Article archive
Research, stories and questions from the ancient world.
Browse every article on Spoken Past, or choose a category to explore the archive.
5 Brutal Roman Punishments Used in Antiquity
Five brutal Roman punishments explained through ancient law, eyewitness accounts and archaeology, including the sack, beasts, crucifixion, burning and military beatings.
Who Killed Caligula? The Praetorian Plot of AD 41
In AD 41, Praetorian officers murdered Caligula during the Palatine Games. Their plot failed to restore the Republic and brought Claudius to power.
5 Roman Innovations That Still Shape Modern Life
Roman concrete, aqueducts, roads, arches and heated floors changed the built world. What the Romans invented, adapted and left behind is more complex.
The Dacian Falx and the Armor Rome Wore Against It
The Dacian falx threatened Roman soldiers with curved blades. See what Trajan’s wars, excavated weapons, helmets and arm guards actually reveal.
Constantine’s Vision and the Battle of the Milvian Bridge
In 312 Constantine defeated Maxentius near Rome. Lactantius describes a dream, while Eusebius tells of a cross in the sky. What do the sources…
5 Famous Prophecies from the Oracle of Delphi
Five famous Delphic prophecies, from Croesus and Salamis to Leonidas, Nero and Socrates, examined through the ancient evidence and its uncertainties.
Did Fulvia Really Stab Cicero’s Tongue With Hairpins?
Cassius Dio says Fulvia pierced Cicero’s severed tongue after his murder in 43 BC. The ancient evidence reveals what is certain and what remains…
How Romans Bathed: Inside the Ancient Bathhouse
Roman bathhouses combined hot and cold rooms, exercise, oil scraping and social life. Ancient texts and excavations reveal how Romans actually bathed.
Ancient Skull Surgery: The 80% Survival Rate in Inca Peru
Skulls from ancient Peru suggest that 75% to 83% of Inca-period trepanation patients survived. The bone evidence reveals how surgeons worked and what remains…
Roman Death Masks: How Ancestors Appeared at Funerals
Roman families displayed wax ancestor masks and used them in funeral processions. Polybius explains the ritual, while new research questions when it ended.
Vestal Virgins: Rome’s Most Powerful Priestesses
Rome’s Vestal Virgins guarded the sacred fire, prepared offerings, held unusual legal rights and faced severe punishment for breaking their vows.
Roman Fresco Painting: How Pompeii’s Art Was Made
How did Romans paint Pompeii’s walls? Explore lime plaster, wet fresco, pigments, secco details, painters’ workshops and what the archaeological evidence reveals.
