Ancient World Review

Delphi: The Belly Button Of The Ancient World

Underwater Archaeologists Search Aegean Sea

"Researchers have already found one potential Minoan wreck site by the island of Pseira, off the northeast coast of Crete. In 2003, archaeologist Elpida Hatzidaki of the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities discovered a large collection of underwater pottery dating to around 1800 BC." Source: Nature.

According to the Thera Foundation, "Pseira...was first inhabited in the Final Neolithic / Early Minoan I period, and the settlement expanded in the Middle Bronze Age and again in the Late Bronze Age, reaching its greatest size in Late Minoan I. After a destruction in LM IB, the town seems to have been abandoned for a short time. A reoccupation in LM III was followed by another abandonment, and the island may have had only intermittent visitors until the 6th century AD."

More on underwater archaeology in Greece here.

Ancient Georgian Kingdom Of Colchis Pt. 1

Part Two of this Michael Woods documentary can be found here.

5th Century Greek Farmers Buried With Livestock

"Archaeologists in northern Greece have found a rare group of ancient graves where farmers were interred with their livestock, a Greek daily reported on Friday." Source: News24.

"At least 11 adults and 16 farm animals were found buried together near the town of Mavropigi in the northern region of Macedonia, 21km from the city of Kozani, Ethnos Daily said."

Putin Dives Into "Russian Atlantis"

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin recently staged a photo op where he dived into the submerged ruins of the ancient Greek city of Phanagoria and recovered a couple of amphorae which were most likely planted in advance. It's an interesting story, in any case, and the adventurous Putin puts all of our golf-playing "leaders" to shame.

According to Russia Today, "the city of Phanagoria, founded about 2,550 years ago, is Russia’s biggest ancient settlement. For unknown reasons, it was abandoned in the late 9th century AD – this is why archeologists call it the 'Russian Atlantis.'

The PM suggested that the excavation should become an underwater museum – the attraction, he believes, will gather crowds from all over the world."

The Mystery Of The Delphi Oracle

Was the Oracle of Delphi in an ethylene trance?

Reconstruction of the Greek Trireme Olympias

Ancient Greek Temples

Part one of a nice series showing the main temples of ancient Greece, Asia Minor, Libya and Magna Graecia.

Ancient Bronze, Gold and Silver Coins

Real money. A beginner's FAQ about ancient Greek and Roman coins can be found here. The Ancient Coins Forum is another massive resource for buying and selling. For information on "reading Greek and Roman coin inscriptions, identifying emperors and dates on Roman coins," and general info on "symbols, city names and historical and mythological figures," check out the Handbook of Ancient Greek and Roman Coins. I only wish I had the cash to get into this, especially now that our bogus fiat currency is circling the drain.

Movie Review: The True Story Of Alexander The Great from the History Channel

The story of Alexander the Great is one of the most exotic adventures to come down from the ancient world, mostly because of its sheer scale and the larger than life, quasi-mythical personality of Alexander himself.

Alexander's conquest of Asia took him across the Hellespont, past the ruins of Troy through western Asia into Egypt and then on to Babylon and the Hindu Kush. He fought through the Punjab to the outer ocean, traveling on foot and by ship--a fantastic journey into the unknown.

Alexander's army fought Indian war elephants, massive Persian armies and laid siege to the fortified island of Tyre, building a mole across a half-mile of water in the face of fire ships and relentless attacks. His forces marched through almost every kind of climate--deserts, jungles, mountains--creating the largest empire ever seen, an empire that quickly disintegrated when Alexander died at thirty-two, the victim of war wounds and disease (or he was murdered--take your pick).