Ancient China is an extremely broad period. The country spans a huge swatch of the Earth and encompasses many thousands of years of history. Any broad generalizations should be taken with a grain of salt. The archeological record only gives us glimpses into life in the distant past. But much can be learned from those […]
Daily life in Ancient China Through the Bronze Age Read More »
Ariadne and Theseus are two key characters in the ancient Greek myth of the Minotaur. Ariadne was a princess born on the island of Crete, home to the ancient Minoan civilization that flourished there during the Bronze Age. The modern name for the civilization derives from the mythical King Minos, the father of Ariadne. The
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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
The Most Important Archaeological Discoveries of 2023 Read More »
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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Richard Norris Williams was a passenger aboard the RMS Titanic who went on to become a National Tennis Champion in the United States and Olympic gold medalist in mixed doubles tennis. The Swiss Philadelphian Williams was a direct descendant of Benjamin Franklin. Both of his parents were from Philadelphia. His father, Duane Williams, helped to
The Life of R. Norris Williams: Titanic Survivor and Tennis Champion Read More »
T.R. Roosevelt was an American politician. He advocated for a “strenuous life” of upstanding moral character, great physical effort, and an extensive education. In his case, this was achieved in no small part through his pursuit of boxing. A Homeschooled New Yorker Theodore Roosevelt Jr. was born and raised in Manhattan. He was the second
Teddy Roosevelt: President, World Traveler, and Boxer Read More »
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 »
Judith Love Cohen was an aerospace engineer who worked on projects such as the Hubble Space Telescope and the Apollo Space Program. In popular culture, she’s better known as the mother of musician and actor Jack Black. From Brooklyn to Los Angeles Judith Love Cohen was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1933. Her father
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