Ancient Life

Stories about how people lived thousands of years ago, and the art they made

Featured Stories

See Persepolis as It Was 2500 Years Ago

Computer rendering of a large stone entryway of an ancient building flanked by two larger-than-life bull statues.

A new video recreates an ancient site

Army Life as an Ancient Roman Soldier

Copper alloy Roman legionary helmet

For the unprivileged, serving in the ancient Roman army was a path to wealth building, social climbing, and citizenship

Power in a Mummy Portrait

Look closely at this beautiful mummy portrait on display at the Getty Villa and you’ll find powerful signs of wealth, status, and beauty

Latest

  1. The Ancient Women Who Ruled Their Kingdoms

    A bracelet embedded with colorful, geometric glass pieces around a central figure with wings and wearing a large headdress.

    Long before modern conversations about gender and power, Nubia offered a unique model

    Mar 4, 2026

  2. What Is the Egyptian Book of the Dead?

    Detail from fragmentary papyrus shows markings and symbols

    Taking a deeper look at a little-known part of Getty's collections

    Mar 3, 2026

  3. Getty's Egyptian Book of the Dead Lives Again

    Ancient Egyptian papyrus featuring columns of hieroglyphics surrounding a central image of a seated pharaoh and human-animal hybrids.

    The exhibition, previously shown in 2023, features Getty's Book of the Dead manuscripts

    Feb 23, 2026

  4. Explore the Faces of Ancient Roman Egypt in Getty’s New Volume on Mummy Portraits

    Mummy Portraits of Roman Egypt, Volume 2: Emerging Research from the APPEAR Project book cover

    This open-access publication brings together global expertise and groundbreaking research to scholars and the public worldwide

    Feb 9, 2026

  5. Discover Eight Millennia of Nubian Art and Architecture

    Ancient Nubian Art: A History book cover

    Rita E. Freed’s new book redefines Nubia’s legacy—revealing its creative brilliance and cultural power beyond Egypt’s shadow

    Feb 9, 2026

  6. Get Crafty with These Roman-Inspired Holiday DIYs

    A collection of DIY crafts sits on a wooden table in front of two children who use crayons to color while an adult watches over them

    Whether you’re feeling generous or just looking for something to do during your kids' winter break, we’ve got you covered

    Dec 18, 2025

  7. Getty’s Villa Theater Lab Presents Thieves of California

    Against a background of an orange poppy field sits a silhouette of the state of California along with the words "Thieves of California" in white text with a graphic sword through the middle.

    The workshop performances will take place November 15 and 16

    Nov 3, 2025

  8. Get Drawn Into Getty’s Newest Exhibition

    Chalk sketch of a colonnade with various busts and statues; in the distance, a figure can be seen on the ground, sketching.

    Learning to Draw shows how artists developed their skills by studying works of art, live subjects, and the world around them

    Oct 7, 2025

  9. Dab a Little 3,000-Year-Old Greek Civilization on Your Wrist

    A man in glasses holds a scent strip near several floating bottles of perfume, appearing to evaluate the fragrances.

    Perfumer Michael Nordstrand distilled ancient Pylos into two scents for the Getty Villa Museum. One ingredient was originally raked from goats’ beards in Crete

    Oct 6, 2025

  10. Would You Survive a Medieval Road Trip?

    A game kiosk in front of a background that reads "Follow the Pilgrimage Road"

    Getty’s new computer game time-travels to the 14th century (and the 1980s)

    Sep 30, 2025