Another face recreation project focusing on ancient Egypt on some of its pharaohs and even normal people. This was done with the effort by observing the statues and separating myths, misconceptions from reality. Enjoy!
Japanese Mythology: The Essential - The Story of Amaterasu, Susanoo, Tsukuyomi, Izanagi and Izanami
In the video below we will analyze the essentials of japanese mythology. Watch the video to find out more about the story of Amaterasu, Susanoo, Tsukuyomi, Izanagi and Izanami. Enjoy!
How the British Monarchy Has Survived For So Long
It's a 1,200-year-old institution that has weathered wars, disease, and everything in between. But why has the British monarchy survived when so many others have faltered? The modern British monarchy can trace its roots back centuries, to the period when the island of Great Britain was a collection of disparate kingdoms in England, Scotland, and Wales. That changed over time, as these kingdoms consolidated into a single monarchy.
Why does the British monarchy still exist?
Warrior Societies of Bronze Age Europe
Could these warriors be related in some way to the Sea Peoples? And if so were they to blame for the Bronze Age Collapse?
Bronze Age mercenaries emerged in Europe in the 13th century BC. These men were part of a new highly mobile warrior class, equipped with innovative weapons and armour. They came from as far afield as Scandinavia, central Europe, Italy and the Balkans and they took service across Europe but especially in Mycenaean Greece, the eastern Mediterranean and even beyond.
Their emergence heralded a new militarism in Europe which immediately preceded the devastation of the twelfth century BC
Quetzalcoatlus | The Largest Animal To Ever Fly In North America
We all know that T. Rex was the king of land during the Late Cretaceous, while Mosasaurus was the king of the oceans. However, there was a third king, who ruled not land nor sea, but the sky, it was the Quetzalcoatlus. It was a giant pterosaur so mighty, that it was named after an Aztec God. It had a wingspan larger than a small plane, was taller than 3 people stacked on top of eachother, and had a taste for baby dinosaurs, making it one ferocious prehistoric beast.
Azores: The green wonder of Atlantic
Azores - an extremely green and isolated place, with a unique climate and ecstatic scenery.
In this episode we will travel to San Miguel, Faial, Flores Islands and see what the largest endemic collection of plants and birds in the world looks like. Enjoy!
Russell's Paradox - a simple explanation of a profound problem
This is a video lecture explaining Russell's Paradox. At the very heart of logic and mathematics, there is a paradox that has yet to be resolved. It was discovered by the mathematician and philosopher, Bertrand Russell, in 1901. In this talk, Professor Jeffrey Kaplan teaches you the basics of set theory (a foundational branch of mathematics dating back to the 1870s) in 20 minutes. Then he explains Russell’s Paradox, which is quite a thrilling thing if you are learning it for the first time. Finally, Kaplan argues that the paradox goes even deeper than Russell himself realized.
Joe Rogan: Secret Mammoth Boneyard Discovered Mining For Gold
Joe Rogan and John Reeves discuss how John found the boneyard that has yielded him thousands and thousands of bones, tusks, and skulls, all from prehistoric creatures 12,000 - 20,000 years ago.
John Reeves is an Alaskan gold miner who first came to public prominence on the 2012 National Geographic docu-series "Goldfathers." More recently, his ongoing search for gold uncovered the remains of thousands of Ice Age animals lying beneath the permafrost on his property. The discovery is featurted in the 2019 documentary "Boneyard Alaska".
100 Fascinating Ancient Greek Male Names And Their Meanings
BY THE ARCHAEOLOGIST EDITOR GROUP
Ancient Greece is recognized for its extensive history, dynamic culture, and continuing impact on a number of facets of contemporary life. This civilization's naming customs are remarkable since they frequently have significant significance and links to mythology, philosophy, and everyday life. Explore 100 alluring Ancient Greek male names that provide a window into antiquity in this blog post.
Here are the 100 ancient Greek male names along with their meanings:
Alexander - "Defender of the people"
Achilles - "Pain"
Ares - The Greek god of war
Agamemnon - "Very resolute"
Aristotle - "The best purpose" or "Excelling in virtue"
Apollo - The Greek god of music, arts, and healing
Antigonus - "Against birth" or "Opponent of birth"
Aristarchus - "Best ruler" or "Excellent leader"
Callisthenes - "Beautiful strength"
Cleisthenes - "Glory and strength"
Damon - "One who tames" or "To tame"
Demetrius - "Follower of Demeter" (goddess of agriculture)
Diogenes - "Born of Zeus" or "Of noble birth"
Dionysius - "Dedicated to Dionysus" (god of wine and celebration)
Epictetus - "Acquired" or "Gained"
Eudoxus - "Of good reputation" or "Well-praised"
Gorgias - "One who works the land"
Herodotus - "Gift of Hera" (goddess of marriage)
Hypatius - "Supreme" or "Above all"
Icarus - "Follow" or "To pursue"
Iphigenes - "Born strong"
Isocrates - "Equal power" or "Balanced strength"
Leonidas - "Lion's son" or "Lion-like"
Lysander - "Liberator" or "Freeing man"
Menelaus - "Strongly angered" or "Raging like a lion"
Odysseus - "Wrathful" or "Angry"
Orion - "Rising in the sky"
Pericles - "Surrounded by glory"
Plato - "Broad" or "Wide"
Pythagoras - "Thigh gatherer" or "Thigh master"
Socrates - "Whole power" or "Powerful whole"
Sophocles - "Wisdom and glory"
Strabo - "Squint-eyed"
Thales - "To blossom" or "To flourish"
Theocritus - "God's judge" or "Divine justice"
Thucydides - "God's glory" or "Divine fame"
Xenophon - "Foreign voice" or "Stranger's speech"
Zeno - "Gift of Zeus" or "God's gift"
Alcibiades - "Strength of Alcibiades"
Anaximander - "Defender of men" or "Protector of humanity"
Archimedes - "Master over the people"
Aristophanes - "Best appearance" or "Excelling in form"
Callimachus - "Beautiful battle" or "Lovely contest"
Chrysippus - "Golden horse"
Democritus - "Chosen of the people"
Diophanes - "Visible god"
Euphronius - "Joyful-minded" or "Well-disposed"
