Ancient History Encyclopedia

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Les Très Riches Heures
Definition

Illuminated Manuscripts

Illuminated manuscripts were hand-made books, usually on Christian scripture or practice, produced in Western Europe between c. 500-c. 1600 CE. They...
Featured Image
Dragon-turtle Celadon
Image

Dragon-turtle Celadon

A celadon (greenware) ceramic kettle in the form of a mythical dragon-turtle creature. Goryeo dynasty, 918-1392 CE, Korea. (National Museum of Korea...

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Norse-Viking Meal
Article

Norse-Viking Diet

In many depictions of Vikings, whether in film or other media, a group is often seen gathered around a flaming pit while an animal of some type &ndash...
Scota and Goidel Glas (Illustration)
Definition

Scotichronicon

The Scotichronicon is a 15th Century CE legendary chronicle by Walter Bower (c. 1385 – 1449 CE) which recounts the history of Scotland and the...
Dog Mosaic
Article

Dogs in the Ancient World

Dogs have been a part of the history of human beings since before the written word. The ancient temple of Gobekli-Tepe in Turkey, dated...
Thesmophoriazusae, Red-Figure Krater
Definition

Thesmophoriazusae

The Thesmophoriazusae (also called The Poet & the Women or Women at the Thesmophoria) is a two-act comedy play written in 411 BCE by the...
Coronation of Harold Godwinson
Definition

Harold Godwinson

Harold Godwinson (also spelt Godwineson) reigned briefly as King Harold II of England from January to October 1066 CE, the momentous year which witnessed...
Battle of Hastings, Bayeux Tapestry
Definition

Battle of Hastings

The Battle of Hastings in south-east England on 14 October 1066 CE saw the defeat of the Anglo-Saxon king Harold II (r. Jan-Oct 1066 CE) by the invading...
Gulet Anchored at Lycian Coast
Article

Travelling Along the Lycian Way

The Lycian Way follows over 540km (335 miles) of ancient roadways, mule tracks and shepherds’ paths along one of Turkey’s most remote and...
The Last Days of the Incas
Article

Interview: The Last Days of the Incas (Kim MacQuarrie)

How did a mere 167 Spaniards conquer an empire of 10 million people? The Spanish were outnumbered 200-to-1 yet they were able to seize the Inca capital...

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