Latest news with #Thracian
Spectator
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Spectator
Nunc est bibendum – to Horace, the lusty rebel
Horace suffers from a reputation as an old man's poet. Classicists often joke that Catullus and Martial are for the young, and Horace for those of a certain vintage – wine being a favourite Horatian theme. Many lose their thirst for his Odes at school, only to realise their brilliance decades later. Classroom Horace is just a bit too bombastic and patriotic to be cool. The Horace of Peter Stothard's beautifully written new biography surprises with his sexiness. Not many pages in we find him poring over scurrilous papyri in the libraries of Athens. A verse by the Archaic-era poet Archilochus has caught his eye. It describes a woman with a man, 'head-down, as she did her work like a Thracian drinking beer through a straw'. Golly. This certainly isn't the Horace we met in Latin lessons: lusty, libidinous – a rebel eager to escape his strict upbringing. He was born Quintus Horatius Flaccus (meaning 'floppy') at Venusia, south-east of Rome, on 8 December 65 BC. His father was a former slave who made his living by salting meat and fish. In his keenness to help his son move up in the world he was willing to pose as his personal slave. Horace repaid him by going slightly wild on his travels and refusing to knuckle down following his return to Rome. The longed-for promotion came unexpectedly. Horace fought on the 'wrong' side at the Battle of Philippi, aiding the defenders of the Republic against Octavian, the future Emperor Augustus. Still dreaming of Archilochus, who had written less ripely of laying aside his armour out of cowardice, Horace quit the fight.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Yahoo
The thermal springs and ancient tombs of Bulgaria
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Around the town of Kazanlak in central Bulgaria, a "vast plain" unfurls between two mountain ranges. It is known as the Rose Valley for its "pink-blooming" fields, but also as the Valley of the Thracian Kings, for its many ancient tombs. I found my recent trip there enchanting, says Julia Buckley in The Times, partly owing to the area's rich artistic and archaeological heritage – and partly thanks to the recent opening of its first luxury spa hotel. Built around one of the thermal springs for which the region is also known, the huge Kings' Valley resort offers "five- star" accommodation and treatments at "three-star prices". The combination of top-class pampering, art and ancient history makes for a wonderful break – and yet Kazanlak and its surroundings are still blessedly free of tourist crowds. Little is known about the Thracians, an ancient tribe who "fanned out west" from the Black Sea, and were admired by their neighbours, the Greeks, for their martial prowess. The thousand or so royal tombs around Kazanlak, believed to have doubled as temples, lie within grassy mounds that turn the "pancake- flat" plain into something resembling "Teletubbyland". Several dating from the 4th and 5th centuries BC are open to the public, including Golyama Kosmatka, which has carvings of Medusa and Helios, and Ostrusha, painted with mythological scenes and human faces. But most beautiful of all is the hilltop Kazanlak tomb, with frescoes of galloping horses, and of a man and woman reaching out "to hold hands across the void" – a depiction of "eternal love" nearly 2,400 years old. The town of Kazanlak itself is not pretty, in the way the Bulgarian "big hitters" of Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo are. But it is "bursting with culture", including a fine art gallery and a history museum, the Iskra, which houses "troves" of Thracian gold. And it's always a delight to return to the spa, where the menu includes both "relaxing woo woo" and medical consultation. I had "magnet-resonance therapy" – perhaps it was a placebo effect, but my arthritic knee was pain-free for months afterwards.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Yahoo
A guide to Sofia, Bulgaria's ever-evolving cultural capital
Distinctive architecture, vast murals and lively local markets set the character-filled capital city of Sofia apart. Located in the western part of Bulgaria, the city is surrounded by mountains and bordered on its southern edge by the great green sweep of the Vitosha massif. Set against this verdant backdrop, Sofia's varied museums and galleries provide the chance to discover Bulgaria's long and incredibly rich history, from the ancient Thracian tribes to the country's time under Communist rule. Visitors can try traditional Bulgarian dishes at restaurants dotted along Sofia's most famous streets — including Vitosha Boulevard, Shishman Street and Oborishte Street — or glimpse into one of the city's iconic klek shops, which operate out of the basements of old buildings. The city also boasts a packed festival calendar, attracting musicians and fans of all genres. Here, we take you through some of the cultural highlights of Bulgaria's capital. One of the first things that strikes you in Sofia is its remarkable architecture, ranging from Byzantine to Brutalist, medieval to modern. Starting from the beginning, so to speak, with the city's oldest surviving building. Dating back to the 4th century CE, the red brick Rotunda Church of St George was originally built as a bathhouse. Similarly historic, the Basilica of St Sofia is home to an underground museum, which showcases the remains of several earlier churches as well as a Roman-era necropolis. In the southwest of the city, the UNESCO-listed Church of St Nicholas and St Pantaleon, often called the Boyana Church, is known for its impressive medieval frescoes. Other architectural