Livy’s History of Rome

Why Study History?

leeduigon(patty)October 29, 2018

No one ever answered this question better than Titus Livius, whom we know as Livy, who wrote his History of Rome during the time of Augustus Caesar. And here is his answer.

“The study of history is the best medicine for a sick mind; for in history you have a record of the infinite variety of human experience plainly set out for all to see; and in that record you can find for yourself and your country both examples and warnings; fine things to take as models, base things, rotten through and through, to avoid.”

Any questions?

The Real Narnia

leeduigon(patty)November 18, 2017

Image result for narnia, italy

Here’s something I’ll betcha didn’t know: there really was–and still is, sort of–a place called Narnia. It was, for almost 3,000 years, a town in Italy; and in 1870, its name was changed to “Narni” (http://www.narniainitaly.com/). It’s still there, perched up in the mountains.

We can be pretty sure C.S. Lewis knew all about it: he would have read Livy’s History of Rome. Because of its strong, defensible location, and not its size or wealth, Narnia was for a long time kind of an important place.

There is no record of fauns or talking animals having lived there, but I would rather not commit myself as to centaurs.

Now go out there and win a trivia contest.