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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.

High Fashion of Ancient Egypt: The Bead-Net Dress
5 March, 2017 - 19:26 dhwty

High Fashion of Ancient Egypt: The Bead-Net Dress

Fashion trends are not just a modern construction. In ancient Egypt, looking fashionable was an important part of everyday life, especially for the elite members of society. One of the high class...
“But In Case Anything Should Happen”: Wills and Covenants in the Age of Alexander the Great
3 March, 2017 - 15:31 David Grant

“But In Case Anything Should Happen”: Wills and Covenants in the Age of Alexander the Great

Would kings, dictators and statesmen have used Wills in the ancient Greek world to assure successions, pass down estates and document their last wishes? ‘All will be well but in case anything should...
A Roman Ring with Linked Hands – this was a popular design for Roman wedding rings.
3 March, 2017 - 13:57 dhwty

Roman Engagement and Wedding Rings: Joining Hands and Hearts

The use of engagement rings and wedding rings are common in Western culture to indicate a person’s relationship status. This tradition may be traced back to ancient times, in particular, to the Roman...
Pocahontas, after 1616, Oil on canvas by Unidentified Artist.
1 March, 2017 - 18:54 Kerry Sullivan

Pocahontas Shrouded in Myth: A Princess Goes to England

As Ancient Origins reported in its article “ The True Story of Pocahontas as Not Told by Disney ,” the real life Pocahontas was different from her portrayal in the 1995 animated feature film. However...
Luminous red nova star - V838 Monocerotis, courtesy NASA, STScI, ESA (Public Domain); Eye of Providence (Public Domain); Deriv.
1 March, 2017 - 13:58 Graham Phillips

Secret Societies and Hidden Knowledge: The Explosive Star that Inspired the Modern World

A few weeks ago, astronomers announced that in 2022 something truly spectacular is to occur: a new star will appear in the heavens. It will be the first such event visible with the naked eye for over...
Photo by Leo Von Klenze. A romantic idealized reconstruction of the Acropolis of Athens.
28 February, 2017 - 14:01 Theodoros Karasavvas

Cleisthenes, Father of Democracy, Invented a Form of Government that Has Endured for Over 2,500 Years

Ancient Athens is best remembered for giving birth to the first democracy in history, a course of action that took many years and several leaders to develop. One of the most prominent figures of that...
‘The Banquet Scene’ relief panel, 645BC-635BC.
27 February, 2017 - 19:23 dhwty

Gazelle Stewed in Broth and Garlic: Would You Try These 3,700-Year-Old Recipes for the Babylonian Elite?

"A cuisine of striking richness, refinement, sophistication and artistry, which is surprising from such an early period,” is how French Assyriologist and gourmet chef Jean Bottero, who decoded three...
Detail of ‘Velleda’, as imagined in a 19th-century painting by Charles Voillemot.
27 February, 2017 - 02:04 Natalia Klimczak

The Legendary Prophetess Veleda: A Secret Weapon Against the Romans

Legends about beautiful women who drove armies of men to glory are very familiar in history. In the case of Veleda, her story didn't end with the loss of her people, but withstood the passage of time...
Trading Treasures and Curiosity: The Fascinating History of Manila Galleons
25 February, 2017 - 01:54 Natalia Klimczak

Trading Treasures and Curiosity: The Fascinating History of Manila Galleons

Every remarkable story starts with curiosity. That is the primary reason why people travel and want to discover new lands. It applies to every period in history, from antiquity to our times. The...
Thutmosis III statue and Ancient Egyptian military in battle
24 February, 2017 - 15:59 Cam Rea

What Was in Store for the Citizens of the Besieged City? The Battle of Megiddo—Part II

Pharaoh Thutmose III pushed his 12,000-strong army towards the banks of the Orontes River. His scribe, Tjaneni, kept a daily journal in order to have the Pharaoh’s military exploits inscribed by his...
Eliminating the Competition: Selim I, A Grim Conqueror Who Vastly Extended the Ottoman Empire
23 February, 2017 - 01:48 dhwty

Eliminating the Competition: Selim I, A Grim Conqueror Who Vastly Extended the Ottoman Empire

Selim I (known also by his epithet ‘Yavuz’, which, translated from Turkish, means ‘the Grim’) was the 9th sultan of the Ottoman Empire who lived during the second half of the 15th century and the...
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...

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