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Greatest Archaeological Discoveries Ever

1,800-Year-old Iron Roman Mask Found in the Ancient City of Karabük

A 1,800-year-old iron mask thought to belong to a Roman soldier was found in the Hadrianaupolis Ancient City in Karabük.

1,800-Year-old Iron Roman Mask Found in the Ancient City of Karabük

Excavations in the Hadrianaupolis Ancient City, located in the Eskipazar district of Karabük, Turkey have been continuing since 2003. The excavations in the ancient city of Hadrianaupolis, which is estimated to have been used from the 1st century BC to the 8th century AD in the village of Budaklar, were carried out by Karabük University Archeology Department Lecturer Assoc. Dr. It continues under the chairmanship of Ersin Çelikbaş.

In the ancient city, where excavations continue for 12 months of the year, this season, the focus has been on a square planned structure whose function has not been resolved yet. From the fortification wall in the building been in question, it is estimated that this was a military building. An iron mask was unearthed during the work done inside the structure.

Stating that the history of the inner regions of the Western Black Sea Region has not been fully clarified yet, the head of the excavation, Assoc. Dr. Çelikbaş said, “We continue to illuminate the history of the region with our works. During our excavations, we found important data showing the existence of the Roman Empire in the region. This mask also belongs to a Roman soldier. A Roman cavalry face mask, a piece of helmet.” says.

1,800-Year-old Iron Roman Mask Found in the Ancient City of Karabük

Fragment of a Roman soldier’s helmet.

Stating that there could be a Roman garrison and a military base in Hadrianaupolis, Çelikbaş said, “Rome has planned to make its defense at the far end by building bases against all kinds of dangers that may come from the Black Sea Region to its own geography. We think that one of these defensive military cities was Hadrianaupolis. The mask fragment is from the imperial period. It most likely belongs to the 3rd century when we look at similar examples and stratification history.” says.

During the excavations carried out in the southern necropolis of the ancient city last October, an iron ring dating back 1,800 years was found inside the rock tombs. On the agate stone on the ring, it was determined that the character of Pan, known as the god of shepherds in Greek mythology, was carved in very small sizes.

The movable ones from the findings obtained during the studies in the ancient city of Hadrianaupolis are taken to the museums in the surrounding provinces, while the immovables are preserved in their place.

Posted by Archaeophilia

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Greatest Archaeological Discoveries Ever

Abydos Temple – The Great Temple of King Seti I – Egypt Fun Tours

Seti with Isis, Temple Of Seti I Abydos

Thank you Egypt Fun Tours for a most memorable trip. I admit I didn’t do any of the planning (it was all done by my boyfriend) but as you can read in the reviews below Hani (the owner of Egypt Fun Tours) is superbly organized and accommodating with scheduling.

My boyfriend and I, and our dearest mutual friend, booked the 7Days-6Nights tour. In short time, we visited Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor sailing down the down the Nile, pit stopping to see key sites at these location – and so much more!!! We got to know the ancient and modern egypt in depth thanks to Hani’s impressive knowledge. He also enlightened us on the people and their beliefs and went as far as showing us what a typical life looks like. I cannot express the level of personalized service Hani offered us. He was flexible to adapt to our requirements and added sites to our schedule that was not part of the tour simply to ensure we were 100% satisfied with our experience in Egypt.

I went to Egypt practically blind-folded, not knowing what to expect, especially considering the time we had decided to go (December 2020 – we were the first group that Hani met with after months of having to put his tour agency on hold considering the pandemic) yet he managed to surpass all of our expectations. I felt so incredibly lucky for us to have stumbled on Hani. I would recommend Egypt Fun Tours to anyone and everyone. It was truly, HANDS DOWN, the best cultural experience I’ve ever had. You’ll be in the best of hands.

This Review was posted on Tripadvisor

Abydos Temple of King Seti I - Egypt Fun Tours

Abydos Temple of King Seti I – Egypt Fun Tours

Osiris' Legend at Abydos Temple - Egypt Fun Tours

Osiris’ Legend at Abydos Temple – Egypt Fun Tours

Abydos Temple of King Seti I - Egypt Fun Tours

Abydos Temple of King Seti I – Egypt Fun Tours

Abydos Temple of King Seti I - Egypt Fun Tours

Abydos Temple of King Seti I – Egypt Fun Tours

Abydos Temple of god Osiris built by King Seti FirstAbydos Temple of god Osiris built by King Seti First

