Συντάκτης: Theodoros Karasavvas

A good sports logo should be emblematic, recognizable by millions of people in every corner of the planet. The crown of Real Madrid, for example, holds more sway than Queen Elizabeth’s crown and that’s no exaggeration. The “NY” of the Yankees is also one of the most famous sport symbols of people wear hats that bear the “NY” whether they root for the Yankees or not. However, have you ever thought about how these famous team logos have evolved throughout the years, and would you recognize your favorite team’s logo if you saw it in its earliest incarnation….READ MORE

According to many paleontologists and scientists, bats have been around for millions of years, even before humans inhabited the planet, and are some of the most fascinating creatures in the world. Although bats don’t have a great reputation in terms of public perception, they are actually really cool creatures. Curious about what makes them so cool? Check out these 25 Incredible Facts About Bats You Probably Didn’t Know….READ MORE

The Taj Mahal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, recognized as a jewel of Muslim art and for being one of the most admired masterpieces of human culture and ingenuity. With more than eight million people visiting annually, the Taj Mahal – though relatively new compared to some of the world’s most famous monuments such as the Parthenon, the Pyramids, and the Coliseum – has rightfully earned a prestigious place in history for its unique architecture and art. Read on to understand just why this gorgeous mausoleum has been declared one of the “New 7 Wonders of the World….READ MORE

Téviec is one of the very few known Mesolithic sites in Brittany, along with Pointe de la Torche, Hoëdic and Beg er Vil on the Quibe. It has been the subject of a biotope protection scheme for the past 35 years. Therefore, landing on the island has become a troublesome task for contemporary archaeologists, since it is generally prohibited from 15 April to 31 August.

That wasn’t always the case, though. From 1928 to 1934, archaeologists Marthe and Saint-Just Péquart discovered and excavated a culturally and archaeologically rich Mesolithic site on the island, dated to between 5700 and 4500 BC. According to most historians, this is considered the end of the Mesolithic period in western France and it overlaps with the beginning of the Neolithic period….READ MORE

It’s no secret that the ancient Greeks loved to have parties, dance and drink for every occasion. It could be celebrating a birth, the arrival of a loved person or a marriage. Indeed, in many cases no specific purpose was required for them to celebrate. These parties and celebrations, however, shouldn’t be confused with the symposium (or symposion), a very significant aspect of ancient Greek life that usually took place in private homes. At a symposium, Greek males gathered for more than just drinking, eating, and having fun, as many falsely believe today….READ MORE

Mount Vesuvius was responsible for the destruction of the city of Pompeii in 79 AD. Most everyone has heard one story or another about arguably the most well-known volcanic eruption in history, but how many of you know what really happened on that fateful day in Pompeii? Weirdly, Mount Vesuvius isn’t really that impressive in person. In terms of size, it’s really more like a reasonably big hill. Of course, those with even a cursory knowledge of history or geology know that this mountain located on the west coast of Italy is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Honestly, the Vesuvius eruption is not even the most interesting part of the story of the Italian city….READ MORE

When viewers are watching a film or TV show, they really shouldn’t take for granted the “reality” presented in its plot. Actually, you would have to be really naive to do so. However, there are times when you really don’t know if you should believe what you’re seeing or not, especially if the channel you’re watching is called History. One such case is the History Channel’s Vikings, a historical drama that is supposed to be loosely based on facts and Norse sagas.

Despite the undeniable awesomeness of the series, the crazy-good acting, and the immense success of the show, there are some hilarious inaccuracies that any history buff can easily spot. Does this mean that the show isn’t good? Hell no! The show is truly good, and if it hasn’t gotten your attention yet, be advised that you should start watching it immediately. Just make sure you don’t take everything you see in the series literally because, as the following list shows, there are issues with the historical authenticity of the plot at times….READ MORE

Cleisthenes came from an aristocratic Alcmaeonid family of Athens and was born around 570 BC. His father was Megacles, a dominant figure of Athenian politics, and his mother was Agariste, the daughter of Cleisthenes the tyrant of Sicyon, a city west of Corinth. Cleisthenes first came to political prominence when he was made archon (a decorated administrative official) in 525 BC during the reign of the tyrant Hippias. Shortly after, however, his family didn’t continue being favored from the Athenian authorities and as a result Cleisthenes was exiled. Whilst in exile, Cleisthenes claimed support from the sacred oracle at Delphi in order to convince the Spartans to help him remove Hippias from power, as it happened….READ MORE

Phryne was the daughter of Epicles from Thespiae (Boeotia), but spent most of her life in Athens. Even though we don’t know the exact dates of her birth and death, various historians estimate that she was born around 371 BC, the year Thebes razed Thespiae not long after the battle of Leuctra and expelled its inhabitants. Thanks to her extraordinary beauty, she became a model posing for various painters and sculptors, including the great Praxiteles (who was also one of her clients)….READ MORE

Humans are incredibly creative when it comes to torture and humiliation, as surviving artifacts of ancient cruelty attest. One of the most illustrious and creative civilizations of all time, the Greeks, produced one of the most famous ancient torture devices, the brazen bull. The Egyptians were similarly adept at brutal ancient torture, and the Romans used pain during interrogation in extremely effective ways.  During medieval times, a wide range of people, from common criminals to the mentally ill, those accused of witchcraft, and political adversaries, were tortured to death, in many cases unfairly….READ MORE