Latest news with #ancientGreece
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Sticky goo in 2,500-year-old bronze jars finally identified, settling 70-year debate
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Globs of sticky goo discovered in the bottom of 2,500-year-old bronze jars from southern Italy have been chemically identified, settling a 70-year archaeological debate. It's honey — the sweet leftovers of an offering to an ancient god. A team of chemists and archaeologists used cutting-edge analysis techniques to test the paste-like residue. They concluded that the jars, which were found in the sixth-century-B.C. city of Paestum, originally contained honeycomb. "What I find interesting is that the ancient Greeks did think that honey was a superfood," study lead author Luciana da Costa Carvalho, a chemist at the University of Oxford, said in a video. The researchers published their findings Wednesday (July 30) in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Honey and honeybees were important in ancient Greek and Roman medicine, rituals, cosmetics and food. So when archaeologists found eight bronze jars in an underground shrine in 1954, they assumed that the jars contained honey as a symbol of immortality. Despite at least four attempts over seven decades to confirm the presence of the sticky, sweet substance, no evidence of sugars was ever found. Related: Does honey ever go bad? But Carvalho and colleagues decided to take advantage of recent advances in chemical analysis techniques and to reopen the question of the gooey substance's origin. Using mass spectrometry, a technique that can identify different molecules and compounds, Carvalho and colleagues identified intact hexose sugars in the ancient jar residue for the first time. Fresh honey is about 79% hexose sugars, the researchers wrote in the study, with fructose being the most abundant. An analysis of the proteins in the ancient sample revealed the presence of royal jelly, a milky secretion made by worker bees. The researchers also recovered peptides — short amino acid chains that are smaller versions of proteins — unique to one species of honeybee: the European honeybee (Apis mellifera). Adding up these analyses, the researchers wrote that the study presents the first direct molecular evidence supporting the presence of honey, likely offered as honeycombs. "The amount of sugar in the ancient residue is very low compared to modern honey," Carvalho told Live Science in an email. "I think the residue tastes like washed honeycomb but slightly more acidic," Carvalho said, although she did not actually try it. The researchers also identified copper ions in the honey mixture. Because these ions are biocidal, meaning they can kill microorganisms, "their presence would have contributed to the preservations of sugars on the surface of the residue," Carvalho said, potentially explaining how the honey lasted thousands of years. The analysis of the goop can help archaeologists better understand ancient rituals and shrines. The jars were found in an underground shrine, also called a heroon, at Paestum. The heroon also included a large, wooden table with wool-wrapped iron rods placed on top. RELATED STORIES —Panathenaic prize amphora: A pot brimming with olive oil awarded at the ancient Greek Olympics —Depiction of Trojan War hero Ajax found in 1,800-year-old submerged building in Greece —Ancient Greeks may have built 'disability ramps' on some temples The offering may have been made to Is of Helice, the mythical founder of the ancient Greek city of Sybaris, located in what today is the arch of Italy's boot. When Sybaris was destroyed in the sixth century B.C., its inhabitants fled and founded a city called Poseidonia. But when the Romans took it over in the third century B.C., they renamed the city Paestum. The new study shows that "there is merit in reanalyzing museum collections because analytical techniques continue to develop," Carvalho said in the video. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Mysterious 2,500-Year-Old 'Gift to The Gods' Finally Identified
A mysterious, orange gunk found in a bronze jar uncovered some 70 years ago at an ancient shrine near Pompeii, Italy, has finally been identified as honey. After several failed attempts over recent decades, researchers from the University of Oxford unraveled the strange substance's chemical degradation to reveal a sweet offering to an ancient Greek god 2,500 years ago; an appropriate gift, given honey is said to be what Zeus ate as a child. Archeologist Luciana da Costa Carvalho and colleagues were able to detect a chemical fingerprint nearly identical to modern honey and beeswax using advanced gas chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques. It was more acidic though, as would be expected from long-term storage where the sugars degrade into furans over time. Related: This also happens to beeswax, which was identified in one of the previous analyses, but the residue had a much more complicated composition to just be wax, the researchers argue. While previous analyses were unable to detect any carbohydrates, the new analysis picked up the simple sugar hexose and the products of decomposed