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  According to legend, a generation before the Trojan War, a group of seven warlords, led by King Adrastus of Argos, stormed the Greek city of Thebes, attacking the famed Seven Gates of the city. Their assault failed, and all were killed except for Adrastus. Ten years later, their sons returned to Thebes seeking revenge. These are the myths recorded in the Theban Cycle, comprising three epic poems: the Oedipodeia, the Thebaid, and the Epigoni, as well as a related epic, the Alcmeonis. All of these epics are lost to us today, except for a few fragments, quotes, and references. Nevertheless, the Theban Cycle has left a lasting legacy, inspiring great tragedies like Oedipus Rex and The Seven Against Thebes.   What Is the Theban Cycle? Scenes from the Theban Cycle, attributed to the Makron Painter, c. 490 BCE. Source: Musee du Louvre   The Theban Cycle was a collection of epics that formed part of what later Hellenistic scholars referred to as the Epic Cycle. As the name suggests, the epics of the Theban Cycle took place in and around Thebes and were associated with several myths that are familiar to us today, largely due to the Classical Greek tragedies of Sophocles, Aeschylus, and Euripides. The Theban Cycle covers three generations of heroes (four if you include Laius, the father of Oedipus), from Oedipus down to Alcmaon, who was of the same generation as the heroes that fought in the Trojan War.   Oedipodeia Oedipus and the Sphinx, by Gustave Moreau, c. 1864 CE. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art   The cycle begins with the Oedipodeia, an epic poem about Oedipus, his defeat of the Sphinx, and his ascent to power as king of Thebes. Ancient sources sometimes attributed the poem to Homer, and at other times to Cinaethon of Lacedaemon; however, the true authorship remains unknown. Comprised of 6,600 verses, the precise composition date is uncertain, but it was likely between the mid-8th and 7th centuries BCE.   Unfortunately, virtually nothing survives from this epic save for three fragments, which themselves don’t tell us the contents of the poem. Much of what scholars believe was in the epic comes from later plays about Oedipus written by Sophocles, though it is impossible to confirm what material the playwright took from the epic and what he invented. Events that may have been narrated in the epic are the rape of Chrysippus, the oracle to Laius about his future son, the exposure of Oedipus, the murder of Laius by Oedipus, the Sphinx’s riddle, and Oedipus’ marriage to his mother and its consequences.   Chrysippus was the bastard son of Pelops, and Laius was his tutor. Laius was supposed to be teaching the boy how to drive a chariot, but he instead brought him to Thebes and killed him, though some traditions say he raped him. Hera was then said to have sent the Sphinx to punish Thebes for letting Laius’ crime go unpunished. While there is no evidence that this story was included in the Oedipodeia, nor that it was derived from any epic, there is also no reason to believe that a version of this episode was necessarily excluded. It aligns with the overall theme of the Oedipus story and introduces the primary force that he must overcome.   Scenes of Oedipus and the Sphinx, attributed to the Menelaus Painter, c. 440 BCE. Source: Musee du Louvre   The oracle’s warning to Laius against having a son comes after he and his wife, Jocasta or Epicaste, depending on the version of the story, were unable to have children. The seer Tiresias advised Laius to appease Hera in her role as goddess of marriage, but he chose instead to go to Delphi and ask Apollo. The god told him that he should not have a son because if he did, he would be killed by him. Laius got drunk one night and slept with his wife, begetting Oedipus despite the oracle’s warning. He pierced the baby’s ankles and left him to die of exposure on Mt. Cithaeron. Fortunately for Oedipus, he was discovered by a shepherd and brought to the Corinthian queen to be raised.   When Oedipus grew older, he was accused of not being the true son of the people who had raised him, so he went to Delphi to ask the oracle who his parents were. The oracle told him that if he returned home, he’d kill his father and marry his mother. Believing that the people who raised him were his real parents, he decided not to return to Corinth and instead headed towards Thebes. On the road, he encountered an old man and some servants at a crossroads. They tried to push him off the road, so Oedipus killed them and continued on his way. What he didn’t know was that the old man was Laius, fulfilling the first half of the prophecy.   Scenes of Oedipus Slaying the Sphinx, attributed to the Meidias Painter, c. 420-400 BCE. Source: British Museum   Arriving in Thebes, Oedipus found it being threatened by the Sphinx. The scholion on Euripides’ Phoenician Women wrote that the Sphinx killed Haemon, Laius’ nephew, who was the last and most illustrious of the Sphinx’s victims. This was also possibly the reason for Laius’ fatal journey to Delphi, to ask the oracle how to deal with the Sphinx. Creon, the father of Haemon and brother of Jocasta, in the absence of Laius, declared that whoever was able to save the kingdom from the Sphinx would be given the throne.   In Sophocles’ tragedy, this was envisioned as the solution to the Sphinx’s riddle; however, vase paintings depict Oedipus slaying the monster with a sword. It is uncertain whether the riddle was a later invention or whether the painter of the vase was trying to convey the story in an exciting and active manner, given the static medium in which he was working. Regardless, Oedipus defeated the Sphinx and became king, marrying Jocasta.   In Sophocles’ plays, Oedipus’ children were by Jocasta, but Pausanias doubted this, citing his source as the Oedipodeia. According to him and other sources, Oedipus never had children by Jocasta. He stated that their relation was straightaway revealed to them by the gods and that Oedipus’ children were from his second wife, named Euryganeia. The epic may have ended with Oedipus’ death and funeral at Thebes, or with his fall from power after cursing his own sons, as is featured in the following epic.   Thebaid Oedipus Curses his son Polynices, by John Perry, after Henry Fuseli, 1826 CE. Source: British Museum   The Thebaid told the story of seven warlords under the command of King Adrastus of Argos and their unsuccessful siege of the city of Thebes. It has been attributed to Homer, suggesting the antiquity and prestige of the poem, but the actual authorship remains in question. There are more surviving fragments of this epic than of the Oedipodeia, but still an insufficient amount to reconstruct the contents of the poem. However, using classical tragedies and references from other ancient sources, we can guess the plot with some confidence.   It began with an invocation of the Muses, a common feature of epic that’s also seen in the Iliad and Odyssey. There are then two fragments that speak of the curse that Oedipus placed upon his two sons, Eteocles and Polyneices. Athenaeus wrote that the reason for the curse was that they placed golden cups in front of him that he had forbidden. The cups belonged to his late father, Laius, so he was not only upset at his sons for disobeying him, but also at being reminded of his murdered father. The curse was that they would never divide their inheritance peacefully. A separate account from the scholion on Sophocles’ Oedipus at Colonus states that the curse was due to the sons’ habit of sending the shoulder of sacrifices to Oedipus, but on one occasion, for unknown reasons, they sent him a haunch. Oedipus thought his sons were deliberately sending him the wrong portion and took it as an insult. He cursed them to die at each other’s hands.   