Hesiod - "He who sings" or "The one who utters"
Hyperion - "The high one" or "The one who goes above"
Iason - "Healer" or "To heal"
Lycurgus - "Ruler of the people"
Miltiades - "Grace of the people"
Nestor - "Wise one" or "Of great wisdom"
Orestes - "Of the mountains" or "Mountain-dweller"
Pausanias - "All-inclusive"
Peisistratus - "Son of Peisistratos"
Philostratus - "Lover of glory"
Polycarp - "Much fruit" or "Abundant harvest"
Pyrrhus - "Red-haired"
Solon - "Wisdom" or "One who thinks"
Themistocles - "Famous in law"
Theron - "Hunter" or "Chaser"
Xenocrates - "Foreign power" or "Stranger's might"
Zenodotus - "Gift of Zeus" or "God's gift"
Agathocles - "Noble victory" or "Good success"
Aeschylus - "Shame" or "Grief"
Agesilaus - "Honored by the people"
Alcaeus - "Strength" or "Mighty one"
Anaxagoras - "Master of affairs"
Aristides - "Best one" or "Excellence"
Asclepius - "To cut open" or "To dissect"
Bion - "Life" or "Vitality"
Callicrates - "Beautiful power" or "Exquisite strength"
Cimon - "Life" or "Alive"
Croesus - "Made of gold"
Damonides - "Son of Damon"
Epimenides - "Upon the moon" or "Attendant of the moon"
Euclid - "Good glory" or "Well-famed"
Glaucus - "Blue-green" or "Bluish-gray"
Hecuba - "Far off" or "Remote"
Heracles - "Glory of Hera" (Hera's fame)
Ibycus - "Herald" or "Messenger"
Isidorus - "Gift of Isis" (Egyptian goddess)
Leander - "Lion-man"
Lycomedes - "Wolf-like"
Meleager - "Care" or "Concern"
Menander - "Defending men"
Nicias - "Victory"
Onomacritus - "Interpreter of names"
Pancratius - "All-powerful" or "Mighty in all"
Parmenides - "Steadfast mind" or "Enduring thought"
Phidias - "Bright" or "Shining one"
Philemon - "Lover of kindness"
Ptolemy - "War-like" or "Aggressive"
Sappho - Possibly "Sapphire" or "Precious stone"
Silenus - "Rustic" or "Woodland deity"
Theron - "Hunter" or "Chaser"
Theophrastus - "Divine speech" or "God's eloquence"
Tyndareus - "Daughter of Tyndareus"
Xerxes - "Ruler over heroes" or "Hero's ruler"
These 100 ancient Greek male names offer a fascinating glimpse into the past, illuminating the variety of individuals who influenced ancient Greek culture, philosophy, and society. Each name holds a piece of history that still influences and inspires us now, whether it is connected to mythology, philosophy, or historical occurrences. We learn more about the complicated tapestry of ancient Greek society and the long-lasting effects it had on the world as we investigate these names.
The Enigma of Trojan Ethnicity: Unraveling the Identity
BY THE ARCHAEOLOGIST EDITOR GROUP
Few mysteries in the field of mythology and ancient history are as intriguing as the Trojans' ethnicity. Their cultural and ethnic roots have long been the topic of conjecture and discussion, with many believing they came from the fabled city of Troy. We set out on a mission to unravel the complex tapestry of the Trojans' ethnicity, delving into the depths of history and the remnants of myth.
Troy: A Crossroads of Civilizations Troy, known as Ilion or Ilios in ancient times, stood as a pivotal crossroads of civilizations. Its strategic location near the Dardanelles, a narrow strait connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara, facilitated the exchange of ideas, cultures, and peoples. As a result, the population of Troy was likely an amalgamation of various ethnic groups.
Luwians: A Plausible Connection One prevailing theory links the Trojans to the Luwians, an ancient Anatolian people who inhabited regions in modern-day Turkey. The Luwians are believed to have contributed to the cultural and linguistic tapestry of Troy. The Hittite-Luwian script, discovered in the ancient city of Hattusa (now Bogazkoy), provides insights into the Luwians' existence and their interactions with other societies.
Dardanians: A Local Element Another potential source of Trojan ethnicity is the Dardanians, a group associated with the region surrounding Troy. The Dardanians are thought to have been an indigenous population with close ties to the Trojan territory. Their presence in the vicinity lends credence to the possibility that the Trojans themselves were rooted in this local milieu.
Myth and Reality: The Aeneas Connection Adding to the complexity of Trojan identity is the legendary figure of Aeneas. In Roman mythology, Aeneas is depicted as a Trojan prince who survived the fall of Troy and eventually journeyed to Italy, where he became the progenitor of the Roman people. This connection between the Trojans and the Romans further blurs the lines of ethnicity, intertwining myth and historical interpretation.
The Homeric Challenge: Homer's epic poems, "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey," offer tantalizing glimpses into Trojan culture, but they are products of oral tradition and literary artistry. As such, they blend historical elements with mythological embellishments, making it challenging to extract definitive conclusions about Trojan ethnicity.
Ethnic Identity: A Multifaceted Legacy Ultimately, the question of the Trojans' ethnicity may remain forever shrouded in the mists of time. The city of Troy's diverse interactions and exchanges with neighboring civilizations defy easy categorization. The Trojans' legacy, whether shaped by Luwian roots, Dardanian influences, or a fusion of various cultures, underscores the richness and complexity of human history.
The Trojans serve as a reminder of the complex interplay of cultures and identities as we travel the winding roads of ancient history. Their narrative serves as a reminder that the tapestry that makes up human heritage is created from threads that come from many different origins, each of which adds to the rich variety of human experience.
Source:
12 Alluring and Significant Names From Ancient Greece
BY THE ARCHAEOLOGIST EDITOR GROUP
The world is forever changed by the names that the Ancient Greeks introduced. These names not only have historical value, but they also have a classic allure that still enchants us now. This list will take you on a tour through some of the most alluring and significant names from ancient Greece, whether you're looking for inspiration for a new baby name, a character in your creative work, or are simply wondering about the rich history behind these names.
