A huge collection of marble sarcophagi. Thousands of artifacts from a world-class museum. The longest road tunnel in the ancient world. Two colossal floating palaces. These are the greatest Roman treasures destroyed during World War II.
For many other fascinating facts about the lives and legacies of the Greeks and Romans, check out my book “Naked Statues, Fat Gladiators, and War Elephants: Frequently Asked Questions about the Ancient Greeks and Romans:”
Our world is a vast and enigmatic place, teeming with wonders and mysteries that have long captivated the human imagination. Despite the incredible progress made by science in unraveling the secrets of the universe, numerous mysteries continue to confound even the brightest minds. These unanswered questions serve as a reminder that the quest for knowledge is an ongoing journey and that there is always more to learn and explore. So from the disappearance of the Sanxingdui to cave paintings of ships, today we will be looking into 15 unexplained archaeological discoveries.
In the remote Pacific, on the island of Pohnpei, lies what has been called the "eighth wonder of the world", and the "Atlantis of the Pacific". Once thought to have been lost city, the ruins of Nan Madol continue to fascinate all who see them. What was this mysterious complex of buildings? Pohnpeian oral tradition records that around the year 1200, the island was conquered by a group who would become known as the Saudeleur, and who enslaved the local population & constructed Nan Madol, a floating city perched atop artificially constructed islets, as their palatial center and power base. From here, they controlled the island and extracted tribute from the local population.
In the following video we will be talking about Leviathan, the sea serpent noted in theology and mythology. Watch the video to find out more!
Archaeologists, farmers, and hunters from around the world have reported some of the most fascinating finds in caves. These underground sanctuaries, shrouded in darkness and mystery, have long captured our imaginations and sparked our curiosity. The treasures hidden deep within these caverns have changed our understanding of history and the natural world. The discoveries made in these caves continue to inspire awe and wonder, and we can only imagine what other secrets they may hold, waiting to be uncovered by future generations. From a wealth of Mayan artifacts to human skulls that were turned into drinking cups. here are 15 Weirdest Things Discovered In Caves That Change Everything.
If you've ever watched drone footage, you know how awe-inspiring it can be. Drones give us access to views that were once only available to birds. However, it's not just the beauty that drones capture. Sometimes, they capture moments that are unnerving and eerie, leaving us with a sense of unease. Today, we're going to take a closer look at some of these chilling moments caught on camera. So, From the bicycle graveyard, to the Sinking ship, here are 15 most disturbing things ever caught on a drone.
In the 1970s, Austrian prehistorian Karl Kromer led excavations at Giza in Egypt, in an area just south of the main pyramid field and to the west of the Lost City of the Pyramid Builders, also known as Heit el-Ghurab.
Over six seasons of investigation, he and his team cut ten 10x10-metre excavation trenches into a crescent-shaped mound, which looked to be made-up of settlement debris. This unusual part of Giza is now forever known as The Kromer Dump.
Based on his finds, Kromer believed the mound was demolition debris from a royal rest house or settlement, dating from the 1st to 4th dynasties, up until the time of Khufu and Khafre. The interpretation of the early dynastic finds was debatable and not in great abundance so more work was required.
In 2018 the Ancient Egypt Research Associates (AERA) re-investigated the site. They wanted to get some solid dateable evidence from the dump, they wanted to understand what was deposited and where the demolition rubble could have come from - and if it could really be from a royal rest house or small palace as Karl Kromer alluded to.
Watch the video to find out everything we know about this Great Dump of Giza, and if there could have really been a missing and long-lost royal palace.
Like the Abode of the Gods was to the ancient Chaldees, Antarctica is still to the rest of the world today a precipitous and enormous land that lies far beyond the seas that encircle man's home. But even after more than a century of exploration, colonization, and documentation, Antarctica continues to be completely foreign.
The Grand Canyon has always been shrouded in mystery, but the recent discovery of a hidden cave system has sent shockwaves through the internet. Rumours of ancient artefacts and lost treasures have piqued the interest of adventure seekers worldwide, but with the government denying access, what secrets lie within remains a mystery.
Today we will delve into the details of this bizarre and unexplained phenomenon and try to uncover the truth behind the Grand Canyon mystery that has captivated the internet.
Can you imagine living in a society where severed hands were a common sight? This may sound like something out of a horror movie, but for the ancient Egyptians, it was a reality. Recently, archaeologists made a groundbreaking discovery that sheds light on this dark aspect of ancient Egyptian society. The discovery of the first osteological evidence of severed hands has left researchers puzzled about the possible reasons behind this gruesome practice.
Today we’ll delve into this fascinating new discovery and explore what it tells us about ancient Egyptian culture.
Most have heard of the story of Atlantis, a lost city that was once home to a great civilization. But what if the location of this fabled city is not just a myth? Could its true location be the exotic Azores Islands? Join us as we explore the possibility, that the Lost City of Atlantis is hidden among the islands of the Azores.
