Lists about the fascinating culture and practices of the civilization that occupied Northeastern Africa from 3000 to 300 BC. 

Walk Like an Egyptian

Looking closer at the who, what, where, why, and how of mummies and human preservation around the world and throughout history.

Forever Young

Whoa Facts

<a href="/list/chinas-lady-dai-mummy-mystery/jessika-gilbert" target="_blank">Everyone loves a good mummy</a>, but one of the most fascinating stories about these wrapped legends doesn&#39;t have anything to do with the likes of King Tutankhamun&nbsp;or <a href="/list/facts-about-inca-ice-woman-juanita/lisa-a-flowers" target="_blank">Juanita</a>. One of history&#39;s <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-famous-mummies-really-looked-like/christy-box?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most famous mummies</a> is &quot;Unknown Man E,&quot; found at the ancient Egyptian site of Deir el-Bahri. But this, one of the most scary mummies ever found, is better known to the world as the &quot;Screaming Mummy.&quot;

This bizarre mummy features a thrown-back head and an open jaw in what looks like a blood-curdling scream. But what&nbsp;happened to Egypt&#39;s Screaming Mummy, and why is he yelling? Archaeologists analyzed the mummy and his wrappings and have reasoned he might have been a disgraced prince named Pentawere. This&nbsp;ancient conspiracy involved a minor queen trying to put her&nbsp;son, Pentawere, on the throne, while overthrowing his dad, Ramesses III, in the process. The plot was eventually discovered and Pentawere forced to commit take his own life... but what happened to him?&nbsp;Perhaps archaeologists discovered his body when they uncovered&nbsp;the Screaming Mummy!

The Horrifying Story Behind 'The Screaming Mummy'

General

The Horrifying Story Behind "The Screaming Mummy"

Carly Silver

Rankings, theories, behind-the-scenes stories, and fun facts about the adventures of Indiana Jones, the archaeologist who can find anything—except the inner-strength to conquer his own fear of snakes.

X Never, Ever Marks the Spot

Indiana Jones

Since his debut in 1981, Indiana Jones has been doing his part to rescue relics and save history from unsavory characters who wish to use the artifacts for malicious means. Watching Indy save the day and the treasure is always a treat, but do you ever wonder if that <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/american-buried-treasure-still-missing/emily-mast">treasure</a> actually existed, and if so, what it would be worth?&nbsp;We looked at the artifacts, treasures, and relics <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/harrison-ford-on-making-indiana-jones/natalie-jonah">Indiana Jones</a> saved and/or found over the years. By comparing them to real-world counterparts, or making real-world guesstimates based on the time period and materials used to create the relic, we came up with how much each treasure might be worth. From the ark of the covenant to the Eye of the Peacock, here are a few artifacts found by Indiana Jones and what they might be worth in the real world. Please vote up the rescued relics whose price tags could launch a crusade of their own.&nbsp;

The Actual, Real World Value Of All The Artifacts Indiana Jones Finds

How Much Are The Ancient Artifacts In Indiana Jones Actually Worth?

M. Muir

Myths & Legends

Fictional tales based on actual historical events have been film fodder since people first started making movies. While the culture and practices of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/everyday-life-in-ancient-egypt/katia-kleyman">early civilizations on Earth</a> fascinate modern minds, it's much easier (and more entertaining) to ingest the historical information in a two-hour saga rather than studying decades of historical research.&nbsp;But that raises the question: How much of what we know about early civilizations is actually based on Hollywood glamorization, and not rooted in historical accuracy?&nbsp;As it turns out, quite a bit of the information filmgoers ingest as facts <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/medieval-warfare-myths-debunked/quinn-armstrong">are deeply rooted in Hollywood myth</a>. And if we're being frank, some of the beliefs that we gained from blockbuster films about ancient civilizations are actually pretty dumb. This list features some of the most offensive tropes we've picked up from the motion picture industry.

Dumb Things We Believe About Ancient Societies Because Of Hollywood

Lauren Glen

Ancient Greece

There have been numerous <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movies-and-shows-based-on-mythology-/ariannafelidae?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">TV shows about Greek mythology</a> over the years for us mere mortals to enjoy.&nbsp;While it may have been created thousands of years ago, Greek mythology continues to influence the modern world in new and exciting ways. Many would say our current fascination with superheroes has roots in ancient mythology and seeing the parallels between Superman and the gods would certainly support that theory. But you don't have to look too far to find connections. Mythology is fun and makes for great character archetypes, which is why there are such good shows about Greek and Roman mythology.Some shows take a direct approach to adapting mythology, such as the various shows centering around Hercules. Other take a more modern approach, such as the 90s series Cupid where the Greek god is tasked with making 100 couples fall in love.&nbsp;This list features the best Greek mythology TV series of all time. You have the power of Zeus in your hands with the might to decide which shows make it to the top of the list and which ones are banished to the bottom.&nbsp;

The Greatest TV Shows About Or Inspired By Greek Mythology

TV Program

The Best Greek Mythology TV Series & Shows About Greco-Roman Gods

Ranker TV

Exploring the folklore, stories, and teachings in different cultures around the globe and throughout history.

