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  The Principal Speeches of...

  Demóstenes

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  Demosthenes (384-322 BCE) is regarded as one of the greatest orators of Classical times. This view has persisted through the centuries even though his rousing speeches warning of the dangers of Macedonian expansion - firstly guided by Philip II and then Alexander the Great - failed to stem the course of continued military success. 
   
  A contemporary of Plato and Aristotle, it is said that Demosthenes undertook arduous measures to cure himself of a stammer by speaking with pebbles in his mouth and perfecting breath control. Starting as a speech writer, he made his mark at an unusually young age (for the time), delivering his first major public speech at the age of 30, advising Athens to build its naval fleet as a defence against the Persians. In fact, it was the ambition of Philip of Macedon that would prove the principal threat. This was recognised by Demosthenes, as shown by the main speeches included in this collection. 
   
  In the 'Three Olynthiac Orations', Demosthenes outlined the tactics of Philip’s aggression towards Olynthus, an ally of Athens. He urged support for the smaller state, but his words went unheeded until it was too late. Demosthenes’s increasingly unrestrained language - at one point he calls Philip ‘a barbarian’ - did not endear him to the Macedonian regime. 
   
  The 'Olynthiac Orations' are followed by the 'Three Philippics', which chart further military activity by the aforementioned Philip. In between the second and third 'Philippics' comes ‘On the Peace’: a speech given during a short diplomatic space engineered by Philip, but which Demosthenes clearly highlighted as an armistice rather than anything permanent. This ‘Philip’ section ends with ‘The Oration on the Letter'. Philip sent a letter to Athens, which implied that war, again, was imminent. Demosthenes responded with characteristic boldness. 
   
  The final speech on this recording is ‘On the Crown’, addressing a very different matter. The Athenian statesman Ctesiphon proposed that Demosthenes should be honoured with the ‘golden crown’ for his service to the city. This was opposed by Aeschines, a long-standing enemy of Demosthenes in Athenian politics. In the court case that followed (330 BCE), Demosthenes successfully defended Ctesiphon in a speech later described as ‘the greatest speech of the greatest orator in the world'. 
   
  Each of the orations in this collection is preceded with an introduction setting the scene, and outlining the context in which they were delivered. This also gives a concise picture of Athens at this difficult point in its history. Eight years later, when in danger of being captured and imprisoned by the young Alexander who was angered by decades of eloquent and unrestrained opposition, Demosthenes committed suicide. All the speeches are prefaced by the historical setting. Translations by Arthur Wallace Pickard and Charles Rann Kennedy.

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  The Divine Pymander of Hermes...

  Hermes Trimegistus

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  Hermes Mercurius Trismegistus is the founding stone of Western esotericism. Hermes is regarded as being the author of numerous philosophical and spiritual texts, including the Divine Pymander. Even though the historical existence of Hermes is not clear, he has been regarded as the master of wisdom and the initiator of the divine knowledge for centuries. The Divine Pymander is one of the ancient texts attributed to Hermes. The Divine Pymander explains a cosmology and philosophy which blends Egyptian, Greek, and Jewish mystical traditions. It is presented as a dialogue between Hermes and a student who is seeking the divine knowledge. Dialogue includes teachings on the nature of the universe, the soul, and the relationship between humanity and God. The most important central themes of the Divine Pymander is the thought that the cosmos is a manifestation of the divine mind. Furthermore, the human soul is explained as a reflection of this divine intelligence. Hermes tells us that the goal of spiritual practice is to awaken the divine spark within the soul and unite with the divine mind. Spiritual enlightenment includes the purification of the soul by contemplation, prayer and meditation. Hermes also highlights the importance of living a virtuous life, avoiding attachment to material things, cultivation of gratitude and reverence for the divine.

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  Acts of the Apostles Beyond the...

  Various Early Christian Writers,...

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  What if you could hear the apostles’ untold miracles, journeys, and battles with darkness—stories too bold for the Bible? 
  Acts of the Apostles Beyond the Canon brings to life the lesser-known sacred texts that capture the apostles’ miraculous adventures after Pentecost.  
  Full of divine encounters, courageous women, and cosmic battles between good and evil, these stories breathe new life into the early Church’s forgotten legacy. 
  What you’ll discover inside: 
  •	Acts of Peter – Healings, confrontations with sorcerers, and his martyrdom in Rome 
  •	Acts of Paul and Thecla – A revolutionary female disciple and her trials for the faith 
  •	Acts of John – Mystical visions and his unique final moments 
  •	Acts of Andrew & Thomas – Unshakable missions in the face of persecution, including Thomas’s fateful journey to India 
  •	Acts of Barnabas & Philip – Evangelizing new lands with signs and wonders 
  •	Acts Chapter 29 – A mysterious text depicting Paul’s speculative journey to Britain 
  Let these rediscovered voices reignite your imagination and strengthen your spirit. 
  Press play and walk again with the apostles—beyond the canon and into legend.

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  Stories on Lord Shiva series -17...

  Anusha HS

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  Lord shiva is adi and he is only the anthya. He is the sole reason for the happenings in both the movable and immovable worlds. Therefore, it is said that not even a spring of grass will move without his permission. He is the one who has given life to all the creatures. He is also the one who takes away the lives of all the creatures. Sadhus sages and aghoraas practice severe penance without minding day and night on Lord Shiva.

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  Sustainability and...

  Lyric Vale

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  In the crucible of global environmental challenges, cities emerge as both the most vulnerable landscapes and the most promising laboratories for transformative change. Sustainable urban development represents a critical frontier where human innovation, technological advancement, and ecological consciousness converge to reimagine our collective living environments. This comprehensive exploration delves into the intricate world of sustainable urban infrastructure, examining how cities can evolve from passive consumers of resources to dynamic, regenerative ecosystems that actively contribute to environmental preservation and human well-being. 
  The journey through sustainable urban infrastructure is a narrative of hope, innovation, and strategic reimagining. By analyzing the complex intersections of technological design, environmental stewardship, and social resilience, this book unveils the multifaceted approaches that can transform urban landscapes from sources of environmental strain to models of sustainable living. Readers will explore how cutting-edge urban planning strategies, advanced infrastructure technologies, and holistic design principles can create cities that are not just environmentally responsible, but also more livable, adaptable, and responsive to the rapidly changing global challenges of climate change, population growth, and resource scarcity. From renewable energy systems and green building technologies to innovative transportation networks and circular economy principles, this exploration offers a visionary roadmap for designing urban environments that balance human needs with ecological sustainability.

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  Young Lions

  Andrew Mackay

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  This is the story of two teenage British boys in a Britain occupied by the Germans, which is what might have happened if the Nazis had successfully carried out their plans to invade Britain under Operation Sea Lion in the 1940s. Alan Mitchell and Sam Roberts study at St. John's Academy in the fictional Cambridgeshire market town of Hereward. Their Home Guard unit is defeated and the Schutzstaffel (S.S.) massacres the prisoners but the boys escape and return to German occupied Hereward.

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