Monuments & Weapons: How Public Space Prepares Us for War Without Us Even Realizing It

Monumenti&armi. Così lo spazio pubblico ci prepara alla guerra senza che neppure ce ne rendiamo conto

Public squares and urban spaces are densely populated with war-related monuments that condition society to accept conflict as a historical inevitability. A study by Philadelphia’s Monument Lab reveals that nearly 60% of U.S. monuments focus on war themes, outnumbering themes of peace thirteen-fold, while Italy maintains over 12,000 memorials dedicated solely to World War I. These structures often prioritize military hierarchy and territorial conquest over themes of care, gender equality, or social diversity.

Wicked Stepmother No Longer, a Female Pharoah Gets a Reputational Makeover

A new analysis of damaged statues from ancient Egypt is reshaping the historical narrative of Queen Hatshepsut. Researchers have re-examined 3,500-year-old statuary, finding evidence that the deliberate defacement of her images occurred decades after her death, challenging the long-held belief that her successor, Thutmose III, orchestrated an immediate campaign of destruction against her legacy out of personal animosity.