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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.

A screenshot from the video showing the reality of pirates and slavery. Pirates were ruthless profiteers in the grim world of the slave trade, challenging the romanticized narrative. Source: YouTube Screen shot/Gold and Gunpowder
6 December, 2023 - 19:53 Robbie Mitchell

Pirates and Slavery: The Unromantic Reality (Video)

The portrayal of pirates in popular media often romanticizes their exploits, overshadowing the grim truth of their involvement in the slave trade . A candid examination dispels the illusions created...
A digital representation of a vibrant ancient temple, possibly of the Carthage religion. Source: Kristian/Adobe Stock
6 December, 2023 - 15:56 Robbie Mitchell

The Religion of Ancient Carthage (Video)

The religion of Carthage , though now largely forgotten, once held a significant presence across the Mediterranean. Despite the scarcity of surviving records, modern archaeology has played a crucial...
Made from boiled grape syrup and used to sweeten both food and wine, sapa had a downside – its production utilized lead pots which may have caused the Roman Empire’s demise. Source: Ruslan Gilmanshin/Adobe Stock
5 December, 2023 - 15:57 Robbie Mitchell

Did an Artificial Sweetener Destroy the Roman Empire? (Video)

The fall of the mighty Roman Empire remains shrouded in historical mystery, with various theories attempting to unravel its demise. One intriguing proposition suggests that the empire's collapse may...
Image from the Philips Sonicare toothbrush advertisement. Source: CM Dental.
4 December, 2023 - 21:59 Joanna Gillan

Romans Used Powdered Mouse Brain and Human Urine in Their Toothpaste

Romans were particularly meticulous about their oral care, but their toothpaste recipes were anything but ordinary. A primary ingredient in Roman toothpaste was powdered charcoal, derived from...
Roman slave life meant a fate of brutality and the Roman Republic depended heavily on free work from human beings who had no rights nor possessions. Source: AS Photo Family/Adobe Stock
2 December, 2023 - 00:58 Robbie Mitchell

Bread, Chains and Rebellion, What It Was Like to Be a Roman Slave (Video)

Roman slavery was a grim reality, far removed from Hollywood glamour. Slaves, stripped of rights and possessions, endured lives of hardship and cruelty . Urban or rural, their roles spanned from...
A leaf from the cannabis plant. Source: Kampanat/Adobe Stock
1 December, 2023 - 21:50 ashley cowie

Toxicology Identifies Cannabis in the Bones of Medieval Italians

Archaeologists excavating in a 17th-century hospital crypt in Milan, Italy, recovered the skeletons of nine people. Using tools of toxicology, they have now identified “the first archaeological...
Viking warriors facing down death. Source: AdamantiumStock/Adobe Stock
30 November, 2023 - 15:53 Robbie Mitchell

5 Viking Deaths And What They Tell Us About the Viking Mindset (Video)

The Viking mindset, as revealed in Old Norse sagas , emerges vividly through tales of these five great Viking deaths. The raid on Lindisfarne in AD 793 marked the outset of Viking depredations in...
Archaeologists were astounded when they discovered a mutilated mummy within a humble burial chamber in Luxor's 'Valley of the Kings. Source: YouTube Screenshot/Smithsonian Channel
28 November, 2023 - 19:56 Robbie Mitchell

Archaeologists Aghast at the Discovery of a Mutilated Mummy in Egypt (Video)

Within a humble tomb designated as KV64 nestled in Luxor's revered 'Valley of the Kings,' archaeologists made a disconcerting discovery. Beneath the unassuming exterior and a small coffin lay an...
Australian Aboriginals are the first culture to make bread. Source: Riccardo Niels Mayer / Adobe Stock.
28 November, 2023 - 14:03 Joanna Gillan

Australian Aboriginals Have Been Baking Bread for 34,000+ Years!

Long held as the inventors of bread , the Egyptians, credited with this culinary innovation around 8000 BC, have been surpassed by Australian Aboriginals in historical precedence. Remarkably,...
Evidence of animal sacrifice, many of them horses, at the courtyard of the Casas del Turuñuelo site in Spain. Source: Construyendo Tarteso / CC-BY 4.0
25 November, 2023 - 13:52 Nathan Falde

Lost Mass Animal Sacrifice Rituals Revealed at Tartessos Site in Spain

Archaeologists and other scientists affiliated with several institutions in Spain have revealed a startling fact about an Iron Age site known as Casas del Turuñuelo, which is located in southern...
It is believed the Inca maiden died peacefully. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Smithsonian Channel.
24 November, 2023 - 15:59 Robbie Mitchell

How Do We Know This Inca Mummy Died Peacefully? (Video)

The Inca mummy known as the Maiden has long been a mystery shrouded in the high-altitude silence of the Andes. The question that has haunted many revolves around how she met her end. There are...
Painting ‘The Chess Players’ by Liberale da Verona. Source: Public domain
23 November, 2023 - 18:00 Sadie Smith

