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Ancient Traditions

Ancient Origins brings you articles related to Ancient Traditions from all over the world. Find related articles in the sections of history, archaeology, human origins, unexplained, artifacts, ancient places and myths and legends.

From Sumerian time to modern-day clocks, the number 60 has stood the test of time. Source: (Samantha/CC BY 2.0), nebula NGC 1788 Orion constellation (ESO/CC BY 4.0), Zodiac of Dendera (Alice-astro/CC BY-SA 3.0)
31 July, 2023 - 14:59 Kerry Sullivan

Sumerians Invented the System of Time 5,000 Years Ago – And We Still Use It Today!

One might find it curious that we divide the hours into 60 minutes and the days into 24 hours – why not a multiple of 10 or 12? Put quite simply, the answer is because the inventors of time did not...
Representational image of a magical Viking rune or Viking Code. Source: Artur / Adobe Stock
29 July, 2023 - 18:50 Dr. Eran Elhaik

Unlocking the Cryptic Viking Code Using Runic Writing and Ancient DNA

Runic script is an alphabetic system based on a non-alphabetical order row. This means that it has letters, like in many languages, but the letters are not arranged in a standard alphabetical order...
A Muslim and a Jew inside a Jewish synagogue in Kolkata, India. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Atlas Obscura.
29 July, 2023 - 01:55 Robbie Mitchell

The Muslims Preserving Kolkata's Last Jewish Synagogues (Video)

In the vibrant city of Kolkata, India, a heartening and harmonious interfaith tradition is flourishing as Muslim caretakers diligently preserve the last remaining Jewish synagogues . This unique...
Shaolin Master training. Source: Whitezgraphy / Adobe Stock.
28 July, 2023 - 16:57 Joanna Gillan

The Extraordinary Final Test to Become a Shaolin Master (Video)

The Shaolin Temple , renowned worldwide as the home of Kung Fu, is a place of rigorous training and spiritual devotion for the 400 monks who reside there. Of these, 100 are warrior monks, students...
Capstones at the Bryher burial site in the Isles of Scilly, where the tomb of the female warrior was discovered. Source: Isles of Scilly Museum Association
28 July, 2023 - 14:51 Nathan Falde

Curious 2,000-Year-Old Isles of Scilly Burial Mystery Solved

On one of the small and lightly populated Isles of Scilly off the coast of Cornwall in southwestern England, archaeologists uncovered a unique stone-lined burial chamber in 1999. The grave goods...
The Kurultáj festival (Derzsi Elekes Andor / CC by SA 4.0)
27 July, 2023 - 21:00 Robbie Mitchell

Hungary’s Kurultaj Festival Celebrates Warrior Roots (Video)

Every year the Kurultaj Festival, hosted in Bugac, Hungary showcases a captivating reenactment of the country's ancient history, specifically the conquest by Hungarian tribes over a thousand years...
Egyptian Zar ritual (Asghar Besharati / CC by SA 4.0)
26 July, 2023 - 20:53 Robbie Mitchell

Rhythms of Possession: Egypt's Mysterious Zar Exorcism Tradition (Video)

The ancient 'zar' ritual of Egypt is a captivating and enigmatic cultural practice that dates back centuries. Rooted in ancient beliefs and folk traditions, the zar ceremony is performed to exorcise...
Interior of salt mine in Hallstatt, Austria. Source: Posztós János / Adobe Stock.
26 July, 2023 - 16:59 Robbie Mitchell

7,000-Year-Old Austrian Salt Mine Holds Bronze Age Secrets (Video)

Hallstatt, an ancient salt mine nestled in the picturesque Austrian Alps, holds an extraordinary tale of human history dating back an astonishing 7,000 years . While all mines necessitate regular...
Inca woman crossing the Q'eswachaka rope bridge. Source: Danita Delimont / Adobe Stock.
26 July, 2023 - 01:54 Robbie Mitchell

Preserving the World’s Last Inca Rope Bridge (Video)

Every year in June, Peruvian communities nestled within the Cusco region, once the capital of the mighty Inca Empire , come together in a remarkable display of cultural preservation and unity. Their...
Sirius, the Dog Star, the dominant star within the Canis Major constellation. Source: iryna / Adobe Stock
24 July, 2023 - 22:55 Joanna Gillan

What Makes Sirius, the Dog Star, So Special?

The accolade of “brightest star in the sky as viewed from Earth” goes to the well-known star Sirius, popularly called the Dog Star due to its role as the dominant star in the Canis Major , meaning...
Mesopotamian / Iraqi Marshes with the so called Marsh Arabs. Source: Felix Friebe / Adobe Stock.
24 July, 2023 - 16:58 Robbie Mitchell

Iraq's Marshes Are Dying, and A Civilization With Them (Video)

The Mesopotamian marshes in Iraq, once a thriving ecosystem and the heart of an ancient Marsh Arab civilization, are facing a dire threat as they wither away. Parched by a prolonged drought, the...
Traditional Lenj boat building on Qeshm Island, Iran. Source: Gone For A Drive. / Adobe Stock.
22 July, 2023 - 01:59 Robbie Mitchell

