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The British Isles are steeped in history, and one of the most fascinating periods is that of the ancient Celts. These people were known for their distinctive culture and art, as well as their fierce warriors. Many of the tracks and trails they used to navigate the landscape can still be found today, offering a…
The Russian Orthodox Church is a branch of the Eastern Orthodox Church, which is one of the oldest Christian churches in the world. It is the largest and most influential religious organization in Russia, with millions of followers throughout the country and beyond. The Church has played a vital role in the development of Russian…
The Road to Rome is a journey of discovery that has been undertaken by countless pilgrims throughout the centuries. The route begins in northern France and winds its way across western Europe to Rome, taking in some of the continent’s most beautiful and historically significant sites. The Road to Rome is a journey that has…
The journey to the Holy Land is not only a religious pilgrimage but also an opportunity to explore the rich history and culture that shaped our world. Starting in Istanbul, Turkey, a medieval staging post for pilgrims to the Holy Land, the journey takes us through various historical sites and significant locations that hold great…
For over 1.8 billion Muslims around the world, the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is of utmost importance when it comes to daily prayers. The direction, called the Qibla, is believed to be the focal point towards which Muslims must face while performing their obligatory five daily prayers. However, recent scientific findings…
Introduction The Dead Sea Scrolls are one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. Discovered in 1947 in the Qumran caves near the Dead Sea, these ancient documents offer a glimpse into the religious and cultural life of the people who lived in the region over 2,000 years ago. In this article,…
Islamic art and architecture is a remarkable and unique aspect of world heritage. It spans over a thousand years and covers an extensive geographic area, from Spain to India, and from Central Asia to sub-Saharan Africa. It is characterized by an incredible diversity of styles, forms, and motifs, reflecting the cultural, social, and religious traditions…
On a desolate mountain top in California lives the world’s oldest organism – a gnarled and twisted bristlecone pine. The Methuselah tree, named after the Biblical figure who lived to be the oldest man on earth, is estimated to be over 4,800 years old. It has witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations, survived wars…
The Anasazi, also known as the Ancient Pueblo People, were a Native American tribe that lived in the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States from around 200 BCE to 1300 CE. They were known for their advanced architecture, agriculture, and art, but new discoveries have revealed a dark and gruesome side to their…
In 1980, a bulldozer working on a construction site in Jerusalem made a stunning discovery: a first-century tomb. Inside the tomb, ten ossuaries were found, six of which had inscriptions on them. These inscriptions included names like Jesus son of Joseph, Maria, Mariamene (believed to be Mary Magdalene), Joseph, Matthew, and Judah son of Jesus….
The Phoenicians were a great civilization that emerged around 1500 BC in the eastern Mediterranean, encompassing parts of modern-day Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. They were renowned for their seafaring skills and innovations, including the invention of the alphabet and modern navigation techniques. However, they were also infamous for their supposed practice of child sacrifice. The…
The pyramids of Egypt are one of the most iconic structures in the world. They have fascinated people for centuries and continue to do so to this day. While much is known about the pyramids themselves, there is still much that remains a mystery, particularly when it comes to their placement. The question of why…
Emperor Nero is one of the most infamous figures in Roman history. Born in 37 AD, he ascended to the throne at the young age of 16 and ruled for 14 years until his death in 68 AD. He is often remembered as a tyrant who murdered his own mother, persecuted Christians, and famously “fiddled…
The ancient Romans were known for their power, brutality, and refinement. While violent games and bloodshed were part of their culture, so too were lavish banquets and extreme sensuality. Food and cooking were important indicators of success, with the quality and abundance of dishes being the primary measure. As the first and largest European civilization,…
Nestled in the rolling hills of Shropshire, the picturesque village of Bitterley appears to be the epitome of rural charm. But beneath its quaint exterior lies a mystery that has puzzled historians for years: why are the village church and manor house located so far apart? The village’s school and cottages are clustered around a…