The Evolution of Board Games: From Royal Pastimes to Global Phenomena

In the dynamic tapestry of human leisure and recreation, board games have carved an enduring niche, evolving through millennia from ancient pastimes to modern phenomena. This article embarks on a...
Salt piles. Source: altitudevisual / Adobe Stock.
23 November, 2023 - 16:03 Robbie Mitchell

Historical Importance of Salt and How it Shaped Civilizations (Video)

Salt , beyond its culinary role, shaped civilizations. Marco Polo's 13th-century travels brought back treasures from China, including salt, propelling Venice to economic greatness. Salt's...
Yakhchal cooling device in Kashan, Iran. Source: knovakov / Adobe Stock.
22 November, 2023 - 17:04 Robbie Mitchell

The Yakhchāl: Ancient Ice-Making Machines in the Desert (Video)

In the arid expanses of the Persian desert , an ingenious ancient technology known as the Yakhchāl has been discovered, revealing a sophisticated approach to ice-making dating back to 400 BC. These...
Pirate flag. Source: adimas / Adobe Stock.
21 November, 2023 - 15:40 Robbie Mitchell

The Pirate Code: Law and Order Beneath the Black Flag (Video)

In the world of pirates , where lawlessness is often the image that comes to mind, a surprising system of governance existed beneath the black flag . Pirates may have lacked a singular written code,...
The El Colacho baby jumping festival. Source: Viaggio Routard / Flickr.
19 November, 2023 - 21:53 Joanna Gillan

El Colacho: The Spanish Festival Where Men Jump Over Newborn Babies

In the heart of Spain, the quaint village of Castrillo de Murcia becomes the epicenter of a centuries-old tradition known as El Colacho, where men vault over newborns to ward off evil—a spectacle as...
Ancient superstitions abound, including the belief that breaking a mirror can bring bad luck. Source: Ricky / Adobe Stock
17 November, 2023 - 17:56 Robbie Mitchell

10 Spine-Chilling Ancient Superstitions and Their Origins

Superstitions have long held a grip on human imagination, weaving threads of fear and fascination into the tapestry of our history. Today many of us no longer believe in them (or claim not to) but...
Pirate sea battles. Source: Canvas Curator / Adobe Stock.
17 November, 2023 - 15:55 Robbie Mitchell

Pirate Sea Battle Tactics Revealed (Video)

On the turbulent seas of yesteryear, pirates mastered a strategic dance of cunning and boldness during their maritime escapades. Skillfully exploiting geographical nuances and weather patterns, these...
Pirate ship on the open sea at sunset. AI generated representative image of Queen Anne’s Revenge. Sources: Zaleman / Adobe Stock
15 November, 2023 - 15:57 Robbie Mitchell

Queen Anne's Revenge, a Legendary Pirate Ship (Video)

In 1717, Queen Anne's Revenge , once La Concorde , underwent a transformative journey from privateer to pirate flagship. Captured by Blackbeard off the coast of Africa, this vessel, initially...
Sky burial in Tibet. Source: CC BY-SA 3.0
15 November, 2023 - 13:58 Joanna Gillan

In Tibetan Sky Burials, The Dead Are Given To Vultures to Feast Upon

Tibetan sky burials present a striking and somewhat shocking funeral tradition, where the deceased are offered to vultures. This practice, deeply ingrained in Tibetan culture , is also known as the '...
Ancient Egypt funeral of a pharaoh. Source: Robert / Adobe Stock.
14 November, 2023 - 19:59 Robbie Mitchell

Ancient Egypt’s Mystifying Burial Practices (Video)

Unveiling the mysteries of ancient burial practices, the Valley of the Kings stands as an enigmatic testament to Egypt's rich history. Unlike the iconic pyramids , the tombs here delve deep...
Dogs were very important to the ancient Egyptians. Source: StockMediaProduction / Adobe Stock.
12 November, 2023 - 20:00 Robbie Mitchell

Here's Why Dogs Were So Important to Ancient Egyptians (Videos)

In ancient Egypt, the importance of dogs transcended their domestic companionship. These canines played an indispensable role in the capture and control of exotic creatures. Fierce teams of hunters...
Security features in ancient tomb. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Smithsonian Channel.
10 November, 2023 - 15:59 Robbie Mitchell

What Maximum Security Meant for Ancient Tomb Raiders (Video)

The kings of the Han Dynasty went to extraordinary lengths to protect their tombs , and within these fortified resting places, ancient tomb raiders faced an imposing challenge. The tomb in this video...
Traditional cremation ceremony in Bali. Source: Victoria Boroda / Adobe Stock
9 November, 2023 - 17:56 ancient-origins

From India and Taiwan to Tibet, the Living Assist the Dead in their Passage

Many people see death as a rite of a passage : a journey to some new place, or a threshold between two kinds of being. Zoroastrians believe that there is a bridge of judgment that each person who...

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