Fragments of world history is an ongoing series in which I take a look at interesting, strange, and sometimes lurid moments in our history.
Nr.1 Assyrian Picknick.
King Ashurbanipal and his first wife Liballi- Sharrat enjoying a feast with games, music and tame lions to celebrate the victory over king Teuman of Elam in 653 b.c. His head hanging from a tree in the palace garden during this celebration.
Nr 2. When the day turned into night.
With the battle of the eclipse in 585 b.c. a six year war between the Medes and the Lydians came to a sudden stop as the day appeared to have suddenly turned into night (presumably a solar eclipse). The two parties prepared for a battle at the Halys river in what we now call Turkey. Shocked by this sudden darkness a peace treaty was formed. A marriage between Alyalette’s daughter and the son of Cyaxeres took place and the river was called out as the border between the two nations.
With the battle of the eclipse in 585 b.c. a six year war between the Medes and the Lydians came to a sudden stop as the day appeared to have suddenly turned into night (presumably a solar eclipse). The two parties prepared for a battle at the Halys river in what we now call Turkey. Shocked by this sudden darkness a peace treaty was formed. A marriage between Alyalette’s daughter and the son of Cyaxeres took place and the river was called out as the border between the two nations.
Nr 3. Queen Olympias.
Queen Olympias was the wife of King Phillipus II of Macedonia, and mother of Alexander the Great.
She was a follower of the Greco-Roman sacred mysteries cult. One of the ways in which she practiced these believes was by collecting holy snakes. These snakes kept her company in bed to scare away her husbands. Philippus in particular: he was known to fear little other than snakes.
Queen Olympias was the wife of King Phillipus II of Macedonia, and mother of Alexander the Great.
She was a follower of the Greco-Roman sacred mysteries cult. One of the ways in which she practiced these believes was by collecting holy snakes. These snakes kept her company in bed to scare away her husbands. Philippus in particular: he was known to fear little other than snakes.
Nr 4. Cabbages for an empire.
Emperor Diocletian (236-316) is known to be the only Roman emperor who retired from his reign. After fainting in public he retreated to his castle in modern day Split, Croatia. He lived there in solitude and spent his days in his vegetable garden growing cabbages. In response to a question about returning to the throne he spoke the following words: "If you could show the cabbage that I planted with my own hands to your emperor, he definitely wouldn't dare suggest that I replace the peace and happiness of this place with the storms of a never-satisfied greed."
Emperor Diocletian (236-316) is known to be the only Roman emperor who retired from his reign. After fainting in public he retreated to his castle in modern day Split, Croatia. He lived there in solitude and spent his days in his vegetable garden growing cabbages. In response to a question about returning to the throne he spoke the following words: "If you could show the cabbage that I planted with my own hands to your emperor, he definitely wouldn't dare suggest that I replace the peace and happiness of this place with the storms of a never-satisfied greed."