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empire

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 →

Roman Nails

The technologies of smelting and working iron were developed in Europe, Asia and Africa. They had a major impact in many areas of life and work, including better tools for agriculture and industry, and more effective arms and armour. The production of nails also had an impact on activities such as construction and ship-building. Supplies of high-quality iron were particularly important for the Roman army, not only for weapons, but also for the construction of ships and fortresses. 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 →