Scene of Polyneices and Eriphyle, attributed to the Mannheim Painter, c. 450-540 BCE. Source: Musee du Louvre   The curse took effect immediately, and when Oedipus either died or exiled himself, as narrated in Sophocles’ plays, Polyneices and Eteocles began to argue over their inheritance. It was eventually decided that either Polyneices would receive their father’s wealth while Eteocles received his lands and title, or that they would alternate rule of the kingdom. Polyneices left Thebes and went to Argos, where he encountered Tydeus and King Adrastus. Due to a prophecy Adrastus had received from the Delphic oracle, he married his daughters to the two warriors and promised to restore them to their native lands. Adrastus planned an expedition to Thebes with the aid of seven warlords. There are various names that are attributed to these seven, but consistently named among them are Polyneices, Tydeus, and Amphiaraus.   Amphiaraus was a seer, and his wife, Eriphyle, a sister of Adrastus, pressured him into joining the expedition. On the way to Thebes, Amphiaraus saw signs that he interpreted to mean that the expedition was doomed to fail and that he was going to die. Adrastus and the warlords surrounded Thebes, with each warlord positioning themselves opposite one of Thebes’ famed Seven Gates, and Polyneices facing off against his brother Eteocles. Amphiaraus’ vision of doom came true, and all the Argive warlords, as well as Eteocles, died. The sole survivor was Adrastus, who managed to escape on his horse, Arion.   Antigone Gives Token Burial to the Body of Her Brother Polynices, by Jules-Eugène Lenepveu, c. 1835-1898 CE. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art   The end of the epic may have been Adrastus arranging the burial of the dead warlords, or it may have followed Sophocles’ Antigone. The play opens after Thebes’ victory against the Seven. Eteocles and Polyneices are dead, and the new king, Creon, has declared that only Eteocles may receive a proper burial, while Polyneices was declared an enemy of the city. Antigone, Polyneices and Eteocles’ sister, is conflicted over whether to obey the law of her uncle Creon, or to fulfil her duty to Polyneices and the gods by burying her brother. In the end, she buried her brother. As punishment, Creon condemns her to be buried alive in a tomb. The gods become displeased with Creon’s actions, and he eventually relents and allows Antigone to go free, but before she could be released, she committed suicide.   Epigoni Scene of Adrastos in his Chariot, produced in Attica, c. 420 BCE. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art   The next epic in the cycle was called the Epigoni, meaning the descendants, and took place ten years after the events of the Thebaid. Very little remains of the Epigoni, but what does remain implies that the poem was not independent but a portion of the Thebaid. Some scholars agree with this assessment, but much of the evidence is flawed, and the tradition of a second, avenging war against Thebes could only have begun after the story of the Seven had already been established. One of the extant fragments provides the first line of the poem, which features an invocation of the Muses, typical of epic poems.   Regarding the epic’s contents, other sources, such as Apollodorus, need to be consulted. The story of the Epigoni narrates the events of the sons of the Seven who mounted another assault against Thebes to avenge their fathers. They consulted the Delphic oracle, which told them that they would be victorious if they made Alcmaon, the son of Amphiaraus, the leader of the expedition. They ravaged villages until they encountered the Theban army led by King Laodamas. The king killed the son of Adrastus, the only survivor of the expedition of the Seven, before being killed himself. The rest of the Theban army then fled back behind the high walls of their city.   The seer Tiresias advised the Thebans to send a messenger to the Argives asking for a truce while they secretly escape from the city. The Argives, when they realized the city was empty, entered Thebes and plundered it, and then tore down its walls. The sons of the Seven sent all the best spoils to Delphi, including the daughter of Tiresias, Manto.   Scene of Warriors Arming, attributed to the Kleophrades Painter, c. 490 BCE. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art   Some other possible episodes in the epic are the death of Tiresias at the spring of Tilphusa after the Thebans fled the city. Alcmaon’s murder of his mother may also have featured in the epic. He was commanded to do this by his father, Amphiaraus, before he left for war with the Seven because she had taken a bribe from Polyneices in exchange for making her husband go to war. But Alcmaon deferred vengeance until after the war. He later discovered that his mother had accepted another bribe from Polyneices’ son, Thersander, to persuade her sons to join the second war against Thebes.   Alcmeonis Scene of a Man Slaying a Woman (Possibly Alcmaon and Eriphyle), attributed to the Marlay Painter, c. 440 BCE. Source: British Museum   The Alcmeonis is thought by some to be a section of the Epigoni, given the overlap in subject matter. Some scholars do not include this epic in the Theban Cycle. Its content relates to later Theban myths and features characters who later participate in the Trojan War, such as Diomedes. It has been said that the epic was wide in scope and varied in content, and likely narrated the life of Alcmaon after the Epigoni defeated Thebes. Given that the Epigoni is cited as being 7,000 lines, it leaves little room for a portion of the epic to be considered “wide in scope” if the Alcmeonis was in fact part of that epic.   The evidence in favor of it being its own epic is more convincing. One such point is that the Epigoni was often ascribed to either Homer or Antimachus of Teos, but the Alcmeonis is only ever cited as being written by “the author of the Alcmeonis.” The plot can be reasonably deduced from other sources, such as Apollodorus, and likely included the expedition against Thebes, Alcmaon’s murder of his mother, and his subsequent wanderings in Greece.   After the murder of his mother, Alcmaon became tormented by his mother’s Furies, avenging spirits that punished familial bloodshed. He left Argos and went to Arcadia to be purified of his blood-guilt. King Pergeus of Psophis conducted the purification and gave his daughter, Arsinoe, in marriage to Alcmaon. He gave her the necklace and robe of Harmonia, which were the bribes given to his mother by Polyneices and Thersander to force her husband and sons to join the wars. Yet the purification was ineffective. Apollodorus wrote that the land was becoming infertile, so Alcmaon consulted the oracle at Delphi, which commanded him to seek purification in a land that did not exist when he murdered his mother.   