Hypatia of Alexandria

Hypatia of Alexandria was an eminent scientist in Roman Alexandria at the turn of the 4th century AD. This accolade was accorded to her by contemporaries; remarkable for any scientist, it was exceptional for a woman. As a teacher, she drew pupils from across the empire to her lessons.

The Athenian Navy Revisited

Good stories bear repeating; Athenian naval history during the Persian and Peloponnese Wars is such a story. John R. Hale is a maritime archaeologist. In his book, he manages to present encyclopedic knowledge in a riveting ongoing storyline. History doesn't need to be dry and dusty.

Blowing up the Acropolis

The Acropolis has become the byword for Athens, though every Greek city sported an acropolis, an upper town. The Athenian Acropolis was built and destroyed several times during its 7,500 years of history and it found many uses. What sticks in the mind, though, is the moment when the Venetians blew it up.