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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 Gothic boxwood miniature prayer bead. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art / Public Domain.
15 September, 2023 - 20:51 Robbie Mitchell

The Intricate Carvings of Gothic Boxwood Miniature Prayer Beads (Video)

Unlocking centuries-old mysteries, Gothic Boxwood Miniature Prayer Beads have long baffled experts with their intricate scenes delicately carved into walnut-sized spheres during the 1400s and 1500s...
Longsword fighting. Source: Cyberguru / CC by SA 4.0.
15 September, 2023 - 17:00 Robbie Mitchell

Longsword Fighting, A Once-Forgotten Martial Art Resurfaces (Video)

In recent years Longsword fighting, a once-forgotten martial art has experienced a modern resurgence across the USA. Referred to as German longsword, it traces its roots to the late Middle Ages , but...
Fresco depicting the Virgin Mary holding Baby Jesus. Source: Giorgio G / Adobe Stock.
14 September, 2023 - 21:00 Robbie Mitchell

Why Do Babies in Medieval Art Look Like Creepy Middle-Aged Men? (Video)

In medieval art, depictions of babies are far from the cherubic, innocent infants we imagine today. Instead, they appear as miniature adults, complete with mature features that can be quite...
Witchcraft in India. Source: YouTube Screenshot / The New York Times.
13 September, 2023 - 17:03 Robbie Mitchell

Witchcraft: India's Deadly Superstition (Video)

As India has continued to modernize, the old issue of ancient superstitions surrounding witchcraft has repeatedly cropped up. This deeply rooted belief has led to a tragic trend of violence against...
Vikings used grooming tools like bone combs. Source: Fxquadro / Adobe Stock.
13 September, 2023 - 01:58 Robbie Mitchell

What Viking Hygiene Was Like (Video)

During the Viking era, Norse people placed a strong emphasis on hygiene and grooming . They combed their hair daily, bathed regularly, and frequently changed their clothes. Viking men sported a...
Dancer at a traditional Theyyam ceremony, India. Source: Dietmar Temps / Adobe Stock.
10 September, 2023 - 21:03 Robbie Mitchell

How Artists Are Keeping the Ancient Practice of Theyyam Alive (Video)

In Kerala , a state nestled in the southern part of India, the age-old tradition of Theyyam persists, defying the relentless march of time. This ritualistic form of worship, deeply ingrained in the...
Medieval toilet. Source: Mikhail / Adobe Stock.
10 September, 2023 - 17:02 Robbie Mitchell

From Pits to Flushes: The Strange History of Toilets (Video)

Throughout history, human waste disposal has undergone a remarkable transformation. In ancient India, as early as 2500 BC, the Indus Valley showcased a rudimentary toilet and sewer system that was...
Egyptian puppetry. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Euronews.
8 September, 2023 - 20:54 Robbie Mitchell

Ancient Egyptian Puppetry Is Making a Comeback (Video)

The ancient art of Egyptian puppetry , tracing its roots back to the era of the Pharaohs , has found a remarkable resurgence in the contemporary world. Puppet performances, along with the enchanting...
The execution of Margaret Pole. Source: Baxter’s History of England c 1789-90, published 1796.
7 September, 2023 - 16:59 Robbie Mitchell

Henry VIII's gruesome execution of Margaret Pole (Video)

Amid the tumultuous reign of Henry VIII , the tragic narrative of Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, unfolds. Descendant of the Plantagenet lineage, her life interwove with the religious turmoil...
Viking raider surveys his work at a burning medieval village. Source: ParinApril/Adobe Stock
7 September, 2023 - 01:55 Robbie Mitchell

Viking Raids: What It Was Like to Be On the Front Lines (Video)

In the fierce era of Viking raids , battles were unforgiving and fierce. With ten-foot spears and three-foot shields, Viking combat was a brutal spectacle. Most battles began with a rain of arrows...
Executioner with axe. Source: Dziurek/Adobe Stock
6 September, 2023 - 17:00 Robbie Mitchell

Jack Ketch Executioner - Boiled Body Parts in His Kitchen (Video)

Exploring the dark and gruesome history of Jack Ketch , the infamous executioner of 17th-century England, reveals a chilling narrative. Ketch, a civil servant paid for his grim task, gained notoriety...
Winemaking in Georgia. Source: lobodaphoto / Adobe Stock.
5 September, 2023 - 20:51 Robbie Mitchell

Behind Georgia’s 8,000-Year-Old Winemaking Tradition (Video)

