Daily Content Archive
(as of Thursday, November 16, 2017)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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unperturbed
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| Article of the Day | |
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 The Pyramid of CestiusOne of the best preserved ancient buildings in Rome, the Pyramid of Cestius was built circa 12 BCE as a tomb for magistrate Gaius Cestius Epulo. Constructed of brick-faced concrete covered with slabs of white marble, the pyramid stood at a fork between two ancient roads and was later incorporated into the Aurelian Walls, built around 271 CE to fortify the city. The origins of the pyramid were forgotten during the Middle Ages, and later Romans mistakenly concluded that the tomb belonged to whom? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Louis Riel, "Father of Manitoba," Executed for Treason (1885)Of French and Métis parentage, Riel grew up in the Red River Settlement in what is now Manitoba, whose establishment in 1870 he precipitated by leading a revolt of Métis and indigenous peoples against the transfer of the Hudson's Bay Company territory to Canada. Riel was outlawed for his role in the rebellion, but that did not deter him from leading a similar uprising in Saskatchewan in 1884. This time, however, he was captured by Canadian authorities and executed. Why was his penalty so harsh? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 George Simon Kaufman (1889)Kaufman was an American dramatist and humorist who co-wrote more than 40 plays, many of which became tremendously successful. His collaboration with Moss Hart produced such plays as Once in a Lifetime and You Can't Take It With You, and he also worked on the Marx Brothers' A Night at the Opera. Kaufman was also an influential drama critic for New York newspapers and was known for his caustic wit. What did he once suggest as a way to avoid crowds during a flu epidemic? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 How great would be the desire in every admirer of nature to behold, if such were possible, the scenery of another planet!Charles Darwin (1809-1882) | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 Plebeian Games (2020)The Roman leader Flaminius is thought to have instituted the Plebeian Games in 220 BCE. They originally may have been held in the Circus Flaminius, which he built. Later, they may have moved to the Circus Maximus, a huge open arena between the Palatine and Aventine hills. The Games were dedicated to Jupiter, one of whose feast days was November 13, and included horse and chariot races and contests that involved running, boxing and wrestling. The first nine days of the festival (November 4-12) were devoted to theatrical performances. More... | |