Scene of Agrios seized by Oineus, attributed to the Python Painter, c. 360-320 BCE. Source: British Museum   He wanders through Aetolia and Thresprotia until he finds the prophesied lands in the silts at the mouth of the river Achelous. There, he founds a settlement and is purified by the river god Achelous, who gives him his daughter, Callirrhoe, in marriage. A rivalry later breaks out among his two wives when Alcmaon returns to Psophis to recover the necklace and robe of Harmonia. He requests them under the pretense that he was going to donate them to Delphi when he actually intended to give them to Callirrhoe. Upon arrival, he was ambushed by Arsinoe’s brothers and killed.   Legacy in Greek Tragedy Bust of Sophocles, Piraeus, c. 1st-2nd century CE. Source: Musee du Louvre   As we’ve seen above, much of what we know of the Theban Cycle comes from the plays of Sophocles, Euripides, and Aeschylus. Greek tragic plays were always inspired by myth, though details could be invented to support the overall theme. Sophocles’ Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus were likely inspired by the established tradition of Oedipus and the ill fate that befell him.   Aeschylus immortalized the story of the first Theban war in his play titled Seven Against Thebes. Euripides’ Phoenician Women also takes place during this war, but from the perspective of the Thebans trapped within the city surrounded by the Argive army. The Theban cycle even inspired a play by the Roman poet Statius titled the Thebaid. It is from these plays and others in the tragic tradition that we can reconstruct the scope of these lost epics.   Select Bibliography   Cingano, E. (2015). “Oedipodea.” M. Fantuzzi, Chr. Tsagalis (Ed.), The Greek Epic Cycle and Its Ancient Reception. A Companion, pp. 213–225.   Cingano, E. (2015). “Epigonoi.” M. Fantuzzi, Chr. Tsagalis (Ed.), The Greek Epic Cycle and Its Ancient Reception. A Companion, pp. 244–260.   Davies, Malcolm. (2015). “The Theban Epics.” Hellenic Studies Series 69. Washington, DC: Center for Hellenic Studies.   Debiasi, A. (2015). “Alcmeonis.” M. Fantuzzi, Chr. Tsagalis (Ed.), The Greek Epic Cycle and Its Ancient Reception. A Companion, pp. 261-280. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511998409.017   Lloyd-Jones, H. (2002). “Curses and Divine Anger in Early Greek Epic: The Pisander Scholion.” The Classical Quarterly, 52(1), 1–14.   Torres, Jose B. (2015). “Thebaid.” M. Fantuzzi, Chr. Tsagalis (Ed.), The Greek Epic Cycle and Its Ancient Reception. A Companion, pp. 226-243.

  Though the ancient Greek and Chinese civilizations are both recognized for their vast cultural impact on the West and the East, respectively, very few imagine that they ever came in contact. However, this is exactly what happened between 104 and 101 BCE, in the confluence of modern-day Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, in Central Asia. It was a contact characterized by diplomacy, exchange, but also violent confrontation. This confrontation was over the fabled “heavenly horses” of the Ferghana Valley and was thus called the War of the Heavenly Horses.   Fool Me Once, Xiongnu: Prelude to the Conflict Map of the expansion of the Han dynasty from 206 BCE to 23 CE. Source: Norton&co   While the Roman Republic was slowly expanding its influence across the Mediterranean in the West, in the Far East, across the Iranian plateau, and beyond the Himalayas, existed a vast empire with a well-developed and sophisticated administration, wielding immense cultural and military influence: China under the Han Dynasty.   As was the case for most of China’s long history, China was under constant pressure from a nomadic confederation from the north, the Xiongnu. The Chinese had attempted to achieve peace through tribute and royal marriages, but the raids continued, and so upon the ascension of the seventh Han emperor to the throne, Emperor Wu (156-87 BCE), a different policy was followed: one of military escalation.   Anyone planning to go against a confederation of steppe peoples—and win—would know that a powerful, versatile cavalry is essential, and this, predictably, became the priority of the Han court in this period. Tentative diplomatic contact had been made with the oasis cities of the Tarim Basin (modern day Xinjiang) and beyond, in Bactria and Sogdiana (modern day Afghanistan and Tajikistan). Through these, the Han had learned that the longtime nomadic rivals of the Xiongnu, the nomadic Yuezhi, had established themselves in Bactria, after being forced to flee there by the former. So, in 139 BCE, Emperor Wu dispatched an emissary to the Yuezhi, by the name of Zhang Qian, to form an alliance against their common foe. His account of his travels and (mis-)adventures, preserved by the Chinese chronicler Sima Qian, forms the basis of our knowledge of the War of the Heavenly Horses.   The Road of Tamerlane, by Vasily Vereshchagin, 1842-1904, Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Source: ArtArchive   Zhang Qian travelled through the Tarim Basin, and it was there that he must have discovered how powerful the Xiongnu confederation had become: the oasis cities were paying tribute to the nomads, and all the lands between them were under their control. He was soon captured and sold as a slave of the nomads for the next thirteen years. The imperial court must have thought him dead, but his loyalty to the emperor never wavered. He eventually managed to escape and make his way to the Yuezhi, who were now settled in Sogdiana and northern Bactria.   Passing through Ferghana and entering Bactria, he encountered a people of a strange culture that was unknown to him, different from the Saka (Scythians) and Yuezhi overlords to whom they paid tribute. He called them the Dayuan, which is sometimes translated as “the Great Ionians.” They were none other than the remnants of the Greek kingdom of Bactria and of the settlers who had populated the cities founded or conquered by Alexander the Great, two centuries before, conventionally known as the Greco-Bactrians.   The Glory That Was Greece Gold stater coin of Greco-Bactrian king Eucratides I (r. 172/171–145 BCE), found in Bukhara, Central Asia, now housed in the Cabinet de Medailles, Paris. Source: Gallica Digital Library   The kingdom of Bactria, one of the Hellenistic states that rose after Alexander’s conquests, had suffered the nomadic threat for most of its history, much like the Chinese. Indeed, the same historical processes directed the fate of both peoples. The Xiongnu, as mentioned above, had forced the Yuezhi to flee west. As they did, the Yuezhi in turn forced another collection of nomadic peoples, the Saka, to flee south and west, into Bactria. Already weakened by dynastic infighting and civil war, Greek Bactria fell in two successive waves of nomadic invasion, one from the Saka and another from the Yuezhi, who soon followed them there, after 145 BCE.   The Kingdom of Dayuan was most likely a collection of formerly Greco-Bactrian and other oasis cities in Sogdiana and the Ferghana valley, under the authority of local Saka chieftains. Qian describes their lands as fertile, producing rice, wheat, and wine. The people there are mentioned as living in fortified cities, fighting with bows and spears, as well as shooting arrows from horseback. This is likely in reference to mixed armies of Saka horse archers and infantry equipped in the Greek manner.   