Ancient Origins Magazine

 

From the lush Hanging Gardens of Babylon to the fiery forges of Asgard, Ancient Origins Magazine scours the planet to reveal the history of the ancient world.

Discover ancient technologies, lost civilizations, and strange mysteries that still puzzle us today. Experience the power and people, the weapons and wisdom of the ancient world. With boundary-breaking research, nothing is left out!

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AO Magazine May June 2023
AO Magazine May June 2023

In a world where so much of our life is spent indoors, staring at screens, there is something truly exciting about stories of great exploration. The idea of venturing into the unknown, facing danger, and discovering something new has captivated people for centuries. From the great sea voyages of the Age of Discovery to the exploration of the polar regions and beyond, the exploits of famous explorers have captured our imagination and inspired us.

In this issue we cover some of these amazing journeys. You’ll see familiar names such as Leif Erikson, Zheng He, and Ibn Battuta, alongside less-familiar faces like Jeanne Baret (the first woman to circumnavigate the globe), Pytheas of Massalia (an ancient Greek who travelled to the Arctic Circle and back), and a list of modern day adventurers following in the footsteps of explorers from the past.

These stories show us that there is still so much to discover around the world and, perhaps most importantly, they remind us of the power of the human spirit. No matter how difficult a challenge may seem, we are capable of achieving incredible things if we set our minds to it and take a leap to create the lives and stories we want to be remembered for!


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AO Magazine March April 2023
AO Magazine March April 2023

For centuries, tomb raiders have been on a mission to plunder valuable artifacts from tombs and other cultural sites, often leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. The impact of these heinous acts is immeasurable, as the loss of cultural heritage and historical context cannot be undone. What's worse is that these nefarious raiders are willing to exploit the dead for their own financial gain, raising serious ethical and moral concerns.

This issue takes a closer look at the harrowing reality of tomb raiding, with real-world examples of the lengths to which these criminals will go. From the desecration of graves in the Nazca desert to the use of explosives and bulldozers by tomb raiders, the scope of damage is alarming. Then the looted treasures have been whisked away to collectors or museums, often without a thought for their sacred significance to the cultures they were taken from.

But what about the artifacts we see in museums and other institutions today? How did they get there in the first place?

The answer to those questions is complicated, and it's one that's being brought to the forefront of the global conversation on repatriation and the ongoing impact of colonialism. As more countries demand the return of their artifacts, museums, universities, and private collectors are facing mounting pressure to right historical wrongs. In this issue, we delve into the themes of repatriation and the decolonization of museums with an interview and the debates surrounding artifacts such as the Elgin Marbles and the Benin Bronzes. But the problem doesn't end there. We also examine how social networks and technology are both aiding and hindering the activities of modern-day tomb raiders.

Despite the challenges we face, there are success stories to be found. We highlight stories like the stolen Orpheus mosaic that was returned to Turkey, the cherished moai statue that was welcomed back to Easter Island, and the crown jewels that were confiscated from a 17th century thief.


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AO Magazine January February 2023
AO Magazine January February 2023

Many people expect their heroes to be perfect, but even heroic people have flaws. Our ancestors knew this, and the heroic protagonists of their legends weren’t infallible. By bringing their heroes down to a more human level, the idea of doing heroic acts also became more attainable. Courageous acts and noble qualities weren’t just for gods and goddesses, real people did brave things and had morals and virtues as well.

Discover new perspective on the stories of familiar names such as Joan of Arc, King Arthur, and Alexander the Great. Were the voices that Joan of Arc heard of divine or neurological origin? Was King Arthur’s story elevated to the extent that he became a British messiah? We also question whether the famous Alexander was really so great. Times and cultures change and evolve, and, as we find out in this issue, sometimes a hero becomes a villain.

Finally, we explore two amazing ancient sites; one with a tragic story and the other a story of hope and revival. Read the tale of the Peking Man site filled with political drama, international alliances, and mysterious deaths and disappearances. Then discover the amazing past and bright future for the ancient Mesopotamian site of Girsu with an exclusive interview with Dr. Sébastien Rey, the curator for ancient Mesopotamia at the British Museum and director of the Girsu Project in Iraq.


