Ancients in Their Own Words

From menus to monuments, from gladiators to graffiti, the Ancients in Their Own Words app brings four civilizations of the ancient world to life through their own inscriptions, whether written by a senator or a sentry, a warrior or a waitress.


Each of the four parts—Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Mesopotamians—describes a variety of ancient items, with each entry featuring an image of the original inscription, a modern translation, and a background history with color photographs and artworks that put the ancient words into context and explain their significance.


Ranging from the first map of the world to early alphabets, from the freeing of slaves to mythology, and from the Rosetta Stone to the Egyptian Book of the Dead, the four parts of the Ancients in Their Own Words app build to more than 200 pages of text, 200 images, and a fascinating history. Each app also includes a special keyboard feature where users can email messages to friends in ancient alphabets: choose from Sumerian, Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, Greek or Latin.


Through these inscriptions, the reader is taken back across thousands of years to understand the worlds and words of ancient politicians and generals, philosophers and writers, and the concerns of everyday people, many of which still seem familiar to us today. You will learn how the Ancient Egyptians prepared for the afterlife, how people voted in ancient Greece, how people were mourned their dead, and what medicines were used in ancient civilizations.


Each part of the app covering a specific civilization is available as an in-app purchase. Collect all four for an amazing insight into the ancient world and our ancient ancestors!