feats in Sofia include the grand, Neo-Renaissance National Assembly and the bijou Russian Church. Yet, no other building defines the Bulgarian capital more than the St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral — a vast Neo-Byzantine construction, most of it dating to the early 20th century, which can hold a congregation of several thousand people beneath its cascading green domes. Not only are Sofia's buildings spectacular, they are daubed in some of the continent's most accomplished street art. The best murals are found in and around the KvARTal district, the city's former Jewish quarter, which in recent years has developed a vibrant art scene. It's here that you'll find well-known works such as The Hug by Bulgarian street artist Nasimo, which depicts two people embracing, and Tulip Girl (Serdika Tulip) by Arsek & Erase — a bright, flower-filled mural created with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bulgaria. Slightly further afield, the Hadzhi Dimitar neighbourhood (accessible via metro M3) is another great place to spot street art, including The Bull by Bulgarian artist Bozko, a highly-detailed work featuring a man in armour sitting on top of a large bull. Travellers can find many of the city's most striking murals using the Sofia Street Art Map, which features works from 16 local and international artists. Sofia's National History Museum is the largest museum in Bulgaria and one of the city's must-see attractions. Here, you'll find a vast collection spanning millennia, including jewellery and other items in exquisitely worked gold dating back to the Thracian period. For an interactive experience, visit The Red Flat — a museum that invites you to step back into 1980s Communist Bulgaria. The National Gallery is home to more than 40,000 paintings, sculptures and graphic works located across several branches, with the newest and largest building, Kvadrat 500, situated behind St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. The crypt of the cathedral holds the National Gallery's Museum of Christian Art, which features a collection of iconographic patterns from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. The city's Regional History Museum is an another prime location for discovering Sofia's past, with exhibits covering the period from the Neolithic era up to the 1940s. Finally, the National Museum of Earth and Man is a must for anyone with even a passing interest in geology, rocks and minerals, with over 20,000 objects on display. For those who time their visit right, the city hosts a number of music festivals across the year. Fans of every genre are catered for: in July, the city hosts A to JazZ — a fantastic jazz festival, which over the years has featured legends such as Branford Marsalis, John McLaughlin and Kenny Garrett. Another standout in the city is Sofia Live, a three-day multi-genre festival in June that features both big-name artists and local emerging talent. And it's not just music on the menu — Sofia's two-week International Film Festival kicks off in March; Aniventure Comic Con, the country's biggest annual event for fans of anime, cosplay, comic books and gaming, takes place in July; and the Wizz Air Sofia Marathon in October draws thousands of runners each year. Plus, the Lunar Festival of Lights in May transforms the facades of iconic buildings and monuments into giant canvases, primed for works by local and international artists. In December, visitors can get into the holiday spirit at one of the many festive markets located around Sofia. Sofia's food scene is a microcosm of all that's best about Bulgarian cuisine — think rich stews, traditional flaky cheese pastry (banitsa), grilled meat and sun-soaked vegetables. There's something here for all tastes and budgets, whether you're looking for traditional Bulgarian dishes or international flavours. Start your culinary tour with a stroll down Vitosha Boulevard, which is lined with restaurants and cafes, or head to the colourful KvARTal district. Tsar Shishman Street is another good place for restaurants — and be sure to visit the Women's Market, with its mountains of fresh local produce. Many of the city's klek shops (meaning 'squat' shops) selling drinks and snacks have closed in recent years, but you can still find a few of them — though you'll need to squat to reach the shop window, as they're housed in basements manned by a solitary shopkeeper. Just over six miles south of the city, the Vitosha massif is Sofia's outdoor playground. It's a fantastic place for hiking and mountain biking in the summer months, while in the winter, it transforms into an ideal landscape for skiing and sledging. Don't let its relative proximity to the Bulgarian capital deceive you — Vitosha's highest peak, Cherni Vrah, stands at 7,513ft, and the views from here are breathtaking. Vitosha is a perfect spot for day hikes from Sofia, but make sure you carry enough water and wear suitable clothing, as the weather up here can change on a dime. This paid content article was created for Visit Sofia. It does not necessarily reflect the views of National Geographic, National Geographic Traveller (UK) or their editorial subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Letters to the Editor: Relocating priceless Getty collections to downtown would not necessarily ensure their safety
