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Ancient Origins Tour IRAQ

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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.

The Unusual Life and Death of Julia: A Woman Trapped in the Empirical Intrigues of Ancient Rome
30 June, 2016 - 22:59 MartiniF

The Unusual Life and Death of Julia: A Woman Trapped in the Empirical Intrigues of Ancient Rome

Although they could not officially hold public offices, there were many women who were able to influence the course of Roman history from a position behind the scenes. Julia, the only daughter of...
The Hidden Stories Behind Their Eyes: Unearthing the Secrets of Fayum Mummy Portraits
30 June, 2016 - 00:44 Natalia Klimczak

The Hidden Stories Behind Their Eyes: Unearthing the Secrets of Fayum Mummy Portraits

The famous Fayum mummy portraits of people who lived in Egypt during the Greco-Roman period contain many secrets and were very important for the dead buried with them. These magnificent portraits...
These are Among the Biggest Archaeological Discoveries in History
29 June, 2016 - 01:00 Caherconnell St...

These are Among the Biggest Archaeological Discoveries in History

For me, archaeologists do not discover the past; they work on what remains. Archaeology is about our relationships with what is left of the past. And more – archaeology is the discipline of things –...
More details View of inside the Passetto, the secret passage between Vatican City and Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome, Italy
26 June, 2016 - 00:52 ancient-origins

The Passetto: Escape Route of Popes in Times Past

The Passetto di Borgo (also known simply as the Passetto, which may be translated as a small passage ) is a corridor that connects the Vatican City, more specifically St. Peter’s Basilica, with the...
The Dramatic and Bloody History of Nottingham Castle
25 June, 2016 - 03:40 dhwty

The Dramatic and Bloody History of Nottingham Castle

Nottingham Castle in the East Midlands of England has seen nearly 1,000 years of battles, revolts and scandals, but it is perhaps best known for its connection with the legendary English outlaw Robin...
Omm Sety – A British Woman Whose Life Was Lined by Reincarnation and Connected to a Pharaoh
25 June, 2016 - 00:46 Natalia Klimczak

Omm Sety – A British Woman Whose Life Was Lined by Reincarnation and Connected to a Pharaoh

When Dorothy Eady arrived to Egypt for the first time, it was obvious to her that she had been there before. But her last visit near the Nile may have taken place thousands of years earlier. Dorothy...
Götz von Berlichingen.
23 June, 2016 - 21:48 dhwty

16th Century Prosthetic Iron Hand: The Story of Gotz von Berlichingen

Gotz von Berlichingen was a German mercenary knight who lived during the 16 th century. This knight was known also as Götz of the Iron Hand, due to the fact that after his right hand was severed...
Margaret of Valois, by Nicholas Hilliard, c. 1577.
23 June, 2016 - 03:45 Natalia Klimczak

Breaking the Rules and Sharing Scandals: The Shocking Story of Queen Marguerite

Margaret de Valois was a Queen of Navarre and France. She was also the main character of the famous novel Queen Margot by Alexander Dumas. This is a story of a woman who loved life and who broke many...
Deriv; Defaced bust of Alexander Severus. The head and bust were mutilated during Antiquity, the memory of the outlawed emperor was to be extinguished and portrait of Marino Faliero, Doge of Venice, painted over, as he was condemned to damnatio memoriae.
22 June, 2016 - 15:54 MartiniF

From Piso to the Baby Drusilla: The Legal Aspects of Damnation Memoriae - the Punishment of Non-Existence

The ancient Roman decree of damnatio memoriae (“damnation of one’s memory”) was a mark of great disgrace and a punishment, deemed worse than execution, for an ancient Roman. The object of the...
Pleasure, Procreation, and Punishment: Shocking Facts about Sex and Marriage in the Ancient World
21 June, 2016 - 14:31 valdar

Pleasure, Procreation, and Punishment: Shocking Facts about Sex and Marriage in the Ancient World

Much of what is considered normal in the present day might have been seen as shocking in the past and vice versa. This idea applies to many of the aspects of daily life, including customs related to...
Agrippina and Germanicus (Rubens), 1614.
20 June, 2016 - 20:56 MartiniF

Germanicus and Agrippina: The Golden Couple, Parents of the “Mad” Emperor Caligula

Roman Emperor Caligula fell severely ill six months into his rule. When he recovered, he abandoned the toga for silk gowns and often dressed as a woman. He also declared himself as a living god...
Changes in Guerrero
20 June, 2016 - 00:48 dhwty

