Local trips

[Greg Beetham]

Hi Yildiz, great post, my comments didn’t start out too be ‘political’ actually but may have ended up that way, sorry about that. My blood starts too boil when I read of exquisite works of art and historical relics being destroyed, (Khachkas in this case) admittedly mainly in Azerbaijan where that was being done on a grand scale by their government, and fairly recently too, it reminds one of the imbecile with the tank in Afghanistan blasting that ancient large statue of the Buddha I think it was, those sorts of relics belong too humanity and should not be subjected to vandalism by some illiterate who recently learned how to drive a tank no matter what demented reason they might give for it. Where was a predator when we needed one?
I’m no historical expert but I guess the cultural turmoil in the entire region more or less got kick started by Alexander the great and his army but it all began to fall apart not long after he died so it proved too be anything but long term as far as consolidating the gains being concerned, although the legacy he left behind was far reaching, the Eastern Roman empire (Byzantine in the East) took note of his past exploits with interest and tried too emulate those as well, (looking through the history I get the impression the long lasting Eastern Roman Empire was heavily flavoured by Greek influence so maybe Alexander did leave a lasting legacy after all, until the resurgence of the Persian and later the Ottoman empires anyway), and I guess one would have to include the Mongols in the mix at some point also, they conquered nearly everything in sight in their day but their stay was rather brief.
Throughout all of the period there appears to be numerous factions and lots of infighting, civil wars and challenges for supremacy over various malleable sized spheres of influence along with the usual displaced populations and slave taking, (artisans didn’t have unions back then), even Alexander had too conquer his own homeland first before he could think of conquering somewhere else, and then he had too squash the odd spiteful squabble here and there occasionally…life is tough at the top, but it never seems to handicap (initially) the occasional arrival of some individual who possesses infectious delusions of grandeur.
Greg
Ps I saw a doco recently on the rise of civilizations (I missed a couple of episodes accidentally), and it covered amongst others the Ottoman Empire (which I didn’t know very much about) and the siege of Constantinople (your home town, now Istanbul), it was all fascinating, but what I’m getting at is you sure have lots of places where you live to take great photos of historically significant temples, monuments, city walls etc. the doco showed lots of places there, the bazaar was fascinating, as well as the more prominent Hagia Sophia, and it was just one of many temples and palaces, an amazing place.

[aster]

Hi Greg,

Indeed you have some good history coverage of the region we live in... Asia Minor, Europe and the Middle East have a deeper history record than any other continent humans set foot on; people of many origins and races lived interlaced like a 'mosaic' art work with the most colourful cultural or religous palette here. Though they all had their differences that brought the conflicts in history, looking at all the great remains of theirs, one only stands in awe at the sight of all the beauty and intricacy their work were articulated in.

We are still learning about them through archeological excavations. Most recently the foot prints of people who lived in Istanbul 8000 years ago were uncovered during the construction of the Marmaray Rail Tube Tunnel which passes under water and will connect the European and the Asian sections of Istanbul.

Here are a couple of links. Some of the texts are in Turkish.

BEST PRESERVED SHIPWRECK
8000 YEARS OLD FOOTPRINTS
FOOTPRINT PHOTOS AND TEXT





Yildiz

[Greg Beetham]

Wow Yildiz, an approximately 1,600 years old trading vessel in really good condition, loaded with goods too, how incredible is that? Not only that they found burials in the area in coffins from three thousand odd years before the Egyptian empire even began for example, eight thousand years ago is not long after the beginnings of agriculture, it’s all amazing stuff. I couldn’t do much with the Turkish article I’m sorry, I’m not as good as you being able to speak read and write my language but I can’t return the favour, mores the pity.
Greg

[aster]

Wow Yildiz, an approximately 1,600 years old trading vessel in really good condition, loaded with goods too, how incredible is that? Not only that they found burials in the area in coffins from three thousand odd years before the Egyptian empire even began for example, eight thousand years ago is not long after the beginnings of agriculture, it’s all amazing stuff. I couldn’t do much with the Turkish article I’m sorry, I’m not as good as you being able to speak read and write my language but I can’t return the favour, mores the pity.
Greg

Without straying further away from the original post on the intricate Armenian heritage that Dr. Harout nicely embedded in this informative thread, I graciously thank you for the kind complements, Greg. This is what it's like to live in these parts of the world; it's like the soil is giving birth to all that has happened before us; a full-time, live documentary happening amid our polluted contemporary lives.

No need to apoligize for not reading/speaking any Turkish. I just couldn't find the relevant article in English anywhere. Only the Turkish newspapers and media covered these stories to the full until international coverage is due, I guess. : )

When you travel to these parts, we'll ensure that you learn at least some Turkish and Armenian and what nots... : )

Thanks for the interest. : ))

Back to the Armenian chapels and 'Hackars' now.
Yildiz

[Greg Beetham]

I agree back too Armenia, sorry Doc.
Greg

[Dusty]

I agree back too Armenia, sorry Doc.
Greg

I think that being Subsuming Vortexes of Brilliance you all naturally mix conversations in your threads!

Dusty