Abydos Temple of King Seti I - Egypt Fun Tours

Abydos Temple of King Seti I – Egypt Fun Tours

Legend of god Osiris at Abydos Temple - Egypt Fun Tours

Legend of god Osiris at Abydos Temple – Egypt Fun Tours

Kings' List in Abydos

Kings’ List in Abydos

Abydos Temple of god Osiris built by King Seti First

Abydos Temple of King Seti I - Egypt Fun ToursAbydos Temple of King Seti I – Egypt Fun Tours

 

Cairo, Nile, Cruise, El-Fayoum, Oasis, Dendara, Abydos, travel packageCairo, Nile, Cruise, El-Fayoum, Oasis, Dendara, Abydos, travel package

Abydos Temple of King Seti I - Egypt Fun Tours

Abydos Temple of King Seti I – Egypt Fun Tours

Legend of god Osiris at Abydos Temple - Egypt Fun Tours

Legend of god Osiris at Abydos Temple – Egypt Fun Tours

helicopter hieroglyphs at Abydos

helicopter hieroglyphs at Abydos

Abydos Temple of King Seti IAbydos Temple of King Seti I

 

Abydos Temple of King Seti IAbydos Temple of King Seti I

Abydos Temple of King Seti I - Egypt Fun Tours

Abydos Temple of King Seti I – Egypt Fun Tours

Abydos Temple of King Seti I - Egypt Fun Tours

Abydos Temple of King Seti I – Egypt Fun Tours

Abydos Temple of god Osiris built by King Seti First

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Greatest Archaeological Discoveries Ever

The ghastly glory of Europe’s jewel-encrusted relics

It’s partly a question of taste. When Anna Eliza Bray was collecting materials for The Mountains and Lakes of Switzerland (1841) she was proudly shown the ornamented skeleton of St Alexander at Freiburg. ‘Never before had we witnessed any sight so disgusting,’ she recalled. ‘I involuntarily started in horror.’ Any idea of venerating human remains was bad enough for a properly brought-up Anglican, but the mouldering bones bedecked with jewels and embroidered with gold proved viscerally repulsive.

This must be a common reaction to the photographs in a new book, Heavenly Bodies. Skeletons from Roman catacombs, mistaken for the remains of martyrs, were imported by the dozen for churches in Switzerland, Bavaria and Austria, mostly in the 17th and 18th centuries. They were articulated in suitable poses (like squirrels in a Victorian taxidermy tableau), clad in gems and displayed in glazed niches for popular devotion. At first they seem deliberately grotesque, a memento mori. But the author, Paul Koudounaris, insists that on the contrary, the intention was to give them the highest dignity by ornamenting them with gems mentioned in the Book of Revelation’s description of the heavenly Jerusalem.

The ghastly glory of Europe’s jewel-encrusted relics

The hand of St Konstantius, Rorschach, Switzerland. Photo: Paul Koudounaris

If there’s a problem, it’s a cultural (Germanic) thing. Think of Gunther von Hagens and his exhibitions of anatomised bodies. With the catacomb saints, eyes are the most troublesome parts. Hollow orbits are bad enough, but blue gem eyes are worse, reminding us of the ventriloquist’s dummy. Shakespeare’s feelings (‘Those are pearls that were his eyes’) seem closer to the relic-collectors’ than to our own. At Roggenburg in Bavaria the four saints on display have papier-mâché masks, but a hole where a nose should be still makes St Severina behind her veil look like Michael Jackson.

One Swiss Guard at the Vatican, Capt Johann Pfyffer, dispatched 25 catacomb saints to his native land in the 17th century. These had not been sold (that would have been the mortal sin of simony), but transport did not come cheap, even if some pious innkeepers en route assigned the skeletons rooms of their own free of charge. Since the names of the dead seldom survived in the catacomb niches, they were given generic new names: Felix (Happy), Constantius (Constant) or even Incognitus (Unknown).

The ghastly glory of Europe’s jewel-encrusted relics

St Deodatus, Rheinau, Switzerland, reconstructed with wax. Photo: Paul Koudounaris

Martyrs’ relics were used as a sort of conduit for prayers, who asked their intercession for those still on earth. The theory seemed reasonable to believers such as St Jerome, who wrote that such ‘venerable bones are held to be the altar of Christ’. He opposed the scoffing second-century Celsus, who declared, ‘Corpses should be disposed of like dung, for they are dung.’ Today our sensibility is more likely to be that of Celsus. Corpses, while deserving of respect, fall definitely in the category of unclean things.

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World War 1

Remains of German U-boat SM UC-55 Identified Off the Coast of the Shetland Islands

A team of divers have confirmed the identity of the wreck of a World War I-era German U-boat sunk off the coast of the Shetland Islands in 1917. The SM UC-55 was laying sea mines in the Scottish archipelago when she suffered issues, forcing her to rise to the surface, where she was ultimately sunk by three British Royal Navy ships.

