The Sacred Band of Thebes was one of the most intriguing military formations in ancient Greece. It gained fame not only for its martial prowess but, above all, for the idea upon which it was built. It consisted of 150 pairs of young men. Ancient Athens was known for pederasty…

In European history, there were many turning points, but when mentioning the most important periods that significantly shaped the modern world, the 16th century stands out — a time of great geographical discoveries, the rise of European powers’ trade dominance, and the struggle for hegemony in the Old Continent. Europe…

The underground “City of the Dead” will, for the first time in history, be open to visitors. Until now, access to the ancient necropolis was limited to scientists. The Vatican Museums are immensely popular among the faithful and beyond. In 2022, over 5 million people admired the greatest treasures of…

Archaeologists conducting excavations in an ancient royal settlement have found a mysterious temple. Researchers claim it dates back to the times of the first kings of East England, before the advent of Christianity. Suffolk is a county in eastern England, located on the North Sea, within the geographical-historical region called…

Jalula fell to Muslim forces in 637 AD as a consequence of the Persian army’s defeat. After many years of searching, archaeologists have discovered the ruins of this fortress in Iraq. The discovery was announced by the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (SBAH). So far, only fragments of…

Truly democratic solutions were introduced in Athens under Cleisthenes. However, they were based on legal changes that had been introduced earlier by Solon. Why did the Greeks invent democracy — the “best of possible systems” known to humanity? And how did it manage to develop and survive in a world…

The latest excavations in Girsu, an ancient Sumerian city, revealed remains of an exceptionally innovative technology. It was meant to supply water to arid lands and enhance agriculture. The Sumerians are considered the creators of one of the first advanced civilizations. They inhabited the areas between the Tigris and Euphrates…

Many orders established during the medieval period still exist today. These institutions were a response to the needs of the theocentric times and served not only religious functions but also social ones. How did monastic orders come about in the Middle Ages? How was monastic life conducted? …

In Rome, purple fabrics were reserved for emperors. Purple became synonymous with power. The Phoenicians were the first to produce purple during the Bronze Age. What is Phoenician purple? The Phoenicians specialized in purple production during the Bronze Age, around 1500 BCE. The dye came from marine snails found on the coasts of the…