saccharides preserved in the corroded copper of the jar. Excavated in 1954, the shrine at a Greek settlement in Paestum, Italy, was dedicated to an unknown deity. Inside, bronze jars surrounded an empty iron bed accompanied by six hydriai and two amphorae. "The empty bed and the inaccessibility of the shrine signify that the deity was there," da Costa Carvalho and team describe in their paper, explaining honey is a "symbol of immortality". Honey was also well known for its use as a sweetener and in medical preparations, cosmetics, and rituals in ancient Greece. "Ancient residues aren't just traces of what people ate or offered to the gods – they are complex chemical ecosystems," says da Costa Carvalho. "Studying them reveals how those substances changed over time, opening the door to future work on ancient microbial activity and its possible applications." This research was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Related News 4,000-Year-Old Handprint Discovered on Ancient Egyptian Artifact Markings on Strange Stonehenge Boulder May Not Be Natural After All Stomach-Churning Theory Could Explain Mystery of Neanderthal Diet Solve the daily Crossword
Forbes
05-07-2025
- Forbes
An Archaeological Expert's Top 5 Lesser-Known Destinations In Turkey
Knidos, on Turkey's turquoise coast, is one of the few places where you can cruise into an ancient city's harbor Peter Sommer Turkey is reveling in a tourism boom at the moment as travelers seek out flavors that pack a punch in Istanbul, the Instagram ideal of a hot air ballon ride over Cappadocia, and seaside luxury on the glittering coast of Bodrum. But while these destinations are soaring in popularity, many of Turkey's archaeological treasures remain under-the-radar. Archaeologist and travel company founder Peter Sommer—who has trekked 2,000 miles across Turkey retracing Alexander the Great's route—shares five sites that offer tourists millennia-old history, unblemished landscapes, and intrepid hikes - all without the crowds. Perched right on the Carian coast, about halfway between the modern towns of Bodrum and Göcek, stands one of the best preserved fortifications from the ancient Greek world, more than 2,300 years old. 'Loryma hasn't been excavated, reconstructed or restored, it's just there, testimony to the skill of its military architects and the massive slabs of stone that have endured wind, sun, rain and repeated seismic shaking for over 23 centuries,' says Sommer. Perched right on the Carian coast stands one of the best preserved fortifications from the ancient Greek world, more than 2,300 years old. Peter Sommer The site is only accessible by hiking along the Carian trail or arriving into the bay below by boat. Sommer recommends the later, more relaxing option, to 'cruise beneath the ramparts gazing up in wonder at the mighty walls studded with towers.' The defensive walls were likely built to protect the great port city of Rhodes and deny the best nearby harbor to any potential enemy. 'There are no signboards at the site and it hardly registers a mention in most guidebooks, but this stunning structure, so rich in history, is definitely worth the journey,' Sommer adds. Explore The Ruined City Of Kyaenai Like Indiana Jones On a rocky ridge high above a rustic valley, east of the resort town of Kaş, are the ruins of Kyaenai. 'Look up as you're driving and you'll see a tomb with a Greek temple façade carved into the cliff face, the first indication that there are antiquities in this seemingly remote spot,' says Sommer. He recommends heading into the little village of Yavu at its base and asking one of the hospitable locals to escort you up to this remarkable archaeological site. Your path, an hour's climb, will mainly be on a roughly 2,400-year-old road gouged out of the bedrock, winding its way through a seemingly endless series of sarcophagi. On a rocky ridge high above a rustic valley, east of the resort town of Kaş, are the ruins of Kyaenai. Peter Sommer Finally, on high, with mountain and sea views in all directions, you'll face the city walls, with Corinthian columns and decorative arches lying asunder in the undergrowth. 'You'll need a guide, for Kyaenai has the spirit of Indiana Jones,' Sommer adds. Breaching the fortifications, you'll find the city's interior, once replete with temples, then churches, Roman baths, public squares filled with altars and statues, now completely engulfed by trees and vegetation. On the slopes outside the city center is its ancient theater, shattered by earthquakes. Climb to the top, gaze around in wonder and the eons will dissolve as you are transported into the past. 'Getting to Kyaenai isn't easy, but I couldn't recommend it high enough—it's a true archaeological adventure,' says Sommer. Discover Underfloor-Heated Bathhouses In Arykanda Heading inland from the Lycian coast at Finike, up a river valley into the mountains, you'll discover Arykanda. 