What are the origins of this fun-filled festive custom?
Flourishing on Crete from around 2600 to 1100 BCE, the Minoans were known for their elaborate palaces, such as Knossos (pictured), and their vibrant frescoes.
Predating Rome, the Etruscans (8th–3rd century BCE) were renowned for their art, sophisticated city planning, and mysterious language.
Dominating Anatolia and parts of the Middle East from the 17th to the 11th century BCE, the Hittites were influential in Bronze Age politics.
Existing from around 860 to 590 BCE, Urartu is celebrated for its advanced metallurgy and unique script.
Flourishing from the 6th century BCE to the 11th century CE, the Sogdians were key players in the Silk Road trade.
Ancient Elam, existing from ca. 2700 to 539 BCE, was known for its unique script and rivalry with Mesopotamian civilizations.
Renowned for its terracotta sculptures, the Nok thrived in West Africa from around 1000 BCE to 500 CE.
The Zapotecs, from 500 BCE to 900 CE, built the city of Monte Albán and developed a unique calendar and writing system.
This culture, from 800 to 1600 CE, was known for its large earthen mounds, like those at Cahokia.
Present from 2600 to 1900 BCE, it's known for its advanced urban planning and undeciphered script.
Known from the 8th to the 3rd century BCE, Phrygia was famous for its legendary King Midas and rich cultural heritage.
One of the oldest in the Americas, Caral (2600 to 2000 BCE) is noted for its monumental architecture and urban planning.
Flourishing from 1st century BCE to 1st century CE, they're remembered for their resistance against Roman conquest.
Nomadic warriors of the 1st millennium BCE, the Scythians are noted for their skill in horseback archery and ornate gold work.
Flourishing in the 7th century BCE, Lydia is credited with introducing the first coined money.
Lasting from 1070 BCE to 350 CE, Kush was a major power in Northeast Africa, known for its pyramids and iron production.
Prosperous from ca. 1000 BCE to 275 CE, Sabaeans thrived on the spice trade and built the impressive Marib Dam.
Known for their gold work and the El Dorado legend, the Muisca thrived in the Andes from the 6th to the 16th century CE.
A naval and trading power from the 1st to the 7th century CE, Aksum's legacy includes towering obelisks and a conversion to Christianity.
Scattered across the Balkans from 1000 BCE to the 4th century CE, they're known for their fierce warriors and metal craftsmanship.
Famed in Egyptian records for its riches, Punt's exact location remains a mystery, but it was a known trading partner of ancient Egypt.
This Hellenistic state, from the 3rd to the 2nd century BCE, was an amalgamation of Greek and Central Asian cultures.
Lasting from 5500 to 2750 BCE, this culture is noted for its large settlements and intricate pottery.
Active between the 9th and 6th centuries BCE, Tartessos was known for its wealth in metals and trade with Phoenicians.
A maritime empire from the 1st to 6th centuries CE, Funan played a crucial role in the regional spice trade.
Flourishing from the 4th century BCE to 106 CE, the Nabateans are famous for carving the city of Petra into rock.
Known for their heavy cavalry and clashes with Rome, the Parthians ruled from 247 BCE to 224 CE.
Dating from 1200 to 400 BCE, the Olmecs are considered the "Mother Culture" of Mesoamerica, known for their colossal stone heads.
This powerful empire from 322 to 185 BCE, founded by Chandragupta Maurya, is remembered for its vast territory and Ashoka's Buddhist influence.
Thriving from 5700 to 4500 BCE, the Vinča people are celebrated for their advanced urban settlements and symbolic script, which is among the earliest forms of writing in Europe. Their pottery and figurines display a unique artistic style.
Sources: (Britannica) (ThoughtCo)
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Mysterious ancient civilizations you've probably never heard of
Exploring 30 forgotten societies and empires from antiquity
LIFESTYLE History
Imagine walking through the bustling streets of the Minoan Crete, marveling at the engineering triumphs of the Nabatean Kingdom, or unraveling the mysteries of the enigmatic script of the Vinča culture. These thriving civilizations played pivotal roles in human history yet remain largely overshadowed by their more famous counterparts.
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