It’s a strange world of 3D cubes that comprise environments both hauntingly beautiful and brutally harsh. Rivers flow through peaceful meadows, deserts and jungles teem with hidden dangers and mountains loom in awe-inspiring splendor. For the high school students in Peter Albert’s class at The Hun School, a private academy in Princeton, NJ, Minecraft is a fantasy computer game with considerably high stakes and a provocative underlying premise. In this 3D virtual habitat, students confront a primal question: Do you have what it takes to survive? Continue reading
Tag Archives: AntiquityNOW
It’s a 3D Life: Using Minecraft to Recreate Antiquity
Happy Valentine’s Day! The Power of Love (Pssst—It’s All in the Eyes and Nose)
Red roses are synonymous with love, and have been for centuries. But there’s an interesting story behind the tales of starry-eyed lovers and their proclamations of everlasting romance. The red rose it seems, has as much to do with our eyes and nose as it has to do with affairs of the heart.
First, let’s take a look at the flower that started it all: the beauteous and aromatic rose. Roses can be traced back 35 million years according to fossil evidence. Roses were growing wild in many places as diverse as Persia and in what is now Colorado in the United States. As early as the 11th century BCE the Chinese were cultivating flowers of all sorts. In fact, China has incredible biodiversity and boasts 93 species and 144 varieties of roses that are native to its habitats.[1] China became the dominant breeder and purveyor of roses until around 300 years ago, when Europe took the lead in cultivation and breeding.[2] Continue reading
Posted in Anatomy and Physiology, Beauty, Biology, Blog, Culture, Holidays, Public Life, Recreation, Science and Technology
Tagged ancient history, AntiquityNOW, china, Isis, limbic system, Napoleon, red rose, romance, valentine's day
Bon Appetit Wednesday! Celebrate an Olympic-Sized Love with Ancient Cheesecake
It’s that time of year again. Love is in the air as candied hearts and boxes of chocolates pack the shelves. This year Valentine’s Day falls in the middle of the Winter Olympics. Maybe you and your sweetheart are looking to celebrate love as you continue to cheer on the international athletes. We have the perfect dessert for you! Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Bon Appetit Wednesday, Culinary, Culture, Public Life, Sports
Tagged ancient history, ancient recipes, AntiquityNOW, Bon Appetit Wednesday, cheesecake, Greece, Olympics, Rome, valentine's day
KIDS’ BLOG! Ancient Origins of the XXII Winter Olympics
When the Greeks gathered in Olympia for the first Olympic Games in 776 BBC, I’m sure they never imagined that one day, far in the future, the Games would be held high in snow covered mountains or on playing fields made of ice. How could they know that their foot races would turn into races on blades (speed skating) and chariot races would become daring flights around a track made of pure ice (bobsled)? In 1924, the first Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France featuring cold-weather sports. Today we celebrate these Winter Games every four years. Did you know that just like the Olympic Games themselves, many of the winter sports have ancient and historical origins? Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Holidays, Kids Blog, Kids: Holidays, Kids: Public Life, Kids: Recreation, Kids: Sports, Public Life, Recreation, Sports
Tagged ancient history, AntiquityNOW, curling, Egypt, Ethiopia, ganna, Greece, ice hockey, ice skating, luge, Mesoamerica, Norway, Olympia, Olympics, Russia, skiing, Sweden, winter sports
The Egyptian Uprising and the Future of Antiquity: An Interview with Zahi Hawass
For years Zahi Hawass was a superstar among Egyptologists and one would say, archaeologists in general. Even those who weren’t archaeologists or in related fields were familiar with him. Not only did he have his own program on the History Channel, he appeared frequently on shows on the Discovery and National Geographic channels. He was an author and a passionate advocate for cultural preservation. Held in favor by the Egyptian government—even appointed as the Minister of Antiquities in 2011 by President Hosni Mubarak—he was lauded for raising Egypt’s profile in the world. However, fortune and politics can be lethal twins. After the toppling of the Mubarak government, Hawass became a persona non grata in his own country. He lost his TV show, was arrested by the Egyptian government (and later released) and was heaved unceremoniously out of his office and the spotlight. And with the ongoing unrest in Egypt, he has much to ponder as to the future of his country and the fate of Egyptian heritage. Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Celebrities, Crime, Culture, Education, Human Rights, Politics, Public Life, War and Violence
Tagged ancient history, antiquities, AntiquityNOW, archaeology, cultural preservation, Egypt, Egyptology, Hosni Mubarak, interview, looting, Zahi Hawass
Bon Appetit Wednesday! Butternut Squash Soup With Maple Roasted Chickpeas
As the polar vortex spins and the Arctic blasts march on, much of the world is looking for a warm pair of slippers and a nice hot meal to fight chill. This easy slow-cooker soup is the dish to satisfy and it just happens to be a beautiful pairing of old and new. Chickpeas, an ancient ingredient, provide a perfect garnish for the butternut squash which is said to have originated in the 1940s. Continue reading
Super Bowl 2014 and Aztec Chocolate Caramel Popcorn—Sweet Victory All Around
Image courtesy of marsmet522.
Bon Appetit Wednesday! on January 22 showcased this recipe—strategically posted between National Popcorn Day and the National Football League’s Super Bowl XLVIII in the United States—and described the relationship between the Aztecs, popcorn and chocolate. In honor of the Super Bowl being played today, we are re-posting the recipe for the football parties being held far and wide. But so you know, fans of the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks may want to take a page from Aztec sporting history as kickoff approaches. Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Culinary, Culture, Holidays, Public Life, Recreation, Sports
Tagged American football, ancient history, AntiquityNOW, Aztec, Mesoamerica, Olmec, sports, Superbowl, ullamaliztli
Happy Year of the Horse!
Today is the first day of the Year of the Horse (in China’s time zone) and the students at the Chinese American International School in San Francisco are celebrating by using their talents to create beautiful depictions of horses. Scroll down to view a slideshow of the artwork that leapt out of their imaginations and trotted into the New Year. Continue reading
Posted in Art, Blog, Culture, Holidays, Kids: Holidays, Kids: Public Life, Public Life
Tagged ancient history, AntiquityNOW, Chinese New Year, Chinese zodiac, Year of the Horse
Students Celebrate Chinese New Year with Dragons and Dance
See Below for Live Streaming
Chinese New Year is an exciting time of celebration, honoring the past and looking forward to the future. One school in San Francisco is celebrating this year—the Year of the Horse—with art and song and dance. AntiquityNOW invited the Chinese American International School (CAIS) to share the festivities with us and let us showcase the remarkable student artists in their midst. One project involved having the students from different grades work together to create their own dragon mural in honor of the New Year. The scales on this elaborate creature were made by the kindergarten and first grade classes and the head was painted by the second grade gold class. As you can see, their dragon is colorful, imaginative and full of historical symbolism—a splendidly sinuous being that reminds everyone of the ancient heritage that still resonates today. Continue reading
Bon Appetit Wednesday! Pork Dumplings for the Year of the Horse
Image courtesy of FamilyFun magazine.
Chinese New Year is right around the corner and we thought we’d serve up a dish full of ancient symbolism. This recipe for pork dumplings is a perfect way to start the New Year with a savory fare that’s been enjoyed for thousands of years. Continue reading
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