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Joanna Gillan

Joanna Gillan is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. 

Joanna completed a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) degree in Australia and published research in the field of Educational Psychology. She has a rich and varied career, ranging from teaching children with autism in an early intervention program, owning and operating an online English teaching business, working as a research and project officer in the office of TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall and assistant in the office of Prince William and Prince Harry, as well as co-owning a website design and development company.

Joanna co-founded Ancient Origins with Dr Ioannis Syrigos. Together they immersed themselves in their personal passion for ancient history, mythology and human origins.  She loves learning about and experiencing other cultures and has spent time living in Australia, UK, Greece, Ecuador and Ireland and travelling to hundreds of historic sites around the world.

Joanna has written over 1,000 articles for Ancient Origins, some of which have been mentioned in the New York Times, CNN, Fox News, The Guardian, Peru Weekly, International Business Times, Spiegel and The Daily Mail. She has contributed as a guest writer for other media organizations, including The Epoch Times and iSpectrum Magazine, and has been interviewed on historical subjects on ten radio shows, including the BBC in the UK, and Newstalk in Ireland. She has also appeared on Ireland’s national TV channel, RTE, on the Today Show . 

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Mesopotamian cylinder seal showing Sumerians drinking beer with straws. Source: Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative / CC by SA 4.0.
3 November, 2023 - 21:59 Joanna Gillan

Sumerians Used Straws to Drink Beer from Shared Vessels!

In the quest to uncover the everyday lives of ancient civilizations, archaeologists have stumbled upon some fascinating finds. Among these intriguing artifacts are the beer pots of ancient Sumer ,...
The Lamassu that has been re-excavated in Iraq. Image Credit : Mustafa Yahya
28 October, 2023 - 22:41 Joanna Gillan

Astonishing 2,700-Year-Old Assyrian Winged Deity Unearthed in Iraq

In a landmark discovery, archaeologists have re-excavated a magnificent lamassu at the ancient city of Khursbad, Iraq. The monumental sculpture, an embodiment of an Assyrian protective deity , is...
Main: An historical prosthetic hand (The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum). Inset: A scan of the prosthetic hand found in Freising (Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation).
28 October, 2023 - 18:18 Joanna Gillan

Archaeologists Unearth a Medieval Skeleton with a Prosthetic Hand

In an extraordinary archaeological discovery in Freising, Germany, experts have unearthed a medieval skeleton equipped with an iron prosthetic hand. The burial, dated to the 15th century, offers...
Detail of ‘The Love Potion’ (1903) by Evelyn de Morgan. Unlike the creation of this woman, Locusta of Gaul’s potions were made in hatred. Source: Public Domain
27 October, 2023 - 22:59 Joanna Gillan

Mithridatism is An Ancient Method to Become Poison-Proof

Defying death one sip at a time, mithridatism is the audacious ancient art of self-immunizing against poisons . Named after its most famous proponent, King Mithridates VI of Pontus , this practice...
Aerial view of Lake Tere-Khol and Por-Bajin island, the Siberian fortress. Source: Por Bajin Cultural Foundation
25 October, 2023 - 14:59 Joanna Gillan

1,300-Year-Old Fortress Ruins on Siberian Lake Mystifies Experts

It is one of the most mysterious archaeological sites in Russia – an ancient complex engulfing a small island in the center of a remote lake in the mountains of southern Siberia. At first glance, it...
Naki Sumo Baby Crying Festival. Source: lensonjapan / Flickr.
23 October, 2023 - 18:51 Joanna Gillan

Sumo Wrestlers Make Babies Cry at the Ancient Naki Sumo Festival

History is replete with oddities and peculiar rituals that have stood the test of time, and Japan, with its rich tapestry of culture and traditions, is no exception. Enter the "Naki Sumo Baby Crying...
A Roman wearing Tyrian purple. Source: AI generated.
21 October, 2023 - 22:57 Joanna Gillan

Roman Citizens Could Be Punished with Exile for Wearing Purple

The ancient Roman Empire was not only a marvel of architecture, politics, and warfare but also a hub of societal regulations and fashion statements. One might believe that the color of a garment...
An ancient Greek helmet found at the Acropolis of Velia in Italy, in what was then Magna Graecia. Credit: Italian Ministry of Culture
21 October, 2023 - 15:00 Joanna Gillan

Ancient Greek Helmet and Unearthed at Acropolis of Velia, Italy

Archaeologists have unearthed an ancient Greek helmet at the Acropolis of Elea-Velia , in the historical region of Magna Graecia, Italy. This is only the third helmet of its kind to be discovered at...
Human remains of bones and skulls at a traditional cannibal site. Source: simanlaci / Adobe Stock.
20 October, 2023 - 14:50 Joanna Gillan

Fiji’s Rampant Cannibalism for 2,500 Years Earned it the Name ‘Cannibal Isle’

Fiji , the idyllic paradise in the South Pacific, carries a dark historical secret. Long before it was renowned for its scenic beauty, early European explorers knew it as the foreboding 'Cannibal...
The Great Flood. Source: Faith Stock/Adobe Stock
17 October, 2023 - 15:04 Joanna Gillan

How Sumerian Tablets Told the Story of The Great Flood

The world's first known flood myth can be traced back to the Sumerians around 2000 BC. Sumerian tablets recount captivating tales of human beginnings, the creation of mankind, and the profound...
The Magnificent Ishtar Gate of Babylon
16 October, 2023 - 15:16 Joanna Gillan

The Magnificent Ishtar Gate of Babylon

The Ishtar Gate was the eighth gate of the city of Babylon (in present day Iraq) and was the main entrance into the great city. It was a sight to behold; the gate was covered in lapis lazuli glazed...
Red feathers. Source: Thewonderalice / Adobe Stock.
15 October, 2023 - 22:55 Joanna Gillan

Red Feathers Were More Valuable Than Gold in Ancient Hawaii

From the gold coins of the Roman Empire to the jade treasures of ancient China, every culture has its emblem of wealth and status. But in the lush landscapes of ancient Hawaii , an unlikely item...
5,500-Year-Old Neolithic Cranial Amulets Shed Light on Ancient Belief System
14 October, 2023 - 18:58 Joanna Gillan

5,500-Year-Old Neolithic Cranial Amulets Shed Light on Ancient Belief System

In 1914, a Swiss amateur archaeologist, Ernest Roulin, approached the Museum of Science and Art in Ireland with an incredibly rare discovery – two ancient amulets made from fragments of human cranium...
AI tech scans carbonized Herculaneum scrolls. Photograph: University of Kentucky.
14 October, 2023 - 14:57 Joanna Gillan

AI Unlocks Secrets from Charred Herculaneum Scroll

A 21-year-old computer-science prodigy has used artificial intelligence (AI) to achieve what many thought impossible: reading the interior text of a carbonized scroll from the ancient Roman city of...
Leech Finders, from the print collection Costume of Yorkshire (1814), by artist George Walker and engravers Robert and Daniel Havell. Source: New York Public Library.
12 October, 2023 - 14:56 Joanna Gillan

Leech Collectors Used Amputated Legs to Procure Leeches

When it comes to historical jobs that will make your skin crawl, leech collecting certainly tops the list. While today, leeches might be an oddity or a relic of ancient medicine, they were once...
The Hanging Pillar of Lepakshi. Source: Bikashrd / CC by SA 4.0.
6 October, 2023 - 18:55 Joanna Gillan

The Hanging Pillar of Lepakshi Defies Gravity in Indian Temple

In the heart of Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh, India, lies a marvel of ancient Indian architecture that has puzzled both historians and architects alike – a temple with a pillar that doesn’t completely...

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