Ancient History | War History

Final Trailer for ‘Gladiator II’ Released Ahead of Film’s North American Premiere

Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal as Lucius Verus and Marcus Acacius in 'Gladiator II'

The trailer for the long-awaited sequel to the 2000 historical epic, Gladiator, aptly named Gladiator II, was jam-packed with action, appearing to use what the…

Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat Meaning: Does Fortune Actually Favor the Bold?

Fortune cookie cracked open with a slip of paper reading "fortune favors the bold"

The Latin phrase fortis Fortuna adiuvat – which translates to “fortune favors the bold” or “fortune favors the brave” – has a long and storied…

From the Scythians to Russia: The Use of Scorched Earth Tactics in War

US Air Force helicopter spraying Agent Orange over the jungle

Scorched earth tactics have been used nearly as long as armies have conducted military campaigns. While the practice is less common in modern times, it…

Legendary Battles That Would Make Outstanding Films

Artist's depiction of the Battle of Belleau Wood + Swedish machine gunner aiming a machine gun in the snow

War movies have been popular for as long as films have existed. As a result, some of the more popular subjects have been completely exhausted.…

Lethal Weapons: 5 of the Most Effective Man-Killing Tools in History

Crusades

Weapons are simply an extension of the capabilities of the human body. In practice, though, they have been extremely expensive and complex, with quite literally…

These 4 Weapons Created For Combat Were Cheap But Ingenious Game Changers

Sometimes, no matter how tactically adept a military force may be, if an opponent suddenly shows up with a particularly advanced or capable weapon, it…

The Ancient Greek Army of Same-Sex Lovers who helped defeat the Spartans

Sacred Band Of Thebes

The ancient Greek city of Thebes was surprisingly relaxed about gay relationships, even catching the attention of famous Greek philosopher Plato, who noted that opinions…

Berserkers: Soldiers who fought in a trance and gave us the modern-day word for “Berserk”

Berserker

Old Norse literature details stories of wild soldiers who fought battles in a trancelike state, feeling neither pain nor fear and not stopping until, they,…

Persian Immortals: The Elite Army Of The Achaemenid Empire

Colorful brick artwork of five Persian Immortals

The Achaemenid Empire, also known as the First Persian Empire, was founded by Cyrus II in 550 B.C. It controlled a large swath of western…

Athenian Hoplites: An Overlooked Part of Greece’s Military Success in the Ancient World

AI rendering of Athenian Hoplites running into battle

Ancient warfare has been heavily analyzed by scholars, and it’s made waves in movies like 300 (2006). However, popular culture and scholarly studies tend to…

How Sling Weaponry Revolutionized Warfare In The Ancient World

Ancient Roman soldiers with slings + a replica of a Balearic sling

For most, the sling is known as the weapon of choice for cartoon troublemaker Bart Simpson. However, it used to be a widely used weapon…

Did the Trojan War Actually Happen?

Illustration depicting the Trojan War

The Trojan War remains one of the greatest stories from ancient times. Filled with strong warriors, heroes, epic battles, divine intervention and a giant wooden…