In the following video we will analyze whether ancient egyptians actually walked like the way we see in frescos. Watch the video to find out!
Explore The Branches of the World Religions Tree
BY THE ARCHAEOLOGIST EDITOR GROUP
World religions form a vast and intricate tree, with each branch representing a distinct belief system. Just as a tree grows and changes over time, new branches can sprout as religions evolve, intersect, and differentiate. This article delves into the expansive World Religions Tree, exploring its main branches and providing a brief overview of each.
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Abrahamic Religions
The term 'Abrahamic religions' refers to faiths that trace their origins back to Abraham, a patriarchal figure in the Hebrew Bible, the Christian Old Testament, and the Islamic Quran.
Judaism
Judaism is the oldest of the Abrahamic religions. Jews believe in a monotheistic religion, worshiping a single, omnipotent God who made a covenant with their ancestors. Important texts include the Tanakh and the Talmud.
Christianity
Originating from Judaism, Christianity holds the belief that Jesus Christ is the son of God and humanity's savior. The New Testament, which includes the teachings of Christ and the accounts of his life, is considered holy in addition to the Old Testament.
Islam
Islam, the youngest of the Abrahamic religions, reveres the prophet Muhammad, who received revelations from God, or Allah in Arabic. These revelations were compiled into the Quran, Islam's holy text. There are two main branches of Islam, Sunni and Shia, each with their own interpretation of Islamic teachings.
Dharmic or Indian Religions
Dharmic religions, also known as Indian religions, emphasize the concept of Dharma, the moral and ethical duties and responsibilities individuals must uphold.
Hinduism
Hinduism is one of the world's oldest religions and has no single founder. Its beliefs are diverse, but many Hindus believe in a supreme being or universal soul (Brahman), the cycle of life, death, and rebirth (samsara), and the law of cause and effect (karma).
Buddhism
Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, Buddhism seeks to attain Nirvana, the state of liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, through the cultivation of wisdom, ethical conduct, and mental discipline.
Jainism
Jainism, an ancient Indian religion, emphasizes non-violence, truth, and asceticism. Jains believe in karma and the cycle of birth and death, similar to Buddhism and Hinduism, but propose a distinct path towards liberation.
Sikhism
Sikhism combines elements of both Islam and Hinduism. Sikhs believe in a single, formless God, with an emphasis on moral living and a commitment to equality.
East Asian Religions
The religions in this category often interweave with the culture and philosophy of the East Asian region.
Confucianism
Confucianism is more of a system of ethical and moral philosophy than a religion. Originating in China, it emphasizes social harmony, moral character, and proper personal and governmental conduct.
Taoism
Taoism, or Daoism, is a Chinese philosophy and religion that emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao, the fundamental nature or underlying principle of the universe.
Shintoism
Shinto is the indigenous spirituality of Japan. It venerates Kami, spirits, or phenomena that are worshipped in shrines. Shinto rituals are often focused on harmony with nature and purification.
Indigenous and Folk Religions
Indigenous and folk religions vary wildly, as they're based on the local culture and geography of their adherents. They often involve animism, ancestor worship, and shamanism. Notable ones include African traditional religions, Native American religions, and Australian Aboriginal beliefs.
Indigenous and folk religions constitute a vast and complex domain of human spiritual practice and belief. While it is challenging to distill these diverse traditions into a single description, they generally encompass a range of religious beliefs and practices native to specific cultures and societies around the world. They are typically deeply interwoven with the local culture, history, and geography and often share common elements like animism, ancestor worship, and shamanism.
Animism
Animism is a foundational concept in many indigenous and folk religions. It refers to the belief that all objects and living things possess a spiritual essence, or soul. These may include trees, rivers, animals, mountains, and even inanimate objects like stones. Animistic religions often involve rites and rituals designed to interact, appease, or communicate with these spirits.
