This May is AntiquityNOW Month – a time to celebrate how the ancient past influences us today. When we look closely, we see antiquity in our monuments and architecture, in the food we eat and wine we drink, in our medicine and beauty care, and in our politics. How does antiquity intersect with your daily life? Let us know where you see antiquity by using #ISeeAntiquity on Twitter and Instagram!
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Posted in AntiquityNOW News
May is AntiquityNOW Month. Throughout the next four weeks we will bring you stories about the surprising ways that antiquity lives today. And to get in the mood, here’s a take on the beer-swilling antecedents that have united us through the millennia. (Click here for suggestions for teachers and everyone else on ways to celebrate AntiquityNOW Month.)
Cheers! National Homebrew Day in the United States is this Saturday, but before you sip, take a good look at that golden liquid and know that if it weren’t for women, the bubbly elixir would likely be nothing but a musty pile of grain. The beer industry today is dominated by men. Women account for only 10 percent of professional brewers, and represent just a sliver of all homebrewers.[1] But ancient history reveals that, as far back as 4,000 years ago (and probably further), brewing was done primarily by women. Continue reading
Small, green and oddly shaped, it is often called “slimy” by those who don’t appreciate its hidden virtues. But this is a vegetable that has staying power. Indeed, the okra has persevered for centuries, adapting to new recipes and new cultures, crossing oceans, filling the bellies of the hungry and even hydrating the skin. Today we bring you a hearty recipe for okra soup developed over the years by borrowing from the cultures that know and love this die-hard bit of nourishment. First, let’s take a look back to see how the okra began its journey. Continue reading
What do you do when you realize that there are children who never heard of archaeology? Children who have never seen an archaeologist or know why archaeology even exists? If you are Dr. Alexandra Jones, you create an organization that reaches into those communities to show young people what this amazing field of discovery is all about. Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Culture, Education, Public Life
Tagged ancient history, AntiquityNOW, archaeology, Archaeology in the Community, Dr. Alexandra Jones, education
May is soon upon us, and that means it’s AntiquityNOW Month, a time to commemorate the legacies of our ancestors and acknowledge that the past is not as distant as we think. From supercomputers to nanotechnology to marvels of engineering, our modern society is beholden to the ingenuity of ancient peoples. Interested in seeing some fun things you can do with students, family and friends? Check out some of the ideas below. Also see our partners who are joining in the festivities. Continue reading
Marble terminal bust of Homer. Roman copy of a lost Hellenistic original of the 2nd c. BC. From Baiae, Italy. In the British Museum.
Throughout time, poetry has been one of the most evocative of art forms. From ritual chanting and epic histories to love sonnets and modern free verse, poetry has represented the essence of what it is to be human. Since April is National Poetry Month in the United States, let’s take a look at the origins of this artistic device. As well, we’ll observe a unique poetry tradition recast with a 21st century perspective. We’ll see how poetry is giving voice to women in Afghanistan, who as with early cultures that forged their identities in verse, are tapping the extraordinary power of poetry to create their own sense of “self.” Continue reading
Posted in Anatomy and Physiology, Blog, Communications, Culture, Human Rights, Literature, Music, Public Life, Religion
Tagged Aeneid, Afghanistan, ancient history, AntiquityNOW, Aristotle, Epic of Gilgamesh, Iliad, landay, Mahabharata, Odyssey, Poetics, poetry, Ramayana, veda, Virgil
Tiny, red and packed with flavor, this delectable little fruit has deep historical roots. Heart-shaped and fragrant, the strawberry has inspired poets, writers, painters and chefs with its plump perfection. William Allen Butler said it best, “Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did.”[1] Today we’re sharing a unique strawberry soup recipe with you. But first, let’s explore this ruby berry’s origins. Continue reading
What is this connection with the earth that we humans cling to so tenaciously? As a species we obviously are dependent on the air to breathe, the water and soil that nurture us, the sun whose fiery presence holds us in its eternal circle. But the earth is more than the elements that give us life. The earth holds millions of memories in the folds of its mountains, across the tapestry of its lands and in the rhythmic singing of its seas. For we as humans attach ourselves to this earth, not just for nurturance, but by the profound evocations of time, memory and place. Continue reading
Image courtesy of Toelstede (Wikipedia-Name Nyks).
Easter is one of the holiest of holidays for Christians. And with Easter’s roots in antiquity, we can see why the symbolism of this holiday continues to give succor and hope to believers today. But Easter is also a holiday that resonates for secular audiences. You just have to know your market.
Easter derives its name from Eostre, an Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring. As happened with many pagan holidays, early Christians saw an opportunity. Around the second century CE they began absorbing Eostre’s meaning into their own story of Christ’s death and resurrection. It was the holiday that spoke to the core of the human experience: that death was merely transitory and that life—whether in this world or the next–prevailed. So the most heralded and cherished concept of the Christian faith became entwined with Eostre, which itself commemorated life triumphing over death. By correlating the stories over time, the fledgling Christian church not only gained a popular holiday, but also converts. Forget today’s marketing calibrations for brand loyalty, return on investment and predictive validity. This early social marketing by enterprising Christians is a case study of excellence in branding. What better than a holiday celebrating life over death? What smarter business plan than capitalizing on the success and market share held by your competitor, in this case, Eostre celebrants? Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Culture, Holidays, Public Life, Recreation, Religion
Tagged ancient history, AntiquityNOW, Christianity, Easter, Easter bunny, Easter eggs, Eostre, Faberge eggs
Monday night, April 14th, was the first night of Passover, the eight-day festival celebrated by Jews around the world to commemorate the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. The start of the holiday always corresponds to the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nissan. Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Bon Appetit Wednesday, Culinary, Culture, Public Life, Religion
Tagged ancient history, ancient recipes, AntiquityNOW, Bon Appetit Wednesday, borscht, Egypt, Israelites, matzah, Nissan, Passover, Seder
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