402. Christmas: Pagan or Christian?

What happened at the Battle of Ibera, a totemic though overlooked battle of the Punic Wars? With the forces of Carthage closing in on a depleted Rome, would a young Roman, Publius Cornelius Scipio resurrect the fortunes of the Republic? And, could he destroy Carthage’s most cruci ...  Show more

Why is Jan Van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait perceived as one of the greatest mysteries of the arts? What elements and symbolisms provoke debates about its identity and meaning? And, what do we know about its provenance, its travels through European royal courts, and its influence on ...  Show more

Merry Christmas . . . I've heard the argument that Christians are wrong to celebrate Christmas... and I can understand that view point given it's DARK pagan history (i.e. lawlessness, rape, human sacrifice) (Here is one of hundreds of links you can find on the origins of Christma ...  Show more

I've heard the argument that Christians are wrong to celebrate Christmas... and I can understand that view point given it's DARK pagan history (i.e. lawlessness, rape, human sacrifice) (Here is one of hundreds of links you can find on the origins of Christmas and Saturnalia. http ...  Show more

The roots of this festive holiday reach way back through history, with links to Nordic myths and the Roman Saturnalia. For colonists in 17th century America, celebrating Christmas was controversial… and in this telling, a despairing Puritan preacher goes so far as to try and canc ...  Show more

We’re familiar with the Christmas carol “The 12 days of Christmas” but in the middle ages, this extended holiday Christmas looked a bit different. There were plenty of lords-a-leaping and ladies dancing but the only partridge was trussed up on the King’s table next to the swans-a ...  Show more