Lighthouses are still used for navigation despite modern technology. The Tower of Hercules in Spain is the oldest lighthouse still in use and the only one from Greco-Roman antiquity with structural integrity. The Statue of Liberty was intended to be a lighthouse, but not bright enough. The Lighthouse of Alexandria was one of the Seven […]
The seven wonders of the ancient world, listed by Herodotus, include the pyramids of Egypt, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Pharos of Alexandria. Only the pyramids remain intact, while the others were destroyed […]
Ancient Egyptians revered cats, believing they saved their civilization from starvation by killing vermin. When a cat died, it was mummified and buried with milk and mice. Cat smuggling was illegal, and killing a cat was considered treason punishable by death. Ancient Egyptians mourned their cats by shaving their eyebrows. It is thought that cats […]
The idea that ancient Romans had vomitoriums for overeating is a myth; they were actually passageways for crowds. The term “vomitorium” was first used in a fifth-century work, and was later misused by Aldous Huxley. Other interesting facts about Ancient Rome include paying to use public urinals and lefties being demonized. Of all the ludicrous […]
Ancient Egyptians believed in life after death and created mummies for preservation. Initially, they used linen bandages, but later discovered natron for embalming. The process evolved over time, including the use of resin and masks, and took around 60 days. Ancient Egyptians created mummies due to their firm belief in life after death and the […]
Alexander the Great relied on the linothorax, a laminated linen armor, for protection during his military campaigns. Research shows it was effective against arrows and offered more maneuverability than metal armor. Alexander won battles through speed and surprise, but died at 32 from an unknown illness. He named many cities after himself and one after […]
Ancient religions share common characteristics such as magic, taboo, ancestor worship, and focus on food sources and seasonal cycles. Modern paganism differs from ancient paganism. Ancient religions believe in everyday magic through rituals, including sacrifice. Superstition and taboo are still observed in isolated tribes today. The shared characteristics of ancient religions reveal tendencies shared by […]
The ancient Greek gods include many deities, with the mother goddess as a central figure. The twelve main gods, called Olympians, were the most important and were worshiped by the Romans. Zeus is the supreme ruler and controls the weather, while Hera is his wife and sister. Other major gods include Hades, Poseidon, Ares, Hephaestus, […]
The Great Pyramids of Giza are the only remaining wonder of the ancient world, built in 2700 BC. The other six, including the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the Colossus of Rhodes, were destroyed. The Great Pyramids of Giza Egypt, consisting of the pyramids of Khufu, Khafra and Menkaura, were built in 2700 BC and […]
Mitochondrial DNA testing shows that all humans descended from a founding group in East Africa around 140,000 years ago. Haplogroups L1, L2, and L3 spread across Africa, with L3 crossing the Red Sea into Yemen and eventually colonizing Europe, Asia, and Australia. A discrete migration occurred at the Bering land bridge, and humans have since […]
Ancient DNA is DNA preserved from subfossil remains of ancient animals or humans. It has been successfully extracted from Neanderthals, mammoths, and Egyptian priests. The oldest legitimate ancient DNA is around a million years old. The Neanderthal genome was fully sequenced in 2008. The genetic code of the 1918 Spanish flu virus was determined in […]
During the construction of a McDonald’s restaurant near Rome, workers discovered an ancient Roman basalt road that was probably connected to the Via Appia. Instead of reburying it, McDonald’s offered 300,000 euros to help restore it. Visitors can now see the street and remains, including three ancient skeletons found nearby. The Via Appia was a […]
Ancient Egyptians used furniture made from alternatives to scarce timber, such as reeds, alabaster, leather, and ceramics. Common people had storage units and low stools, while nobility had more decorated furnishings. Tables were rarely used for household chores and were often made for burial offerings. The noble and common people of Ancient Egypt used very […]
Ancient philosophy, dating back to the 5th century BC to the 4th century AD, includes Greco-Roman and Eastern schools of thought, such as Zen Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Vedas, and Yoga Sutras. Western philosophy is best known for Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, while Eastern philosophy combines religious and ethical teachings. The study of classical philosophy provides […]
Ancient rhetoric was the art of persuasion expressed almost exclusively in speech. It flourished in ancient Greece and Rome, with notable rhetoricians including Cicero and Pericles. Plato and Aristotle outlined key elements of rhetoric, including ethos, pathos, and logos. Quintilianus added the five canons of rhetoric: inventio, dispositio, elocutio, memoria, and actio, which are still […]
Ancient Hebrew differs from modern Hebrew in grammar, phonology, and vocabulary. It was mostly used in religious practice and is now a literary and liturgical language. Modern Hebrew is the national language of Israel, based on Sephardic Hebrew phonology, and incorporates loanwords and neologisms. Ancient Hebrew is still used in literary and liturgical contexts and […]
