Kazanlak

Finding Peace at the Monastery

Without trying to be overly pious, anyone can visit Studenitza Monastery and leave feeling a bit lighter in spirit. This beautiful place offers a break from the noise of everyday life. Studenitza is the most famous monastery in Serbia, closely tied to the history of the Serbian people. It is a sacred site where many important events took place. Here lies the first crowned King of Serbia, and the current king, Peter, visited to pay his respects to his predecessor, who was buried here nearly six centuries ago.

Journey to the Monastery

My journey to the monastery started early in the morning. I spent several hours on a slow local train that often stopped along the way. The train traveled along a winding branch line heading toward the hills. In a small town, I enjoyed a cup of coffee with local officials while I negotiated with a horse owner for a carriage and horses. After that, I took a long evening drive of about forty miles tow

The Dawn at the Monastery

As dawn broke over the Servian hills, a soft green light filled the sky, which was still dotted with stars that seemed closer than ever. It was four o’clock in the morning, and the monastery bell rang loudly, calling the monks to prayer. I got up from the simple bed provided by the monks, left my cell, and stepped out onto the broad balcony. The air was crisp and full of life, and I could hear the roaring river rushing down from the Turkish hills toward the mighty Danube. A rooster from the monastery announced the morning, while another distant rooster responded with a challenge A Visit to Studenitza Monastery.

The Monks Begin Their Day

Across the grass, the monks moved silently, their black cloaks blending with the shadows. Flickering candlelight appeared in the deep, dark windows of the church as the bell finally fell silent. Then, I heard the rich, muffled voices of the monks

The Uniting Goddess of Love and War

Harmonia, daughter of Aphrodite and Ares, played a significant role in mythology, connecting the realms of love and war.

Harmonia’s Lineage and Legacy

Born to the union of the love and war deities, Harmonia had legendary ties to the Amazons. She established the Theban dynasty and became the mother of prominent Dionysian women, shaping the course of mythology Leto.

Magical Wedding Gifts

During Harmonia’s wedding, the Olympians presented magical gifts. Aphrodite gifted a renowned necklace, known for conferring irresistible sexuality or undying beauty upon its wearer. This symbolized the harmonious blend of love and allure in Harmonia’s existence.

Lydia Rich Lands and Shifting Empires

Lydia, located in western Asia Minor with its capital Sardis, had a history marked by fertile soil, abundant gold and silver deposits, and shifting imperial powers.

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A Goddess’s Struggles and Triumphs

Leto, daughter of Coeus and Phoebe, faced a tumultuous journey intertwined with love, jealousy, and divine protection.

Love and Jealousy

Leto became Zeus’s beloved early on, but their union faced challenges. Zeus, already married to Hera, tied the knot while Leto was pregnant. Despite the pre-existing pregnancy, Hera harbored jealousy, making Leto’s life difficult.

Hera’s Pursuit

Throughout her pregnancy, Hera relentlessly pursued Leto. Exiled from Olympus, Leto wandered the earth, rejected by every place fearing Hera’s wrath. To protect her, Zeus sent Boreas (North Wind), carrying her to sea. Hera, undeterred, sent Python to chase Leto.

Birth on Delos

The barren island of Delos, having little to lose, accepted Leto. Goddesses gathered to assist in childbirth, except Hera. Eileithyia, delayed by Hera Py

Pythagoreans The Hearth of the Universe

The Pythagoreans introduced a groundbreaking non-geocentric system driven by moral and religious convictions. They envisioned the divine, symbolically known as the “Hearth of the Universe” or “Throne of Zeus,” at the center of a finite, spherical universe (Aristot. de. caelo B13, 293a-b30). The sun was conceptualized as a glass sphere (Aetius 20.12) reflecting the divine hearth-light. To maintain the harmony of ten planetary spheres, they postulated a counter-earth, the “antichthon Harmonia,” along with the visible planets, earth, moon, sun, and heavenly sphere containing the stars (Aetius 2.7.7, Aristot. Met. A5,986a1). This intricate system reflected the Pythagoreans’ fascination with number, harmony, and music, culminating in the idea of concentric celestial orbits and “the music of the spheres.”

