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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.

Mayan ball game. Source: Sputnik / CC by SA 2.5
2 June, 2023 - 16:56 Robbie Mitchell

Juego de Pelota: Ancient Mayan Sporting Tradition Resurrected (Video)

In Mexico, a dedicated group of athletes is embarking on a remarkable mission: to revive an ancient sporting tradition that pays tribute to the game once cherished by their ancestors. The...
Songlines, or dreaming tracks, are songs and rituals associated with migration routes spanning the Australian continent. Source: Rick / Adobe Stock
26 May, 2023 - 18:52 Caleb Strom

Tracing Songlines: Unraveling Aboriginal Australia's Ancient Oral Maps

From as early as 65,000 to 80,000 years ago, the first human settlements appeared on the vast continent of Australia. These left behind an archaeological record which bears witness to the remarkable...
This sacrificed Inca child, known as the Llull Maiden #23, was found on a mountain in Argentina. Source: © Johan Reinhard, Ph.D . (used with permission)
26 May, 2023 - 16:58 Robbie Mitchell

Inca Child Sacrifice: Secrets of the Mummified Maiden (Video)

The ancient practice of human sacrifice is one of the most haunting and mysterious aspects of human history. Most of us today find the idea abhorrent , but in many cultures around the world, they...
Representational image of an Aghori. Source: Dondon Gigantone / Adobe Stock.
25 May, 2023 - 01:58 Robbie Mitchell

Aghori: Exploring the Bizarre World of Extreme Asceticism (Video)

The Aghori are an intriguing sect of Hinduism known for their unconventional practices and ascetic way of life. They seek spiritual liberation through intense discipline and the transcendence of...
Representative image of human skulls in one of the famous catacombs around the world. Source: mila103 / Adobe Stock
23 May, 2023 - 18:51 Robbie Mitchell

Tales from the Crypt: Exploring the World's Most Famous Catacombs

Beneath the streets and buildings of many of the world's most historic cities lie mysterious and ancient catacombs. These underground burial sites hold the remains of thousands of people and have...
Ancient Roman funeral and mourning. Source: Erica Guilane-Nachez / Adobe Stock.
22 May, 2023 - 17:00 Robbie Mitchell

Watch the Reenactment of a Traditional Roman Funeral (Video)

The ancient Romans had a unique relationship with death and dying, and their burial practices were no exception. When someone passed away, their loved ones would gather around the dying person's bed...
Watch the Remarkable Ancient Method of Casting Bronze Faces (Video)
21 May, 2023 - 20:57 Robbie Mitchell

Watch the Remarkable Ancient Method of Casting Bronze Faces (Video)

In the realm of ancient artistry , a remarkable technique emerged, known as the "lost wax" method. This ingenious process, dating back centuries, became the cornerstone of bronze casting, bringing to...
Traditional soy sauce production. Source: Quang / Adobe Stock.
21 May, 2023 - 17:01 Robbie Mitchell

750 Years of Flavor: The Story of Yuasa's Soy Sauce (Video)

In the captivating town of Yuasa, Japan, a remarkable secret has been safeguarded for an astonishing 750 years. It is here that the origins of soy sauce , a cornerstone of Japanese gastronomy , were...
Detail of Tapestry Depicting the Marriage of Contantine I and Fausta by Peter Paul Rubens 1623-1625. Source: Mary Harrsch /CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
20 May, 2023 - 14:41 Robbie Mitchell

The Law that Led to Roman Honor Killings, and Other Extreme Roman Marriage Laws

A common theme in the news today is how it is becoming increasingly common for the younger generations to snub the tradition of getting married and having children. This has led to scare stories...
Xhosa boys taking part in the Ulwaluko circumcision tradition. Source: Dingeman / GNU Free Documentation License.
20 May, 2023 - 01:58 Robbie Mitchell

From Boys to Men: The Circumcision Tradition of the Xhosa People (Video)

The circumcision ritual has long been a rite of passage for young men in many cultures. For the Xhosa people of South Africa, the tradition , known as Ulwaluko, is a crucial aspect of their cultural...
Step pyramid of Djoser. Source: Pavle / Adobe Stock.
19 May, 2023 - 16:59 Robbie Mitchell

Tracing the Origins of the First Pyramid (Video)

The Great Pyramids of Giza are undoubtedly some of the most recognizable structures in the world. But just 10 miles south lies the Necropolis of Saqqara , an ancient cemetery that is home to 11...
Timkat. Source: Wallpaper Flare / CC by SA.
18 May, 2023 - 21:00 Robbie Mitchell

The Challenging Rituals of Ethiopia’s Christian Timkat Ceremony (Video)

