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Africa

Ancient places can be found all over Africa. Their fascinating histories and impressive artifacts open intriguing glimpses to times past, and open up a window on African history. Visiting such historical places in Africa can be an unforgettable experience.

Science is constantly discovering new archaeological places and uncovering more evidence into what we once thought we knew about our history, therefore offering new pieces to the ever changing puzzle of humanity’s past and altering how we interpret it. This section will present ancient African history articles, highlighting the most interesting archaeological sites all over Africa, as well as new discoveries of ancient places that are worth paying a visit.

The archeological site of Antongona Source: Photo by Tom Brouns
28 February, 2020 - 01:30 Ed Whelan

Antongona and the Mystery of the Early Madagascans

Madagascar is an island nation off the southeast coast of Africa and is most famous for its exquisite environment and unique wildlife, especially lemurs . It is the 4 th largest island in the world...
Nyanza Royal Palace, Rwanda Source: Photo by Momaa
26 February, 2020 - 01:47 Ed Whelan

The Contrasting Royal Palaces of Rwanda

Rwanda, known as the land of a thousand hills, is one of the best countries to spot gorillas in their natural habitat. It is emerging from a bloody past and is now one of the most dynamic societies...
Bunce Island, Sierra Leone, West Africa Source: robertonencini/Adobe Stock
11 February, 2020 - 01:53 Ed Whelan

Bunce Island and the Gate of No Return

One of the greatest atrocities committed against humanity throughout history was the slave trade which involved the enslavement of millions of men, women, and children. Many monuments have been...
Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza, in the night sky. Source: Aliaksei / Adobe stock
5 February, 2020 - 18:19 Jonathon Perrin

Were Egypt’s Pyramids Megalithic Machines or Magical Mausoleums?

Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza were always my favorite ancient mystery growing up. I was forever debating whether they were high-tech super machines or massive tombs of the pharaohs. Their odd angled...
The Lost Labyrinth of Ancient Egypt
13 January, 2020 - 16:21 Joanna Gillan

The Lost Labyrinth of Ancient Egypt – Part 1

This I have actually seen, a work beyond words. For if anyone put together the buildings of the Greeks and display of their labours, they would seem lesser in both effort and expense to this...
Oshun, African Goddess of Love
25 December, 2019 - 12:28 dhwty

Oshun: African Goddess of Love and Sweet Waters

Across many ancient civilizations throughout the world, love was placed under the domain of a certain deity, usually, but not in all cases, a goddess. In the Classical world, for instance, there were...
A depiction of Ahmose fighting back the Hyksos from Egypt. Source: Public domain
19 December, 2019 - 13:45 dhwty

Did the Hyksos Pull Off a Peaceful Invasion of Egypt?

The Hyksos were a dynasty of kings who ruled over the northern part of Egypt during the 2 nd millennium BC. They were not native Egyptians, but came from the East, most likely Western Asia...
Tiya Stones, Intricately Carved Monoliths of Ethiopia
12 December, 2019 - 00:41 mrreese

The Intricately Carved Tiya Megaliths of Ethiopia

The Tiya stones are part of an archaeological site located in central Ethiopia, in an area known as the Gurage Zone. The 46 large, decorated Tiya megaliths have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage...
The stunning temple of Seti I in Abydos - Egypt
29 November, 2019 - 21:15 dhwty

The Stunning Temple of Seti I in Abydos, Egypt

Seti I is one of the lesser-known pharaohs of the New Kingdom period of ancient Egypt. However, his temple in Abydos is among the most famous, cited by many as the most impressive religious structure...
One of the iconic Colossi of Memnon statues.
21 November, 2019 - 23:25 dhwty

The Colossi of Memnon: Why Did the Giant Statue Sing at Dawn?

The Colossi of Memnon are a pair of giant statues made of stone that are located in the Theban Necropolis in Luxor, Upper Egypt. The statues were made during the 14th century BC, during the period in...
Great Pillared Hall, Temple of Ramesses II, Abu Simbel
13 November, 2019 - 18:01 dhwty

Abu Simbel: The Great Temple of Ramesses II was Almost Lost

The Abu Simbel Temple is an enormous rock temple complex located on Egypt’s border with Sudan. The two temples of this complex were built in the 13th century BC during the reign of the powerful...
Sunset at the Great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt. Source: Patryk Kosmider /Adobe Stock
7 October, 2019 - 14:10 Niels Bjerre Jo...

Hidden Chambers and Meaning: Is the Great Pyramid for a King or Priests?

