Latest news with #AncientOrigins
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Yahoo
Archaeolgists Find Roman Soldier's Purse with 'Logistical Cash'
In South Moravia, Czechia, archaeologists have found a bronze fragment from a Roman wrist purse which dates back 1,800 years, Ancient Origins reported. The item was first discovered back in January at Hradisko Hill, a famous archaeological site which the 10th Roman Legion called home while fighting the Marcomannic Wars (172-180 A.D.). Scientists were able to identify the item as a wrist purse carried by Roman soldiers to hold coins for 'logistical cash' they may have needed while on the battlefield. The purses had the added effect of keeping soldiers' hands free to hold weapons and engage in combat. Scientists believe that the purse held roughly 50 denarii, which at that time was slightly less than a year's wage for a Roman soldier. A cache of silver denarii, which contained images of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180 A.D.), located near the purse allowed researchers to date the item. 'Most of the coins found at the site and in the surrounding area date back to the reign of Marcus Aurelius," archaeologist Tomáš Antoš explained. "They typically feature either the emperor himself or his wife, Faustina.' Scientists hail the purse as an especially notable artifact because it was unearthed just outside of the Roman Empire's formal borders, which at the time of the purse's burial would have been considered enemy territory. Similar purses have been found throughout Britain and Danube, but this is the first of its kind to be discovered in modern-day Czechia. The wrist purse is currently on display to the public at Pasohlávky's Mušov Visitor Centre, where it's part of the permanent exhibition 'Gateway to the Roman Empire.'Archaeolgists Find Roman Soldier's Purse with 'Logistical Cash' first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 5, 2025
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Construction Workers Discover Medieval Weapon in River
A 1,000-year-old medieval weapon was unearthed by unknowing construction workers, Ancient Origins reported. Workers dredging the Korte Linschoten River in Utrecht, Netherlands, discovered a medieval sword, dubbed the 'Sword of Linschoten,' which measured roughly 3.2 feet long and bore features synonymous with 11th and 12th century weapons. Archaeologists believe the sword "was forged between approximately 1050 and 1150 [A.D.],' likely in the city of Montfoort. They say it was 'exceptionally well' preserved thanks to the oxygen-poor clay in which it was interred. "This isn't just a weapon, it's a message in iron, preserved by the earth for nearly a millennium," a spokesperson for Montfoort said. Researchers posit that the sword was intentionally left in the river as a ceremonial offering, as it showed no signs of being used or stored in a scabbard. It could have been part of a ceremony to honor a deceased soldier from the community. This was a common ritual during medieval times, as swords were then seen as a symbolic spiritual gesture as much as a show of strength. Following 10 weeks of painstaking restoration to ensure the weapon's preservation after exposure to air, the sword was put on display for the public. It will remain part of the Acquisitions showcase at the Museum of Antiquities in Leiden until August. "Its refined craftsmanship and symbolic depth make it not only a historical relic, but also a work of art that reflects the cultural complexity of early medieval Europe," a Montfoort spokesperson said. Related: Archaeologists Find Grisly Evidence of Medieval Public Punishment Construction Workers Discover Medieval Weapon in River first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 18, 2025
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
'Mentally Ill' Tourist Breached Museum, Damaged Ancient Relics
A local tourist apparently suffering from a 'mental illness' caused chaos and destruction at the Terracotta Army Museum in X'ian, China, damaging several ancient statues of a Chinese ruler, Ancient Origins Terracotta Army statues were commissioned by emperor Qin Shi around 210 B.C. so that he could take with him an army to the afterlife. The army is composed of about 8,000 individual warriors, horses, chariots, entertainers, and officials, each of them designed with specific facial features and hand-painted in a variety of colors. Several statues were even provided with bronze weapons, an indication that their presence was not just ceremonial and that they would be doing battle for their emperor in the suspect, a 30-year-old man identified only as Sun, was reportedly visiting the museum when he scaled a fence and protective net, dropping into an 18-foot trench known as Pit No. 3 which contained two statues of Terracotta warriors. He apparently smashed several statues before security officials intervened and placed the suspect under arrest. Video taken of the aftermath shows the statues shattered on the later said they believe Sun suffers from a 'mental illness,' adding that the matter is still under investigation. At this time, the museum is still open to the public, though the affected statues have been removed. However, the incident has raised questions regarding the Terracotta Army Museum's safety protocols. Museum officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Men's Journal.'Mentally Ill' Tourist Breached Museum, Damaged Ancient Relics first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 9, 2025
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Find Grisly Evidence of Medieval Public Punishment
