The Ancient Theory of Evolution – Anaximander

Submitted by Iza on Mon, 05/26/2025 - 18:21

Text by our correspondent from Didim, Jay Jean Jackson.

When we think about the ‘theory of evolution’ most of us automatically think of the 19th century biologist Charles Darwin and his amazing work, ‘The origin of species’, which was published in 1859. However, some 2400 years ago, before the birth of science, Anaximander, in the Ancient Greek city of Miletus was already pondering how humans and animals had evolved.

Detail of Raphael's painting The School of Athens, 1510–1511. Possible representation of Anaximander is in the down left corner, he is shown leaning towards Pythagoras

Fathers of Geography – The Milesian school

Submitted by Admin on Mon, 05/19/2025 - 11:24

Text by our correspondent from Didim, Jay Jean Jackson.

The more I research and learn about the once magnificent city of Miletus the more awestruck I become. The ancient ruins are amazing but to learn about the pioneering insights and contributions of the ancient philosophers, cartographers, mathematicians, cosmologists, and scientists who lived there, gives us an extraordinary understanding of the ancient world which makes each visit feel even more surreal.

Roman Great Harbour Monument in Miletus - the city that used to be a maritime power of antiquity

Reconstructed walls of Hattusa

Submitted by Iza on Wed, 05/14/2025 - 09:07

This text is a fragment of a guidebook to Hattusa: "The Secrets of Hattusa".

Between 2003 and 2005, a 65-meter-long section of the fortification walls of Hattusa was rebuilt by the German Archaeological Institute (DAI). As a result, three 7 to 8-meter-high wall sections and two 12 to 13-meter-high defensive towers were reconstructed. The Japanese company JT International supported the project as a sponsor.

April 2025 in Turkish archaeology

Submitted by Iza on Thu, 05/01/2025 - 09:05

April 2025 brought several significant discoveries from the area of Türkiye, many of them related to ancient burial customs. For instance, ongoing excavations at Stratonikeia unearthed a remarkable 2,000-year-old sarcophagus adorned with intricate garland motifs. During the ongoing restoration of the 540-year-old Gulbahar Hatun Mosque in Tokat, historical tomb remnants were discovered. Moreover, a group of tourists exploring an ancient Roman aqueduct in Bursa’s Iznik (Nicaea) stumbled upon an unexpected relic — a tombstone believed to date back to the Ottoman Empire. Finally, a Roman-era chamber tomb was uncovered near the Tralleis ancient city in Aydin’s Efeler district during road renovation works initiated by the local municipality.

Alacahöyük

Submitted by Iza on Mon, 04/14/2025 - 10:50

This text is a fragment of a guidebook to Hattusa: "The Secrets of Hattusa".

Alacahöyük is a significant archaeological site bearing the traces of Neolithic and Hittite settlements. It is located in Çorum Province of Turkey, around 25 kilometres to the north of Boğazkale, where the ancient capital city of the Hittite Empire, Hattusa, was situated. Alacahöyük's Hittite name remains unknown and the connections with the cities of Arinna, Tawiniya, and Zippalanda have all been suggested.