Article archive
Research, stories and questions from the ancient world.
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Tantalus: The Greek King Condemned to Endless Hunger and Thirst
Tantalus stood in water he could never drink, beneath fruit he could never reach. Ancient Greek writers disagreed about the crime that earned him…
7 Strange Medical Remedies from Ancient Rome
Gladiator blood for epilepsy, goat liver for night blindness, and mouse dung for bladder stones: what Roman sources actually say about seven remedies.
The Athenian Ephebeia: How Young Men Trained to Defend Athens
In fourth-century Athens, newly enrolled male citizens trained with weapons, guarded Piraeus and patrolled Attica. The ephebeia later became a selective education.
How Did Greek Hoplites Fight?
Greek hoplites fought with spears and large shields in phalanxes, but their spacing, tactics and training varied. Ancient accounts reveal how battles were won…
7 Mystery Cults in Ancient Greece and Rome
Seven ancient Greek and Roman mystery cults, from Eleusis and Samothrace to Isis and Mithras, and what their secret initiations actually involved.
5 Minoan Palaces of Bronze Age Crete
Five Minoan palaces reveal Bronze Age Crete through their courtyards, storerooms, workshops, writing and the mountain complex at Zominthos.
9 Painted Etruscan Tombs at Tarquinia and Their Stories
Nine painted tombs at Tarquinia preserve Etruscan banquets, myths, funeral games and performers. Learn what their frescoes show and which can be visited.
Why Did the Hittite Empire Collapse?
The Hittite Empire collapsed around 1200 BCE amid political strain, disrupted grain supplies and severe drought. Archaeology shows Hattusa was abandoned before it burned.
How Aksum Became a Power in Red Sea Trade
Aksum grew wealthy through Adulis, ivory, inland trade routes and coinage. Ancient texts and archaeology reveal the kingdom’s reach and its limits.
9 Presocratic Thinkers and Traditions of Ancient Greece
Thales, Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Parmenides and five other early Greek philosophical traditions asked how nature, change, knowledge and justice work.
Parthian Cataphracts: The Armored Cavalry Rome Feared
Parthian cataphracts combined heavy armour, long lances and mounted archery. Their role at Carrhae, what their equipment reveals and where the evidence ends.
Palmyrene Empire: How Zenobia Challenged Rome
Zenobia’s Palmyrene Empire seized Egypt and much of Rome’s eastern provinces before Aurelian defeated it in AD 272. Coins and ancient texts reveal how…
