Editor's Choice
-
How to be happy? Live like the ancient Greeks
Should we all live like Stoics? Thinkers like Marcus Aurelius believed that the key to happiness lies in disciplining yourself to handle the best and worst of life with a balanced mind.
-
How ancient Troy reveals very modern wisdom
What can we learn from the fall of Troy? A new BBC series recounts the epic legend of war and revenge. The tale may be ancient, but some see clear parallels with our own volatile world.
Latest Stories
-
Study finds signs that civilisation is ending
After analysing the lifespans of nearly 100 historic empires and their cultures, a Cambridge academic finds common warning signs of impending collapse. Alarmingly, many are evident today.
-
How to be happy? Live like the ancient Greeks
Should we all live like Stoics? Thinkers like Marcus Aurelius believed that the key to happiness lies in disciplining yourself to handle the best and worst of life with a balanced mind.
-
Ancient hashtag hailed world’s oldest drawing
Were ancient humans really just like us? Archaeologists have discovered a 73,000-year-old drawing in South Africa — evidence that early humans were more sophisticated than once thought.
-
The modern twists on an ancient sun festival
Should we all celebrate the summer solstice? Pagans descended on Stonehenge this morning to celebrate the longest day of the year. Some think we all could benefit from a little sun worship.
-
Laurel, Yanny and 2,000 years of philosophy
Is there such a thing as reality? The internet erupted in an ear-splitting debate this week — all thanks to a mysterious recording. Science has since cracked the case, but deeper riddles remain.
-
How ancient Troy reveals very modern wisdom
What can we learn from the fall of Troy? A new BBC series recounts the epic legend of war and revenge. The tale may be ancient, but some see clear parallels with our own volatile world.
-
Britannia verdict: rubbish history, great TV
Should historical TV shows be accurate? The author of Britannia, which millions will start watching this weekend, says the facts do not matter and he hopes it will enrage...
-
The woman making The Odyssey feel new again
Is translation an art or a science? This week, Emily Wilson publishes a new version of Homer’s Odyssey, the first by a woman. But translation is “complicated”, as her...
-
Grouchy Greeks and the birth of TripAdvisor
Opinionated graffiti left on Egyptian tombs by Ancient Greek and Roman tourists has been likened to modern-day TripAdvisor reviews. Have we always been a species of grumblers and moaners?
-
Unique ancient wonder at IS militants’ mercy
Islamist militants have seized one of the Middle East’s most prized cultural sites amid Syria’s civil war. How concerned should we be at the desecration of relics from millennia ago?
-
Jewels of ancient Iraq bulldozed by fanatics
The IS frenzy of destruction has claimed three remarkable ancient cities in Iraq, considered to be treasures of global heritage. Why are tyrannies so hostile to art and history?
-
Archaeologists unearth mysterious jungle city
Discovered deep in the rainforest of Central America: a ‘lost city’ abandoned by a mysterious civilisation. Should people be kept away from the site to protect its uniqueness?
-
Gerbils caused Black Death, historians say
Millions of Europeans were killed by the plague, and history textbooks have long blamed rats. But new research suggests that gerbils were to blame. Can we ever be sure of historical facts?
-
Stage star labels theatre a ‘white invention’
A row over diversity in British drama has escalated after renowned actor Janet Suzman claimed theatre is in the ‘DNA’ of white people. Does the stage need to do more to diversify?
-
Pompeii in peril as ancient walls collapse
The Italian prime minister has called an emergency meeting this week to address Pompeii’s precarious fate. Who should be in charge of saving this archaeological treasure?