24
Lectures
30
minutes/lecture
1.
Touring the Cradle of Western Civilization
In setting sail for the ancient world, contemplate the dynamic civilizations that emerged in the Aegean and the scope of the human drama that was played out there. Preview some of the towering figures and remarkable sites you'll encounter, and hear Professor Hale's recommendations for traveling this world as the ancients did.
1.
Touring the Cradle of Western Civilization
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13.
Exploring Crete—Realm of Ancient Minoans
On this greatest of Aegean islands, you encounter the very origins of European civilization. Here, take three memorable excursions: first, to the elaborate Minoan palace of Malia, then to Gortyn, Roman capital of Crete—which boasts Europe's first written law code—and finally, to Crete's Venetian capital and the massive Samaria Gorge.
13.
Exploring Crete—Realm of Ancient Minoans
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2.
Athens—Around the Acropolis and Parthenon
Enter the Acropolis, symbol of Athens, following the path of the ancient annual procession honoring Athena. Investigate the history and meanings of the site's iconic buildings, including the grand Propylaea (gatehouse) and the Erechtheum (Temple of Athena). Learn about the superlative architectural features of the Parthenon and its surprising original uses.
2.
Athens—Around the Acropolis and Parthenon
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14.
Lure of the Labyrinth—Palace at Knossos
The great palace at Knossos offers dramatic glimpses of the Minoan civilization. Investigate the palace's structure of labyrinthine rooms and its grand courtyards, site of the death-defying bull dance. Ponder the flamboyant ceremonies, court rituals, and sumptuous luxury of the Minoan rulers, recorded in masterful frescoes and tablets memorializing the palace accounts.
14.
Lure of the Labyrinth—Palace at Knossos
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3.
In the Footsteps of Socrates—Historic Athens
Among treasures surrounding the Acropolis, discover the Theater of Dionysos, where you ponder the rituals of early dramatic festivals, and the grand Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a venue of music and recitations. Enjoy dramatic viewing places, including the Pnyx, an ancient hilltop assembly point, and finally the vibrant agora market, where Socrates walked.
3.
In the Footsteps of Socrates—Historic Athens
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15.
The Dodecanese—Kos, Patmos, and Rhodes
On the beautiful island of Kos, reflect on the life and contribution of the physician Hippocrates at the ancient medical sanctuary honoring him. Discover Patmos, where Saint John famously wrote the book of Revelation, and finally Rhodes, renowned for the legendary Colossus and the majestic fortifications of the Knights of Saint John.
15.
The Dodecanese—Kos, Patmos, and Rhodes
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4.
Around Attica—Temples and Mysteries
This lecture takes you to sacred monuments of Greece's beautiful Attica region. At the picturesque Amphiareion, shrine of a prophet deity, learn about ancient oracle and healing practices. Visit imposing shrines to Artemis and Poseidon, finishing at Eleusis, sanctuary to the goddess Demeter and the site of mystical religious rituals.
4.
Around Attica—Temples and Mysteries
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16.
Welcome to Turkey—The Turquoise Coast
Turkey's Turquoise Coast reveals a fabulous array of destinations, highlighting treasures of history, nature, and the pleasures of travel. Begin at Bodrum, site of the vibrant civilization of Helicarnassus. Learn about Lykian culture and representative government; visit submerged cities, cliff tombs, wildlife habitats, and the fire-spouting mountain at Olympos.
16.
Welcome to Turkey—The Turquoise Coast
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5.
Seeking the Good Life—Corinth to Epidauros
Your journey continues to the Peloponnese, Greece's southern half. From the impressive Corinth Canal, travel to Greece's most important sanctuary to Poseidon, where ancient athletes competed to honor the god. Visit Corinth's massive acropolis and agora (civic center) and the great healing center of Epidauros, highlighting the best-preserved theater of the ancient world.
5.
Seeking the Good Life—Corinth to Epidauros
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17.
Central Turkey—Ankara, Konya, Cappadocia
In Ankara, learn about ancient capitals of the great Anatolian civilizations, including the complex culture of Çatalhöyük. Continue to Konya, home of the Sufi poet Rumi and of the mystic whirling dervishes. Linger in the magical geologic landscapes of Cappadocia, with its "fairy chimneys," ancient cave dwellings, and astounding underground cities.
