New answers tagged ancient-history
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How can we be confident that Tacitus really wrote his Histories and Annals?
The most compelling fact that Tacitus wrote the Histories, is evinced by his opening statement:
Initium mihi operis Servius Galba iterum Titus Vinius consules erunt. Nam post conditam urbem ...
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Did Thales of Miletus have any prior or external philosophical influences?
As you notice yourself, all information about Thales that we possess comes from much later Hellenistic sources. Many of them say things incredible or very imprecise. What does it mean, for example ...
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Accepted
Are there languages from which complete texts survived, but which have not been deciphered yet?
There are several, but the two that should come to mind immediately are:
Linear A, the writing system of Minoan civilization in the early 2nd millennium BCE. It was the inspiration for the Mycenean ...
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How do we know that ancient peoples didn't see their gods and mythologies as simple works of fiction?
You know worshipers sacrificed their children in some religions? Especially first born children were considered more valuable. I know of no culture were parents do not cherish their children.
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How do we know that ancient peoples didn't see their gods and mythologies as simple works of fiction?
We know that there were people who believed that all tales about gods are a fiction. However, the majority of population took gods seriously, and this was enforced by the states. There is an ample ...
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How do we know that ancient peoples didn't see their gods and mythologies as simple works of fiction?
Bret Devereaux makes this point a lot: people in the past believed their own religions.
Here he speaks about the Romans, for whom we have the most evidence:
one benefit of this religion, he [Polybius]...
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How do we know that ancient peoples didn't see their gods and mythologies as simple works of fiction?
Because people spent real money on offerings to their gods, including cattle sacrifices and expensive temple offerings. You would not offer your car up to Captain America, but people did offer ...
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