Have you ever seen a larnax made of 24-carat gold, weighing 11 kilograms? Wreaths made of gold? Golden bees and acorns?
Especially a larnax containing the ashes of a king? One that Alexander the Great touched with his own hands, as he was carrying the ashes of his father?
Follow me down this thread, as I take you back in time, showing you glimpses of Alexander’s life and how the greatest empire of the world was born.
All these finding are in museums in Vergina, a small town in northern Greece, Central Macedonia. Vergina Greece is known as the site of ancient Aigai, the first capital of Macedonia. In 336 BC Philip II was assassinated in Aigai’s theatre and his son, Alexander the Great, became the king.
From Aigai, the Macedonians spread to the central part of Macedonia and displaced the local population of Pierians. In the first half of the 5th century BC, Aigai became the capital of Macedonia, the most important northern Greek state.
In 1977, the Greek archaeologist Manolis Andronikos undertook a six-week dig at the Great Tumulus and found four buried tombs, two of which had never been disturbed.
Andronikos discovered the burial sites of the kings of Macedon, including the tomb of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great (Tomb II) and also of Alexander IV of Macedon, son of Alexander the Great and Roxana (Tomb III).
The museum of the tumulus of Philip II, which was inaugurated in 1993, was built over the tombs leaving them in situ and showing the tumulus as it was before the excavations. Inside the museum there are four tombs and one small temple, the heroon built as the temple for the burial cluster of Philip II.
The two most important tombs (II and III) were not sacked and contained the main treasures of the museum. Tomb II of Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great was discovered in 1977 and was separated in two rooms.
The main room included a marble chest, and in it was the larnax made of 24 carat gold and weighing 11 kilograms, embossed with the Vergina Sun symbol. Inside the golden larnax the bones of the dead were found and a golden wreath of 313 oak leaves and 68 acorns.
In the room were also found the golden and ivory panoply of the dead, the richly carved burial bed on which he was laid and later burned and exquisite silver utensils for the funeral feast.
The main museum remains underground, at the original burial site, with a dark ambient vibe that really immerses the traveler into the reality of an era long gone.
That being said, a new museum has just been opened with ample light shedding light to new findings, including weapons, the Greek helmet and the long sarissa spears.
You also see scenes of ceremonial and religious life, including the ornaments of the female dresses.
Can you spot the details and the ornamental elements?
Elements of that prosperous Hellenistic era that spread from Greece to the edges of the known world can be seen in the minted coins; can you see Alexander the Great with the Amun Ra horns?
Another golden wreath, found in the same spot; not as detailed as the others of the royal tombs, but still.. can you see the golden details?
One of the favorite parts of the day though, was the open-space archeological site of the royal palace overlooking the tombs of Vergina.
Can you imagine yourself looking at the same sky as those great men and women of the West?
Can you envision how this luminous sky would affect you? How the teachings of Aristotle, the legacy of the Iliad heroes, the Hellenic heritage would push you to honor your legacy and fight against the barbarian hordes?
This is part of what pushed those glorious basterds to conquer the world and create off of the greatest empires the world had ever seen:
Alexander’s Realm of Virtue.
But then again, please zoom in and tell me now; do you see the golden flowers? Can you spot the golden bees?
Men and women of the West; this is your heritage. Read it, honor it and spread the word.
All we have is our history and heritage; honor and cherish it before we become part of an era long gone.
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Have you ever imagined state-sponsored prostitution for “research purposes”? LSD-crazed soldiers being interrogated over psychic powers? A psychic superpower “arms-race”?
Julian Assange is probably going to be freed soon and many claim his suffering came as a result of pissing off the American Deep-State and its long arm: The Agency.
The CIA has been involved in numerous unbelievable operations and experiments, some of which have sparked significant controversy. Here's a thread with some of the most infamous ones:
Operation Midnight Climax (1950s-1960s):
As a part of MKUltra, the CIA set up safe houses in San Francisco and New York City where prostitutes, hired by the agency, would lure men to the locations. Once there, the men were secretly dosed with LSD, and their behavior was observed through one-way mirrors.
The goal was to study the effects of the drug on unwitting subjects and to find ways to use it for coercion and interrogation.
MKUltra (1953-1973):
MKUltra was a series of mind control experiments conducted by the CIA, aiming to develop techniques for interrogation and brainwashing. The experiments included administering LSD, electroshock therapy, hypnosis, and other forms of psychological manipulation, often without the subjects' consent.
Many of the participants suffered long-term psychological damage as a result of these experiments.
I had dreams of Venice lately; and dreams are messages from the deep.
That’s why I came to Venice to see the remnants of a State that even though it advertised itself as “serene”, it was all but it. A romantic thread by a Byzantine:
The Republic of Venice,traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and maritime republic with its capital in Venice. The whole main city was built on canals.
Over the course of its 1,100 years of history it established itself as one of the major European commercial and naval powers. It regularly came in conflict with other naval powers over conflict for maritime trade. One of them was Byzantium.
Throughout the ages, there have been examples of legendary figures that honored their nation, their family, their legacy. Some of them excelled in battle; others excelled in tactics while some were distinguished for their strategies. But I cannot think many that excelled in all aspects; this is why the legend called Miyamoto Musashi is a Colossus.
In the annals of history, few figures loom as large as Miyamoto Musashi, a name synonymous with the epitome of the samurai spirit and martial prowess. Born in 1584, Musashi's life spanned a transformative period in Japan, as it shifted from the warring states of Sengoku Jidai to the more stable and culturally rich Edo period. While Japan was transforming, Miyamoto was also evolving into a legend.
