Category: Ancient
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Concrete Proof the Gauls Fought Naked
Several Roman historians tell stories of Gauls fighting in the nude. ((Plb. 2.28.8, Diod. 5.30.3, and Liv. 38.21.)) The Dying Gaul on display at the National Gallery of Art corroborates their tales or at least that they believed them. Regardless, it is a remarkable display of Roman appreciation for Hellenistic art. Here is my appreciation. At…
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Weapons at the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit
The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the Franklin Institute was a rare opportunity to see one of the more remarkable archeological discoveries from the twentieth-century. There were some good hype moments throughout the exhibit, including a short, live talk, explaining the significance of the scrolls. The exhibit also did a great job of explaining all…
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Spartan Burial Practices and Honoring Fallen Soldiers
In the United States, like other countries, we honor deceased veterans with unique headstones and even burial rights in national cemeteries. Yet, how do you honor veterans in a civilization that is composed entirely of those who serve in the military, like the Spartans of ancient Greece? This civilization was unique from its fellow…
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How the Greeks Commemorated the Sesquicentennial of Xerxes’ Invasion
With the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War quickly approaching, it is appropriate to examine how past civilizations commemorated the 150-year anniversaries of their major conflicts. One such group was the Greeks who commemorated the sesquicentennial of Xerxes’ invasion (480 BC) to the exact year (330 BC) by sanctioning Alexander the Great (r. 336-323) to…
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Book Review: Warfare in the Ancient World
Carey, Brian Todd. Warfare in the Ancient World. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military, 2009. 184 pages. In Warfare in the Ancient World, Brian Todd Carey has produced a collection of 26 ancient battles, which serve as a fine introduction to the topic. In between the battles, Carey mixes in descriptions of the rise and fall…
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Year-by-Year World Population Estimates: 10,000 B.C. to 2007 A.D.
There are numerous world population estimates out there. These estimates can differ greatly from one to the next and some are more thorough than others. Finding estimates for the world’s population in the past 50 years is easy. Moving further back in time, it becomes more difficult. Determining population estimates is the science of educated…
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Process of copying the Old Testament by Jewish Scribes
In 586 B.C., Jerusalem was captured by the Babylonians. The Temple was looted and then destroyed by fire. The Jews were exiled. About 70 years later, the Jewish captives returned to Jerusalem from Babylon. According to the Bible, Ezra recovered a copy of the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) and read it aloud…
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Growing Up Spartan
Historically, Sparta has been known as a utopia of Militaristic Society. The Spartans becoming such a military juggernaut didn’t just start when a youth enrolled in the military. A child was groomed his entire life to grow into a warrior hero; the kind of hero that would become legend in the world’s histories. They concentrated…