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is a unique branch of Christianity that traces its roots back to the earliest days of the faith . For those who follow this ancient religion, the annual Timkat ceremony...
Babylonian clay model showing a nude couple on a couch engaged in sex and kissing. Date: 1800 BC. Source: © The Trustees of the British Museum/ CC BY-NC-SA
18 May, 2023 - 19:00 Gary Manners

Humans Were Kissing in Mesopotamia As Early As 4,500 Years Ago

Humanity's love affair with kissing goes way back, but just how far? Recent research has revealed that the art of smooching was already in full swing a staggering 4,500 years ago in Mesopotamia, and...
Shaolin monk in the temple. Source: Animaflora PicsStock / Adobe Stock.
17 May, 2023 - 20:58 Robbie Mitchell

Kung-Fu Legends: The Shaolin Temple Monks (Video)

The Shaolin Temple is an ancient Buddhist monastery located on Song Mountain in the Henan Province of China. The temple has a history that spans over 1500 years and has been the birthplace of a...
Crowning the Victors at Olympia - Hieron of Syracuse and victors. Source: Public Domain
16 May, 2023 - 22:56 Aleksa Vučković

Top 10 Ancient Greek Athletes and their Sporting Achievements

In Ancient Greece, there was a special emphasis placed on sports and physical prowess. After all, this civilization gave birth to the famed Olympics, which still exist today. From spear throwing,...
Portrait of young Native American woman. Source: designprojects / Adobe Stock.
16 May, 2023 - 20:58 Robbie Mitchell

Apache Girls Face Tests of Endurance in Rite of Passage (Video)

The Mescalero Apache reservation in New Mexico holds a time-honored rite of passage for its young girls every Fourth of July. The four-day ritual involves a series of tests that challenge the girls'...
Indian Tanpura. Source: Arash / Adobe Stock.
13 May, 2023 - 16:59 Robbie Mitchell

India’s Ancient Instruments Made from Pumpkins (Video)

The Abdul Majeed family has been hand-carving musical instruments out of pumpkins for seven generations, a craft that has been practiced for almost 200 years in the city of Mirage, in Western India...
Detail of a painting of a mother and child, in this case Andromache and Astyanax by Pierre Paul Prud’hon. Source: Public domain
13 May, 2023 - 15:00 ancient origins

Mothers’ Lives in Ancient Greece Were Not Easy – But Celebrations of Their Love Have Survived Across the Centuries

By Joel Christensen / The Conversation As a father of three and the husband of an amazing woman, I know that one day a year is far too little to recognize everything mothers do. But my work as a...
Terracotta warriors, China. Source: Lukas Hlavac / Adobe Stock.
13 May, 2023 - 01:52 Robbie Mitchell

The Terracotta Warriors: The Immortal Army of Ancient China (Video)

China’s first emperor, Emperor Qin , was a man so obsessed with immortality that he commissioned the creation of an army that would accompany him into the afterlife. This army was no ordinary army,...
Kurozu Japanese Vinegar. Source: kazoka303030 / Adobe Stock.
12 May, 2023 - 21:00 Robbie Mitchell

Kurozu: Rare Japanese Vinegar is Worth Its Weight in Gold (Video)

In a small southern Japanese town called Fukuyama, there is a unique type of vinegar that has been brewed for over 200 years using a traditional fermentation method. It is called kurozu, a Japanese...
Shea butter making in Ghana. Source: nomadphotographs / Adobe Stock.
12 May, 2023 - 02:00 Robbie Mitchell

Women's Gold: The Shea Butter Makers of Ghana (Video)

For centuries, women in West Africa have been turning shea nuts into butter, known as "women's gold", as it is the only source of income for many families in northern Ghana . However, the biggest...
Bonsai scissors. Source: ANUCHA / Adobe Stock.
11 May, 2023 - 01:53 Robbie Mitchell

Bonsai Scissors Made with Samurai Sword Forging Techniques (Video)

Amazingly, a fancy pair of bonsai scissors can cost an eyewatering $26,000. How? It turns out that the secret to making the best bonsai scissors in the world lies in an ancient method of sword-making...
African tribal warrior. Source: padnob / Adobe Stock.
9 May, 2023 - 20:59 Robbie Mitchell

When Two Tribes Meet: Watch a Pivotal Moment in Human History (Video)

The origins of human civilization are shrouded in mystery, but one thing is clear: our ancestors were not always peaceful. For millennia, different groups of early humans lived in isolated...
Hide tanning in Morocco. Source: Jorge / Adobe Stock.
7 May, 2023 - 17:00 Robbie Mitchell

Ancient Tradition of Hide Tanning is a Foul and Dirty Job (Video)

In the ancient alleys of Fez , Morocco lies a 600-year-old tannery infamous for its foul stench. The tannery is a place where animal hides go through a filthy and smelly process to be transformed...

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