A master swordsman, philosopher, and artist, Musashi's legacy is immortalized in his treatise "The Book of Five Rings," a work that transcends mere martial instruction to encompass a profound philosophy of life.
Follow me down this deep-dive thread as I take you back in time, in the midst of turbulent changes in Japan, to explore the life of a legend, as his personality evolved and his skills unfolded, on his way to immortality.
The Early Years: Birth of a Warrior
Not much is very clear about his early life but we do have some clues. Miyamoto Musashi was born in Harima Province (modern-day Hyogo Prefecture), the son of a samurai named Shinmen Munisai. Musashi gives his full name and title in The Book of Five Rings as Shinmen Musashi-no-Kami Fujiwara no Harunobu (新免武蔵守藤原玄信).
From an early age, he probably was scared by eczema, which affected his appearance; it developed in his infancy, and later legends were born out of it. One of them said that he never bathed himself because he did not want to be surprised unarmed.
Musashi started training very early; he was immersed in the world of martial arts, learning the rudiments of swordsmanship from his father. Obviously, apart from the eczema, he suffered from a serious case of BallsOfSteel-iasis because legend has it that Musashi fought his first duel at the tender age of 13, defeating a well-known samurai named Arima Kihei, showcasing his burgeoning talent and indomitable spirit.
So, let’s pause our story for a moment; do you remember yourself around 13? Because I think I was watching Pokémon or trying to imagine how girls smelled like (because no female being would come near me) or play ball with ma boys out in the street. But Miyamoto dueled with Katanas with grown-up dude – who happened to be a samurai – and destroyed him (literally, ended his career and life).
The Unbeaten Warrior: A Path of Combat
He left his village soon after to wonder throughout Japan and hone his skills; what a life it must have been! His early years were marked by a series of duels that would etch his name into the chronicles of martial history. His combat style, known as Niten Ichi-ryū (Two Heavens as One), was revolutionary, utilizing two swords simultaneously—a katana in one hand and a shorter wakizashi in the other. This dual-wielding technique gave him a significant advantage over opponents who were accustomed to traditional single-sword techniques.
The second duel happened when Musashi was 16 years old, when he won another victory against a swordsman named Tadashima Akiyama, a native of Tajima Province. His third duel came when he was aged 21, in Kyoto, where he defeated several students of a famous sword fighting school.
The two-handed movements of temple drummers may have inspired him, although it could be that the technique was forged through Musashi's combat experience.
This happens when you connect dots and see the Way in everything. Nevertheless, Jitte techniques were taught to him by his father—the jitte was often used in battle paired with a sword; the jitte would parry and neutralize the weapon of the enemy while the sword struck or the practitioner grappled with the enemy. Today Musashi's style of swordsmanship is known as Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū.
Does the world around us make sense to you? Do words count? Is the “Truth”, true? Are the “Bad Guys”, bad indeed? And if they are not the bad guys, what does that make us? Who are we? Did Orwell write novels or a manual for today’s totalitarian regimes?
It’s been a while since the last time I wrote such a piece; but the global geopolitical conditions are compelling indeed and I cannot help but contemplate upon the dystopian present that will define our future, sooner than expected.
George Orwell’s work, particularly his novels "1984" and "Animal Farm," remains profoundly relevant in analyzing contemporary global events.
Orwell's exploration of themes such as totalitarianism, propaganda, surveillance, and the manipulation of truth provides a framework for understanding the political and social dynamics in today's world. Let’s dive deeper into his work, our present and maybe ask a few questions about our future.
Totalitarianism and Authoritarianism
Orwell's "1984" is a grim portrayal of a totalitarian regime where the government exerts absolute control over every aspect of life, from public actions to private thoughts. This dystopian vision is echoed in various modern authoritarian regimes that employ similar tactics to maintain power.
Orwellian characteristics impose extensive state surveillance, censorship, and the suppression of dissent. Does that ring any bells? To be surveilled by your own state “for your protection”? Are you really free to express your opinion?
Have you ever imagined accessing some of Humanity’s greatest minds? Tapping into millennia-old wisdom?
I did the work and concentrated some of the greatest quotes of Greek and Roman philosophers, with their sources. This thread contains thoughts that shaped Western philosophy.
Socrates
"The unexamined life is not worth living."
Source: Plato's "Apology," 38a.
Plato
"The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself."
Throughout history, father-son relationships have had profound impact, shaping the political, cultural, and religious landscapes of their times. These bonds of blood and power not only influenced their contemporary world but also left legacies that resonate to this day.
Follow me down this honorary Father’s Day thread to discover some of the most impactful father-son relationships that changed our world forever.
Philip II and Alexander the Great
Philip II was a transformative king who built Macedonia into a dominant military power. His innovations in military tactics and organization laid the foundation for his son, Alexander the Great, to embark on an unprecedented campaign of conquest.
Alexander created the Hellenic Empire, one of the largest empires in ancient history, spreading Greek culture across three continents and setting the stage for the Hellenistic era.
Henry II of England and Richard the Lionheart
Henry II established the Plantagenet dynasty and expanded English territories significantly through both strategic marriages and military conquests.
His son, Richard the Lionheart, is famed for his role in the Third Crusade and his exceptional military leadership. Richard's exploits in the Holy Land cemented his place in legend, even as his time as king was largely spent away from England, fighting in the Crusades.