Ancient Template is a free, two-column blog layout built with plain HTML and CSS, published by Templatemo and designed with a wooden red header and dark gray main background.
What is Ancient Template?
Ancient Template is a free HTML/CSS website template for blogs, available from Templatemo since 27 August 2010. It provides a static page structure with a main content column and a sidebar, making it suitable for article-style websites. Because it is built with only HTML and CSS, it can be hosted on any static web server without server-side dependencies. The template has been viewed over 109,000 times and downloaded more than 22,000 times from Templatemo.
Key Features
- 2-column blog layout — The layout separates main content from a sidebar, ideal for blog posts, widgets, and navigation.
- Wooden red header background — The header uses a distinctive wooden texture with red tones, giving the site a rustic look.
- Dark gray main background — The body background is dark gray, providing high contrast for the content area.
- 100% free and editable — You may download, modify, and use the template for commercial or non-commercial sites at no cost.
- Static HTML/CSS — No frameworks, CMS, or build process required; files can be edited in any text editor and opened directly in a browser.
- Templatemo distribution — The template is hosted on Templatemo, which includes a live view, full-size screenshot, and ZIP download.
Who should use Ancient Template?
- Beginner web developers — Learn how a 2-column layout is structured by examining the HTML and CSS files.
- Small business owners — Quickly launch a simple blog for company news or product updates without investing in a paid theme.
- Freelancers — Use the layout as a starting point for client projects that require a minimal, straightforward design.
- Students — Experiment with customizing colors and header backgrounds to understand how CSS affects the overall look.
Use cases
- Personal bloggers: create a journal or hobby blog with a unique wooden header and dark theme.
- Publishers: adapt the layout for a news or review site where the sidebar can hold recent posts or categories.
- Developers: embed the static pages into a larger website or add a PHP contact form script, as linked from the template page.
How does it work?
Download the ZIP file from the Templatemo page, extract it, and open the HTML file in a browser. To customize, edit the CSS to change colors and layout, and replace the sample text in the HTML with your own content. Then upload the files to any static hosting service.
Pricing
Ancient Template is free to download and use. No payment is required for personal or commercial projects, and you are allowed to edit the files.
Alternatives
- 251 Clean Blog — a 2-column blog layout that includes 5 pages and is advertised as adaptable for blogging CMSs.
- 252 Active — a full-site template with 5 pages featuring a beige background and light green header.
- 248 World — a template with a world map header that includes 5 pages and a dark theme.
FAQ
Is Ancient Template free?
Yes, the template is 100% free to download. The Templatemo page states that you are allowed to download, edit, and use it for commercial or non-commercial sites.
Can I use Ancient Template for a commercial website?
Yes, the license permits commercial use. You can modify the template as needed for your own projects.
What colors does Ancient Template use?
The template features a wooden red header background and a dark gray main background, giving it a distinctive rustic and moody appearance.
What files are included in the download?
While the page does not list individual files, the download is a ZIP archive that includes the HTML and CSS files needed to run the static template.
Does Ancient Template require a CMS or framework?
No, it is a plain HTML/CSS layout. It does not depend on a CMS, server-side code, or build tools.
