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Latin Inscription and Its Meaning
A Latin inscription carved into the Inner Wall of Constantinople reads:
"PORTARUM VALID FIRMAVIT LIMINE MUROS, PUSAEUS MAGNO NON MINOR ANTHEMIO."
This can be roughly translated...
Repairs on the Theodosian Walls
The Theodosian Walls of Constantinople were some of the strongest city walls in the medieval world. Keeping these walls in good condition was extremely...
The Kerko Porta and Its Discrepancies
The history of the Kerko Porta is a bit confusing due to a key issue. According to the historian Ducas, the Kerko Porta led...
Scutari the City Across the Bosphorus
On the opposite side of the Bosphorus from Stamboul lies Scutari, which stands in relation to it much like Jersey City does to New...
The Bosphorus and Its Strategic Role
At the eastern end of the Sea of Marmara lies the Bosphorus Strait. Like the Hellespont (also known as the Dardanelles), the Bosphorus connects...
The Fez Factory in the Village
In a small village near Constantinople, there is a factory where the fezzes worn by Turkish soldiers are made. These traditional red hats are...
The Author Who Exposed the Sultan
A Death Sentence in Exile
A Dangerous Book About Royal Secrets
Gorges Dorys, the author of a controversial book called "The Private Life of the Sultan,"...
The Sultan’s Strange Relationship with Modern Technology
A Fear of Electricity - With Exceptions
The Sultan had a deep superstition about electricity that affected how modern technology was used throughout the Ottoman...
The Sultan’s Paranoia
Exiled Friends and Strange Fears
A City of Fallen Favorites
When Fuad Pasha arrived in Damascus as an exile, he discovered he was not alone in...
The “Active Fighters Against Fascism and Capitalism”
The term “Active Fighters Against Fascism and Capitalism” referred to a special group within the Bulgarian Communist Party. These people were considered heroes of...
