Article archive
Research, stories and questions from the ancient world.
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What Did the Bronze Age Sound Like?
Bronze horns, stone circles, copper mines and the Nebra Sky Disc reveal what archaeology can and cannot tell us about Bronze Age sound.
Who Owns Ancient Artifacts? Colonialism and Repatriation
The Parthenon Marbles, Rosetta Stone and Nefertiti bust reveal how colonial collecting shaped museums and why ownership and restitution remain contested.
Can Archaeology Prove Ancient Myths? Troy, Gilgamesh and Rome
Troy was a real city, Gilgamesh may have been a king, and Rome had Iron Age huts. Here is what ancient evidence proves and…
Presentism: How Modern Bias Distorts Ancient History
Presentism can distort ancient history through misleading translations, modern political categories and selective sources. Learn how historians test those assumptions.
The Hero’s Journey in Ancient Myth: Before Joseph Campbell
From Gilgamesh and Inanna to Odysseus, Aeneas and Sigurd, ancient hero myths share journeys but disagree about death, duty and return.
Mythical Creatures A to Z: 26 Legends and Their Origins
From Apep and Medusa to the qilin and Ziz, trace 26 legendary creatures through ancient texts, medieval art, and the cultures that imagined them.
Greek, Roman, Norse, and Egyptian Mythology Compared
Compare Greek, Roman, Norse, and Egyptian mythology through creation, gods, fate, death, heroes, rituals, and the evidence behind each tradition.
Ancient Infrastructure: How Roads, Waterworks and Ports Worked
From Nineveh’s aqueduct and Petra’s channels to Roman harbours and Indus drains, ancient infrastructure depended on skilled engineering and constant repair.
Ancient Trade Routes That Connected the World
How ancient trade routes worked, from Bronze Age ships and Assyrian caravans to Palmyra, Roman grain fleets, Indian Ocean ports and the Silk Roads.
Ancient History: From the First Cities to Late Antiquity
From Uruk and early writing to ancient Egypt, the Indus, Persia, Greece and Rome, a history of cities, trade, ordinary life and empires.
Rongorongo: Easter Island’s Undeciphered Script
Rongorongo survives on fewer than 30 Rapa Nui objects. See why the script remains unread, what the Mamari calendar suggests and what new research…
The Dogon Sirius Mystery: Did They Know About Sirius B?
A 1950 study claimed the Dogon knew of Sirius B. Four named informants, a later fieldwork dispute, and astronomy reveal what the evidence can…
