Article archive
Research, stories and questions from the ancient world.
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Laocoön and His Sons: The Statue Found in a Roman Vineyard
Found in Rome in 1506, the Laocoön sculpture depicts a Trojan priest and his sons. Its disputed date, missing arm and artistic influence reveal…
Battle of Pharsalus: Caesar’s Victory Over Pompey
At Pharsalus in 48 BCE, Caesar defeated Pompey after a cavalry attack failed. Ancient accounts reveal the tactics, losses and disputed battlefield.
How Did Augustus Create the Principate?
Augustus founded Rome’s Principate through the settlements of 27 and 23 BC, retaining command of the legions while preserving the Senate and Republican offices.
Greek Fire: Byzantium’s Weapon That Burned on Water
Greek fire was Byzantium’s naval incendiary, fired through ship-mounted siphons. Its lost recipe, famous battles and surviving evidence explained.
How Were Roman Mosaics Made?
Roman mosaicists built floors in layers, cut stone and glass into tesserae, and arranged detailed pictures in mortar. Excavated pavements reveal how they worked.
5 Viking Raids Recorded in Medieval Chronicles
Five Viking raids from Lindisfarne to Constantinople, 793 to 860, reveal what medieval chroniclers recorded and where the evidence is uncertain.
How Does LiDAR Map Cities in the Maya Jungle?
LiDAR maps Maya cities by measuring ground elevation through gaps in jungle canopy. Learn how archaeologists identify houses, roads, terraces and reservoirs.
8 Ways People Survived Winter in Medieval Europe
How medieval Europeans preserved food, heated homes, protected grain, dressed for cold and travelled through snow, with evidence from texts and archaeology.
Did Early Christians Read Genesis Literally?
Origen questioned the first three creation days, Basil defended Genesis’s plain meaning, and Augustine argued for creation at once. The early church disagreed.
Prometheus: Why Zeus Chained Him to a Mountain
Zeus chained Prometheus to a rock where an eagle devoured his regrowing liver. The Greek sources explain the stolen fire, the punishment and his…
How Did Ancient Greek and Roman Sacrifices Work?
Greek and Roman sacrifices involved prayers, animal slaughter, offerings and shared meals. Ancient texts and excavations reveal how the rituals worked.
Which Civilization Invented Zero? The Evidence from India and Beyond
Ancient India developed zero as a number, while Babylonians and Maya used earlier placeholders. See what Aryabhata, Brahmagupta and the Bakhshali manuscript show.