Two hundred years ago, Swansea was one of the wealthiest cities in the country, if not the world. The source of those riches was neither the coal nor the steel recently associated with the area, but copper. The Welsh town was at the forefront of the global copper industry in the 19th century, exporting the…
In 1918, Frederick Bligh Bond published a book titled ‘The Gate of Remembrance’ in which he detailed the excavations he had carried out at Glastonbury Abbey. However, it wasn’t just the discoveries that made the book famous; it was the claim that he had been guided by the spirits of dead monks who had communicated…
In the heart of rural England, a team of archaeologists have been unearthing the secrets of a medieval blast furnace, shedding light on the technology and industry that powered the country’s industrial revolution. The story begins with a test pit dug on a farm in the village of Buxton, Derbyshire, which uncovered traces of iron…
Romanticized depictions of the explorer Hernando de Soto often paint his arrival in North America as one of the most important events in the history of mankind. However, the reality of de Soto’s impact on the indigenous peoples of the region is much darker. As archaeologists continue to study his trail of death and destruction,…
The discovery of a human skeleton in a cave in the Neander valley near Dusseldorf, Germany, in 1856 sparked a lengthy dispute over its origins. The skull of the skeleton had a low, protruding brow, large teeth, and a massive bone structure. This led to a question: did the Neanderthal man represent an abnormal modern…
The Great Zimbabwe, the largest pre-colonial structure in sub-Saharan Africa, has long been a subject of fascination and wonder for archaeologists, historians, and travelers alike. The enigmatic ruins of the city, which have been dated to the 11th century AD, still bear witness to a once-great civilization that was believed to have been lost to…
The ancient Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts is one of the most enduring tales of adventure and heroism. The story tells of Jason and his crew of brave men, who set out on a perilous journey to find the legendary Golden Fleece. But how much of this story is based on historical fact,…
For nearly 2,000 years, the details surrounding one of the bloodiest battles of antiquity have been shrouded in doubt and mystery. But ongoing excavations in Germany’s Teutoburg Forest are finally revealing the truth about the ambush that led to the downfall of an arrogant Roman general and three of Rome’s crack legions in 9 AD….
For centuries, the biblical account of the Israelites’ conquest of the Promised Land has been accepted as historical fact. However, recent archaeological findings are challenging this long-held belief. These discoveries suggest that the conquest described in the Book of Joshua may never have occurred in the way it was recorded. According to the new archaeological…
Masada, an isolated flat-topped rock fortress in the Judean Desert, has captured the imagination of Israelis and visitors to the country for decades. The site was excavated from 1963 to 1965, revealing the magnificent palace-fortress of King Herod the Great of Judea and the tragic evidence of the unsuccessful attempt by Jewish rebels to prevent…
In 1865, a group of Welsh settlers arrived in Patagonia, Argentina, seeking a new life and the chance to establish a Welsh-speaking community in South America. Among the settlers was Catherine Roberts, who tragically died shortly after her arrival. For over a century, her final resting place remained unknown – until the discovery of a…
For millennia, the vast Pacific Ocean was a daunting, unexplored expanse that defied human conquest. It took a special kind of courage, ingenuity and skill to cross this seemingly endless sea, and the first men to do so were the Austronesians and Polynesians. These intrepid sailors began their journey more than 5,000 years ago, in…
The Dark Ages, spanning from the 5th to the 10th century in Europe, is often regarded as a period of intellectual and cultural decline. However, recent studies have revealed that the era was not as bleak as it is often portrayed, and it was in fact a time of significant artistic achievement. In this article,…
The term “Dark Ages” is often used to refer to the period between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance. This period is characterized by political instability, economic decline, and cultural stagnation, and as such, it is often thought of as a time of little artistic achievement. However, this view is far from…
The Dark Ages, commonly referred to as a time of barbarism and ignorance, are often overlooked for their artistic achievements. However, this era, spanning from the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century to the beginning of the Renaissance in the 14th century, was actually a time of great artistic innovation. With new…