middle east

Meet The Real Persian Royals Behind The Viral ‘Princess Qajar’ Memes

The legendary "Princess Qajar” is actually a conflation of two 19th-century Persian royals — Fatemeh Khanum "Esmat al-Dowleh" and Zahra Khanum "Taj al-Saltaneh.”

By Kaleena Fraga • Jan 22, 2026

Meet The Real Persian Royals Behind The Viral ‘Princess Qajar’ Memes

The legendary "Princess Qajar” is actually a conflation of two 19th-century Persian royals — Fatemeh Khanum "Esmat al-Dowleh" and Zahra Khanum "Taj al-Saltaneh.”

By Kaleena Fraga • January 22, 2026

A Rare 3,300-Year-Old Ceramic Mask Depicting A Human Face Was Just Uncovered From A Grave In Bahrain

The mask, which is made of a glazed pottery called faience, is only the second of its kind ever found in Bahrain.

By Kaleena Fraga • Jan 15, 2026

News

A Rare 3,300-Year-Old Ceramic Mask Depicting A Human Face Was Just Uncovered From A Grave In Bahrain

The mask, which is made of a glazed pottery called faience, is only the second of its kind ever found in Bahrain.

By Kaleena Fraga • January 15, 2026

Mordechai Vanunu, The Former Nuclear Technician Who Revealed Israel’s Nuclear Secrets

In 1986, Mordechai Vanunu leaked details about Israel's top-secret nuclear program to the British press. He was later found guilty of treason and sentenced to 18 years in prison.

By Genevieve Carlton • Jan 9, 2026

Mordechai Vanunu, The Former Nuclear Technician Who Revealed Israel’s Nuclear Secrets

In 1986, Mordechai Vanunu leaked details about Israel's top-secret nuclear program to the British press. He was later found guilty of treason and sentenced to 18 years in prison.

By Genevieve Carlton • January 9, 2026

Sabrina Harman, The Army Reservist Who Became Infamous During The Abu Ghraib Scandal

While working at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, Sabrina Harman was infamously photographed with abused prisoners, including a pile of naked and hooded men.

By Genevieve Carlton • Jan 8, 2026

Sabrina Harman, The Army Reservist Who Became Infamous During The Abu Ghraib Scandal

While working at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, Sabrina Harman was infamously photographed with abused prisoners, including a pile of naked and hooded men.

By Genevieve Carlton • January 8, 2026

An Ancient Hub Of Olive Oil Production Was Just Uncovered In A Lost City On The Southern Coast Of Turkey

With olive oil workshops under almost every structure citywide, Syedra would have been one of the Mediterranean's key suppliers, shipping its wares as far as North Africa and the Levant.

By Kaleena Fraga • Jan 6, 2026

News

An Ancient Hub Of Olive Oil Production Was Just Uncovered In A Lost City On The Southern Coast Of Turkey

With olive oil workshops under almost every structure citywide, Syedra would have been one of the Mediterranean's key suppliers, shipping its wares as far as North Africa and the Levant.

By Kaleena Fraga • January 6, 2026

How Lynndie England Became The ‘Poster Child’ Of Abu Ghraib Prison

Though Lynndie England wasn't the only American soldier mistreating detainees at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison, she stood out thanks to the infamous photos of her tormenting naked prisoners.

By Austin Harvey • Dec 22, 2025

How Lynndie England Became The ‘Poster Child’ Of Abu Ghraib Prison

Though Lynndie England wasn't the only American soldier mistreating detainees at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison, she stood out thanks to the infamous photos of her tormenting naked prisoners.

By Austin Harvey • December 22, 2025

Archaeologists In Turkey Just Unearthed An Ancient Statue Head Believed To Depict The Greek Goddess Hestia

Archaeologists excavating the ancient ruins of Metropolis near İzmir, Turkey just uncovered a statue head that dates back at least 2,000 years and is equipped with sockets for eerily lifelike eyes.

By Ainsley Brown • Dec 22, 2025

News

Archaeologists In Turkey Just Unearthed An Ancient Statue Head Believed To Depict The Greek Goddess Hestia

Archaeologists excavating the ancient ruins of Metropolis near İzmir, Turkey just uncovered a statue head that dates back at least 2,000 years and is equipped with sockets for eerily lifelike eyes.

By Ainsley Brown • December 22, 2025

From A ‘Hotel Of Doom’ To A ‘Haunted’ Cliffside Inn, Explore 11 Of The World’s Creepiest Abandoned Hotels

Some of these hotels were evacuated due to warfare, natural disasters, or nuclear accidents, while others were simply abandoned due to economic troubles — but all of them are equally haunting.

By Austin Harvey • Dec 18, 2025

From A ‘Hotel Of Doom’ To A ‘Haunted’ Cliffside Inn, Explore 11 Of The World’s Creepiest Abandoned Hotels

Some of these hotels were evacuated due to warfare, natural disasters, or nuclear accidents, while others were simply abandoned due to economic troubles — but all of them are equally haunting.

By Austin Harvey • December 18, 2025

Archaeologists In Turkey Just Uncovered A Rare Fresco Of A Young, Beardless Jesus Inside An Ancient Tomb

This "Good Shepherd" depiction shows Jesus tending to rams, sheep, and goats, something rarely seen in Christian iconography today.

By Austin Harvey • Dec 12, 2025

News

Archaeologists In Turkey Just Uncovered A Rare Fresco Of A Young, Beardless Jesus Inside An Ancient Tomb

This "Good Shepherd" depiction shows Jesus tending to rams, sheep, and goats, something rarely seen in Christian iconography today.

By Austin Harvey • December 12, 2025

44 Vintage Images Of Asia’s Hippie Trail That Promised Enlightenment And LSD To Thousands Of Western Travelers

During the 1960s and '70s, many adventurous young tourists were eager to experience the famous Hippie Trail, which stretched from Europe all the way to Southeast Asia.

By Gina Dimuro • Dec 7, 2025

44 Vintage Images Of Asia’s Hippie Trail That Promised Enlightenment And LSD To Thousands Of Western Travelers

During the 1960s and '70s, many adventurous young tourists were eager to experience the famous Hippie Trail, which stretched from Europe all the way to Southeast Asia.

By Gina Dimuro • December 7, 2025