Athena: Named after the goddess of wisdom, courage, and inspiration, Athena is a name that exudes strength and intellect. It's a popular choice for parents who want their child to embody qualities of wisdom and courage.
Apollo: The name of the god of music, poetry, and prophecy, Apollo is synonymous with creativity and artistic prowess. Choosing this name for your child might signify a love for the arts and a free spirit.
Hermes: Representing the god of communication, travel, and commerce, Hermes is a name that speaks to a dynamic and adventurous personality. It's an ideal choice for those who seek to emphasize their child's ability to connect with others and explore the world.
Sophia: Meaning "wisdom" in Greek, Sophia is a name that has maintained its popularity across generations. Its elegant and timeless nature makes it a favorite among parents who appreciate classic names.
Alexandros: Derived from the Greek words "alexein" (to defend) and "aner" (man), Alexandros translates to "defender of man" or "protector." This name carries a noble and heroic aura, harkening back to great historical figures like Alexander the Great.
Daphne: Drawing from Greek mythology, Daphne was a nymph who transformed into a laurel tree to escape Apollo's advances. The name encapsulates natural beauty and a sense of self-preservation.
Nikos: Short for Nikolaos, Nikos means "victory of the people." It embodies strength and triumph, reflecting the resilient spirit of ancient Greek culture.
Thalia: Named after the Muse of comedy and idyllic poetry, Thalia is a name that evokes a sense of joy, playfulness, and creativity. It's perfect for those who wish to celebrate life's lighter moments.
Eirene: Meaning "peace" in Greek, Eirene is a name that holds deep significance. In ancient times, Eirene was the goddess of peace, making this name a beautiful choice for those who value harmony and tranquility.
Icarus: This name carries a cautionary tale from Greek mythology about the consequences of hubris. Icarus, son of Daedalus, flew too close to the sun despite his father's warnings, resulting in his wings melting. The name serves as a reminder of the perils of overambition.
Penelope: Known for her faithfulness and cleverness, Penelope was the wife of Odysseus in Homer's epic, "The Odyssey." The name symbolizes loyalty, patience, and resourcefulness.
Demetrius: Derived from "dēmētrios," meaning "devoted to Demeter" (the goddess of agriculture), Demetrius is a name that speaks to a strong connection to nature and the cycles of life.
It can be lovely to commemorate history, mythology, and the timeless values these names stand for by incorporating an old Greek name into your contemporary life. Every name carries a tale that ties us to the fascinating world of ancient Greece, whether you are drawn to the power of Athena, the creative spirit of Apollo, or the wisdom of Sophia.
Dark Secret Discovered Deep Within Belize's Great Blue Underwater Hole
An August 2018 expedition into a huge marine sinkhole in Belize became famous as "proof that humans are terrible."
According to the New York Post, the recently-viralized Great Blue Hole, which is around 124 meters (407 feet) deep and 318 meters (1,043 feet) broad, is a well-liked tourist destination off the coast of Belize. Due to technological difficulties, the site remained mainly underutilized until 2018.
The crew led by billionaire Richard Branson was the first to reach the bottom of the pit, and the findings there have since gained widespread attention as "proof that humans are terrible," according to NYP. The researchers found that around the 90-meter mark, life began to disappear as it made its way further into the pit.
The team gradually understood why everything was dying as they descended further down the hole: it was full of trash. It seems that everything was there, including a GoPro camera, a two-liter Coca-Cola bottle, and even the bodies of two divers who had perished on an earlier excursion.
Great blue hole off the coast of Belize. Caused by climate change. (A long tine ago) pic.twitter.com/5yV15TmjwI
— layne (@laynedurand) September 16, 2020
Branson claimed the crater was "one of the starkest reminders of the danger of climate change [he] had ever seen" for some unknown reason, the NYP reported.
Why Branson thinks the hole has anything to do with climate change is a mystery. Not at all. The hole is thought to have developed at some point over the past 14,000 years, a time of enormous climatological fluctuations that would cause any self-proclaimed climate activist to faint in fright.
Other than that, the garbage inside the hole has nothing to do with global warming. Branson might have meant to remark that it represents a type of "environmental degredation." But let's be honest, the garbage in the pit will only be found in ancient artifacts, thus it has no bearing on the climate.
Ring featuring a leaping bull © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
Minoan World: Treasures from the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion and Athens travel to Oxford
The Ashmolean's first exhibition in 2023 focus on one of the most notorious classical myths and one of the most famous stories in modern archaeology: the myth of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur and the discovery of the Palace of Knossos. The exhibition includes more than 200 objects, over 100 of which are on loan from Athens and Crete and are being shown for the first time outside Greece.
They are presented together with the Ashmolean's incomparable collections and archives, which show the exciting moments during the unveiling of the Palace of Knossos between 1900 and 1905.
According to legend, the Labyrinth of Knossos housed the Minotaur, a mythical monster with the body of a man and the head and tail of a bull, who waited inside for his victims. This myth remains one of the most enduring in the ancient world, and of course, Knossos is now one of the most popular archaeological sites in Greece.
Ancient Greek silver coin © Ashmolean, University of Oxford
The exhibition traces the history of the excavations at Knossos in Crete. For centuries, travelers searched the island for the mythical labyrinth until 1878, when a Cretan businessman and scholar, Minoas Kalokairinos, discovered the ruins of an ancient building at Knossos. Local authorities prevented him from properly excavating the site because Crete was partially under the control of the Ottoman Empire and, until it gained independence, there was a danger that any significant finds would be taken to Constantinople. Summer's discoveries attracted international attention, and archaeologists from various countries began to bid for future excavation rights. In 1900, British archaeologist and director of the Ashmolean, Sir Arthur Evans (1851–1841), received permission from Cretan authorities to excavate.
