Daily Archives: September 28, 2026

Top Tens – History: Top 10 Types of Empire (Special Mention) (Introduction)

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Now that’s an aquila! Eagle and weapons from an Augustan-era funerary monument, mistakenly named the Apotheosis of Claudius but probably that of the general Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus in whose country villa it was located. Part of the Spanish Royal Collection in Museo del Prado, Madrid, photograph in Wikipedia “Aquila” under license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

 

 

TOP 10 TYPES OF EMPIRE (SPECIAL MENTION)

 

I’ve ranked my Top 10 Types of Empire but wait – there’s more! I have special mentions!

As the types of empire are not too distinctive or varied, I have used an elastic definition of the subject category for these special mentions extending beyond types of empire to the features, tropes, or types of imperialism.

With that elastic definition, I’ve also been able to extend my special mentions to the usual twenty special mentions I prefer for my top ten lists, including the weirder or wilder entries I prefer towards the end of my special mentions – and the kinky or kinkier entry I like for my final or twentieth special mention.

Top Tens – History: Top 10 Empires (Special Mention: Revised) (Introduction)

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TOP 10 EMPIRES (SPECIAL MENTION: REVISED)

 

Well, not so much revised as revisited, at the same time as I publish the special mentions for my new Top 10 Types of Empire.

Although I will take the opportunity to swap out a previous special mention for my Top 10 Empires with a new one – as well as to slightly revise this introduction.

I’ve always found empires a fascinating subject of history, from the fortunate perspective of being well removed from the sharp end of them, and have hence ranked my Top 10 Empires of history.

But I don’t just have my Top Ten Empires – as usual for my top ten lists, I also have a whole host of special mentions. Twenty of them in fact, as is my usual rule for my top ten lists, where the subject matter is prolific enough, as it is here, which I suppose would make both combined a top thirty list. My special mentions are also where I tend to have some fun with the subject category and splash out with some wilder entries towards the end of my special mentions, as well as a kinky (or kinkier) entry for my final or twentieth special mention.

Top Tens – Mythology: Top 10 Adaptations of the Odyssey (Introduction)

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Odysseus in the underworld – screenshot from the trailer for the 2026 Christopher Nolan film (fair use)

 

 

TOP 10 ADAPTATIONS OF THE ODYSSEY

 

Sing, Muse, of my Top 10 Adaptations of the Odyssey.

Yes, as pre-empted by the introduction to my Top 10 Odysseys (or Odyssey Iceberg), I have my Top 10 Adaptations of the Odyssey.

After all, it is the oldest work of Western literature (along with the Iliad as its prequel) and hence been around for almost three millennia as inspiration for prolific adaptations and re-imaginings – predominantly in literature but also on screen and in other media.