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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.

Bikini girls mosaic, Villa del Casale, Piazza Armerina, Sicily, Italy
6 June, 2024 - 20:45 ancient-origins

How Did Busy Ancient Greeks and Romans Keep Fit and Healthy?

By Konstantine Panegyres /The Conversation Many people today worry about how to find time to keep fit and healthy in the midst of their busy lives. Believe it or not, but this was also a problem in...
A variety of the giant petroglyphs discovered along the Orinoco River
6 June, 2024 - 15:08 Sahir

Giant Petroglyphs in South America May Mark Territorial Borders

In the 18th century, explorers navigating the vast Orinoco River, a major waterway spanning the northeastern corner of South America, reported sightings of numerous rock engravings of snakes adorning...
Photo of the dragon stone of Lchashen 1 (erected at the entrance of the Metsamor Historical-Archaeological Museum Reserve) and its drawing on the right.
4 June, 2024 - 18:47 Sahir

Burial of Two Infants Found Under Dragon Stone At Prehistoric Armenia Site

A n international team of scientists has unearthed the remains of two infants buried beneath a basalt monument known as a dragon stone at the Lchashen site in Armenia. This finding is remarkable not...
Top image: Left: Visualization of the central grave/main burial of the Hochdorf mound in Baden-Württemberg. Right: Grave goods from Eberdingen-Hochdorf
4 June, 2024 - 14:32 ancient-origins

Ancient DNA Unveils Celtic Dynasties: Power and Kinship in Pre-Roman Germany

Genetic analyses of Celtic burial mounds dating back to 500 BC in Baden-Württemberg have revealed close familial ties among Celtic elites, providing new insights into their power structures. This new...
Abstract flag of Wales with its red dragon
3 June, 2024 - 20:52 ancient-origins

Origins of 'Welsh Dragons' Finally Exposed by Experts

University of Bristol A large fossil discovery has helped shed light on the history of dinosaurs in Wales. Until recently, the land of the dragon didn't have any dinosaurs. However, in the last ten...
Shaman
2 June, 2024 - 19:17 Aleksa Vučković

Shamanism in Ancient Mesoamerica: A Journey to the World of the Gods

Shamanism, a spiritual and religious practice rooted in the belief of an intermediary connection between the human world and the spiritual realms, holds an important place in the ancient cultures of...
This scene shows an"epicier" (grocer or seller of spices) talking with a client. Source: Lawrence OP/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
23 May, 2024 - 21:09 Robbie Mitchell

What Was ‘Middle Class’ in Medieval in England (Video)

In medieval England, societal structure was rigidly defined, determining everything from one's occupation to their social status and privileges. While the majority of the population consisted of...
The deceased nuns were left in seated positions to decompose. Source: Yellow.Cat from Roma, Italy/ CC BY 2.0
23 May, 2024 - 14:55 dhwty

Daily Prayers with Decomposing Corpses: Death Chairs at Aragonese Castle

The Aragonese Castle is a castle built on top of a rocky islet next to Ischia, a small Italian island on the northern end of the Gulf of Naples. Whilst a stronghold is said to have already been built...
A detail of a Chinese warrior from the Terracotta Army. Source: Sam Steiner/CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
22 May, 2024 - 00:57 Robbie Mitchell

The Tactics of the Ancient Chinese (Video)

The ancient Chinese were adept at employing cunning tactics, both on the battlefield and in political intrigue. In the realm of warfare, strategies like the "Empty Fort" gambit exemplified their...
Roman Baths in Bath, England. The house is a well-preserved Roman site for public bathing. Source: bnoragitt/Adobe Stock
21 May, 2024 - 20:55 Robbie Mitchell

The Roman Baths Had Ancient Healing Powers (Video)

The history of the Roman Baths in Bath, England, unveils a narrative rich in intrigue and cultural significance. Bath , known for its elegant Georgian architecture today, has a murky origin tale...
AI image of Aztec cuisine with Aztec empire in the background. Source: Jeannaa/Adobe Stock
20 May, 2024 - 20:40 Robbie Mitchell

Beyond Maize: Hallucinogens and Frog Legs Defined Aztec Cuisine (Video)

The Aztec civilization , flourishing between 500-600 years ago in Central Mexico, had a rich and distinctive culinary tradition that reflected their sophisticated culture. Central to their diet were...
Roman armor was exceptionally well-engineered and fit for purpose, and transformed the Roman legionary into a formidable fighter. Source: Caligula10’s wife / CC BY-SA 3.0
20 May, 2024 - 14:50 Aleksa Vučković

Roman Armor, the Backbone of the Ferocious Roman Warrior

Rome created an empire that was amongst the most powerful in the ancient world. But conquering half of the known world was no easy task, and it required a capable and highly functional fighting force...
New research has thrown into doubt long-held assumptions about the origin and the gender of horse sacrifices by the last European pagans. Source: Aljabakphoto / CC BY-SA 4.0.
19 May, 2024 - 22:35 Joe Green