Ancient Greek silver coin © Ashmolean, University of Oxford
Evans began his excavations convinced that this building was the legendary labyrinth. He quickly found colorful wall paintings, clay tablets indicating an early writing system, and a room with an intact stone throne where he believed the rulers sat. He called this labyrinthine building the "Palace of Minos" and was able to determine that it was about 4,000 years old and built in the Bronze Age. He coined the term "Minoan" to describe the culture of Crete during this period.
The exhibition features some of the finest Minoan artifacts discovered by Evans, from everyday objects such as decorated pottery to ornate sculptures, many of which are on loan from the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. They are combined with drawings made during the excavations from the Ashmolean's 'Sir Arthur Evans' archive. Some of the drawings show the process of reconstructing the site and its finds and provide insight into the controversial concrete restorations Evans carried out on the palace in the mid-20th century.
Video-still-from-Assassin's-Creed-Odyssey-©-Assassin’s-Creed™-&-©-Ubisoft-Entertainment
One of the highlights of the exhibit is a finely crafted marble shell that shows the skill of Minoan craftsmen and their special interest in marine life. Other objects show octopuses and Argonauts in the depths of the sea, or bulls, sometimes with people doing acrobats sitting on them. Evans saw them as the origin of the Minotaur myth.
The exhibition also features two immersive experiences inspired by Knossos. A Restoration (2016) by Turner Prize-winning artist Elizabeth Price will be on view. The 15-minute digital video is a fictional work spoken by a "chorus of museum curators," who use Evans' archives to virtually reconstruct the Palace of Knossos on the museum's computer. In the second room, visitors are taken on a unique virtual tour of the Palace of Knossos as it was in the 5th century B.C., at the time of the Peloponnesian War, thanks to the digital representation of the site in the video game "Assassin's Creed Odyssey". Ubisoft created the film specifically for the exhibition to showcase the research underlying the game.
Cockerel vessel © Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports, General Directorate of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage, Heraklion Archaeological Museum (1)
Due to the size and scope of the site of Knossos, excavations were able to continue into the 20th century. The last room of the exhibition presents the discoveries of the post-war period as well as numerous more recent finds. These include artifacts proving that Knossos is the site of the earliest known agricultural settlement in Europe, founded around 7000 BC, as well as incredible artifacts found in cemeteries and religious sanctuaries in the area, showing that Knossos flourished for thousands of years before being largely abandoned around 800 BC. Among the most recent finds is an impressive Bronze Age dagger with gold and silver hilts, the first of its kind found in Crete.
The exhibition concludes with a find that points to a ritual human sacrifice. It is the revelation of the human sacrifice in Anemospilia by the eminent archaeologist Giannis Sakellarakis in 1979, who spoke openly about a human sacrifice in the Minoan era, causing a stir in the scientific community.
Evans endowed the Ashmolean Museum with the largest and most important collection of Minoan archaeology outside of Crete, and his archives have played a central role in understanding the site of Knossos.
The exhibition offers both an exploration of Minoan culture and Greek myth, as well as a deeper look at British archaeological history and a reconsideration of Evans' interventions in their historical context.
Dagger with inlaid griffin © Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports, General Directorate of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage, Ephorate of Antiquities of Heraklion
What are the world's oldest languages?: The Experiment of Pharaoh Psamtik I
BY THE ARCHAEOLOGIST EDITOR GROUP
The ability to write their voice, or language, is one of the traits that set humans apart from other animals. Speaking has been a part of humankind for thousands of years. In actuality, several of the world's oldest languages are still in use today.
The Egyptian Experiment
Egypt was controlled by Pharaoh Psamtik I in the seventh century BC. The pharaoh was curious about the beginnings of language in humans. Is it inherited or learned? And which language is the oldest? A test started after that.
Two infants were given to a shepherd by Pharaoh to raise. The youngsters were to be raised in a silent environment. The shepherd actually provided the kids with plenty of milk, but he remained silent the entire time. The kids turned two years old. Then they uttered "bekos," a Phrygian word that means "bread," as their first word. Suddenly Pharaoh realized that the Phrygian language was actually the oldest, not the Egyptian language.
the world's oldest languages
Herodotus makes reference to the Psamtik experiment, and both its veracity and applicability are questioned. Nonetheless, both the general public and scientists in particular have expressed serious worry about the issue. We can identify the earliest written language, yet we cannot tell for sure which was the first language spoken on earth. For instance, Mesopotamian writing first appeared between 3,500 and 3,000 BC (modern Iraq). Egypt is the next nation, where writing first occurred approximately 3,200 BC, at the end of the third millennium. In 1,500 BC, the earliest written texts—those of the Olmecs—appeared on the other side of the globe, in the Americas.
The fact that some of the world's oldest languages are still used today, with small or significant alterations, is astounding.
The pyramids' written language
Egyptian is one of the oldest languages in the world; thus, even if the experiment could not prove it, Psamtik was really close to reality. In 2,690 BC, the first complete sentence in ancient Egyptian was written down. a language that has left behind literary works that resemble paintings. It was Champollion who, in 1822, was able to translate the complex writing system, making the language of hieroglyphics once again more widely recognized.
Coptic is a language that is still spoken today and is descended from the ancient Egyptians. Both the Coptic Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church use it in their worship.
Read more here
The posterior probability distribution of trees for the Indo-European family, visualized using DensiTree
Dev Vani, or Sanskrit, is the language of the gods
The second-oldest language in the world that is still used today is Sanskrit. The earliest Sanskrit writings date from almost 1,500 years before the birth of Christ. On the one hand, because it has not changed, it is regarded as a dead language. Yet, between 12,000 and 14,000 individuals can communicate on a daily basis in Sanskrit. Also, prominent religions like Hinduism and Buddhism use Sanskrit as their language of devotion.
The extensive family of Indo-European languages includes Sanskrit. William Jones, a judge in 18th-century India, was the first to research and identify Sanskrit's similarities to Greek and Latin. He pointed out that Latin and Greek, two of the world's oldest languages, share grammar patterns with Sanskrit.
The Vedas, Sacred Hymns, and Devotional Verse are the oldest works composed in Sanskrit. Sanskrit was also the language used to write the well-known epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, which served as inspiration for many later authors.