Mythology Around the World

For us mere mortals, mythology and the world of ancient Greece and the gods has been a fascinating subject for thousands of years. So it makes sense that filmmakers have been drawing inspiration from Greek mythology almost since the advent of the medium. Mythological stories tend to be rich with drama, action, and betrayal, none more so than Greek mythology where humans lived in harmony or discord with their gods.&nbsp;These interactions often led to grand adventures that make for great movies. Other films like Hercules in New York and Mighty Aphrodite take elements from Greek mythology and place them in modern settings. Ideas like these have also been the basis for many <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-shows-about-greek-mythology/ranker-tv" target="_blank">TV shows about Greek mythology</a> as well.

It&rsquo;s really no wonder why popular directors like Zack Snyder, Oliver Stone, and the Coen&nbsp;brothers have all made movies that bring the Greek mythos to the silver screen. But which one of these movies is the best? You get to help decide by voting up your favorite Greek mythology movies. The best part is that you can vote for more than one, you&rsquo;ll be helping other fans find out what to watch next. Thanks to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime, you can start watching a lot of these movies right now. 
&nbsp;

Oedipus Mayor

The Best Movies About Greek Mythology

Film

The 36 Best Greek Mythology Movies Of All Time

Ranker Film

Lists about the fascinating, often brutal customs and rituals about the legendary Norse seafarers.

A Viking's Life for Me

poll

The best Viking movies have all the action and historical drama you could want. If you like a little sci-fi action mixed in with your Viking films, be sure to check out&nbsp;Outlander&nbsp;starring Jim Caviezel and Ron Perlman.&nbsp;&nbsp;What are the best movies about Vikings? Vote up the best Viking films below and see where your favorites rank!

The movies on this list all feature Vikings in one way or another, whether it&#39;s a story about completely fictional Norsemen or more of a realistic, historical film about Vikings and the roles they play throughout history.

This list features the best movies about Vikings including&nbsp;The 13th Warrior, Valhalla Rising, and Pathfinder. Vote up the best Viking movies below and vote down and Viking films you think other fans should skip.

The Secret of Kells

The Best Movies About Vikings

The Best Viking Movies Of All Time, Ranked By Fans

Gaming

Rome is one of the most fascinating ancient cultures due to the intricate historical records kept detailing the impressive people, places, and customs&nbsp;of a civilization that stood for more than 1,500 years. When Rome fell, it was one of the most chaotic times in Europe, and because&nbsp;Roman civilization impacted so many others, people have been fascinated with it&nbsp;for centuries.

It should come as no surprise that video game developers have been tapping into Roman history for games since the earliest days of the medium. While there have been plenty of&nbsp;Roman gladiator games, dig a little deeper and you&#39;ll uncover a bevy of strategy, first-person, third-person, civilization-building, domination, role-playing, and every other type of gaming genre that&#39;s&nbsp;somehow&nbsp;set in ancient Rome over&nbsp;the past 40 years.&nbsp;Some may have been forgotten in the annuals of history, while others are still&nbsp;regarded as&nbsp;exceptional ancient Roman video games.

Check out these 20 games centered around the rise and fall of&nbsp;Rome down below, and don&#39;t forget to vote up your favorite to see which video game about ancient Rome is the most epic.

20 Video Games About Ancient Rome To Help Unleash Your Inner Gladiator

Computer Game

The 20 All-Time Best Roman Video Games, Ranked

Kyle Townsend

People have been living all around the world for literally thousands of years. Here are some of the most interesting things human beings have ever done (that we know about).

Fascinating Ancient History

What It's Like

Today, monuments in the ancient world, from the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/how-ancient-egyptians-moved-pyramid-blocks/stephanroget">Pyramids of Giza</a> to the Roman Pantheon to Cambodia's Angkor Wat, are some of the world's most popular tourism&nbsp;destinations. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/secret-rooms-in-historical-landmarks/jim-rowley">Historical landmarks</a> like these&nbsp;allow visitors to imagine what life would have been like thousands of years before their time, which is a major part of their appeal.But this is not a modern phenomenon. Ancient peoples flocked to tourist destinations for the same reasons people do today: to be enlightened, entertained, and energized.

