Fantastic forts and where to find them
The Dutch Defence Line – a 135-kilometre ring of 46 forts surrounding Amsterdam – once protected the city from attack. Nowadays, it’s been transformed into something else.
Unearthing celebration, law and death in ancient Mediterranean cultures - Catawiki
Written by Tom | 9th April 2021The Mediterranean region is one of contemporary society's main points of reference when it comes to ancient culture. It has given rise to some of the most important and pioneering civilisations: the Egyptians, the Phoenicians, the Greeks and the Romans to name a few. Archaeology Expert Ruth Garrido Vila walked us through a dedicated collection from ancient Mediterranean cultures in Malaga’s Ifergan Museum and explained why there’s still much to learn from these sal...
Dearly beloved: the renaissance of love letters
The art of putting down your feelings on paper dates back centuries. And while the 21st century has given more attention to email than the hand-written word, the onset of a global pandemic has seen a revival in the writing of personal notes.
Remembering the queer authors who changed fiction forever
Children's books are often one of the most important parts of growing up – they inform literacy, emotions and creativity. And so many important children’s and illustrated books were written by queer authors, who have always existed in the space, even if the public never realised it. While many of these writers chose not to make their identity the central tenet of their output, their lived experiences informed so much of the writing they published.
Space scandal: The letters that were never meant to reach the moon
Back in July 1971, the astronauts of Apollo 15 carried approximately 400 unauthorised postal covers – envelopes with stamps and addresses on them – into space in a bid to make profit and support their families at home, with what would be coveted collector’s items. What followed was years of public fallout; with NASA, the astronauts, the US government and a mysterious German seller all involved. Expert in Stamps Jean-Eudes Schoppmann recounts one of the more scandalous chapters in stamps history.
How the Orient Express became the world’s most famous train
Few trains are as well-known as the Orient Express. A snaking train ride that took passengers on a journey across continental Europe from Paris to Istanbul, the Orient Express was a symbol of old-world glamour and escapism; attracting illustrious figures from all corners of the world and inspiring numerous works of literature. Yet its lavish reputation also drew in a wealth of intrigue, scandal, and even criminality in its lifespan.
Pictures of power: queerness in ancient and classical art
In the past century, depictions of homosexuality and queerness were seen as taboo and even censored from art forms, like film. Yet hundreds of years prior, same-sex relationships were prevalent and commonly illustrated in art. Homosexuality was more normalised—if expressions of it at the time would make modern society uneasy—and was depicted as a way of showcasing both power and beauty.
The forgotten history of men and high heels
Heels have long been a symbol of status, style and femininity but once upon a time they were synonymous with masculinity too. Dating back to ancient Egypt, walking in raised shoes was at first a practical choice for working men that was quickly adopted by the men and women of upper classes as a sign of nobility and status. Since then, high heels have continued to feature in men's fashion throughout the ages from King Louis XIV to the late David Bowie.
The lasting legacy of queer-coded Disney villains
The fictional villains of Disney films are both revered and feared, but their inspiration took root in real individuals—most of whom were queer. From The Little Mermaid’s Ursula to The Lion King’s Scar, these characters were queer-coded—an incorporation of stereotypical traits and characteristics like pronounced femininity or masculinity often associated with queer people—inspired from a time when depictions of homosexuality were taboo in motion pictures.
Unearthing ancient Mediterranean cultures in three archaeological pieces
The Mediterranean region is one of contemporary society's main points of reference when it comes to ancient culture. It has given rise to some of the most important and pioneering civilisations: the Egyptians, the Phoenicians, the Greeks and the Romans, to name a few. Archaeology Expert Ruth Garrido Vila walked us through a dedicated collection from ancient Mediterranean cultures in Malaga’s Ifergan Museum and explained why there’s still much to learn from these salvaged objects.
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The female motoring gang of the Belle Epoque
France’s La Belle Epoque (to mean ‘‘The Beautiful Epoch’ from circa 1880-1914) saw a seismic shift in mentality towards joviality and optimism, and led to a renewed sense among the French that life was, in fact, good. While science, the arts and architecture reflect the most well-known changes in France, the role of women in society saw measures of advancement too, though not without its obstacles. Where women’s magazines helped profile the independent women who captured traditional femininity,
Exploring the dark art of map manipulation
Maps have long held the reputation of being a reliable source of truth. In many ways, we’ve always been at the mercy of maps–and those who draw them–to guide us, inform us and keep us safe. But at certain points throughout history, maps have taken a more sinister turn. Countries around the world have adapted and manipulated maps to support and justify a number of political goals and nationalistic agendas skewing and misleading the public conscience.
How funeral cookbooks are actually a celebration of life
Death and food have a long history together and in some cultures, this relationship takes on a material form. Funeral cookbooks have been a way to preserve memories and celebrate the favourite foods of the deceased. But what sounds like a macabre offering is in fact, as books expert Kurt Salchli explains, a surprisingly comforting read.
Exploring the kimono: a tapestry of Japanese society
The kimono is Japan's national dress and one of the country's most distinctive pieces of clothing. A traditional garment that means “thing to wear”, kimonos have existed since the Heian period (794-1193 CE) as a fashionable dress for men and women. The kimono provided artists with a blank canvas to craft some of Japan's most timeless designs. And it also served as an indicator for a person's — particularly a woman's — status and role in an otherwise conformist and homogenous society. It's both a
How Agatha Christie developed a penchant for poison
As the world’s best-selling fiction author alongside William Shakespeare, Agatha Christie’s reputation is legendary. Her seemingly impossible mysteries, far-flung destinations and enigmatic protagonists have enraptured bookworms everywhere. One of her most recurrent plot devices is her inspired use of poison, which features in over half of her works and has killed off around 30 of her characters. Lesser known, however, is the real-life experience behind Christie’s knowledge of poison, as book ex
The devil you know: exploring literature's fascination with Satan
Theologically inclined or not, you've likely heard of the devil. A manifestation of evil that takes up a different form and name depending on the cultural lens you view it through, the devil is viewed as history's arch-evil. And yet, the world's creative forces have long looked to evil for inspiration and sometimes respite. Whether it's Lucifer, Beelzebub or Satan, has profiled the nuance and complexity of evil and even found liberation in it.
