Category Archives: History

Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe

Posted on November 16, 2020 by proverbs6to10

A further review of Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe byJudith Herrin. By Ian Thomson in The Spectator. When we refer to someone as ‘Byzantine’ we usually mean guileful or too complicated and labyrinthine in manner or speech. Perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Modern Books | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe by Judith Herrin

Posted on September 26, 2020 by proverbs6to10

A new book by the always readable Judith Herrin, author of Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire. A riveting history of the city that led the West out of the ruins of the Roman Empire. At the end … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Modern Books | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Viking Neighbourhood Found Near Istanbul

Posted on September 12, 2020 by proverbs6to10

Archaeologists conducting a study for evidence of Vikings near the city of Istanbul (formerly the Byzantine capital of Constantinople) have suggested the discovery of a Viking neighbourhood, reports Heritage Daily. The study has focused on the ancient city of Bathonea … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Complete set of A Short History of Byzantium audio for sale

Posted on November 26, 2017 by proverbs6to10

There is a very rare opportunity to purchase the hugely enjoyable and authoritative  complete and unabridged audiobook of John Julius Norwich’s “A Short History of Byzantium”, brilliantly narrated by John McDonough. From its beginnings in A.D. 330, this audiobook provides listeners … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Over 60 pristine shipwrecks, many Byzantine, found in Black Sea

Posted on November 12, 2017 by proverbs6to10

What claims to be the biggest ever maritime expedition, led by British Professor Jon Adams of the University of Southampton, set off to investigate climate change in the Black Sea three years ago, but found many ancient shipwrecks as well. … Continue reading →

Posted in Byzantium in the News, History, Video | Tagged , | Leave a comment

A very long way from home: early Byzantine finds at the far ends of the world

Posted on March 24, 2017 by proverbs6to10

Through the wonders of the complex web and links of social media I came across this post the other day by Dr Caitlin Green on her personal website. She is a historian and writer whose professional interests lie in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic Papers, History | Tagged | Leave a comment

Christmas Day diversion – In Our Time Byzantium

Posted on December 25, 2016 by proverbs6to10

If you need some diversion from food family and fatuous television this Christmas, you might like to listen to this BBC Radio 4 In Our Time programme from 2001, where Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the culture, history and legacy … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Ancient textiles from the East in Western churches and museums

Posted on June 22, 2016 by proverbs6to10

Julianna Lees is compiling a list of Eastern textiles pre-1200 in Western churches & cathedrals, and a photographic resource to go with it. She is interested in Silk Road influence, Sassanian fragments, Byzantine, shrouds, etc. On her Flickr site she … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Icons | Tagged | Leave a comment

Holidaying in Amalfi and finding Byzantium

Posted on June 8, 2016 by proverbs6to10

When we think of the Amalfi coast most will think of spectacularly beautiful, and fashionable towns clinging to precipitous rock faces, expensive hotels, and maybe even the odd film star walking the streets of Amalfi or Positano. Made popular as … Continue reading →

Posted in Byzantine Travel, History, Icons | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Was the Ottoman Empire really history’s longest-lasting empire?

Posted on May 21, 2016 by proverbs6to10

It was one of the most resilient empires in world history, but how did it start? And why did it end? This article was first published in the May 2016 issue of History Revealed Was the Ottoman Empire really history’s … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Istanbul | Tagged | 6 Comments

New Book: Greek Fire and its contribution to Byzantine might

Posted on February 28, 2016 by proverbs6to10

We have all heard of Greek Fire. We know of the contribution that it made to certain naval victories for the Byzantines, wreaking terrible destruction on those on the receiving end. Little however is known about the weapon. How was … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Modern Books | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Power couples and princesses in purple: coinage of Byzantine empresses

Posted on January 7, 2016 by proverbs6to10

In the Byzantine empire power was technically vested in the emperor. Nevertheless, a number of empresses played an important part in government and even took control… Most commonly empresses came to power as regents for young sons, implying a fixed … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Leave a comment

Shipwrecks found in Istanbul’s Yenikapı shed light on ancient ship production

Posted on January 2, 2016 by proverbs6to10

Thirty-seven shipwrecks discovered underwater during the Marmaray subway construction in Istanbul’s Yenikapı shed light on ship production technology in ancient eras. First published in Hurriyet Daily News. An inventory of the types of wood used in the production of 37 … Continue reading →

Posted in Byzantium in the News, History, Istanbul | Tagged | Leave a comment

Julian The Apostate – Last Pagan Emperor

Posted on November 29, 2015 by proverbs6to10

At the end of June AD 363 in the north of what is now Iraq, a Roman emperor died from a fatal wound after a battle and with him the last hope of paganism in the Roman empire died. By … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Ruins of Forgotten Byzantine Port Yield Some Answers, Yet Mysteries Remain

Posted on February 13, 2013 by proverbs6to10

After a drought revealed the seawall of a Byzantine Empire harbor town near Istanbul, archeologists excavated what was a thriving ancient center. But how does it fit into the city’s 1,600-year history? By Jennifer Pinkowski. First published in Scientific American, … Continue reading →

Posted in Byzantium in the News, History, Istanbul | Tagged , | 2 Comments