The only other place Zhang Qian could find a parallel for the Dayuan was the land of “Daxia,” known to us as Bactria. This land, he commented, “…has no great ruler but only a number of petty chiefs ruling the various cities. The people are poor in the use of arms and afraid of battle, but they are clever at commerce.” Possible representations of Yuezhi nobles on an Xiongnu embroidered carpet from the Noin-Ula burial site, c. 1st century BCE–1st century CE. Source: Wikimedia Commons   By the time Zhang Qian entered Bactria, the Greco-Bactrian kingdom had collapsed, and there was no central power but that of the nomads, with the Greek cities firmly under their sway. The remaining Greco-Bactrian armies and their commanders had fled into India, where they established the Indo-Greek kingdoms, which would last a bit longer, until around 10 CE.   Leaderless and militarily unable to exercise any authority, the remains of the Greco-Bactrians rallied in their cities, some like Alexandria Eschate in Sogdiana, even founded by Alexander himself, and sought protection behind the walls that the nomads could not overrun. A tense relationship developed between the nomadic Saka and Yuezhi, and the settled Greco-Bactrians, whereby the cities grew rich from the trade the nomads facilitated and, in turn, paid those nomads in yearly tribute. The latter progressively adopted more and more elements of Greek culture and gradually assimilated into the settled way of life.   The Allure of the Heavenly Horses The Flying Horse of Gansu, Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 CE), Gansu Provincial Museum, China. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Zhang Qian had arrived in the lands of the Yuezhi too late. They had fled the Xiongnu for a reason and had already begun adopting the settled way of life in northern Bactria. Indeed, in the following centuries, the Yuezhi would go on to found the Great Kushan Empire, spanning Bactria and most of northern India, uniting Greek and Indian culture under the umbrella of Buddhism in their powerful realm. But this was in the future still; for the moment, they were unwilling to aid the Chinese in the fight against the dreaded Xiongnu.   This would have been a disappointment but for what Zhang Qian witnessed on his way to the Yuezhi. In the Kingdom of Dayuan, he reported, more importantly than anything else, could be found “many fine horses which sweat blood,” claiming that “their forebears are supposed to have been foaled from heavenly horses.” This piece of information alone sparked dozens of diplomatic missions back and forth from the Han imperial court and the various cities, statelets, and kingdoms that lay beyond the Tarim basin.   This intensification of diplomatic contacts, however, did not signify good relations and did not provide the Han with the horses they sought. Dayuan and the other cities thought themselves too far from the Han Empire and treated the emissaries of the emperor with contempt, refusing to follow established diplomatic protocol, charging them exorbitantly, or even outright refusing to supply them. Outraged reports flooded the Chinese imperial court, and Emperor Wu, emboldened by recent victories against the Xiongnu, decided to bring these arrogant Westerners to heel.   The Stick and the Carrot: Opening Skirmishes Terracotta statues of Han cavalrymen in front of assembled infantry, part of the Yangjiawan terracotta army, c. 169 BCE, Yangjiawan Tomb 4, Xianyang Museum, Shaanxi, China, photo by Gary Todd. Source: Flickr   An army of 20,000 or 30,000 troops was dispatched across the Tarim Basin, forcing the Xiongnu to withdraw before its immensity. The cities did bow in the end, including the Kingdom of Dayuan, but the Chinese had to besiege each of them individually, and due to harsh conditions and over-stretched supply networks, they had lost many men in the process. This did not go unnoticed by the Dayuan.   The matter of the heavenly horses still stood. Envoys of the Han reported that “Dayuan has some fine horses […] but the people keep them hidden and refuse to give any [to them]!” Undeterred and possibly hoping that the lessons of the recent campaign of subjugation were well remembered by the king of Dayuan, likely a Saka chieftain, the emperor dispatched an embassy laden with gold and fittingly, a golden sculpture of a horse, with the sole objective of acquiring the heavenly horses. Dayuan, however, had grown rich and powerful from the commercial networks with the Han and the lessons it had acquired from the preceding hostilities were not the ones Emperor Wu had envisioned.   Woolen pant leg from Sampul in Khotan, c. 1st century CE, embroidered with the image of a spearman, possibly a Graeco-Bactrian, Hellenized Saka or Yuezhi warrior or king, and a Graeco-Roman centaur, Xinjiang Region Museum, China. Source: Wikimedia Commons   On the contrary, “the men of the state […] plotted together”—here we can imagine an assembly of Greek-descended nobles in the city of Alexandria Eschate, counselling the Sakan king, “The Han is far away from us and on several occasions has lost men in the salt-water wastes between our country and China. […] if the Han parties go farther north, they will be harassed by the Xiongnu […] if they go to the south they will suffer from lack of water and fodder.” Knowing their lands better than the Chinese, they relied on the simple fact that their enemy would starve long before reaching their walls.   Bronze statuette of kneeling warrior wearing a distinctive Greek Boeotian-style helmet, recovered in Xinjiang, China, c. 5th-3rd century BCE. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The importance of the heavenly horses for the Dayuan was higher than that of either the gifts or the threats of the Chinese, and so the answer was no. Years of insults, arrogance, and diplomatic faux pas must have piled on. How could these tiny cities, grown wealthy on trade with China, defy the will of their emperor? The envoys cursed the leaders of the Dayuan, and worse still, smashed the golden horse they had brought as a gift to them in the first place. Despite the wrath of the Dayuanese nobles, the Han envoys were allowed to depart but were soon intercepted and killed before leaving the kingdom! There was no going back.   Dayuan and Only: The First Phase of the War Bronze plaque with horse carriage, c. 2nd-1st century BCE, Han China. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York   The year 104 BCE saw the first phase of the war, with the Chinese emperor sending a force of 20,000 to 30,000 men, just as before, to punish the Dayuan and acquire the horses. An impressive force though it was, the hopes of Dayuan were confirmed: the expedition was a disaster. City after city closed its gates, refusing to resupply the army and forcing the Chinese general, Li Guangli, to spend precious time and resources besieging them. By the time the army reached the borders of Dayuan in Yucheng, it numbered in the thousands and was decisively defeated there by the Dayuanese forces. As Zhang Qian reports, the army returned to China one or two tenths of its original size.   Emperor Wu was urged by his advisors to abandon the Dayuan endeavor and focus on the Xiongnu instead, but he rightly felt that if it became known that China could not conquer a small country like Dayuan, its reputation—the basis for its successful diplomacy—would suffer greatly and inspire other upstart states into defiance. Therefore, it appears as though the resources of the entire empire were drawn upon for this second punitive expedition. “The whole empire was thrown into a turmoil, relaying orders and providing men and supplies for the attack on Dayuan.” Sima Qian reports.   