Which Pharaoh abolished the ancient gods and the entire priesthood, creating his own god? Why did Egyptian workers go on mass strikes against the Pharaoh? How did Osiris become the ancient god of resurrection? How did the goddess Isis win a trial when she had been forbidden to enter the court? Which Babylonian princess is the first named writer in the world? Why is the Epic of Gilgamesh the first book of self-awareness in history? How could there have been Bluetooth in Viking Scandinavia? How did the Vikings reach America and what happened to those who arrived? Why did Thor dress as a bride and how did Odin lose his eye? The civilizations and mythologies of the world unfold their most fascinating stories.

[…] I attended his first class, I remember it was a Friday morning, and it was as if I had entered a time capsule with an IMAX screen. The stern, mustachioed elderly professor in front of the classroom blackboard was transforming into something else. How much he loved what he taught! How much he enjoyed sharing his science! I was enchanted. His slides and his way of describing what he was saying made us forget we were in class and eagerly await his next sentence.

What’s the funny thing?
Heinrich (yes, we called him by his first name) was from Hamelin, Germany. From the same place as the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Do you remember him? He was the piper who, with his magic flute, drove the mice out of the city, and when he wasn’t paid, he played his flute again and took the city’s children with him.
That’s how Heinrich enchanted us too.
With him, I discovered the magic of the heritage of northern Europe, that wherever there is humanity, there is archaeology, and every small story of people can become fascinating, and I can honestly confess that since then he was the only one whose lectures I never missed, and I would always look forward to those two hours on Friday.

Thank you, Heinrich, for those journeys.

• Pleasant presentation of historical events: The book combines history with humor, presenting events such as the revolution of Egyptian workers and their strike against the pharaoh, the story of Osiris and Isis, as well as the first named female writer of Babylon. 

• Multidimensional themes: It analyzes topics such as religion, society, politics, literature, and mythology, offering a comprehensive view of ancient civilizations.

• Accessibility for all: Papakostas' writing is clear and accessible, making it ideal for readers of all ages interested in history and mythology.

• Educational value: Despite the lightness of its style, the book provides reliable information and can be used as an educational tool for teaching ancient history and culture.

"IMAGINE A WATER CHANNEL crossing a field full of sand," I began to speak. "This is Egypt. In the vast, arid, dry Sahara, among endless sand dunes and dry expanses where life cannot thrive, there flowed a river that descended from the mountains of Africa, cut through the desert for thousands of kilometers, and reached the Mediterranean. Egypt is essentially a river and its banks. The Nile. The longest river on earth. On both sides of its banks, the land is irrigated and becomes extremely fertile for cultivation. And the Nile is a very regular and consistent river in its floods, which, in fact, coincide with the period needed for the proper cultivation of the land by people."

"That's something. The Nile is generous. Well-organized. A gentleman."
"Indeed. And there, on the banks of the Nile, the first prehistoric human communities developed, laying the foundations of Egyptian civilization. Ancient Egypt has a great advantage that makes it very easy to get to know. It has a very easily structured history.

Dr. Theodoros Papakostas is a modern archaeologist and author, known for his approach to communicating archaeology to the general public. He was born and raised in Thessaloniki and has studied at renowned universities in the UK and Greece. In 2017, he completed his PhD in classical archaeology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

In 2018, he created the project "Archaeostoryteller", aiming to familiarize the public with archaeology through social media and a popular podcast. His books, such as "Can All of Antiquity Fit in an Elevator" and "Archaeology My Love, Come Take Me from Here", have become best-sellers and have been translated into 12 languages.

Dr. Papakostas is also known for his appearances on television shows and his active presence on social media, promoting knowledge about antiquity in a modern and accessible way.