middle east

Hürrem Sultan, The Young Concubine Of Suleiman The Magnificent Who Became The Sultan’s Wife

Around 1533, the Ottoman sultan broke custom to marry his favorite concubine Hürrem Sultan — and she soon became the most powerful woman in the empire.

By Andrew Milne • Jun 11, 2025

Hürrem Sultan, The Young Concubine Of Suleiman The Magnificent Who Became The Sultan’s Wife

Around 1533, the Ottoman sultan broke custom to marry his favorite concubine Hürrem Sultan — and she soon became the most powerful woman in the empire.

By Andrew Milne • June 11, 2025

This 2,700-Year-Old Tomb Just Uncovered In Turkey May Belong To A Family Member Of The Legendary King Midas

Archaeologists excavating at the ruins of Gordion just found an ancient Phrygian tomb that might belong to a relative of the legendary King Midas, the ruler who was said to turn everything he touched into gold.

By Kaleena Fraga • Jun 6, 2025

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This 2,700-Year-Old Tomb Just Uncovered In Turkey May Belong To A Family Member Of The Legendary King Midas

Archaeologists excavating at the ruins of Gordion just found an ancient Phrygian tomb that might belong to a relative of the legendary King Midas, the ruler who was said to turn everything he touched into gold.

By Kaleena Fraga • June 6, 2025

A Stunning 1,600-Year-Old Byzantine Mosaic Uncovered In Israel’s Negev Desert Is Now On Display For The First Time

First discovered in 1990, the mosaic from the Byzantine period between 324 and 638 C.E. features intricate scenes of daily life, animals, mythological figures, fruits, and more.

By Austin Harvey • May 30, 2025

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A Stunning 1,600-Year-Old Byzantine Mosaic Uncovered In Israel’s Negev Desert Is Now On Display For The First Time

First discovered in 1990, the mosaic from the Byzantine period between 324 and 638 C.E. features intricate scenes of daily life, animals, mythological figures, fruits, and more.

By Austin Harvey • May 30, 2025

Bakers Just Recreated 5,300-Year-Old Bread That Was Unearthed At A Bronze Age Settlement In Turkey

This five-inch circular loaf was made with emmer wheat and baked quickly at 300 degrees Fahrenheit, giving it a crisp crust and a soft interior — and now bakers have recreated thousands of edible versions of this millennia-old bread.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 30, 2025

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Bakers Just Recreated 5,300-Year-Old Bread That Was Unearthed At A Bronze Age Settlement In Turkey

This five-inch circular loaf was made with emmer wheat and baked quickly at 300 degrees Fahrenheit, giving it a crisp crust and a soft interior — and now bakers have recreated thousands of edible versions of this millennia-old bread.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 30, 2025

An Ancient Mosaic Depicting The Greek Goddess Of Good Fortune Was Just Discovered During Excavation Of A Well In Syria

Found eight feet below ground in the town of Maryamin, this fully intact mosaic dates to the Roman era and measures six feet tall and 14 feet across.

By Austin Harvey • May 23, 2025

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An Ancient Mosaic Depicting The Greek Goddess Of Good Fortune Was Just Discovered During Excavation Of A Well In Syria

Found eight feet below ground in the town of Maryamin, this fully intact mosaic dates to the Roman era and measures six feet tall and 14 feet across.

By Austin Harvey • May 23, 2025

A 5,000-Year-Old Fishing Site Was Just Uncovered On The Coast Of Iran

Archaeologists found a number of prehistoric fishing tools at a site along the Makran coast on the Sea of Oman, revealing how early humans adapted to their environment.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 22, 2025

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A 5,000-Year-Old Fishing Site Was Just Uncovered On The Coast Of Iran

Archaeologists found a number of prehistoric fishing tools at a site along the Makran coast on the Sea of Oman, revealing how early humans adapted to their environment.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 22, 2025

2,300-Year-Old Gold Ring Set With A Red Gemstone Uncovered In Jerusalem’s Ancient City Of David

A gold band set with a red gemstone, the ring likely belonged to a little girl who lived nearby during the Second Temple period — and it's so well preserved that archaeologists initially thought it was a piece of modern jewelry.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 21, 2025

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2,300-Year-Old Gold Ring Set With A Red Gemstone Uncovered In Jerusalem’s Ancient City Of David

A gold band set with a red gemstone, the ring likely belonged to a little girl who lived nearby during the Second Temple period — and it's so well preserved that archaeologists initially thought it was a piece of modern jewelry.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 21, 2025

Seventh-Century Shipwreck Uncovered Off The Coast Of Israel Containing Christian And Islamic Symbols

The seventh-century ship held the largest collection of Byzantine and early Islamic pottery ever found in Israel.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 21, 2025

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Seventh-Century Shipwreck Uncovered Off The Coast Of Israel Containing Christian And Islamic Symbols

The seventh-century ship held the largest collection of Byzantine and early Islamic pottery ever found in Israel.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 21, 2025

Archaeologists Find ‘Very Rare’ African Figurines In A 1,500-Year-Old Burial In Israel’s Negev Desert

Made from valuable ebony and carved with "African facial features," the figurines found in graves in Israel seem to have been worn as pendants around the sixth or seventh century C.E.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 19, 2025

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Archaeologists Find ‘Very Rare’ African Figurines In A 1,500-Year-Old Burial In Israel’s Negev Desert

Made from valuable ebony and carved with "African facial features," the figurines found in graves in Israel seem to have been worn as pendants around the sixth or seventh century C.E.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 19, 2025

This 2,800-Year-Old Stone Altar May Hint To An Ancient Biblical War, According To Archaeologists

Part of the inscription appears to mention bronze that was pillaged after King Mesha's conquest of the ancient city of Ataroth, a war explicitly mentioned in the texts of the Hebrew Bible.

By Natasha Ishak • May 15, 2025

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This 2,800-Year-Old Stone Altar May Hint To An Ancient Biblical War, According To Archaeologists

Part of the inscription appears to mention bronze that was pillaged after King Mesha's conquest of the ancient city of Ataroth, a war explicitly mentioned in the texts of the Hebrew Bible.

By Natasha Ishak • May 15, 2025