I always thought the Nereid Monument was a nymphaeum— a shrine to the Nereids—but it isn’t. I discovered that it was the tomb of Arbinas of Lycia. So why did he have a shrine that looks like an Ionic temple? And why does it include figures of Nereids? Read more
These islands have been inhabited for millennia. In 5200 BCE they were organized in villages and by 3600 BCE, they already had megalith temples, that is 1000 years before the Egyptian pyramids were built. And 2000 years before the Mycenae Palace of Agamemnon. It seems to me that its history has been put at the service of war. It has been coveted, influenced and dominated by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks,… Read more
I highly recommend that you make your way to the Onassis Cultural Center in New York, which is running an exhibit called “A World of Emotion: Ancient Greece 700BC–200AD,” through June 24, 2017. It brings together works of high art and emotion, such as the full-sized statue of Eros stringing his bow, as well as everyday items such as defixioi (curse tablets)—lead sheets with imprecations written on them, pierced by… Read more
On a recent trip to New York, I discovered representations of the ancient Greek gods, some in unexpected places, and couldn't resist photographing them! Whether at home or on your travels, have you come across any sculptures of the ancient Greek gods or heroes? Please share in the forums! Read more
It seemed that when I watched TV programmes about Rome they featured gruesome death, sex, or communal toilets. Now I know that death, sex and toilets are part of life, but I did not want my first cruise to the Western Mediterranean, and my first trips to Rome and Pompeii, to focus on them. In preparation, I read Mary Beard’s Pompeii, and researched various places the ship would visit. I… Read more
