Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, has long been heralded as the cradle of civilization. Around 6000 BC, once-nomadic peoples began settling down, farming, and domesticating animals, giving rise to settlements that eventually grew into towns, cities, and even empires. Many great civilizations would call this region home and leave behind enormous […]
What was education like in ancient Mesopotamia? Read More »
The notion that Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten was the first to conceive the concept of the monotheistic ideology that underlies Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Baha’i is hardly original. Renowned Father of Psychiatry Sigmund Freud presented this idea in his 1939 book, Moses and Monotheist, promoting the perspective that if the Biblical Exodus is to be taken literally,
Did Pharaoh Akhenaten lay the foundation for Abrahamic Religion? Read More »
In the opening scene of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, we see Harrison Ford running from a giant stone sphere. It seems just as much fantasy as the rest of the movie except for one thing: The Hollywood sphere that he was running from was inspired by actual pre-historic orbs that were
What Are the Stone Spheres of Costa Rica? Read More »
Dragons have captivated our imaginations for millennia, appearing in the myths and legends of cultures scattered worldwide. From the fire-breathing beasts of ancient Greece to the dragon kings of Chinese mythology, dragons have long served as symbols of power, danger, and wisdom. But where did the widespread stories of these fierce, fantastical creatures come from,
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In 213 BC, Rome and Carthage were at war, and Roman leaders were eyeing the Greek city-state of Syracuse as the next target in their campaign. Syracuse was strategically important because it was located between the two warring empires on the island of Sicily. Unfortunately for the Romans, taking the city would prove very difficult.
Did the Iron Claw of Archimedes devastate a Roman fleet? Read More »
The city of Baia was a center of hedonism for the Roman elite. Much like Las Vegas, Baia catered to the desires of the rich and powerful. The debauchery didn’t last as the Saracens sacked the century in the 8th century. By 1500, the last remaining residents left. Today, you can find a large part
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In one of the most famous natural disasters in human history, Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, blanketing Pompeii in ash. The catastrophic event buried Pompeii and the surrounding area beneath a layer of ash, preserving many aspects of life for future archaeologists to uncover. Today, photos from this archeological site show us how people lived
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When people think of ancient Rome, the acronym SPQR is often the first thing that comes to mind beyond the coliseum and gladiators. You’ll find it plastered all over Roman buildings, adorning their battle standards, and gracing coinage, among dozens of other uses; it is near impossible to find a reminder of Roman times without
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Daily life in Mesopotamia is not so different from daily life for us today. Well, if we can set aside the fact that this civilization existed thousands of years ago, with vastly different social structures, economic systems, and cultural practices. Nevertheless, ancient humans were still humans. They had jobs, they fell in love, they played
Living Between Two Rivers: What Was Daily Life Like for the Average Mesopotamian? Read More »
Christianity spans thousands of years, and its history is littered with relics with significant spiritual and cultural significance. These include the bones of saints, clothing, and objects that played a role in critical moments of Biblical history. In fact, there are several different spears mentioned throughout the Bible. Each one played a role in a
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