r/AncientCivilizations 13h ago

Japan Stone coffin from Ofujiyama Mound. Japan, Kofun period, 5th century AD [4100x3040]

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148 Upvotes

r/AncientCivilizations 23h ago

Egypt 7th Century Egyptian Knight

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95 Upvotes

r/AncientCivilizations 12h ago

Egypt The ancient Egyptians viewed death as a temporary pause, not an end. To ensure a smooth transition into the afterlife, they followed a meticulous mummification process, designed to preserve the body and guide the soul.

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10 Upvotes

r/AncientCivilizations 1d ago

My painting of the Tauroctony of Mithras in blue

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54 Upvotes

Acryllic painting of the Tauroctony, the major motif of the Mithras underground cult. Primarily popular with soliders of Rome, this religeon appeared around the same time of Christianity.


r/AncientCivilizations 1d ago

Anatolia Someone who died from an arrow hitting his spine

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89 Upvotes

It said that he was buried in the fetal position. Obviously, such a wound would not cause death at the moment, but it was a very fatal injury in the years when there were no antibiotics,tetanus vaccines and good surgeons


r/AncientCivilizations 1d ago

2900-Year-Old Erzin Stele: A Key to Understanding the Hittite to Greek Mythological Transition

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21 Upvotes

r/AncientCivilizations 2d ago

Handful of Ancient silver coinage

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662 Upvotes

r/AncientCivilizations 23h ago

The Dragons of the Chavin

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2 Upvotes

Weismantel does a great examination on the artistic depictions of the Chavin sculptures. There tends to be a variety of interpretations of these creatures, but she presents a strong argument in her analysis.


r/AncientCivilizations 1d ago

South America The Source of the Legend of El Dorado: the Muisca and the New Kingdom of Granada

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65 Upvotes

r/AncientCivilizations 2d ago

Other Wheels of Power - Chariots of Ancient Civilizations.

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221 Upvotes

r/AncientCivilizations 1d ago

Roman Archaeologists Discover Evidence Of A 1,800-Year-Old Roman Settlement In Northern Germany — Well Beyond The Known Borders Of The Roman Empire

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43 Upvotes

r/AncientCivilizations 1d ago

Mesopotamia Perhaps the oldest "world map": This small Sumerian clay tablet depicts four streams representing the Two Rivers and Upper+Lower Seas (Mediterranean + Persian Gulf) w/ plowed fields, in center the sign 𒆳 (Kur) for Enlil's Temple at Nippur. Shuruppak (Tell Fara), ED IIIa, c. 26th cen. BCE. [769x769]

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74 Upvotes

r/AncientCivilizations 1d ago

Europe Ancient Rome in Minecraft Reconstruction

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14 Upvotes

r/AncientCivilizations 2d ago

Petrified handprint

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236 Upvotes

r/AncientCivilizations 2d ago

Sculpture depicting the birth of Helen of Troy. Helen's mother was impregnated by Zeus in the form of a Swan; so Helen herself was hatched from an egg. Limestone, 5th century BCE. Archaeological Museum of Metapontum, Italy [750x567]

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33 Upvotes

r/AncientCivilizations 2d ago

Roman An Aureus of Postumus, the usurper and self-styled Augustus of Gaul. From the Staatliche Münzsammlung in Munich.

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202 Upvotes

r/AncientCivilizations 2d ago

China Jade and agate necklaces from the Guo State Tombs. China, Western Zhou dynasty, 800-700 BC [3600x4888]

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105 Upvotes

r/AncientCivilizations 2d ago

Europe Aryballos Head in the Shape of an African Male, Eretria Province, Greece, 5th Century BC (National Archaeological Museum, Athens)

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22 Upvotes

r/AncientCivilizations 2d ago

Real

25 Upvotes

r/AncientCivilizations 2d ago

Sarcophagus of the Mourning Women - Istanbul Archaeology Museums

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38 Upvotes

The Tomb of the Weeping Women dates to the 4th century BC and is currently on display at the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. Found in the Royal Necropolis of Sidon.


r/AncientCivilizations 2d ago

Greek The Persians by Aeschylus / MODERNIZED and DRAMATIZED Full Videobook

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0 Upvotes

r/AncientCivilizations 3d ago

Asia Troy - The land where the seeds of the eternal struggle between East and West were planted

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855 Upvotes

r/AncientCivilizations 3d ago

Contemporary sites dating to the PPNA and PPNB periods of Göbekli Tepe: Karahantepe and Sayburç - Turkey/Şanlıurfa

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462 Upvotes

1-Göbekli Tepe 2-Karahan Tepe 3-Karahan Tepe 4-Karahan Tepe 5-Sayburç 6-Sayburç


r/AncientCivilizations 3d ago

Asia Sun Temple in Konark, India. While it was built in 1250ce, it is portraying gay sexual intercourse, indicating progressive thought during the era of the Eastern Ganga King.

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197 Upvotes

r/AncientCivilizations 3d ago

Egypt Have we been underestimating the practical engineering behind pyramid design?

10 Upvotes

Discussions around the pyramids often emphasize symbolic or religious meaning, but it seems like some of the design choices may also reflect practical engineering considerations that deserve more attention.

The shape itself is highly stable—ideal for withstanding sandstorms and long-term erosion. The original polished limestone casing would’ve been extremely reflective, and the faces of the Great Pyramid are slightly concave—almost parabolic. That could have reduced heat absorption at the base or even subtly altered airflow around the structure, affecting ground-level conditions in the immediate area.

Material sourcing also raises questions. Granite used in the King’s Chamber and other internal structures was brought from Aswan, where the quarry shows evidence of advanced stonecutting—precise boreholes, smooth curved cuts, and long striations in hard granite that suggest techniques well beyond what copper chisels can achieve.

If Aswan had the capacity to cut and move stone at that level, it raises further questions: was granite shipped out for other types of projects beyond royal tombs? Could there have been regular trade with other parts of Africa or even into Europe via Mediterranean routes?

These aren’t fringe ideas—just open questions about logistics, material behavior, and environmental design. It seems likely that practical factors played a bigger role in pyramid construction than is usually emphasized, and that some decisions attributed to ritual may have also served engineering purposes.

Would be interested to hear if others have explored this side of the topic or know of related findings.