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.
The Middle Ages, spanning roughly from the 5th to the late 15th century AD, was a period marked by the rise and fall of kingdoms, the spread of religions, and significant social and political...
Ongoing investigations into the contents of the Tomb of Cerberus, discovered in October 2023 in Giugliano, Naples, led to the decision to open one of the two sarcophagi found there. The stone box had...
Even if the Bible has familiar stories known through cultural osmosis, there are many surprising elements within its pages that might be less well-known. Here are five astonishing things you might...
Konstantine Panegyres /The Conversation The first recorded victor at the Olympics was Coroebus of Elis . A cook by profession, Coroebus won the event called the “stadion” – a footrace of just under...
Characterized by political fragmentation and foreign rule, the Third Intermediate Period in Egypt saw a country divided among competing nations and religious adversaries, ushering in an era founded...
Dentistry in the medieval period was a challenging and often painful experience, reflecting the limited medical knowledge and resources of the time. Unlike today, the absence of anesthetics and...
University of York Archaeological evidence from the world-famous Mesolithic site of Star Carr in North Yorkshire has shown that hunter-gatherers likely kept an orderly home by creating ‘zones’ for...
The architectural evolution of Egyptian temples is a critical glimpse into the ingenuity, religious fervor, and artistic prowess of one of the world's oldest and most enduring civilizations...
The ancient Greeks' passion for knowledge is noteworthy for its lasting impact on Western civilization. Their contributions to philosophy and politics have significantly influenced modern thought,...
Samuel Pepys, the renowned English diarist and naval administrator, is well-known for his detailed accounts of life in the 17th century. While his diary entries from 1660 to 1669 provide rich...
University of York Flatfish, such as plaice, turbot and sole, were regularly consumed as part of a medieval meal, according to analysis of fishbone remains found at archaeological sites across Europe...
Lily Moore/The Conversation You might have heard of a group of women in Ancient Rome known as the “Vestal Virgins”. These female virginal guardians of the sacred flame of Rome could be buried alive...
Nobody reading Homer’s Iliad or Virgil’s Aeneid has ever failed to wonder ‘was this real?’ and ‘where was Troy? ’ . Homer’s Troy lay across the Aegean from Greece, whence the angry Greeks sailed to...
The Therapeutae are an ancient Jewish ascetic community, shrouded in mystery and truly obscure. Much of what we know about them comes from the writings of Philo of Alexandria, a Hellenistic Jewish...
Water management has been a cornerstone of human civilization since the dawn of agricultural societies . The availability and control of water resources have not only dictated the survival of...
Magic is one of the aspects that can be found in many of the groups that are part of the movement known collectively as Modern Paganism. According to practitioners of magic within the movements of...
The utilization of animals in ancient warfare is a fascinating subject that underscores the ingenuity and adaptability of early civilizations in our past. Throughout history, animals have been...
Located in the foothills of Mount Elgon near the Kenya-Uganda border, the Kakapel Rockshelter has provided remarkable insights into the origins of agriculture in East Africa. Archaeologists, led by...
The process of mummification in ancient Egypt was a sophisticated and meticulous practice aimed at preserving the body for the afterlife. Egyptians believed that maintaining the body in a preserved...
To write his plays, William Shakespeare looked for inspiration in a wide variety of sources, including myths, history, and popular stories of his day. Among Shakespeare’s inspirations were two...
Cannibalism , a grim and macabre subject, has a long and varied history. Human fascination with cannibalism is reflected in modern media, from films like "Night of the Living Dead" to TV shows such...
In this article, aimed at identifying the real location of the mythical Pillars of Hercules, it is first verified that in the works of Plutarch and Plato there are correct references to a continent...
The prominence of slavery in ancient Egypt is well-documented, but many aspects of enslaved people's lives remain less known. Here are six lesser-known facts about how Egyptian slaves lived. From...
We sit down with Martin Wall, author of Warriors and Kings: The 1500-Year Battle for Celtic Britain, to discuss his recent publication, the motivation behind it and more. Petros Koutoupis: Who is...
