Today, the concept of confirming identities and familial relationships with DNA tests is so common that we often take it for granted. But it’s only in recent history that this amazing technology has become available and, as a result, has provided us with insights and information we might not otherwise have. King Tutankhamun’s DNA has…
The ancient Egyptians traded grain, gold, linen, papyrus, glass, pottery, wine, oil, jewelry, and other manufactured goods. In return, Egypt imported materials that were scarce or unavailable along the Nile, including cedarwood, silver, copper, tin, incense, ivory, ebony, animal skins, precious stones, and exotic animals. Egypt’s location connected northeastern Africa with the Mediterranean, the Levant, Nubia,…
There’s so much in a name. We all have them, and they often help define who we are, at least in part. We get our last names from our parents as they got theirs from their parents. But how did ancient Egyptians choose their last names? The surprising answer is that they usually did not have…
World Emoji Day is celebrated each year on July 17th, and it got me thinking. Were hieroglyphs really the emojis of ancient Egypt? The answer is more complicated than it looks. 👁️🐍☀️ Every day, people communicate with tiny pictures. A smiling face can soften a message. A heart can express affection without a sentence. A pair of…
With his black canine head, tall pointed ears, and human body, Anubis is one of the most recognizable gods of ancient Egypt. His unusual appearance has also inspired a popular question: What kind of dog was Anubis? The simplest answer is that Anubis wasn’t based on a specific domestic dog breed. Ancient Egyptian artists portrayed…
The ancient Romans did not all look the same. Rome was huge, and as a result, the ancient Romans were made up of a variety of cultures. One of the biggest misconceptions about the Roman Empire is that there was a single “Roman look.” In reality, the Roman world stretched across Europe, North Africa, and…
See a detailed Ancient Egyptian nome map featuring all 42 provinces, their capitals, symbols, and the fascinating government of the pharaohs.
Among the many fascinating deities of Ancient Egypt, few are as mysterious as the Seven Hathors. Rather than being seven different goddesses, they were seven manifestations of the great goddess Hathor who appeared together to reveal the destiny of every newborn child. The Seven Hathors occupied a unique place in Egyptian religion. They were present…
Among the many religious texts left behind by the ancient Egyptians, few are as mysterious and visually striking as the Litany of Ra. Carved onto the walls of royal tombs deep within the Valley of the Kings, this remarkable composition honored Ra, the supreme sun god, by naming and depicting his many divine manifestations. More…
If you have ever visited a museum or looked through books on ancient Greece, you have probably noticed something striking: nearly every Greek statue depicts an incredibly muscular figure. Chiseled abs, broad shoulders, powerful legs, and perfectly proportioned bodies seem to appear everywhere. This naturally raises an interesting question: were all ancient Greeks really that…