Tag Archives: AntiquityNOW

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In Remembrance

Nelson Mandela 3

Ancient Foodie Tee, Tote and Apron Now Featured in The Bazaar

foodie apron 2For those foodies out there, AntiquityNOW has some new ways to display your appreciation of the ancients.  We are featuring in The Bazaar, our new store that we announced last week, wearables that proclaim your fondness for foods with a history.

Here are some delightful, delectable and intriguing facts that you will sport on our new wearable designs:

  • Apple pieces have been found in Stone Age dwellings in Switzerland
  • Cheesecake was given to athletes in the first Olympic games in 776 BCE in Greece
  • The origins of ice cream began 5,000 years ago in China
  • Ancient Maya used cacao beans as currency and to make chocolate
  • Emperor Nero consumed leeks to improve his singing voice Continue reading

Bon Appetit Wednesday! Imperial Roman Honey-Spiced Wine

spiced wineIn yesterday’s blog post we told you about the recent discovery of one of the oldest and largest wine cellars in the world belonging to Canaanites living in north Israel around 1700 BCE. So today we’ve decided to share an ancient wine recipe that you can make to keep in your own wine cellar.

Spiced wine dates back to ancient Egypt, circa 3150 BCE, when it was made mainly for medicinal purposes and as a necessary menu item in the afterlife. The recipe often included pine resin, figs, and herbs like balm, coriander, mint and sage.[1] Several jars of up to five different types of wine were placed in the tombs of pharaohs and other royals.[2] Continue reading

Raise a Glass to Ancient Canaanite Wine Lovers

wine toast

It’s the holiday season, which means the wine is flowing as people around the world gather to celebrate.  Whether it’s a small family dinner or the observance of an age-old religious tradition, wine has long been a staple of the holidays. Today, some people spend thousands of dollars to build elaborate wine cellars so their libations will always be at hand, but did you know that rooms dedicated to the storage of this fermented drink go back thousands of years? In fact, archaeologists digging at the ruins of a 1700 BCE Canaanite palace in northern Israel have found what may be one of civilization’s oldest and largest wine cellars. Continue reading

Bon Appetit Wednesday! Roasted Leeks and Apples: A Thanksgiving Savory and Sweet

leeksThis modern dish is a delightful savory and sweet combination that uses two popular ingredients: leeks and apples. It can be served as a side dish to any entrée.

The leek and apple have nourished people for thousands of years. Both have been cultivated across the world and enriched our mythology and literature with symbolism. Continue reading

When Holidays Collide and Facebook Rules: Hanukkah + Thanksgiving = Thanksgivukkah

ThanksgivikkahTonight’s sundown marks the start of one of the most confusing holidays to spell – Hanukkah! Or Chanukah. Or Chanukkah. But that’s not all. For the first time since 1888, and not to be repeated for 79,043 years, Hanukkah and Thanksgiving, which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday each November in the United States, occur on the same day. Some verbal wits on social media have dubbed this very rare occurrence as …drum roll…”Hanu-giving.” Others are calling it “Thanksgivukkah.” Whatever the favorite, at least it has 79,043 years to catch on. Continue reading

Calling All Teachers! Showcase Your Best Ideas With AntiquityNOW!

Author: Shirley K. Gazsi, President of AntiquityNOWconf logo

As we all know, teachers are some of the hardest working, most dedicated
professionals around.  In the last few days I saw firsthand the caliber and quality of this field at the National Council for the Social Studies conference.

St. Louis Gateway Arch

St. Louis Gateway Arch

AntiquityNOW was selected from more than 90 proposals to give a poster session on our organization and our prototype Yesterday’s Child, which is a comprehensive, culturally immersive curricular series about ancient cultures and their legacies today.  I also attended the conference to understand the prevailing issues in teaching social studies today and to gain an appreciation of how AntiquityNOW can serve as a resource to the educational community.  At our poster session and the many gatherings I attended, I discussed collaborative opportunities with teachers as well as other folks from nonprofit organizations representing a broad array of interests. Continue reading

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In Remembrance

JFK commemoration

Bon Appetit Wednesday! Ancient Greek Baklava

The holiday season is upon us and sweets are everywhere. Whether it’s cookies, cupcakes or candy, everyone enjoys indulging his or her sweet tooth. This season, celebrate the past and stand out from the crowd with a delicious ancient recipe.

Gastrin-Ancient-Version-of-BaklavaBaklava is a popular dish originally made in the former Ottoman Empire that can also be found in Central and Southwest Asia. While you may have enjoyed a slice of this sweet, rich pastry in a local Greek or Turkish restaurant, you probably haven’t tasted baklava made the ancient Greek way. This recipe is a version of baklava called gastrin, or γάστριν in Greek. It contains the mix of ingredients that distinguishes its layered flavor. Continue reading

Terrorism in the Ancient World: Part 2

In the modern age, terrorism dominates the news headlines more frequently than we would like, and yet the term and its use are often relatively employed and dependent upon the parties involved.  This is, in part, due to the fact that the term terrorism is politically and emotionally charged, “a word with intrinsically negative connotations that is generally applied to one’s enemies and opponents.”[1]  For this article, terrorism will be defined as the “political violence in an asymmetrical conflict that is designed to induce terror and psychic fear (sometimes indiscriminate) through the violent victimisation and destruction of non-combatant targets (sometimes iconic symbols).”[2] Continue reading