The Mighty Ancient Macedonian Army of Alexander
While popular history tends to bring forth the notion of Alexander the Great as a military genius (and rightly so), his generalship was not only…
While popular history tends to bring forth the notion of Alexander the Great as a military genius (and rightly so), his generalship was not only…
Introduction The Greek word for military equipment roughly translates to hopla, and thus a hoplite simply meant ‘man at arms’ or ‘armored man’. Of course,…
By the very intrinsic nature of the Greek lands and topography, large-scale cavalry forces were never an option for most burgeoning city-states of Greece. This…
Introduction The New Kingdom of Egypt, roughly corresponding to the period between the 16th century BC and the 11th century BC (encompassing the 18th, 19th,…
Introduction to Egyptian God Anubis Anubis (or Anpu or Inpu in Egyptian language; Greek form – ‘Anubis’) is one of the most frequently represented deities…
Introduction Often overshadowed by the exploits of the Ottomans in Europe and the Near East, it should be noted however that it was the Mamluks…
From the etymological perspective, the term Aztec is derived from Aztlan (or ‘Place of Whiteness’ in connotative meaning), the mythological place of origin for the…
Introduction The subject of Spartans has been much discussed and showcased in the realm of popular culture. And while some of them have a historical…
Introduction Venerated as the patron deity of Babylon itself, Marduk as one of the major Mesopotamian gods formed an important part of the Babylonian…
Introduction – Ancient Mesopotamia and its Gods When it comes to the early historical scope of Mesopotamia, there were no singular factions or political entities…
When it comes to the popular history of nomadic groups, tribes (and super-tribes) like Huns and Mongols have had their fair share of coverage in various mediums, ranging from…
The Battle of Hastings fought on 14 October 1066, proved to be a pivotal event in the long run – with medieval continental Europeans gaining…
Introduction Beyond the scope of military triumphs, the Romans were known for both their architectural and engineering prowess. And sometimes such scopes of expertise even reached…
Introduction – Origins of the Achaemenid Persians When the Assyrians were carving out the world’s first true ‘super empire’ from the period of the 10th century to…
We have already talked about bizarre mythological monsters and impressive dragons you may have missed out on from popular media like television shows and movies. Well, this…
Introduction to the Gods of Ancient Egypt The early stages of ancient Egyptian history and mythology were presumably influenced by the natural surroundings and events affecting ancient…
Introduction – A Clash of Cultures Fought between the Roman Republic and several Gallic tribes (mostly from areas constituting present-day France and Belgium), the Gallic Wars from 58-50 BC…
Introduction This is how historian Stephen Bertman partly summarizes the character of Hammurabi, the sixth king of the Amorite dynasty, who ascended the Babylonian throne in 1792…
Unlike other ancient theaters, the oval-shaped, freestanding amphitheater was a Roman invention. And, as the jewel in the crown of such imposing Roman-made architectural specimens, the Colosseum holds…
Introduction Arguably the most visually impressive and rather portentous of ancient Celtic gods, the name Cernunnos is actually the general term (theonym) given to the…
While it may seem that the scope of modern construction with its ‘pillars’ of concrete and glass has taken the advanced path, the vast scope…
ContentsIntroduction – The Islamic Invasion of the Iberian PeninsulaThe Cultural History of the MoorsWho Were the Moors and Andalusians?Cordoba and the Umayyad LegacyThe High Culture…
When perceived from the lens of history, music, and songs are counted among the fundamental expressions that are unique to humanity. And while rudimentary forms…
Introduction Often counted among the better-known medieval Christian military orders, the Knights Hospitallers or the Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of…
Introduction The narrative of the Greek gods, goddesses, and related mythology, unlike the Bible, was not available to the ancient Greeks through a singular compilation…
The painter of Mona Lisa was not only a genius with pure artistic sensibilities but also a man with his flurry of ‘hip’ designs that were far…
Introduction to Norse Mythology Norse mythology and legends probably have one of the vaguest origins of some of the renowned mythologies from history. Their primary lore…
History is replete with the achievements of humanity in various fields, ranging from curious art to complex mathematics; from the simple pleasures of life to…
It is hypothesized that beer (or at least the precursor to beer-like concoctions) was probably developed independently in different parts of the world. In fact,…
Introduction The famed Praetorian Guards (or cohortes praetoriae) constitute a unique parcel of ancient Roman military history. In many ways, alluding to the proverbial scope of ‘too…