The Empire Strikes Back: The Second Phase of the War Ruins of a Han watchtower in Dunhuang, Gansu province, China. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Hundreds of thousands of men were sent to Dunhuang, also known as the Jade Gate, China’s door to the West, followed by 100,000 oxen, 30,000 horses, and plenty more thousands of donkeys, mules, and camels besides. This vast force was placed under the command of the disgraced Li Guangli, who must have had a personal vendetta against the defiant Dayuan and the other oasis cities of the Tarim Basin.   This time around, most cities submitted, and the one that did not, Luntou, was besieged, razed to the ground, and its population was massacred. This ensured that no further resistance was met until the army reached the capital of the Kingdom of Dayuan. The Dayuanese attempted to meet the Chinese on the battlefield but were overwhelmed and had to retreat behind their walls. A 40-day siege ensued.   Under these dire conditions, and with no victory in sight, the court of the Dayuan fell into infighting. The nobles plotted against the king, Wugua, claiming that it was his hostile policy towards the Han and his refusal to give up the horses that had caused the war. King Wugua was soon assassinated, and his head was brought to General Li Guangli.   Painted figure of a Han cavalryman from a general’s tomb in Xianyang, Xianyang Museum, Shaanxi, China. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The terms set by the Dayuanese nobles were straightforward: if the Chinese promised not to attack them, they would hand over their best horses and supply the army. If they did not agree, they would slaughter the horses so that no one would have them. Worse still, if the Han spent any more time on the siege, reinforcements would arrive from the allied kingdom of Kangju, and they would find themselves surrounded. One could hardly think of a more compelling proposal.   Thus, it was promptly accepted, and the city threw open its gates. The Chinese received three thousand stallions and mares, and a noble by the name of Micai was set up by the Chinese as the new king of Dayuan, as in earlier days he had treated their envoys kindly. Satisfied, laden with gifts, and resupplied, Li Guangli began the long journey home. China’s honor had been restored, and the heavenly horses had been acquired.   A Brave New World: Central Asia in the Aftermath Bust of a horse, 1st century BCE, Han China. Source: Wikimedia Commons   News of the Chinese victory reverberated among the various cities of the Tarim Basin, and as the army returned home, they willingly provided noble hostages, gifts, and supplies to win Chinese favor. The army arrived in China victorious, and Li Guangli was rewarded handsomely for his service. Back in Dayuan, the new status quo did not last long, and King Micai, seen as a collaborator and a coward, was murdered, and Chanfeng, the brother of the late King Wugua, was given the throne. Despite this, Chanfeng sent his own son as a hostage to the Han court and ensured that he would follow a policy of cooperation and trade.   Despite the initial setbacks, the Han campaign against Dayuan and the War of the Heavenly Horses gained China something much more valuable than its namesake. Cowed by the impressive show of force, the oasis cities came firmly under Chinese influence, garrisons and fortresses were established, and a reliable supply network of farms and grain silos was put in place to facilitate Han military maneuvers.   It became the basis for the establishment of the Chinese Protectorate of the Western Regions, as the borders of the empire reached a new extent. The establishment of control and order, in turn, facilitated the flourishing of overland trade networks, which soon became the lucrative Silk Road. Luxury goods from as far afield as the Roman Empire, as well as scholars, diplomats, and explorers, would make their way back and forth, uniting different parts of Eurasia with each other like never before.   Bibliography   Hansen, V., The Silk Road: A New History, (Oxford: 2012).   Loewe, M., “The Former Han dynasty” in Twitchett, D., Fairbank, J. K. (eds.), The Cambridge History of China: Vol. I – The Ch’in and Han Empires, 221 B.C. – A.D. 220, (Cambridge: 2008).   Rong, X., Galambos, I. (trans.), Eighteen lectures on Dunhuang, (Boston: 2013).   Sima Qian, Watson, B. (trans.), Records of the Grand Historian: Han Dynasty II, Revised Edition, (Hong Kong, New York: 1961) – see Chapter 123: The Account of Dayuan.

When it comes to spreading leftist propaganda, the line between committed Marxists and useful tools often seems blurry. For instance, during Sunday's Super Bowl halftime show -- the one that apparently took place in-stadium, as opposed to the one sponsored by Turning Point USA and viewed by millions of conservatives...

Dive into the explosive biker news surrounding Satan’s Choice firebombings, Hell’s Angels conflicts, and major cocaine busts in Canada. This motorcycle club drama uncovers Satan’s Choice relaunch by Harley G, Hell’s Angels firebomb attacks on tattoo parlors, and outlaw motorcycle gang investigations. Explore biker brotherhood, 1% clubs, patchovers, and why riders are ditching violence for true brotherhood in the biker scene. Scott Bernstein from Gangster Podcast breaks down the firebombings, Hell’s Angels stronghold in Canada, and organized crime links. Biker news alert: Hell’s Angels cocaine trafficking raid seizes 15kg cocaine and $560,000 in New Brunswick and Quebec. Is Satan’s Choice the future of motorcycle clubs or headed for a full-blown biker war? Outlaw bikers, Hell’s Angels ex-members, and motorcycle gang violence – we cover it all. Don’t miss this raw MC story on Insane Throttle, your source for uncensored biker news, motorcycle club updates, and outlaw motorcycle gang insights. Subscribe for more biker news, motorcycle club drama, Hell’s Angels stories, Satan’s Choice updates, and 1% club exposés. Join members-only for uncensored interviews, raw MC stories, and exclusive biker content. Rock on with Insane Throttle – crank the rock, unlock the madness! SATANS CHOICE MC FIREBOMBED THREE TIMES A Bimbo Named Candy: Swingers Superstar Biker News weekly wrap up for Jan 31st 2026 to February 7-2026 Gut-Buster’s Naked Getaway: Caught Balls-Deep in Another Man’s Old Lady West Midlands girl battling cancer receives 60,000 birthday cards in biker convoy

