Violence against children is not exclusively a modern phenomenon. It also accompanied humans in the past, as evidenced by both written sources and archaeological discoveries. Although its existence is beyond doubt, it is much more difficult to determine the scale of violence against children in ancient societies. This arises not only from the fragmentary nature of the source material, but also from the difficulties associated with identifying cases of violence in archaeological material. Sometimes, however, skeletons retain traces of trauma which suggest that the child may have been a victim. This was likely the case with a child buried at Tell Brak in what is now Syria. Its remains became the subject of an analysis by researchers from the University of Warsaw and Durham University, recently published in the “International Journal of Osteoarchaeology”.
Continue reading “Children should be seen and not heard? On violence against children in Tell Brak”
Aida, often referred to as an “Egyptian opera,” became a classic almost immediately after its premiere in 1871. Initially, it was intended to grace the celebrations marking the opening of the Suez Canal, but ultimately this plan did not come to fruition – more than two years passed between the inauguration of the Canal and the first performance of Aida. Set in ancient Egypt, it continues to attract thousands of viewers, fascinated by the tragic story of the main character and the stunning music by Giuseppe Verdi. Few people know that the “archaeological” character of this opera was the work of a man whose name is now known to every enthusiast of ancient Egypt – the French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette (1821–1881).
It is often difficult for us to imagine what everyday life was like in ancient times. We fantasize about the past, romanticize its image, and create visions of mystical, incomprehensible rituals. We also often see it through the prism of wars and elite culture. Meanwhile, our ancestors most likely had similar needs and functioned in a similar way to us. A good example of this similarity in experience is the use of ceramic vessels. Just as we cook in pots (admittedly metal ones today) and drink from cups, the ancient Egyptians used specific vessels for specific purposes.