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Ed Whelan

My name is Edward Whelan and I graduated with a PhD in history in 2008. Between 2010-2012 I worked in the Limerick City Archives. I have written a book and several peer reviewed journal articles. At present I am a full-time freelance writer and researcher and live in Gillogue, County Clare.

I am from Limerick in the Republic of Ireland. I have a lifelong love of history and have been fascinated by the subject from an early age. I attended the University of Maynooth 2003-2008 and studied history and classical studies. I obtained a BA from Maynooth and was admitted to the History PhD program. Based on my BA results I was awarded two scholarships and during my post-graduate studies I worked as a tutor.

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The ancient ruins of Soli Pompeiopolis, where the large memorial tomb of the ancient Greek poet Aratus was discovered. Source: Vassia Atanassova - Spiritia / CC BY-SA 3.0

14 October, 2020 - 22:02 Ed Whelan

Tomb of Ancient Greek Poet and Astronomer Found in Turkey

Throughout time some people are remembered after they die for their achievements. But some individuals are celebrated both in life and death and they are especially important. What archaeologists...

The ancient two-shekel weight, recently found near the Western Wall in Jerusalem, next to a modern Israeli two-shekel coin. Source: Shai Halevi / Israel Antiquities Authority

14 October, 2020 - 18:02 Ed Whelan

Two-Shekel Weight Found In Jerusalem Tells Us About Ancient Economy

Small objects from the distant past can tell us so much about ancient societies and daily life in those cultures. A two-shekel weight from the Biblical period recently found in Jerusalem is one of...

Titan Atlas statue found amongst the Greek temples of Agrigento. Source: Wead / Adobe Stock

14 October, 2020 - 00:05 Ed Whelan

Statue of Atlas Will Stand Again Before Greek Temple in Sicily

Atlas , the pre-Olympian Greek god, is famous for carrying the world on his shoulders. At a famous temple site in southern Italy, an ancient statue of Atlas will be restored to its original position...

Leather balls thought to belong to horsemen of Northern China have been found. Source: 孝通葛 / Adobe Stock

13 October, 2020 - 14:00 Ed Whelan

Leather Balls of Ancient Horsemen Used In 3000-year-old War Games

Researchers believe that they have found the oldest balls ever uncovered in Eurasia. The set of leather balls were found in graves of Central Asian horse riders in northern China. They are offering...

Draksharama Temple, Where Dozens of Hindu Gods Live as a Family

13 October, 2020 - 00:52 Ed Whelan

Draksharama Temple, Where Dozens of Hindu Gods Live as a Family

India is a land of many religious and has thousands of remarkable temples and holy sites. One of the most important in all of southern India is the Draksharama Temple, a Hindu site dedicated to the...

Will Pope Apologize to Mexico for Church Complicity during Spanish Conquest?

12 October, 2020 - 05:52 Ed Whelan

Will Pope Apologize to Mexico for Church Complicity during Spanish Conquest?

The President of Mexico has written a letter to Pope Francis asking for an apology over the Catholic Church’s role in the brutal repression of indigenous people during the Spanish conquest of the...

A Viking Burial. Credit: Igor Igorevich / Adobe Stock

9 October, 2020 - 17:59 Ed Whelan

Viking King Buried With a Pillow and Fine Silk, New Study Confirms

It’s amazing what we can learn from ancient textiles and other artifacts with scientific analysis. The Viking burial textiles in the coffins of two powerful Danish Vikings are providing us with...

The site of the newly discovered rare ancient Viking temple found in Norway with an imagined reconstruction of the actual building. Source: University Museum of Bergen

8 October, 2020 - 20:55 Ed Whelan

Viking Temple to Thor and Odin Unearthed In Norway

The Viking Age has fascinated people for generations and now we have a newly discovered ancient Viking temple that has finally shed some new light on Norse religion . Believe it or not, there is a...

Arènes De Lutèce Attests to a Gory Past of the City of Love

8 October, 2020 - 00:56 Ed Whelan

Arènes De Lutèce Attests to a Gory Past of the City of Love

Paris, ‘the city of love’, is the world-famous capital of France and is renowned for its culture, art, architecture and more. The metropolis’ humble beginnings date back to 3rd century BC when it was...

Luxurious Roman Villa On Display Under Lavish Modern Apartment Block

7 October, 2020 - 22:02 Ed Whelan

Luxurious Roman Villa On Display Under Lavish Modern Apartment Block

Rome is a place where many archaeological treasures and remains continue to be found. The latest discovery is a luxury villa with many remarkable artifacts and spectacular mosaics. This luxury Roman...

Why the Amphiareion of Oropos Was A Dream Destination

7 October, 2020 - 00:52 Ed Whelan

Why the Amphiareion of Oropos Was A Dream Destination

Because of its rich history, Greece is blessed with many important historic sites. One of the most intriguing is the Amphiareion in Oropos , not far from Athens. This was once a popular sanctuary and...

One of the new room complexes found at Zominthos where the Minoan religious sanctuary was also found recently. Source: Ministry of Culture

6 October, 2020 - 22:30 Ed Whelan

Minoan Religious Sanctuary and Idols Found in Palace Complex, Crete

A Minoan religious sanctuary and many “ idols ” have recently been discovered in a Minoan palace complex in Greece . The Minoan civilization of Crete is regarded as the first European civilization...

Mighty Anglo-Saxon Warrior Grave May Throw Light On the Dark Ages

6 October, 2020 - 00:52 Ed Whelan

Mighty Anglo-Saxon Warrior Grave May Throw Light On the Dark Ages

The discovery of a 1400-year-old warrior buried in a British field is being hailed as a major discovery and is providing new insights into the so-called Dark Ages and early English history...

A new study has found that mysterious early humans used fire to make different kinds of flint blades as far back as 300,000 years ago. Source: Gorodenkoff / Adobe Stock

5 October, 2020 - 17:58 Ed Whelan

Mysterious 300,000-Year-Old Early Humans Used Fire to Make Flint Blades

Experts in Israel believe that a mysterious group of early humans were using fire to manufacture flint blades and tools up to 300,000 years ago. This discovery has implications for our understanding...

A few of the perfectly preserved new Egyptian mummies and coffins recently found in the Saqqara area, south of Cairo. Source: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

4 October, 2020 - 18:15 Ed Whelan

Dozens of Egyptian Mummies Discovered South Of Cairo

Archaeological authorities in Egypt have just announced the discovery of many new Egyptian mummies and precious statues . In all, at least 59 new coffins and mummies were found at one of Egypt’s most...

Vesuvius Eruption Turned Victim’s Brain to Glass!

3 October, 2020 - 22:00 Ed Whelan

Vesuvius Eruption Turned Victim’s Brain to Glass!

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius is perhaps the best-known natural disaster in the ancient world. It preserved whole towns and human remains, which have all been priceless from an archaeological point...

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