In the Geißenklösterle cave, located in the Swabian Jura near Blaubeuren, Germany, an exceptional piece of prehistoric art was discovered in 1979: a carved mammoth ivory plaque, dated between 35,000 and 32,000 years ago. Known as The Adorant (Der Adorant), this small work of art from the Upper Paleolithic is one of the most striking […]
Art
Posted inArt, Prehistory
Messengers Between Worlds in the Depths of Caves: Children Also Participated in the Creation of Prehistoric Art
Rock art is one of the most fascinating legacies of prehistoric societies. In caves in France and Spain, paintings up to 40,000 years old have been discovered, many of them in hard-to-reach areas and in conditions that we would today consider extreme. However, one aspect that has intrigued researchers is the presence of children in […]
Posted inAncient Greece, Art
The Extraordinary Chigi Olpe: The Oldest Depiction of the Judgment of Paris and the Formation of Hoplite Phalanxes
In 1882, in an Etruscan tomb near Veii, about 16 kilometers north of Rome, a Greek pitcher—an olpe—was discovered. It had remained hidden in a burial chamber that had been sealed off in antiquity due to a collapse, which allowed it to reach us in an exceptional state of preservation. It was not Etruscan but […]
Posted inArt, Classical Archaeology
“Pompeian Gray” Discovered in Pompeii Excavations: A Unique Color in the Roman World
A recent study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science has revealed the discovery of a new color in the chromatic repertoire of the Roman world: Pompeian Gray. This research, the result of collaboration between the Parco Archeologico di Pompei and various Italian universities, represents a significant advancement in understanding the painting techniques used in […]
Posted inArt, Stone Age Archaeology
Prehistoric Engravings Found in Marbella Could Precede the Oldest Cave Art by 100,000 Years
The city of Marbella (Málaga, Spain) has witnessed an archaeological discovery that could rewrite the history of prehistoric art on the Iberian Peninsula. In the Coto Correa site, located in Las Chapas, a team of experts has identified a stone block with engravings that could be over 200,000 years old. This finding, made as part […]
Posted inArt, Modern Era
Duwisib, an Unusual Medieval Castle in the Namibian Desert
The Schutztruppe (the colonial army of the German Empire) did not leave a good memory in German South West Africa, what is now Namibia, as it was responsible for the first genocide of the 20th century, against the native Herero and Namaqua people. However, Germany officially apologized in 2004, and today, one hundred and twenty […]
Posted inArt, Stone Age Archaeology
The Prehistoric Circle of Flagstones Dates Back to 3200 BC, Making It the Oldest in Britain and a Possible Model for Stonehenge
A recent archaeological study conducted at the prehistoric funerary site of Flagstones, located in Dorset, has revealed that this circular enclosure is the oldest known of its kind in Britain. Thanks to advanced radiocarbon analysis applied to human remains, red deer antlers, and charcoal found in the area, researchers have established that Flagstones was built […]
Posted inArt, Classical Archaeology
Paintings Depicting Grape Harvesting Scenes Discovered in Villa Cuomo, Buried by the Same Eruption That Destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum
Villa Cuomo, an archaeological gem discovered in 1974 in the town of Sant’Antonio Abate, continues to reveal its secrets. This ancient rural complex, located on Via Casa Salese, southeast of Pompeii, was buried under three meters of lapilli during the catastrophic eruption that destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 AD. Unlike other Roman villas in […]
Posted inArt, Modern Era
Havergal Brian, the Musician Who Composed the Longest Symphony in History Using Massive Scores with Oversized Staves
The world of music is full of curiosities and anecdotes, and classical music is no exception. One of its most remarkable figures is Havergal Brian, an English composer who holds the record for having written the longest symphony in history, lasting approximately two hours. It is titled Symphony No. 1 in D Minor because it […]
Posted inAncient Greece, Ancient Rome, Art
A Study Reveals That Greek and Roman Statues Were Not Only Painted and Adorned with Textiles and Jewelry but Also Perfumed
A recent study published in the Oxford Journal of Archaeology has revealed a little-explored aspect of ancient art: the use of perfumes and aromatic substances in Greco-Roman sculptures. This research, led by archaeologist Cecilie Brøns, proposes a new way of understanding classical art, challenging the traditional perception of sculpture as a purely visual art form. […]
