A New King and Queen for Denmark
On January 14, 2024, Frederik X and his wife, Mary, became the new king and queen of Denmark. This happened after Frederik’s mother, Queen Margrethe II, abdicated, or stepped down, from the throne. Royalty in Denmark Denmark’s monarchy traces its beginnings to the 900s C.E., making it the oldest monarchy in Europe. Today, Denmark is […]
Grand Roman Wall Mosaic Unearthed
In mid-December of 2023, an archaeological dig in Rome, Italy unearthed a mosaic wall mural estimated to be about 2,000 years old. A mosaic is an image made up of tiny bits of colored glass or stone covering a surface. The discovery of the mosaic is part of a five-year dig at Palatine Hill, one […]
Napoleon Bonaparte’s Hat Auctioned for Record-Setting Price
On November 19, 2023, a hat once owned by French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was auctioned in France for almost 2 million euros ($2.1 million). The selling price was more than double the expected auction price. The amount set a record for one of Napolean’s hats. Napoleon is known for the distinctive style of two-cornered military […]
Javier Milei Wins Presidential Election in Argentina
On November 19, 2023, Javier Milei was elected the new president of Argentina. He won close to 56 percent of the votes in a run-off against the economy minister Sergio Massa. Massa won only 44 percent of the vote. This result was unexpected, and Milei’s victory came as a surprise to many, as he is […]
Satellite Photos Reveal Undiscovered Roman Forts
Historians and archaeologists have held many debates about the purpose of hundreds of Roman forts throughout what today is Iraq, Syria, and Jordan. Many scientists thought Romans built the forts during the 2nd and 3rd centuries to protect the Roman empire’s eastern border from attack. However, researchers recently used Cold War era satellite images to […]
An Englishman in Genghis Khan’s Empire
Stories of people leading glamorous lives full of adventure are not just for movies: there are real-life examples throughout history, including this one from the 1200s about an English citizen who served as a diplomat for the Mongol Empire. Background During the early 1200s, Genghis Khan formed an empire in the area of present-day Mongolia. […]
An Ancient Comb Tells Us Something About Language
Recently, researchers began reporting on a remarkable discovery that was made during an archaeological excavation in June 2016. The site of the discovery is in the ancient Canaanite city of Lachish, about an hour drive south from the city of Jerusalem, in Israel. In their dig, archaeologists found what initially looked like a small bone. […]
Lost Maya City Found Using Laser Technology
It may seem unusual to look for a lost city from the sky, but that’s how scientists first detected clues that uncovered an ancient Maya city. More than 1,000 years ago the Maya civilization thrived. When the civilization collapsed, the dense tropical forest of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula hid several Maya cities for centuries. Recently, with […]
Discovery of Nero’s Theater
Archeologists in Rome believe they have discovered the theater of Roman Emperor Nero. Nero ruled between 54 C.E. and 68 C.E. While Nero’s theater is mentioned by writers of his time, its location was a modern mystery. The discovery came as part of a reconstruction project. A portion of the Palazzo Della Rovere, a Renaissance-era […]
Russian Spy Whale in Danger?
Did you know that several countries, including the United States, train animals in espionage and other military activities? A beluga whale named Hvaldimir is thought to be a Russian spy whale. Hvaldimir faces dangerous conditions in Sweden. Here, btw takes a closer look at Hvaldimir’s story, as well as the role that animals play in […]