When I first thought of elements in the pyramid, I had no idea that I would end up postulating the existence of another hidden chamber. Can we locate it more precisely and find out how to get into it...
The Pyramid of Cheops illuminated by the sun in backlight, with people entering inside to visit it. The area with the great pyramids of Giza, Egypt. Source: Alfredo /Adobe Stock
7 October, 2019 - 01:59 Niels Bjerre Jo...

The Great Pyramid: New Theory on God Symbolism and the Hidden Chambers

Architecture is language of form, of three dimensional images reflecting the function of a building and the time it was built. At best it demonstrates the builders’ beliefs regarding life and the...
A 5thcentury Byzantine basilica at Adulis, Eritrea, excavated in 1914 Source: Stanley, D/CC BY 2.0
28 September, 2019 - 02:05 Ed Whelan

Slave Trade and Exotic Animals Made the Ancient Port of Adulis Rich

The Red Sea coast has traditionally been one of the world’s great crossroads for trade and a meeting place of cultures. Because of this, there are many notable ports on this north-eastern coast of...
Ptolemaic era temple Kon-Ombo Source: xfargas / Adobe Stock
24 September, 2019 - 01:58 Caleb Strom

Last of the Kings of Egypt: The Ptolemaic Dynasty

Ptolemaic Egypt is distinctive in being both the last independent Egyptian dynasty and the last Hellenistic kingdom to fall to Rome . The Ptolemies were not native Egyptians, but Greek and Macedonian...
Memorial to Stanley and Livingstone, Burundi Source: Poffer, D / CC BY 2.0
15 September, 2019 - 01:48 Ed Whelan

The Livingstone – Stanley Monument and The Famous Tale of Two Explorers in Africa

Without a doubt, European explorers in 19 th century Africa changed history. Two of the most famous are Dr David Livingstone, and the journalist and explorer Henry Morton Stanley , who opened central...
Queen Dido, founder of Carthage and the Punic pantheon. Source: Eloquence / Public Domain.
13 June, 2019 - 19:01 dhwty

Gods of Carthage and The Punic Power House of Baal Hammon and Tanit

According to tradition, the city of Carthage was founded in 814 BC by the legendary Queen Dido . The founder of this city was originally a princess from the Phoenician city of Tyre. She was, however...
Maat, goddess of truth and justice
9 June, 2019 - 17:35 Bryan Hill

Maat: Ancient Egyptian Goddess of Truth, Justice and Morality

Maat, also known as Ma’at or Mayet, was a female goddess in the ancient Egyptian religion who represented truth, justice, balance and morality. The daughter of the Egyptian sun deity Ra and wife of...
Painted cave in Galdar, Grand Canary Island.
8 June, 2019 - 14:03 Sarah P Young

Cueva Pintada: Painted Cave of Gran Canaria Reveals Mystery of Ancient Inhabitants

In 1862, in the center of the Spanish town of Galdar , an incredible archaeological discovery was made while agricultural work was being undertaken. Through a hole in its roof, the extraordinary...
Burning scroll
2 June, 2019 - 01:31 dhwty

Who Destroyed the Great Library of Alexandria?

The destruction of the great library of Alexandria has been lamented as one of the biggest losses of the ancient world. Nearly one million documents from across Assyria, Greece, Persia, Egypt, India...
Great Mosque of Touba. Source: Visintainer, F / CC BY 3.0
29 May, 2019 - 02:04 Ed Whelan

The Great Mosque of Touba: Spiritual Home of the Mouride Brotherhood

Islam has a long and impressive history in Africa. The nation of Senegal , for example, has been decisively influenced by Islam and it is the location of one of the greatest mosques in the entire...
A lost desert city. Credit: frenta / Adobe Stock
26 May, 2019 - 19:05 Caleb Strom

Lost City of the Kalahari: Experts Search for Traces of Ancient Desert Civilization

Today, the Kalahari Desert is known as a very dry place. The word Kalahari in fact comes from a Tswana word which means ‘great thirst’. As a result, it seems an unlikely location for an ancient city...
Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple
15 May, 2019 - 13:46 Ed Whelan

Temple of Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar: Colorful Worship in Seychelles Paradise

Seychelles is a tropical paradise famous for its beautiful beaches, clear warm waters, and spectacular scenery. The archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean is best known as a holiday...
Akhenaten, relief of the pylons of the house of Panehsy, Chief Servitor of the Aten. It depicts Akhenaten making offerings to the Aten.
3 May, 2019 - 22:55 tedloukes

Pharaoh Akhenaten: An Alternative View of the Heretic King

Amenhotep IV, also known as the Pharaoh Akhenaten, was destined to be remembered for his attempt at a religious conversion of ancient Egypt; one that saw the old gods put aside and replaced by a...

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