We Love Ancient World

We Love Ancient World Ancient history as a term refers to the aggregate of past events from the beginning of writing and
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Made over 2400 years old, this colossal bull head is attributed to the Achaemenid Empire of ancient Persia and is from P...
08/27/2025

Made over 2400 years old, this colossal bull head is attributed to the Achaemenid Empire of ancient Persia and is from Persepolis, Iran. Carved from limestone, it features the smooth face, sharp-edged eyelids, and tightly curled hair characteristic of the Achaemenid court style. The head, one of a pair that once flanked the entrance of the Hundred-Column Hall, was discovered in 1932–33 by archaeologists of the Oriental Institute under Ernst Herzfeld. Missing elements such as the ears and horns, perhaps originally gilded, had been carved separately. The head weighs approximately 10 tons.
This artifact is now housed at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It was transported from Persepolis in fragments and restored by Donato Bastiani under the supervision of John A. Wilson. The companion bull head remains at Persepolis, restored atop its body at the hall’s entrance.
Special thanks: The University of Chicago Oriental Institute
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Archaeologists in southern Italy just unearthed a massive Iron Age necropolis while performing excavations ahead of the ...
08/27/2025

Archaeologists in southern Italy just unearthed a massive Iron Age necropolis while performing excavations ahead of the construction of a power plant. The burial site, which dates to the 7th or 8th century B.C.E., is about the size of a city block and holds 88 tombs of high-status individuals. Most of the male remains had weapons at their feet, while the women were buried with bronze jewelry and other ornaments. What's more, two large mounds surrounded by stone circles indicate that elite members of the Pit Tomb Culture, such as the ruling chieftains, were laid to rest at the site as well.

The discovery of the 2,200-year-old Tomb of the First Emperor of China in 1974 revealed a vast complex containing life-s...
08/27/2025

The discovery of the 2,200-year-old Tomb of the First Emperor of China in 1974 revealed a vast complex containing life-sized terracotta warriors and other intricate artifacts.

The First Emperor, known for unifying China, constructed this monumental tomb complex to reflect his power and vision. The tomb contained replicas of palaces, scenic towers, and even rivers of mercury. It also housed a massive terracotta army, showcasing the Emperor’s military dominance.

The Barabar Vishwakarma Cave in India is one of the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in the world. This ancient, precisio...
08/26/2025

The Barabar Vishwakarma Cave in India is one of the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in the world. This ancient, precision-cut structure dates back over 2,000 years.

This image shows a long barrow, an ancient type of burial mound constructed during the Neolithic period, around 3500–280...
08/26/2025

This image shows a long barrow, an ancient type of burial mound constructed during the Neolithic period, around 3500–2800 BCE, in Northern and Western Europe. These megalithic tombs were built by early farming communities as communal burial sites and places of ritual significance. The example in the photograph is preserved in a forested area of Northern Germany, part of the region’s extensive megalithic culture that stretched across Scandinavia and the Low Countries. Long barrows often contained chambers made from large stones, later covered by earth to create the elongated mound.

The upper photo captures the mound today, covered in grass and framed by large supporting stones at its edges, with people standing nearby for scale. The lower drawing offers a reconstruction of how such a structure might have been built: groups of workers hauling stones, shaping earth, and forming the chambered tomb at its core. These monuments reflect not only early engineering skills but also the spiritual worldview of Neolithic societies, where honoring the dead and connecting with ancestors was a central part of communal life.

Etched on the rugged slopes of Van Castle in eastern Turkey lies an ancient inscription, a monumental relic that spans a...
08/25/2025

Etched on the rugged slopes of Van Castle in eastern Turkey lies an ancient inscription, a monumental relic that spans approximately 49 feet wide and rises to a towering height of 82 feet (equivalent to roughly 15 meters wide and 25 meters high). Dating back to the reign of King Xerxes I of Persia, circa 516-465 BC, this inscription serves as a captivating window into the ambitions and achievements of a bygone era.
Crafted in Old Persian, Elamite, and Akkadian languages, the inscription tells the tale of King Xerxes' grand vision: the construction of an extensive canal system aimed at boosting agriculture and enhancing regional connectivity. This historical artifact not only illuminates the technological prowess of the Persian Empire but also offers invaluable insights into the socio-political landscape of ancient Mesopotamia.

The carved emerald....Emerald cameo carved in high relief depicting a female bust, set within a rose-cut diamond and gol...
08/25/2025

The carved emerald....
Emerald cameo carved in high relief depicting a female bust, set within a rose-cut diamond and gold ring with detachable pendant hoop. Formerly owned by la Princesse Lobanoff de Rostoff, née Princesse Dolgorouky, until early 1919. Collection: Christie's.⁣

A very well-preserved 3000-year-old sword was found inside a grave in the town of Nördlingen, Bavaria, Germany. It is re...
08/25/2025

A very well-preserved 3000-year-old sword was found inside a grave in the town of Nördlingen, Bavaria, Germany. It is reported that this 3000-year-old sword is in such good condition and extremely rare to be found in this location, except for a few scratches. Mathias Pfeil, Head of the Department of Monuments Protection of Bavaria State, speaking about the subject, The sword and the tomb still need to be examined in order for our archaeologists to be able to classify this relic more accurately. However, this can already be said that this is an extraordinary situation. Such a finding is very rare, he explained.

One of the largest Roman mosaic floors ever discovered was unearthed during the construction of a hotel in Antakya, Turk...
08/25/2025

One of the largest Roman mosaic floors ever discovered was unearthed during the construction of a hotel in Antakya, Turkey. This massive mosaic, dating back to the Roman period, features intricate designs and colorful patterns.

What’s most striking about the find is the unusual rippled effect across its surface, caused by centuries of earth shifting and earthquakes in the region. The result is an impressive, almost wave-like appearance, as if the mosaic were a giant, rippling blanket.

Despite this natural warping, the mosaic has remained remarkably intact, providing a glimpse into ancient Roman artistry and the impact of geological forces over time.

A remarkable Neolithic megalithic structure, dating back 9,000 years, has been uncovered near Haifa, Israel, close to th...
08/24/2025

A remarkable Neolithic megalithic structure, dating back 9,000 years, has been uncovered near Haifa, Israel, close to the Mediterranean coast. This ancient stone circle has been preserved in exceptional condition by the sandy seabed. The stones, carefully arranged in a circular formation, reflect the craftsmanship and cultural significance of the era. Discovered underwater, this site offers a rare glimpse into the prehistoric world, shedding light on rituals and community gatherings from a bygone age. The Israel Antiquities Authority has documented the find, sharing a detailed photograph of the structure after excavation, accompanied by expert insights. This discovery enriches our understanding of early human societies in the region...


The Masuda Iwafune is a large, mysterious stone structure located in Asuka, Japan. This megalithic monument, also known ...
08/24/2025

The Masuda Iwafune is a large, mysterious stone structure located in Asuka, Japan. This megalithic monument, also known as the “Masuda Rock Ship,” is carved from a single piece of granite and is notable for its unusual shape, which resembles a boat or ship.
The stone measures approximately 11 meters in length, 8 meters in width, and 4.7 meters in height, weighing an estimated 800 tons. Despite extensive study, the exact date of its construction, purpose, and the methods used to carve the stone are still unknown.

Lioness attacking a man amidst a thicket of stylized lotus and papyrus. Phoenician, 900-700 BC. Materials: lapis lazuli,...
08/24/2025

Lioness attacking a man amidst a thicket of stylized lotus and papyrus. Phoenician, 900-700 BC. Materials: lapis lazuli, ivory, gold, carnelian. From the collection of the British Museum.

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