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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.

Detail of a painting of a mother and child, in this case Andromache and Astyanax by Pierre Paul Prud’hon. Source: Public domain

Mothers’ Lives in Ancient Greece Were Not Easy – But Celebrations of Their Love Have Survived Across the Centuries

By Joel Christensen / The Conversation As a father of three and the husband of an amazing woman, I know that one day a year is far too little to recognize everything mothers do. But my work as a...
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,...
Kurozu Japanese Vinegar. Source: kazoka303030 / Adobe Stock.

Kurozu: Rare Japanese Vinegar is Worth Its Weight in Gold (Video)

In a small southern Japanese town called Fukuyama, there is a unique type of vinegar that has been brewed for over 200 years using a traditional fermentation method. It is called kurozu, a Japanese...
Shea butter making in Ghana. Source: nomadphotographs / Adobe Stock.

Women's Gold: The Shea Butter Makers of Ghana (Video)

For centuries, women in West Africa have been turning shea nuts into butter, known as "women's gold", as it is the only source of income for many families in northern Ghana . However, the biggest...
Bonsai scissors. Source: ANUCHA / Adobe Stock.

Bonsai Scissors Made with Samurai Sword Forging Techniques (Video)

Amazingly, a fancy pair of bonsai scissors can cost an eyewatering $26,000. How? It turns out that the secret to making the best bonsai scissors in the world lies in an ancient method of sword-making...
African tribal warrior. Source: padnob / Adobe Stock.

When Two Tribes Meet: Watch a Pivotal Moment in Human History (Video)

The origins of human civilization are shrouded in mystery, but one thing is clear: our ancestors were not always peaceful. For millennia, different groups of early humans lived in isolated...
Hide tanning in Morocco. Source: Jorge / Adobe Stock.

Ancient Tradition of Hide Tanning is a Foul and Dirty Job (Video)

In the ancient alleys of Fez , Morocco lies a 600-year-old tannery infamous for its foul stench. The tannery is a place where animal hides go through a filthy and smelly process to be transformed...
Turkish meerschaum pipe. Source: l_cigarrito / Adobe Stock.

Why Turkish Meerschaum Pipes Cost a Fortune (Video)

Meerschaum smoking pipes have been highly valued by collectors and smokers for centuries, but have you ever wondered why Turkish Meerschaum pipes are so expensive? These pipes are made of meerschaum...
Abraham ready to sacrifice his son Isaac. Source: Stig Alenas / Adobe Stock.

Biblical Myth or Historical Fact? Child Sacrifice in the Age of Abraham (Video)

Was the bible story of Abraham and Isaac inspired by real religious traditions? Recent archaeological excavations in Israel may be evidence of child sacrifice in ancient Israel . The excavations have...
Hand weaving jute crafts in India. Source: mitrarudra / Adobe Stock.

The Brave Women Preserving India's Tribal Weaving Legacy (Video)

In the face of cheaper alternatives flooding the market, women from the Rajbanshi ethnic group in West Bengal, India have been fighting to keep an ancient weaving tradition alive. Jute, one of India'...
Aerial view of the ancient part of Dujiangyan town and irrigation system. Source: D. Kvasnetskyy / Adobe Stock.

Watch Stunning Water Releasing Festival at 2,000-Year-Old Dujiangyan Dam (Video)

In China's Sichuan province, near the city of Chengdu , lies an engineering marvel that has stood the test of time for over two thousand years. Dujiangyan , meaning "dam on the capital city’s river...
Egyptian mummy. Source: esebene / Adobe Stock.

The Accidental Mummy: How Did Mummification Begin? (Video)

Mummification has long been an area of interest in history, and the potential origins of this practice have been a subject of discussion for some time. A possible explanation was discovered in the...
Representational image of a ziggurat tower structure in ancient Mesopotamia. Source: top images / Adobe Stock

Five Surprising Ways Mesopotamia Shaped the World

One of the most fascinating and accomplished civilizations in history was the fruitful region of Mesopotamia. Frequently called the “Cradle of Civilization,” Mesopotamia was home to some of the...
Ciudad Perdida, Colombia. Source: JoergSteber / Adobe Stock.

Ciudad Perdida: The Lost City in the Clouds (Video)

Have you ever heard of the Lost City, or Ciudad Perdida , high up in Colombia's isolated Sierra Nevada mountain range? This remarkable 500-year-old city was built by the Tayrona people and is...
Acai berries staining a hand. Source: Imago Photo / Adobe Stock

Acai Berries: Uncovering a Historic Amazonian Nutritional Powerhouse

You’ve probably heard of the acai berry before. This small, purple fruit is incredibly common nowadays in fruit bowls and smoothies, but did you know it actually has a long and fascinating history?...
Ancient windmills, Iran. Source: ghiaseddin / Adobe Stock.

Watch 1,000-Year-Old Windmills in Action (Video)

Located in the remote Chiffon village in northeast Iran , a collection of 1,000-year-old windmills still stand tall and proud, their blades whirring steadily in the strong winds that blow across the...
Chinese concubine. Source: TK0920 / Adobe Stock.

Life and Death in the Harem: China's Imperial Concubines (Video)

Imperial China's history is full of tales of rich and powerful men who kept concubines in their lives, with the most famous system of concubinage existing within the Chinese imperial family. From the...
Ancient Greek household manager with his slave. Source: migfoto / Adobe Stock.

The Not-So-Romantic Truth About Life in Ancient Greece (Video)

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in ancient Greece? It's easy to romanticize the past, especially when it comes to a civilization that produced some of the most important...
The coronation of Charles VII of France (1429), detail of the painting Jeanne d'Arc (1886–1890) by Jules Eugène Lenepveu. Many ancient coronation traditions will be recreated in the coronation of King Charles III. Source: Public Domain

King Charles III’s Coronation: A 900-Year-Old Ceremony in the Modern Day

Cominh this weekend, King Charles III’s coronation will be the 39th coronation ceremony of a British monarch at Westminster Abbey. It is an ancient ritual that dates back over 900 years and is the...
Medieval knight eating a meal. Source: diter / Adobe Stock.

Outside the Battlefield, What Was Daily Life Like for Medieval Knights? (Video)

Medieval knights are often portrayed as warriors who spent all their time fighting, wooing noble ladies, participating in tournaments and battling their enemies. However, there was much more to their...
What Was Daily Life in Ancient Egypt Really Like? (Video)

What Was Daily Life in Ancient Egypt Really Like? (Video)

The ancient civilization of Egypt has long been a source of intrigue and fascination for people around the world. From the monumental pyramids to the mysterious hieroglyphs , the culture and history...
Medieval farmer. Source: Marina / Adobe Stock.

Getting Dressed as a Medieval Ploughman (Video)

What was involved in getting dressed as a Medieval ploughman ? For farmers in the Middle Ages, conditions were harsh and the work backbreaking . But ploughmen were vital members of the medieval...
Samurai warrior. Source: DZMITRY / Adobe Stock.

Blood, Swords, and Samurai: Punishment in Feudal Japan (Video)

Medieval Japan may be known for its honor, duty, and bravery, but there was also a darker side to the Samurai clans who ruled the era. Punishments for crimes were brutal and oppressive, with extreme...
Roman bathhouse. Source: 4K_Heaven / Adobe Stock.

Keeping it Clean: A Look at Ancient Hygiene Practices (Video)

From the Sumerians and Egyptians to the Victorians and beyond, humans have been striving to keep their surroundings clean since they first settled down and built permanent homes. Before civilization...

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