Local Bite

01/13/2025

The Pergamon Library, established in the 3rd century BCE in the ancient city of Pergamon (modern-day Bergama, Turkey), was one of the most renowned libraries of the Hellenistic world, rivaling the Great Library of Alexandria.
Built under the reign of King Eumenes II, it is said to have housed over 200,000 scrolls, reflecting Pergamon's status as a major center of learning and culture.
The library is credited with the development of parchment (pergamena), a durable writing material made from animal skins, which became a key innovation as papyrus became scarce due to rivalry with Alexandria.
According to legend, many of the library’s scrolls were later sent to Alexandria as a gift from Mark Antony to Cleopatra.
Although the library no longer exists, its legacy endures as a symbol of the intellectual and cultural achievements of the ancient Hellenistic world.

01/13/2025

Layers of time! A stunning geological formation.

01/13/2025

Volubilis, Domus of Orpheus, Morocco.

Volubilis is the best known Roman archaeological site in Morocco. Inside there are the remains of numerous domus decorate with polychrome mosaics, some of which are in excellent condition. Among the best preserved is the mosaic of Orpheus which depicts in the central part the singer who enchants animals and all nature with the sound of his lyre.

The domus that houses this work, like most of the domus of Volubilis, takes its name from the motif of the main floor mosaic.

01/12/2025

Cleopatra ascended the throne at the age of 17 and died at the age of 39. She spoke 9 languages. She knew the language of ancient Egypt and learned to read hieroglyphs, which was unique in her lineage. In addition, she knew Greek, the languages of the Parthians, Hebrews, Medes, Cavemen, Syriacs, Ethiopians and Arabs. With this knowledge, any book in the world was open to her. In addition to languages, she studied geography, history, astronomy, international diplomacy, mathematics, chemistry, medicine, zoology, economics and other disciplines. She tried to access all the knowledge of her time.

Cleopatra spent a lot of time in a kind of ancient laboratory. She wrote some works on herbs and cosmetics. Unfortunately, all her books were destroyed in the fire of the Great Library of Alexandria in 391 AD. C- The famous physicist Galen studied her works and was able to copy some of the recipes invented by Cleopatra. One of these treatments, which Galen also recommended to his patients, was a special cream that could help bald men regain their hair. Cleopatra's books also included beauty tips, but none of them have survived to us.
The Queen of Egypt was also interested in herbal healing, and thanks to her knowledge of languages, she had access to many papyri that are now lost. Her influence on science and medicine was known in the first centuries of Christianity. She is undoubtedly a unique figure in human history.

01/12/2025

🔸Minoan Vase (1400 BC), depicts dolphin scene is almost identical to the murals at the Crete Knossos Palace, Crete - Greece 🇬🇷

📸©️Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, Crete

01/12/2025

The ancient wall of the Inca Roca palace in Cusco is often attributed to the Inca civilization, yet some theories suggest it might have been crafted by an earlier, unidentified culture.

The remarkable precision of its stonework, where massive stones are joined seamlessly without mortar, raises questions about the tools and techniques used in its construction.

Some researchers have even speculated about a lost method for softening stone. Whether created by the Inca or a pre-Inca society, this architectural marvel continues to fascinate archaeologists and engineers alike...

01/12/2025

Tomb of Queen Nefertari
Valley of the Queens
Luxor

01/11/2025

Imagine being able to turn stone into wet silk

01/11/2025

Europe’s oldest known road lies on the island of Crete, a remarkable engineering feat over 3,500 years old. This Minoan road spans roughly 50 kilometers, connecting the ancient city of Knossos with Gortyn and Lebena.

What makes this road so extraordinary is its advanced construction. It features side drains to manage water runoff, which helped preserve the road over millennia. The roadbed is composed of a 20-centimeter-thick pavement of sandstone blocks, tightly fitted and bound with a durable clay-gypsum mortar.

On top of this foundation, a layer of basaltic flagstones was laid to provide a smooth, hard-wearing surface. The inclusion of separate shoulders, which were uncommon for the time, demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of road design, ensuring safe and efficient travel.

01/11/2025

Queen Tiye: A Woman of Remarkable Influence

Queen Tiye, the wife of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, stands out as one of the most powerful women of Ancient Egypt 🇪🇬. What makes her truly extraordinary is that, unlike her royal predecessors, Tiye was not of royal birth – her origins were humble, yet her influence on the Egyptian court was profound 🌟.

Her wisdom and political acumen shaped key decisions during her husband’s reign, and her legacy continued into the rule of her son, Akhenaten. Tiye's prominence is a testament to her remarkable intellect and strength, proving that status and lineage were no match for capability and charisma in the ancient world 🏺✨.

01/11/2025

01/11/2025

01/10/2025

Ramses II
Grand Egyptian museum 💕🇪🇬

01/09/2025

Golden Throne of Tutankhamun

The golden throne of Tutankhamun, discovered in 1922 by the British archaeologist Howard Carter, remains one of the most significant and well-preserved artifacts from ancient Egypt. This luxurious armchair, adorned with lion heads and winged cobras, showcases the exceptional craftsmanship of ancient Egyptian artisans.

Vibrant and unfaded for over 3,000 years, the throne symbolizes divine authority, linking Tutankhamun to the goddess Isis. The intimate depiction of Queen Ankhesenamun anointing the young king offers a rare glimpse into royal life during the late 18th Dynasty (1332-1323 BC).

Now housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Tutankhamun’s throne continues to captivate visitors, reflecting the grandeur and mystery of ancient Egypt. Such exhibitions offer a rare and invaluable experience, revealing the splendor of a bygone era.

Timeless craftsmanship preserved.
📸

01/08/2025

Have you ever stopped to ponder what secrets lie under the Sphinx's enigmatic head? This baffling shaft atop the Great Sphinx of Giza has ignited a wildfire of curiosity and wild theories. Could it be a gateway to concealed chambers or clandestine passageways hidden within this ancient marvel? The debate over its true purpose and the treasures it might guard rages on, captivating historians, archaeologists, and thrill-seekers in equal measure. It's just one tantalizing element of the myriad secrets that make the Sphinx an irresistible riddle worth unraveling!

01/08/2025

Moving Statues with Sleds and Water

Painting inside the tomb of the ancient Egyptian nomarch Djehutihotep (ca. 1900 BC) showing the transport of a colossal statue of him that was nearly 6.8 m high, being transported by 172 workers using ropes and a sled in an effort that is facilitated by pouring water in front of the sled.

01/07/2025

Check out the incredible ancient masonry at Ollantaytambo in Peru! It's fascinating to think about the tools and techniques the Inca used to build these stunning structures. They really had a knack for shaping stone and creating such durable buildings that have stood the test of time. It's wild to imagine how they did it without modern machinery, right?

01/07/2025

Covering an area of 10 square miles (26 square kilometers) in the Colorado Desert near Blythe, California, the Blythe Intaglios are a collection of more than 200 ancient geoglyphs depicting human figures, animals, and intricate geometric shapes. These remarkable designs were made by clearing away the top layer of dark desert stones to reveal the lighter earth beneath, a technique that has preserved the images for thousands of years. One of the most notable geoglyphs is a human figure over 170 feet (52 meters) long, visible only from an aerial perspective. Created by indigenous peoples between approximately 200 BCE and 900 CE, the exact purpose of these mysterious figures is still unknown. Although archaeologists theorize they may have had religious or ceremonial significance, no historical records or oral traditions survive to explain them. The Blythe Intaglios continue to intrigue researchers and visitors alike, standing as an enduring puzzle and a testament to the complex and symbolic art of early desert cultures.