Introduction (Updated Version)

The creators of this Web site are Emily Alsobrook-Kayton (President, AncientWorldGifts.com) and Brad Kayton (Editor-in-Chief).  If you contact us, you might also talk with Scott, Keith, Tom, Anancie, or others, but probably Emily or me.  We are both avid history and culture readers, graduate-degreed world travelers, and enterpreneurs, so we've decided to "do what we love" and are now building and growing a Web site for history and culture lovers.  Moreover, the "Kayton" name is replete with historical significance going far back in history (see previous blog logs), so I have always felt a connection to western cultural tradition and our history.  And since everyone loves gifts, we are starting off here with gift sets.  We are selling unique gift sets on our favorite historical eras.  For now.  In the near future, after the holiday shopping season, we will be selling and bartering unique and historical goods and antiques.  If you don't want to buy at our site, that is fine, then please just browse and enjoy.  And send us an email or drop us a line.  So, what's your favorite time period in history?

--Brad Kayton, Editor, October 3, 2005
brad@AncientWorldGifts.com

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Some Favorite Stories From the Ancient World:

1) House cats "invented" in Egypt's Middle Kingdom

The story of cats as pets in ancient Egypt is an interesting one.  The ancient Egyptians had numerous different types of pets - monkeys, ducks, geese, pigeons, hoopoes, falcons, cats, dogs and even ferrets (to keep the granaries free of vermin).  Cats seem to have been domesticated during the Middle Kingdom from the wild cats in the Delta or the Western Desert. There were two main species indigenous to Egypt - the jungle cat and the African wild cat. Cats were both pets and symbols of cat deities, such as Bast.  The earliest evidence of cats kept as pets was in a Pre-dynastic tomb at Mostagedda. The Egyptian word for 'cat' was the sound that the cats made - myw - meow! It was during the Late Period that sacred cats were mummified in large numbers, and placed in underground galleries such as at Per-Bast (Bubastis).

2) The taming and significance of "Bucephelus" the horse

Alexander the Great had a horse, Bucephelus, and the two were in seperable from the time they first met.  The initial meeting has become legend.  Alexander's father, Macedonian king Philip II, was desperately trying to tame a wild horse one Spring day.  Although Alexander was only 12 years old he had noticed that the horse was shying away from his own shadow. Alexander gently led the horse into the sun so that his shadow was behind him. Eventually this powerful beast allowed Alexander to ride him, much to the public humiliation of Philip. Philip gained face by commenting "Look thee out a kingdom equal to and worthy of thyself, for Macedonia is too little for thee". Alexander named the horse Bucephalus because the horse's head seemed "as broad as a bulls".  Alexander went on to conquer the known world, with Bucephalus as his riding companion the whole way.  Bucephalus, the mighty stallion, died of battle wounds in 326B.C in Alexander's last battle. Alexander founded the city of Bucephala (thought to be the modern town of Jhelum, Pakistan) in memory of his wonderful horse.

3) The story of the She-wolf in ancient Rome

According to the Roman mythology, the founders of Rome were Romulus and Remus. As infants though, the twin-brothers were snatched by their evil uncle, Amulius, who feared they would grow up to overthrow him, since they were the rightful rulers of the village.  Amulius had them placed in a trough and thrown into the River Tiber. At that time the river was in flood, and when the waters fell, the trough, still containing the two boys, came ashore. They were found by a she-wolf, who instead of killing them, looked after them and fed them with her milk (the she-wolf was helped by a woodpecker who brought them food too). Romulus and Remus were eventually discovered by Faustulus, a shepherd, who brought the children to his home. Faustulus and his wife, Acca, raised the boys as their own.  The twins went on to found the city of Rome, in the same spot they were nursed by the She-wolf as babies. 
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Book Review: Rubicon, a book by Tom Holland

I chose Rubicon as the center-piece of the Roman gift set for adults because it is a satisfying read for both beginners and experts alike.  I know the details of the Roman transitional period at the level of a history professor, but I pleasantly learned many new things in this book.  The author, Tom Holland, presents well-researched history that reads like a novel, fascinating and educating for those who don’t know the details of ancient Rome while simultaneously providing lively and fresh perspective for those who are well-versed in the story of the Roman revolution.  Focusing on the pivotal years just before and during the life of Julius Caesar, when the most powerful empire the world had ever seen transitioned from a republic to a military monarchy, this book takes the reader on a colorful journey back in time retracing the background and events of the Roman revolution.  This era falls in the middle of the thousand year rise and fall of ancient Rome and produced, arguably, the most dynamic characters in all its history. 

I like how Anthony Everitt (author of Cicero) put it in his review of the book:

“This gripping narrative resurrects some of the half-forgotten personalities and events that shaped who we are...It enables the reader to relive teh slow, boodstrained collapse of a system, not only as a fascinating drama in its own right, but as a morality tale.”

This is a good book, I can't see how anyone wouldn't like it.

--Brad Kayton, 11/29/05
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