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History

From the powerful civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Indus Valley, to the fearsome yet sophisticated society of the Vikings, the ancient world was a surprising and challenging place. Here we feature some of the most seminal and influential events and people throughout history, that have helped shape the world we know today.

Drawing by Albrecht Dürer of Irish soldiers.
30 January, 2019 - 18:57 dhwty

Niall of the Nine Hostages, One of the Most Fruitful Kings in History

Niall Noígíallach or Niall of the Nine Hostages in English, was an Irish king believed to have lived during the 4th / 5th century. The Uí Néill dynasties, which dominated the northern part of Ireland...
Gladiators after the fight, José Moreno Carbonero (1882) Museo del Prado.
30 January, 2019 - 17:51 MartiniF

The Rise and Fall of Vejovis, Etruscan God of Criminals, Slaves and Fighters

In 1939, an excavation underneath Piazza del Campidoglio discovered an almost completely obscured ancient Roman building. This ancient Roman building is identified as the temple of Vejovis, one of...
Old iron chastity belt from Middle Ages.
29 January, 2019 - 22:54 Sarah P Young

The Long Fascination With the Chastity Belt – But Was it Just A Fantasy?

The chastity belt is an item that titillates and fascinates in equal measure. The idea of the brave medieval knight locking up his beloved, naively believing a mere padlock would be enough to keep...
Woman at Petra.
28 January, 2019 - 17:36 Sarah P Young

Were the Women of Petra More Important Than the Men?

The Nabataeans were a society who inhabited Arabia and the Southern Levant from the 3rd century BC to approximately 106 AD when the Nabataean kingdom was annexed by the Roman Empire. Known for their...
Fractal Cannabis Marijuana Mobius Dragon
28 January, 2019 - 15:31 Jason Jarrell

The Indo-European Legacy of Ancient Cannabis

There are few plants that have caused upheavals in human society comparable to those centered on cannabis in modern times. Since the declaration of the ‘war on cannabis’ by American President Richard...
François Joseph Navez, The Massacre of the Innocents, 1824
27 January, 2019 - 18:56 dhwty

The Chilling Ancient Practice of Infanticide Was Once Accepted as Normal

Today, the thought of infanticide – the intentional killing of infants – fills us with horror, but in many ancient societies, not only was this practice permitted, it was considered a regular fact of...
Thai style garden. Located in Royal Park Rajapruek, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
27 January, 2019 - 13:58 ancient-origins

Heaven on Earth: The Ancient Roots of The Backyard Garden

You don’t have to be an avid gardener or know all the Latin names of plants to appreciate the opportunity for reflection that a stroll in the garden can afford us. The explosion of colors, shapes,...
Roman soldiers and their general.
26 January, 2019 - 18:45 dhwty

Ruthless Rulers Did Dark Deeds Right From the Founding of Rome

According to history, the city of Rome was founded by Romulus in 753 BC. From then till the end of the 6 th century BC, Rome was ruled by kings after which it was transformed into a republic. In 27...
Emperor Domitian by Domenico Fetti. Musee du Louvre.
26 January, 2019 - 13:48 dhwty

Why Was Emperor Domitian Hated by the Elite but Loved by the People?

Domitian was a Roman emperor who lived during the 1 st century AD. He was the son of Vespasian, and the younger brother of Titus, whom he succeeded as emperor. Together, these three emperors form the...
Kung Fu Shaolin
25 January, 2019 - 16:38 ashley cowie

36 Chambers of Death: The Energy Centers of the Ancient Shaolin Martial Arts

Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) was the name of the 1993 debut album by American rap group Wu-Tang Clan, which not only set a new standard for hardcore hip hop during the 1990s, but it brought New...
Alexander the Great and physician Philip of Acarnania.
25 January, 2019 - 13:50 ancient-origins

Alexander the Great Didn’t Decay Because He Wasn’t Dead Says Clinician

By Dr. Katherine Hall / Science Daily It may have happened more than 2,300 years ago, but the mystery of Alexander the Great's death could finally be solved, thanks to a University of Otago, New...
Tapestry of Vespasian and his two sons Titus and Domitian.
25 January, 2019 - 01:55 dhwty

A Turbulent Tide Turns In Favor of the Flavian Dynasty

The Flavian Dynasty was a Roman imperial dynasty that lasted from 69 AD to 96 AD. There were three Flavian emperors, Vespasian and his sons Titus and Domitian. The Flavians came to power at the end...
Relief representing a two-headed eagle on the sphinx located at the right of the Sphinx Gate, Alaca Höyük, Turkey.
24 January, 2019 - 13:59 Carly Silver

