A group of researchers from the National Technical University of Athens has conducted an ambitious geophysical study to unravel the hidden mysteries beneath the Temple of Olympian Zeus, one of the most iconic structures of ancient Greece. The research, driven by the need to restore and preserve this historical heritage, has yielded fascinating results combining […]
Athens
Posted inAncient Greece, Art
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 […]
Posted inAncient Greece
The Intriguing Magic Sphere that Was Found at the Foot of the Acropolis of Athens
Although at first glance one might think that the figure represented on the 30-centimeter-diameter marble sphere preserved in the Acropolis Museum in Athens is the Statue of Liberty, in reality, the idea it represents is much older. The geometric symbols carved on the sides of the image and above it add a bit more mystery […]
Posted inAncient Greece
Chares, the Athenian General who Held Power to Enrich Himself and his Supporters without Ever Winning a Major Battle
Brave to the point of recklessness, especially when it came to excessively exposing his own physical integrity during combat, Chares of Athens was a general who never enjoyed prestige or popular favor. The reason lies in his shady personality: not only did he not hide but boasted of his libertine behavior, he lacked scruples, did […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
The Mystery of the Hekatompedon: A Rock Carving by an Ancient Shepherd Gives Clues About an Unknown Building on the Acropolis
In the hills to the north and east of Vari in Attica lies a surprising testament to the life and art of the ancient Greeks: more than 2000 rock carvings on marble rocks dating back to the 6th century BC offer a glimpse into the daily activities and concerns of the shepherds who roamed these […]
Posted inMiddle Ages
Cyriacus of Ancona, the Italian Humanist Considered the Father of Archaeology Who Identified the Pyramids and the Parthenon
Although the German Johann Joachim Winckelmann is generally considered the father of modern archaeology, it’s important to note that this science didn’t suddenly appear in the 18th century but had roots hundreds of years earlier, particularly in the Italian Renaissance, which revived Greco-Roman artistic and cultural classicism. Consequently, one might call one of those multidisciplinary […]
Posted inAncient Greece
Lamian War, the Conflict that Marked the End of Athens’ Independence and the Decline of Greek City-States
322 B.C. was one of the most disastrous years in the history of Athens, if not the worst. Two of its most distinguished sons, the philosophers Demosthenes and Hyperides, died within a week, and thousands of Athenians followed them to that tragic fate due to a severe famine. Eleven thousand others were stripped of their […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
One of the Herculaneum Papyri Indicates the Exact Location of Plato’s Grave: in a Garden Next to the Museion, in the Academy
More than 1,000 words, accounting for 30% of the text, have emerged from the carbonized papyrus of Herculaneum, containing the History of the Academy by Philodemus of Gadara (110-40 BCE), thanks to the technological approach of innovative research methodologies used in the GreekSchools project. This project is coordinated by Graziano Ranocchia from the University of […]
Posted inAncient Greece, Art
The Lion of Piraeus, the Sculpture that Guarded the Entrance to the Port of Athens and is Engraved with Norse Runes
One of the most representative symbols of the city of Athens is known as the “Lion of Piraeus”. It is an imposing marble sculpture in the shape of a lion, standing over three meters tall, which for centuries has guarded the entrance to the port of Piraeus. However, the current one is a copy of […]
Posted inModern Era
When Olympic Glory met the Art of Pistol Dueling in the Games’ Historic Past
Since Pierre de Coubertin revived the Olympic Games from ancient Greece in 1896, they have been held almost continuously every four years (with exceptions in 1916, 1940, and 1944 due to world wars). In each edition, changes and additions to the list of admitted sports, whether competitive or exhibition, are often considered. A glimpse into […]