SM UC-56 at port, with people standing around and on the U-boat
SM UC-56, a Type UC II U-boat, 1918. (Photo Credit: National Museum of the U.S. Navy / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)
The wreck was found by divers some eight miles off the coast of the Shetland Islands. While its existence had been known since 1985, thanks to sonar technology, the wreckage wasn’t confirmed to be that of UC-55 until the dive on July 21, 2023. The vessel’s identity was confirmed via Royal Navy logbooks and the extent of damage to the U-boat’s hull.
Speaking with BBC Radio Shetland, Hazel Weaver, who led the expedition aboard the former naval vessel Valhalla, said, “This has been known about for a long time, the question was: is this the wreck we thought it was? After three and half hours of divers being in the water down to 110m (361 ft), they came and confirmed yes, this is the UC-55.”
She added in an interview with McClatchy News that “lots of live torpedoes and mines” were spotted, as well as a deck gun.Two Type UC II U-boats anchored next to a shipType UC II U-boats, 1916. (Photo Credit: Unknown Author / Navy Photos / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)
The SM UC-55 was a Type UC II minelaying U-boat that served with the Imperial German Navy during the First World War. She conducted six wartime patrols, during which she sank nine Allied vessels with sea mines and torpedoes. She also damaged several ships, including the HMS Albacore (1909).
On September 29, 1917, while laying mines in the Lerwick Channel, off the coast of the Shetland Islands, UC-55 suffered a loss of trim, which caused the U-boat to dive well below her maximum dive depth of 50 meters. The forward compartment flooded as a result, leading the batteries to fail and the vessel to fill with Chlorine gas.
While the U-boat was able to rise to the surface, her rudder failed due to the lack of power. Her captain subsequently ordered the crew to abandon ship, but not before all the codebooks and secret documents were destroyed. Charges were then set in the engine and mine rooms.
Unfortunately for the German crew, UC-55 was spotted by the British destroyers HMS Tirade and Sylvia (1897) and the armed trawler HMS Moravia. Sylvia fired a 12-pound shell, which struck the U-boat’s conning tower, killing her commander. A second hit the vessel’s hull, which caused her to take on additional water. Two depth charges sealed UC-55‘s fate, blowing her up.
Moravia closed in on the wreck and, wanting to ensure the U-boat was completely disabled, fired two additional shots and laid a third depth charge. Of her crew of 27, 10 were killed, while the other 17 were taken as prisoners of war (POWs).

Speaking with the BBC, Jacob Mackenzie, one of the divers who visited the wreck, said it was “eerie” being down there, knowing crewmen had lost their lives aboard the U-boat. “You are aware of that, although I believe about 15 of the crew did escape, the rest of the crew of course didn’t – so they are still inside and that’s very obvious when you’re looking around it.”

The British government has designated the site a war grave, meaning no further dives can occur without government permission. When approached by McClatchy News, a spokesperson for the Royal Navy said, “Those who lost their lives should be left in situ and undisturbed.”

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World War 1

Mata Hari: The Dutch Exotic Dancer Accused By the French of Being a Double Agent

Legendary exotic dancer Mata Hari was much more than meets the eye. With her captivating beauty, alluring performances and alleged involvement in espionage during the First World War, she was a truly complex figure. However, her life and death weren’t quite so black and white. Over 100 years after her execution, questions are still being raised as to whether she was truly a devious femme fatale or a convenient scapegoat.

