General ancient history

Queen TiyeOvershadowed ancient Egyptian royal. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Who were the Celts?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Bioarchaeology: uncovering the secrets of ancient and prehistoric bodies. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

How the Persians were written out of history. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Persian courtiers in the throne room at Persepolis, as depicted in a relief detail.

Persepolis: the creation of the Persian empire’s foremost citadel. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A scene from a relief at Persepolis, ancient Persia’s magnificent ceremonial capital

The Persians: empire of the greats. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A legacy of inequality: the economic impact of empire. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Corruption in the ancient world. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Eggs, bunnies and Jesus Christ: the history and origins of Easter

A young woman sat in front of a mirror applies lipstick, 1967

The price of beauty: the dangerous cosmetics used until the 20th century

Naked statues, naughty gods & bad wine. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

The real Amazons: how the legendary warrior women inspired fighters, feminists and Wonder Woman

The Immortals shown holding long spears on a frieze from the palace of Darius the Great

General ancient history

The Persian Immortals: the feared elite guard of the Achaemenid empire

Michael Wood on the Parthenon Sculptures"The case is unique: the sculptures are bound up with Greek identity". This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

History’s greatest mysteriesWas the Trojan War fact or fiction?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

St Columba. This Irish patron saint's influence on the Christian church was, and still is, felt much further afield

Medieval miracle worker: how St Columba transformed Christianity in Britain

An 18th-century painting depicts Alexander the Great preparing to hack through the Gordian Knot with his sword

General ancient history

Q&AWhat was the Gordian Knot?

Hadrian’s Wall: everything you wanted to know. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Sex work: a brief history. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Black and white drawing showing King George V using a broom to sweep away several crowns adorned with the words 'Made in Germany'.

Fake history: 3 historical untruths that shaped the world

Colourful illustration of 12 historical figures's heads (Winston Churchill, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Thomas Cromwell, Richard III, Elizabeth I, William Shakespeare, Anne Boleyn, William Marshal, Jane Austen, Hatshepsut, Gandhi and Catherine the Great) shown in a grid pattern.

Top historical figures: 100+ of the most famous people through history – in chronological order

A modern fireworks display

General ancient history

Q&AHow were fireworks made in ancient China?

Ghosts, necromancy & the underworld in ancient Mesopotamia. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Irving Finkel“Ghosts were taken for granted as part of everyday Mesopotamian life”

Michael Wood on Afghanistan“A new world is emerging, reviving older connections”. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Michael Wood on Tamil culture“Let’s cherish this shining light of the great Bronze Age civilisations”. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Boats clash at sea in this illustration of the 480 BC battle of Salamis, fought between a Persian army led by King Xerxes I and the Greek army led by Themistocles

Salamis, 480 BC: a horror at sea for the Persian empire

A bust of Ashoka the Great

History heroNihal Arthanayake chooses Ashoka the Great (c304–c232 BC). This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Ornate water gardens of the ancient fortress of Sigiriya in Sri Lanka

From Nan Madol to Karakorum: 7 cities that history forgot

The Byzantines and a flamethrower

General ancient history

Q&AWhat was Greek fire?