The House of Wisdom

Rome wasn't built in a day — but it was today.

Exactly 2,778 years ago...

Bridges are their own form of art

It’s not just about admiring feats of engineering or building the longest road over water (which still comes across as pretty impressive) but it’s about engraving poetry in stone, brick and steel...

The rediscovery of the "Temple of Poseidon"

In southern Greece, archaeologists have discovered ruins they believe belong to the long-lost Temple of Poseidon described by ancient writers.

It's impossible to picture Paris without the Eiffel Tower today.

But 136 years ago, when the tower was built, the story was different... people hated it.

Venice: How do you build a city that floats?

The answer is actually quite straight forward but it’s not as it appears on the surface — you literally have to look underwater...

Neoclassical Architecture: Power and Authority

It’s more than just columns and symmetry — it is a philosophy in stone. Born in the mid-18th century, a movement that very much opposed the excesses of Baroque and Rococo, that were so prevalent prior to the Enlightenment.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon: Is this the most mysterious wonder of the ancient world?

“Babylon lies in a wide plain, a vast city in the form of a square with sides nearly 14 miles long and a circuit of some 56 miles, and in addition to its enormous size, it surpasses in splendor any city of the known world."

Michelangelo: The sculptor who changed Italy's architecture

Greek Theater: The Birth of Culture?

Theater was a viral part of life in the cradle of Greek civilization. The origins lie in religious rituals...

Segovia Aqueduct: How to cement a masterpiece into history (without the cement)...

Aqueducts were vital parts of Roman society: they were lifelines for the rapidly growing cities of the empire. As Dionysius put it: "The extraordinary greatness of the Roman Empire manifests itself above all in three things: the aqueducts, the paved roads and ... drains."

Göbekli Tepe: The Temple That Built Civilization by Culture Explorer

Before its discovery, scholars believed early humans were simple hunter-gatherers, living in small, mobile bands but Göbekli Tepe tells another story...

You've heard of the Colosseum but what about all the other Roman theaters out there...

The Romans were heavily influenced by the Greeks, who had already perfected the art of open-air performances, centuries prior. Upon encountering Greek drama and architecture, they adapted both to suit their own needs...