Ancestor Worship
Ancestor worship, or ancestor veneration, is another common feature. Ancestors are often believed to continue to exist in another realm and are seen as capable of influencing the fortune and fate of the living. Practices can include offerings, prayers, and ceremonies dedicated to the spirits of deceased family members.
Shamanism
Shamanism refers to a range of beliefs and practices regarding communication with the spiritual world. A practitioner, often called a shaman, is someone who is believed to have specific abilities to interact with the spirit world, usually to help the community by healing, divination, or dealing with spirits.
Here are some examples of indigenous and folk religions:
African Traditional Religions
African traditional religions refer to the indigenous beliefs of the African people before the Christian and Islamic colonization of Africa. They encompass a wide range of ethnic religions and generally involve beliefs in a supreme creator, spirits, veneration of the dead, the use of magic, and traditional medicine.
Native American Religions
Native American religions include the various spiritual practices of the many indigenous tribes in North and South America. These practices often include reverence for nature, animal totems, sacred ceremonies, and a belief in a connection between the physical and spiritual worlds.
Australian Aboriginal Beliefs
Australian Aboriginal spirituality, often referred to as Dreamtime, consists of the beliefs of Australia's indigenous people. It encompasses a complex system of knowledge, rituals, and beliefs connected to the creation of the world.
Pacific Islander and Polynesian Religions
Polynesian religions are the indigenous beliefs of the Polynesian people that include the various spiritual practices and beliefs of the indigenous people of the Polynesian islands. These practices often involve animism, ancestor worship, and shamanism.
Each indigenous and folk religion, while sharing common elements, is unique to its people and its land. They offer a wealth of spiritual and cultural diversity, serving as windows into how our ancestors made sense of the world around them and their place within it. As such, they represent an invaluable part of our world's cultural heritage.
New Religious Movements
New religious movements, such as Bahá Faith and Scientology, have sprung up in recent centuries. These newer branches are often influenced by, or react against, the older, more established religions.
New Religious Movements (NRMs) refer to religious, ethical, or spiritual groups that have arisen within the last several centuries. These movements often exist outside of and challenge mainstream religious traditions. There are thousands of NRMs globally, exhibiting a wide variety of beliefs and practices. Here are some prominent examples:
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith, founded in the mid-19th century in Persia, emphasizes the spiritual unity of all humankind. Bahá'ís believe in the concept of progressive revelation, where God has revealed His will to humanity through a series of messengers, including Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, and the founder of their faith, Bahá'u'lláh.
Scientology
Founded by L. Ron Hubbard in the 1950s, the Church of Scientology is based on his writings, particularly "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health". It offers a precise path leading to a complete and certain understanding of one's true spiritual nature and one's relationship to self, family, groups, mankind, all life forms, the material universe, the spiritual universe, and the Supreme Being, or God.
Wicca
Wicca is a modern pagan, witchcraft religion. It was developed in England during the first half of the 20th century and introduced to the public in 1954 by Gerald Gardner, a retired British civil servant. Wiccans often worship a God (traditionally the Horned God) and a Goddess (the Moon Goddess), revere nature, and use magic in their rites.
Unification Church
The Unification Church, also known as the Moonies, was founded by Sun Myung Moon in South Korea in 1954. The church's teachings, the Divine Principle, incorporate elements from the Bible, Confucianism, and Korean shamanism, with an emphasis on family values.
New Age
The New Age movement isn't a unified religion but rather a network of beliefs and practices that focus on spiritual exploration, holistic health, and personal growth. It pulls from a wide range of older religious traditions, including Eastern spirituality, nature-based religions, and Western esotericism.
Falun Gong
Falun Gong, or Falun Dafa, is a modern Chinese spiritual practice that combines meditation and qigong exercises with a moral philosophy centered on the tenets of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. It emerged in China in the early 1990s, founded by Li Hongzhi.