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AO Magazine November December 2022

There are many reasons people become fascinated by Egypt. It truly is a land of wonders - so ancient and sacred but also vibrant and full of modern life. It’s been a couple years since I was there, but this issue brought back all the wonderful memories – venturing into the Great Pyramid of Giza, watching a sunrise while standing beside the Sphinx, marvelling at the immensity and intricacy of the temples and tombs.

We open this issue with an extraordinary timeline of the ancient Egyptian civilization – it’s the kind of article you’d like to print off and share with people studying ancient Egypt. From there we discover the secrets of life and death in ancient Egypt through articles on medicine, magic, and the false doors incorporated into elaborate tombs. We see how both deserts and wars shaped Egyptian society and ponder what their lost labyrinth would have looked like. Our exclusive interviews with Ted Loukes on his travels through Egypt and Michael E. Habicht, an Egyptologist whose work includes facial reconstructions of ancient mummies using modern technology, bring the stories of Egypt’s past and present together.

November 4, 2022 marked the centennial of the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb, so we couldn’t let this issue go by without discussing the discovery, treasures, and controversies surrounding one of the greatest finds in modern history. Finally, this is also the time of year when people begin to prepare for the December holiday season, so we explore the origins of two of the major celebrations: Hanukkah and Christmas.


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AO Magazine September October 2022
AO Magazine September October 2022

Travel back in time to the rise of civilization among the lush, green lands between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. For more than 3,000 years Mesopotamia flourished with its complex urban societies and powerful kings who expanded their empires with warfare and diplomacy. The Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians all called this region home.

Ancient Mesopotamia is notable for its role in many of humanity’s firsts - written language, the wheel, our concept of time, math, maps, and law codes - these developments set it apart from other civilizations rising around it. This was also a land rich in magic and mystery, so we reveal the legend of the world’s first shaman, how exorcisms, witchcraft, and the gods permeated life, and how lullabies were much more than songs to soothe babies.

Join us as we bring the ruins of ancient Mesopotamian cities up from the sands and animate them by telling their stories. Witness the beauty of the Ishtar Gate and Hanging Gardens of Babylon, but also discover the surprising tale of treasures and sacrifice at the Great Death Pit of Ur. See how experts continue to bring this ancient civilization to life by recreating its beer and culinary wonders. If that’s not enough, you’ll also finally learn the reason why reggae music makes reference to Babylon!


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AO Magazine July August 2022
AO Magazine July August 2022

Many people today couldn’t imagine what they’d do for entertainment if someone took away their smartphone, computer, TV, and videogames. But it is possible to have fun without these things – we just need to remember what our ancestors used to do!

If you think about it, several forms of entertainment have been passed down through generations. While we may not be heading out to watch a gladiator battle anytime soon, we do still love to have parties, play and watch sports, and we go to the theater, opera, concerts, and zoos, just like our ancestors did before us. Many of us enjoy a good prank every once in a while too!

In this issue we celebrate the fun and games of the past, touching on some of our own favorite pastimes such as board games (Backgammon’s been around a lot longer than you’d expect), card games (tarot wasn’t always for divination!), and parties (but no, we’ve never been to an authentic ancient Greek-style symposium). We also revel in the stories and hi-jinks of a couple of history’s lesser-known comedians.

If you’re looking for some interesting stories to tell at your next get together, consider surprising your guests with the curious proposal that Atlantis may be hidden under Tunisian sands, and that the well-known character Jack the Giant Killer may actually be based on a real man – who was a Crusader!


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AO Magazine June 2022

"In an honest service there is thin commons, low wages, and hard labor; in this, plenty and satiety, pleasure and ease, liberty and power; and who would not balance creditor on this side, when all the hazard that is run for it, at worst, is only a sour look or two at choking.

No, a merry life and a short one, shall be my motto."

- Bartholomew "Black Bart" Roberts

Black Bart was a successful pirate during the Golden Age of Piracy. He captured and looted more ships than many of his contemporaries, had his own fleet of four ships and hundreds of men following his orders, and he died as he had wished – he was just 40 years old when he was killed in action by pirate hunters in 1722.

Black Bart wasn’t alone in seeing the allure of piracy. It’s estimated that during the Gold Age of Piracy there were more than 5000 pirates. You know many of their names: Henry Morgan, William 'Captain' Kidd, 'Calico' Jack Rackham, and the fearsome Blackbeard (Edward Teach). They were notorious and when other ships saw the black flag flying, they knew they were in for a horrifying encounter.