Georgia boasts an unparalleled winemaking legacy, stretching back an astonishing eight millennia . Research reveals that this land birthed the art of winemaking, nurturing over 40 vineyards today...
Snail slime was used for beauty products. Source: Volodymyr / Adobe Stock.
3 September, 2023 - 16:58 Robbie Mitchell

Ancient People Harvested Snail Slime for Beauty Products (Video)

Harvesting the natural benefits of snail mucus has a history dating back to ancient civilizations . This unique substance, valued for its nutrient-rich qualities, has found its way into modern beauty...
Aztec warriors. Source: Arthur / Adobe Stock.
1 September, 2023 - 20:56 Robbie Mitchell

The Ancient Aztec Took Hygiene Very Seriously (Video)

Thanks to their penchant for human sacrifice the Aztecs have a rather gruesome reputation, but what was their hygiene like? As it turns out, they upheld remarkable standards of hygiene. Their...
Helen Mirren playing Caesonia in Tinto Brass’ 1979 historical drama film, Caligula. Source: CC BY-SA 4.0/Author Supplied
1 September, 2023 - 18:52 ancient origins

Did the Romans and Greeks Really Enjoy Orgies?

Christian-Georges Schwentzel /The Conversation Orgies conjure in our imagination the world of Greek and Roman Antiquity, thanks to more or less titillating films portraying debauched emperors, or...
Traditional snowshoes. Source: debspoons / Adobe Stock.
1 September, 2023 - 17:00 Robbie Mitchell

Wisdom in Every Step: Tracing the History of Snowshoes (Video)

Bill Mackowski, a snowshoe craftsman and collector, has assembled an extraordinary collection of over 200 pairs. These snowshoes, each with a unique tale, hold cultural and practical significance...
Inuit women with tattoos. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Great Big Story.
1 September, 2023 - 01:56 Robbie Mitchell

Ancient Ink Reborn: Revitalizing Traditional Inuit Tattooing (Video)

In a harmonious blend of identity and strength, Marjorie Taub breathes life back into the ancient art of Inuit tattooing. With practiced skill, she employs two techniques that date back thousands of...
Khanjar dagger. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Great Big Story.
31 August, 2023 - 18:54 Robbie Mitchell

A Master Craftsman Makes the Perfect Dagger (Video)

In Oman , the possession of a khanjar is a matter of tradition and pride for men. These curved daggers , tracing their origins to the 16th or 17th century, have evolved from mere weapons to exquisite...
The Legend of the San Nicolas Cookie. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Great Big Story.
31 August, 2023 - 01:57 Robbie Mitchell

The Legend of the San Nicolas Cookie (Video)

The San Nicolas Cookie isn’t just a soft and delicious treat, it carries a rich history and unique characteristics that make it stand out. Originating in the 1600s in the Philippines , these cookies...
Baby eels used in Vietnamese eel soup. Source: tulpahn / Adobe Stock.
30 August, 2023 - 17:00 Robbie Mitchell

What Traditional Breakfast Is Like Around the World (Video)

The world's morning meals have evolved remarkably over time. Once forbidden in medieval Europe, breakfast has transformed into a crucial start for industrious lives. Influences like coffee and tea...
Guatemalan Mayan woman making chocolate with traditional grinding stone. Source: nobito_gt / Adobe Stock.
29 August, 2023 - 16:56 Joanna Gillan

Creating Guatemala’s Food of the Gods – Chocolate (Video)

Guatemala , a land celebrated for its coffee and avocados, holds a lesser-known but equally delightful claim to fame: its chocolate . The region of Chocolá, characterized by frequent rains and...
Traditional sausages. Source: Voyagerix / Adobe Stock.
29 August, 2023 - 01:54 Robbie Mitchell

These Sausages Are Over 500 Years Old (Video)

In the heart of the English countryside, amidst historic landscapes and age-old towns, a remarkable business has flourished for over five centuries. Sausages, the epitome of timelessness and taste ,...
Archaeologist excavating the skeletal remains of a priest discovered within the Pacopampa tomb in Peru. Source: Peru’s Ministry of Culture
28 August, 2023 - 22:53 Nathan Falde

3,000-Year-Old Pacopampa Tomb Reveals Religious Rites of Ancient Peru

A team of archaeologists from Peru and Japan have discovered a circular grave in northern Peru that is approximately 3,000 years old, and maybe even older. The Pacopampa tomb and burial site...
Chinampa, Mexico. Source: Maleny / Adobe Stock.
28 August, 2023 - 16:53 Joanna Gillan

Saving Chinampas, Mexico’s Ancient Floating Farms (Video)

South of Mexico City lies Xochimilco, an area renowned for its distinctive floating farms, locally referred to as " Chinampas ." These floating islands have been a part of Mexico's agricultural...

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