Europe’s Pagans Imported Horses to Sacrifice… and They Got Them From Christians

Horse sacrifices were a mainstay of pagan rituals across the Baltic. The archaeology leaves no doubt: from the 1st to 13th centuries AD this pagan belief scarcely wavered in popularity: even the loss...
The two bull heads guarding the tomb in Tharsa are accompanied with garlands, in an arrangement known as bucrania. Source: IHA.
19 May, 2024 - 18:02 Sahir

2,000-Year-Old Tomb Found in Tharsa Was Guarded by Bulls

In the ancient city of Tharsa in modern day Turkey, archaeologists have discovered a 2000-year-old tomb adorned with two bull heads during excavation and cleaning efforts. Now known as Turuş Rock,...
A group in traditional medieval attire engaged in a medieval circle dance. Source: JackF /Adobe Stock
19 May, 2024 - 14:55 Aleksa Vučković

The Multifunctional Merriment of Medieval Dance

In the often violent and gloomy medieval life, dance triumphantly emerged as a vibrant expression of joy, celebration, and social interaction. From the grand halls of noble courts to the humble...
Painting Captives in Rome, by Charles Bartlett. Source: Public Domain
18 May, 2024 - 20:20 Robbie Mitchell

Understanding the Harsh Realities of Roman Slaves (Video)

​ The Roman slave's existence was a harrowing one, devoid of freedom or dignity. Despite the grandeur of the Roman Empire , its foundation rested upon the backs of these oppressed individuals, whose...
Old medieval torture chamber with many pain tools. Source: CL-Medien/Adobe Stock
17 May, 2024 - 20:56 Robbie Mitchell

The Most Horrific Medieval Torture Techniques Explained (Video)

Medieval history unveils a grim tapestry of torture and execution methods , each designed to inflict maximum suffering and deter dissent. Among the most notorious was "hanged, drawn, and quartered,"...
A Roman love scene. Mosaic found in Centocelle (1st century AD). Source: Kunsthistorisches Museum/CC BY-SA 2.5
6 May, 2024 - 15:24 Martin Clemens

Silphium, The Ancient Contraceptive Herb Driven To Extinction

As an institution of spiritual authority, the Catholic Church wields much influence over the attitudes and beliefs of millions of people around the globe. From scriptural doctrine to less refined...
Representational image of Muslim achievements to science, medicine, philosophy and education. Source: mknisanci / Adobe Stock
5 May, 2024 - 22:45 Joanna Gillan

“Historical Amnesia” Obscures Forgotten Achievements of Muslim Culture

In an article authored by Craig Considine and published in The Huffington Post , the veil is lifted on a profound historic oversight in some educational curriculums: the neglect of Muslim...
Comanche Feats of Horsemanship (1834-1835) by George Catlin. Source: Public Domain
5 May, 2024 - 17:50 Mark Miller

The History of the Comanche Tribe is One of Conquest

The history of the Native American Comanche tribe includes their move from ancestral homelands in Wyoming to more southerly parts - and conquering new lands. They were then in turn conquered, after...
Photo of an Aztec warrior in imagined armor. Source: Superhero Woozie/Adobe Stock
3 May, 2024 - 20:51 Robbie Mitchell

History's Most Dreaded Warriors (Video)

Throughout history, formidable warriors have etched their names into the annals of warfare, leaving behind legacies of terror and conquest. Among them, Genghis Khan and his Mongol horde stand out as...
A limestone panel depicting two Maya Mesoamerican ballgame players. Usumacinta River area, Guatemala. Source: Ada Turnbull Hertle Fund; Art Institute Chicago/CC BY 3.0
30 April, 2024 - 17:40 Sahir

Hallucinogens Found In Ancient Yucatán Ball Courts Betray Maya Offerings

New research has shed light on the rituals surrounding the construction of a ballcourt in the ancient Maya city of Yaxnohcah. A collecting of botanicals, subjected to environmental DNA analysis, has...
AI illustration symbolic of the British monarchy. Source: Julia Zarubina/Adobe Stock
27 April, 2024 - 20:52 Robbie Mitchell

The British Monarchy: An Authority That Endures Over Time (Video)

The British monarchy boasts an impressive lineage spanning over 1200 years, making it one of the oldest in the world. Through centuries marked by uprisings, revolutions, and global conflicts, its...
AI image of Arab warrior assassin rushing through the desert with two curved sabers with which magical Arabian runes. Source: warmtail/Adobe Stock
26 April, 2024 - 23:00 Robert W. Lebling

How Arabian Script Infiltrated the Runes of Ancient Germany

Arabian archers in the Roman army had a surprising impact on the evolution of writing in ancient Germany at the dawn of our Common Era (AD). The old Germanic alphabet, known as runes – bolstered with...

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