Absolutely, the ancient world had its own version of the family dinner table. In many cultures, elders would gather at the hearth or in the village square and weave oral histories into songs, myths, and simple narratives that everyone could follow. Those stories were often recited before meals or during festivals, ensuring that younger generations learned the same lore, the same values, and the same practical knowledge, all without written books. It was the same principle of storytelling to keep the past alive, just on a different scale and with a different rhythm.

I agree, it’s almost like a living archive that keeps growing. In ancient times they had similar rituals—sometimes a quiet evening by a fire, sometimes a larger communal gathering. The elders would pause, take a breath, and let the next generation ask questions. I find it fascinating how those stories were structured to allow the younger ones to ask, “What does that mean?” and then the elder would add details until the whole group understood. It’s a very deliberate, almost methodical way to ensure nobody is left out. And because the storytelling was interactive, it kept the memory fresh, which is why even today we see the same pattern in family gatherings. It’s almost as if the stories themselves were little books we carried, and we had to read them with our own hands.