Lion Gate in Hattusa

The capital of the Hittites - Hattusa - was surrounded by massive fortifications when the Hittite civilization had a status of the Near East superpower. The walls were erected using the natural shape of the terrain or entirely changing it, depending on the architectural and strategic needs. Five monumental gates have been discovered to date along the wall, from west to east: the lower and upper western gates, the Lion Gate, the Sphinx Gate, and the King's Gate. The Lion Gate is the first one that can be seen when following the official sightseeing route around Hattusa.

Lion Gate in Hattusa
Lion Gate in Hattusa

New book: The Highlights of Iznik: Treasures of the ancient Nicaea

Located picturesquely on the eastern shore of Lake Iznik, the town bearing the same name might seem a backwater location with a laid-back ambience. However, the traces of mighty fortifications that greet the visitors to Iznik suggest that the town is much more than a sleepy settlement. Today's Iznik is, in fact, the ancient city called Nicaea, where the major events that shaped the future of Christianity took place. The town was once the summer residence of the Roman Emperor Constantine I the Great liked to spend the hot season because of the pleasant, mild climate.

The Highlights of Iznik. Treasures of the ancient Nicaea
The Highlights of Iznik. Treasures of the ancient Nicaea

January 2025 in Turkish archaeology

January 2025 brought to light several major archaeological discoveries, reported mainly for the western part of Turkey. Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Assos in Çanakkale province uncovered a 2,200-year-old mosaic and a 1,800-year-old monumental tomb. Excavations at the ancient city of Alexandria Troas, located on the shores of the Aegean Sea, revealed a 2,200-year-old market structure from the Hellenistic period. Archaeologists also made an extraordinary discovery in the ancient city of Heracleia in Muğla province where the Roman-era bath floor revealed large mosaics with detailed depictions of crocodiles, eels, dolphins, and flamingos. Finally, in the historical city of Iznik in Bursa province, a farmer discovered an ancient stone lid and a column capital while ploughing his field.

Alexandria Troas
Alexandria Troas

Church of Saint Gregory founded by King Gagik in Ani

The Church of Saint Gregory, also called the Gagikashen, and founded by King Gagik, was erected in the years 1001–1005. Its sponsor was Gagik, the king of Armenia who reigned in the period from 989 to 1020, under whose rule Bagratid Armenia reached the peak of its development. This ruler intended the church to be a recreation of the famous Zvartnots Cathedral in Vagharshapat.

Church of Saint Gregory founded by King Gagik in Ani
Church of Saint Gregory founded by King Gagik in Ani

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