Throughout the history of the ancient Mediterranean artists were always keen to express their appreciation of the bounty of the sea. Marine life of all kinds, real and imagined, was frequently depicted on frescoes, pottery, mosaics and coins. Here are 24 images with a sea theme from the Bronze Age to the 3rd century CE, encompassing Egyptian, Minoan, Mycenaean,[…]
A restorer removes mortar on a mosaic in Tipasa, Algeria. Image courtesy the Conservation and Restoration Workshop of the Arles Antiquities Museum Flexibility in a funding initiative for mosaics conservators leads to a range of positive outcomes. By Dr. Joan Weinstein / 11.27.2018 Acting Director Getty Foundation Introduction Grant-making is rarely a linear process. It often involves twists and turns along the[…]
A 16th century chart of Europe and North Africa. Luis Texieira, Portolan Chart, Lisbon, ca. 1600 via Wikimedia Commons Navigation using celestial objects is a skill that was practised long before humans roamed the Earth; animals used it, too. By Dr. Markus Nielbock Scientific Staff Max Planck Institute for Astronomy Figure 1: The Iberian Peninsula[…]
A 16th century chart of Europe and North Africa. Luis Texieira, Portolan Chart, Lisbon, ca. 1600 via Wikimedia Commons Migration is central to Mediterranean history and people have always moved between its two shores. By Dr. Felicita Tramontana / 06.26.2018 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellow University of Warwick The appointment of Matteo Salvini, leader of the[…]
The summit of Mt Zagaras north of Athens. Jason König In ancient times, they were the shrines and ritual sites to the Greek gods. These days, they’re astonishingly unloved and neglected. By Dr. Jason König / 03.01.2016 Professor of Greek University of St. Andrews The mountains of the Mediterranean are permanent reminders of the past. The ancient Greeks climbed to their summits to offer sacrifices to the[…]
Image by Fernando Vergara Pina, Creative Commons Lecture by Dr. Jean-Pierre Brun, 04.05.2012 Professor of Ancient History Collège de France Translated by Dr. Victoria Leitch, Post-Doctoral Fellow University of Leicester Introduction Why did the Roman Empire collapse? How could such a powerful and well-organized empire as that of Rome disappear? Was it destroyed, according to[…]