17.
Central Turkey—Ankara, Konya, Cappadocia
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6.
Mycenae—Where Kings Planned the Trojan War
Next, visit the great citadel of Mycenae, made famous in Homer's Iliad. Entering through the imposing Lion Gate, learn about the rulers of Mycenae and ancient life in the citadel as you explore key monuments: the extraordinary "shaft" graves of an early dynasty, the Megaron palace, and the tomb of King Atreus.
6.
Mycenae—Where Kings Planned the Trojan War
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18.
Up the Meander River—Priene to Pamukkale
Travel to three extraordinary ancient cities: In Priene, explore one of the ancient world's most spectacular classical ruins, with its remarkable council hall, sacred sites, and superb theater. Then study the sumptuous sarcophagi, bathhouses, and amazingly preserved stadium at Aphrodisias. Finish at Pamukkale, site of imposing mausoleums, healing waters, and cliffside "hanging pools."
18.
Up the Meander River—Priene to Pamukkale
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7.
Around Nafplio—Greek History at a Glance
In Greece's Argolid region, walk the mighty fortress of Tiryns, and learn about Mycenaean and classical-age warrior culture. Visit the Heraion, picturesque sanctuary to the goddess Hera, the imposing Roman villa of Herodes Atticus, and the port of Nafplio, with its remnants of Venetian, Byzantine, and Ottoman culture.
7.
Around Nafplio—Greek History at a Glance
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19.
A Wonder of the World—Ephesus
The metropolis of Ephesus stands as one of the greatest cities of the classical world. Here, focus on highly unusual features that distinguish the site: the magnificent "terrace houses" of the wealthy, the Library of Celsus with its stunning facade, the enormous theater, and the Cemetery of the Gladiators.
19.
A Wonder of the World—Ephesus
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8.
Ancient Olympia—Gods, Games, and Temples
Investigate the practices and culture of the original Olympic games at sites including the palaestra, where important athletes trained; the stadium; and the unusual Temple of Hera. Sense the heat and drama of the contests, as you contemplate the mind-set of the competitors and the significance of athletic competition as worship.
8.
Ancient Olympia—Gods, Games, and Temples
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20.
Royal Cities of Asia—Pergamon and Sardis
At the citadel of Sardis, learn about the luxurious culture of the Lydian people, credited with inventing monetary currency. Investigate the site's standout monuments, including the extensive gymnasium and monumental synagogue. At Pergamon, bequeathed by its last ruler to Rome, contemplate its great healing sanctuary, astonishing hydraulic system, and legendary library.
20.
Royal Cities of Asia—Pergamon and Sardis
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9.
Quest for Wisdom at Apollo's Oracle—Delphi
At this legendary site, reconstruct the sequence and rituals of a visit to the oracle in ancient times. Enter the lower sanctuary, making offerings en route to the temple, with its dual warnings to the pilgrim, where the Pythia (priestess) speaks for the god in answer to each seeker's question.
9.
Quest for Wisdom at Apollo's Oracle—Delphi
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21.
Troy—Beyond Homer and the Trojan Horse
The archaeological site of ancient Troy reveals numerous distinct historical phases. Explore the majestic remains of the different epochs of the citadel, from its beginnings in 2900 B.C. to the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Trace interconnections between the site's monuments and the lives of the historical King Priam and Alexander the Great.
21.
Troy—Beyond Homer and the Trojan Horse
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10.
Byzantine Outposts—Monemvasia and Mistra
The port town of Monemvasia, once a coveted trading center, offers a rich slice of Byzantine history. Discover its mazelike streets, Byzantine buildings, and its mystical, cliffside Hagia Sophia church. Then explore Mistra's majestic Frankish castle and Byzantine palace, and contemplate the soul of Byzantium in religious architecture here and at Meteora and Mount Athos.
10.
Byzantine Outposts—Monemvasia and Mistra
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22.
Istanbul—Capital of the Byzantine Emperors
In this first lecture on the wonders of Istanbul, study the history of the Byzantine Empire and the establishment of Byzantium as a new Rome. Encounter imposing elements of this culture in the cathedral-like Basilica Cistern, the Theodosian Walls, and the impassioned rituals of the Hippodrome, nerve center of Byzantine life.