The Socratics and beyond A Geocentric System

Herodotus The Father of History

Life and Travels

Herodotus, hailed as the “father of history” by Cicero, was born in Dorian Halicarnassus (modern Bodrum). His participation in an uprising against the tyrant Lygdamis forced him to leave. Traveling extensively through Egypt, Africa, Asia Minor, and eastern Europe, he settled in Athens before moving to the Athenian colony of Thourioi in 444 BC. His historical work on the wars between Greece and Persia, divided into nine books, became a valuable source for Greek settlements and insights into Africa and the Near East Heraclitus.

Homer Legendary Poet of Smyrna

Birthplace Debate and Epic Works

Homer, the legendary author of the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey,” is associated with Smyrna (Izmir) in Asia Minor. Traditionally viewed as a blind “rhapsode,” Homer is said to have traveled among Ionian cities, with the Ionian “sons

Authority, Contempt, and Political Context

Authority and Contempt

Heraclitus, rather than attributing his mindset to a psychological trait, should be seen as an extreme example of early Greek poets and sages claiming authority for their work. What makes Heraclitus unique is his explicit disdain for revered figures like Homer, Hesiod, and contemporary intellectuals such as Xenophanes, Hecataeus, and Pythagoras.

Political Context and Opposition

Heraclitus may have faced political discord with his fellow citizens, possibly due to support he received from King Darius of Persia. His opposition to emerging democratic constitutions in some Greek communities could have contributed to this tension Heraclitus’ Philosophy.

Familiarity with Leading Thinkers

Despite presenting himself as uniquely enlightened, Heraclitus was acquainted with leading thinkers of his time. He addressed the relativity of jud

Unity in Diversity

The Great Truth of Unity

Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher, asserted the great truth that ‘All things are one.’ However, this unity embraces difference, opposition, and change. According to him, the universe maintains a continuous dynamic equilibrium, where apparent opposites coexist in a state of balance. Day and night, up and down, living and dying, heating and cooling—all these pairs of opposites follow the rational formula (logos) that unity consists of opposites Historical Figures in Ancient Greece.

Dynamic Equilibrium and Relativity

Heraclitus challenges his audience to transcend personal concerns and perceive the world from a detached perspective. He emphasizes the relativity of value judgments through compelling examples. His implication is that without reflection and self-examination, people risk living a dream-like existence, detached from the governing fo

Excavation Budget and Key Supporters

The excavation budget, approximately 9 million Austrian shillings, is sourced from government funds, funds promoting scientific research, and donations by private sponsors. Since 1970, the Society of the Friends of Ephesos has been a major patron, contributing significantly to Austrian excavations. Notable projects, like reconstructing the Library of Celsus Sustaining Ephesos, were realized with support from the firm Kallingerbau. Recent major endeavors, such as roofing and conserving the “Hanghäuser” or restoring the Great Theatre, were made possible through active sponsor support.

History and Monuments of Ephesos

The history of Ephesos, located at the silted-up harbor at the mouth of the Kaystros (Küçük Menderes), traces back to the Neolithic period, reaching its zenith in Greco-Roman antiquity. The city experienced a final flourishing during the Selçuk dynasty of Aydi

Post-World War II Challenges

After the Second World War, the situation for Austrian researchers at Ephesos was challenging. Only eight years after the war’s conclusion did Austrian researchers return. The Austrian Academy of Sciences, renewing its patronage in 1995, provided financial support. Research continuity depended on government ministries and sponsors, including the Austrian National Bank, Mautner Markhof Ephesos An Ancient Metropolis, the Basel Foundation “Pro Epheso,” and equipment donations.

Uninterrupted Research Since 1954

Since 1954, research at Ephesos has been continuous, with annual excavation permissions granted by Turkish authorities. Today, the focus extends beyond uncovering ancient ruins to systematically exploring over a thousand years of the former Metropolis of Asia’s history. Interdisciplinary collaboration, involving archaeology and natural sciences like historic