The Cathedral of Tarragona is a microcosm of the Spain’s turbulent but colorful past–Romans, Visigoths, Arabs, Jews, and Catalans have all called the area home. However, recent excavations reveal that long before the conversion of Spain to Christianity, there was a shrine of tremendous size dedicated to the Emperor Augustus (63 BCE – 14 CE) and in use until the Fifth Century CE. This shrine was located directly under the present Cathedral. Be sure to read more in this article by the Catalan News Agency.

Clothes make the man, and they made the man “Roman” as well. In this provocative article by Der Spiegel, textile researchers and archaeologists are discovering that many of our preconceived notions of “Roman fashion” are incorrect or simply unsubstantiated. From fabric production, to color and design, new discoveries and research demonstrate that the Romans might well have been the true fashionistas of Antiquity.

Der Spiegel reports that scholars and archaeologists are puzzled but fascinated by a recent discovery near the German city of Weimar. Roughly 3,800 years old, a primitive palace compound has been unearthed revealing the wealth of an ancient prince. Archaeologists believe that the building might have been the largest in prehistoric Germany. Among the various items found were a hundred bronze hatchet blades and the body of child who had been sacrificed.

Alasdair Wilkins — The Olympic Games first began in the ancient Greek city-state of Olympia. For all its fame, the city suffered a mysterious fate, destroyed by an unknown natural disaster. Now it looks like tsunamis were the culprit…despite being 30 kilometers inland.

The German Newspaper, Der Spiegel, recently ran a controversial article about the origins of modern Britons and the restructuring of British society as a result of the Anglo-Saxon invasions. It makes for interesting reading! Click here to learn more.

Researchers in Egypt have recently suggested that Ancient Egyptians lived with air pollution just as we do in the modern day. Apparently, this research and its findings have been controversial. Read this provocative article by clicking here.

There is exciting news from Bulgaria! A team of Bulgarian scientists and archaeologists are excavating an ancient Thracian palace, which dates from the reign of King Teres I (r. 351-341 BCE). The site is located near the village of Starosel vin Hisarya and was at the crossroads of Greek and Thracian influence in Antiquity. Please read more about expedition by clicking here.

If you find yourself in Italy in the near future, you might want to check out “Portraits: The Many Faces of Power,” at the Capitoline Museums (Piazza del Campidoglio, Rome). This exhibition is one of five annual shows in Rome which trace the trajectory of Roman art through the centuries and through various media. The exhibition, running until September 25, showcases over one hundred fifty busts.

I just wanted to alert our users that a great resource is available to you for free! If you enjoy watching documentaries–especially those on ancient history–you must check out Top Documentary Films. The website includes free, streaming, online documentary films, and movies on a variety of topics. It’s a fantastic tool for the scholar, educator, and casual viewer alike!

South of the bustling Lebanese capital–the alluring Beirut–is the ancient Phoenician city of Tyre. In its heyday it was a major center of international trade and commerce. From Tyre, Phoenician merchants and sailors  sailed to present day Spain, Greece, and Tunisia. The ruins of the old city are remarkably intact and bear witness to centuries of invasions and cultural exchange. For more information please read Mohammed El Hebeishy’s “Phoenicia Revived” You can also view several pictures of these imposing ancient ruins when accessing the provided link. If Turkey is more to relevant to your interests, you should take a look at Susanne Güsten’s recent article in the New York Times by clicking here. Turkey has undertaken steps to protect ancient Christian churches and monasteries, in particular those found in Anatolia. Restoration and preservation work has been conducted and tourists are flocking to these sites as a result.