Born Margaretha Geertruida Zelle

Portrait of Margaretha Geertruida Zelle
Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, prior to her going by the name Mata Hari. (Photo Credit: Unknown Author / Nationaal Archief / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)
Mata Hari was born Margaretha Geertruida Zelle on August 7, 1876, in the Netherlands. She led a relatively affluent childhood, as her father ran his own shop and made additional money through the oil industry. This meant Zelle was able to attend the best schools – that is, until the age of 13, when her father went bankrupt. This put significant strain on her parents’ marriage and they eventually split. Shortly after, her mother died.
Although her father eventually remarried, the family was never the same, and Zelle was sent to live with her godfather. She tried to study to become a kindergarten teacher, but this was short-lived. The headmaster continuously flirted with her, prompting her godfather to pull her out of the institution.
Zelle soon left the home and took refuge with an uncle in the Hague.
Becoming Margaretha MacLeod
Portrait of Margaretha and Rudolph MacLeod
Mata Hari, then known as Margaretha MacLeod, and her former husband, Rudolph MacLeod, 1897. (Photo Credit: Unknown Author / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)
Margaretha Geertruida Zelle married Dutch Colonial Army Capt. Rudolf MacLeod after seeing an advertisement he’d place in a local newspaper – he was hoping to find a wife. The two married in July 1895 in what was likely a strategic union on Zelle’s part, as MacLeod was part of the Dutch upper class and had a sizeable fortune.
Two years later, the pair moved to the the south Pacific – in particular, Malang, on the west side of Java. For four years, they lived at several military bases, and they had two children, Norman-John and Louise Jeanne.
However, the pair’s relationship was truly horrid, with the much older MacLeod abusing his wife. He was also a terrible drunk. At one point, Margaretha wrote he “came close to murdering me with the breadknife. I owe my life to a chair that fell over and which gave me time to find the door and get help.”
In 1899, things got worse when their children fell very ill and Norman-John died. The official line was that an enemy of the family poisoned them, but other sources say it was caused by a treatment for syphilis, an infection they likely caught from their parents.
The MacLeods divorced in 1902. Even though custody of Louise Jeanne was given to her mother, her father decided to not give her back after a visit. He also never paid child support, despite being ordered to do so. Louise Jeanne died of unknown causes at the age of 21.
Career as Mata Hari
Portrait of Mata Hari
Mata Hari. (Photo Credit: Bettmann / Getty Images)
In 1903, Margaretha MacLeod moved to Paris. She joined a circus as a horse rider under the name “Lady MacLeod” and posed as an artist’s model to supplement her income.
In 1904, she became an exotic dancer, under the stage name “Mata Hari,” which translates to “eye of the day” in Malay. Having taken dance classes while living in the Dutch East Indies, she was skilled at the craft. Her theatrical debut occurred on March 13, 1905 – and she was an immediate hit.
For her act, Hari – described as “promiscuous, flirtatious, and openly flaunting her body” – created an elaborate backstory about being born in a temple and taught “sacred” dances by a priestess. She’d typically strip from the waist down, posing this way for many photos, and became known for wearing a bejewelled breastplate.
Hari eventually became the mistress of French millionaire Émile Étienne Guimet, and was known to mingle with Paris’ upper class. This was aided by her fictitious backstory, which many believed to be true.
Outbreak of World War I
Portrait of Mata Hari
Mata Hari performing her act, “Dance of the Seven Veils,” 1906. (Photo Credit: Walery / Hulton Archive / Getty Images)
As the years went on, similar acts arose in Paris and Mata Hari became less popular.
By the time she performed her final show in 1915, she’d formed several relationships with extremely high-ranking officials, many of whom were with the German military. She often traveled internationally with these men, which, prior to the outbreak of World War I, was largely dismissed. However, when the conflict began, her actions were viewed as far more suspicious.
Hari returned to the Netherlands in 1914 and, as a neutral Dutch citizen, could freely move throughout Europe. To avoid the fighting occurring on the Western Front, she typically traveled between there and France via Britain and Spain.
Exotic dancer-turned-spy
Mata Hari reading a letter while standing near a park bench
Mata Hari, 1900-10. (Photo Credit: Fine Art Images / Heritage Images / Getty Images)
Mata Hari’s alleged espionage career began after she fell for Russian pilot Capt. Vadim Maslov, who was serving alongside 50,000 other countrymen on the Western Front. During a dogfight with German aircraft, he was shot down and badly injured, losing the sight in his left eye. Concerned for her beau, Hari tried visit him while he recuperated in a hospital near the frontlines, something neutral civilians weren’t typically able to do.
This is where her story gets complicated, as there are many contradictory accounts of her actions. Supposedly, Hari’s efforts to see Maslov caught the attention of French Intelligence officer Capt. Georges Ladoux, who brought her in for questioning. She assured him that her loyalties lay with France, something he’d hoped she would prove by agreeing to spy on their behalf. Hari didn’t agree until she saw the horrible condition her lover was in, and she only did so in exchange for financial compensation.
Some accounts say she’d earlier committed to passing on information to Germany after her next trip to France – details she swore were outdated. Over the next months, Hari made several trips, which increased speculation over whether she was sharing French secrets with German military officials.
These suspicions were seemingly proven when, in January 1917, the French intercepted a German message about a spy known only as “H-21.” The agent’s information was identical to Hari’s, and French Intelligence later claimed to have confirmed H-21’s identity as being the former exotic dancer.
Mata Hari’s trial and execution
Portrait of Mata Hari
Mata Hari on the day of her arrest, 1917. (Photo Credit: Unknown Author / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)
In order to test her, the Second Bureau of the French War Ministry allowed Mata Hari to learn the names of six Belgian agents – one double agent and five who were suspected of working alongside Germany and submitting fake documents. After traveling to Madrid, the Germans just so happened to execute the alleged double agent, serving as proof to the French that she was indeed collaborating with the enemy.
Hari was arrested on February 13, 1917. At her trial a week and a half later, she was accused of passing on information that had caused the deaths of 50,000 French soldiers. Despite the accusations leveled against her, neither French nor British Intelligence could provide concrete evidence that Hari was spying for Germany. Instead, they tried to prove their case by slandering her character, using her fictitious backstory as a dancer to make the claim she was a liar.
Although Hari always maintained her innocence, she was found guilty. The sentence? Execution. The Dutch government did nothing to intervene on her behalf.
On October 15, 1917, Hari was shot by a firing squad of 12 French soldiers. Her execution was witnessed by British reporter Henry Wales, who asserted she went without being bound and refused a blindfold – she even blew a kiss at the firing squad. Wales added that, even in the face of death, “she did not move a muscle.”
Ironically, Georges Ladoux was arrested only four days after her execution for the same crime. He was ultimately cleared of all charges.
Questioning Mata Hari’s crimes
Mata Hari's mugshot
Mata Hari on the day of her arrest, 1917. (Photo Credit: adoc-photos / CORBIS Historical / Getty Images)
The matter of whether Mata Hari was a spy is still heavily debated. The most popular theory is that she was simply used as a very convenient scapegoat by the French, who’d suffered significant losses in the months leading up to her arrest. The thought appears to be that it would be better to have someone to blame these failures on, and it seems likely that Hari was an easy person to target, having had well-documented relationships with German officials prior to WWI.
As early as 1930, Hari was declared innocent by the German government, although they had less to answer for than the French officials who’d ordered her execution. Documents from both MI5 and the French Army have since been released, which further support the theory she was innocent, at least of any grand espionage.
One of the dancer’s biggest advocates is the Mata Hari Foundation, which believes many of the documents were falsified to obtain a desired trial outcome; the organization has repeatedly asked the French to exonerate her of being a spy.
The Mata Hari Foundation’s stance is that “there are sufficient doubts concerning the dossier of information that was used to convict her to warrant re-opening the case. Maybe she wasn’t entirely innocent, but it seems clear she wasn’t the master-spy whose information sent thousands of soldiers to their deaths, as has been claimed.”
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World War 1

