Harald Hardrada: The Viking Who Fought in Iraq, Russia, and England
Introduction – the Decline of the Viking Raids In the middle decades of the 11th century, the Vikings had reached the twilight of their raiding…
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Silbury Hill: The Magnificent Architectural Triumph of Bronze Age Europe
Introduction When it comes to popular media and even consciousness, the Silbury Hill has unfortunately not made so much of a mark as its more…
Banquet of Blood: Abbasids wipe out their opponents in a single night of feasting and gore
From the other side of the silver screen, many of us gasped at the fictional atrocities committed at the unraveling event of the Red Wedding…
Aachen Cathedral: A Remarkable Masterpiece of Early Medieval Age
Often referred to as the ‘Imperial Cathedral’, the Aachen Cathedral (in Aachen, west of Bonn, Germany) is a Roman Catholic church that is the oldest…
Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni: The Astonishing Underground Temple Built 5000-Years Ago
Introduction Often claimed as being the world’s only known prehistoric underground temple, the branching subterranean complex of Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni in Paola, Malta, is…
Workmanship Beyond Warfare: The Fascinating Case Of Scythian Gold Artifacts
The realm of the nomadic Scythians stretched all the way across the vast Eurasian steppes, with their center of power being mainly based along the…
The Battle of Pelusium: ‘Cats’ and psychological edge lead Persians to victory
Often viewed as the first major battle fought between the burgeoning Achaemenid Empire and Ancient Egypt (still ruled by native Pharoahs), the Battle of Pelusium…
The curious architecture of Domus Aurea: Nero’s extravagant “Golden House” palace
Beyond the ambit of military triumphs, the Romans were known for both their architectural and engineering prowess. And sometimes such scopes of expertise even reached…