There are currently efforts underway to revitalize the Sanskrit language. It is available in schools as an elective topic. Although it may not be useful, knowing Sanskrit can aid in learning other languages like Bengali, Hindi, or Burmese.
The Journey of the Persian Language from Pahlavi to Arabic Script
The Persian language, also known as Farsi, boasts an illustrious history that positions it among the world's oldest languages. Rooted in the ancient tongues of the Achaemenid Empire, its evolution traces back thousands of years, echoing the sophisticated literature, art, and philosophies of the great Persian dynasties. Today's Modern Persian, though still bearing the linguistic richness of its ancestral form, is written in the Arabic script—a departure from its original Pahlavi and earlier alphabets. This shift in script occurred post-Islamization of Persia around the 7th century AD. Despite this change in orthography, the essence and phonetics of the language remain uniquely Persian, standing testament to the resilience and adaptability of a culture and its language through the annals of time.
One of the oldest languages in the world is Chinese
Mandarin is the language that is spoken by the most people worldwide, with 1.1 billion native speakers. But it also offers a second benefit. It is both the oldest spoken and written language still in use today. The earliest manuscripts were composed somewhere around 1250 BC.
Chinese today, of course, refers to a vast linguistic "umbrella" that encompasses a variety of dialects. Mandarin and Cantonese, two of the most common dialects, are the ancestors of Old Chinese.
The Greek language
Greek is the oldest language currently in use for daily communication and one of the oldest languages on the entire planet. The number of people who speak modern Greek is 13,000,000. It is unquestionably a descendant of Homer's language, despite significant changes since Ancient Greek.
The Iliad and the Odyssey, two of Homer's epics, were written in the eighth century BC. The earliest Greek manuscripts, however, were written several years before the founders of Greek and European literature. More specifically, roughly 1450 BC, or 700 years before Homer.
Clay tablets discovered in Pylos and other locations were successfully deciphered in 1952 by two Englishmen named Michael Ventris and John Chadwick. The script found on the tablets, known as Linear B, was from the Mycenaean era. The writing on the tablets had no artistic merit. These were a collection of palatial goods and crafts catalogs. They were also Greek, as was discovered through decipherment. Words with roots in Homer but also in earlier times, such as "ti-ri-po-de" (tripod).
Tamazight: Ancient Echoes in Modern Landscapes of North Africa
The Tamazight language, commonly known as Berber, stands as a testament to the deep-rooted histories and rich cultures of North Africa. With its origins tracing back to ancient times, this language employs the Tifinagh script—a unique and distinctive writing system that historians believe dates back to the 7th century BCE, making it older than even the revered Tamil language. A walk through the modern streets of nations like Morocco, Algeria, or Libya unveils the enduring legacy of the Tamazight language, with official signs and documents proudly showcasing the Tifinagh script. Such evidence not only highlights the language's longevity but also its continued significance in the contemporary landscapes of these nations.
The history of the individuals who spoke the world's earliest languages is not the only thing they preserve. Additionally, they influence other languages, mold the minds of their offspring, and enrich the literary legacy of human civilization.
UK experts worry that the UAE will gain access to the Cotswolds ice age mammoth site
Leading palaeontologists and archaeologists in Britain are warning that one of the country's most important palaeolithic sites is in danger because there is not enough law to safeguard it.
Fearing that important evidence at a site in the Cotswolds would be permanently lost to the UK, they are seeking for amendments to the law.
The discovery of ice era mammoths there in a remarkable condition of preservation in 2021 excited Sir David Attenborough and other specialists.
At Cerney Wick, close to Swindon, extensive remains of at least one juvenile, two young adults, and six fully mature adults, which roamed 200,000 years ago, were discovered with weapons used by Neanderthals, who most likely hunted these massive monsters.
Since only a small portion of the huge site, a gravel quarry, had been investigated, much more was anticipated to be discovered during additional digs.
The top experts from universities and national museums were getting ready to return and had even applied for the requisite grants when they discovered that the quarry owner had barred them.
DigVentures, a group of archaeologists that offers possibilities for the public to participate in excavations, excavated the site in 2021 and worked with top authorities to coordinate the study and research.
At the time, co-founder Lisa Westcott Wilkins commended Hills Quarry Products, the owners of the quarry, for giving them as much time as they required. The business also stated: "We will continue to support future investigations."
The Observer has now seen a letter from Hills Quarry Products dated July 18 2023 informing DigVentures that access to the site "will no longer be available" and that they are "formally requesting" the return of finds.
It was eventually impossible for Westcott Wilkins' organisation to stop the site from being excavated, she told the Observer, adding that "better protection for these sites is paramount."
She lamented the possibility that future discoveries could be destroyed in the absence of legislation that would forbid it. Since export licenses do not apply to bones unless they have been altered by human hands or are obviously cultural artefacts, it would be challenging to execute them in this situation. Five tusks, among other potential finds, are already visible among the layers, according to her.
The request to return the already discovered artifacts is met with skepticism by the participating archaeologists. The remainder is in conservation, with one tusk on exhibit in the Bristol Museum. Building a public outreach facility to display the remainder of the collection had also been discussed.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) may be connected to the most recent developments, according to sources in the archaeological world who spoke to the Observer. The UAE may be seeking to acquire more mammoth remains and Jurassic fossils for the new Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi. The UAE has been buying exhibits, including spending $31.8 million on a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton in 2022.
The UAE Department of Culture and Tourism was contacted by The Observer for comment. Hills Quarry Products, the site's owner, declined a request for comment.
The flooded quarry may have been emptied in advance of what some archaeologists worry will be a hurried search for treasures, according to a drone photo taken last Sunday.
We have five significant universities as a part of our research partnership because the location is so complicated and challenging, according to Wilkins Westcott. You need that level of skill to properly handle this.
When a stone hand axe from a Neanderthal first surfaced, DigVentures was contacted to take the helm of the first thorough examination of the location. Sally and Neville Hollingsworth, two amateur fossil hunters, made the initial discovery of the mammoth bones.
