“Our perception of the world and the ancient Egyptians’ perception of the world differ greatly, including their attitudes towards death. For the ancient Egyptians, there was only one life. It was the life of the soul, which, through many earthly lives, came to understand and realize its immortality. In the afterlife, the soul was as … Read more
Unusual ancient buildings are scattered all over the world, surprising us with their size and the massive stone blocks they are made of, as well as the construction methods that surpass all known information about the technical capabilities of ancient cultures. In the Western tradition, they are called Cyclopean because the ancient Greeks believed that … Read more
One of the questions that has always intrigued historians is how ancient peoples traveled and transported heavy loads. Excavations by Greek archaeologists between 1956 and 1962 revealed that ancient engineers, two thousand years before the invention of the steam locomotive, devised a simple concept of a railway. This was the diolkos, an ancient track that … Read more
Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus, as this Roman soldier called himself after ascending the imperial throne, was the most significant Roman statesman of the Late Roman Empire, alongside Caesar and Octavian. In the 2nd century AD, he saved the Empire from collapse and ensured its continued existence through his far-reaching reforms. Although he holds a significant … Read more
Oh, what a wonderful wonder of the whole universe, Delos, as people call it, which the heavens from Olympus with a shining star of the bluish land call it! Pindar, Fragment on the Island of Delos The Greek island of Delos, translated as “brought to light,” is located in the center of the Cyclades islands. … Read more
A thousand candles can only be lit by one candle, and the life of that candle will not be shortened. Happiness is never diminished by sharing. Buddha Every year, Buddhists around the world celebrate the day of Buddha’s birth. Depending on the calendar used, in different countries, this day is celebrated on different dates, with … Read more
The Indian subcontinent has always been known as an inexhaustible source of wonders and marvels, often embodied in numerous monumental temples. When it comes to these architectural landmarks, one of the must-visit places is the city of Thanjavur, located in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an ancient Dravidian city, and it … Read more
When I lay my eyes on a Benin bronze, I must admire the skill of combining technology and artistic inspiration – their inseparable fusion. And within me grows a feeling of immense pride… Wole Soyinka, Nigerian poet and writer, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986. The art of the Kingdom of Benin … Read more
Oh Father Bartol, From above they wanted to observe you, conquistador-like, leaning on their swords like stone shadows; with their malicious spittle, they trampled the land of your endeavors; they said: There goes the agitator, they lied: He is paid by foreigners, He has no homeland, He betrays us, But your sermon was not just … Read more
The region of Apulia in southern Italy is the homeland of trulli, unique stone buildings constructed in the same way as they have been built in this area since prehistoric times, practically unchanged. Similar to Dalmatian “bunja” or Istrian “kažun”, trullo is a traditional stone dwelling built using dry stone wall technique. It was originally … Read more
