodi che ancora oggi sono avvolti nel mistero: una morte improvvisa e su cui non è stata fatta alcuna indagine.

Schon dem 13-jährigen Hermann Hesse war klar, dass er "entweder ein Dichter oder gar nichts werden wolle" - die Schwierigkeiten ließen nicht auf sich warten: "Es war erlaubt und galt sogar für eine Ehre, ein Dichter zu sein: das heißt als Dichter erfolgreich und bekannt zu sein, meistens war man leider dann schon tot.

"Cred ca în mai toate familiile exista câte un om deosebit, unul al carui spirit trebuie onorat prin evocarea lui perio­dica. Si pentru ca fiecare dintre noi are nevoie de repere vii, acest om, atunci când exista, nu trebuie pierdut niciodata din memoria urmasilor. Lucrul nici macar nu e foarte greu de facut. Adevarul e ca, de la o vârsta încolo, începem sa ne tragem îndarat; scurtându-se, timpul vietilor noastre cere sa fie îmbo­gatit cu viata celor care ne-au precedat."

Va voi citi doua serii de texte care vorbesc despre doua chipuri ale lui Ion Luca Caragiale. Mai întâi despre un Caragiale mai putin cunoscut si apoi despre un Caragiale mai putin vesel, mai grav, uitat de amatorii de zeflemea. Andrei Plesu

Few figures in Hollywood's history have been as acclaimed and controversial as director Roman Polanski, whose legendary films would stand out if not for the fact that they're often eclipsed by the turbulent life he's led. The son of Polish parents, Polanski survived World War II despite having both parents transferred to concentration camps during the Holocaust, but his mother was killed at Auschwitz. Despite the terrible ordeal and the loss of his mother, Polanski would grow up to become one of Europe's best directors.

Fils d'une famille de l'aristocratie athénienne, Platon semblait être destiné à occuper des responsabilités politiques de tout premier ordre. Mais sa rencontre avec Socrate bouleverse ces plans. À la mort du maître, il se consacre, via l'écriture et l'Académie qu'il fonde en 387, à la transmission de la pensée novatrice de Socrate.