About: Alex Barrientos
Alex has a BA in both philosophy and history, and is currently working towards a PhD in philosophy at the University of Utah. Though he mainly focuses on the Early Modern period of philosophy (16th-18th century), he is fascinated by the wisdom of the classics. His favorite question of all is, "What does it mean to live a good life?" It is one that he thinks the philosophers and poets of the classical world provided the most interesting and timeless answers to. But, when he's not contemplating the depths of the human condition, he enjoys playing video games, watching Netflix, and raiding used book stores.
Recent Posts by Alex Barrientos
A Day in the Life of an Ancient Athenian
Written by Lydia Serrant, Contributing Writer, Classical Wisdom Athens, 424 BCE It is daybreak on a Tuesday, and already the day is beginning to warm. As usual, you wake up at sunrise to the sound of ritual singing coming from the courtyard. Your household slave has risen early and sings to the dawn as she prepares
All You NEED to Know About the Ancient Olympics
Written by Divya Gupta, Contributing Writer, Classical Wisdom The first Olympic games were held in Athens, Greece in 1896. Around 280 participants from 13 nations competed in 43 sporting games. Since 1994, the famous Game has been held separately as the Winter and Summer Olympics every two years. But did you know these modern games
Ancient Art of Amphora Pottery
Written by Divya Gupta, Contributing Writer, Classical Wisdom Greek Vases provide a rare insight into life in Ancient Greece. They reflect the artistic developments, religion, trade, and political beliefs of ancient Greek civilization. Types of Greek Pottery Greeks pots were traditionally made using terracotta (fired clay) and were fashioned into different shapes and sizes depending
Not Your Virgil’s Sinon: The Greeks and the Man Who Tricked the Trojans
Written by Cynthia C. Polsley, Ph.D., Contributing Writer, Classical Wisdom And I said to him: ‘Who are those two poor sinners who give off smoke like wet hands in the winter and lie so close to you upon the right?’ ‘I found them here,’ he answered, ‘when I rained down to this rocky slope; they’ve not
Pyrrho: The Greek Buddha
Written by Doug Bates, Founder of the Modern Pyrrhonism Movement and Author of Pyrrho’s Way: The Ancient Greek Version of Buddhism Even in antiquity Westerners looked to India for wisdom. The Neoplatonist philosopher Plotinus tried to go there but had to turn back. Some people claim – on scant evidence – that Jesus went there. But