The Dying Craft of Traditional Boat-Building in Iran (Video)

For nearly 400 years, the Guranian people of Iran's Qeshm Island have upheld the extraordinary art of crafting Lenj boats - large, handmade wooden vessels used for transporting passengers and cargo...
Fontanelle Cemetery, Naples. Source: Massimo Santi / Adobe Stock.
21 July, 2023 - 20:54 Robbie Mitchell

Fontanelle Cemetery and Naples’s Cult of the Souls of Purgatory (Video)

The Naples's Cult of the Souls of Purgatory centers around a unique belief system related to the souls in purgatory . The Fontanelle Cemetery, a symbolic location for this cult, evokes an eerie...
Dance platform at a modern but traditional Inti Raymi celebration. Early Andeans created a dance floor to imitate the sound of thunder when danced on. Source: Youenn JACQUIN/Adobe Stock
20 July, 2023 - 22:52 Sahir

Ancient Andean Thundering Dance Floor Uncovered in Peru

An open-air “sounding” dance floor in Peru has been discovered, designed to mimic a drum-like sound, perhaps for a thunder god when stomped upon! Built sometime between 1000 and 1400 AD, the site...
Evidence in East England has revealed that there were Roman vineyards in the area. Source: mythja / Adobe Stock
19 July, 2023 - 14:54 Nathan Falde

Make Wine Not War: Digs in England Reveal 1st Century Roman Vineyard

Excavations in Cambridgeshire, England, recently produced evidence to suggest that Roman winemakers were active in the region in the first century, possibly as early as 43 AD. This was the time of...
A perpetual stew or hunter’s stew, in a cauldron over an open fire. Source: shaiith/Adobe Stock
18 July, 2023 - 22:53 ashley cowie

What is this Ancient Perpetual Stew Being Served in a Brooklyn Park?

Most folk have experienced the holistic satisfaction that comes after a good old bowl of stew, on a cold winter’s nights. However, this story tips traditional stew conventions on their head, as it’s...
Painting by Louis Le Nain from book cover of Death Control in the West 1500–1800: Sex Ratios at Baptism in Italy, France and England, by Gregory Hanlo. Source: Taylor & Francis
17 July, 2023 - 22:55 ashley cowie

Parents Murdered Their Children, “Routinely,” Claims New Book

A harrowing new study into the history of infanticide, child murder, in early-modern Europe, has presented a slate of horrific facts. It turns out child murder was so common in Italy, France and...
Ancient helmet. Source: Lukas Juszczak / Adobe Stock.
17 July, 2023 - 16:54 Robbie Mitchell

The Art of Ancient Helmet Making (Video)

Ancient helmet making involved intricate craftsmanship. The Montefortino helmet , a Roman military helmet from the third century BC, consisted of a bowl shape, complemented by cheek pieces with...
Tomb inside Westminster Abbey. Source: Stefano / Adobe Stock.
15 July, 2023 - 02:00 Robbie Mitchell

The Incredible Royal Tombs of Westminster Abbey (Video)

Westminster Abbey houses the incredible royal tombs that chronicle British history. Its tombs , statues, monuments, and effigies serve as a testament to the changing nature of memorialization over...
The Hellfire Club building on Montpelier Hill, Dublin. Source: © William Alexander
12 July, 2023 - 18:41 Aleksa Vučković

Exploring the Enigma of the Hellfire Club: Dublin's Haunted Secret

Mystical and occult places in the world have always attracted intrigued explorers and lovers of the odd and quirky. Often enough, such places are all around us, nestled in their enigma without us...
Abusir necropolis: Sahura Funerary Temple. Pyramids of Neferirkara-Kakai and Niuserra-Ini in the background. Source: Public Domain
9 July, 2023 - 23:00 Aleksa Vučković

Who Is Buried at Abusir Necropolis, the Funerary Jewel of Ancient Egypt?

A lot of what we know about the Ancient Egyptian civilization was discovered through their burials. These ancient people paid special attention to the afterlife, and thus their funerary rituals were...
Representational image of man with slingshot. Source: emerald_media / Adobe Stock
9 July, 2023 - 18:54 Cecilia Bogaard

Andean Pucara Was a Deadly Slingshot Contest to Ensure Fruitful Harvest

Southern Ecuador was once home to a fascinating indigenous game which was a literal battle for survival. Deeply rooted in the cultural traditions of the provinces of Azuay and Cañar, Pucara , also...
Bodiam Castle, England. Source: veneratio / Adobe Stock.
9 July, 2023 - 16:55 Robbie Mitchell

The Incredible Evolution Of The British Castle Explained (Video)

The evolution of the British castle is a fascinating tale. Castles were initially fortified places, serving as private residences for individuals rather than defenses for communities. Iron Age...
Medieval couple. Source: Dmytro Sandratskyi / Adobe Stock.
8 July, 2023 - 21:00 Robbie Mitchell

What Was Sex Really Like in the Middle Ages? (Video)

Contrary to popular belief, medieval attitudes towards sex were often far from puritanical. Surviving sources, largely influenced by the Catholic Church, give a skewed impression of the era. In...

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