These New Religious Movements, while diverse in their teachings and practices, generally share some common characteristics: they often synthesize elements from different religious traditions, emphasize personal spiritual experience over institutionalized doctrines, and can be notably fluid and decentralized in their organizational structure.
However, it is important to note that not all New Religious Movements are received positively by everyone. Some have been criticized or faced controversy due to their unconventional beliefs or practices, and some have been labeled as cults, especially by more established religious institutions. Nevertheless, they represent the continuous dynamic evolution of religious thought and practice across the globe.
Each branch of the World Religions Tree holds a unique set of beliefs, practices, and traditions. Exploring this tree allows us to appreciate the spiritual diversity and richness of our world, reminding us of our shared humanity and the many paths to understanding life's profound mysteries.
The Brazen Bull: A Cruel Instrument of Ancient Greek Torture and Execution
BY THE ARCHAEOLOGIST EDITOR GROUP
The Brazen Bull, also known as the Sicilian Bull or the Bronze Bull, is one of the most brutal, terrifying, and well-documented torture devices from antiquity. Crafted in the socio-political crucible of Ancient Greece, the Brazen Bull was designed as a testament to human ingenuity in the creation of new forms of cruelty and punishment. Though its existence is steeped in historical debate and its use is associated with tales of horror and inhumanity, there's no denying the chilling impact of its story on our understanding of human history.
Origins and Design
The Brazen Bull was allegedly created by Perillos of Athens, a bronze worker in the 6th century BCE, and introduced to Phalaris, the tyrant of Akragas, a Greek city in Sicily. Its design was a masterstroke of ancient artisanship, a life-sized bull cast entirely in bronze with a door on the side for the victim to be placed inside. It was hollow, allowing for a human being to be forced inside, and it was designed in such a way that, when a fire was lit beneath it, the Bull would heat up, slowly roasting the person inside alive.
The contraption also had an acoustic apparatus that converted the victim's screams into the sounds of a bellowing bull. The Bull's mouth was engineered in such a way that it served as a sort of resonating system. The agonized cries of the person inside were transformed into the bellowing of an infuriated bull, providing a grimly ironic, sonic spectacle for the onlookers. This chilling feature was both a demonstration of acoustic principles and a horrifying embellishment of the punishment.
Phalaris and the Brazen Bull
Phalaris, known for his savagery and cruelty, ruled Akragas from 570 to 554 BCE. The bull was created at his request, designed to make execution a public spectacle that would instill fear and compliance among his subjects. However, the tyrant's cruel sense of irony was brought to the fore when he turned the Bull on its inventor. According to the story, Perillos proposed the Brazen Bull to Phalaris, promising that the screams of the slowly roasted victims inside would sound like the bellowing of a bull. Intrigued, Phalaris ordered Perillos to climb inside to demonstrate the acoustic properties. Once Perillos was inside, Phalaris locked the door and lit a fire underneath, effectively roasting Perillos alive. Thus, the first victim of the Brazen Bull was its creator himself.
Pierre Woeiriot, The Brazen Bull of Phalarus
The Bull in Historical Accounts
The story of the Brazen Bull is mainly known from the writings of ancient historians. Diodorus Siculus, a Greek historian from the 1st century BCE, is the earliest source who detailed the story of Phalaris and the Brazen Bull. His writings form the basis of our understanding of the Bull, its creation, and the tragic end of its creator.
Another source is Pindar, a Greek lyric poet, who briefly mentions Phalaris in one of his odes and refers to a "copper-bellowing bull." Lucian, a rhetorician and satirist from the 2nd century CE, also mentions the Bull and Phalaris' cruel reign in his writings.
Despite these mentions, the authenticity of the Bull remains a topic of debate among historians, with some arguing that the device may be more legend than reality, a gruesome tale embellished over centuries.
The Brazen Bull in Later History
The tales of the Bull didn't end with Phalaris or Perillos. Stories tell us that the Bull was taken by the Carthaginians when they sacked Akragas in 406 BCE, and later it was captured by the Romans when they conquered Carthage. It's said that the Bull was eventually destroyed, although no archaeological evidence supports these claims.
