The Mystery of Cicero and Malta
Did Cicero, the father of modern politics, the greatest Roman orator ever visit Malta which he wrote so much about? This article separates myth from the historical reality.
The Lion in the Harbour: When Garibaldi Came to Malta
In 1864, the most famous man in the world spent 36 hours in Malta. In 1864, Giuseppe Garibaldi stopped off in Malta on his way to England. He was limping from a bullet wound and wanted a quiet rest. What he got instead was a firestorm.
The Phantom Time Hypothesis
There are dark corners of the internet where I've found mentions of "The Phantom Time Hypothesis". This suggests that the years between 614 AD and 911 AD didn't exist. But how can that be? How can human history have misplaced 300 years of history?
The Púchov Culture
A fascinating and complex culture in late Iron Age Europe is the Púchov culture. It shows remarkable cultural synthesis and adaptation in the mountanous regions of present-day Slovakia and eastern Moravia.
This article examines how this evolved from Celtic foundations, merged other European influences and shaped the cultural landscape of the Carpathian basin till the 2nd century.
The mysterious Marcomanni
I’ve often heard about the Marcomanni tribe when researching information about Czechia. References are always fleeting and there’s never enough information about them. I decided to look into this oddly-named Germanic tribe.
The lost Cathedral of St Sophia
In occupied Cyprus, across the demilitarised zone in Nicosia, the French gothic cathedral of St Sophia is now Selimiye mosque. The building was at the heart of Cypriot crusader history, with many stories in its past. Today, tourists wonder at something that looks like European architecture is a mosque.
This article explains the cathedral history, its significance and the current mosque.
From a Duchy to a Kingdom
In the 12th century, Otakar I was the Duke of Bohemia. Through wily politics, he elevated his duchy to a kingdom, forever enhancing Bohemia in the process.
This article explains the political situation at the time and how Otakar pulled this off.
The Samo Empire
Samo, a French arms dealer, became king after leading a Slavic federation to victory against the Turks. He established the first Slavic state, which dissolved after his death in 658.
St Stephen’s missing rotunda
The Rotunda of St Stephen in Prague, was part of the Christianization effort in Bohemia. Constructed in the Benedictine-owned village of Na Rybničku, the rotunda was later owned by Teutonic Knights who reconsecrated it to St Longinus in the 15th century.
The Maltese Rosetta Stone
The Cippi of Melqart, discovered in Malta, are priceless because they were the key to deciphering Phoenician script.
This article explains who Melqart was, what cippi are and what this Maltese Rosetta Stone is all about.