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Culture Critic

@Culture_Crit

Feb 5

2,000 years ago, the world's most powerful man spent his nights alone writing his journal.

He never meant to publish it, but it's now history's ultimate guide to living a virtuous life.

There are 7 essential rules... (thread) 🧵

Marcus Aurelius faced a tough time in power: ravaging plagues and endless barbarian wars.

But his most lasting battle, it turned out, was the one against his own mind.

Writing in his journal, the emperor distilled much of Stoic philosophy into actionable rules for life.

Happiness, he knew, is found not in wealth and status, but virtue — his "Meditations" explains how...

Read 19 tweets

Culture Critic

@Culture_Crit

Jan 29

America built some of the world's greatest architecture — then demolished it.

A thread of the most beautiful buildings that were razed, and why... 🧵

1. Cincinnati Library: destroyed for a parking garage

America's most beautiful library (built 1874) was demolished in the '50s for a parking garage.

Its cast-iron book alcoves were pulled down to move the library to a more "efficient" space — and the old site repurposed.

2. Garrick Theater, Chicago

That's not the only thing demolished for more parking space.

The US has a rich heritage of theater design, although its best works are lost. This opulent theater was a landmark of early modern architecture, now gone.

Read 15 tweets

Culture Critic

@Culture_Crit

Jan 28

Napoleon, a voracious reader, brought 125 books with him when he invaded Egypt.

But there are 7 books he couldn't live without — that every man must read.

Napoleon's ultimate reading list... (bookmark this) 🧵

Napoleon had an impressive traveling library with him during his conquests, arranged into 6 categories:

Politics and Morality, Sciences and Art, Geography and Travels, History, Poetry, and Novels.

But some books influenced him profoundly in life, and he would almost never be caught without them.

Here are 7 he considered utterly essential — and how they transformed him...

Read 17 tweets

Culture Critic

@Culture_Crit

Jan 23

What are some battles that changed the course of history?

Western culture faced obliteration several times — and survived by a near miracle.

The 5 most critical battles, starting in 490 BC... 🧵

If the Greeks had lost to the Persians in 490 BC, there's no telling what the world would look like now.

Vastly outnumbered by invading forces of Darius I, the Athenians struck first at the enemy camps...

Inferior tactics and knowledge of terrain cost the Persians 6,400 men to the Greeks' 192, and they fled.

Pheidippides ran 25 miles back to Athens to announce victory.

Read 17 tweets

Culture Critic

@Culture_Crit

Jan 21

Is this the image of Jesus?

There's a lot of talk about the Shroud of Turin lately, so let's break down the evidence.

A new X-ray study suggests it's 2,000 years old — but that's just the beginning.

Buckle up... (thread) 🧵

The Shroud of Turin is claimed to be the real burial cloth of Jesus, imprinted with a miraculous image.

It is the most studied artifact in HISTORY — what we now know about it is frankly astonishing…

Jesus of Nazareth was buried in a tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea, just outside Jerusalem's walls.

He was covered, according to scripture, in a linen burial cloth.

Read 25 tweets

Culture Critic

@Culture_Crit

Jan 17

100 years ago, a German historian noticed something:

All cultures have a set life cycle — you can predict when (and how) they'll end.

The early 21st century, he predicted, will spell disaster for big cities...

And a new Caesar shall rise... (thread) 🧵

Oswald Spengler saw cultures as distinct, living organisms.

They are destined to a cycle of birth, growth, decay and death...

He smashed the idea of history as a linear progression, from ancient to medieval to modern.

In "The Decline of the West", he notes similarities across 8 cultures — from Babylonian to West European (Faustian).

Read 22 tweets

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