Tag: ancient history

The next time you find yourself composing an angry email to customer service, take comfort in knowing you're participating in a tradition nearly four millennia old. Long before Yelp reviews and Twitter rants, an irate customer named Nanni etched his frustrations into clay, creating what would become the world's oldest documented customer complaint. His target? A copper merchant named Ea-Nasir...

For centuries, the phrase "burning of the Library of Alexandria" has conjured an image of mankind's greatest collection of knowledge going up in flames. It's become a metaphor for the triumph of ignorance over learning, a cautionary tale passed down through generations.

In 15th century BCE Egypt, a remarkable woman ascended the throne and reigned for over 20 years. Defying tradition, Queen Hatshepsut (pronounced: haat·shuhp·soot) proclaimed herself Pharaoh, becoming one of few females to hold such power in ancient Egypt.

Today high heels bring impressions of female elegance and sexuality. Yet stilettos actually originated in 10th century Persia worn by male horseback warriors, not court ladies. Throughout history, uncomfortable heels denoted wealth and status across genders and cultures from chopines in Venice to lotus shoes in China.

Imagine a regular day in 1963. In the heart of Turkey, a man is renovating his home in the Nevşehir Province. Suddenly, he knocks down a wall and stumbles upon a room — a mysterious, ancient room.

The fascinating history of Rome is filled with intriguing tales and mysteries, but few are as captivating as the story of Caligula's pleasure barge. Uncovered by none other than Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, this tale combines ancient Roman debauchery, a stunning lake, and the iron-fisted rule of a 20th-century fascist leader. Join us on this adventurous journey as we explore the luxurious world of Caligula's pleasure barge and the lengths Mussolini went to uncover it.