'There won't be many other people there, which means you'll have one of the prettiest historic spots practically to yourself, terrace after terrace of the most picturesque and splendid ancient Greek and Roman buildings marching their way higher and higher up the hillside,' says Sommer. Heading inland from the Lycian coast at Finike, up a river valley into the mountains, you'll discover Arykanda. Peter Sommer Turkish archaeologists have spent decades removing vast amounts of debris from landslides to reveal a stadium, a theater with a magnificent vista, grand bathhouses with underfloor heating systems, Byzantine churches floored with mosaics and monumental tombs adorned with sculptures and gouged out with ancient graffiti. 'Birds of prey circle the peaks above, the river flows fast far below and the air is full of the prayers of the past—to the pantheon of Olympian deities that were once worshipped here,' Sommers says. Stroll An Ancient City Beneath Pine Trees In Priene While Ephesus receives millions of visitors each year, just an hour's drive to the south is the little-visited ancient city of Priene. Priene is considered one of the best preserved truly Greek cities, where you can walk on paved stone streets through ancient fortifications and admire temples, gymnasia and houses from around the time of Alexander the Great, some 2,300-plus years ago. Devastated by earthquakes long ago, archaeologists have been uncovering Priene's once grand architecture for centuries. They have kept it as a place of natural beauty, so you stroll by council houses, agoras and steep-stepped streets under shady pine trees with a soundtrack of cicadas. While Ephesus receives millions of visitors each year, just an hour's drive to the south is the little-visited ancient city of Priene. Peter Sommer One highlight is the temple of Athena bearing an impressive dedicatory inscription from Augustus, first of the Roman emperors. In the almost perfectly preserved theater, you can take a seat in one of the magnificently carved VIP thrones swathed with icons of Dionysius. After the cultural riches, Sommer suggests taking a short drive west to meet the Mediterranean at the hamlet of Karine, where you can eat at one of the rustic fish restaurants and paddle in the sea. Cruise Into The Ancient Harbor Of Knidos Knidos, on Turkey's turquoise coast, is one of the few places where you can cruise into an ancient city's harbor, drop anchor and tie up in the very same place ancients did well over 2,000 years ago. As you sail in on a traditional wooden gulet, the whole Greek-Roman city surrounds you with tombs, temples, colonnades, and theaters. With a double harbor set at the tip of a long and sinewy peninsula on a highly strategic coastline, Knidos grew rich from its favorable natural position and from trading wine, olive oil and vast quantities of amphorae.
Fox News
14-06-2025
- General
- Fox News
Long-lost sanctuary to Greek god discovered by archaeologists: 'Larger than life'
Archaeologists recently made numerous "spectacular" discoveries at a long-forgotten temple to an Ancient Greek god, according to local officials. The Department of Antiquities in Cyprus shared a Facebook post about the latest excavation on April 28. The site, the Sanctuary of Apollo at Frangissa, was first discovered in the 19th century before it was subsequently lost, the group said. Apollo, the god of archery and the son of Zeus, was venerated both in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. He was one of the 12 Olympian deities in Greek mythology, said to have lived upon Mount Olympus along with his father Zeus and sister Artemis. A German archaeologist named Max Ohnefalsch-Richter found the sanctuary in 1885, which the Department of Antiquities described as "one of the most spectacular finds of his time." "[It was] a richly furnished rural sanctuary of Apollo," said the post, which was translated from Greek to English. "It was furnished with a lavish abundance of votive statues numbering in the hundreds, some of which were of colossal dimensions." But the 19th-century excavation was hastily done — and Ohnefalsch-Richter covered the sanctuary up with dirt to preserve it. It was soon forgotten. "As the excavator completely covered the sanctuary, including the statue bases and walls, its location was eventually forgotten," the Facebook post noted. German archaeologists began a new search for the site in 2021. It was eventually found, and the latest excavation of the site recently wrapped up. This year, excavators found numerous statues of massive proportions, as well as votive statues that were found in the backfill area from 1885. "In the process, the walls of the dedication courtyard and over 100 statue bases, some of colossal size, were uncovered in large areas," the department said. "Apparently in 1885 [the votive statues] were not recognized as artifacts in the rush," the post continued. "They fundamentally expand our knowledge of this sacred place." Archaeologists also recently found "completely new types of statues" that were previously unknown. They plan to restore them to their original appearance. "The discovery of clearly larger-than-life feet, for example, means that the existence of colossal male limestone figures from archaic times can now be proven," the press release added. "Such larger-than-life figures were previously only known here in Frangissa made from terracotta, including the famous 'Colossus of Tamassos' in the Cyprus Museum exhibition." The release went on, "In addition, evidence