The Blog

Dispatches from the ancient world — exploring Greco-Roman history, language, philosophy, and culture through a modern lens.

LatestMarch 15, 2026Maira Zaidi

The Bathhouse Buzz: Where Rome Went to Relax and Network

In today’s modern world, if you wish to find good conversation and a game, you might go to a bar or pub. In ancient Rome, it was all about the public...

October 19, 2025Maira Zaidi

Is Latin Still Relevant in the 21st Century?

Imagine telling someone at a party that you study Latin. There is usually a moment of silence. Then someone says, “Wait… people still learn Latin?” Another...

June 15, 2025Maira Zaidi

Locusta: Rome’s Notorious Assassin

In the dangerous world of ancient Roman politics, power did not always come from armies or speeches in the Senate.

March 23, 2025Maira Zaidi

Livia Drusilla: Rome’s Most Powerful First Lady

In the early days of the Roman Empire, power rarely belonged to women — at least not openly. Rome was a world of senators, generals, and emperors, where...

December 15, 2024Maira Zaidi

Circus Maximus: The Super Bowl of Ancient Rome

If you walked through the streets of Rome on the morning of a big race day, you would feel the excitement in the air long before you reached the stadium....

September 22, 2024Maira Zaidi

Did Epicurus Really Believe in Endless Pleasure?

If you hear that someone follows the philosophy of Epicurus, you might imagine a person lounging on a couch surrounded by grapes, pastries, and maybe a...

June 16, 2024Maira Zaidi

Augustus: The Man Who Invented the Roman Empire

In the year 44 BCE, Rome was in chaos. The famous general and politician Julius Caesar had just been assassinated on the floor of the Senate.

March 17, 2024Maira Zaidi

Rome’s Invisible Workforce: The Lives of the Enslaved

Imagine walking through the busy streets of ancient Rome. Vendors shout prices, senators hurry toward the Forum, and the smell of fresh bread drifts from...

November 19, 2023Maira Zaidi

What Did Romans Eat? Food and Social Class in Ancient Rome

The gastronomy of Ancient Rome was a unique blend of simplicity and luxury that denoted culinary ingenuity (and perhaps a bit of madness in the mix, very...

February 15, 2026Maira Zaidi

Ancient Roman names that should make a comeback

Aside from the classics, I am also a “name-nerd,” frequently visiting the eponymous subreddit r/namenerds.

September 21, 2025Maira Zaidi

Famous Latin Quotes That Still Matter

Even if you have never taken a Latin class, chances are you already know a few Latin phrases. They pop up everywhere — on school mottos, in books, in...

May 24, 2025Maira Zaidi

Sulpicia: A Rare Female Voice in Roman Elegy

In the world of ancient Rome, poetry was almost entirely a man’s domain. Names like Ovid and Tibullus dominate what we know of Roman literature.

February 16, 2025Maira Zaidi

The Vestal Virgins: Power, Pressure, and Punishment

In the center of ancient Rome, not far from the busy Forum, stood a quiet and sacred building known as the House of the Vestal Virgins.

November 24, 2024Maira Zaidi

Virgil’s Aeneid: Rome’s National Epic

Imagine being asked to write a story that explains where your entire civilization came from. No pressure, right? That was basically the task given to the...

August 18, 2024Maira Zaidi

What Was the Pax Romana? Why Did It End?

If you lived in the Roman Empire during the first two centuries after the birth of Christ, you might have felt pretty lucky.

May 12, 2024Maira Zaidi

Julius Caesar: Hero or Dictator?

If you ask ten people in ancient Rome what they thought about Julius Caesar, you might get ten very different answers.

February 18, 2024Maira Zaidi

Panem et circenses: Different Years, Same Idea

Imagine living in ancient Rome. The streets are crowded, the markets are noisy, and the political debates in the Senate are complicated.

October 22, 2023Maira Zaidi

What Was Daily Life Like in Ancient Rome?

Nearly two thousand years ago, the city of Rome was loud, busy, and full of life. More than a million people lived there at the height of the Empire....

December 14, 2025Maira Zaidi

Latin in Law: Three legal concepts with Latin roots

The connection between Classics and the study of law has long been recognized by educators, scholars, and legal professionals.

July 27, 2025Maira Zaidi

Roman Marriage: Love or Legal Contract?

Imagine attending a wedding in ancient Rome. There are no white dresses, no wedding cakes, and no honeymoon photos.

April 19, 2025Maira Zaidi

Were Spartan Women Really More Free?

In most ancient Greek cities, women lived quiet and restricted lives. In Athens, for example, respectable women were expected to remain mostly inside the...

January 26, 2025Maira Zaidi

Cleopatra: Politician, Strategist, or Seductress?

Cleopatra, a name that evokes thoughts of power, beauty, and ambition, remains one of the most significant figures in human history, her legacy continuing...

October 20, 2024Maira Zaidi

What Aristotle Might Say About Social Media Friendships

Imagine Aristotle sitting in a coffee shop today, watching people scroll endlessly through their phones.

July 14, 2024Maira Zaidi

Marcus Aurelius: The Emperor Who Practiced Philosophy

Imagine running one of the largest empires in the ancient world. You have armies to command, political rivals to watch, borders to defend, and an endless...

April 21, 2024Maira Zaidi

Was the Roman Republic truly a Republic or Oligarchy?

If you walked through the streets of Rome around 100 BCE and asked a proud Roman citizen what kind of government they lived under, you would likely hear a...

January 21, 2024Maira Zaidi

Gladiators: Fame, Violence, and Entertainment

Imagine entering a stadium with 50,000 screaming fans. The crowd is loud, the air smells of dust and sweat, and everyone is waiting for the main event.