22.
Istanbul—Capital of the Byzantine Emperors
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11.
Cruising the Islands—Mykonos and Delos
This lecture introduces Greece's glorious Aegean Islands in an overview of their scenic and cultural riches. Taste the pleasures of the popular Mykonos before crossing to Delos, birthplace of Apollo and a later trading mecca. Enjoy remnants of important sacred sites and spectacular island views from Mount Kynthos.
11.
Cruising the Islands—Mykonos and Delos
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23.
The Pearl of Constantinople—Hagia Sophia
Imagine the sights and sounds of a visit to this magical edifice in Byzantine times, and learn the history of the emperor Justinian's plans for a church that would surpass all others. Contemplate the stunning columns, stonework, mosaics, and the architecture of the massive dome in this "place where God dwells."
23.
The Pearl of Constantinople—Hagia Sophia
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12.
Aegean Ring of Fire—Milos and Santorini
On the lesser-known Milos, learn about the striking volcanic and geological features of the island before visiting its richly endowed archaeological museum, ancient classical theater, and extraordinary early Christian catacombs. Contemplate the breathtaking scenery of Santorini, as well as the intriguing remains of its principal historical site, the buried Minoan town of Akrotiri.
12.
Aegean Ring of Fire—Milos and Santorini
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24.
Ottoman Istanbul—Mosques, Palaces, Bazaars
Finally, ponder the origins and planning of the Topkapi Palace, jeweled seat of the Ottoman sultans. Penetrate the layers of the palace, from the grand courts to the royal kitchens and harem. Conclude with visits to the Blue Mosque, hammams (baths), Grand Bazaar, and vistas of the mystic city from the Bosphorus.
24.
Ottoman Istanbul—Mosques, Palaces, Bazaars
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36
Lectures
30
minutes/lecture
1.
Archaeology’s Big Bang
In 1738, Roque Joaquin Alcubierre began the first systematic excavations of Herculaneum, a Roman city buried during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79. This spectacular dig marked the beginning of archaeology as a scientific discipline.
1.
Archaeology’s Big Bang
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19.
Riace—Warriors from the Sea
Discovered by a diver in 1972, two ancient statues known as the Riace Bronzes are the site of the world's smallest archaeological dig: a microscopic study of their clay cores in an attempt to ascertain their date and place of manufacture.
19.
Riace—Warriors from the Sea
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2.
“Ode on a Grecian Urn”
The excavations at Herculaneum and nearby Pompeii fueled an already enthusiastic cult for collecting Greek and Roman antiquities, and sparked new insights into ancient art and history by scholars such as Johann Joachim Winckelmann.
2.
“Ode on a Grecian Urn”
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20.
Rome—Foundation Myths and Archaeology
How do the myths of Rome's founding match archaeological evidence? This lecture looks at such traditions as Rome's connection to Troy, its foundation date, its relation to neighboring towns, and the site of the hut of Romulus.
20.
Rome—Foundation Myths and Archaeology
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3.
A Quest for the Trojan War
The superstar of archaeology in the 19th century was Heinrich Schliemann, who was inspired by the Homeric epics to search for Troy, Mycenae, and other fabled Bronze Age sites, making remarkable and controversial discoveries in the process.
3.
A Quest for the Trojan War
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21.
Caesarea Maritima—A Roman City in Judea
Caesarea Maritima on the coast of Israel was an important harbor and administrative center that tied King Herod of Judea to the Roman world. The now-submerged harbor works are an extraordinary example of Roman engineering.
21.
Caesarea Maritima—A Roman City in Judea
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4.
How to Dig
Archaeology was a trial-by-error affair of largely haphazard digging until General Lane Fox (later Lord Pitt-Rivers) developed scientific methods of fieldwork, later improved by Mortimer Wheeler in his excavations of Roman sites in Britain.
4.
How to Dig
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22.
Teutoburg—Battlefield Archaeology
In A.D. 9, German tribesmen ambushed and massacred three Roman legions in the Teutoburg Forest. The battle site was long lost until archeologists recently pinpointed the location and uncovered details that clarify German tactics.
