The practice of crucifixion is one of the most infamous and brutal methods of execution in history. However, it’s unclear when and where the first crucifixion occurred. Still, many believe that the practice was first used by the ancient Persians and later adopted by the Romans. “Crucifixion” comes from the Latin crux, meaning “cross.” Crucifixion […]
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Roman history is full of striking female leaders who opposed Rome’s power. In Britain, for instance, Boudicca led a famous rebellion by the Iceni tribe against the Roman occupation of the south of England in 60 AD. In the mid-third century AD, the Queen of the Palmyrene Empire, Zenobia, invaded the eastern provinces of the
Kandake Amanirenas: The one-eyed African queen who defeated the Romans Read More »
For centuries, the Romans have been known for their remarkable engineering feats and exquisite architecture. From massive arenas where the gladiators fought to beautiful temples, they left their mark from northern Britain to the Black Sea and from the Atlantic coast to the Red Sea. But what about the homes of ordinary Romans? What were
Everything You Need to Know About Roman Homes Read More »
Slavery was an everyday fact of life in the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire which followed it. Although scholars have to rely on approximations and the prevalence of slavery varied over time, it is estimated that upwards of 20% of the population of the Roman Empire were slaves. That would be roughly 15 million
What Was Life Like for a Roman Slave? Read More »
While many people alive today will say that 2020 is the worst year they have ever seen, many precede it on the list of horrific times in human history. In 2020, the world watched in horror as millions of people died from the coronavirus pandemic, whole countries shut down, and nobody knew what to do
Why Was 536 One of the Worst Years to be Alive? Read More »
The story of Medusa is a tragic one, and her backstory isn’t one that myths often reveal. She was once a beautiful and powerful woman, but the Gods turned her into a monster despite her inability to control the events in her life. What exactly happened to cause her transformation? Let’s take a closer look
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The visitor to the Louvre Museum in Paris regularly passes statues from the ancient world when the Romans dominated the Mediterranean and much of Europe. Generally speaking, these statues have a uniform look to them, as do the figures depicted on Roman mosaics, like those found in the ruins of Pompeii today. Generally speaking, all
What Kinds of Clothes Did the Ancient Romans Wear? Read More »
Most people know Ancient Egypt for its iconic features, such as mummies, the pyramids, and the Sphinx. But it wasn’t its architects, Pharaohs, or generals that had the greatest influence on human history, but more likley its doctors. They pioneered surgery, dentistry, obstetrics, curing cancer and more during its 3,000 year long civilizaiton Ancient Egypt
What Was Surgery and Medicine Like In Ancient Egypt? Read More »
A famous saying attributed to Gorgo, the daughter of King Cleomenes I, a fifth-century BC king of Sparta. When asked by a woman from Attica, the region of eastern Greece dominated by the city of Athens, why Spartan women were the only ones in all of Greece who held such power within their polis or city-state, Gorgo
Why Were Spartan Women So Wealthy? Read More »
Only two things in life are certain, opined the great American statesman Benjamin Franklin, death and taxes. Yet these are two things that we often forget to ask ourselves about in past societies like ancient Greece and Rome. So this is not the forum for discussing how ancient taxes were levied and collected, but rather
What Were the Most Common Causes of Death in Ancient Greece and Rome? Read More »