Creepy Bill Gates is at it again… This is actually from 2013, but I hadn’t seen it before and I figured you may not have either.  Because after-all, WLT Report didn’t exist back in 2013, so all you got was MSM slop! I also thought it was especially interesting in light of this report we brought you last week: SICK: Bill Gates Got STD From Russian Hooker, According To Newly Released Epstein Docs Yeah, this has not aged well in light of the new Epstein documents recently released. But take a look at this report from NBC News (I have confirmed the video is authentic) announcing Bill Gates’ new $100,000 challenge to build a better condom: This is not AI. 2013. The same year that Epstein wrote those emails about Bill Gates contracting an STD and trying to slip his wife drugs, Gates launched a $100,000 challenge to anyone who could make a condom that feels better to wear during sex. pic.twitter.com/EzkO2k5KYp — MAZE (@mazemoore) February 3, 2026 Yes folks, this is what Bill Gates spends his time working on. CNN confirms the challenge was real — from this report back in 2013: Bill Gates is putting out a call to inventors, but he’s not looking for software, or the latest high-tech gadget. This time he’s in search of a better condom. On its Grand Challenges website, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is offering a $100,000 startup grant to the person who designs “the next generation condom that significantly preserves or enhances pleasure” and promotes “regular use.” It may sound like the setup for a joke, but the goal is deadly serious. While researchers call condoms one of the best ways to stop the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, getting people to use them is another story. The foundation wants to see something that will lead men and women outside of a committed relationship to stop and think twice before having unprotected sex. The startup grant could lead to $1 million in further funding. “Male condoms are cheap, easy to manufacture, easy to distribute, and available globally, including in resource-poor settings, through numerous well-developed distribution channels,” the foundation says. Nevertheless, many people are reluctant to use them because they complain that prophylactics interfere with pleasure and intimacy. This creates “a trade-off that many men find unacceptable,” the foundation notes. In some places and cultures, condom use is often seen as a sign that a man has AIDS, and many women won’t sleep with such men. Female condoms are even more difficult to use and women are often afraid to suggest using them. “Any advance or new design that gets people to use condoms would be a big plus,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and one of the world’s leading AIDS researchers, said in an interview with CNN. He says great strides have been made in treating HIV infection in Africa, but for every person who is treated two more become newly infected. RELATED REPORT: SICK: Bill Gates Got STD From Russian Hooker, According To Newly Released Epstein Docs We just got a huge new batch of Epstein Docs dumped on us — remember how I told you they love to do this stuff late on a Friday afternoon when they think the least amount of people will be watching? But we’re always watching and they contain some really sick claims allegedly involving Bill Gates. In this email below, which appears to be a draft he sent to himself containing a letter he intended to send to Bill Gates, Epstein claims Bill Gates got an STD from a Russian Hooker girl, then asked Epstein to obtain some antibiotics that he could surreptitiously give to Melinda, and also to please “delete all emails that contain a description of his penis”. Wild stuff! See here: Newly released Epstein files allege Bill Gates asked Jeffrey Epstein for “antibiotics” for his wife, Melinda, with the documents claiming it followed an STD he reportedly contracted from “Russian girls.” pic.twitter.com/Ei8uf8GzlA — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 30, 2026 Larger image here: FULL TEXT IN CASE THAT’S HARD TO READ: From: Jeffrey Epstein jeevacation@gmail.com To: Jeffrey Epstein jeevacation@gmail.com Subject: bill Date: Thu, 18 Jul 2013 11:49:17 +0000 dear bill I cannot believe that you have chosen to disregard our friendship developed of over the last 6 years . I am aware that Accidents happen , it is how each of us has chosen to deal with this unfortunate event that has me dismayed beyond comprehension. you have decided to discharge me from my job, had Larry, your pr person tell me that I engaged in morally inappropriate behavior asked me to be the major actor in a cover up so that you can maintain the reputation that you have worked so hard to achieve. , asked me to recommit to a confidentiality agreement and have categorically told me that we cannot have any direct ongoing business relationship , in total disregard for its impact on the public perception of MY reputation. I will have ti diligently avoid the truth, tell people that bill will not invest with me , and craft and answer that suits your needs. but you did agree to send you a letter of recommendation should a future employer ask for one. You have told me that Melinda insists , on me not communicating with you unless Larry is copied or present. Though you have consistently maintained that I could not have done a better job, and that i was underpaid compared to my contribution, you then beyond all sense of fairness, and frankly decency , said that as “generous” compensation for keeping the gates reputation intact, you would , let me keep what we agreed I had already owned ( the investment pieces) and give me 2 years severance . similar to Christine Turner. another casualty . IF the shoe was on the other foot I would have said, Boris, this is not your fault. , I ,confessed to Melinda, you didn’t,- It was in a moment of weakness , and I will do anything within my power to make it right for you. I have more money than anyone needs and I assure you I will structure something so that you will not be penalized for my error . Lucky for me I have enough money to provide to you, though it will not heal the injury , it will make you secure in your future, In addition I will bend over backwards, to make sure your next career is rewarding and on an upswing. I appreciate the fact that this drastically alters your plans and am very aware of the career path you gave up to join the Foundation. I am very sorry, but as I believe time heals all wounds, this will eventually pass. In that regard I suggest I buy you the house that you so had your heart set on. and in addition to five years of severance will buy you out of the investment contract we had agree, 30 -40 percent of a hundred million dollar partnership. for 30 million dollars in today’s dollars. terms and conditions to be agreed. That’s what i would have done had i been in your shoes. what i did receive however was an unfriendly strongly worded email , telling me how employable I am and that i should not look to you for any significant financial help in the future. TO add insult to the injury you them implore me to please delete the emails regarding your std, your request that I provide you antibiotics that you can surreptitiously give to Melinda and the description of your penis. You also made it clear to me that I am not to refer to [redacted] as that is another topic that must remain between the two of us. In return for all of these requests , which I would have done without a second thought . I am not to attend meetings with Melinda , I should continue to provide you the same level of service and dedication that i have done so diligently until you are ready to discard me and our friendship. — Another email appears to corroborate those details. This email also sent from Epstein to himself, is either another draft or perhaps just self-documenting things. Take a look: FULL TEXT: To: Jeffrey Epstein[jeevacation@gmail.com] From: Jeffrey Epstein Sent: Thur 7/18/2013 12:39:19 PM Subject: bill I have decided to resign my position effective immediately with BG3 and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. I have not come to this decision quickly or without a great deal of thought. During the past few weeks I have been caught up in a severe marital dispute between Melinda and Bill. I have the greatest respect for my friend of 7 years, and wish them both well. In my role as his right hand I had been asked on mulitple occassion and in hindsight , wrongly acquiesced into participating in things that have ranged from the morally inappropriate , to the