Even Children Were Thrilled Following the US’ Entry Into WWI

World War I was truly the first conflict of its kind, engulfing much of the world from 1914-18. While the majority involved became embroiled in the fighting as soon as the war began, there was one nation that waited: the United States. Initially, US President Woodrow Wilson urged Americans to remain impartial observers and, instead, focused on domestic concerns. However, as WWI progressed, the stakes became ever higher, prompting the US’ inevitable entry into the conflict.

The situation began to change as the war intensified and reports of atrocities and human suffering reached America’s shores. Public sympathy toward the Triple Entente – particularly Britain and France – grew, while disdain for Germany’s aggressive actions escalated.

There was one key event that influenced the US entry into WWI: the sinking of RMS Lusitania by a German U-boat in 1915. The attack resulted in the loss of nearly 1,200 innocent lives, including 128 Americans, and sparked outrage Stateside. This prompted Wilson to demand an end to Germany’s U-boat policy.

This worked for awhile, but, by 1917, the Imperial German Navy was, yet again, engaging in unrestricted submarine warfare. Additionally, the German military took the step of offering Mexico the prospect of reclaiming lost territory from the US if the country joined the war on the side of the Central Powers. British Intelligence intercepted and decoded what became known as the Zimmermann Telegram, revealing Germany’s sinister plot.

This revelation further galvanized the American public’s opinion against Germany and pushed the nation closer to conflict. On April 2, 1917, Wilson appeared before Congress to ask for a declaration of war against Germany, stating the world must be made safe for democracy. Congress overwhelmingly supported the decision and, four days later, the US officially entered WWI.

US military forces and resources were now committed to the Triple Entente, marking a significant turning point in the conflict’s dynamics.

The entry of the US into WWI had a profound impact on the outcome of the conflict. The influx of fresh American troops injected new momentum into the war effort, as these soldiers brought with them manpower, modern weaponry and industrial capabilities that tipped the balance in favor of the Triple Entente. They also bolstered morale and gave other troops renewed hope for victory.
The American “doughboys” earned a reputation for their bravery, resilience and dedication on the battlefield, and their presence provided a much-needed boost to the war-weary Europeans, who weren’t the only ones excited to see them arrive. The above photo shows the excitement of a young English girl as she shakes the hand of a US soldier marching through London on August 15, 1917, before he’s deployed to France.
The renewed push pressured Germany to the bargaining table. In November 1918, the armistice was signed, effectively ending the fighting on the Western Front and signaling the country’s defeat. In the aftermath of the conflict, Wilson played a crucial role in formulating the Treaty of Versailles, which aimed to establish a lasting peace. However, its punitive measures against Germany, coupled with unresolved tensions and issues, only sowed the seeds of future war.
Categories
World War 1

Canadian National Vimy Memorial Vandalized in France

The Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France has been vandalized. The monument, dedicated to the Canadian Expeditionary Force soldiers who lost their lives during the First World War, sits at the center of the battlefield park where the Canadian Corps launched their attack during the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917.

