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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.

A Pharaoh’s Exploits Recorded for All Time: The Battle of Megiddo—Part I
22 February, 2017 - 16:10 Cam Rea

A Pharaoh’s Exploits Recorded for All Time: The Battle of Megiddo—Part I

With the death of the famous female Pharaoh – Hatshepsut – Thutmose III rose to power and knew there would be trouble. On the banks of the Orontes River, a revolt was brewing. Amassing a huge army...
Emperor Caligula Brought an End to the Illustrious Ptolemies, But Why?
22 February, 2017 - 13:56 Natalia Klimczak

Emperor Caligula Brought an End to the Illustrious Ptolemies, But Why?

When Cleopatra VII and Mark Anthony closed their eyes for the last time, passing through to their longed-for afterlife, among the successors were their three orphans: Alexander Helios, Cleopatra...
The Forgotten Cleopatra: Searching for Cleopatra the Alchemist and Her Golden Secret
21 February, 2017 - 18:50 Natalia Klimczak

The Forgotten Cleopatra: Searching for Cleopatra the Alchemist and Her Golden Secret

Cleopatra was one of four female alchemists who worked on producing the famous Philosopher's stone. She lived during the last remarkable period in Alexandria’s history, when it was still a city of...
What Happened to Grand Temple Building in Ancient Egypt after the Death of Alexander the Great?
21 February, 2017 - 01:57 ancient-origins

What Happened to Grand Temple Building in Ancient Egypt after the Death of Alexander the Great?

Egyptian temple culture was thought to be declining in the Ptolemaic era, after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. Nothing could be further from the truth, says Egyptologist Carina van den...
26,000-Year-Old Child Footprints Found Alongside Paw Prints Reveal Oldest Evidence of Human-Canine Relationship
20 February, 2017 - 18:50 Kerry Sullivan

26,000-Year-Old Child Footprints Found Alongside Paw Prints Reveal Oldest Evidence of Human-Canine Relationship

There is little doubt that humans and dogs are naturally inclined to be best friends. But when and how did this dynamic duo first emerge? Conventional wisdom holds that agrarian man domesticated...
Earthquake in Ecuador Reveals Bizarre Burial of a Mummy in a Jar with a Little Mouse
20 February, 2017 - 14:04 ancient-origins

Earthquake in Ecuador Reveals Bizarre Burial of a Mummy in a Jar with a Little Mouse

On August 5, 1949, an earthquake struck the small town of Guano in Ecuador, causing buildings to crack open and crumble. The disaster led to the strange discovery of the Mummy of Guano. During the...
Did You Known That Baboons Were Trained in Ancient Egypt to Catch Criminals?
19 February, 2017 - 14:28 dhwty

Did You Know That Baboons Were Trained in Ancient Egypt to Catch Criminals?

The ancient Egyptians were renowned for their worship of animals, and one of these was the baboon. In ancient Egyptian mythology, baboons are best known for their association with Thoth, the god of...
Cornelia, Mother of the Gracchi (1785) by Angelica Kauffman.
19 February, 2017 - 01:59 Natalia Klimczak

Who was Cornelia Africana and How Did She Become the Prototype of the Virtuous Roman Woman?

The life of Cornelia Africana could be the basis for a fascinating Hollywood super-production. Since the beginning, her tale was nothing but an adventurous story about a woman whose extraordinary...
Phryne, The Ancient Greek Prostitute Who Flashed Her Way to Freedom
18 February, 2017 - 13:58 Theodoros Karasavvas

Phryne, The Ancient Greek Prostitute Who Flashed Her Way to Freedom

Phryne the Thespian was a famed courtesan of Athens, better known for the court case she won by baring her breasts. Her actual name was Mnesarete but people referred to her as Phryne (“toad”) because...
When a 2,000-Year-Old Iberian Settlement was Unearthed, The Remnants Confirmed a Tragic Story of Bravery, Death, and Suicide
17 February, 2017 - 23:03 Natalia Klimczak

When a 2,000-Year-Old Iberian Settlement was Unearthed, The Remnants Confirmed a Tragic Story of Bravery, Death, and Suicide

A legendary battle which remains one of the most iconic accounts of the brave struggles of native Iberian people took place in a small village in 134 BC. Faced with a powerful Roman legion, even...
A Real Wiseguy! Witty Sage and Ancient Comedian Nasreddin Hodja Has the Last Laugh
17 February, 2017 - 16:24 MartiniF

A Real Wiseguy! Witty Sage and Ancient Comedian Nasreddin Hodja Has the Last Laugh

One day Hodja and his students were on the way to their lesson. Hodja was sitting backwards on his donkey. "Hodja, they asked him "Why on earth do you sit that way? Isn't it uncomfortable?" "If I sit...
"Alchemist Sędziwój" by Jan Matejko: alchemist, and pioneer chemis.
16 February, 2017 - 13:40 Natalia Klimczak