22.
Teutoburg—Battlefield Archaeology
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5.
First Find Your Site
This lecture looks at techniques for finding archaeological sites, including the use of technology that "sees" below the surface. One famous archaeologist achieved success by simply asking, "If I were a Bronze Age king, where would I put my palace?"
5.
First Find Your Site
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23.
Bath—Healing Waters at Aquae Sulis
The spa at Aquae Sulis in modern Bath, England, was a natural wonder of the Roman Empire. Excavations have uncovered a range of objects, including curse tablets and more than 10,000 coins, an early example of the custom of tossing coins in water.
23.
Bath—Healing Waters at Aquae Sulis
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6.
Taking the Search Underwater
The bottom of the Mediterranean Sea is a museum of ancient shipwrecks and artifacts. Jacques Cousteau, coinventor of SCUBA gear, helped pioneer underwater archaeology, followed by George Bass, who brought rigorous surface techniques to the sea floor.
6.
Taking the Search Underwater
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24.
Torre de Palma—A Farm in the Far West
In 1947, a chance discovery on a Portuguese farm initiated the excavation of an entire Roman country estate from the later empire, when wealthy Romans had abandoned the cities. Dr. Hale himself has participated in the dig since 1983.
24.
Torre de Palma—A Farm in the Far West
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7.
Cracking the Codes
Epigraphy is the study of ancient inscriptions, which are often found in sites around the Mediterranean. This lecture covers the deciphering of Egyptian hieroglyphs on the Rosetta Stone, and the decoding of Linear B, a late Bronze Age script.
7.
Cracking the Codes
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25.
Roots of Classical Culture
Where did Classical civilization originate, and what does it owe to the older civilizations of Egypt and the Near East? Archaeological evidence suggests there was no clear-cut time or place of birth, rather the culture developed slowly and unevenly over millennia.
25.
Roots of Classical Culture
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8.
Techniques for Successful Dating
To establish accurate dates, archaeologists employ high-tech methods such as radiocarbon and thermoluminescence. The most useful and precise technique is the simplest, tree-ring dating, which can determine the exact year and also the climate associated
8.
Techniques for Successful Dating
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26.
The Texture of Everyday Life
Using the wealth of evidence from the excavations at Pompeii, this lecture explores aspects of everyday life in Classical antiquity, including childhood, games and pastimes, public latrines, reading, timekeeping, baths, and sex.
26.
The Texture of Everyday Life
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9.
Reconstructing Vanished Environments
Archaeologists turn to geologists, soil scientists, botanists, palynologists, and zoologists to answer a range of questions about the history and setting of an artifact or site. This expertise is also useful for identifying fakes and forgeries.
9.
Reconstructing Vanished Environments
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27.
Their Daily Bread
Vast sectors of the ancient economy were devoted to securing grain imports for bread. Obsession with grain was the basis for the mystery cult of the goddess Demeter at Eleusis. Grit in bread provides a method for gauging the age of human remains through patters of teeth wear.
27.
Their Daily Bread
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10.
“Not Artifacts but People”
The study of human remains opens a window on life in the ancient world, concerning diet, disease, longevity, and other demographic data. This lecture looks at several case histories, including an athlete, a gladiator, and King Philip of Macedon.
10.
“Not Artifacts but People”
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28.
Voyaging on a Dark Sea of Wine
Wine was an essential element of Greco-Roman culture. Wrecks from all over the Mediterranean attest to the long-distance trade in wine, and the culture surrounding the grape penetrated into many aspects of daily life including religion.
28.
Voyaging on a Dark Sea of Wine
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11.
Archaeology by Experiment
Experimental archaeology tests the technology of the ancient world by recreating it as accurately as possible, shedding light on such arts as shipbuilding, chariot racing, pottery making, and acoustical engineering in amphitheaters.
11.
Archaeology by Experiment
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29.
Shows and Circuses—Rome’s “Virtual Reality”
To Romans the circus meant the racetrack, particularly the chariot races. Their love of spectacle also took in gladiatorial shows and combat with wild beasts at the Colosseum, where excavations reveal that the animals were in terrible health.
