Byzantine
Archaeology
The Hidden Ruins of Byzantine Constantinople in Today’s Istanbul
The ruins of Byzantine culture in Constantinople remain intact to this day reminding the World of the great Byzantine Empire of centuries ago
Ancient Greece
How Byzantine Architecture Influenced the World
Despite relative obscurity in Western historiography, Byzantine architecture has had a profound influence across the world. The Byzantines, also known as the Eastern Romans, developed a distinctive architectural style that has continued to influence construction to this day.
Not limited...
Archaeology
Ancient Skulls Found in Greece Show Signs of Complex Surgery
An ancient skull that was discovered recently by anthropologists in the Paliokastro area of the island of Thasos, Greece shows signs of complicated surgery.
The skull, which dates from the early Byzantine period -- the fourth to the seventh century...
Ancient Greece
Varangian Guard, the Vikings of the Byzantine Empire
The Vikings were seafaring from Scandinavia. They most famously raided in and around the British Isles and the western coasts of Europe. However, what many people do not know is that they were active much further east, too. They...
Greece
Lousios Gorge: A Hike in Arcadia, Greece
Lousios Gorge has been inhabited for centuries in Greece, mainly by hermits and monks who lived in caves. Two monasteries located near the gorge remain open to visitors: Philosophou and Timiou Prodromou (St. John the Baptist).
The historian Pausanias described...
Culture
Rotunda in Thessaloniki: The Oldest Surviving Church in Greece
The Rotunda, built by Roman emperor Galerius in 306 AD, is the oldest of Thessaloniki's churches and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It was built at the turning point between the pagan and Christian world, probably as a temple for...
Fashion
Chanel Brings Byzantine Gold Back for Fall-Winter
As summer comes to a close, the Byzantine aesthetic and its association with opulent gold is one of the continuing inspirations behind recent fashion trends.
Chanel just presented its new eyeshadow palette "Byzance" with its shimmering gold colors. None of...
Art
The Regal Crowns of the Byzantine Emperors
From 330 AD, when Constantine the Great proclaimed his new city the capital of the Roman Empire, the emperors ruled from Constantinople until the city fell in 1453. The modern historiographical term "Byzantines" for the Eastern Roman Empire is...
Greece
Two Majestic Greek Towns with Historic Castles
Methoni and Koroni, two quintessential Greek seaside towns, are home to Venetian castles, countless pristine sandy beaches, and lush landscapes.
The two towns are intertwined in myriad ways although they are approximately a thirty minute drive away from each other,...
Food
Tavuk Gogsu, Kazandibi and its Roman-Byzantine Origins
Tavuk gogsu literally means chicken breast in Turkish. This dessert, which very few people know about and even fewer know how to prepare, is the ancestor of the much more famous Kazandibi.
A thick cream made from chicken, milk and...