Hot Dogs by the Numbers: Fourth of July Traditions
From Nation, For Nation - Pulse of the Nation
ChatGPT said: "Olympic Extremes: Battling Nature at the Coldest and Hottest Games in History"
The History of Mermen and Mermaids
Early History of Mermen and Mermaids
From the Selkies of Scotland to the Ipupiara of 16th-century Brazil, the history of mermaids stretches back through the folklore, legends, and myths of different cultures around the world. While some tales feature beautiful women with long tails instead of legs who send sailors to the bottom of the sea, others depict helpful goddesses, creatures more bird than fish, or beings more fish than woman.
Believe It or Not!, the first mermaid tale might swim all the way back to ancient Syria around 1000 BC. Legend has it that Atargatis, deeply in love with a mortal shepherd, accidentally caused his death. Stricken with sorrow and guilt, she plunged into a lake, hoping to become a fish. However, her divine beauty shone through, transforming her into a mermaid instead.
Mermen appear in Babylonian mythology, where the god Ea is described as having the body of both a man and a fish. Then there’s the more well-known merman, Triton, who was depicted as half man and half fish in art.
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From Globe, For Globe - Pulse of the Planet
Who can forget the tale of the 300 Spartans who held the pass of Thermopylae for three days against Persian hordes from the east? Movies such as 2006’s 300 continue to bring this landmark moment in ancient Greek history to life. They emphasize themes central to the fight, including freedom against oppression and courage in the face of insurmountable odds.
But did 300 Spartans really make a final stand against King Xerxes’s massive army of millions? Here’s what we now know about the Spartan and Greek sacrifice that occurred that day.
The Persian Invasion of Greece
In 480 B.C., King Xerxes I of Persia had an axe to grind with the Greek city-states. His father King Darius invaded what is modern-day Greece in 492 B.C. This invasion involved two campaigns, resulting in a decisive Athenian (Greek) victory during the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C.
Darius had hoped to kill two birds with one stone during the invasion. First, he wished to punish the Greeks for their support of the cities of Ionia (in modern-day Turkey) during a revolt against Persian rule. Second, he saw an opportunity to expand his empire westward.
After the final defeat of the Persians at Marathon, however, Darius died before he could lay siege to the Greek Peloponnese and mainland again. After Xerxes succeeded him, the son took up his father’s grudge and was determined to conquer the Greeks once and for all.
The Greeks Unite
Although the residents of the various Greek city-states shared some basic cultural similarities, they also fought and vied for power amongst themselves. These differences led to competitions such as the Olympics as well as outright warfare. Among the most often contrasted city-states were those of Athens and Sparta.
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