Religious History
The Most Enigmatic Works in Art History
A new book highlights 100 artistic curiosities, from the nude "Mona Lisa" to portraits of a dog-headed saint
World's Oldest Near-Complete Hebrew Bible Goes to Auction
The Codex Sassoon could break auction records, becoming the most valuable historical document ever sold
Archaeologists in Egypt Unearth 2,500-Year-Old Mummified Crocodiles
The remains include five reptile heads and five nearly intact specimens
Neutron Imaging Reveals Tiny Bones Inside 800-Year-Old Pendant
The high-tech method allowed researchers to examine the artifact without opening it
Ninety-Six Fascinating Finds Revealed in 2022
The year's most exciting discoveries included hidden portraits by Cézanne and van Gogh, sarcophagi buried beneath Notre-Dame, and a medieval wedding ring
What's Within the Burial Cave Dedicated to Jesus' Midwife?
Archaeologists in Israel are excavating the site that was popular among pilgrims more than a millennium ago
What Nativity Scenes Tell Us About the Evolution of Christianity
From ancient mosaics to Saint Francis of Assisi, depictions of Jesus's birth reflect the changing conventions of the world's largest religion
A Brief History of Christmas Markets
Now a global phenomenon, the holiday tradition traces its roots to medieval Europe
Unraveling the Secrets of the Sarcophagi Found Beneath Notre-Dame Cathedral
Archaeologists are learning more about the two men buried under the iconic Paris landmark
Millions of Pilgrims Gathered to Celebrate the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico City
After two years of pandemic closures, the annual tradition is back in full force
Necklace Unearthed in Medieval Woman’s Grave Is a 'Once-in-a-Lifetime Discovery'
Researchers say the woman may have been an early Christian leader with a large fortune
How Construction of a Parking Lot Uncovered New Insights About Medieval Jews
A new DNA study suggests Ashkenazi Jews living in 14th-century Germany were surprisingly genetically diverse
Rarely Seen Ancient Maya Masterpieces Go on View at the Met
It's the first exhibition of its kind in the United States in a decade
These 84-Year-Old Nazi Photos Paint a Harrowing Picture of Kristallnacht
The images show mobs ransacking Jewish-owned homes, businesses and synagogues in 1938
Is Judaism a Younger Religion Than Previously Thought?
A new book by an Israeli archaeologist makes the stunning claim that common Jewish practices emerged only a century or so before Jesus
The Veterinary Magic of the Middle Ages
Medieval healers treated animals' ailments with a mix of faith, tradition and science
A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials
One town's strange journey from paranoia to pardon
The Indian Guru Who Brought Eastern Spirituality to the West
A new biography explores the life of Vivekananda, a Hindu ascetic who promoted a more inclusive vision of religion
Stunning Facial Reconstructions Resurrect a Trio of Medieval Scots
The renderings show what a bishop, a cleric and a young woman with a remarkably symmetrical face may have looked like in life
Archaeologists in Greece Unearth 'Larger-Than-Life' Statue of Hercules
The team discovered the 2,000-year-old artwork in Philippi