There are many iconic feats of architecture in the world that are recognizable at first glance: the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty. But one of the most influential and copied buildings of the world is much smaller. It was built in Rome by a trusted advisor of Augustus Caesar: The Pantheon. […]
The Pantheon: A Famous Dome and Iconic Pillars Read More »
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
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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
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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
The Downfall and the Salting of the Great City of Carthage Read More »
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
Zoroastrianism: 10 Things You Need To Know 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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