Have you ever wondered what life was like on a trans oceanic voyage during the 17th century? In this video you will experience the life of an average sailor embarking on a voyage for the VOC. The contracts the sailor's signed were usually initiated with unrealistic and fantastic sales pitches about what the sailors would experience and take back with them from the far east.
But what was their life really like on these ships after months at sea? Find out the experience of a typical VOC voyage to the East Indies!
The Battle of Salamis was a pivotal naval battle fought between the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire in 480 BC. It is considered one of the largest and most significant naval battles in antiquity, as it marked a turning point in the Greco-Persian Wars and played a crucial role in the defense of Greek civilization.
The battle took place in the straits of Salamis, an island located near Athens, and was a part of the larger conflict between the Persian Empire, led by King Xerxes I, and an alliance of Greek city-states, led primarily by Athens and Sparta. The Persian Empire sought to conquer Greece as a means of expanding its empire and avenging the defeat it had suffered in the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC.
The Greek fleet, led by the Athenian general Themistocles, was significantly outnumbered by the Persian armada. However, the Greeks held a strategic advantage, as they were familiar with the narrow straits around Salamis, which made it difficult for the larger Persian ships to maneuver effectively. Themistocles devised a cunning plan to lure the Persian fleet into the straits, where the Greek triremes could more effectively engage the enemy.
The Greeks sent a false message to Xerxes, claiming that they intended to flee, which prompted the Persians to pursue them into the confined waters around Salamis. Once the Persian fleet was in the straits, the Greek triremes attacked, using their superior maneuverability and the element of surprise to their advantage. The Greeks employed a tactic called diekplous, in which they rowed through gaps between the Persian ships, ramming and disabling them.
The Battle of Salamis ended in a decisive victory for the Greeks, with the Persian fleet suffering heavy losses. This victory proved to be a turning point in the Greco-Persian Wars, as it significantly weakened the Persian forces and boosted the morale of the Greek city-states. The following year, the Greeks won another significant victory at the Battle of Plataea, which effectively ended the Persian invasion.
The Battle of Salamis is notable not only for its scale but also for the long-lasting impact it had on Western civilization. The victory of the Greek city-states preserved their independence and the development of their unique culture, which would go on to influence the later development of Western thought, politics, and art.
The evolution of powered flight is one of the rarest adaptations made in nature only being possessed by four groups of animals, the birds, bats, pterosaurs and earliest of all the insects. Because the insects evolved so early and because they are the only animals to evolve powered flight that aren't vertebrates the path they took to get airborne is very different. This video seeks to explain what is known about the evolution of the insect wing and how they made the transition.
In today’s video Roel Konijnendijk will be rating 10 battle scenes in movies and television for realism. Enjoy!
In this video we will be talking about the Great War for the Chinese Imperial Throne. Watch the video and enjoy!
In this video we will explain the difference between Hominids and Hominins, when the hominins split off from the hominids and why this distinction is important. We will also explain the entire currently known and researched evolutionary timeline from these great apes, all the way up to us Modern Humans.
Slavery was an ever-present phenomenon in the ancient Roman Empire. It played an essential role in society, and enslaved people were an important part of the economy. These enslaved people were so prominent in numbers that Romans did not see slavery as something uncommon or unjust.
Male and female slaves were sold and bought like cattle. There were different classes of slaves in the ancient Roman Empire. These slaves were bought, sold, tortured, and even killed in extreme cases for the sake of enjoyment. This inhumane treatment made the lives of all slaves miserable. But what is the history of slaves in ancient Rome? How were people enslaved? And how did their masters and the centralized government treat them?
In the ancient Roman Empire, slavery was so deeply rooted in the culture that people didn’t think it was anything unusual. Freedom was not considered a birthright; instead, it was regarded as a selected privilege. Furthermore, it was said that the freedom of one class of people was only possible because the other class was enslaved. Power and inequality were crucial parts of society. Slavery was considered a necessary practice for Romans as it was not thought of as something evil. The number of slaves was viewed as a sign of wealth, so the more, the better! Rich people are even said to have up to 400 slaves at a time. Nevertheless, it was also common for poor people to have a certain number of slaves.
There are a number of mysterious, ancient sites discovered around world. Each one is shrouded in mystery as to how, when, and why they were built.
In our pursuit to understand more about our distant past, these prehistoric locations are bound to change what we have come to know about our prehistory. Here are 18 of the most mysterious and intriguing sites from around the world.
As the tide recedes along the shores, it uncovers a truly alien world of rock pools. At first look, the landscape presents little more than a barren, lifeless stretch of thick mud and rotting seaweed, strewn with boulders. But these features come together to create a unique habitat. Twice a day, miles of sand, gullies, reefs and rock pools are exposed, bringing into view a wealth of rarely seen marine life. Here, the sparse isolated pools open a window on the many conflicts that these creatures must content with in order to survive. Each rock pool is a tiny but complex ecosystem, home to crabs, shrimps, and all manner of incredible creatures.
