In the history of humanity, early settlements provide a fascinating glimpse into the development of civilization. One such place is Poliochne (in Greek Πολιόχνη), an ancient city located on the eastern coast of the island of Lemnos in the Aegean Sea. Considered the oldest city in Europe, Poliochne flourished during the Late Copper Age and […]
Antiquity
The Bronze Fragments That Allowed the Reconstruction of the Celtic Calendar
In November 1897, Alphonse Roux, a farmer, discovered what appeared to be a cloth bag, whose fibers had dissolved over time, buried about 30 centimeters underground while working in a field at a place called Verpoix in the municipality of Coligny (in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France). Inside, there were 550 bronze fragments. The pieces, […]
The Mosaic of the House of the Birds in Italica is the Most Complete and Varied Avian Representation in the Roman World
Located in the archaeological site of Itálica, in Seville (Spain), the so-called House of the Birds houses one of the most unique mosaics of Roman Hispania. This work of art, dating from the second half of the 2nd century AD, is a reflection of both the artistic virtuosity of the time and the fascination the […]
The Mystery of the Priest of Cádiz: An Iron Age Statuette Combining Phoenician, Egyptian, and Iberian Traditions
In 1928, the bustling city of Cádiz in southern Spain witnessed a remarkable archaeological discovery that added to those already made in previous years. During the foundation work for the Telefónica building, five meters deep, a small bronze and gold figure emerged, soon to be known as the Priest of Cádiz, an extraordinary object now […]
Saalburg, The Largest Roman Fort of the Limes Germanicus
Bad Homburg is a wealthy German city whose economic prosperity owes much to its proximity to Frankfurt, attracting many business executives who have chosen it as their place of residence. These residents are drawn by its princely atmosphere, which originated from the presence of a spa with mineral waters and a casino. However, its tourist […]
The Syriac Sanctuary of the Janiculum: An Enigma of Lost Cults and Deities in Trastevere, Rome
Nestled in the heart of the Trastevere district, at the foot of Villa Sciarra and on the historic Janiculan hill, lies one of Rome’s most enigmatic archaeological discoveries: the Syriac Sanctuary. This 4th-century AD structure, built over remnants of earlier buildings dating back to the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, reveals a microcosm of religious […]
How Ashurbanipal Destroyed Babylon, Whose King Was His Own Elder Brother
And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen…” Revelation, 14:08 This verse from the Bible likely sounds familiar to many; it refers to the conquest of the Mesopotamian city by Cyrus the Great and the Persians in 539 BCE, the year they ended a period of Babylonian splendor led by Nebuchadnezzar […]
The Legacy of the Roman Empire in Germany: A Surprising Study Reveals How It Influences the Current Well-Being of Regions
A recent study published in Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology has shown that Roman rule, which occurred over two thousand years ago, continues to leave deep marks on regions in southern Germany. The work, led by Martin Obschonka and an international team of researchers, analyzes how Roman occupation shaped the psychological traits and […]
Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus: The Rivalry of Two Roman Centurions as Told by Julius Caesar
We know the names of very few Roman centurions and legionaries, mostly those found on inscriptions and commemorative steles, along with a few mentioned in written sources. However, there are two whose names are so well-known that they even appear as characters in several television series and historical novels about ancient Rome. Their names were […]
The Sanctuary of the Nympholyptos on Mount Hymettus, a cave filled with reliefs and inscriptions created by a sculptor possessed by the nymphs in the 5th century BCE
In the heart of the Attica region in Greece, nestled among the majestic hills of Mount Hymettus, lies an enigmatic place that has witnessed the passage of time and the devotion of ancient peoples. The Cave of the Nympholyptos is an archaeological site of exceptional historical and cultural importance. Surrounded by myths and sculptures carved […]