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Ancient Origins Tour IRAQ

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Famous People

In this section, we shed light on some of the most famous and infamous people known throughout history, from powerful pharaohs, to emperors and empresses, acclaimed military leaders, or just regular civilians who’ve been thrown into the spotlight for great crimes or for heroic actions, leaving an indelible mark on the world.

Hammurabi (standing) receiving his royal insignia from the deity Shamash. Source: Hammurabi/CC BY 3.0

Hammurabi and his God Given Code of Laws

“At that time, the gods Anu and Enlil, for the enhancement of the well-being of the people, named me by my name: Hammurabi, the pious prince, who venerates the gods, to make justice prevail in the...
Assyrian king. Source: dani3315 / Adobe Stock.

Ashurbanipal: The Most Powerful Man on Earth (Video)

Ashurbanipal, the last formidable king of Assyria , stood as the epitome of power and dominance in the ancient world. With his empire extending from Egypt to Persia, he reigned as the most powerful...
Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘satellite map’ of Imola. Source: Wallpaper Flare.

How Leonardo da Vinci Made a "Satellite" Map in 1502 (Video)

In 1502, while working as a military engineer for Cesare Borgia , Leonardo da Vinci undertook the task of creating a unique map of Imola. At the time, the prevailing maps were depicted in a birds eye...
Numa Pompilius giving the Laws to the Romans.  Source: Public Domain

Numa Pompilius: The Legendary Second King of Rome

Every great kingdom and empire have to start somewhere, right? One of history’s greatest realms was the Roman Empire, but even so, it began as a struggling city-state, supposedly led by kings. But...
Queen Cleopatra Selene II, between Rome and Egypt. Source: AIproduction/Adobe Stock

Cleopatra Selene II: A Survivor’s Royal Destiny

Cleopatra Selene II, daughter of the famed Egyptian queen Cleopatra VII and Roman general Mark Antony, led a remarkable and turbulent life that intertwined the legacies of both Egypt and Rome. Born...
Representational image of the Muslim explorer Ibn Hawqal. Source: nsit0108 / Adobe Stock

The Uncharted Horizons of Ibn Hawqal, the World’s First Travel Writer

At a time when the outlines of the known world were a mystery to many, and even the most powerful empires had no idea about the realms beyond their distant borders, the scholars of the Muslim world...
Left, Tutankhamun golden funerary mask. Right, 2023 facial reconstruction of King Tutankhamun. Source: Left, merydolla / Adobe Stock. Right, C. Moraes et al.

Experts Speculate Tutankhamun's Death Was Due to A Drink Driving Chariot Accident

A crown prince who abused his authority, driving fast and drunk? It doesn’t seem implausible, but when you tie that to King Tutankhamun, ancient Egypt’s famed boy king, it seems almost outrageous...
Cleopatra testing poisons on condemned prisoners.

Finding the Lost Mother of Cleopatra VII - Cleopatra V Tryphaena of Egypt

There is no inscription or papyrus to confirm who the mother of Cleopatra VII was, but the information that exists about her and the world of the Ptolemaic period suggest that it was Queen Cleopatra...
Hannibal of Carthage is most famous for having crossed the Alps along with his African war elephants. Source: vitanovski / Adobe Stock

Hannibal of Carthage: Military Commander and Greatest Enemy of Rome

Throughout time there have been great military leaders, whose skills and strategic prowess have shaped and defined the path of human civilization. One such military leader was Hannibal of Carthage. A...
3D reconstruction of Egyptian King Tutankhamun from 2023. Source: C. Moraes et al.

New Study Unveils the Face of Egypt's Iconic Pharaoh Tutankhamun

Researchers have conducted a new study aiming to shed light on the facial appearance of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh, Tutankhamun. The study, led by a team of forensic experts and anthropologists,...
Detail of statue of Chandragupta Maurya to the right. Background of India. Source: Public Domain and HistoryDiscussion

The Rise of Chandragupta Maurya, and the Golden Age of the Mauryan Empire

Having conquered the mighty Achaemenid Empire, Alexander the Great set his sights on the north western region of the Indian subcontinent. Thus, in 327 BC, the Macedonian king began his campaign by...
Silver diadem. Source: Trustees of the British Museum.