The concept of the Brazen Bull resurfaced during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period in Europe. Some versions of the iron maiden, an alleged torture device consisting of an iron cabinet with a hinged front and spike-covered interior, reflect a similar principle as the Bull. However, these devices, like the Bull itself, exist on the blurry line between historical fact and folklore, and their use in actual torture or execution is a subject of ongoing debate.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
The Brazen Bull has left a strong imprint on popular culture. It serves as a potent symbol of human cruelty and a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power. Over time, the Bull has been referenced in literature, film, and television, usually as a means of illustrating extreme forms of punishment or tyranny.
One such instance is the Thomas Harris novel, "Hannibal Rising," where the titular character is seen using a miniature model of the Brazen Bull to exact revenge on a war criminal. In the 2011 film "Immortals," a similar device is used, reflecting the terror that the Bull continues to evoke.
The Brazen Bull, despite its disputed historical authenticity, continues to serve as a grim reminder of the depths of human cruelty. Its existence—real or fictional—stands testament to the lengths to which systems of power and control can dehumanize individuals, using terror as a tool for maintaining authority. As we explore the intricate, often grim tapestry of human history, the story of the Brazen Bull underscores the essential need for humanity, compassion, and justice in our societies.
The Last Celts in England
In this video, we're going to examine some stories telling us about the lives of the Celtic speakers in eastern England, from around the 4th century, when the Anglo-Saxons were first beginning to arrive, all the way to the 11th century, hundreds of years after the Anglo-Saxons first began to arrive.
The subject of a Celtic England is often controversial, and marked down by centuries of a total denial of the presence of Britons in England practically anytime after the 6th century. But today, we will examine plenty of evidence to counter that, from Britons in the Swamps of the Fens, to Welsh kings in the East, Celtic-named kings such as Cerdic and Caedwalla in the south, alongside Celtic Christians in the north. We will examine the troublesome Brythonic marauders that plagued eastern England in the 11th century, and the servile population from Wales that lived in Kent, Wessex, and 10th century Cambridgeshire.
The History of Wales, and Welsh history in general, is often seen as a counterbalance to the Germanic history of England, but as you will see today, English history is just as Celtic as they come.
The Forgotten Era: What Really Happened AFTER the Dinosaurs Went Extinct ? Earth History Documentary
Today, many extinct animals are more familiar to us than some species that are still alive. Among them are the dinosaurs. The diplodocus is more famous than the aardvark, and the tyrannosaurus more famous than the peramete. Dinosaurs are part of popular culture. For over 160 million years, these majestic creatures dominated the Earth, occupying most ecological niches and leaving little room for other species.
On five occasions, the Earth was confronted with major upheavals that had a fundamental impact on its subsequent history. When they disappeared during the fifth mass extinction, the dinosaurs left an immeasurable void. But one man's misfortune is another man's gain, and this void enabled the evolution of mammals and birds, which are now highly diversified groups of animals. Without this extinction, dinosaurs would probably have continued to dominate life on Earth, and other animals would not have had the opportunity to make their mark.
Mass extinctions change the rules of the game, redistributing the cards by condemning certain groups and giving new opportunities to others. When the dinosaurs disappeared, our distant ancestors survived.
What did the Earth look like after the extinction of the dinosaurs?
The ORIGIN of Noah's Ark Will Blow Your Mind
Unveil the enthralling origins of the Biblical flood story in this captivating documentary. Delve into the ancient Mesopotamian flood myths, including the Sumerian flood myth, Atrahasis Epic, and Epic of Gilgamesh, and witness the undeniable connections to the iconic tale of Noah. From shared themes to linguistic correlations, we explore the rich tapestry of these ancient narratives, shedding light on their profound influence on the Genesis flood account.