To the editor: Before encouraging the Getty Center and Getty Villa to move holdings to the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration in downtown Los Angeles, it would be wise to remember the fire that hit the Central Library in 1986 ("Fire could have destroyed the Getty's irreplaceable art. Should the museum move?" March 13). Per the library website, "400,000 volumes — 20% of the library's holdings — were destroyed, with significant water and smoke damage done to the surviving works.' No one knows how the fire started, but the result was closure of the library for seven years. It will take a lot of study to determine just how fire-safe a structure built in 1960 actually is or can be made to be. As art critic Christopher Knight writes, the possibility of moving the Getty collection, and, in my opinion, the collection at the Skirball Cultural Center that abuts the same wildfire-prone area, should be considered, but that consideration shouldn't turn on the availability of a particular building. Stephanie Scher, Pasadena .. To the editor: I take exception to Knight's view on several counts. First, there is no safer place to house these collections than where they are sitting today. To rebuild these locations would be prohibitive, even for the Getty Trust. Second, the two locations themselves are works of art and, in my opinion, are irreplaceable. Finally, the county hall site could be repurposed into homeless and low-income housing for a fraction of the cost of a new museum and be a better memorial to the late mayor and county supervisor James Hahn. Kevin Minihan, Westchester .. To the editor: I like Knight's idea to relocate the Getty collection downtown in the Hahn building next to Grand Park. That structure is steps away from the Civic Center Metro stop, which I already use when I go to the Music Center. Don Shirley, Sherman Oaks .. To the editor: The commentary on whether the Getty's buildings should move was a waste of Knight's long years of experience and practiced eye for art, neither of which were needed for that off-the-wall piece of blue-sky speculation. Patrick Frank, Venice .. To the editor: Both museums have incredible abilities to survive the fires that scarred our city. The vision of the villa to be above the ocean, as was the original villa near Pompeii, would be totally ruined. Instead, this critic should be lauding the beacons both museums provide. One stands bravely for the reestablishment of a community around it. The other encourages all of L.A. that such a resource exists. Elaine Sarnoff, Manhattan Beach .. To the editor: Let's move Los Angeles. Instead of having to deal with wildfires, earthquakes and urban unrest, moving our fair city to a spot where nothing much happens — Inyo County comes to mind — might achieve the goal of erasing every last bit of uncertainty in life and allowing us to never again have to worry that Thracian artifacts are endangered. Jeff Schultz, Los Angeles This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
17-03-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Letters to the Editor: Relocating priceless Getty collections to downtown would not necessarily ensure their safety
To the editor: Before encouraging the Getty Center and Getty Villa to move holdings to the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration in downtown Los Angeles, it would be wise to remember the fire that hit the Central Library in 1986 ('Fire could have destroyed the Getty's irreplaceable art. Should the museum move?' March 13). Per the library website, '400,000 volumes — 20% of the library's holdings — were destroyed, with significant water and smoke damage done to the surviving works.' No one knows how the fire started, but the result was closure of the library for seven years. It will take a lot of study to determine just how fire-safe a structure built in 1960 actually is or can be made to be. As art critic Christopher Knight writes, the possibility of moving the Getty collection, and, in my opinion, the collection at the Skirball Cultural Center that abuts the same wildfire-prone area, should be considered, but that consideration shouldn't turn on the availability of a particular building. Stephanie Scher, Pasadena .. To the editor: I take exception to Knight's view on several counts. First, there is no safer place to house these collections than where they are sitting today. To rebuild these locations would be prohibitive, even for the Getty Trust. Second, the two locations themselves are works of art and, in my opinion, are irreplaceable. Finally, the county hall site could be repurposed into homeless and low-income housing for a fraction of the cost of a new museum and be a better memorial to the late mayor and county supervisor James Hahn. Kevin Minihan, Westchester .. To the editor: I like Knight's idea to relocate the Getty collection downtown in the Hahn building next to Grand Park. That structure is steps away from the Civic Center Metro stop, which I already use when I go to the Music Center. Don Shirley, Sherman Oaks .. To the editor: The commentary on whether the Getty's buildings should move was a waste of Knight's long years of experience and practiced eye for art, neither of which were needed for that off-the-wall piece of blue-sky speculation. Patrick Frank, Venice .. To the editor: Both museums have incredible abilities to survive the fires that scarred our city. The vision of the villa to be above the ocean, as was the original villa near Pompeii, would be totally ruined. Instead, this critic should be lauding the beacons both museums provide. One stands bravely for the reestablishment of a community around it. The other encourages all of L.A. that such a resource exists. Elaine Sarnoff, Manhattan Beach .. To the editor: Let's move Los Angeles. Instead of having to deal with wildfires, earthquakes and urban unrest, moving our fair city to a spot where nothing much happens — Inyo County comes to mind — might achieve the goal of erasing every last bit of uncertainty in life and allowing us to never again have to worry that Thracian artifacts are endangered. Jeff Schultz, Los Angeles