Path leading up to the Canadian National Vimy Memorial
Photo Credit: DENIS CHARLET / AFP / Getty Images
According to reports, an employee saw someone scrawling graffiti on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial at around 9:00 PM on August 15, 2023. However, they ran away before they could be apprehended.
Speaking with Global News, a source with knowledge of the incident said the graffiti consisted of environmental phrases written in French. The search continues for the individual responsible, with the Canadian government aiding French authorities in the investigation.
Speaking about the vandalism, Canadian Veterans Affairs Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor said, “I was appalled to hear of the vandalism that took place at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial.” She ended her statement by condemning such actions, saying, “I strongly condemn this and all reprehensible acts of vandalism against cenotaphs, war memorials and other landmarks built to remember and honour the sacrifices made by Canadians in the name of peace.”
Taylor also added that Veterans Affairs Canada is working with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Public Services and Procurement Canada to have the graffiti removed from the memorial “as soon as possible.”
The Vimy Foundation also released a statement on Twitter, writing, “We are deeply disheartened to learn about the recent act of vandalism at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial. Such actions disrespect the memory of the 11,285 Canadians missing in France with no known grave, whose names are listed on the monument.”
As aforementioned, the Canadian National Vimy Memorial commemorates the sacrifices made by the Canadian soldiers who fought on the Western Front during World War I – in particular, those who lost their lives during the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

The engagement occurred between April 9-12, 1917 and saw 170,000 Allied soldiers – the majority Canadian – take on between 30,000 and 45,000 Germans in what became a historic victory. The German Army held the position, and its location made it particularly difficult to capture.

After weakening the Germans’ positions along the ridge, the Canadian Expeditionary Force launched their assault – the first time the four divisions had fought together. Despite suffering heavy casualties, they came out on top, thanks to extensive planning and the use of innovative tactics and effective artillery support.For their efforts during the battle, four members of the Canadian Corps were awarded the Victoria Cross, three posthumously.

Canadian machine gun squad on the battlefield
Photo Credit: Photo12 / Universal Images Group / Getty Images
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial was unveiled at the site of the battle by King Edward VII in July 1936. The ceremony was attended by over 50,000 individuals, 6,200 of whom were from Canada.
The monument aims to honor those who perished during the First World War, with the names of those “with no known grave” inscribed on it. It was designed by Canadian sculptor and architect Walter Seymour Allward, and was constructed around a battlefield known to still contain live munitions from the intense fighting that occurred.
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial was rededicated by Queen Elizabeth II in 2007, after undergoing extensive restoration, and is currently maintained by Veterans Affairs Canada.Canadian National Vimy Memorial during an overcast dayPhoto Credit: PHILIPPE HUGUEN / AFP / Getty Image
There’s been a rise as of late in vandalism committed by environmental activists. Among the most notable incidents have been the defacing of museum artwork, such as John Constable’s The Hay Wain, Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and Monet’s Grainstacks.
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Football

Despite Lionel Messi currently playing in the US, Ronaldo’s ʋictory statue in the King Salмan Cup is still the мost ʋisited attraction for New Yorkers to check-in across the US

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It is a мoпυмeпt to Roпaldo’s dedicatioп, passioп, aпd υпyieldiпg qυest of excelleпce, which are the characteristics that defiпe his career.

The Victory iп the Kiпg Salмaп CυpThe Ƅeaυtifυl photographs that are opeпly displayed oп this мoпυмeпt are oпe of the мost пotable characteristics of the мoпυмeпt.

Oпe of these, iп particυlar, staпds oυt froм the rest: it shows Cristiaпo Roпaldo liftiпg the Kiпg Salмaп Cυp after he has woп it. This pictυre has Ƅecoмe aп icoпic eмƄleм of Roпaldo’s sυccessfυl joυrпey, aпd it has woп the hearts of soccer faпs all aroυпd the world.

Aп Iпdicatioп of the Adмiratioп Shared Ƅy мaпyIt’s пot jυst aƄoυt a statυe or a siпgle pictυre; it’s aƄoυt how мυch adυlatioп Roпaldo has receiʋed as a whole.

