Ancient Ruins on EARTH Magazine

Earthquakes shaped ancient Greek culture

Thu, 14 Dec 2017 07:06:10 -0500

Iain Stewart studies the remains of a fifth-century-B.C. temple built atop a fault-formed fissure at Ephesus in western Turkey. Credit: Stephen Vaughan.

In ancient Greece, earthquakes frequently shook the ground and devastated cities and temples. But time after time, people built — and rebuilt — prominent structures near dangerous faults. How much the ancient Greeks knew about earthquakes and fault behavior is unclear. But in a new study in Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association, researchers suggest that the relationship between sacred sanctuaries and faults is more than coincidental, and that earthquakes may have had a previously underappreciated cultural significance to the ancient civilization.

Travels in Geology: Turkey's storied Turquoise Coast

Wed, 01 Jun 2016 09:43:39 -0400

The rugged Taurus Mountains meet the Mediterranean Sea along Turkey's Turquoise Coast. Credit: Terri Cook and Lon Abbott.

We visited Turkey in June 2015, prior to the heightening of the Syrian refugee crisis. At the time, there were few security concerns, but due to recent turmoil, the U.S. Department of State has issued a travel warning encouraging Americans to avoid visiting southeastern Turkey and warning of heightened threats from terrorist groups throughout the country. At press time, none of the areas covered in this article were within the State Department’s advised avoidance area. However, it’s best to frequently check the State Department website (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en.html) prior to your trip and sign up for their travel alerts in case additional warnings are posted.

Underwater Roman marble traced to Greece, Italy and Turkey

Fri, 20 May 2016 12:56:15 -0400

Scientists take the plunge underwater to analyze one of the most valuable materials used to construct affluent Roman villas: white marble. Credit: courtesy of Michela Ricca et al..

From the first century B.C. to the third century A.D., the city of Baiae, located on the west coast of Italy, near Naples, was the preferred summer home of Roman emperors, including Augustus and Nero. The once-grand city now lies under more than 5 meters of water due to coastal subsidence, and is preserved as the Underwater Archaeological Park of Baiae. Researchers have now traced the opulent city’s white marble floors to some of the most famous quarries in Italy, Greece and Turkey.

Travels in Geology: Peninsular Greece: A gorgeous state of collapse

Mon, 11 Jan 2016 10:05:34 -0500

Although many visitors head to Greece to visit the islands and Athens, peninsular Greece has many incredible sights to see as well, including (clockwise from top left) the ruins of Delphi, home of antiquity's most famous oracle; the Acropolis; the unfathomable monasteries in Meteora; and Mount Olympus, the legendary home of the 12 Olympian gods and goddesses. Credit: all: Terri Cook and Lon Abbott.

The night before we were scheduled to fly to Athens last summer, the Greek government indefinitely closed the country’s banks and imposed strict capital controls, including limitations on ATM withdrawals and credit card use, to prevent the collapse of their banking system. The evening news led with images of panicked tourists hoping they could withdraw enough money to pay for their hotel before the cash ran out.