Category Archives: Culture

Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World

Posted on November 14, 2013 | 5 comments

*This post was originally published on October 1, 2013. Don’t miss a new article about ancient warfare coming next Tuesday, November 19th. The new post will focus on terrorism throughout antiquity. 

Soldiers drill in their gas masks during WWI.

Soldiers drill in their gas masks during WWI.

Chemical warfare has been a hot topic recently due to the ongoing crisis in Syria. This is just the latest of numerous modern-day examples when nations have implemented chemical weapons to further their own agendas. The most memorable examples are World War I, World War II and the Iran-Iraq War. Unfortunately, the use of chemical weapons dates back a lot earlier than the beginning of the 20th century–namely 10,000 BCE. Continue reading →

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Posted in Blog, Culture, Human Rights, Science and Technology, War and Violence

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Coming Soon! Bon Appetit Wednesday! You’ll Love Our “Recipes With a Past”

Posted on November 12, 2013 | Leave a comment

Ancient Roman foodIs cinnamon your secret ingredient?   Made from bark stripped from the laurel tree, it has been in the pantries, larders and spice racks of cooks from China to Rome to Sri Lanka for nearly 5,000 years.  Are you a cheesecake aficionado?  Your love carries back to the first Olympics in ancient Greece where the Olympian superstars were served a winner’s portion of the delight.

AntiquityNOW is pleased to announce Bon Appetit Wednesday!  Each Wednesday we’ll post a new “recipe with a past” that has tickled taste buds for thousands of years.   Give your weekend parties a distinctive flair with a repast that has a story to tell.  Dazzle at potluck dinners with a chocolate concoction courtesy of the Maya.  Connect to our ancient ancestors through dishes that can still nurture and satisfy today.  By the way, send us your own recipes.  We’ll research the origins and give you a shout out in our blog.  And just to remind you of how ancient tastes and ingenuity have created today’s culinary fare, here’s a list of some recipes we’ve posted about in the past!

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Posted in Blog, Bon Appetit Wednesday, Culinary, Culture

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Cultural Racketeering and Why it Matters: Robbing the World of History

Posted on November 7, 2013 | 2 comments

CAI*Below is a Huffington Post article by Deborah Lehr, Chair of the Capitol Archaeological Institute.  AntiquityNOW is an affiliate of the Institute.  The article raises critical points elucidating the nexus of cultural heritage, economic viability and criminal racketeering—issues reflecting a sad and ancient saga of looted treasures and lost inheritance.

Many of us are familiar with crimes committed by organized gangs, from drug running, the weapons trade, to the sex trade. However, there is one kind of crime, the looting and trade of antiquities that is on par with these abhorrent black market businesses, yet seldom discussed. The illegal trade in art and antiquities or cultural racketeering is one of the top five most profitable illegal global businesses. It ravages cultural icons and deprives local communities of their heritage. If we don’t take a stand, we are not just allowing these criminals to steal our common history, but also the future economic potential of these communities. Continue reading →

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Posted in Blog, Crime, Culture, Human Rights, Public Life, War and Violence

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KIDS’ BLOG! Diwali, the Festival of Lights

Posted on November 5, 2013 | 5 comments

Happy DiwaliFor five days this week, starting on Sunday, November 3, Hindus around the world will celebrate Diwali, or Deepavali, the Festival of Lights.  Diwali marks the triumph of light over darkness, of good over evil.  Lamps are lit, colored lights dance against dark skies and fireworks explode in fiery celebration.  People exchange gifts, often of gold, dress up in new clothes, prepare special dishes and sweets, and with this celebration acknowledge the gods for giving humans health, wealth, peace and prosperity. Continue reading →

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Posted in Culture, Holidays, Kids Blog, Kids: Culture, Kids: Holidays, Kids: Public Life, Kids: Religion, Religion

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Ancient Maya and the Enduring Taste of Pumpkin Soup

Posted on October 22, 2013 | 4 comments

We at AntiquityNOW love our food! Whether an ancient recipe or using ancient ingredients, these dishes continue to delight the palate and bring ancient times to life.  Here’s one example of how we at AntiquityNOW indulge.

Ancient Maya Pumpkin Soup

Mayan-pumpkin-soupStretching from the Yucatán Peninsula southward into Central America in a series of city-states (c 2500-1900 BCE to BCE-900 CE), the Maya civilization had a profound influence on civilization and its advancement.  Continue reading →

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Posted in Blog, Culinary, Culture

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Ancient History Inspires Modern Creativity for International Archaeology Day

Posted on October 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

IADLogo2013-largeThis Saturday, October 19th, is International Archaeology Day and organizations around the world will be commemorating the event.  Visit the Archaeological Institute of America’s website for information on happenings across the United States and abroad. There’s something for everyone! Continue reading →

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Posted in Art, Blog, Culture, Holidays, Public Life

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AntiquityNOW Celebrates International Day of the Girl

Posted on October 11, 2013 | Leave a comment

This year’s theme for the International Day of the Girl is “Innovating for Girls’ Education.” Today we honor women throughout history who paved the way for girls and women to become forces for change in their communities and around the globe. Each of these women, through their refusal to be marginalized, and their tenacity and curiosity, fought for their rights as human beings. They confronted many challenges during times when because of their sex they had little or no rights. Through their steadfast contributions, these women continue to be examples for girls today of how to stand strong and make a difference in their worlds.

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Posted in Blog, Culture, Education, Holidays, Human Rights, Public Life

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Turn Up the Radio and Name That Ancient Tune: Archaeological Legacy Institute to Launch 24-Hour Indigenous Music Programming

Posted on October 8, 2013 | Leave a comment

UPDATE! Originally posted on August 6, 2013, today we are republishing our post about Indiji Radio, a new indigenous music program by AntiquityNOW’s partner the Archaeological Legacy Institute.  This month ALI is raising funding through a 30-day Kickstarter campaign (ends on October 24, 2013), so we thought we would delve once more into the mystery and beauty of ancient sound with ALI’s President Rick Pettigrew.

IndijiRadioLogoMusic has had a special place in the human experience.  It has defined many a people and given shape to cultures throughout time.  However, unlike ancient paintings and artifacts, music is evanescent, its notes sometimes captured in memory and ritual, but all too often lost in the recesses of time. Continue reading →

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Posted in Blog, Culture, Music

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Fall Fashion Update…From the First Millennium CE

Posted on September 19, 2013 | Leave a comment

As we pull our winter clothes out of storage and prepare for dropping temperatures, melting snow in Norway has given us a window into the cold weather fashions of the ancient past.  Interestingly, those fashions aren’t that different from our own.  Most of us have a favorite sweater we cuddle up in when it gets cold outside; maybe our ancient ancestors did the same thing. Continue reading →

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Posted in Blog, Culture, Fashion

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News From Girl Be Heard, AntiquityNOW Partner for AntiquityNOW Month 2014

Posted on September 17, 2013 | Leave a comment

AN Month 2
GBHGirl Be Heard’s Co-Founder and Executive Director Jessica Greer Morris is a recipient of SELF Magazine’s 2013 Women Doing Good Award, which will also recognize Shakira, Padma Lakshmi and Scandal‘s Katie Lowes at an event in New York City hosted by Today’s Hoda Kotb. Read the full press release here. Continue reading →

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