GREEK-MYTHOLOGY

Why Is Depression Sometimes Called “The Black Dog”?

Everyone from lexicographer Samuel Johnson to Prime Minister Winston Churchill has used the phrase—but where does it come from? Why a black dog?

The cover of Emily Wilson’s translation of ‘The Iliad.’

A New Translation of ’The Iliad’ Is Bringing a Truer Ancient Greece to Modern Readers

This all-new translation of the Homer epic is six years in the making.

Sex Symbol: How Antinous Became a Gay Code Word in the Victorian Era

The Greek youth Antinous drowned in the Nile—but he would go on to have one of the most remarkable afterlives in history.

A photo of the Pompeii ruins from November 2019.

Explore Two of Pompeii’s Excavated Homes in This Virtual Tour

Before the Mount Vesuvius eruption of 79 C.E., these homes in Pompeii featured gardens and impressive art collections.

Lucas Cranach the Elder via Wikimedia // Public Domain

10 Mythical Giants From Around the World

Their huge size evokes ideas of superhuman strength, yet in many legends the giant is in fact a tragic character.

Michael Maggs via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 3.0

7 Animals With Grand Mythological Names

Like proud parents, scientists often give their discoveries the biggest, most impressive names they can think of.

Why Do We Call Our Galaxy the Milky Way?

There are two questions that have haunted wannabe astronomers for decades: “Why is our galaxy called the Milky Way?” and “Does it have anything to do with the delicious candy bar?”