The Charites, also known as the three Graces, were a group of beautiful goddesses who embodied charm, grace, beauty, and joy. They presided over festival celebrations and were attendants to the goddess of love, Aphrodite. Initially, there were three Charites, but additional younger Charites were included over time, representing other aspects of celebration, grace, […]

The Fayum portraits are realistic paintings of deceased individuals that were placed over their mummies during the first three centuries of the Common Era in Egypt. These were portraits of the elites who wished to reach the afterlife retaining their lifelike appearance. The region of Faiyum Oasis, where most of these portraits were found, […]

One of the main symptoms of the Crisis of the Third Century was almost constant civil wars and internal fights for power. Over the course of almost half a century (235-284), many Roman generals and other commanders were proclaimed emperors, mostly by their soldiers after a victory in battle. Most of these coups lasted […]

Tamerlane Chess is a medieval chess variant attributed to the 14th-century conqueror Timur, also known as Tamerlane. A complex and richly symbolic game, Tamerlane Chess is played on a unique 10×11 board and features over 25 distinct pieces, each with specialized movements. Known also as Shatranj al-Kabir or “Great Chess,” it evolved from Shatranj, […]