Article archive
Research, stories and questions from the ancient world.
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Tyr vs Ares: Norse and Greek Gods of War Compared
Tyr lost his hand to Fenrir. Ares was wounded by Diomedes. Their myths and cults reveal striking differences, and unexpected similarities, between two war…
Fenrir and Gleipnir: How the Norse Gods Bound the Wolf
The Norse gods bound Fenrir with a ribbon called Gleipnir, but Týr paid for their deception with his hand. Here is how the story…
Hestia: Greek Goddess of the Hearth and Home
Hestia was the Greek goddess of the hearth. Ancient hymns, civic rituals and archaeology reveal her role in households, public worship and Greek myth.
Gilgamesh Tablet XII: Mesopotamia’s Underworld
Tablet XII of Gilgamesh describes Enkidu’s journey to the underworld and the fate of the dead. Its unusual ending comes from an older Sumerian…
Hathor: Egypt’s Goddess Who Nearly Destroyed Mankind
Hathor almost destroys humanity in Egypt's Book of the Heavenly Cow. The red beer that saves the survivors also helps explain her dangerous solar…
How Útgarða-Loki Tricked Thor in Norse Mythology
Útgarða-Loki made Thor fail five impossible tests. Snorri’s Prose Edda reveals the giant’s tricks, the hidden opponents and why he feared Thor.
Nergal and Ereshkigal: Mesopotamia’s Gods of Death
Nergal brought war and plague; Ereshkigal ruled the dead. Two ancient versions of their myth reveal how they came to share the Mesopotamian underworld.
Did Neanderthals Use Medicinal Plants?
Dental calculus reveals yarrow, chamomile and poplar in Neanderthals. Could these plants have eased pain, or were they part of ordinary diets?
Göbekli Tepe: What Science Reveals About Its People
Research on Göbekli Tepe reveals grain processing, seasonal hunting, human burials and daily life alongside its remarkable stone monuments.
Why Has Roman Concrete Lasted for 2,000 Years?
Roman concrete survives in harbours and the Pantheon. Volcanic ash, lime, hot mixing and careful engineering help explain its extraordinary durability.
Inside San Giuliano’s Etruscan Tomb, Sealed for 2,600 Years
A sealed Etruscan tomb found at San Giuliano in 2025 held four people and 74 ceramic vessels. The finds reveal burial rituals and correct…
Can AI Crack the Minoan Linear A Script?
Linear A remains undeciphered. See what AI can reveal, why Minoan is still unreadable, and how discoveries and research through 2026 have changed the…