ethically unsound and had been repeatedly asked to do other things that get near and potentially over the line into the illegal. Though it was kindly suggested that I make a transistion to a new position after my six years of service and that Bill would in his words give me a geneorus package, . I feel it would be dishonest to myself and my future. From helping Bill to get drugs, in order to deal with consequences of sex with russian girls , to facilictating his illicit trysts, with married women, to being asked to provide adderall fro bridge tournamnts. . I feel I owe it to my friends and futre colleagues to admit a moral failure , to ask forgiveness and to move on with my life. Don’t forget, the guy allegedly emailing people descriptions of his penis and begging for them to get him antibiotics is the guy also trying to give us medical advice and vaccinate the world: Just want to remind everyone that the guy who was selling you a fake vaccine for the last few years is so health conscious that he rides it raw with Russian hookers. https://t.co/rm008RmTBZ — Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) January 30, 2026 Still, some people claim the emails don’t really prove anything. After all, they do appear to simply be Epstein emailing himself, and perhaps creating a paper trail he could later use for blackmail? I said I’m no fan of Bill Gates. I think he’s a scumbag but it’s clearly obvious Epstein would add things onto these emails to try to have people blackmailed. Bill Gates worth billions of dollars is gonna email Jeffrey Epstein demanding antibiotics? I mean come on now. On top of… pic.twitter.com/4QcbcXIVFx — Geoffrey McCloskey (@JeffMcCloskey3) January 30, 2026 I do have to admit that it seems unlikely that someone as rich and powerful as Bill Gates could not have one of his minions simply get him as many antibiotics as he wanted at a moment’s notice. RELATED REPORT: Massive Porno Bust At Bill Gates’ House This story is actually from 2014, but it wasn’t covered much back then…. And it seems VERY relevant now. And I bet you haven’t seen it before either, so I’m covering it again. Let me lay out the story and then you can tell me if you’re buying this: Here’s the short summary:  in 2014, an “engineer” at the Gates home compound was arrested for having 6,000 child rape porno images with him. My friend Dom recently covered this as well: On December 31, 2014, A Seattle man employed as an engineer at Bill and Melinda Gates’ home was arrested at their estate for having 6,000 child rape pornographic images with him. On March 3, 2022, Melinda told VanityFair she divorced Bill due to his Jeffrey Epstein friendship. pic.twitter.com/hu8U8JPVpb — Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) November 26, 2023 Backup report here: Bill Gates worker at Gates house arrested for Child porn pic.twitter.com/IQdp01DyUC — Greenlight (@r004on) February 2, 2023 From local KIRO7: Police arrested a Seattle man at Bill Gates and Melinda Gates’ mansion for allegedly collecting more than 6,000 child rape photos. Rick Allen Jones, reportedly employed as an engineer at the Gates’ home, is also accused of trading pornography images via Gmail. He is charged with possession of child pornography. More here: seems his home engineer took the rap for this. Who does this guy hang out with? https://t.co/SzKjQXswiD — Deplorable Garbage (@spaco3435) January 29, 2023 And from the Daily Mail: An engineer employed at the home of Bill and Melinda Gates has been charged with possession of child porn after he was discovered to have more than 6,000 images depicting rape and sexual abuse. Rick Allen Jones, 51, of Seattle, allegedly had thousands of images stashed on his home computer, according to court documents this week. According to prosecutors, the engineer had shared the images using his Gmail account. Rick Allen Jones, 52, worked for Bill and Melinda Gates at their waterfront home in Medina, Washington (pictured) until late 2014, when he was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography. He was sentenced Friday to 90 days in jail Rick Allen Jones, 51, worked for Bill and Melinda Gates at their waterfront home in Medina, Washington Investigators were able to identify some of the children in the images, according to Kiro TV. Police began to investigate Jones in 2013 after tracking him down from a sordid image which was posted online. According to Seattle PI, the image showed the sexual exploitation of two young boys. Cops went to look for him at his home in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle in March. Jones was finally tracked down to his workplace at the tech billionaire’s $147-million-dollar, waterfront estate in Medina, Washington. He was interviewed in a security office at the estate by detectives, according to Seattle PI. While he was being interviewed, police went into his home with a search warrant and found more than 6,000 child porn images. More here: 12/ The shocking truth that’s being kept under wraps: In 2014, police arrested a man in Seattle at the mansion of Bill and Melinda Gates for allegedly possessing over 6,000 child rape photos. Coincidence? I highly doubt it. pic.twitter.com/9CkAwQUXSL — Dr. Simon Goddek (@goddek) January 31, 2023 To be fair, you should not trust Bill Gates around children either. https://t.co/ZbIk41dtiq — ClubSusan (@club_susan) January 27, 2023 Ok, so a Gates staff member “took the fall”? That’s what it sounds like to me. Otherwise, you mean to tell me some guy was working at the Gates compound and just decided to bring along with him 6,000 child porno images? Does that make sense to anyone? Or did he take the fall? I’m not making accusations, I’m just asking questions. Because apparently Bill Gates seems to be the absolute WORST judge of character, hiring degenerate engineers to work at his home and of course who can forget his best-buddy friendship with Jeffrey Epstein? Watch @BillGates SQUIRM when asked about his buddy Jeffrey Epstein. You don’t visit someone 36 times and NOT know what they’re into… pic.twitter.com/ME5vZjwOzl — Redacted (@RedactedNews) February 5, 2023 Bill, you sure know how to pick friends! Or perhaps it’s not a coincidence at all…. Maybe Bill Gates is the pedo? Bill Gates ex wife said he was a liar and a womanizer. Bill Gates also had an employee that was found with child porn at Bill’s estate!! https://t.co/Ndf6AF7wTW if you trust him you’re easily manipulated by somebody more intelligent than you it’s as simple as that. #BillGates pic.twitter.com/GsBpEkxmB8 — Scarlett James (@ScarlettJamesCC) February 5, 2023 I’m not making the accusation, I’m just asking questions… Watch this for more: More here…. Bill Gates SQUIRMS Awkwardly When Asked About His Friend Jeffrey Epstein Remember in Scarface when Al Pacino talks about the cock-a-roach? That’s always reminded me of Bill Gates. A cock-a-roach! Here’s the latest… Bill was friends with Jeffrey Epstein and he doesn’t seem to like people asking about it! Also, do you remember when ex-wife Melinda Gates called him out for it? More on that in a minute. First, watch this from Tucker: Bill Gates looks VERY nervous talking about Jeffrey Epstein…#Weasel #Cockroach #Scum #BillGates #Epstein pic.twitter.com/ABGoQIjKW3 — Noah Christopher (@DailyNoahNews) January 31, 2023 Bill….you look VERY uncomfortable. How many videos did Epstein have of you? And how young were the kids? And were they boys AND girls or just one or the other? I’m just asking…. Any thoughts?

