Year: 2012

Ancient Egyptian Women

A British scholar, Barbara Watterson, has just written a book on the varied experiences of women in ancient Egypt: Women in Ancient Egypt, published by Amberley Press, traces the experiences of women from the very high (Nefertiti and Nefertari) to the very low (peasants and prostitutes). Along the way, Watterson peppers her work with little known facts and portraits of long-forgotten figures. Please click here to read this rather humorous book review from the UK’s Daily Mail.

Catching Fish in Ancient Hawaii

How did the ancient Hawaiians catch their fish? Better question: how many did they catch on average? Blessed with natural resources, it might be assumed that the ancient inhabitants of the Hawaiian islands would have over-fished the pristine waters of the Pacific Ocean. This article, recently published in the New York Times, challenges that assessment. Please click here to access and read it.

Cahokia: Native American Metropolis

While Teotihuacán, Tikal, Chaco Canyon, and Machu Picchu are the cities most commonly conjured in the minds of millions when the phrase “Pre-Columbian metropolis” is uttered, one ought to be aware of the grandeur and importance of Cahokia, located near the present-day city of St. Louis, MO in the Midwestern United States. Cahokia: Ancient America’s Great City on the Mississippi, a work authored by Timothy Pauketat, permits the reader to gain insight into one of the most important and least understood Pre-Columbian sites in the Americas. Please click here to read a book review by Chad Anderson for Common-Place.

Tutankhamen From A New Perspective

Maclean’s of Canada has just published a review of a new book by Egyptologist Joyce Tyldesley–Tutankhamen: The search for an Egyptian King, traces the life and modern reception of this most ancient of celebrities. Looming larger in death than he ever did in life, Tyldesley’s work attempts to analyze the boy-king from an entirely new perspective. Please click here to access the review.

SnagFilms: An Excellent Resource

The Ancient History Encyclopedia wishes to share resources which contribute to a better understanding and appreciation for the ancient world to user, visitor, and researcher alike. With that being said, we wanted to alert you to another great documentary film website where you can watch select titles for free. In the past, we informed you of the usefulness of Top Documentary Films and now we would like to introduce you to SnagFilms. They have a great history section–check it out by clicking here.

UNESCO Courier Magazine

We wanted to alert our readers and contributors to a phenomenal resource filled with unique articles and research from a variety of perspectives. UNESCO Courier Magazine is the bimonthly publication of UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). By accessing the archive section, you can find articles and research on just about any topic. There are a good number of articles about historical preservation and excellent feature articles on topics related to the ancient world. With more than 700 issues and articles available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and now Portuguese, we think you would be foolish not to check it out!

Archaeologists Return to Iraq

USAToday is reporting that archaeologists are an increasingly common presence in Iraq. After nearly thirty years of war, rebellion, and governmental transition, archaeologists from the United States and Europe are returning to Iraq in droves. Now with new technologies and scientific advances at their disposal, archaeologists expect a great wave of new discoveries in the heartland of human civilization. Please click here to access the article.

Massive Mayan Metropolis

For centuries, the forests of Guatemala have hidden an impressive Mayan city until recently: “El Mirador.” In its day, it was the rival of the famous city of Tikal and one of the most powerful Mayan-city states in the Yucatan. Dating back more than 2.500 years, it is also one of the oldest Mayan cities ever found. Now, scholars and archaeologists are just beginning the daunting process of exploring this massive city. Smithsonian Magazine ran an intriguing feature article on “El Mirador” last May and you click here to read it.

Arles’ Roman Secrets From The Rhone

Le Musée d’Arles, in Arles, France, is the site of an unprecedented exhibition, exploring the submerged wonders of Roman antiquity from beneath the Rhône River. From March 9 to June 25, 2012, Le Musée d’Arles will bring Roman Arles (“Arelate”) alive through the presentation of reconstructed models, artifacts, bronzes and silvers, and architectural pieces. Other objects will be on loan from the Louvre, Le Musée Calvet d’Avignon and the Museo di Antichità of Turin, Italy. Please click here to read more about this exciting exhibition.

Ancient Theatre of Delos

While ancient sites around Greece have suffered because of the protracted economic crisis, ANSAmed reports that one major site has recently been given funds for restoration and protection. Yesterday, the Central Archaeological Council of Greece approved a measure to restore the famed theatre of ancient Delos. Built originally of marble and completed in 250 BCE, the theatre was massive, equipped for nearly 7.000 visitors. Although it abandoned in 88 BCE, following an invasion of the island by Mithridates VI of Pontus (r. 120-63 BCE) during the The First Mithridatic War (89-85 BCE), it has long been admired and even imitated. Please read more about this restoration project by clicking here.