Modern Greeks often resemble the people depicted in ancient Greek sculpture, frescoes, and painted pottery. This has led many people to wonder whether the inhabitants of Greece have changed physically during the past 2,000 to 3,000 years. The most accurate answer is that many modern Greeks probably share broad physical similarities with ancient Greek populations,…
Isis and Hathor were two of the most important goddesses worshipped in ancient Egypt. Both were associated with motherhood, protection, royal women, magic, and the care of the dead, and both could be shown wearing cow horns surrounding a solar disk. Despite these similarities, Isis and Hathor were not originally the same goddess. Isis was…
Today, the concept of confirming identities and familial relationships with DNA tests is so common that we often take it for granted. But it’s only in recent history that this amazing technology has become available and, as a result, has provided us with insights and information we might not otherwise have. King Tutankhamun’s DNA has…
The ancient Egyptians traded grain, gold, linen, papyrus, glass, pottery, wine, oil, jewelry, and other manufactured goods. In return, Egypt imported materials that were scarce or unavailable along the Nile, including cedarwood, silver, copper, tin, incense, ivory, ebony, animal skins, precious stones, and exotic animals. Egypt’s location connected northeastern Africa with the Mediterranean, the Levant, Nubia,…
There’s so much in a name. We all have them, and they often help define who we are, at least in part. We get our last names from our parents as they got theirs from their parents. But how did ancient Egyptians choose their last names? The surprising answer is that they usually did not have…
World Emoji Day is celebrated each year on July 17th, and it got me thinking. Were hieroglyphs really the emojis of ancient Egypt? The answer is more complicated than it looks. 👁️🐍☀️ Every day, people communicate with tiny pictures. A smiling face can soften a message. A heart can express affection without a sentence. A pair of…
With his black canine head, tall pointed ears, and human body, Anubis is one of the most recognizable gods of ancient Egypt. His unusual appearance has also inspired a popular question: What kind of dog was Anubis? The simplest answer is that Anubis wasn’t based on a specific domestic dog breed. Ancient Egyptian artists portrayed…
The ancient Romans did not all look the same. Rome was huge, and as a result, the ancient Romans were made up of a variety of cultures. One of the biggest misconceptions about the Roman Empire is that there was a single “Roman look.” In reality, the Roman world stretched across Europe, North Africa, and…
See a detailed Ancient Egyptian nome map featuring all 42 provinces, their capitals, symbols, and the fascinating government of the pharaohs.
Among the many fascinating deities of Ancient Egypt, few are as mysterious as the Seven Hathors. Rather than being seven different goddesses, they were seven manifestations of the great goddess Hathor who appeared together to reveal the destiny of every newborn child. The Seven Hathors occupied a unique place in Egyptian religion. They were present…