What Tourism Was Like In The Ancient World

Location

Jim Rowley

Alligator wrestling, bull leaping, and carcass polo all sound like made-up sports. And yet people in Central America lined up to watch horsemen grab a headless goat carcass, Seminole Indians wrestled alligators, and ancient Minoans jumped over bulls.

When it comes to extreme historical <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/all-extreme-sports-list/reference" target="_blank">sports</a>, that&#39;s just the beginning. Venetians brawled with each other to claim control of a bridge, Egyptian fisherman tried to drown each other, and Greek wrestlers broke each other&#39;s bones to win games. In ancient Sparta, teenagers played a &quot;game&quot; called krypteia that involved massacring unarmed slaves, and ancient Mayans had to win their game or be sacrificed to the gods.&nbsp;

Unlike modern sports, where players have to follow rules, many of these extreme ancient sports were no holds barred. Vote up the ancient sports that are absurdly extreme.

13 Extreme Historical Sports That Sound Made Up But Aren’t

13 Extreme Ancient Sports That Sound Made Up But Aren’t

Genevieve Carlton

Humans didn’t always live in cities and towns.&nbsp;They started out as nomadic tribes looking for whatever food was available in their general area. Hunter-gatherer societies laid the foundations of our modern civilizations, comprising almost all of human history with the exception of the last few thousand years. But what was it like to live as one of them?During their dominant time in the Paleolithic Era, hunter-gatherers spent their days scrounging food from plant life while hunting and fishing for meat. These two means of obtaining food led to the basic cultural structures we see today, especially in the form of gender roles.Hunter-gatherer societies&nbsp;hold many surprises, especially when we study the last few remaining&nbsp;tribes that live a similar lifestyle today. Even though humanity eventually embraced agriculture during the Neolithic Era, a few hunter-gatherer tribes have lived on, and from them we can extrapolate what life was once like for all human beings.

What It Would Have Been Like to Live in a Hunter-Gatherer Society

What It's Like to Live in a Hunter-Gatherer Society

Aaron Edwards

Ancient History

What was everyday life like for <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-egyptian-royals-facts/mallory-weiler" target="_blank">Egyptian royals</a>? In a word: busy. Though they lived in the lap of luxury and enjoyed a standard of living that <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/everyday-life-in-ancient-egypt/katia-kleyman" target="_blank">most other ancient Egyptians didn&#39;t</a>, Egyptian royalty generally didn&#39;t have much downtime.&nbsp;

From around 3150 to 30 BC, Egypt was ruled by kings and queens&nbsp;called pharaohs. As supreme heads of a <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/ancient-egypt-myths-debunked/setareh-janda?ref=collections&amp;l=2470083&amp;collectionId=1770&amp;li_source=LI&amp;li_medium=desktop-top-collection" target="_blank">complex&nbsp;kingdom</a>, pharaohs spent their days overseeing the religious, economic, cultural, and political life of Egypt. But pharaohs didn&#39;t just have to manage Egypt&#39;s&nbsp;affairs - they also had to manage the affairs of their families. The life of the royal family was undeniably political.

What they lacked in personal time, they made up for in privilege. The high, unrivaled status of pharaohs in Egypt meant that they got the best of everything, from fine clothes to the richest cuts of meat. So even though pharaohs kept busy, it was still generally good to be the king.

You're Royalty In Ancient Egypt. What Does Your Day-To-Day Life Look Like?

What Was Life Like For Ancient Egyptian Royalty?

Setareh Janda

Fun facts and fascinating trivia about historical, bygone, and modern foods for people who love eating food.

Chew on This

Food has always played a central role in humanity's culture. Milestones, celebrations, funerals - food is present at each. It can provide comfort or can muster intrigue. It can show one's wealth and status, or just do the bare minimum of satisfying one's hunger.&nbsp;Over the millennia, how we eat has changed. There were no preservatives back in the days of ancient Greece. But people have always been innovative when it comes to making food last - and making it tasty. Though looking at some of these recipes, we imagine a few of them were very much an acquired taste.Regardless of your own personal tastes, you can't deny that some of these dishes are fascinating, to say the least. Which would you eat? And which would you send back?

Ranking The Meals Historical Societies Actually Ate

Food

Meals Historical Societies Actually Ate

Emily Mast

Lists about the infinite expanses of space and time. Read up to open your mind so wide, it explodes.

