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  • The Librarians of Timbuktu

    The Librarians of Timbuktu

    The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu, by journalist Joshua Hammer, tells the incredible story of Abdel Kader Haidara — a mild-mannered archivist and historian from the legendary city of Timbuktu — who organized a successful effort to outwit Al-Qaeda and preserve Mali’s greatest treasures in 2012. In this Ancient History Encyclopedia (AHE) exclusive, James Blake Wiener speaks…

  • Mosaics of Spain’s Roman Baetica Route: Lebrija Palace

    Mosaics of Spain’s Roman Baetica Route: Lebrija Palace

    On a recent trip to southern Spain, I travelled along the Roman Baetica Route and visited many of the archaeological sites and museums that Andalusia has to offer. Among the plethora of ancient treasures to be found in the region, I was particularly impressed by the incredible mosaics I came across. This installment of the series will…

  • August 2016 Museum Listings

    August 2016 Museum Listings

    By popular demand, Ancient History Encyclopedia will share news, on a monthly basis, about select museum exhibitions and events of interest to our global audience via AHetc. Exhibitions are arranged in alphabetical order by geographical location and region within this post: the Americas, United Kingdom, Europe/Middle East, and East Asia/Oceania. Here is a taste of…

  • “For the Most Beautiful”–A New Novel

    “For the Most Beautiful”–A New Novel

    Boldly imagined and exquisitely written, For the Most Beautiful, a debut novel by classicist Emily Hauser, chronicles the defeat of Troy through the eyes of female characters almost entirely disregarded in Homer’s Iliad — Briseis, princess of Pedasus, and Krisayis, daughter of the High Priest of Troy. In this Ancient History Encyclopedia (AHE) exclusive, James…

  • The Egyptian Tomb-Chapel Scenes of Nebamun at the British Museum

    The Egyptian Tomb-Chapel Scenes of Nebamun at the British Museum

    In 1821 ten paintings were purchased from Mr. Henry Salt (1780-1827) and arrived at the British Museum. The eleventh painting was acquired in 1823. Each painting appeared to have been mounted with a slightly different support material. Finger marks and hand prints on the backs of many of the paintings suggest that the paintings were laid face…

  • Mosaics of Spain’s Roman Baetica Route: Carmona and Éjica

    Mosaics of Spain’s Roman Baetica Route: Carmona and Éjica

    On a recent trip to southern Spain, I travelled along the Roman Baetica Route and visited many of the archaeological sites and museums that Andalusia has to offer. Among the plethora of ancient treasures to be found in the region, I was particularly impressed by the incredible mosaics I came across. This installment of the series will…

  • Art and Sculptures from Hadrian’s Villa: The Lansdowne Relief

    Art and Sculptures from Hadrian’s Villa: The Lansdowne Relief

    This month’s sculpture from Hadrian’s Villa is a dark grey limestone relief decorated with mythological scenes. The Lansdowne Relief was unearthed in 1769 during excavations undertaken by the art dealer and archaeologist Gavin Hamilton, who sold it to Lord Lansdowne. The latter was an avid collector of antiquities who owned a fine collection of classical sculptures…

  • The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III at the British Museum

    The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III at the British Museum

    I was attending an event at the Royal College of Physicians of London in early March 2016, and I had a plenty of time to spare. One of my targets was, of course, the British Museum. Two years ago, Jan van der Crabben (founder and CEO of the Ancient History Encyclopedia) asked me to draft…

  • What Inspires Us?

    What Inspires Us?

    Here at Ancient History Encyclopedia, we have been discussing what inspires us and decided our readers might be interested in the conversation as well. With that in mind, have a read of what inspires some of AHE’s  key figures to do what they do! Jan van der Crabben CEO and Founder Changing the world; no less!…

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