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 […]
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 […]
On July 27th, 1943, a U.S. patrol plane spotted the German U-boat U-513 off the coast of Brazil. The plane, a PBM Mariner, was on a routine anti-submarine patrol when it spotted the U-boat on the surface. The crew of the U-513 had no time to react and dive, as they were caught completely off […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 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 centuries, pilgrimage has been a popular activity among people of various religions around the world. One of the most famous pilgrimage routes in England is the journey to Canterbury Cathedral, the final resting place of St. Thomas Becket. This journey, which was taken by thousands of people every year in the Middle Ages, involved […]
From the time Adolf Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany in 1933 until his suicide in 1945, he was the face of the Nazi regime. However, in recent years, there has been much debate about Hitler’s health and whether he was really as ill as his personal physician, Dr. Theodor Morell, claimed. Dr. Morell remained […]
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 […]
Rudolf Hess, one of the most prominent figures in Nazi Germany, spent over 40 years in prison until his death in 1987. His imprisonment was the result of a failed peace mission that he undertook in 1941, when he flew to Scotland in an attempt to negotiate a settlement with the British government. Despite the […]
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 […]
Operation Bodyguard, a massive Allied deception campaign, played a crucial role in the success of the D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. The operation was a carefully crafted plan to deceive the Germans about the time and location of the Allied invasion of Western Europe, which ultimately played a significant role in the […]
The Bible is a book that has been revered and studied for centuries. However, it has been criticized for its treatment of women, as some of the stories depict them as inferior, submissive, or even immoral. Yet, there are also many women in the Bible who challenge these stereotypes and have inspired generations of women […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
Throughout history, there have been countless stories of haunted houses and paranormal encounters. Among these stories are some that are particularly fascinating, those involving children who claim to be able to speak with the dead. These stories have been reported all over the world, from Europe to Asia and beyond. In this article, we will […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 is well known, but their invasion of Wales is a lesser-known part of history. The Normans were a people of Viking origin who settled in what is now northern France and eventually became a powerful force in medieval Europe. In the late 11th century, they turned their sights […]
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, […]
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 […]
The Battle of Kursk, which took place from July 5 to August 23, 1943, was the largest tank battle of World War II and the last major German offensive on the Eastern Front. The battle was fought between the German Wehrmacht and the Soviet Red Army, and was the climax of Operation Citadel, a massive […]
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 […]
From ancient times to the present day, the dead have been a source of fascination and fear for human beings. Many cultures throughout history have had complex rituals and beliefs surrounding death and the afterlife. However, there is also a darker side to our relationship with the dead, one that involves fear, horror, and even […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]