National Geographic History

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FROM THE EDITOR

National Geographic History

3,000-Year-Old Tomb Surprises Scholars • In Peru, a high priest’s grave dates to an earlier era than expected, yielding a new understanding of the history of the ancient Andes.

GOLDEN DISCOVERIES

Woman of the Roman Republic

Porcia, Loyal Heroine of the Republic • A woman of firm political convictions, Porcia was the steadfast wife and staunch ally of Brutus and a key supporter of his murderous plot against Julius Caesar.

A BURNING QUESTION

CLOSE CONFIDANT

‘MY BODY … CAN KEEP SILENCE’

Medieval Times Gave Birth to Modern Fashion • Draped, shapeless garments were replaced by taller, pointier, and tighter clothes in 14thcentury Europe, when newly rich merchants vied with nobles to be in vogue.

FASHION AND POWER

HIDING THE BODY

SIGNATURE STYLE

ANCIENT ETYMOLOGY

Epidemics: A Constant Plague to Rome • From its founding to its imperial heyday, Rome’s politics, religion, and eventual decline were shaped by the ravages of disease.

Seeds of Disease

Nailing the Plague

First Responder

TEMPLE OF HATSHEPSUT ROCK OF AGES • Nestled in an alcove of rock, Pharaoh Hatshepsut’s temple had many functions. It has survived the ravages of time and Hatshepsut’s successor’s attempts to erase her name from history.

QUEEN BECOMES KING

Procession of Hathor

Treasures From Punt

THE TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM FROM KING SOLOMON TO THE ROMAN EMPIRE • According to the Bible, King Solomon built the First Temple to house the Ark of the Covenant. Over time, the structure became the spiritual heart of the Jewish faith. Invaders razed it, but the Temple endured, a symbol of survival, resilience, and sanctity.

BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS

IMAGINING SOLOMON’S TEMPLE

THE WESTERN WALL

THE TEMPLE’S PREDECESSOR

VESSELS OF THE BOOK

THE IMAGINED TEMPLE • For centuries the idea of Solomon’s Temple intrigued artists, who often used the architecture of their own time as inspiration. During the Middle Ages, the Temple was sometimes represented with a dome, because of confusion with the Dome of the Rock. In the Renaissance, concepts of the Temple’s architecture changed again, as newer forms were favored and artists began to work with three-point perspective.

BURIED GOLD OF THE BALKANS THRACIAN TREASURE • Across Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, and Turkey, the Thracians buried caches of treasure. Since the mid-20th century, these exquisite gold and silver pieces have been coming to light, revealing unexpected traits of this ancient people.

THRACIAN KINGDOM

LOCAL SPIN ON GREEK TRADITIONS

MINGLING ANCIENT CULTURES

RECLUSIVE TREASURE FROM PANAGYURISHTE • Nine gold vessels make up the Panagyurishte Treasure, dating from the fourth century B.C. The pieces are housed at the Regional Archaeological Museum in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, but for security reasons, given their immense value, they are rarely exhibited to the public.

THE TRAGIC END OF HYPATIA OF ALEXANDRIA • In A.D. 415 a mob of Christian fanatics attacked and murdered the philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria. That, at least, is the traditional story. But taking a closer look, does a strictly religious motive hold up?

RELIGIOUS TENSIONS

ALEXANDRIA’S GREATEST MIND

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA

DEATH OF A GOD

HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT?

MURDERED AND MARTYRED • During the Enlightenment, a young,...