What we know (or think we know) about history is only a minute sliver of what humans have accomplished and experienced over the millennia. Each year, the tireless work of archeologists adds a few more pieces to the puzzle and increases our understanding of human history. Here are some of the most important archaeological discoveries […]
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The Eye of Horus is an ancient Egyptian symbol used for protection and good health. It was a popular symbol in the Old Kingdom, also called the Age of the Pyramids, and ever after. Still a popular symbol today, the Eye of Horus has endured for five thousand years. Horus was the god of the
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Syracusia was an ancient ship that sailed out of Syracuse. At that time, it was an independent colony located on the island of Sicily. Hiero II of Syracuse commissioned it in the third century BC and sent it to Ptolemy III Euergetes in Alexandria. This ancient Greek ship was so massive that no Sicilian port
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To salt the earth means to destroy it. Unlike other means of destruction like flood or fire, salting the earth is much more permanent. Fire can fertilize the land with ash, and floods can hydrate it. But with salt, there is no hope for regrowth. Ancient accounts explain that when the Romans conquered the city
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Scaphism is a term that sends shivers down the spine. It encapsulates one of the most gruesome and horrifying methods of punishment ever devised. It is a method of execution that straddled the thin line between cruelty and sadism. Scaphism was not merely a form of physical torment but a diabolical orchestration of prolonged suffering.
Unveiling the Horrors of Scaphism: Ancient Torture Revisited Read More »
Are you familiar with Zoroastrianism? Not many may have heard of it before, but it is one of the oldest organized faiths in the world. It is a monotheistic faith—a belief in one person or god—and its principles lie in the dualistic cosmology of good and evil. Zoroastrianism is practiced worldwide. It has roots in
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Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival honoring the god Saturn. The holiday started with a single day. It eventually stretched to a full week of celebrations. Slaves were given time off of work and gifts were exchanged. Saturnalia was celebrated in December. Many of its traditional practices influenced Christmastime festivities throughout Europe. Saturn Himself Saturn
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Orichalcum is a semi-mythical metal that was most likely an early form of brass. Its name derives from the ancient Greek words for ‘mountain’ and ‘copper’. Orichalcum was mentioned in several ancient texts, including Plato’s Critias. Plato wrote of orichalcum as being second in value only to gold, but other writers centuries later used the
Real or Fake? Orichalcum, Ancient Metal of Mythical Origins Read More »
The Xoloitzcuintli, better known as a Xolo dog, is an ancient breed that has existed for over three thousand years. Still popular in modern Mexico, this hairless dog takes its name from the Aztec god Xolotl. Xolotl Xolotl was an important Aztec god who guided souls – and the sun – through the underworld. He
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Urban planning refers to the process of structuring and appropriating urban spaces to their highest potential. It sounds like a modern term, but you may be surprised to hear that urban planning was already being used 5,000 years ago. The Indus Valley Civilization is one of the earliest in the world and the oldest in
Indus Valley Civilization: Urban Planning of 5,000 Years Ago Read More »