How a Two Headed Bird of Prey Ruled Ancient Mesopotamia and Hatti

Several infamous empires of the early modern period and current modern periods bore curious insignia. The Byzantine, Austrian, and Russian Empires all adopted the symbol of a mythical creature, a...
Henry VIII's first interview with Anne Boleyn.
24 January, 2019 - 01:56 dhwty

Capricious Life of Anne Boleyn, The Woman Behind the Church of England

Anne Boleyn was the second wife of Henry VIII and therefore a queen of England. In order to marry Anne, the English king broke away from Rome and formed the Church of England. Henry had hoped that...
9th century painting of Jean Baptist Huysmans showing an Islamic Egyptian family during an evening prayer.
23 January, 2019 - 22:55 dhwty

A History of Islam: The Second Largest Religion in Today’s World Began With a Divine Revelation

The word ‘Islam’ means ‘submission or surrender to the will of God’. Islam is one of the major world religions, and with over 1 billion adherents, is the second largest religion in the world today...
This mud sealing found in KV 54 is still attached to a piece of the papyrus tie that was used to secure a container. The impression preserves the throne name of Tutankhamun, Nebkheperure, and the epithets “beloved of Khnum” and “manifold of praises.”
23 January, 2019 - 14:51 anand balaji

When Tutankhamun Lay in State: Do Floral Collars Hint at Sinister Turn of Events? – Part II

Based on the floral remains recovered from his crypt (KV62) and Pit (KV) 54, do the Dakhamunzu letters, allegedly written by Ankhesenamun, point to Tutankhamun’s delayed interment? If true, this is...
Earth painted on face. Elements of this image furnished by NASA. Gaia reminds us of our connection with the living Earth.
22 January, 2019 - 23:04 Walter Cruttenden

Gaia: Recognizing Our Role on a Living Earth

In the early 1960s, renowned chemist Dr. James Lovelock was approached by NASA to develop systems and methods that could be used in determining whether or not a planet harbored life. Specifically,...
Of all the pharaohs of ancient Egypt who yearned to rest for an eternity in their sepulchers in the Valley of the Kings, only Tutankhamun has had his wish fulfilled. Here, his mortal remains rest within a climate-controlled glass case in the Antechamber.
21 January, 2019 - 17:29 anand balaji

When Tutankhamun Lay in State: Did Ankhesenamun Willfully Delay Her Husband’s Burial – Part I

The twilight years of the Amarna interlude are shrouded in mystery. We have little concrete evidence of the persons who reigned and their actions. Tossed into this confounding milieu are details of...
Pirate flag.
18 January, 2019 - 22:45 dhwty

When Julius Caesar Was Kidnapped by Pirates - And Made Them Increase the Ransom!

Piracy is a practice that can be dated all the way back to ancient times. In the Mediterranean, pirates were not a major threat as long as they could be kept in check, usually by a strong navy. By...
Kilwinning Abbey, Kilwinning, Scotland
18 January, 2019 - 15:23 ashley cowie

Medieval Scottish Masons’ Multi-Dimensional Secrets

Internationally best-selling author Dan Brown's 2009 fictional novel, The Lost Symbol, drew heavily on the mystique, secrets and perceived conspiratorial nature of Freemasons, the world's oldest and...
The Anchorite Tradition of Voluntary Incarceration and Devotion to God
17 January, 2019 - 18:55 dhwty

The Anchorite Tradition of Voluntary Incarceration and Devotion to God

An anchorite or anchoret (anchoress being its female form) was person who chose to “live alone in prayer to worship God, unceasingly and without distraction.” Although other Christian ascetics share...
The Capitoline Triad, the Museum of Guidonia.
16 January, 2019 - 19:00 dhwty

What Was the Significance of The Capitoline Triad to the Roman Pantheon?

The Capitoline Triad was a trio of gods worshiped by the ancient Romans. This trio consisted of a male deity – Jupiter, the supreme god of the Roman pantheon and head of the triad, and two female...
Decatur Boarding the Tripolitan Gunboat during the bombardment of Tripoli, 3 August 1804. Lieutenant Stephen Decatur (lower right center) in mortal combat with the Tripolitan Captain by Dennis Malone Carter (19th century)
16 January, 2019 - 14:38 Cam Rea

The Price for Peace: The First Barbary War

In 1785, John Adams and his wife Abigail made their home in London. John was the newly appointed American ambassador to Great Britain. It was already bad enough that America was a free and...
‘Arrival of Burke, Wills and King at the deserted camp at Cooper's Creek, Sunday evening, 21st April 1861’ (1907) by John Longstaff.
16 January, 2019 - 14:04 Caleb Strom

Exploration and Misfortune—The Tragic Tale of the Burke and Wills Expedition

Going out into the unknown comes with a cost. This was learned the hard way by the Burke and Wills expedition of 1860-1861, the first European expedition across Australia from Melbourne, Victoria in...

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