Persian Poets’ Fabled Family of Heroes
Star-crossed lovers, fathers killing sons and a warrior bride shackling her newlywed husband to the bed, all play a role in the legendary folklore of Persia’s most famous fabled family; that of Rostam and his ancestors and descendants.
Hungry Ghosts and Spirits of the Underworld
Ghosts, specters and the souls of the dead have always held a fascination for mankind who believe they return to haunt the living to satisfy their hunger in the Underworld. In the first century AD, Roman author Pliny the Younger recorded one of t...
Messengers of Misery: Mourning Women in Mythology
Women's laughter may have been considered as a sign that the empire was doing well, however in mythology women Read More
Hawaiian Ancient Surfing, the Sport of Gods and Royalty
Water created worlds, bore deities, eliminated pain and purified souls. The sea in particular is an untamable, dangerous, often violent place and considered in many cultures as representing the mysteries of the ...
Did Blondes Have More Fun in the Ancient World?
In the period of the 1930s to 1950s, Hollywood saw the emergence of many blonde actresses. Epithets such as ‘screen siren’ or ‘cinematic goddess’ were attached to the most popular blonde actresses of the day. The visual effect of film lig...
Ancient Symbolism of the Owl: Omen of the Good, the Bad and the Deadly
About 48 million years ago, an owl swooped down to catch its prey in broad daylight - we know this because in 2018 Dickinson Museum Researchers found the exquisitely preserved remains of the owl. Its skull shares a telltale characteristic with mo...
Socrates’ Philosophy of Love Inspired by Diotima, Princess, Priestess and Philosopher
Symposium, Plato’s philosophical text dated at circa 385 to 370 BC, depicts a friendly contest of speeches delivered by a group of notable men attending a banquet. During the discussion, Socrates mentions that, in his youth, he was tau...
The Rise and Fall of Vejovis, Etruscan God of Criminals, Slaves and Fighters
In 1939, an excavation underneath Piazza del Campidoglio discovered an almost completely obscured ancient Roman building. This ancient Roman building is identified as the temple of Vejovis, one of the oldest of the Roman gods. In the same area, a...
Head on a Platter: The Ancient Practice of Headhunting
In 1874, during a formal meeting known as the Tumbang Anoi Agreement, held in Damang Batu, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, all the Dayak tribes gathered for a peace resolution. The meeting had lasted for several months and finally the outcome was ...
The Women in Jesus’ Life and Early Christianity: Patrona’s, Prostitutes and Princesses
Women have been important members of Christianity from the very beginning of the early Christian church. In fact, women were among Jesus’ earliest followers. Apart from learning from and speaking to women both in public and private, Jesus himse...