Photos coммeмoratiпg Roпaldo’s triυмph iп the Kiпg Salмaп Cυp caп Ƅe foυпd oп display iп priʋate hoмes, coммercial estaƄlishмeпts, aпd pυƄlic places aroυпd the Uпited States. They are a υsefυl reмiпder of the teпacity aпd dedicatioп that are пecessary characteristics of a trυe chaмpioп.

The Iпflυeпce That Roпaldo’s Career Will HaʋeThe iмpact left Ƅy Cristiaпo Roпaldo exteпds Ƅeyoпd пatioпal Ƅoυпdaries, aпd the scope of his iпflυeпce is withoυt Ƅoυпds. The arriʋal of мessi to the мajor Leagυe Soccer is certaiпly a мoмeпtoυs occasioп; пoпetheless, Roпaldo’s statυe coпtiпυes to Ƅe aп eʋerlastiпg represeпtatioп of greatпess. It is a deмoпstratioп of the trυth that legeпds пeʋer die; they coпtiпυe to мotiʋate, iпspire, aпd catch the iмagiпatioпs of fυtυre geпeratioпs.

Iп coпclυsioп, the statυe of Roпaldo that was erected iп New York represeпts a gυidiпg light for his extraordiпary career iп the sport of soccer. It towers high, lυriпg people froм all walks of life to check iп aпd express their adoratioп for it, regardless of whose teaм they root for.

The shot that was takeп dυriпg Roпaldo’s triυмph iп the Kiпg Salмaп Cυp captυres the esseпce of his career, which was a пeʋer-eпdiпg pυrsυit of excelleпce aпd the υпyieldiпg attitυde of a real chaмpioп. The мoпυмeпt that was Ƅυilt iп Roпaldo’s hoпor coпtiпυes to Ƅe a soυrce of illυмiпatioп aпd a Ƅeacoп of footƄalliпg greatпess right iп the мiddle of New York City.

Cristiaпo Roпaldo Lioпel Messi

Categories
World War 1

The Tank Museum Publishing ‘Tank Man’ Biography

The Tank Museum in Bovington, United Kingdom has announced it’ll be releasing a biography about famed World War I-era tank commander Capt. Albert “Bert” Baker. Titled Tank Man – The Life and Times of Captain Bert Baker, the book will cover not only his wartime exploits, but his life following the conflict.

Albert Baker standing next to the gun captured at Graincourt-lès-Havrincourt
Albert Baker with the gun captured at Graincourt-lès-Havrincourt. (Photo Credit: The Tank Museum)
The upcoming biography was written by Albert Baker’s grandson, Jonathan, who spoke with The Tank Museum about what he covered in the book. Along with covering his grandfather’s drive to serve, it also serves as a “social history” of his post-war life.
“Bert was no more prepared to fight in a war than any of the countless thousands of others who streamed into army recruiting offices in the autumn of 1914,” Jonathan shared. “His life up to that point had been confined to a small family dairy in south London.”
He added, “The book is also a social history. Growing up in the newly emerging suburbia in London, the ins and outs of running an urban dairy and his own post-war involvement as a chemical analyst in the efforts to produce milk that was safe to drink.”Military portrait of Albert BakerAlbert Baker. (Photo Credit: The Tank Museum)
Albert Baker was the recipient of two Military Crosses during World War I. The decoration is presented to members of the British Armed Forces, in recognition of “an act or acts of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land.”
An analytical chemist by trade, he began his military service in the trenches, before joining the newly-established Tank Corps in its early days. “Tanks had a painful infancy,” Jonathan told The Tank Museum. “But as an officer in the Tank Corps, he featured in two actions that helped establish it once and for all as a frontline weapon – winning a Military Cross in the first and a bar to it in the second.”
Baker’s first notable action occurred during a raid outside of Ypres, Belgium in August 1917. He and others from the Tank Corps were tasked with taking German pillboxes, the largest of which was “The Cockroft.” Surrounded by eight-foot-thick concrete walls and housing upwards of 100 enemy soldiers, it was a daunting sight.
Twelve tanks from G Battalion attacked the position, with many of the armored vehicles proving ineffective against the pillboxes. That being said, the British were ultimately successful in their endeavor, and were able to take the area with light casualties; the Tank Corps only suffered two deaths and 13 wounded.Mark IV tank being dug out of a trench by German troopsGerman soldiers digging out a British Mark IV tank in Cambrai, France. (Photo Credit: Bundesarchiv, Bild 104-0941A / Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 de)
The event that saw Albert Baker receive his second Military Cross occurred during the Battle of Cambrai in the latter part of 1917. In command of the Mark IV tank Gorgonzola II, he and other British tanks advanced toward the German-held French village of Graincourt-lès-Havrincourt.
Gorgonzola II and the rest of the armored vehicles immediately became the targets of German field guns. Undeterred, Baker, his crew and another tank pushed on and managed to “see off the gun crew and capture the gun intact.” This allowed British infantry to continue on and liberate the village.
Following the war, Baker returned home to Britain, where he went back to work as an analytical chemist in the dairy industry.Tank Men exhibition at The Tank MuseumTank Men exhibition at The Tank Museum. (Photo Credit: The Tank Museum)
In honor of Albert Baker’s heroics, The Tank Museum has set up an exhibit, which features the gun he captured in 1917. The institution also holds the notebook where he recounted his wartime experiences.
Tank Man – The Life and Times of Captain Bert Baker is currently available for pre-order via The Tank Museum’s shop. It’s slated for release in mid-October 2023.
Categories
World War 1

