Romantic nationalism and the man of a thousand nightmares — With tensions continuing to rise between Poland and Russia in recent days following the continuing war in Ukraine, I wanted to look back into Polish history to find artists that defined what has long been a core value for the Slavic nations — dealing with their troublesome neighbour to the…

The food that fed history’s greatest classical rebirth — The Renaissance was more than a rebirth of classic culture across Europe. It was also a time of great change, both socially and economically, with a new generation of nouveau riche emerging into a world of ancient noble bloodlines. …

From the Devil to the New Messiah — The distinction between a cult and a religion is a grey and nebulas area over which much ink has been spilt. Today we imagine a cult as a fringe movement, led by an enigmatic, but ultimately dangerous figure, usually a man (though not always). Its adherents are seen as fanatics…

Revolutions, sex and violence — the spirit of France — Eugène Delacroix was one of the most renowned artists of his day. His paintings are still famous the world over, with the above Liberty Leading the People, being one of the most recognisable paintings to come out of the Romantic movement. Much like his turbulent and revolutionary country changed history…

The more things change, the more they stay the same — Everybody has an opinion on drugs. They remain one of the most divisive things on the planet causing untold damage and helping to save countless lives. But drugs and the questions surrounding who can use them and what for are not new. …

A story of women, gods and a changing nation — Most nations have images and icons associated with them. France has Marianne, the United States has Columbia, and India has Bharat Mata. Joining this pantheon of goddesses is Britannia, the personification of Britain and its people. Let’s look at how this goddess came to be, came to claim the crown…

The many faces of humanity’s biggest killers — Since the beginning of time, they have walked with us and stalked us from cradle to grave. They have birthed gods, felled empires, and changed the way we live and even today, with all of our technological prowess, we are still their victims. I’m not talking about wicked supernatural forces…

Anger, angst, and unrequited love There is a trinity of poets that dominate discussions of Renaissance literature — Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio. These men have written some of the greatest masterpieces in history between them. While they rightly deserve the glory and scholarly interest they get, there is one man…

And their Renaissance revival — We have always been fascinated by the idea of ruins — something draws us toward the crumbling facades and clasping walls. As children many of us dream of discovering an enchanted realm amongst the ruins of a dilapidated castle, a desolate manor, or an abandoned warehouse. This fascination with ruins…