Blood and Sand: The Lives of Ancient Roman Gladiators
Pollice Verso (“With a Turned Thumb”), an 1872 painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme. In the grand amphitheaters of ancient Rome, where the sun beat down upon the sand-strewn arena, the gladiators…
Warrior Women of the Black Sea: The True Story Behind the Amazons
Clay copy of the Mattei-type Amazon (Wounded Amazon) in the courtyard of the Numismatic Museum of Athens. The clay statue dates to the 19th century. The original is lost and…
Decoding Victory: How U.S. Intelligence Turned the Tide at Midway
Scene on board USS Yorktown (CV-5), during the Battle of Midway, 4 June 1942, shortly after she was hit by three Japanese bombs on the same day, what would cause…
Zulu Warriors: A Legacy of Courage and Battle Prowess
Zulu warriors, 1882. Image extracted from page 279 of “A Holiday in South Africa … With map and illustrations”, by LEYLAND, Ralph Watts. Original held and digitized by the British…
Animal Spies: The Use of Animals in Intelligence
Spy pigeon in CIA Museum. Photo: Central Intelligence Agency. The world of espionage, often associated with covert operations, secret agents, and high-tech spy gadgets, has had some unexpected participants —…
5.11 Gyver Camo Short Sleeve Shirt: Warm Weather Style and Functionality
5.11 Gyver Camo Short Sleeve Shirt in Mussel Blue Neu-Digi Camo colorway. The 5.11 Gyver Camo Short Sleeve Shirt is a perfect blend of stylish design and practical functionality. It…
The Magic of Espionage: Magician John Mulholland and the CIA
The magician John Mulholland. Photo from “Story of Magic”, Loring & Mussey. 1935. Cropped. I find it far simpler to fool an audience of Princeton undergraduates than a kindergarten class,…
The Commemorative Air Force: Preserving History, Inspiring the Future
B25 Mitchell — Chino Airshow 2014. Photo: Airwolfhound from Hertfordshire, UK / CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED. The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and showcasing…
Operation Ivy Bells: A Cold War Espionage Masterstroke
View of USS Halibut departing San Francisco, likely in the mid 1970s. U.S. Navy photo. Operation Ivy Bells was a top-secret mission during the Cold War, jointly executed by the…
The IUSS: America’s Sentinel Beneath the Waves
U..S. Navy photo (Released) The Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS) is a crucial component of the U.S. Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The system was born out of the Cold War…