Join us on a thought-provoking journey as we navigate through the ancient myths, uncovering the purpose and significance behind the Genesis narrative. Discover the intriguing motifs, literary intertextuality, and cultural contexts that shaped the iconic flood story we know today. With expert insights and compelling evidence, we present a compelling case for the dependence of the Bible's flood myth on these much earlier Mesopotamian myths.
As our documentary reaches its conclusion, be prepared for a tantalizing glimpse into our future explorations. Our next episode will delve into the captivating realms of Nimrod and the Ziggurat, unveiling their fascinating connections to the ancient city of Babylon. Stay tuned for an exhilarating continuation of our journey through the ancient world, unraveling the mysteries and revealing the hidden truths behind these timeless myths.
The Greatest African Warrior to Ever Live | Memnon the Demi-God
In this video we will be taking you to the Bronze age, to the time of the most epic conflict in all of History, the Trojan war. This war would immortalize many Kings and warriors. In this Mythical age of heroes men were so skilled with the sword that their comrades thought they must have been Gods.
The SECRET Nasty Kinky SEX Lives Of Roman Gladiators
Gladiators were the heroes of ancient Rome and people watched their fights with great enthusiasm. At the same time, there was a social stigma against their existence because gladiators were first slaves and only then fighters. Many women wanted to have sex with them or feel their sweat as a kind of aphrodisiac. Gladiators were fierce and virile fighters desirable for the satisfaction of sexual urges. Because of their position in society, the sex life of gladiators was very interesting and carried with it certain piquancy and bizarreness. We learn about it based on sexual graffiti, archaeological evidence, and the works of contemporary writers. There is a lot of evidence about how gladiators led their sex life, and we bring you an interesting story about everything that was part of their sex life.
20 Scariest Tribes You Don’t Want to Meet
There are thousands of tribes that come with diverse traditions and customs. And many of these tribes we don't even know of exist. Funny enough, some of us might have had close encounters with any of these non-aggressive tribes, and I promise you, they're pretty fascinating if you get to know more about their customs and traditions and, most importantly, how they came about.
From the extremely secluded Sentinelese tribe to the smallest settlements’ unknown to many, here are "20 scariest Tribes you don't want to meet."
Greenland Shark: The Shark That’s Twice As Old As America
In today’s video we will be talking about the Greenland Shark, which is twice as old as America. Watch the video for more!
The "Filthy" Secret Lives of Imperial Chinese Concubines
In the summer of 1424, when Ming Emperor Yongle passed away, thirty concubines who were living among many others in the royal harem were handed the dreaded blood red piece of silk clothing in a square shape. This little piece of fabric meant that these thirty concubines were considered his favorite by the Yongle emperor. It also meant that they were supposed to not live after the emperor.
The life of a concubine in the forbidden city was as dangerous as lavish, as forced as frivolous, and as punishable as pleasurable. How lonely and depressing were their lives? What cruel selection process did they have to go through? What did it take to survive as a concubine in Imperial China?
In today’s video we will find out how depressing were the lives of Imperial Chinese Concubines!
Native American - SLAVE OWNERS - Forgotten History
Slavery is as old as civilization. Every culture and society practiced it, and were also victims of it. The North American Indians were no different. Various tribes enslaved other tribes, usually through raids and after battles capturing their quarry. This included men, women and children. Native Americans also captures whites, and also had black slaves from the colonial period until the end of the Civil war.
20 Horrible Historical Facts School Doesn't Teach
In the following video we will examine 20 horrible historical facts school doesn’t teach us. Watch the video to find out more!
Meet Sparta, the perfectly preserved Lion cub dating back 28,000 years
According to scientists, a very well-preserved cave lion cub discovered in the permafrost of Siberia lived 28,000 years ago and may have even had remnants of its mother's milk.
