Ancient History & Culture
Web Links

Browse websites pertaining to ancient history. These sites have been researched and compiled by our editors to help you put the biographies, primary source documents, maps, and other material in your Facts On File online database into a broader historical context.

Our editors chose these particular sites because they both complement our product and are of a high quality.*

Archaeology Magazine
http://www.archaeology.org/
Read about the latest information on archaeological digs and discoveries here. Not all of the articles from the print magazine are available online, but the feature articles, daily news, and web exclusives displayed on the front page should be sufficient for most readers.  

Detroit Institute of Arts: Ancient Art
http://www.dia.org/collections/ancient/ancientindex.html
This site displays a large collection of ancient art from Mesopotamia, Persepolis/Iran, Egypt, Greece, Rome, South Arabia, and Islam. Introductions to the history and artistic styles of each region are included, and contextual paragraphs help explain the importance of each image.  

Encyclopedia Mythica
http://www.pantheon.org/mythica.html
This site contains more than 5700 definitions of gods, goddesses, supernatural beings, and legendary creatures. It includes includes mythology and folklore from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Genealogy tables and internal links show how the mythical figures are related. A gallery of related artwork provides vivid illustration of the myths.

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Hannibal Barca and the Punic Wars
http://www.barca.fsnet.co.uk/index.htm
This site claims that it's the "most comprehensive web resource on the life of Hannibal Barca and the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage." It focuses on an extensive biography of Hannibal, the famous Carthaginian who led the march across the Alps from Spain to Italy during the Second Punic War. The site also offers a detailed history of the Punic Wars, and gives huge amounts of information on all the players involved, including a history of Carthage, information on both armies, biographies of the leaders, and brief histories of the key cities. Maps, timelines, and art related to the Punic Wars illustrate the site.  

Lepcis Magna
http://www.alnpete.co.uk/lepcis/windows.html
Lepcis Magna is an archaeological site in modern-day Libya. It was originally founded by the Phoenicians in the 10th century BCE, and later became part of the Roman province of Africa. This website provides a history of the city, as well as site plan and photographs of the area. The website is maintained by archaeologists working in Lepcis Magna, and their dig reports from the excavation since 1994 are available online.

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The Book of the Dead
http://www.touregypt.net/bkofdead.htm
The Book of the Dead was a collection of morturary spells written on papyrus that the Ancient Egyptians placed with the dead to help them pass safely through the dangers of the underworld. This site offers an English translation of the complete Book of the Dead, along with an informative introduction.  

Duke Papyrus Archive
http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/papyrus/texts/homepage.html
This site offers an extensive collection of images of papyri, the Ancient Egyptian records written on a paper made of reeds. Catalogue records for each papyrus give descriptions of the document and a summary of the text. The site also includes general articles on papyri and writing in Egypt.  

NOVA Online/Pyramids
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/pyramid/
This site offers a wealth of information on the Sphinx and pyramids at Giza. It includes a virtual tour of Khufu's pyramid, several interviews with archaeologists, and photographs and floor plans for Kafre's pyramid, Menkaure's pyramid, and the Sphinx. More general information on pyramids and hieroglyphs is also available. The virtual tour requires a Quicktime plug-in; the application is free and easily downloaded by following a link from the NOVA site.

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Georama: Ancient Greece
http://www.georama.gr/eng/history/05.html
This site has an archaeological bent, and is particularly useful for finding information about Greek theaters, oracles, and dragon houses. Information and pictures of 32 Greek theaters and six oracles are offered, as well as brief biographies of some key playwrights and an article on the mysterious "dragon houses." Links to more articles on archaeology are provided at the bottom of the page.  

The Perseus Digital Library
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/
This site, maintained by the Department of Classics at Tufts University, is a searchable, online collection of historic literature. Hundreds of Ancient Greek and Roman texts are available through the site, along with more recent commentary on Ancient Greece and Rome. Feature exhibits provide insight into Classical life and culture. Links are also provided to thousands of images of anient art and architecture.

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The Roman Army in Britain
http://www.morgue.demon.co.uk/Britannia.html
Although this site is specific to the Roman Army in Britain, it provides valuable insight into the workings of the Roman Army as a whole. Illustrated with maps, diagrams, and timelines, the site provides a detailed history of Roman military development and army presence in Britannia. The site also includes a gazatteer with information on hundreds of Roman military sites in Britain, as well as photographs of a select few sites or their immediate surroundings ("few" here is relative only to the huge number of sites listed in the gazetteer).  

Roman Baths
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/roman/
This site, maintained by NOVA, offers an interactive look at the Roman Baths. A clickable picture of the Baths of Caracalla gives an idea of what went on in each room of a typical bath; it is illustrated with pictures of existing baths and artists' impressions of what they may have looked like while in use. Other sections of the site include an article on "The Watering of Ancient Rome," a collection of Roman recipes, a blow-by-blow account detailing the reconstruction of a Roman Bath, and a "build-your-own-aqueduct" activity page.  

Women's Life in Greece and Rome
http://www.stoa.org/diotima/anthology/wlgr/
This site offers both primary documents and carefully researched introductions to women's life in Ancient Greece and Rome. Many aspects of women's lives and ancient attitudes towards women are covered, from writing by women, to philosophy and law pertaining to women, to public and private life, occupations, religion, and medical views. Most documents are heavily footnoted, and all sections contain brief introductions.

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Mesoweb
http://www.mesoweb.com/
Beautifully illustrated with Mesoamerican art, this site offers a range of articles related to the archaeology, history, and past and present culture of Mesoamerica. Also included are links to current news stories, and to the most recent update on the status of the Palenque Project.  

The Sport of Life and Death: The Mesoamerican Ballgame
http://www.ballgame.org
Explore ancient Mesoamerican cultures and learn all about the exciting game they played.

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* This publication, its publisher, its general editors, and its contributing authors do not endorse or promote or have responsibility for the content of any of the websites linked to this resource.