Smithsonian Magazine

Humans May Have Used These Mysterious Symbols to Encode Information Tens of Thousands of Years Before the First Writing Systems

The symbols, discovered on 40,000-year-old artifacts in caves in southwest Germany, may have been a precursor to the first written language ...

Symbols found carved into 40,000-year-old artifacts may be precursor to writing

Sculptures and tools from the Stone Age show markings that could be an early precursor to written language, according to a new analysis.
Ancient Origins

Greek Inscription Provides New Clue in Elagabalus Temple Debate

A newly examined Greek inscription uncovered inside Homs’ Great Mosque of al-Nuri is reopening an old argument with big implications: does the mosque sit directly over the long-lost Elagabalus Temple, ...
ReligionForBreakfast on MSN

How Christianity draws its Easter holiday from another religion

Each spring, claims resurface that Easter is directly derived from an ancient pagan goddess named Eostre. This video examines the historical evidence behind that assertion, beginning with the writings ...
Greek Reporter

Greek Inscription Found in Syrian Mosque Points to Lost Temple of the Sun

A study examines a Greek inscription discovered inside a mosque in Homs and its possible connection to the lost Temple of the Sun in Syria.

The butter-soaked holiday that says goodbye to winter

Over time, these pancakes became the festival’s signature food. Known as a blini, or dense and yeasty buckwheat pancake, these buttery treats can be crowned with a variety of sweet or savory toppings ...