Prof. Ben Garrod, an evolutionary biologist, referred to the location as "one of the most important discoveries in British palaentology" in 2021. Other ice-age giants' remains, including those of bison, elks, and bears, as well as fossilized seeds, pollen, and plants, including some that are extinct, were also found during the excavations. These discoveries could reveal a lot about the environment at the time as well as how our Neanderthal ancestors lived during a prehistoric period about which little is known.
Attenborough and the Mammoth Graveyard, a BBC One documentary that included Sir David and Garrod filming the excavation alongside archaeologists, detailed the remarkable discovery. Millions of people watched the program internationally.
Garrod stated this weekend to the Observer that it takes a long-term, collaborative effort involving numerous stakeholders, driven by expert knowledge and experience, to fully understand the context when looking at something so complex, where finds range from the microscopic to, quite literally, mammoth in size.
"To lose a site like this now, just as it's starting to reveal its secrets, would be devastating — not just for understanding what happened there 25,000 years ago, but also for determining how climate change will affect our environment in the present and the future."
Prof. Adrian Lister, a palaeobiologist at the Natural History Museum in London and the foremost mammoth expert in the UK, stated that the site might show the last phases of the evolution of the woolly mammoth, one of the most famous ice age creatures. We require a carefully monitored excavation and the preservation of the remains on site for future research.
No further digging would be governed by Historic England, one of the organizations that provided money for the initial excavation. "Historic England's role is to protect our built heritage, which also includes archaeological sites," said Mel Barge, its inspector of ancient monuments in the south-west. According to what we currently understand, these remnants are not protected as scheduled monuments because there is no structure there or undeniable proof that human activity shaped them.
The issue is that it takes primary legislation and we just never reach the point of being a substantial priority for government with limited parliamentary time, according to archaeologist and former director of the Council for British Archaeology Mike Heyworth. The value of Cerney Wick is seriously threatened by this.
German Navy Finds a 400-Year-Old Sunken Ship with "High-Quality Wine"
Archaeologists in Germany found a 400-year-old lost ship that was filled with "high-quality wine," according to media reports. The wreckage was initially discovered in 2022 in the bottom of the Trave River, which flows through the Baltic Sea to Germany. According to reports, archaeologists have found that the German wrecked ship is distinct from other nearby ancient shipwrecks.
A stock photo of a shipwreck.
Some of the oldest wines in the world were discovered as a result of the most recent development in the ongoing salvage of the vessel since its discovery last year. The passengers of the ship's precise identification is still unknown. The recent discovery, which presumably sailed during the Age of Exploration or the Age of Discovery, which lasted from the 15th to the 17th century, could, nevertheless, aid archaeologists in understanding the purpose of the vessel.
Germany Sunken Ship
In the German city of Lubeck, which is located along the Baltic Sea, archaeologists have discovered over 450 pieces of wood from the shipwreck since June. Local politicians debated whether or not to salvage the ship's wreckage despite the fact that it was discovered last year, according to a report in the German newspaper Die Welt, which was published by Newsweek.
After getting the all-clear, archaeologists discovered not only fine wine but also information about the ship's purpose as a commerce ship. According to the report, the vessel's owner and provenance are still unknown at this time.
Records of world shipwrecks
Regardless of whether the disaster spans from the disastrous RMS Titanic in 1912 to old wrecks dating back several centuries, sunken ships have sparked curiosity and attracted some brains in the modern world. Nevertheless, since these phenomena were thought to contain treasures and a window into the past, they drew not only inquisitive minds but also scientific ones.
According to Marine Insight, several historical maritime accidents are depicted as tales of lost ships with their forlorn passengers and bereaved crew in the middle of oceans and seas. These ships have sunk for ages for a variety of reasons, including human error, severe weather, ferocious seas, and others.
NASA maintains the Global Maritime Wrecks Database with information on over 250,000 shipwreck locations to display the time, place, and flagship of the stricken vessel. Beginning in January 1970, recording began.
Protected Items
According to prior events, the public has long been drawn to potential treasure troves when ships are discovered. Since they can be preserved underwater, some of these riches, whether they have monetary value or are antiquities, could endure for a very long period.
The Ocean Institute, cited by the University of California, San Diego, states that artifacts found in a saltwater environment are often well-preserved but in brittle conditions. The institute stressed that anaerobic (without oxygen) marine conditions are preferable to aerobic (with oxygen) habitats for the preservation of artifacts found underwater.
Skeletons from the middle ages in Türkiye exhibit gender-specific jawbone variations
Anatomical information about people who lived several centuries ago has been learned through the investigation of Middle Ages bones that were discovered 16 years ago during archaeological excavations in southeast Turkey.
An undated archive photo shows a view from Kortik Tepe mound in Diyarbakır, Türkiye. (AA Photo)
The lower jaw bones of male and female skeletal specimens have different sizes and strengths, researchers at the Kortik Tepe mound in Diyarbakr province discovered after more than two decades of investigations.
According to Vatan Kavak, an anatomy professor at the province's Dicle University, "we observed that, during the Middle Ages, the lower jawbones of men living in Kortik Tepe were strong and powerful, while the lower jawbone of women exhibited less density."
Along with Mara Pilmane of the Riga Stradins University in Latvia, Kavak is one of the academics overseeing the dig site. "We also found that the lower jawbones of men in this region were stronger and sturdier compared to their counterparts in other parts of the world," she continued.
The study looked at the jawbones of 121 people who lived in the Middle Ages close to the Kortik Tepe mound, including 55 women and 66 men. Their remains were loaned for the research conducted in collaboration with the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and were housed in the Diyarbakr Museum Directorate.
The international journal Translational Research in Anatomy published the study's findings.
Kavak claimed that they looked at the skeletons' jaw structures.
He continued by saying that women's jaw bones were more sensitive, indicating that they were more engaged in "domestic chores and not in hunting and other activities."
He continued, "We noticed that the women of Kortik Tepe were the most delicate when we compared them with the women of other locations.
