In the midst of the vibrant city of Istanbul stands a structure with a history so storied and at times controversial that it’s almost unbelievable. Both an architectural marvel and a location of religious significance for multiple religions, Hagia Sophia is more than just stone and mortar. It has been a place of inspiration and […]
The Hagia Sophia: The iconic landmark across centuries Read More »
Almost everyone has heard of Atlantis. The mythical tale of the fabled continent with its advanced civilization, lost beneath the Atlantic Ocean. Or of El Dorado, the legendary city of gold hidden deep within the South American jungles. Lost cities have long captivated our collective imagination. Yet, there is one lost city that gets overlooked.
Heracleion: The ancient Egyptian city lost to the sea Read More »
Beauty is said to be in the eye of the beholder, and while Xin Zhui was certainly a beautiful woman during her life, most wouldn’t consider her to be so 2,100 years later. But for a certain group of scientists and researchers, the mummy of Xin Zhui would be one of the more incredible, if
Xin Zhui: The amazingly preserved 2,100 year old mummy Read More »
Few civilizations have had as much of an impact on the modern world as ancient Greece. Once a collection of city-states, Greece was a haven for art, intellectualism, and education. But like so many other mighty civilizations of the time, Greece’s meteoric rise could only be ended by an equally intense fall. The decline of
Why did ancient Greece decline? Read More »
Today’s architectural marvels are because of technology, equipment, and years of study in architecture and engineering. But how do you explain the great architectural wonders of the past? They didn’t have the technology or the academic knowledge but they still made some awe-inspiring structures that have stood the test of time. An excellent case in
Göbekli Tepe: A Showcase of Early Man’s Architectural Skills Read More »
The Olmec civilization is counted amongst the first major ‘cradles’ of civilizations in the world. It developed in the low-lying lands of Southeast Mexico. The Olmecs were believed to have existed between 1200 Before Common Era (BCE) and 500 Common Era (CE). While little is known about the civilization itself, the Olmec Colossal Heads found
Olmec Colossal Heads: Everything You Need to Know Read More »
Ancient Rome was full of huge personalities. Just like in modern times, there are people in power who do their job and aren’t really all that entertaining, while others are so bold and inflammatory that we can’t stop talking about them. It was the same for Rome–maybe even more so. Rulers came and went, but
Untangling the life of Emperor Nero Read More »
It’s immediately clear from even a brief reading of history that humans have long had a knack for devising methods of torture and execution. Imagine a world where the fate of criminals extended far beyond the gallows. Where the condemned found themselves trapped in a metal cage, hanging in chains for all to see. This
Gibbeting: A History of a Gruesome Form of Public Execution Read More »
The world of Ancient Greece was steeped in religious and cultural traditions of all kinds. Festivals and rituals played a central role in everyday life. The Great Dionysia was one such festival. In ancient Athens, the celebration was a time of revelry, theater, and religious devotion. For several days each spring, the city would come
The Great Dionysia Read More »
Evaluating generalship is often a practice of choosing arbitrary values to rank. Military historians will argue infinitely over the relative merits of one leader over another. Ranking Roman generals is not immune to this kind of controversy. Sun Tzu provides us with some guidance: “Therefore the skillful leader subdues the enemy’s troops without any fighting;
Who were the 10 greatest Roman generals? Read More »
