July 2025 in Turkish archaeology

Submitted by Iza on Sat, 08/02/2025 - 11:08

July 2025 brought some excellent news concerning the archaeological discoveries made in the area of Türkiye. Major inroads were made into the better understanding of the earliest history of the region, for instance the archaeological excavations in Uluköy Cave, located in Mardin’s Kızıltepe district in southeastern Türkiye, revealed evidence of human presence dating back 400,000 years. Moreover, a 12,000-year-old architectural model, believed to be the oldest house model ever discovered, has been unearthed at Çayönü Hill in Diyarbakır, Türkiye, and is now on public display at the Diyarbakır Museum. Finally, the ancient city of Sardis and the Bin Tepe (Thousand Hills) Lydian Tumuli in western Türkiye have been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, following a unanimous decision during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Paris on July 6.

Remains of the Temple of Artemis in Sardes, with the acropolis visible in the background

Agora of Smyrna

Submitted by Iza on Thu, 07/17/2025 - 17:54

In ancient times, the word agora meant two types of places: the political centre of a city, where the buildings belonging to the public sphere were located and where important matters of city policy were discussed, or the centre of trade and services. The Agora of Smyrna, the remains of which can be visited in Izmir, belonged to the first of these categories.

June 2025 in Turkish archaeology

Submitted by Iza on Tue, 07/01/2025 - 08:29

June 2025 saw the reopening of several museums in the area of Türkiye, including the Trabzon Museum, also known as the Kostaki Mansion, and the Manisa Museum. One of the biggest archaeological discoveries announced in June was the find of a major archaeological structure in the ancient city of Gordion thought to belong to a member of the Phrygian royal family. Numerous archaeological sites welcomed visitors after sunset as part of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's new "night museum" initiative, including famous Ephesus and Topkapı Palace. Finally, Ünye Castle, one of the most significant historical landmarks on the Black Sea is now open to visitors following recently completed restoration works.

Aspasia of Miletus - the power behind Pericles

Submitted by Iza on Sat, 06/14/2025 - 10:38

In the narratives about Ancient Greece, the dominant roles are played by men - politicians, philosophers, military commanders, and artists. However, there were also some forceful female figures, such as Gorgo the Queen of Sparta, and Diotima of Mantinea. According to Herodotus, Gorgo started to play in the international political arena at the tender age of eight when she stopped her father, King Cleomenes I, from taking the bribe from Aristagoras of Miletus. Diotima, on the other hand, was a prophetess and philosopher who played a significant role in Plato's Symposium, where her suggestions gave the origins of the idea of Platonic love. Occasionally, the role of women in Ancient Greece was less visible but still critical, as can be seen in the case of Aspasia of Miletus, the companion of the famous Athenian statesman, Pericles. In fact, Aspasia's role provides crucial insight to the understanding of the position of women in Ancient Greece. As Madeleine M. Henry stated poignantly, "To ask questions about Aspasia's life is to ask questions about half of humanity."

In this painting by Nicolas-André Monsiau, Aspasia speaks while Socrates and Pericles listen attentively. Public Domain

New book: Byzantine Secrets of Athens

Submitted by Admin on Thu, 06/05/2025 - 16:57

Byzantine Secrets of Athens is not just another general guide to Athens. It is focussed specifically on the city's Byzantine period of history – that stretched from the late antiquity to the Ottoman times, roughly from the 5th to the 15th century. However, the topics discussed on the pages of this book are not limited to the Byzantine buildings. These magnificent structures offer us the opportunity to look at Athens from a less usual angle. At the same time, you will not miss its iconic monuments such as the Acropolis or the Tower of the Winds. Their stories are also described, although from a less frequently applied perspective. I took an opportunity to look beyond the ancient period of their existence and discuss their later stories, for instance when they served as the Christian places of worship.