The Behistun Inscription is an engraving located on the cliff of Mount Behistun (said to have had the meaning of ‘place where the gods dwell’ in antiquity). This inscription was written in three...
The griffin is a legendary creature with the head and wings of an eagle, and the body, tail, and hind legs of a lion. As the eagle was considered the ‘king of the birds,’ and the lion the ‘king of...
For centuries, our distant ancestors believed in a plethora of gods and goddesses, having a close relationship with the nature around them and personifying many natural occurrences. But there were...
In the rugged landscapes of southern Madagascar’s Isalo massif, an ancient archaeological site known as Teniky has long puzzled researchers. The site features vast stone terraces, hollow niches...
What comes to mind when one says Anatolia? Does the phrase “land of the rising sun” (as the ancient Greeks called it) appear? Or, because it technically belongs to the Middle East, do you think of an...
It is no wonder that Alexander the Great (356 BC–323 BC) was often mistaken for a god; he modeled his life on nothing less. Instilled in him from an early age was the belief that he was the product...
The Persian Empire , also known as the Achaemenid Empire , was a dominant force from 559 BC to 331 BC, spanning modern-day Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Several factors...
New Study Finds Dinosaur Fossils Did Not Inspire the Mythological Griffin For centuries, scientists thought they knew where the griffin legend came from. A new study takes a closer look at the data...
The Cyrus Cylinder, discovered in 1879 during a British Museum expedition to Babylon , encapsulates the grandeur and complexities of ancient Persia under the reign of Cyrus the Great. Crafted over...
The Sasanian Empire , also known as the Second Persian Empire, holds a significant place in the history of Iranian culture. Rising from the ashes of previous empires, it reached its zenith under the...
Persepolis , the jewel of the Achaemenid Empire, rose to prominence under the reign of Darius the Great in the late 6th century BC. Strategically located in a mountainous region, Persepolis served as...
Nabonidus was the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, reigning from 556-539 BC. He took the throne after the assassination of the boy-king Labashi-Marduk, who was murdered in a conspiracy only...
Xerxes I , a formidable figure in the annals of Persian history, ascended to the throne amid complex familial dynamics. Born in 515 BC to Darius the Great and Atosa, the daughter of Cyrus the Great,...
In the arid expanses of the Persian desert , an ingenious ancient technology known as the Yakhchāl has been discovered, revealing a sophisticated approach to ice-making dating back to 400 BC. These...
The popular, but almost archaic Prince of Persia video game franchise is back, with a new game, and a new hero on the scene. So what’s the new backstory, who is this new hero, and is there any basis...
The Battle of Marathon , which took place in late summer of 490 BC, was a defining moment in ancient history. The conflict pitted the citizens of Athens, representing the ideals of western democracy...
Ancient history is replete with remarkable leaders who played pivotal roles in the expansion and growth of civilizations across the globe. Among them, Hammurabi , the sixth king of Babylon, left an...
Alexander the Great is undoubtedly one of the most legendary figures in history, known for his military prowess and his brief but impactful life. By the age of 18, Alexander fought alongside his...
Lambsar Castle, representing the gargantuan castle in the popular ‘Assassin’s Creed’ franchise, has yielded stunning astrolabe tile fragments during excavations. Located in the Central Alburz...
Ironically, Xenophon’s Cyropaedia, written around 370 BC, a narrative describing the education of the ideal ruler centred on Cyrus the Great founder of the Achaemenid Dynasty, was a great inspiration...
When it comes to legends, none is quite as moviesque as that of the Hashshashins, who in the Middle Ages inspired fear in the hearts of leaders in the Middle East. Hassan-i Sabbah, dubbed the Old Man...
The origins of Zoroastrianism can be traced back to nearly 4,000 years ago. It was the first monotheistic faith in the world and even Persia’s official religion from 600 BC to 650 AD. And it still...
Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Zakariya Al Razi is not a familiar name to most in the English-speaking world. But he was one of the most notable persons in the history of medicine. He was a renowned Persian...
The ancients were cleverer than some people today assume. They didn’t have rockets or electricity, at least no indisputable proof has been found of such technologies, but they did come up with...