of other previously unknown types of votive objects was also found, such as marbled glass beads or Egyptian amulets made of faience [tin-glazed pottery]." The statues also contained inscriptions in particular languages that give historians an idea of how old they were – possibly as far back as 2,700 years ago. "The discovery of two bases with inscriptions is spectacular," the statement read. "One is inscribed with several local Cypro-Syllabic characters, while the other refers in Greek letters to the Ptolemies, the Hellenistic rulers of Egypt who also controlled Cyprus at the time." "The existence of colossal male limestone figures from archaic times can now be proven." "It shows that the sanctuary played an important role not only in archaic times (7th and 6th centuries B.C.), but also after the end of the Cypriot kingdoms." Archaeologists also believe that the site went through a significant expansion during the end of the Cypriot kingdoms, which can be observed in the architecture. "During this time, a large peristyle courtyard was built next to the votive offering room, which was probably used for banquets." The department noted that the latest excavations "open up the possibility of exploring the architecture of the sanctuary, which was only inadequately documented by Ohnefalsch-Richte." The statement also said that "apparently" the "court had several phases of construction and utilization." "The further investigation of the preserved remains thus promises to provide important, far-reaching insights that will bring back to life the ritual behavior of past times and allow them to be seen in their original spatial setting."
Geek Girl Authority
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Anime Roundup: Everything Coming Out in June 2025
Welcome back to another installment of GGA's monthly Anime Roundup, where we cover everything coming out in June 2025 on the most popular streaming services, such as Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu and HIDIVE. We also added May since it was an odd month for anime because the month had many late additions dropping into the lineup just days before their premiere date. Here is everything that came out at the end of May and everything you can look forward to watching in June 2025! RELATED: Check out more of our Anime Roundup series Blood of Zeus (Season 3) A commoner living in ancient Greece discovers his true heritage as a son of Zeus, along with his purpose: to save the world from a demonic army. After the events of Season 2, the clash between gods and demigods is brought to the brink as Heron's battle continues amongst the likes of Ares, Athena, Persephone and Hades. If you haven't watched this anime yet, now is a perfect time to binge it all in one sitting. The story ends with Season 3 of Blood of Zeus. Catch it on Netflix starting May 8th, 2025. When an astronaut leaves Earth for Mars, the vast infinite space divides star-crossed lovers in this animated romance that crosses the cosmos. I have already had the pleasure of watching this movie on Netflix and it is a must-see romance for fans of shows like The Orbital Children and Your Lie in April . The characters are beautifully animated and the voice acting brings them to life. Keep tissues close at hand when you start this heartwarming film and remember that love doesn't need gravity to pull you in. Lost in Starlight premiered on Netflix on May 30, 2025. RELATED: 4 Western Properties That Got Anime Adaptations When K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira , and Zoey aren't selling out stadiums, they use their secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats. This show reminds me of Totally Spy with an amazing K-pop band twist, and I can't wait for its release. It is being produced by the same studio that animates the Miles Morales Spider-Verse universe movies and retains the unique art style of those projects. KPop Demon Hunters will dance their way onto screens June 20, 2025 for Netflix. Pokémon Horizons: The Search for Laqua (Season 2 Part 3) Young Pokémon trainers Liko, Roy and Dot head to the Paldea region to master the power of Terastallization and uncover the mystery behind Terapagos. In Pokémon Horizons: Season 2—The Search for Laqua , our heroes undergo Tera Training, take on Paldea's Gym Leaders and continue their pursuit of the remaining Six Heroes. Watch the third installment of the exciting adventure, continuing June 27, 2025, on Netflix. Pokémon XY/Kalos Quest/XYZ Netflix is positioning its platform to be the place to catch classic and new Pokémon . Ash and Pikachu continue their epic journey in Pokémon the Series: XY Kalos Quest. While Ash continues his quest to win eight Gym badges so he can enter the Kalos League, he and his traveling companions will make new friends, forge new rivalries, and, of course, meet some brand-new Pokémon. You can catch up on many of Ash's classic adventures on Netflix and episodes of Pokémon XY/Kalos Quest/XYZ starting on June 27, 2025. That's all for May and June, so you will have plenty of time to catch up on your backlog before the packed July Anime lineup. What will you be watching this summer? Anime Roundup: Everything Coming Out in April 2025 (Part 2)