Icelandic Magic, Witchcraft, and Sorcery and the Tragic Case of Jón Rögnvaldsson

Traditions relating to the dark and fascinating practices of witchcraft in Iceland are as old as the first human settlements on the island. Countless people paid for these practices with their lives...
Detail of the Alexander Sarcophagus located in the Istanbul Archaeology Museum. Gold coins
15 February, 2017 - 16:08 Cam Rea

Alexander the Great Destroyer: Ancient Revenge or War for Profit? – Part II

“As Persepolis had exceeded all other cities in prosperity, so in the same measure it now exceeded all others in misery.” Miseries along with poverty, for the people were raped of their land and...
Being Lovesick Was a Real Disease in the Middle Ages
14 February, 2017 - 13:48 ancient-origins

Being Lovesick Was a Real Disease in the Middle Ages

Love sure does hurt, as the Everly Brothers knew very well. And while it is often romanticised or made sentimental, the brutal reality is that many of us experience fairly unpleasant symptoms when in...
Some Top Tips for Valentine’s Day … from Medieval Lovers
14 February, 2017 - 01:54 ancient-origins

Some Top Tips for Valentine’s Day … from Medieval Lovers

If you’d asked someone to be your Valentine before the 14th century, they’d probably have looked at you as if you were mad. And checked you weren’t holding an axe. There were two saints by the name...
Detail of the Alexander Sarcophagus located in the Istanbul Archaeology Museum. Here Alexander fights the Persians at the Battle of Issus.
13 February, 2017 - 16:04 Cam Rea

Alexander the Great Destroyer? The Sacking of Persepolis and The Business of War – Part I

Alexander the Great has gained an immortality in his strong presence in our minds as well as in the history books. Known for a greatness of military genius and diplomatic skills, he conquered most of...
Why Did Parents in the Chinookan tribe Perform Cranial Deformation on their Babies?
12 February, 2017 - 13:57 Riley Winters

Why Did Parents in the Chinookan tribe Perform Cranial Deformation on their Babies?

Beauty is a fickle thing. Worse than that, it is (as often as not) one of the most painful goals in the realms of the wealthy and elite. In China, the binding of feet was once seen to create...
Who Was St Dwynwen and How is She Associated with St Valentine?
11 February, 2017 - 21:52 ancient-origins

Who Was St Dwynwen and How is She Associated with St Valentine?

Dylan Foster Evans / The Conversation February 14 is the day marked for lovers in many countries around the world, but in Wales there is another date traditionally associated with romance: St Dwynwen...
Women Without Virtue Need Not Apply! The Medieval Nine Worthy Women
11 February, 2017 - 14:02 Caleb Strom

Women Without Virtue Need Not Apply! The Medieval Nine Worthy Women

In the 14th century, the nine worthies were a list of nine men who were identified as paragons of chivalrous behavior, which included courage and honor in battle. The nine worthies consisted of a...
Galician Faith in the Enchanted Mouros and Mouras: Is There Reality Behind the Fairytales?
11 February, 2017 - 01:51 Natalia Klimczak

Galician Faith in the Enchanted Mouros and Mouras: Is There Reality Behind the Fairytales?

Numerous folk stories in Galicia, Spain, tell of supernatural spirits that dwell in forests, among the waters of the rivers, or on sandy beaches. Many of them are related in some ways to ancient...
Built to Last: The Craftsmanship that Enabled Roman Roads to Withstand the Passage of Time
10 February, 2017 - 18:53 dhwty

Built to Last: The Secret that Enabled Roman Roads to Withstand the Passage of Time

The Romans were renowned as great engineers and this is evident in the many structures that they left behind. One particular type of construction that the Romans were famous for is their roads. It...
Divine, Forbidden and Dangerous? Magic Apples in Ancient Mythology
10 February, 2017 - 15:55 MartiniF

Divine, Forbidden and Dangerous? Magic Apples in Ancient Mythology

Apples have a prominent place in world mythology, and are often associated with paradise, magic, knowledge and sensual experience. Legendary magician Merlin was said to carry a silver bough from an...
Was it Love or Witchcraft? The Magical Practices of Chinese Empress Chen Jiao
10 February, 2017 - 13:27 Natalia Klimczak

Was it Love or Witchcraft? The Magical Practices of Chinese Empress Chen Jiao

Usually, the Empress of the Han Dynasty was invincible, untouchable, and protected by the law more than anyone else. However, in the case of Empress Chen of Wu, the accusation of practicing black...
Said to Cure Everything but Death, These Seeds are an Ancient Miracle Cure
8 February, 2017 - 19:07 Veronica Parkes

Said to Cure Everything but Death, These Seeds are an Ancient Miracle Cure

The black cumin seed or “Nigella Sativa” has been revered as a miracle cure for a vast amount of illnesses and ailments throughout the ages and across many cultures. The plant is indigenous to the...

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