Byzantine Empire
History
The Blood Prophesy of the Byzantine Emperors
During his reign, Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos was transfixed with a prophecy that foretold the survival of his dynasty depended on adherence to the acronym "AIMA." AIMA is also the Greek word for "blood".
Anxious for the survival of...
Ancient Greece
Greek Fire: The Weapon That Protected the Byzantine Empire
Greek fire was a mysterious incendiary weapon that helped the mighty Byzantine Empire survive and ensure its vast sovereignty for centuries
History
Digenes Akritas, Hero of the Byzantine Borderlands
Digenes Akritas (Διγενής Ακρίτας) is one of the only surviving epic poems from the Byzantine/Eastern Roman Empire. It tells the story of the titular character, Basileios, dubbed Digenes Akritas, meaning "two-blood border lord."
The epic poem is part of the...
Culture
Hagia Sophia: The Center of Greek Orthodox Faith Through the Ages
The Hagia Sophia remains the symbolic center of Greek Orthodoxy, even centuries after its fall to the Ottomans and its conversion to a mosque.
Greek church
How Did the Byzantines (Eastern Romans) Celebrate Christmas?
In the fourth century AD, the Romans abandoned the Classical pagan pantheon for Christianity. This meant swapping Saturnalia festivities for Christmas celebrations. From these early beginnings, the surviving Byzantine Empire would inherit and modify its own Christmas traditions.
As the...
Ancient Greece
Athens Tower of the Winds is World’s Oldest Meteorological Station
The Tower of the Winds in Athens is the oldest meteorological station in the world, and one of the most important ancient monuments in Greece
Greek News
Byzantine Army: The World’s Most Formidable Multi-Ethnic Force
The Byzantine Army was among the most powerful and effective military forces in the world from the 7th to the 12th centuries.
Starting to operate around 395 AD, the army of Byzantium was a continuation of the mighty East Roman...
Archaeology
Buried Treasure of 44 Byzantine Gold Coins Found in Israel
Archaeologists in Israel have discovered a treasure of 44 Byzantine gold coins and other valuables hidden in a wall at the Hermon Stream (Banias) Nature Reserve.
Weighing about 170 grams, the coins from the hoard were minted by the Byzantine...
Culture
The Legend of the Last Byzantine Emperor, Constantine Palaiologos
In 1453, the Ottomans seized Constantinople, ending the Byzantine Empire and the life of its last emperor, Constantine Palaiologos.
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...