Gonzalo Guerrero: Father of the First Mestizos and Army Captain of the Mayans

Gonzalo Guerrero (known also as Gonzalo Marinero, Gonzalo de Aroca, and Gonzalo de Aroza) was a Spanish soldier who hoped to become a conquistador in the New World. Instead, he was captured by the...
Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, en grand habit de cour, by Jean-Baptiste Gautier Dagoty, 1775.
19 June, 2016 - 03:44 Natalia Klimczak

Not All Fun and Cake: An Alternative Interpretation of the Life of Queen Marie Antoinette

History depicts her as an irresponsible woman whose life was a vanity fair. In fact, she was another historical example of a woman who couldn't live her life as she really wanted to. Marie Antoinette...
Standard of Ur, 26th century BC, "War" panel.
17 June, 2016 - 15:53 Cam Rea

The Sumerian Military: Professionals of Weaponry and Warfare

Between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, lies a land once known as Mesopotamia. It was here that humanity found suitable land to rip open and seed. Once the seeds took root, civilization was born...
Ancient Sacred Sites Triangularly Aligned by the Footsteps of the Gods
17 June, 2016 - 14:48 Freddy Silva

Ancient Sacred Sites Triangularly Aligned by the Footsteps of the Gods

Ancient architects not only placed temples sharing commonalities according to perfect triangles, they did so from the sky and across vast distances. The Hindu Trimurti is the eastern equivalent of...
Intellectual, Code Breaker, Blasphemer: George Smith and the Ancient Chaldean Account of Genesis
16 June, 2016 - 15:02 tedloukes

Intellectual, Code Breaker, Blasphemer: George Smith and the Ancient Chaldean Account of Genesis

George Smith was born in 1840 in London to poor parents, and consequently left school at the tender age of fifteen to take up an apprenticeship with Messrs Bradburry and Evans, a firm of engravers...
Golden Lion banner of the newly annexed Kingdom of Rus at the Battle of Grunwald
16 June, 2016 - 03:45 Natalia Klimczak

The Battle of Grunwald: An Iconic Medieval Battle of Central and Eastern Europe

During medieval times, the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania had one main enemy – the Teutonic Order. One of the most important battles between these armies took place on July 15,...
Medusa and the Gorgons: The Origins of the Legendary Tale
14 June, 2016 - 19:10 Cam Rea

Medusa and the Gorgons: The Origins of the Legendary Tale

In the middle is the Gorgon Medusa, an enormous monster about whom snaky locks twist their hissing mouths; her eyes stare malevolently, and under the base of her chin the tail-ends of serpents have...
The Secrets and Treasures of KV5, the Largest Tomb Ever Found in Egypt
14 June, 2016 - 14:58 Natalia Klimczak

The Secrets and Treasures of KV5, the Largest Tomb Ever Found in Egypt

The treasures of Tutankhamun have been remembered as the greatest discovery in Egypt. However, in 1995, the Valley of the Kings revealed another magnificent secret – the tomb of at least 52 sons of...
Deriv; Sassanid-era Cataphract Reenactor, and The Battle of Hormozdgan, April 28, 224 CE.
13 June, 2016 - 18:56 Cam Rea

The House of Arsacid Falls to the House of Sasan: A Challenge, and Military Might – Part II

Ardashir proclaimed himself king of Persis by 208 CE. His brothers protested this and Ardashir disposed of them. If his brother challenges were not enough, many local petty kings of Persis refused to...
The Triple Hecate, 1795 William Blake.
13 June, 2016 - 00:37 Natalia Klimczak

Deities or Vampires? Hecate and other Blood-Drinking Spirits of Ancient Times

Vampires are a relatively recent creation. However, most of the ancient world knew of the practice of consuming blood. It seems that this was a fascinating ritual centuries before the term ''vampire...
Palazzo Vecchio by night.
11 June, 2016 - 21:50 dhwty

Poppi Castle and the Murderous Madam Matilda

Poppi Castle is a medieval castle overlooking the Casentino Valley in the province of Arezzo in the Italian region of Tuscany. This castle is said to have been built around the second half of the 13...
Emperor Caracalla, and Cataphracts circa 101 AD.
10 June, 2016 - 15:56 Cam Rea

The House of Arsacid Falls to the House of Sasan: It Started with a Wedding – Part I

Incredibly, the end of the Parthian Empire started with a fake wedding. Before the wedding took place, a civil war had been raging in Parthia between Vologases VI and his brother Artabanus V. After...
The Battle of Carrhae: A crushing defeat of the unstoppable Roman juggernaut by the Parthian Empire
9 June, 2016 - 15:56 Cam Rea

The Battle of Carrhae: A crushing defeat of the unstoppable Roman juggernaut by the Parthian Empire

Ancient Roman invasion forces were considered to be unstoppable juggernauts, but the tables were turned by a formidable Parthian Empire general and devastating tactics. This clash led to one of the...

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