This was anti-climactic. The longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, was subpoenaed to answer questions before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Monday. Maxwell, who was convicted of conspiring with Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse minors and is serving a 20-year prison sentence, however, did not answer any of the lawmakers’ questions. CBS News provided more insight into Maxwell’s long-awaited Congressional hearing: Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime associate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refused to answer questions during a virtual appearance before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Monday, chairman James Comer said. “As expected, Ghislaine Maxwell took the Fifth and refused to answer any questions. This obviously is very disappointing,” Comer told reporters after the deposition. “We had many questions to ask about the crimes she and Epstein committed, as well as questions bout potential co-conspirators. We sincerely want to get to the truth for the American people and justice for survivors.” Comer said the committee has five more depositions scheduled as part of its investigation into Epstein. Among those set to testify are three members of Epstein’s inner circle: Les Wexner, who was one of his clients and a longtime benefactor; Richard Kahn, his accountant; and Darren Indyke, his lawyer, Comer said. “After months of defying our subpoena, Ghislaine Maxwell finally appeared before the Oversight Committee and said nothing. She answered no questions and provided no information about the men who raped and trafficked women and girls,” Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, said in a statement. “Who is she protecting? And we need to know why she’s been given special treatment at a low security prison by the Trump Administration. We are going to end this White House cover-up.” Rep. Andy Biggs, a Republican from Arizona, told reporters following the deposition that Maxwell’s lawyer said she has no indication that either President Trump or former President Bill Clinton are culpable for any wrongdoing. Sky News broke the news: BREAKING: Ghislaine Maxwell has declined to answer questions from the U.S. House Oversight Committee about her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. She cited her constitutional right to remain silent. Latest: https://t.co/GT1sG2MdXD Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/gmF3027DoA — Sky News (@SkyNews) February 9, 2026 Here was the original press release by the DOJ released after Maxwell was sentenced, describing her crimes: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that GHISLANE MAXWELL was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court by United States Circuit Judge Alison J. Nathan to 240 months in prison for her role in a scheme to sexual exploit and abuse multiple minor girls with Jeffrey Epstein over the course of a decade. MAXWELL was previously found guilty on December 29, 2021, following a one-month jury trial, of conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, conspiracy to transport minors to participate in illegal sex acts, transporting a minor to participate in illegal sex acts, sex trafficking conspiracy, and sex trafficking of a minor. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today’s sentence holds Ghislaine Maxwell accountable for perpetrating heinous crimes against children. This sentence sends a strong message that no one is above the law and it is never too late for justice. We again express our gratitude to Epstein and Maxwell’s victims for their courage in coming forward, in testifying at trial, and in sharing their stories as part of today’s sentencing.” According to the allegations in the Indictment, court documents, and evidence presented at trial: From at least 1994, up to and including in or about 2004, GHISLAINE MAXWELL assisted, facilitated, and participated in Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of minor girls by, among other things, helping Epstein to recruit, groom, and ultimately abuse victims known to MAXWELL and Epstein to be under the age of 18. The victims were as young as 14 years old when they were groomed and abused by MAXWELL and Epstein, both of whom knew that their victims were in fact minors. As a part and in furtherance of their scheme to abuse minor victims, MAXWELL and Epstein enticed and caused minor victims to travel to Epstein’s residences in different states, which MAXWELL knew and intended would result in their grooming for and subjection to sexual abuse. MAXWELL enticed and groomed minor girls to be abused in multiple ways. For example, MAXWELL attempted to befriend certain victims by asking them about their lives, their schools, and their families, and taking them to the movies or on shopping trips. MAXWELL also acclimated victims to Epstein’s conduct simply by being present for victim interactions with Epstein, which put victims at ease by providing the assurance and comfort of an adult woman who seemingly approved of Epstein’s behavior. Additionally, Epstein offered to help some victims by paying for travel and/or educational opportunities, and MAXWELL encouraged certain victims to accept Epstein’s assistance. As a result, victims were made to feel indebted and believed that MAXWELL and Epstein were trying to help them. MAXWELL also normalized and facilitated sexual abuse for a victim by discussing sexual topics, undressing in front of the victim, being present when the victim was undressed, and encouraging the victim to massage Epstein. In the latest Epstein File drop, footage of Maxwell in her prison cell was released: NEW: Living like this is worse than the deаth penalty Ghislaine Maxwell captured pacing restlessly in prison cell pic.twitter.com/ObKkChmaS6 — Megatron (@Megatron_ron) February 7, 2026

This is one way of finding out that the Puppy Bowl is pre-taped. If you’re unfamiliar with the Puppy Bowl, it’s an annual event on Animal Planet that features two sides of Puppies playing against each other in a game meant to mimic the Super Bowl. At this year’s event, one puppy stole the show: Teigan. Teigan stole the hearts of many viewers due to the fact that she was handicapped and used a dog wheelchair. However, now it’s been reported that the beloved puppy died before the event was aired. The New York Post provided further context on Teigan’s death: Puppy Bowl XXII competitor Teigan died – three months before the Super Bowl warm-up event aired on screens across the nation. Teigan, part of the victorious Team Fluff, died in October after becoming severely ill with pneumonia, the Connecticut animal sanctuary Perfect Imperfections Rescue said. She died before the Lombarky Trophy showdown aired Sunday. “It will be bittersweet to [see] her on TV,” the sanctuary said in a Facebook post. “For those who don’t know, Teigan and I spent a day at the rescue taping a segment about Teigan, her condition and her receiving her custom cart made by K9karts. “A few weeks after we had the taping we traveled to NY and participated in the puppy bowl. It was such a fun experience. “We meet so many incredible people from rescues all over the USA. Spending the day in a room full of puppies was an added bonus. Please tune in and help celebrate Teigan. “She was such an incredible soul. I’m not sure I will ever get over losing her so soon.” Here are some clips of Teigan: Teigan isn’t afraid to give it her all! #PuppyBowl pic.twitter.com/TrZ2nJFWfK — Animal Planet (@AnimalPlanet) February 8, 2026 Teigan passed after her appearance on the Puppy Bowl, but this is a beautiful way to remember and experience her spirit. Special needs dogs are wonderful companions and worth saving and adopting. May she run free. https://t.co/7H1WHQJWtW — Ted Cutezynski (@shrugdeaIer) February 9, 2026 REST IN HEAVENLY PEACE, TEIGAN! I LOVE YOU https://t.co/Z04KcciepE pic.twitter.com/Ci1IthnbFH — Fluffy (@mrfluff3h) February 9, 2026 The Cincinnati Enquirer reported the final results of the 2026 Puppy Bowl: Team Fluff won the Lombarky Trophy in the 2026 Puppy Bowl, winning 73-69 over Team Ruff. Team Fluff’s Twilight Barkle, a special needs dog with a protruding forehead from Hearts & Bones Rescue in Dallas, scored the game’s final touchdown. “Ruff-free” Dan Schachner presented the trophy to Meeko from Paws Across Pittsburgh, the Team Fluff captain. According to the New York Post, officials have only been tracking scores for the last seven years, meaning Team Fluff has a record of 5-4 against Team Ruff.