Men hunted wild animals outside and ate them without cooking at those time, along with ingesting meals made of grains, which strengthened their jaws, he said. "Agriculture had just begun at that point."
Kavak noted that the study's findings were reported in a reputable international journal and suggested that surgeons would find them useful.
He emphasized, "Our work will serve as a roadmap for future aesthetic, implant, and jaw surgeons.
Roman and Greek statues were initially painted. This is how they ought to seem.
Vinzenz Brinkmann, a German archaeologist, was closely examining an ancient Greek sculpture's surface in the early 1980s in an effort to find any indication of tool marks. He never found what he was looking for because, like Italian Renaissance artists, Greek sculptors were so skilled that they seldom left a trace of their own work, but he did find signs of paint.
One of the color reconstructions on display at the MET. (Credit: Aquaplaning / Wikipedia)
Russell Sturgis, an American art critic who visited Athens to see the excavation of an antique statue close to the Acropolis, made a comparable finding almost exactly a century earlier. To his amazement, the statue didn't resemble those seen in museums in the least. This one was covered in brittle dabs of red, black, and green color, in contrast to those, which are as white as the marble they are made of.
The discovery by Sturgis and Brinkmann that ancient Greek statues were originally painted with a palette as vibrant and colorful as Vincent van Gogh's and that their iconic modern monochromatic appearance is really just the result of the passage of time is still not widely known outside of academic circles.
Harlequins and emperors
Brinkmann replicated Greek and Roman sculptures in their original color scheme using samples of pigment leftovers. To a world accustomed to seeing ancient Greece and Rome in black and white, his traveling exhibition, Gods in Color, was shocking. It was also well-liked and ran for 12 years, setting the stage for subsequent exhibits like the MET's Chroma: Ancient Sculpture in Color, which debuted in 2022.
Even the most well-known Greek statues lose a lot of their familiarity when they are painted. Pale bodies develop a variety of skin tones, mostly in the dark. Bold motifs on austere gowns resemble medieval harlequins. An ochre body and an azurite mane once belonged to a statue of a lion that was erected in front of a Corinthian tomb during the sixth century BC. However, years of exposure to the elements caused it to become a uniform, dull white.
Also fashioned of metal, these sculptures exhibit this playful nature. According to a New Yorker article, bronze statues were given a "disarming fleshiness" by the addition of copper lips, nipples, and swirls of pubic hair. In addition to having sparkling gemstones for eyes, several of these Greek statues also portrayed blood trickling from open wounds using various metals.
Although these color reconstructions have garnered generally positive reviews, there is ongoing discussion over how historically accurate they are. Fabio Barry, an art historian at Stanford University, believes that research initiatives like Brinkmann's have taken on the characteristics of a marketing gimmick. Barry previously compared a repainted statue of the Roman Emperor Augustus at the Vatican to "a cross-dresser trying to hail a taxi." the New Yorker was informed:
"I suspected that the various scholars reconstructing the polychromy of statuary even took a sort of iconoclastic pride in this — that the traditional idea of all-whiteness was so cherished that they were going to really make their point that it was colorful."
Adding color back into the past. (Credit: Aquaplaning / Wikipedia)
Τhe erasing of history
For decades, scholars in Europe concluded that Greek and Roman sculptors had intentionally left their work barren. Far from being coincidental, the lack of color was seen as an indication of artistic restraint, an emphasis on form over adornment, and a general rejection of the "bad taste" that characterized the more colorful artwork that emerged from other parts of the ancient world, such as Egypt.
Of course, since they were white themselves, European scholars likewise admired the seeming whiteness of antique sculpture. This false relationship, at best, encouraged casual bigotry. Johann Winckelmann, a German art historian, asserted in the 1800s that "the whiter the body, the more beautiful it is," and that while "color contributes to beauty," it shouldn't be mistaken for the actual thing.
At worst, it provided one of Europe's colonial ambitions with justification. Arguments for the superiority of Greco-Roman art began to increasingly serve as justifications for the superiority of Western civilizations, which had claimed the cultural and political legacy of antiquity, as the continent entered its colonial era. This line of reasoning peaked in the years leading up to the Second World War.
This Greco-Roman-white fantasy was reinforced. Experts contended that each time a rare instance of a statue with complete color was found, it had to have been created by a distinct and, in their opinion, inferior society, such as the pre-Roman Etruscans. When dealers came across such statues, they would scrub them until the colour was gone, increasing their market value.
Although it can be strange to first encounter Greek and Roman sculptures in color, the experience is crucial in serving as a reminder that the ancient world was considerably more diverse than is typically thought. There is evidence that, contrary to Winckelmann's claim, the Greeks considered deeper complexion tones to be more attractive than lighter ones. Greece and Rome were not just cultural melting pots.
A skull-filled cave close to Jerusalem served as a portal to the afterlife in ancient necromancy
More than 120 oil lamps dating to the Late Roman and Early Byzantine periods have been discovered by archaeologists working in the Te'omim Cave in the Jerusalem Hills, tucked away in small, hard-to-reach crevices. It's improbable that they were used for illumination due to their location and the fact that they are so close to multiple human skulls. What were they used for, anyway, if not for lighting?
Entrance to Te’omim Cave. (Credit: Yair Aronshtam / Wikipedia)
The lamps may have been used in necromantic rites, according to Boaz Zissu of Bar-Ilan University and Eitan Klein of the Israel Antiquities Authority. For confirmation in a recent study publication, the pair looked to ancient sources.
Investigating Te'omim Cave
Long thought to be a site of enchantment and mystery, the Te'omim Cave. It was referred to in the 1900s as the Mghâret Umm et Tûeimîn, or the "cave of the mother of twins." The water dripping from its ceiling, which had once been collected in rock pools, was thought to have medicinal properties by the locals. Klein and Zissu asserted in one of their earlier studies that it was a temple dedicated to an underworld deity.
The Te'omim Cave was first mentioned in an 1873 survey of Western Palestine, despite the fact that locals have been aware of it for years. In addition to finding new areas of the cave, later explorations also brought back a number of artifacts. The French consul in Jerusalem discovered a collection of stone and ceramic objects dating from the Stone Age to the Byzantine era during the 1920s.
