Latest news with #Byzantine-era
New York Post
18 hours ago
- General
- New York Post
Rare 1,600-year-old mosaic from Christian monastery unveiled after centuries of obscurity
A 1,600-year-old Byzantine-era mosaic from a Christian monastery was recently put on public display for the first time, giving a glimpse into life during ancient times. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a statement about the unveiling of the Be'er Shema mosaic earlier this week. The mosaic was officially opened to the public at the Merhavim Regional Council complex in the Southern District of Israel on Sunday. The ministry described the art piece as 'one of the most impressive mosaics discovered in the south of the country.' 'The approximately 1,600-year-old colorful mosaic presents 55 medallions decorated with hunting scenes, animals, and scenes of everyday life,' the statement also noted. The mosaic has 55 medallions, with each telling its own story. Archaeologist Shaike Lender said the scenes depict 'mythological characters, baskets of fruit, exotic animals, scenes from everyday life, hunting scenes and more.' 'The mosaic was clearly made by the hand of a true artist,' Lender added. 4 A 1,600-year-old Byzantine-era mosaic from a Christian monastery was recently put on public display for the first time, giving a glimpse into life during ancient times. Facebook/Israel Antiquities Authorit 'It is comprised of small mosaic stones in a variety of colors, combined with glass and pottery to infuse it with variety.' The Be'er Shema mosaic was found in 1990 during an excavation in Kibbutz Urim. Archaeologists don't know its exact age, but they dated it to the Byzantine period of Israeli history, which lasted from 324 A.D. to 638 A.D. 4 'The approximately 1,600-year-old colorful mosaic presents 55 medallions decorated with hunting scenes, animals, and scenes of everyday life,' the statement also noted. Facebook/Israel Antiquities Authorit The mosaic was a feature within a monastery that also doubled as a winery to 'earn its sustenance,' according to Israeli officials. 'The excavation of the complex uncovered a large winepress and warehouses with storage jugs, which were produced on site,' the statement said. The monastery was built near an ancient spice trail road that connected the historic city of Elusa with the port of Gaza. 4 Archaeologist Shaike Lender said the scenes depict 'mythological characters, baskets of fruit, exotic animals, scenes from everyday life, hunting scenes and more.' Facebook/Israel Antiquities Authorit 'It seems that the ancient road upon which this settlement was sited served as a kind of border between the desert and the inhabited part of the country – during the Byzantine period, and perhaps serving as such even earlier, during the Roman period,' officials said. Archaeologists also discovered the monastery was part of a large settlement, comprised of several hundred dunams. A dunam, a historic unit of measurement still used in Israel today, is 1,000 square meters. '[The settlement] served travelers needing a safe place to spend the night, offering protection from potential attacks by raiders from the local Bedouin tribes,' the statement noted. 4 The mosaic was a feature within a monastery that also doubled as a winery to 'earn its sustenance,' according to Israeli officials. Facebook/Israel Antiquities Authorit The mosaic was extensively preserved by archaeologists over the past few months. They treated the mosaic for damage and re-strengthened the tiles. Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) director Eli Escusido applauded the mosaic's opening, saying its site 'will serve the public as an open archaeological garden.' 'I now invite the public to enjoy and to form their own impressions of one of the most beautiful mosaics ever seen here in Israel's South, here in the northwestern Negev,' he said.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'It epitomises the strangeness of Sutton Hoo': 6th-century bucket found at Anglo-Saxon ship burial holds human cremation
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A copper bucket found at Sutton Hoo in England decades ago is much more than a pretty artifact: A new micro-excavation of the sixth-century container reveals it held the cremated remains of an elite individual, along with animal bones and an antler comb. The copper-alloy Bromeswell Bucket was found in 1986 at the Anglo-Saxon ship burial site of Sutton Hoo, but the Byzantine-era bucket predates the ship by at least a century and was likely imported from Turkey. Ahead of the summer of excavation at Sutton Hoo — which involves a team of archaeologists, conservators and volunteers from the U.K. TV series "Time Team," the U.K.'s National Trust and FAS (Field Archaeology Specialists) Heritage — experts analyzed the contents of the fragmentary bucket, which depicts a North African hunting scene. Previous research that analyzed the inscription, which in Greek read "Use