The Turks had a massive impact on much of Europe. Because of their nomadic tribal lifestyle, the ancient Turks came into contact with a great many different cultures and beliefs. Because they’re not originally from Europe, Turkish gods and mythological creatures are very distinct from the myths around them. Still, they’ve influenced and been influenced […]
Germany’s history as a nation is a broad and difficult subject to tackle, but in a way that is often surprising. Germany as a unified entity is much younger than you might think, and the German Empire lasted for much less time than you may imagine. It only came into existence in 1871, well after […]
The post is a bit different to our usual deep-dives into individual culture’s myths. Instead,… The Mongol culture is one of the most unique and impressive in the world. Their… Athens is an incredible city to visit, for the beautifully visible history, the vibrant culture,… Lisbon, Portugal is a fantastic destination, with beautiful attractions, brightly […]
The post is a bit different to our usual deep-dives into individual culture’s myths. Instead, I’ve asked a bunch of bloggers to write about the Read More » The Mongol culture is one of the most unique and impressive in the world. Their people survive on the harsh frigid Eurasian Steppe and maintain Read More […]
Athens is an incredible city to visit, for the beautifully visible history, the vibrant culture, and definitely the food. Greek food is world-famous for being fresh and healthy and absolutely decadent. We tried so many dishes in our month exploring Athens. And we loved pretty much all of it! But one of the most unique […]
Greek mythology has been a source of inspiration for artists and philosophers for millennia. This is in part because they are so well documented. But also because the ancient and classical Greeks were incredibly driven in their pursuit of creative perfection, known as arete. Particularly in the city-state of Athens, Greeks were pursuing ideals of […]
Ερμής (er-MEES) Hermes is one of the most popular gods in Greek mythology. He was always considered to be particularly fond of humans – and so the humans were particularly fond of him! The herald god is a crosser of boundaries and moves between the mortal world and the immortal realm – both Mt Olympus […]
The post is a bit different to our usual deep-dives into individual culture’s myths. Instead, I’ve asked a bunch of bloggers to write about the local folktales they grew up with. It’s so interesting to see how many similarities our stories have all over the world. Ghosts and gods, heroes and monsters have always been […]
The ancestors of the Poles were already present in what is now Poland since the earliest Roman records of the area, in the early centuries AD. They lived here first as West Slavic, Lechitic tribes, and later as a swiftly Christianized kingdom (formed by a tribe known as the Polans, hence Poland). This means that […]
Athens is without a doubt one of the most incredible historic destinations in the world. Besides being the birthplace of democracy, it is also the greatest centre of the classic sculptural, architectural, and artistic style that has defined art in the West for as long as the West has had an artistic tradition. In Athens, […]
Many commentators consider the Greco-Persian wars to be part of the foundation of western civilisation, and I largely agree. However, no historical event happens in a vacuum, and this is especially true for one which goes on to shape the world as we know it. So, in this article, I take a look at the […]
Heracles (also known as Herakles and Hercules) is the most important hero in Greek mythology. He features in many myths and plays, and various monsters in Greek mythology are created specifically to battle the heroic demi-god. Heracles is the son of Zeus and the mortal woman Alcmene – considered to be the most beautiful and […]
Feudalism is something that everyone has heard of but that few understand beyond the implication that there is a king, knights, and nobility. In reality, feudalism was a simple but effective (at least at first) form of governance that evolved quite naturally from the chaotic tribalism of Western Europe after the fall of the Western […]
Lisbon, Portugal is a fantastic destination, with beautiful attractions, brightly coloured buildings, and cobblestone streets. And that’s just the aesthetic! When you’re sightseeing in Lisbon, you can’t miss the striking Fado music, the unique seafood dishes, and the famous Pastel de Nata, among many other things. Basically, there’s a lot to love. We spent a […]
