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

Submitted by Admin on Mon, 02/03/2025 - 10:51

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

January 2025 in Turkish archaeology

Submitted by Iza on Sat, 02/01/2025 - 11:16

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.

Church of Saint Gregory founded by King Gagik in Ani

Submitted by Iza on Tue, 01/28/2025 - 08:55

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

New book: The Secrets of Bodrum and Ancient Caria

Submitted by Admin on Sun, 01/19/2025 - 15:11

The Secrets of Bodrum and Ancient Caria is a guidebook devoted to the region of Turkey known as Caria in the past. Nowadays, its major magnet for tourists is a town called Bodrum, a major hub for holidaymakers. In the ancient times, as Halicarnassus, it was home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Mausoleum. However, today, Bodrum's reputation relies on its hotels, restaurants, clubs, and beaches. This book has been written for these inquisitive travellers who intend to look behind this modern façade and discover the rich history of Bodrum and the surrounding area.

Memorial Sites of the Gallipoli Peninsula

Submitted by Iza on Sun, 01/19/2025 - 11:03

This text is a fragment of a guidebook to the Gallipoli Peninsula: "Gallipoli Peninsula and the Troad. TAN Travel Guide".

For hundreds of years, a narrow strip of land, now known as the Gallipoli Peninsula, has been the key to the conquest of Constantinople. The fleet, that would have been able to break through the narrow Dardanelles Strait, had an excellent chance to capture this great capital of many empires. The last such attempt was made during the First World War by the Allied forces that suffered a crushing defeat.