Things changed with the popularity of books such as Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. Pirates became linked to stories of buried treasure and adventure. They were swashbucklers and plunderers with eyepatches, men who kept parrots on their shoulders and said things like “Avast me hearty!” Pirates became increasingly gentler, and even fun, over the years. I remember watching gentlemen pirates like the ludicrous Captain Hook in the film Hook, and charming rogues like the Dread Pirate Roberts in The Princess Bride and Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean. But the tides have shifted again, and with current world events we’re remembering that piracy isn’t all fun and games…or a thing of the past.

This issue reveals real stories of pirates. We trace their journeys from the havens of Port Royal to the Indian Ocean. Along the way we reveal the origins of the Jolly Roger, pirate codes of conduct, and the punishments awaiting the men who stepped out of line. We even debunk some popular myths – forget buried treasures and walking the plank! Terrorism and piracy expert Dr. Peter Lehr highlights the similarities and differences between pirates from the past and present, providing a fuller picture of the history of piracy, why people become pirates, and techniques to eradicate piracy.


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AO Magazine April May 2022
AO Magazine April May 2022

What is rock art? Who created the mysterious symbols adorning the deepest darkest caves and tallest rock faces? How can you explain the similarities found in artwork created by different and long-forgotten cultures located thousands of miles away from each other? When did our distant ancestors begin to make marks on stone, and what can it tell us about the early human mind?

Prehistoric rock art is both fascinating and mysterious to modern minds. Whether we’re examining the elaborate paintings hidden within Lascaux Cave or pondering the meaning of strange symbols carved into a boulder in North America, we gain a unique opportunity to connect with our most distant ancestors. We may never fully comprehend the messages left by them on stone, but the very existence of rock art allows us to glimpse into the past and momentarily recapture the essence of a long-lost time when the world was a very different place.

This issue doesn’t shy away from the big questions surrounding rock art. We search for the reasons our ancestors created prehistoric art in stone, ponder which rock art dating methods are best, consider the roles of shamans in cave art creation, and examine the most puzzling rock art in the world – including the extraordinary story of the Wandjina Sky Beings painted on stone in Australia. We see how carvings set in stone can reflect images seen in the sky in Armenia, trace the transformation of the images presented on rock by generations of artists in the Sahara, reveal the challenges in rock art (and sometimes graffiti!) conservation today, and even explore whether prehistoric art and the origins of language are interconnected.

Stepping away from the enigmatic realm of rock art we find another mystery – the hunt for Cleopatra’s lost tomb. Dr. Kathleen Martinez is at the forefront of the quest for Cleopatra’s final resting place, and she tells us all about her latest and best excavation discoveries while she searches for the iconic Egyptian queen!


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AO Magazine March 2022
AO Magazine March 2022

Many powerful and influential women left their mark on history. They were just as strong and fearless, if not more, than the men around them. Although the records that have survived the ages aren’t always an accurate picture of what life was like thousands of years ago—generally these are narratives dominated by men writing about men — powerful women are plentiful in history. These women weren’t content to be the handmaids of men but lived life on their own terms.

In this issue you’ll find inspirational stories of women such as Fatima Al-Fihri, who founded the al-Qarawiyyin mosque and university in Fez, Morocco, and Sophie Blanchard, who was the first female balloonist to pilot solo flights. You’ll also discover the stories of six women who fought for their beliefs on the battlefield and the history of female leaders ruling ancient Peru.

We reveal how the lives of real women are sometimes transformed into myth too; for example, Scythian warrior women may have inspired the myth of Amazons and stereotypical witches may be based on the appearance and skills of independent alewives. In more modern times, we see how even Disney stories sometimes draw upon the lives of women from history and how the lives of influential women from the past play out in on the silver screen.

We also venture into the distant past to examine the fossils of the five hominin species that were present at South Africa’s Cradle of Humankind, and we close out this issue with an examination of the strange cases of medieval dancing mania and what may have caused the social phenomenon.


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AO Magazine January February 2022
AO Magazine January February 2022

Love is a powerful emotion and even though we experience it in a deeply personal way, it has a history. In the past - as today - love has expressed itself in all kinds of relationships, held different meanings, and created both bliss and havoc. Love has inspired all forms of art and religion, but also caused wars and controversy. Anything we think ourselves capable of today in the love department has been tried, tested, praised, and abused by people in the past too.

