The Cadastre of Orange is an ancient plan that shows the Roman centuriations (land distributions) that extended across the territory of the colony of Arausio (modern-day Orange in France) in Gallia Narbonensis, as well as across the territories of neighboring cities and colonies. Excavations carried out between 1949 and 1952 near the ancient theater of […]
History
The line of demarcation between prehistoric and historical times is crossed when people cease to live only in the present, and become consciously interested both in their past and in their future. History begins with the handing down of tradition; and tradition means the carrying of the habits and lessons of the past into the future. Records of the past begin to be kept for the benefit of future generations. (E.H. Carr)
Posted inAncient Egypt
How Were Mirrors Made in Ancient Egypt? An Analysis Reveals the Use of Alloys That Produced Golden or Silver Reflections
The mirrors of ancient Egypt have been the subject of great attention for their cultural importance and their connection to religious beliefs. However, their manufacturing process has not been thoroughly investigated, and only a few have been included in broader analyses. How were these mirrors made? Now, recent research published in the Journal of Archaeological […]
Posted inModern Era
How the Bishop of the Diocese of Orlando Became the Bishop of the Moon
The year 2019 marked the 50th anniversary of Man’s landing on the Moon. It was on July 21, 1969, when Commander Neil Armstrong stepped onto the surface where the Eagle, the lunar module of the Apollo XI mission, had landed six hours earlier. He was then followed by Buzz Aldrin while Michael Collins stayed behind […]
Posted inAncient Egypt
The Enigmatic Cones Worn by the Ancient Egyptians on Their Heads
Some readers, when looking closely at the Egyptian paintings in the tomb of the scribe Nebamun, might be surprised by the strange shapes crowning the figures’ heads. It may seem like they are wearing sirens like those on ambulances, fire trucks, or police cars. Obviously, that’s not the case. It is something more domestic: what […]
Posted inAncient Rome
Marcus Antonius Pallas, the Treasurer of Two Roman Emperors Who Became Rich Without Ever Embezzling Public Funds
Callistus, Terentius, Hyginus, Narcissus, Asiaticus, Neophytus, Phaon, Pallas… What do these names of historical figures from Ancient Rome have in common? All of them were freedmen, that is, slaves freed by their masters, and most of them prospered in their new lives, becoming esteemed literati or secretaries to emperors. A good example could be the […]
Posted inModern Era
“Clisson and Eugénie”, the Romantic Novel Written by Napoleon Bonaparte
Artilleryman, strategist, statesman, legislator… One of the things that sets Napoleon Bonaparte apart from other military leaders and politicians is his extraordinary ability to excel in various fields. Well, there is one more quality to add to the most famous Corsican of all time, though it is practically unknown to most: that of a writer. […]
Posted inModern Era
Juggernaut, the origin of the word that defines a destructive, uncontrollable, and unstoppable force
To define the plague that devastates the world in her novel The Last Man, Mary Shelley (also the author of Frankenstein) writes: Like Juggernaut, it proceeds crushing the being of all who stand in the high road of life. The term Juggernaut is also used by Robert Louis Stevenson in The Strange Case of Dr. […]
Posted inAncient Greece
Kallipateira, the Woman Who Sneaked into the Olympic Games Disguised as a Man and Lived to Tell the Tale
“Rhodian princess, how did you enter? / It is an ancient custom here to expel women from here.” / “I have a nephew, Eucleos, / three brothers, son, father, Olympic athletes; / you must let me, Hellanodikai, / and to behold the beautiful / bodies, where is the field of Heracles? / They are fighting […]
Posted inAntiquity
Impressive Roman-era wall paintings, discovered at Ashkelon in the 1930s, revealed to the public for the first time
For the first time ever, two ancient vaulted tombs dating back at least 1,700 years, adorned with magnificent murals depicting Greek mythological figures, people, plants, and animals, will be unveiled to the public. This exciting initiative results from a collaboration between the Ashkelon Municipality and the Israel Antiquities Authority to develop and integrate the city’s […]
Posted inAncient Greece
The Intriguing Magic Sphere that Was Found at the Foot of the Acropolis of Athens
Although at first glance one might think that the figure represented on the 30-centimeter-diameter marble sphere preserved in the Acropolis Museum in Athens is the Statue of Liberty, in reality, the idea it represents is much older. The geometric symbols carved on the sides of the image and above it add a bit more mystery […]