Search Results for: Greek

Turkish Pirates: The Rise of Ottoman Corsairs and Their Legacy in Mediterranean History

Combining truth and legend, with black eye patches and black skull flags, pirates are the fearful nightmares of sailors. Nowadays, pirates depicted in movies are barbarian haramis who seize the ships for the booty, especially in the open seas, and kill people mercilessly. However, the term Pirate in the Ottoman evokes many different meanings. Would it surprise you if we …

Classic Turkish Music: Exploring the Rich Traditions of Ottoman Court Music and Its Legacy

The trend of nostalgia in the consumption of contemporary culture has been experiencing intense popularity in recent years. The styles of past times are sought in many scenes, from clothing to artificial architecture to music. In this respect, Classic Turkish Music draws attention with both its source and its inhabitants. Though historians and musicologists cannot agree on many points, the …

Origin of Vampires: The Forgotten Roots of Vampire Myth in Turkish Folklore

The vampire myth is believed to have originated in the west by the great influence of popular culture. While witches and ghouls are popular in the East, the “vampire” is seen as a product of western culture. However, one of the biggest symbols of the vampire cult, Count Dracula, was also sourced from Vlad III, who was a prince that …

World’s First Stock Market in Kütahya

Today, the stock market, which determines the economic agenda with some terms such as bonds, stocks, foreign exchanges and valuable papers, actually dates back to very old times. The first stock market of the world was established in our land in Kütahya.

Murder on the Orient Express: Poirot, Istanbul & the Romance of the Golden‑Age Train

Istanbul is the last stop on the Orient Express or Eastern Express, which had its first expedition in 1883 from Paris. Between the years of 1883 and 1977, the train expeditions, which were initiated for Europeans to recognize the Eastern civilization and to be informed about its authentic values, especially attracted the attention of authors, artists and the cinema industry.

Bibliopole Culture in Turkey: Exploring the Rich History of Used Book Markets

If you are fond of rare books and visiting a bibliopole, the first place you will want to visit in Turkey, especially in Istanbul is the Used-book Bazaar (Sahaflar Çarşısı). The Used-book Bazaar is a sanctuary amidst the noisy confusion of the Grand Bazaar. It will provide you with tranquility and has been the meeting place for bookworms for centuries, …

Roman Ruins in Turkey

Anatolia is described as the cradle of civilizations. Indeed, many ancient tribes and civilizations prevailed in Anatolia, and they were erased from the stage of history, leaving only their ruins. Roman Empire is obviously one of the most spread and developed state of its time, leaving many ruins in its geography, including Turkey.

Kayaköy: Exploring Turkey’s Ghost Town of Stone Art & Abandoned Beauty

Fethiye is one the most popular tourist attractions in Turkey. Fethiye/Kayaköy has been home to many civilizations in the past, including Phrygians, Lydians, Persians, Hellenistic Kingdoms, Romans, and Byzantines. According to the findings obtained around Kayaköy, it was used as a settlement in ancient times, too. Rock tomb structures prove that this region also existed in the Phrygian period. Kayaköy, …