In this issue we explore romantic love in various tones. First, we uncover the loving, and sometimes tragic, stories of devoted couples from long ago. Then we reveal the forgotten story of the Sacred Band of Thebes, who were not only supreme warriors but coupled lovers as well. You’ll discover the tale of a Neolithic Romeo and Juliet and swoon over the touching love stories of legendary couples.

Next, we discuss the lusty side of romance, as it is depicted in erotic ceramics created by an ancient Peruvian culture and graveyard prostitutes in ancient Rome. We also tell you which of today’s favorite aphrodisiacs come from antiquity and the truth about chastity belts.

You may be shocked by Ovid’s love advice from ancient Rome and the 31 rules that were provided for ‘courtly love’ in the Middle Ages. But those are not the only surprises this issue holds, as we also expose the dark origins of Valentine’s Day, the chilling tale of a Japanese snow spirit, and the possible solution to what all those strange containers from ancient Babylon really mean.


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AO Magazine December 2021
AO Magazine December 2021

This is an issue that will satisfy both foodies and history-lovers!

Food has shaped human evolution and we have shaped our environment and food. We transformed food from diet to cuisine, tied it to our cultural identities and heritage, and made it integral to our rituals, holidays, and traditions. By studying the history of food, our ancestors’ eating habits, and ancient cookbooks we discover more than just what people were eating – we also gain glimpses into life beyond the kitchen.

In this issue Robyn E. Cutright, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Latin American Studies at Centre College, discusses her research on the ancient Andes to explain how past food choices influenced human evolution and traditional food practices. She also shares her perspectives on the Paleo diet, the difference between diet and cuisine, why recreating ancient recipes is cool, the most uncomfortable traditional food practice she’s experienced, and why everyone was baking bread last year.

This issue also contains a recipe for a seasonal favorite – spiced wine. The Medieval version of this beverage was known as Hippocras. While you may not be familiar with the name of this warming, spiced drink, it’s likely that you have enjoyed something like it, usually as the days get colder and the nights longer. We also provide you with a list of 10 cookbooks for you to examine, and maybe try your hand at cooking some more ancient recipes.

At this time of year many of us gather with friends and family and reflect on our past and the future. Whether you decide to make a traditional spiced wine, go wassailing (the orchard or caroling version), or maybe share a New Years’ pizza with family and friends, pause a moment to reflect on the importance food has in keeping our holidays and traditions alive and the joy of sharing meals and connecting with our loved ones.

Happy Holidays!


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AO Magazine October November 2021
AO Magazine October November 2021

Everyone can name at least a few ancient kingdoms that they learned about in school, read about in a popular book, or watched someone discuss on a tv special or in a film. These are often stories about ancient Rome, Egypt, or Greece. But there are many other fascinating kingdoms that don’t receive the attention they deserve.

The lost kingdoms that we showcase in this issue are either kingdoms that don’t exist anymore, imaginary realms people once believed to be real, or forgotten empires that are often overlooked in the pages of history. For many of these kingdoms, all that is left today are their names, legends, and sometimes archaeological sites.

But those details may be enough to inspire an explorer who’s keen on adventure and solving mysteries. Their journeys may have been full of perils, but I wonder if the Portuguese explorers who ventured into unknown lands on a quest for Prester John and his fabled kingdom returned home satisfied that they had the courage to travel somewhere new. Of course they weren’t the only ones to set out in search of lost kingdoms.

I get the impression that despite their hardships and failure in finding the hidden land of Shambhala, the Roerich couple did enjoy their expeditions into hard-to-reach and little-investigated areas of Central Asia. The lost kingdom of Punt is another elusive land, one that researchers are still looking for. Finding the reasons behind Hatshepsut’s visits and what she brought home, as well as examining an ancient baboon skull, may help to finally solve this mystery.

Apart from forgotten kingdoms, this issue also examines a moment which is often overlooked in history, but relevant to us today. Author Jonathon Perrin demonstrates the parallels between the devastating plagues that struck Egypt in the time of the Sun Pharaohs and the recent pandemic.

Finally, we couldn’t let this time of year go by without mentioning paranormal events. To round out the issue we examine the tragic, terrifying origins of the famous ghost called La Llorona. An in-depth investigation reveals the truth behind a ghost which has allegedly haunted people for centuries in Mexico and across Latin America. Don’t read that article late at night!


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