Asclepion of Pergamum

The Asclepion (Asklepieion) of Pergamum was perhaps the world's most famous ancient medical center, and is the second-most important site in Bergama. Founded by a man named Archias, the Asclepion of Pergamum became famous under Galen (131-210 AD), a local physician who pursued his medical studies in Greece and Alexandria (Egypt) before settling here as doctor to Pergamum's gladiators.

It was about to rain when we got there and once we were inside the thunderstorm started, which was very beautiful. And then it rained quite for some time. There are these really cute frogs (which can startle you as they are quite loud) and turtles swimming in what used to be swimming pools for the patients. There is this long underpassage which used to be a hospital and it's very beautiful especially in the rain. All in all it's an amazing place which I hope one day will be restored and cleaned up. I hope to go back there and take more photos.

Discover Nile with Joanna Lumley

I have previously watched Joanna Lumley's documentary about the Northern Lights which I found very interesting. Apparently she went on to film at least another two travelogues on Nile and Greece.
Joanna Lumley's Nile can be found on megavideo in chunks part 3 and 4:

http://www.megavideo.com/?v=FAKJ7AWS
http://www.megavideo.com/?v=18555CXE

Having travelled a similar route myself I found it brought a lot of nice memories although my goal was not the Nile but ancient Egyptian monuments. But still it was very interesting how Joanna goes to discover little-known facts of life in Sudan such as dukan (I hope I spelled it right) and actually try it herself. Her describing it on Graham Norton's show was hilarious :)

And here is some information about her latest documentary on Greece:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2046501/Joana-Lumleys-Greek-Odyssey-Greeks-rich-history-myth-stunning-scenery.html

Some more about Kybira and the Burdur Museum

You can find it Scribd the file's name is 2003_18 or search as Burdur's museum excavation of the ancient city of Kybira

Kybira

As soon as I have the time and inspiration I will translate the information about Kybira (Turkey's undiscovered treasure) meanwhile if you speak the language check it out on http://www.golhisar.bel.tr/?sayfa=kibyra

http://heritage-key.com/blogs/ann/sagalassos-archaeological-project-digs-oldest-roman-baths-asia-minor

Interesting video from Turkish TV channel about the excavation and restoration of the ancient city of Sagalassos

and a very useful website that covers a lot on this city http://www.sagalassos.be/

If you can't go to the Burdur museum ... it can come to you

Just recently found this very interesting website of the Burdur Museum which features an online tour. It shows all their collections (including even the depot) of artifacts found in ancient cities of Sagalassos, Kibyra and Kremna. Something that especially drew my attention was a statute of a couple (husband and wife possibly) lying down very similar to the famous Etruscan married couple now exhibited at Louvre.

Etruscan couple at Louvre

Kybirian couple from Burdur

Not a very good picture I know but if I go there in person I might be able to post it online. Meanwhile if you're interested go to http://www.burdurmuzesi.gov.tr/Sanal%20Tur/english/a22.htm and choose Front of Kybira from a drop-down menu. I am definitely not an expert but this is the first time I see a statue like this anywhere on the territory of the Eastern Roman Empire (modern Turkey :)

Step back in history and enjoy the theatre like ancients did

Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival starts on the 9th of June in Antalya.

Details can be found on this website http://www.aspendosfestival.gov.tr/index_e.html

Aspendos Theatre

Museums I must see!!!

Croesus whose name equals wealth in English was a Lydian king.  Wether he and his wealth really existed is debatable but I definitely must see the Karun Treasure which was stolen, smuggled out of Turkey and then finally returned. Apparently it is now in display in Uşak Museum. Some of it is on the photos below:

Another museum or more a collection that is a must-see is the so-called ''Elmalı treasure'' which includes 1,900 silver coins as well as some extremely rare decadrachms (now on display at the Antalya Museum). Some of it is on the photos below:

This goes to show - always research the collections of the museums you are going to visit! 

Speaking of which as soon as I have time I will post photos from the Selçuk Archeological Museum which includes finds at Ephesus. Amazing stuff! :-)

A Byzantine name for a modern child?

 

This is not very big news but I thought quite an interesting one. Mylene Klass former pop-band singer and recently a ''Talking Movies'' presenter decided to call her newborn daughter Hero. I found it strange but apparently Hero and Leander is a Byzantine myth, relating the story of Hērō (Greek: Ἡρώ, pron. hay-RAW (ancient) and like "hero" in English), a priestess of Aphrodite who dwelt in a tower in Sestos on the European side of the Dardanelles, and Leander (Greek: Λέανδρος, Léandros), a young man from Abydos on the opposite side of the strait. Leander fell in love with Hero and would swim every night across the Hellespont to be with her. Hero would light a lamp at the top of her tower to guide his way.

Succumbing to Leander's soft words, and to his argument that Aphrodite, as goddess of love, would scorn the worship of a virgin, Hero allowed him to make love to her. This routine lasted through the warm summer. But one stormy winter night, the waves tossed Leander in the sea and the breezes blew out Hero's light, and Leander lost his way, and was drowned. Hero threw herself from the tower in grief and died as well. (taken from Wikipedia).

For some time I thought that Leander's Tower is Kızkulesi in Istanbul, but is it really or is it just a marketing trick to lure more tourists?

Lycia

http://www.lycianfederation.co.uk/

Pergamum

The kingdom of Pergamum in 188 BC

and the steepest seating of any know theater in the ancient word (with the capacity to host 10 000)

My photos of Bergama (Pergamum)

The Land I dream to discover....

Feel like a Roman for a day (or at least like an Ottoman) !

Kate Moss in Cağaloğlu Hamamı / İstanbul 

 

Kate Moss in Cağaloğlu Hamamı / İstanbul 

Kate Moss in Hammam Photo Gallery

Last weekend was my fist visit to a Turkish hammam! It was very exciting :) and a very relaxing experience. Bursa is famous for its thermal springs and has many ''thermal'' hotels and hammams. 

The one I went to was at the Marigold Otel Bursa. It's a 5 star hotel with its own Pithia Thermal and Spa. Not only you can you their wonderful private hammam suites but they also have thermal spa, contrast showers, spa, massage and lots more. Unfortunately I couldn't post any photos of Pithia Spa but you can find out more on their website - http://marigold.com.tr/icerik/Pithia-Thermal--Spa.html#

Next time I want to try one of the Roman baths in Bursa!

Electric lamp sells for £445,000 after it is revealed to be a 2,000-year-old relic

I wish I could find something like that at home....

t was bought by a European dealer and could conceivably be returned to Rome. The 19in urn was acquired in the 1950s by Sir Sydney Barratt, a distinguished scientist who helped create the World War II Dambusters’ celebrated ‘bouncing bombs’. 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1349259/Electric-lamp-sells-445k-revealed-2k-year-old-relic.html#ixzz1BmahiEsb

Byzantium and Chanel

After Alexander Mcqueen's fall/winter 2007-2008 Cleopatra-inspired collection other designers seem to be looking back at history for inspiration. This time it's Uncle Karl for his pre-fall 2011 show. Actually eventhough he's borrowing from the past this seems to be one of the best and most beautiful sets of clothes he has designed recently. The fabrics, the colors and especially the jewellery are gorgeous and makes me want to be a fly on the wall back in Byzantium in the time of Emperor Justinian. Where do I start?

And here is his muse - Empress Theodora (c. 547 AD) on the famous San Vitale fresco in Ravenna, Italy