this in good health, Master Count, for many happy years," suggested the bucket may have been a diplomatic gift. In the new investigation, experts with York Archaeological Trust micro-excavated the bucket, National Trust representatives said in a statement Tuesday (May 20). As they removed the soil from the bucket, the researchers discovered cremated human bones, including fragments of a skull and an ankle, that may have been placed in a bag that has since decomposed. "We knew that this bucket would have been a rare and prized possession back in Anglo-Saxon times," Angus Wainwright, an archaeologist at the National Trust, said in the statement. "Now we know it was used to contain the remains of an important person in the Sutton Hoo community." Related: Mysterious origin of iconic Sutton Hoo helmet possibly revealed in new research Image 1 of 2 A photograph of the contents of the Bromeswell Bucket reveals fragmented bones and a fine-toothed comb. Image 2 of 2 An expert separates fragments of bone from the Bromeswell Bucket. But so far, little is known about the person whose cremated bones were buried in the Bromeswell Bucket. A comb made from antler was discovered with the bones, but experts suggest that both men and women used combs in Anglo-Saxon times to care for their personal appearance and to control lice. Animal bones found in the bucket are fragmentary but hint at a possible horse sacrifice. Small amounts of cremated bone will be radiocarbon-dated to better understand how the bucket fits into the Sutton Hoo site. Ancient DNA may also survive on the comb itself, which could potentially reveal the deceased's sex. While Sutton Hoo is best known for its magnificent ship burial, the area was densely populated and part of a busy trade network in the sixth and seventh centuries. The Sutton Hoo treasures are diverse, including pagan and Christian artifacts, and were brought there from all over Europe and the Middle East. RELATED STORIES —Missing pieces of 6th-century Byzantine bucket finally found at Sutton Hoo —Famous Sutton Hoo helmet may be clue that early Anglo-Saxons fought as mercenaries for Byzantine Empire, study suggests —Metal detectorist finds sword pyramid from time of mysterious Sutton Hoo burial The Bromeswell Bucket "is a remarkable mixture — a vessel from the southern, classical world containing the remains of a very northern, very Germanic cremation," Helen Geake, an Anglo-Saxon expert for "Time Team," said in the statement. "It epitomises the strangeness of Sutton Hoo." Excavation at Sutton Hoo is ongoing through June 13. "This next phase of the dig offers an incredible opportunity to continue uncovering the secrets of Sutton Hoo, and we can't wait to see what new discoveries await us in 2025," Tim Taylor, creator and producer of "Time Team," said in the statement.
Los Angeles Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Turkey's top court upholds controversial law on culling of stray dogs
A stray dog rests outside Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, July 3, 2024. ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey's top court on Wednesday rejected a request to annul a contentious law designed to remove millions of stray dogs from the streets, which critics said could lead to mass killings of the animals. The main opposition party had sought the overturn of the legislation that was enacted last year, arguing that it violated animal rights and the right to life. The Constitutional Court however, has ruled that the provisions are legally valid and for it to continue to be implemented. Dozens of animal rights activists had gathered near the Constitutional Court to press the court to repeal the law, holding up posters reading 'cancel the blood-ridden law' and shouting antigovernment slogans. The government has estimated that some 4 million stray dogs roam Turkey's cities and countryside. While many of the dogs are harmless, the government moved to tighten legislation on stray animals, following incidents of dog attacks, including cases involving children. The law requires municipalities to round up stray dogs and relocate them into shelters where they would be vaccinated, neutered and spayed before making them available for adoption. Dogs that are in pain, terminally ill or pose a health risk to humans would be euthanized. Animal-lovers had strongly opposed the law, fearing it would lead to widespread culling or dogs ending up in disease-ridden and overcrowded shelters. They raised concerns about how financially strained municipalities would secure funding to construct the additional shelters. They fear that, instead of allocating resources to care for the stray dogs, some municipalities may resort to euthanizing them under the pretext of illness. Many animal rights advocates have also claimed that many street animals were indiscriminately killed after the passage of the law. The court ruling is likely to increase pressure on municipalities to enforce the law.
