A granite boulder carved more than 35,000 years ago deep in a cave in Israel may be the oldest evidence of ritual practices in the Holy Land, a new study suggests. The grooves carved into the boulder look strikingly similar to the pattern of a tortoise shell. While it’s unknown what this design means, it’s […]
AFP Each theyyam performance is both a theatrical spectacle and an act of devotion For nearly 300 years, a family’s ancestral house in India’s southern state of Kerala has been the stage for theyyam, an ancient folk ritual. Rooted in ancient tribal traditions, theyyam predates Hinduism while weaving in Hindu mythology. Each performance is both […]
Researchers have found evidence of a hallucinogenic ritual that may have helped ancient Egyptians reenact a mythical story in which a dwarf god tricks the sky goddess. In a paper published Nov. 13 in the journal Scientific Reportsthe team reports finding the remains of a concoction that may have induced hallucinations in those who drank […]
King Charles has taken part in a traditional ritual in Samoa, drinking the ceremonial beverage kava, made from the root of a plant. He was also declared a “high chief” of the archipelago during his trip to the country. King Charles and Queen Camilla are on a three-day visit to Samoa ahead of the Commonwealth […]
