The Greek Philosophers

The names of the three most important Greek philosophers, in order of their dates of birth and also their influence, are:

Socrates (469-399 BC)
Plato (c. 429-c. 347 BC)
Aristotle (384-322 BC)

Socrates taught Plato, and Plato taught Aristotle. Together they created the foundations of Western philosophy. Use your visual memory and imagine them meditating in a health SPA. Or think of the phrase: Smart People of Athens.

Roman Emperors

After Julius Caesar, the Roman general and statesman who became dictator of the Roman Empire before his assassination in 44 BC, the first five emperors of Rome were all Caesars. The first emperor was Julius Caesar’s adopted son (and great-nephew), Augustus, who handed down the title to his son-in-law Tiberius. From Augustus to Nero, Caesar’s descendants, by adoption, marriage, or birth, all inherited the family name:

Augustus (31 BC-AD 14)
Tiberius (AD 14-37)
Caligula (AD 37-41)
Claudius (AD 41-54)
Nero (AD 54-68)

Here’s a phrase to help remember the names by which they were most commonly known:

Another Tom Cat Caught Napping.

The next six Roman emperors after Nero are Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Titus, Domitian:

At The Cat Club Never Give Out Violent Vermin To Dogs

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

The seven wonders of the ancient world were chronicled in the second century B.C., but a list has been discovered in The Histories of Herodotus in the fifth century B.C. The final list of amazing monuments to religion, mythology, and art was compiled in the Middle Ages.

1. Statue of Zeus at Olympia
2. Lighthouse (Pharos) of Alexandria
3. Mausoleum of Halicarnassus
4. Pyramids of Egypt
5. Hanging Gardens of Babylon
6. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
7. Colossus of Rhodes

This mnemonic phrase has proved useful in remembering the seven wonders:

Seems Like Mata Hari Picked Her Targets Carefully.

Mythological Matters

Mnemosyne is the Greek goddess of memory, daughter of Gaia and Uranus. She lay with Zeus for nine nights and gave birth to the nine Muses: Calliope, Euterpe, Clio, Erato, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, and Urania.

Carol Eats Crunchy Eggs, Mashed Potatoes, Then Throws Up.

Clarrissa Eats Candy Every Morning, Politely Taking Turns.

In classical art, the Muses are represented by emblems, or mnemonic symbols, of which the masks of comedy and tragedy are probably the most familiar.

Name — Association — Mnemonic symbol

Calliope — Chief of the muses and muse of epic poetry – writing tablet  
Euterpe — Muse of music — flute  
Clio — Muse of history — scroll and books  
Erato — Muse of love poetry — lyre and crown of roses  
Melpomene — Muse of tragedy — tragic mask  
Polyhymnia — Muse of sacred poetry — pensive expression  
Terpsichore — Muse of dance — dancing with a lyre
Thalia – Muse of comedy — comic mask
Urania — Muse of astronomy –  staff and celestial globe

Joan of Arc

Also known as the Maid of Orleans, Joan of Arc (c. 1412-1431) a French national heroine, claimed that it was God’s mission for her to reclaim her homeland from English domination toward the end of the Hundred Years War. She triumphed at the Siege of Orléans in 1429, which led to Charles VII’s coronation at Reims, but was later captured at a skirmish near Compiègne. The English regent John of Lancaster, first Duke of Bedford, had her burned at the stake at Rouen when she was only 19. She was canonized in 1920.

This mnemonic phrase describes the short life of Joan of Arc:

ORLEANS CAMPAIGN RUIN

Orleans — victory — 1429
Compiegne — capture — 1430
Rouen – trial and death — 1431

The Six Wives of Henry VIII

Henry VIII (1491-1547) married six times in a quest to have a son and heir. His decision to divorce his first wife and remarry was the root of the split of the Roman Catholic Church, the dissolution of the monasteries, and the formation of the Church of England. The following is a list of Henry’s wives in order of marriage dates from first to last:

1510 — Catherine of Aragon (mother of Mary I)
1533 — Anne Boleyn (mother of Elizabeth I)
1536 — Jane Seymour (mother of Edward VI)
1540 — Anne of Cleves
1540 — Catherine Howard
1543 — Catherine Parr

Use this rhythmic couplet to remember their first names:

Kate & Anne & Jane & Anne & Kate again & again!

Using the initial letters of their surnames gives the phrase:

All Boys Should Come Home, Please.

The following memorable rhyme reveals the ultimate fate of these six women:

Divorced, beheaded, died,
Divorced, beheaded, survived.

The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.

The above is an excerpt from the book i before e (except after c): old-school ways to remember stuff
by Judy Parkinson
Published by The Reader’s Digest Association Inc.; April 2008;$14.95US; 978-0-7621-0917-3
A Reader’s Digest book published in association with Michael O’Mara Books Limited. Copyright © Michael O’Mara Books Limited 2008.

Read more: World History