Bronze Age Treasure Revealed Female Rule of the Argarics (Video)

Deep within the ancient La Almoloya archaeological site in southern Spain, an extraordinary revelation has emerged, shaking the very foundations of our understanding of power and politics in the...
Cleopatra’s Death as depicted in a painting entitled ‘The Death of Cleopatra’ by Jean-André Rixens. Source: Public domain

The Enigma of Cleopatra's Death: Was it Suicide or Murder?

Accepted historical accounts claim that Cleopatra, the last active pharaoh of ancient Egypt, committed suicide. Cleopatra assumed the throne of Egypt after the demise of Alexander the Great during...
Luther burning the papal bull, 10 December 1520; Karl Ludwig Bernard Christian Buckhorn, after Franz Ludwig Catel (from Spamers Illustrierte Weltgeschichte, 1894, 5[1], 216/217). Source: Juulijs / Adobe Stock.

Religious Revolution: Unveiling the Protestant Reformation (Video)

The Protestant Reformation of the 16th century shook Europe's cultural identity to its core. It was a revolution that emerged from centuries of political and social grievances against the Christian...
Detail from an old Egyptian postage stamp depicting Jean-François Champollion. Source: Silvio / Adobe Stock

The Legacy and Tragic Death of Egyptology's Father, Champollion

Remembered as the father of Egyptology, the 19th-century Frenchman Jean-François Champollion prematurely and tragically passed away in 1832 shortly after visiting Egypt. In 1822, Champollion...
Antony and Cleopatra, by Lawrence Alma-Tadema. (Public Domain)

The Final Fates of the Children of Cleopatra VII

Cleopatra VII had four children. One with Julius Caesar and three with Mark Antony. Until 31 BC the family of the last Ptolemaic queen lived a magnificent life in a golden palace, one of the most...
Boy king Tutankhamun. Source: Mikolaj Niemczewski / Adobe Stock.

A Day in the Life of the Boy King Tutankhamun (Video)

Discovering the daily life of King Tutankhamun , the 11th pharaoh of the 18th Egyptian dynasty, offers a fascinating glimpse into ancient Egypt's rich history and culture. Despite ascending to the...
Crowning the Victors at Olympia - Hieron of Syracuse and victors. Source: Public Domain

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,...
Killer countess. Source: kharchenkoirina / Adobe Stock.

Elizabeth Bathory: Was the ‘Blood Countess’ Serial Killer Misjudged?

Countess Elizabeth Báthory, noted as a prolific serial killer in the Guinness Book of Records, allegedly tortured and killed 80-650 young women between 1585-1610 AD. Imprisoned in Csejte Castle,...
Jesus as a carpenter. Source: R. Gino Santa Maria / Adobe Stock.

The Lost Years of Jesus: No One Knows How He Spent His 20s (Video)

The figure of Jesus Christ continues to captivate the minds and hearts of people worldwide. Despite his impact on Christianity , much of his life remains a mystery. One of the most perplexing...
Terracotta warriors, China. Source: Lukas Hlavac / Adobe Stock.

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,...
The San Galgano sword on display in Montesiepi, Italy. Source: Superchilum / CC BY-SA 4.0

The Legend of Montesiepi: The Sacred San Galgano Sword in the Stone

One of the most famous British folk tales is that of King Arthur and the sword in the stone. According to the various versions of the story, the sword could only be pulled out of the stone by the...
Bust of Ramses the Great. Source: Dennis / Adobe Stock.

Ramses the Great: A Master of Diplomacy and Propaganda (Video)

Ramses II , also known as Ramses the Great, was a successful pharaoh of ancient Egypt. His reign was characterized by military victories , impressive constructions, and a mastery of diplomacy. He...
Representation of Bulla Felix, who could be part of the inspiration for the English Robin Hood legend. Source: Deivison/Adobe Stock

The Legend of Bulla Felix: The Robin Hood of Rome

Few individuals have gone down as greatly in ancient Roman history as Bulla Felix. Bulla Felix was a famous ancient Roman bandit who lived during the 2nd century AD. Though his real name was unknown...

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