Robert R. Cargill

For many, the names Bethlehem, Babylon, and Jerusalem are known as the setting for epic stories from the Bible featuring rustic mangers, soaring towers, and wooden crosses. What often gets missed is that these cities are far more than just the setting for the Bible and its characters-they were instrumental to the creation of the Bible as we know it today. Robert Cargill, Assistant Professor of Classics and Religious Studies at the University of...

Ancient cultures around the world have aroused fascination, and provoked fear with curses and objects used to conjure them like rings, tablets, and stones. But is there proof that some might have actually worked?

Most of the world's holiest places sit in plain sight, able to be seen and experienced. But there are some hidden deep underground.

England's Stonehenge and the Moai statues of Easter Island have inspired awe for centuries. But will we ever fully understand how and why these ancient sacred structures came to be?

The legendary treasures of the Copper Scroll, King Solomon's mines, and the Syamantaka Gem have captivated the world for centuries. But could these vast fortunes still be out there, waiting to be discovered?

Biblical prophecies are said to be messages and warnings sent from God, but what do they really foretell? Can they be decoded and used to predict mankind's future?

Millions of people around the world look to the Bible for moral guidance about marriage, faith and family. But could the Bible contain contradictions, or hidden meanings, that challenge our beliefs about what is right--and what is wrong.

It is considered the most sacred place on Earth. But it has also been carved up, sub-divided and fought over for thousands of years. Was the area known as "The Promised Land" really given by God to a "chosen people?"

As the Roman Empire continues to expand, so does the diversity of exotic beasts brought back to entertain the Colosseum crowds. Over a million animals are slaughtered on the sands of the arena by trained beast masters, none more famous than Carpophorus.

When the mighty Emperor Trajan throws his great games of 107 AD, the crowd is treated to a rare spectacle: female gladiators. The combatants are typically prisoners of war, but in one game, a Roman woman named Mevia makes history.