29.
Shows and Circuses—Rome’s “Virtual Reality”
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12.
Return to Vesuvius
This lecture examines the digs at Pompeii and Herculaneum in light of the many innovations in archaeological technique over the last century, including the 1980 discovery of 300 bodies trapped at dockside during the eruption.
12.
Return to Vesuvius
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30.
Engineering and Technology
The Greeks and especially the Romans are renowned for their waterworks. Less well-known technological feats include an early pipe organ and a rudimentary astronomical computer, discovered as a mass of gears aboard a shipwreck.
30.
Engineering and Technology
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13.
Gournia—Harriet Boyd and the Mother Goddess
Starting the section of the course focusing on specific sites, this lecture looks at the remarkable career of Harriet Boyd, discoverer of a Bronze Age Minoan town at Gournia, Crete, complete with a shrine to a snake goddess.
13.
Gournia—Harriet Boyd and the Mother Goddess
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31.
Slaves—A Silent Majority?
The ancient economy relied heavily on slavery. Archaeology reveals the nature of the institution, which differed in significant ways from American antebellum slavery. One difference: potentially everyone was a slave, if captured in war.
31.
Slaves—A Silent Majority?
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14.
Thera—A Bronze Age Atlantis?
Popularly identified with Atlantis because of the richness of its vanished civilization, Akrotiri on the Greek island of Santorini was destroyed by earthquake and volcanic eruption, possibly as early as 1670 B.C.
14.
Thera—A Bronze Age Atlantis?
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32.
Women of Greece and Rome
Archaeology has made surprising findings about the roles of women in antiquity, including graves of probable female soldiers and gladiators. Julia Felix of Pompeii is one woman about whom archaeology tells a full and personal story.
32.
Women of Greece and Rome
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15.
Olympia—Games and Gods
Excavations at Olympia have recovered thousands of artifacts relating to the ancient Olympic games and the religious cults practiced at the site, including the workshop of Phidias, the sculptor of the temple's lost statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wond
15.
Olympia—Games and Gods
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33.
Hadrian—Mark of the Individual
Emperor Hadrian is the most archaeologically visible of all Roman emperors. From designs on his coins to such gigantic projects as the Pantheon and Hadrian's Wall, he tried to remake the empire and set it on a new course.
33.
Hadrian—Mark of the Individual
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16.
Athens’s Agora—Where Socrates Walked
The Agora was Athens's civic and commercial center. This lecture tours the American-led excavation of the Agora, ongoing since 1931, giving a glimpse of a typical day for an archaeologist—and for an Athenian in the Classical Age.
16.
Athens’s Agora—Where Socrates Walked
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34.
Crucible of New Faiths
One of the striking features of the Classical world is the presence of temples in every city, with a limited range of deities presiding from one end of the Mediterranean to the other. Archaeologists find signs of alternative cults, of which Christianity was one.
34.
Crucible of New Faiths
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17.
Delphi—Questioning the Oracle
The ancient legends of the oracle of Delphi have been confirmed by contributions from a number of modern scientific disciplines. Research by Dr. Hale and a colleague overthrew a century-long view that had rejected the role of intoxicating gases in the
17.
Delphi—Questioning the Oracle
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35.
The End of the World—A Coroner’s Report
Ancient writers do not seem aware of a "fall of the Roman Empire." Nonetheless the remains of villas such as Torre de Palma show a gradual cannibalizing of infrastructure to make do in what were clearly increasingly difficult times.
35.
The End of the World—A Coroner’s Report
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18.
Kyrenia—Lost Ship of the Hellenistic Age
Ancient writings give almost no details about Greek or Roman merchant ships and freighters, but a 4th-century B.C. wreck off Kyrenia, Cyprus, miraculously preserved 60 percent of the hull, allowing exact replicas to be built and tested.
18.
Kyrenia—Lost Ship of the Hellenistic Age
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36.
A Bridge across the Torrent
A Roman bridge in Spain bears the inscription: "This bridge will last forever." The secret of the Classical world was the desire of many of its leaders and creators to build for eternity. If nothing else, archaeology has brought to light more and more evidence of their enduring achievements.
36.
A Bridge across the Torrent
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