Archaeology

R.A.G. Carson investigates the fate of the polity established by rebel Roman general Carausius in the third century AD.

Cyme, near the modern Smyrna, was one of the ports that served the Phrygians during the centuries from 1000-700 B.C., when they dominated Asia Minor. Freya Stark studies the civilization of this ancient people, from whom the Greeks derived one of the three modes of classical music.

“Shakespeare, the only history of England I ever read,” the great Duke of Marlborough is said to have remarked; and Shakespeare’s enormous influence in shaping subsequent concepts of fifteenth-century England is nowhere better illustrated than in the case of the character of Richard III. 

Exhuming historical characters makes for dramatic headlines and can seem a great way to get easy answers, but we should think twice before disturbing the remains of dead monarchs, says Justin Pollard.

Charles Seltman shows how Egyptian memories of Crete and its inhabitants may have given rise to the Platonic legend of the lost island of Atlantis.

The journeys of Gospel books from 11th century Europe, M.A. Braude writes, illustrates their historical significance.

Nearly 35 centuries ago the first Empress in the history of the world proclaimed herself Pharaoh; Jon Manchip White records how Queen Hatshepsut then went on to rule for more than 20 years.

Seton Lloyd describes how modern research into the early Christian history of what is now Turkey has promoted an Apocryphal story from myth to reality.

In legend, Marathon is one of the decisive battles of the world; in fact, Stuart E.P. Atherley suggests, it marked the repulse of a comparatively small “colonial” expedition from Persia.

Charles Seltman

Charles Seltman helps explain the mysteries of the Diopet.

C.E. Stevens searches the elusive world of ancient Britain.

Rayner Heppenstall highlights the problems inherent in divisions of British and Irish history along racial lines.