Theories of the Universe

Many ancient thinkers&#39; observations about&nbsp;nature - the origins of life, the size and scope and organization of the heavens, the causes of disease - <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historical-theories-about-space/machk" target="_blank">were woefully inaccurate</a>. But this is not because early theorists were dumb. In fact, they were often&nbsp;deeply observant, sophisticated, and rigorous in their thinking. They invented, or at least formalized, many of the concepts - from mathematics, to logic, to empiricism&nbsp;- that we take for granted as essential tools in understanding the world around us.

It&rsquo;s easy to stand on a mountain&nbsp;of others&rsquo; achievements and look down on the poor rubes who believed the sun went around the Earth, or that disease was caused by poisonous &quot;miasma&quot;&nbsp;in the air or an imbalance of humors in the body. But it&rsquo;s the height of arrogance to suppose that, in their shoes, modern thinkers would&nbsp;have done any better. It&rsquo;s a lot easier to read about heliocentrism, or evolution, or germ theory, in a textbook&nbsp;than to <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/full-cast-of-figure-it-out-cast-list-for-the-show-figure-it-out/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">figure it out</a> for oneself.

Although this process of accumulating knowledge is a slow one, occasionally people from past ages did&nbsp;have tantalizing flashes of insight that, for whatever reason, didn&rsquo;t become conventional wisdom for many centuries. Perhaps empirical data wasn&#39;t available to support these insights, or cultural currents were too strong to overcome. The flashes remain in the historical record and remind us of the truth of Einstein&rsquo;s assertion:

<blockquote>
Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution. It is, strictly speaking, a real factor in scientific research.
</blockquote>

10 Ancient Theories That Turned Out To Be Correct

Person

Ancient Theories That Turned Out To Be Correct

Gordon Cameron

In the year 79, in the Campagnia region of modern Italy, Mount Vesuvius positively blew its stack, releasing molten rock, ash, and 100,00 times the thermal energy of the Hiroshima-Nagasaki blasts at the rate of 1.5 million tons per second.

The Walls Kept Tumbling Down

The preserved corpses of victims are the most well-known remnants from Pompeii; however,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-pompeii-photos/pierce-nahigyan" target="_blank">weird Pompeii artifacts</a> are not limited to the human victim variety. Things found at Pompeii are a haunting reminder of the vibrant city that once existed. Strange&nbsp;Pompeii artifacts that still capture our imagination today include prized possessions, good luck charms, urns, and more.

Archeologists digging through the&nbsp;weird Pompeii ruins were given a fascinating task. What did they find in Pompeii? Workers found evidence of a vibrant, lively city that was turned to ash on an otherwise normal day. Odd, everyday&nbsp;things found in Pompeii are a reminder random tragedies can strike at any time.

Weird Oddities Found At Pompeii That Aren't Bodies

Weird Oddities Found At Pompeii

Ada Hart

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/12-things-we-learned-about-alexander-the-great-that-made-us-say-_whoa_/michael-muir?ref=profile_own">Alexander the Great</a> conquered a vast empire but did <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/alexander-empire-died/michael-muir?ref=profile_own">not live long enough</a> to contend with the immense struggle to actually run and keep hold of it. That enormous undertaking fell to the men who succeeded him. Although purportedly Alexander’s last request was that “the strongest” inherit his great empire, none were quite able to reunite his lands under one banner - though many tried. The wars of the Diadochi (“successors”) raged for generations after Alexander’s demise.This collection looks at the rise and fall of perhaps the most successful of the successor kingdoms, the vast empire founded by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Seleucus-I-Nicator">Seleucus I Nicator</a>. Though he was nowhere near the strongest when the conflicts began, his knack for underhanded tactics helped him even the odds, and his city-building and tolerant rule laid the foundations for a great empire.

11 Facts About The Rise And Fall Of The Seleucids

Twitter

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/spicy-mythology-memes/alyssa-mariano">Greek mythology</a> has deep, mystical roots. But it can also be pretty funny! While franchises like Percy Jackson and movies like Wrath of the Titans have introduced <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/myth-memes-monthly-november/alyssa-mariano">Greek myths</a> into the world of pop culture, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/personal-tweets-feb-2022/ramya-jaishankar-1">Twitter</a> users have taken it to another level with gut-busting comedic tweets. Enjoy!

23 Greek Mythology Tweets That Are A Hilarious, Herculean Triumph

Ramya Jaishankar

Ancient History lists at Ranker - The ultimate source for hundreds of ancient history lists and rankings