Did Commodus’s Reign End Rome’s Golden Age?

Few figures capture the imagination quite like Arminius, the Germanic Roman who orchestrated one of the most staggering defeats Rome ever faced. Of course, when people think of Arminius, they think of his monumental victory in the Teutoburg Forest, where he annihilated three Roman legions. But his story goes much deeper than this, he learned …

The Battle of the Eclipse was fought on May 28, 585 BC, by the banks of the Halys River in what is now Turkey, between the Medes and the Lydians. As legend has it, the battle, marking the end of a five-year war, was halted by nothing less than a total solar eclipse, interpreted as …

Imagine the heart of ancient Rome, pulsating with the cheers of thousands as the Colosseum transforms into a vast aquatic arena. This wasn’t just any spectacle; it was the stage for one of the most astonishing displays of naval warfare the world had ever seen. These staged ship battles, known as naumachiae, were not only …

The mystifying disappearance of Rome’s Ninth Legion has intrigued historians for ages. Was the loss of the ninth in a devastating ambush the catalyst for the creation of the England-Scotland border? One of Roman Britain’s most compelling narratives involves the enigmatic fate of the Ninth Legion. It’s theorized that while marching north through Caledonia’s dense …

The Orkney Isles don’t seem ideal for ancient people to settle and, indeed, flourish. The islands are often inhospitable now—even with modern technology and buildings—never mind 5,000 years ago. But settle they did, and we only know about this due to the very inhospitable nature of the islands. A bad storm in the winter of …

Women across history sought methods to control pregnancy. Despite the limited scientific knowledge, they ingeniously discovered and applied various practices to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Ancient records and manuscripts reveal a fascinating array of birth control methods, from herbal concoctions to physical barriers. Among these, Silphium, a plant from the hills near Cyrene, Libya, stands out …

There are many mysteries surrounding Alexander the Great’s untimely death, but this might be the biggest of all – he wasn’t dead when they buried him but was instead suffering from a rare disease completely unknown to ancient medicine. Where Does This Come From? So you have heard the theory, but where does this come …

Yes, you read that right. Honey. But not just any honey—this was “mad honey,” a type of honey that’s far from the sweet treat we’re used to. As the Romans marched, hungry and weary, the discovery of wild honey seemed like a stroke of luck. Little did they know, their sweet find was about to …

The intertwining lives of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar are not just a tale of power and romance but a pivotal chapter in history. Their alliance reshaped the ancient world’s political landscape, leaving a legacy that’s fascinated us for centuries. Cleopatra VII and the Ptolemy Dynasty Cleopatra VII was born into the Ptolemy dynasty around 69 …

Hannibal’s campaign in Italy stands as one of the most audacious military endeavors in ancient history. His strategic genius and daring exploits caught the Roman world by surprise. From crossing the treacherous Alps with war elephants to achieving a stunning victory at Cannae, Hannibal’s actions reshaped the course of the Second Punic War. Yet, Hannibal’s …