The House of Ptolemy: Ancient Egypt’s Ptolemaic Dynasty

Alexander the Great conquered Persian-controlled Egypt in 332 during his campaigns against the Achaemenid Empire. Upon his death in 323 BCE, Alexander’s territories were split up among his closest companions, the Diadochi . One of his generals, Ptolemy, …

Oxyrhynchus: History’s Most Revealing Rubbish Dump

When we think of ancient artifacts, we usually think of the objects that people held dear. But if you really want to get the dirty details of daily life in antiquity, you should check out the things that have been discarded. There is perhaps no better …

The Political Effects of the American Civil War

Detail of A battle during the American Civil War (1861-65) , via the American Battlefield Trust   From the Constitutional Convention onward, the issue of slavery was hotly contested. Southern states relied on this brutal institution to grow and harvest …

What Is the Twinkie Defense? (& Other Crazy Court Arguments)

Thousands of crimes are committed every day, and most cases are “open-and-shut,” meaning there is little to dispute. The vast majority of criminal defendants plead guilty, typically facing undeniable evidence. Occasionally, however, a defendant tries …

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Rosetta Stone | British Museum

One of the most famous artifacts in the world — the Rosetta Stone.

In 1799, a group of French soldiers rebuilding a military fort in the port city of el-Rashid (or Rosetta), Egypt, accidentally uncovered what was to become one…

Did Women Fight as Gladiators in Ancient Rome?

Were there female gladiators in ancient Rome ? While sparse, evidence exists in art, laws and written accounts that women did participate in the brutal sport during the late Roman Republic and early Roman Empire, fighting each other fiercely with weapons …

What Role Did Women Play in Ancient Rome?

Women in ancient Rome , whether free or enslaved, played many roles: empress, priestess, goddess, shop owner, midwife, prostitute, daughter, wife and mother. But they lacked any voice in public life. They also lacked a voice in history. With few exceptions—like …

Who Was Boudica? The Warrior Queen of Ancient Britain

Boudica (also written as Boadicea) was a Celtic queen who led a revolt against Roman rule in ancient Britain in A.D. 60 or 61. As all of the existing information about her comes from Roman scholars, particularly Tacitus and Cassius Dio, little is known …

5 Women Who Ruled the Ancient World

Very few women ever rose to power in the kingdoms and empires of the ancient world. The handful who did, in the Near East, Asia and Europe, fought their way through significant barriers, in often violent times.  These women first accessed their power …

Cleopatra – Life, Rule & Death

Cleopatra: Early Life and Ascension to Throne Ancient Empires: Cleopatra Becoming a Queen Since no contemporary accounts exist of Cleopatra’s life, it is difficult to piece together her biography with much certainty. Much of what is known about her life …