Table of Contents
From the Editor
This week, we saw another amazing piece from the very talented Jess Nadeau, this time on the ancient Bronze Age civilization of Ugarit.
Ugarit’s Condemned God: The Ancient Story That May Have Shaped the Bible
The ancient city of Ugarit in modern Syria remained nothing more than a legend buried beneath a great mound of earth until its discovery in 1928. Thousands of years of settlements from the Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age were stacked atop one another, forming its mass. During Ugarit’s last era, grand temples, palaces, and libraries overlooked the glist…
The discovery of Ugarit made a huge impact on the understanding of the Old Testament and Biblical history as a whole. Ugarit gave biblical scholars a much clearer look at the world surrounding the Bible. This is especially the case with its language, poetry, and religious traditions. The discoveries showed surprising connections between Ugaritic texts and the Hebrew Bible, helping scholars better understand where many biblical ideas and passages came from.
Fun fact: I have a tattoo of an Ugaritic phrase in Ugaritic cuneiform on my right arm.
Also released this week is a new series of mini-documentaries I started called Forgotten Worlds. The series spends a few minutes exploring forgotten cultures and history. The first episode focuses on the ancient Cycladic culture which predates the Minoans in the Aegean. This series sits behind a paid subscriber paywall but if you are interested, you should be able to at least use your freebie to access it.
Forged by Sea and Stone: Exploring the Mysteries of Early Cycladic Culture (Video)
Welcome to Forgotten Worlds, a mini-documentary series where we spend a few minutes exploring forgotten cultures and history, presented by Digging Up The Past.
Oh, and before I forget, I just created a Digging Up The Past Instagram account (to add to the collection of socials). If you are on Instagram, be sure to find us there!
In the News
A Rare Snake-Headed Vessel and a Mysterious Roman Cult
A strange ceramic vessel found at a Roman villa in northeastern Spain features a handle shaped like a two-headed serpent. Archaeologists believe it was connected to the obscure eastern god Sabazios, suggesting his worship had reached rural communities in Iberia during the reign of Augustus. Source: Archaeology News.
An 11,000-Year-Old Sculpture of a Person Riding a Leopard
An unusual sculpture showing a human figure sitting on a leopard has been uncovered at Karahantepe in southeastern Turkey. Dating to around 11,000 years ago, the 28-inch-tall piece was found sitting on a bench inside a circular Neolithic structure. Source: Archaeology Magazine.
A High-Ranking Egyptian Official’s Tomb Found at Saqqara
Archaeologists have uncovered the Old Kingdom tomb of an official named Sekhentiu-Ptah at Saqqara, along with a preserved funerary chapel and ritual objects. Nearby burial shafts contained more than 100 ushabti figures, coffins, mummies, and other artifacts, showing that the area continued to be used as a cemetery for centuries. Source: Archaeology News.
Could This Be Egypt’s Lost City of Mesn?
A sandstone lintel bearing the name of Ramesses II and a reference to the mysterious city of Mesn has been discovered at Tell Abu Saifi in northern Sinai. The inscription is an intriguing clue, but archaeologists are stressing that more excavation is needed before the site can confidently be identified as the lost city. Source: HeritageDaily.
Archaeology Beneath the Holy Sepulchre Matches the Gospel Account
Excavations beneath Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre have revealed an ancient landscape of abandoned quarries, cultivated plots, and rock-cut tombs. While the findings cannot prove that the traditional tomb belonged to Jesus, they show that the landscape described in the Gospel of John is remarkably consistent with what archaeologists have found beneath the church. Source: Arkeonews.
Quote
Neither can the wave that has passed by be recalled, nor the hour which has passed return again. - Ovid
Caption This!
Welcome to a new, fun series where you get to be part of the joke!
Each time, I’ll share a comic panel and leave the caption up to you. Come up with something funny, clever, sarcastic, ridiculous, or completely unexpected. There’s really no wrong answer, as long as it’s appropriate. Just comment below!
The best part? Your submissions could make it into a future “Caption This!” post! I’ll pick some of my favorites and feature them in a follow-up, so you might just see your caption alongside the next panel.
So take a look, get creative, and give me your best caption. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Last Week’s Comic Submissions
Mood Flow Sanctuary
Perseus realizing there are apparently multiple ways to get rock hard. 😅
CJ Morgan
Yes. It turned to stone.
Saludovencedores
Face? What face?
Trivia Question
Last Week’s Trivia Answer
Queen Artemisia I of Caria commanded a naval squadron of five ships for the Persian king Xerxes I during the historic Battle of Salamis in 480 BC.
Ask Me Anything
It has been a while since I have done an Ask-Me-Anything video, so, now is your chance to start asking your ancient history focused or Digging Up The Past questions! And once I get enough, a new video will be recorded!
Reminder: Paid Subscriptions are Back!
Just another reminder that Paid Subscriptions are re-enabled! As a paid subscriber, not only will you get special access to both videos and special articles but your contributions will help support my project to continue providing the content you enjoy.
Expect to see fresh new paid subscriber content soon!
Starting today, Digging Up The Past is offering a Halloween promotional sale which ends on October 31st. Is it a bit early for a Halloween promotion? Nope! It is never too early for anything Halloween. 😄 Be sure to not miss out on getting 20% off annual subscriptions for all eternity! Mhua ha ha ha!
Your subscriptions help support the content that goes into making this site possible, including interviews, videos, and other great features. Unfortunately, many of the tools, resources, and guest appearances that make this content possible come with a cost. Your support helps me keep creating and bringing more of this content to you.
Your support is genuinely appreciated. It helps keep the site going and, just as importantly, gives me the motivation to keep creating and sharing more with you!
Featured Image: Ugarit Royal Palace reception hall with pool. (HaubilGerhard Haubold / CC BY-SA 4.0)
For our cartoon:
"Well, Penny - I've been out a bit long - but don't believe all those stories:
It was o a bit of old boys' fun - nothing with any women!"
- "For TWENTY years?"