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classical

Hagia Sofia

The great church of Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) was one of the supreme architectural achievements of the eastern Roman empire.  It was built on the site of an earlier church by the emperor Justinian in AD 537, close to the Great Palace of the Emperors in the heart of Constantinople. It is important to us first of all because of its architectural achievement. It departs from established Classical traditions by focusing the attention of the visitor upon its interior, rather than its exterior. Continue reading →

Theatre Masks

Classical world was a cradle of performing arts. From around 6th century BC drama was institutionalized in Athens with dedicated performance dates and purpose-built buildings. Soon theatrical performances could be seen across the whole of the Mediterranean, and beyond during the Roman Empire. From its religious routes theatre very quickly became a major source of entertainment, offering a diversity of performances including comedy, tragedy, mime or farce. Continue reading →

Vix Crater

The Vix crater (used for serving wine mixed with water) is the largest metal vessel surviving from the classical world. It was made about 540 BC, probably at Sparta in southern Greece, and was found in 1952 in the grave of an aristocratic woman in Burgundy in eastern France. It emphasises the social importance of alcoholic drink in many different societies. Continue reading →