Winnipeg Free Press
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Turkey's top court upholds controversial law on culling of stray dogs
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's top court on Wednesday rejected a request to annul a contentious law designed to remove millions of stray dogs from the streets, which critics said could lead to mass killings of the animals. The main opposition party had sought the overturn of the legislation that was enacted last year, arguing that it violated animal rights and the right to life. The Constitutional Court however, has ruled that the provisions are legally valid and for it to continue to be implemented. FILE - A stray dog rests outside Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, file) Dozens of animal rights activists had gathered near the Constitutional Court to press the court to repeal the law, holding up posters reading 'cancel the blood-ridden law' and shouting anti-government slogans. The government has estimated that some 4 million stray dogs roam Turkey's cities and countryside. While many of the dogs are harmless, the government moved to tighten legislation on stray animals, following incidents of dog attacks, including cases involving children. The law requires municipalities to round up stray dogs and relocate them into shelters where they would be vaccinated, neutered and spayed before making them available for adoption. Dogs that are in pain, terminally ill or pose a health risk to humans would be euthanized. Animal-lovers had strongly opposed the law, fearing it would lead to widespread culling or dogs ending up in disease-ridden and overcrowded shelters. They raised concerns about how financially-strained municipalities would secure funding to construct the additional shelters. They fear that, instead of allocating resources to care for the stray dogs, some municipalities may resort to euthanizing them under the pretext of illness. Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Sign up for The Warm-Up Many animal rights advocates have also claimed that many street animals were indiscriminately killed after the passage of the law. The court ruling is likely to increase pressure on municipalities to enforce the law.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Construction work unearths remains of 33 skeletons, woman's shoe
Construction work near one of Greece's most notorious prisons in Thessaloniki has unearthed the remains of dozens of people executed during the Greek Civil War era, relatives and officials said Wednesday. The grisly find included the discovery of footwear, including the remnants of a woman's shoe. So far, 33 skeletons have been found near Eptapyrgio prison northeast of the city, a former Byzantine-era fortress later known as Yedi Kule under Ottoman rule, city officials said in a statement. The Greek civil war lasted from 1946 to 1949 but executions of political prisoners held for alleged affiliation to the Greek communist party (KKE) continued for years thereafter. It is estimated that over 150,000 people lost their lives during the conflict, while around 800,000 people were displaced. CBS News journalist George Polk, who had depicted the right-wing Greek government as corrupt, was among those killed during the war. "We are here today with very mixed feelings. We are happy because, even after 80 years of delay, we found the skeletons of the people who lost their lives for their ideas and for the country," said the local mayor of Sykies municipality, Simos Daniilidis. But he added that they were "saddened, embittered, and angry" because of the killings, which he termed "inhumane, horrific, inconceivable things for today's Greek civilization." One of the victims is believed to be a woman "after traces of a woman's shoe were found," officials said. Several shoes worn by young adults were also unearthed, said the officials, who posted images of the footwear. The first remains were discovered in December during work on a city park. At the time, local officials ruled that the skeletons were of no archaeological interest, but Daniilidis, "believing that there is enormous historical and political interest," requested that archaeologists excavate the wider area of the park. "In the dark years of the civil war, the area was used for the execution of political prisoners, or the relocation of their bodies, as it was very near the prison and was uninhabited at the time," Sykies municipality said in a statement. "We don't know where he is buried" Many of the victims are believed to have been killed for links with the KKE. A party delegation was present Wednesday to lay flowers at the site. With assistance from archaeologists, the excavation has uncovered clothes, jewelry and bullets. "Thirty-three skeletons were discovered in four clusters. The skeletons are not in very good condition due to the soil and conditions. They are very fragile," said archaeologist Stavroula Tsevrini. The findings have been handed over to the police and efforts have already begun to identify the skeletons through DNA tests. The municipality has put out a call for relatives and descendants of civil war victims to step forward to speed up the identification process. The KKE party is compiling a list of executed political prisoners for publication. "During the civil war in this region, approximately 400 people held in Yedi Kule as political prisoners were executed," said Spyros Kouzinopoulos, a journalist who has written a book on the issue, drawing on police archives. "The executed were buried in mass graves without their relatives knowing where each one was buried. Here the area is full of remains," he told AFP. Miltiadis Parathyras said his uncle Rigas was executed at the location in March 1951. "He was a captain in the (communist) Democratic Army, arrested in 1949 and held in prison for about two years. He was executed at the age of 24 along with five others in March 1951," he said. "We don't know where he is buried. Where did they throw him?" In a statement, the city said efforts to find other mass graves would continue "so that all the skeletons of the people who lost their lives in this way during the dark years of the Civil War and were not given the honors traditionally attributed to the dead are found." Sneak peek: The Puzzling Death of Susann Sills Inside Trump's call with Vladimir Putin 100 years since deadliest tornado in U.S. history
