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Irene of Athens: Empress, Iconoclast Conqueror, and Saint
Irene of Athens (c. 752 – August 9, 803), also known as Irene Sarantapechaena, remains a captivating figure in Byzantine history. Rising from Athenian nobility to become the first woman to reign independently over the Eastern Roman Empire, her legacy is marked by political intrigue, religious controversy, and ultimately, the restoration of icons. However, her path to sainthood was paved with complex decisions and contested power struggles.
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Constantine XI Palaiologos: The Last Byzantine Emperor
Constantine XI Palaiologos (February 8, 1404 – May 29, 1453), also known as Dragases, remains a captivating figure in history as the last emperor of the Byzantine Empire. His tragic reign, culminating in the Fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans in 1453, marks a significant turning point in world history. While assessments of his leadership vary, Constantine’s courage and loyalty to his empire are undeniable.
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Byzantine Religion: A Pillar of the Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire, often referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire, existed for over a thousand years (330-1453 CE). While rooted in Roman traditions, the Byzantines developed a unique religious identity centered around Eastern Christianity. This article explores the intricacies of Byzantine religion, its characteristics, controversies, and lasting influence.
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Byzantine Chain: A Luxurious Interwoven Design
The Byzantine chain, a captivating jewelry design renowned for its intricate beauty and remarkable strength, boasts a rich history and enduring popularity. Crafted from precious metals like gold and silver, or even sturdier materials like stainless steel, Byzantine chains feature an elaborate interlocking pattern that creates a captivating rope-like texture.
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The Justinian Dynasty (518-602 CE)
The Justinian Dynasty (518-602 CE) marked a pivotal era in the history of the Byzantine Empire. Spanning four rulers, it witnessed a period of ambitious territorial expansion, significant legal codification, and a flourishing of art and architecture. This dynasty, particularly under the reign of Justinian I (the Great), is often regarded as the zenith of Byzantine power and influence.
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The Feminist Revolution Rocked Newsweek’s Newsroom
The revolution changed America. It also rocked the newsroom.
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How the Queen beat everyone to the Internet
Peter Kirstein is the man who put the Queen of England on the internet. In 1976.
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Architectural History of the Christmas Tree
© Subtle Design, via deviantART To join in on all the holiday cheer, we decided to share with you this architectural funny that depicts the architectural
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TIL during the Prohibition, the U.S. government poisoned alcohol, killing as many as 10,000 people
Frustrated that people continued to consume so much alcohol even after it was banned, federal officials had decided to try a different kind of enforcement. They ordered the poisoning of industrial alcohols manufactured in the United States, products regularly stolen by bootleggers and resold as drinkable spirits. The idea was to scare people into giving up illicit drinking. Instead, by the time Prohibition ended in 1933, the federal poisoning program, by some estimates, had killed at least 10k
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True ‘river monster’ fossils discovered by team with Alberta paleontologist
Digging through the layers of a bauxite mine in Hungary, an international team of paleontologists has uncovered fossilized remains of several Mosasaurs. The remains of the massive lizards that lived in the Cretaceous Period have revealed some surprising new details...
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What was the star of Bethlehem?
It might seem churlish to dissect such an enduring image of Christmas as the star of Bethlehem, but a quiet astronomical debate has been bubbling away for decades. Could some real cosmic event have drawn "three wise men" on a journey to find a newborn king?
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Maya Civilization Provides A Real Apocalyptic Lesson: Scientific American Podcast
Research shows that what laid low Mayan society was climate change, which brought prolonged drought. David Biello reports.
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10 Gadgets Ahead of Their Time
Everyone's a victim of bad timing sometimes. These gadgets brought revolutionary new features to the market. They just did it a little too soon.
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Newsweek unveils last print cover
The 80-year-old US current affairs magazine Newsweek has revealed the image that will grace the cover of its last-ever print edition.
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Ancient Spider Attack Fossilized
Researchers have found what they say is the only fossil ever discovered of a spider attack on prey caught in its web – a 100 million-year-old snapshot of an engagement frozen in time.
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It didn't take much to be on T.V. in 1980
Now all you have to do to be on tv today is have a family of inbreds with nicknames like Honey Boo Boo
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The Worlds First Christmas Card
The first Christmas cards were illustrated by John Callcott Horsley in London on the 1st of May 1843.[1][2] The picture, of a family with a small child drinking wine together, proved controversial, but the idea was shrewd: Cole had helped introduce the Penny Post three years earlier. Two batches totaling 2,050 cards were printed and sold that year for a shilling each.[3]
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3 new messages
Messaging done 65 years ago.
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The End of the Map
Apple Maps stands at the end of a long line of cartographic catastrophes. Say goodbye to the Mountains of Kong and New South Greenland—the enchanting era of geographic gaffes is coming to a close.
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Young Barack Obama
Slick mofo
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