[caption id="attachment_19493" align="aligncenter" width="799"] The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli (tempura on canvas, Italy, circa 1485)[/caption] One of the definitions of Renaissance is that it is a time of rebirth and revival. The romantic...

Why do we tell stories about quests? In traditional, warrior cultures, such tales make a certain practical sense: they're a way to give a sense of purpose to young men who have nothing to do...