Archaeologists in England have uncovered gruesome evidence of a Medieval-era public punishment which occurred along the River Thames more than 1,200 years ago, according to a new study (via Ancient Origins). Researchers conducted a full bioarchaeological analysis on the remains of a woman, known as UPT90 sk 1278, who had been beaten to death and was originally unearthed in 1991. "The burial treatment of UPT90 sk 1278 lets us know that her body was meant to be visible on the landscape, which could be interpreted as a warning to witnesses," said the study's lead author, Madeline Mant. "We can tell from the osteobiography that she was executed, but the specific offense is impossible to know for certain.'Mant and her team found that, as opposed to traditional burials of the time, the woman's body was not buried but left out in the open to decompose, likely as a warning to other residents of the community. Her body was placed in an area between the river and the shore, which would ensure her corpse would be alternately revealed and hidden by the tides. This was a location frequently chosen for those found to be 'socially deviant.' She had been placed between two sheets of bark on top of a reed mat with pads of moss affixed to areas on her face, which Mant believed to be symbolic gestures from her analysis revealed the woman, aged between 28 and 40 at the time of her death, had suffered 'dietary distress' at some point in her life, which the researchers believe to be related to childhood starvation or a drastic shift in diet. There were also signs that she had suffered as many as 50 'traumatic' injuries during two instances of violence which preceded her death, leaving her with blunt-force injuries to the torso and skull as well as a bilateral scapular fracture, which is often seen in car accident victims. Mant believes the woman endured a particularly grisly death because rules surrounding crime and punishment were extremely nebulous during this period. "As time passed, more crimes were associated with the death penalty,' she explained. 'This was a time of legal evolution."Archaeologists Find Grisly Evidence of Medieval Public Punishment first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 7, 2025
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
This poisonous plant gives an evil grin to the dead, here's how
Some expressions, like 'butterflies in the stomach' or 'cold feet,' have curious origins based upon human experience. But others carry with them a far more chilling past. And one among these is the term 'sardonic grin,' for example, one might conjure up images of comic book villains or horror movie killers, but its history is no laughing matter. In fact, this unsettling expression stretches back thousands of years to the ancient Mediterranean world, with connections not just to language, but to death, poison, and even ritual mercy killings. The word comes as a combinational idiom and a facial expression tied deeply to actual, historical suffering. The term has been preserved for millennia, not because it was pleasant or poetic, but because it was so disturbingly memorable. This has now turned into a metaphor for evil smiles and scary laughter. In fact, the sardonic grin was once the final expression worn by victims of deadly rituals. What is the 'sardonic grin' ? The origins of the 'sardonic grin' trace back to ancient Sardinia, where a deadly plant known as water-dropwort, a form of hemlock, was commonly found. This toxic herb caused paralysis and a twisted, involuntary smile, and this effect was so unsettling that it eventually gave rise to the term 'sardonic,' derived from the island's name. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn How To Write Faster for Work (Find Out Now) Grammarly Learn More Undo As noted by modern botanist Mauro Ballero and referenced in historical texts by Plato, the herb's effects were well known in the ancient world. The poisonous dropwort caused victims' muscles to contract tightly, resulting in an unnatural grin and full-body immobility. Assassins often exploited this effect, 'One drop of the poisonous hemlock water-dropwort was enough to completely incapacitate the target,' notes the article from Ancient Origins. 'The victim's muscles would grow taut… the face would remain like that.' This plant was also used for mercy killings But this herb wasn't used only for targeted killings. The Phoenicians of Sardinia reportedly used it during forced 'mercy killings' of the elderly. According to ancient records, there were times when the elderly were unknowingly poisoned and then killed through more direct, often brutal methods. The poison left a frozen, eerie grin on their faces, a grim expression that may have been misread as peace or even approval. As uneasy as it sounds, this expression likely gave 'the illusion of gratitude to the euthanizers,' hiding what may have been anything but a willing farewell. There's no definitive evidence on how willingly the elders accepted their fate. Some scholars believe younger generations used the practice to gain land or inheritance, adding another layer of moral complexity. Beyond Sardinia, hemlock was also used in Greece for executions, most famously in the case of philosopher Socrates. In his case, the poison alone proved fatal. Today, the sardonic grin is more commonly linked to certain medical conditions like tetanus or strychnine poisoning. Yet its legacy lingers in literature and conversation, describing a smile that's more grimace than joy, as forced, eerie, and ultimately rooted in a very real and ancient form of death.
