History
Archaeology
The Biggest Basilica Cistern of Constantinople Re-opens
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The biggest Byzantine Basilica Cistern in Constantinople opens its doors once again after five years of renovation. For a long time, it was an unknown construction to the Ottoman residents of the city.
By Dimosthenis Vasiloudis
The Basilica Cistern is one...
Ancient Greece
Entire Ancient Greek City of Ephesus is UNESCO Heritage Site
Ephesus, an ancient Greek city on the coast of Ionia, is one of the greatest archaeological treasures on Earth, with the entire city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The great city, which went through endless transformations over the...
Archaeology
40,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Cave Chamber Discovered in Gibraltar
Professor Clive Finlayson, an evolutionary biologist who is the director of the Gibraltar National Museum, recently led a team of experts along the shore of the eponymous Rock, finding a Neanderthal cave that was inhabited long ago.
They ended up...
Archaeology
Nearly-Intact Pompeii Chariot Among the Greatest Archaeological Finds
The Pompeii chariot, once drawn by four horses as part of splendid ceremonies, was one of the greatest archaeological finds of the entire year of 2021 in the city destroyed nearly two thousand years ago in a cataclysmic volcanic...
Ancient Greece
Gate to Temple of Zeus Unearthed in Magnesia, Asia Minor
The ancient Greek city of Magnesia in Asia Minor, now part of Turkey's Aydin province, was home to a spectacular stadium, temples, and other monuments; it has now exposed another of its ancient treasures—the gate to a temple dedicated...
Greece
What Starving Greeks Ate During the Nazi Occupation
It is a lingering nightmare for the few remaining survivors: memories of the suffering, starvation, and widespread death during the time of the Nazi occupation of Greece between April 1941 and October 1944.
As German forces marched into Athens in...
Ancient Greece
A Lesson in Immigration Policy from the Cradle of Democracy
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Of all the ancient Greek cities, Athens was the most prominent. It was there that the main thinkers, philosophers, and authors who contributed to the development of Western culture as we know it today lived and worked.
By Alastair Blanshard
Those...
Greece
The Place of Byzantium in World History
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Byzantium served as an important link between antiquity and the Renaissance, and much of Greek theology and thought can be traced back to the Byzantine Empire.
by Alexander Billinis
The summer is ending. In some jurisdictions, school has already started, and,...
Archaeology
Greeks Are Descendants of the Mycenaeans, DNA Study Confirms
DNA evidence suggests that living Greeks are indeed descendants of the ancient Mycenaeans, who ruled Greece from 1,600 BC to 1,200 BC.
Ancient Greece
When Lord Elgin Removed the First Sculptures from the Parthenon
Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin and ambassador of England in Constantinople, stole precious ancient sculptures from the Parthenon to take to England in the late summer of 1801, marking the beginning of the long dispute of their...
Ancient Greece
What Happened to Achilles After the Iliad?
Achilles, the main character of the Iliad, remains one of the emblematic heroes of Greek mythology and modern literature for his bravery and fierceness in avenging the death of his best friend, Patroclus.
Homer's epic poem, along with The Odyssey,...
Greece
The Greek Jew of Thessaloniki Who Turned Executioner for the Nazis
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This is the story of a Greek Jew of Thessaloniki called Vital Hasson who collaborated with the Nazis during WWII.
By Sarah Abrevaya Stein
I learned a lesson when conducting research for my recently published book, Family Papers: a Sephardic Journey...
Ancient Greece
The Ancient Greek Goddess Chimera Embodied Fear of Females
The Greek goddess Chimera, was a monstrous composition of disparate parts that embodied an ancient fear of females.
Culture
Legends About What Lies Under Hagia Sophia
The former Basilica of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul (Constantinople) is the undisputed symbolic center of the Greek Orthodox faith, hosting millions of visitors, who are awed by its great religious, historical, and architectural importance, each year.
From 537 to 1453,...
Ancient Greece
The Deadliest Femme Fatales in Ancient Greek Mythology
There are many strong and powerful women, or femme fatales, who became known for their ruthlessness and cunning ways in Greek mythology, such as Circe, Clytemnestra, and Medea.
These women were powerful and often deadly forces despite the fact that Greek...