Doctor-explorer Gideon Mann discovered corridors that led to secret chambers with glass jars between 1970 and 1974. The most recent excavations, directed by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, went even further beneath the surface, unearthing not only the lights and skeletons mentioned above but also daggers and an axe head.
Klein and Zissu initially entertained the idea that these items might have been dragged off by rodents into more difficult areas of the cave. A skull perched atop four oil lamps in one crevice, however, revealed a different tale. The collection implied that people, not rodents, were to blame and that they might have employed these items for a particular use.
In the Greco-Roman era, necromancy
It's probable that the goal was necromancy, which was both common and frowned upon in ancient times. The emperors Nero, Hadrian, Commodus, Caracalla, and Elagabalus all employed necromancy to foretell their futures despite the practice being officially forbidden in Rome. The historian Eusebius claims that an Egyptian sorcerer persuaded Valerian, the emperor, to sacrifice children in order to ensure his own prosperity.
In the Levant, necromancy was also practiced. This is demonstrated by the Bible, which describes Saul calling upon the prophet Samuel on Ein Dor, and by cuneiform tablets from Mesopotamia, which describe rituals for calling forth ghosts with skulls and describe the sun god Ama requesting that they "bring up a ghost from the darkness" and have them give life to a "dead man's limbs."
Necromancy did not protect Valerian; he became the first Roman emperor to be taken captive during war. (Credit: Sahand Ace / Wikipedia)
Ancient sources other than cuneiform tablets also connect skulls to necromancy. They are mentioned in Egyptian papyri from the fourth and fifth century AD that were written in Greek. These "are remnants of books of sorcery, the majority of which were destroyed by the establishment," according to Klein and Zissu's analysis. One spell describes how to shut off skulls' mouths to prevent them from speaking or acting. They proceed:
A spell is written in black ink on a flax leaf and then placed on a disinterred skull in order to demonstrate how to awaken the spirit of the dead using this method. Using the skull of Typhon (likely a donkey), on which a spell is written in the blood of a black hound, the aim of [yet] another spell is to receive assistance and protection from ghosts.
The Jerusalem Talmud and the Babylonian Talmud, which were both written between 350 and 500 AD, around the time the oil lamps were deposited inside the crevices of the Te'omim, both mention that the necromancer, known as a ba'al ov, raises the dead by consulting with skulls and prefers to carry out the ritual in a cave.
The study of magic's history
Even lamps have a unique bond with the deceased. The Persian magus and sorcerer Osthanes gave them to the Greeks (during the military campaign of his master, Xerxes) in order to bring them into contact with the afterlife, according to the Roman author Pliny the Elder, who listed them in his Natural History. More than 4,000 oil lamps have been found in the cracks of underground temples close to Corinth and Patras.
Bowls and axes are two further items that Pliny describes that had been retrieved from the Te'omim Cave. Weapons may have been used in necromantic rituals so that practitioners could defend themselves from demonic forces. These hints lead Klein and Zissu to the conclusion that the Te'omim Cave "has all the physical and cultic elements necessary to serve as a possible portal to the underworld." Furthermore, they speculate that the surrounding cities of Aelia Capitolina and Eleutheropolis, whose residents were most likely not Jewish, may have used the cave as a local oracle of the dead.
The authors of this work, Klein and Zissu, consider it as a contribution to the "archaeology of magic," a new and frequently complex topic.
Mosaics from 1,800 years ago were discovered in Turkey's Pompeipolis
An array of magnificent mosaics dating back 1,800 years have been discovered during continuing excavations in the historic city of Pompeiopolis, located in Türkiye's northern district of Kastamonu, in a spectacular archaeological find. These fascinating antiques, which have been painstakingly conserved, are poised to entice history buffs and wandering tourists alike to catch a peek of the past.
The excavation team is seen in the villa and theater structures in the ancient city of Pompeiopolis, Kastamonu, Türkiye, Aug. 6, 2023. (AA Photo)
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has been in charge of the excavation efforts, working with the Karabuk University Faculty of Letters and its learned Archeology Department Lecturer, Mevlüt Eliuşük. The scope of the archaeological study encompasses Pompeiopolis, a huge Roman metropolis that served as a significant symbol of the Paphlagonia region and was once a bustling metropolis.
The increased work in Pompeiopolis' palace portion, in the Zımbıllı Tepe neighborhood, where a lavish Roman palace has been unveiled, is particularly significant. This large structure, which spans a vast area of around 1,600 square meters (17,222.26 square feet), is a testament to the architectural prowess of its era and is home to a variety of private chambers and alluring ornamental elements.
Pompeiopolis ruled as the center of the region in the second century A.D., according to Eliuşük. This heritage has made it possible for us to see the magnificent remains of the Roman Empire around the city.
The Roman villa, an enduringly significant building of utmost importance, is at the center of these excavations. Fountains and complex infrastructural systems that previously thrived within its walls are now restricted to the foundation levels that are still present. The beautiful mosaics that adorn the villa's interior are without a doubt the crowning splendor among the numerous items and remains that have been found.
The magnificent mosaics that bear witness to the villa's initial stages have shown up as spectacles, explains Eliuşük. Although time has put its imprint on these medallions, we have revealed a female figure accompanying a letter that is thought to have been written by her husband as we meticulously unearth these jewels. These mosaics, which are remarkably thought to be roughly 1,800 years old, provide a unique look at the artistic talent of the late second or early third century A.D.
Under protective roofing, the archaeologists have carefully preserved these priceless artifacts, which are set to be revealed to the public in 2023. As this year's excavations come to an end, Eliuşük stated: "We are prepared to turn this historically significant site into a haven for inquisitive minds. It is being planned to create guided walking tours so that people can experience Pompeiopolis' splendor firsthand.
Additionally, Eliuşük said, "History buffs have long been drawn to Pompeiopolis and marveled at our exhibits. The excavation site, however, continues to be a secret treasure. The villa has been the focus of our attention for the past two years, and our goal is to create a place that is open to everyone to explore.