A cave lion cub named Sparta, which was found preserved in Siberia’s permafrost. Cave lions have been extinct for thousands of years. Photograph: Reuters
According to a study published in the Quaternary magazine, a female cub named Sparta and a male cub named Boris were both discovered at the Semyuelyakh River in Russia's Yakutia area in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
The cubs were discovered 15 meters apart, but they were not only born thousands of years apart and from different litters. According to the study, Boris, a male cub, lived approximately 43,448 years ago.
Mammoth tusk hunters discovered the two cubs, which were between one and two months old. In recent years, the area has also seen the discovery of Uyan and Dina, two other lion cubs.
Since countless years ago, there are no longer any cave lions.
One of the study's authors, Valery Plotnikov, claimed that Sparta was so well preserved that its fur, internal organs, and skeleton were still present in the provincial capital Yakutsk.
There was never another find of this kind in Yakutia, he claimed, therefore the discovery itself is unique.
Boris, a male cave lion cub, lived and died about 15,000 years before Sparta. Photograph: Reuters
We're hoping that some of the mother's milk's dissolved components are still present. We'll be able to comprehend its mother's diet if we have that, he explained.
There have been an increasing number of similar discoveries in Russia's vast Siberian area. The ground has thawed in certain regions long frozen in permafrost as a result of climate change, which is warming the Arctic more quickly than the rest of the world.
Great Japanese Proverbs and Sayings That Will Make You Wise
Great Japanese wisdom has always been popular for its depth of thought and beauty of expression. Proverbs of the Japanese people and ancient Japanese sayings, as well as aphorisms and wise thoughts will cheer you up and make your life better..
Spanish DNA History
In this video we will be going through the history of the Spanish DNA. Watch the video to find out more!
12 Most Mysterious Ancient Artifacts Finds That Change History
No matter what any history teacher might have told you, it's very difficult to be certain about the intricacies of human history. It's not like anybody alive in the world today was around thousands of years ago to serve as an eyewitness to whatever went on! Our understanding of history is mostly gleaned from records and discoveries made by archaeologists - and sometimes, the discoveries challenge the accepted facts.
Turkish Archaeologists Unearth The Theater in The Ancient City of Perinthos
Turkish Archaeologists continue to work to unearth the largest theater in Thrace, located in the Ancient City of Perinthos.
Head of the excavation Prof Dr Zeynep Koçel Erdem stated that the excavations are continuing in the stage building section and said, “We reached the traces of the steps located between the rows of seats at a depth of 4.5 meters, and this is very pleasing.”
Excavations started 2 years ago to uncover the Perinthos Ancient City continue. The theater, which is stated to be the largest in Thrace, was unearthed among the ruins found in the 1.5 kilometers long and 500 meters wide area on the hill of the city.
Anglo-Saxon Ivory Rings Found in Britain Came from African Elephants
An elite class of ancient Anglo-Saxon women were buried with hundreds of ivory rings, and the origin of these ivory rings has long remained a mystery. Ivory rings found in England have origins from African elephants according to a new study.
Long thought to be the ivory from mammoth or walrus specimens, the new research shows that the ivory, in fact, came from Africa around the fifth or sixth century CE. This means that the ivory was actually sourced nearly 4,000 miles away from the cemeteries in which the Anglo-Saxon ivory rings were found.
Given what is known about travel and trade in the first millennium AD, this is an extraordinary distance for ivory to have been transported. Despite the incredible distance, this remarkable discovery suggests that a trading network connecting Eastern Africa and Western Europe must have existed at the time.
The INSANE Sexual Behavior Of Cheating Queens Was DISGUSTING!
Throughout history, royalty around the world has dealt with its share of scandals, controversies, and drama-filled stories. But these queens took the cake, whether they were indulging in numerous affairs or even killing their kings. Continue watching to learn about the most scandalous sex lives of queens throughout history.
The royal kings had many strange customs, and not all of them were able to keep their queens to themselves. Let us share some of the crazy sex lives of cheating queens in history.