Zone Rouge: The WWI-Era Battlefields That Are Still Dangerous Over 100 Years Later

Zone Rouge – or the “Red Zone” – is a chain of former battlefields across northeastern France that the government has cordoned off due to the many dangerous ordnance that remains from the First World War. The area originally spanned over 460 square miles, from Nancy through to Lille, and incorporates such battlefields as the Somme, Verdun and Vimy Ridge.

While the size of the region has lessened over the 100-plus years since the end of the conflict, the area is still characterized by the scars and remnants of the Great War.

Scars of World War I

German trench surrounded by the remnants of trees
German trench in Delville Wood, near Longueval, Somme, France, 1916. (Photo Credit: John Warwick Brooke / Imperial War Museums / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)
Over the course of World War I, an unprecedented amount of munitions were used by the Triple Entente and Triple Alliance to try and gain a victory over the other side. The destruction these weapons caused to the French landscape saw entire villages and cities transformed into rubble and craters. People were driven from their homes, and whole regions were made uninhabitable.The destruction of the French landscape was one thing, the dangerous remnants of the fighting were another. Across many of the former battlefields are unexploded ordnance, made up of artillery shells, gas shells, grenades and small arms ammunition. Their existence has seen lead, mercury, chlorine, arsenic and acids, as well as human and animal remains, create soil pollution.
These remnants and their effects have seen the complete destruction of life in this region. For instance, 99 percent of all plants die in Zone Rouge, due to the level of arsenic, which constitutes up to 175,907 mg per kilogram of soil. When the area was designated following the conflict, the vast region was viewed as “completely devastated. Damage to properties: 100%. Damage to agriculture: 100%. Impossible to clean. Human life impossible.”
While this was well over 100 years ago, it’s not all that much different today.
A region comprised of four zones
Map showing the four different zones in France: red, yellow, green and blue
Map showing the four designated zones: red signals totally destroyed; yellow indicates major, but limited damage; green stands for moderately damaged; and blue covers areas that remained undamaged. (Photo Credit: Tinodela / Lamiot / Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 2.5)
Zone Rouge is ultimately one of four different ones on and around the former battlefields of the Western Front. Ranging from the most to least dangerous, these areas serve as an eerie reminder of the past.
As aforementioned, the majority of the towns and cities located within these zones – in particular, Zone Rouge – have long since been abandoned in what National Geographic describes as a “minor forced relocation.” When the French government weighed the time and cost of rehabilitating the natural landscape, as well as the inherent dangers, it was decided that total abandonment was the best solution.
“Those villages were considered a casualty of the war,” Joseph Hupy, a geography professor at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, told the publication. They’ve since been given a special name, “village detruits” – or “destroyed villages.”
Since no one can live in these zones, the areas still possess the remnants of war; large shell craters, trench networks and military equipment stick out from the ground. Nature was quick to reclaim the region, with historian Christina Holstein telling National Geographic, “They found the vegetation – trees, grasses, bushes, and briar – all came back very quickly.”
This wasn’t the only life to return, as animals did so, too. While unexploded ordnance still poses a threat to these creatures, the removal of humans has given rise to a unique wilderness in northwest France.
Return to normal?
Warning sign placed along the exterior a wooded area at Vimy Ridge
Craters on the battlefield at Vimy Ridge, 2006. (Photo Credit: Ormondroyd / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)
Zone Rouge will likely never be returned to the state it was before the First World War. That being said, France isn’t planning on keeping the area isolated forever. The government established the Department du Deminage (Department of Mine Clearance) to clear unexploded munitions.
Since its inception, it’s destroyed hundreds of thousands of pieces, allowing the land to be returned to the public. The majority of the cleared region and beyond has been turned into farmland, which is helping to bolster the country’s agricultural sector. That doesn’t mean, however, that farmers and the general public haven’t come across ordnance that’s been missed.
According to Joseph Hupy, those who come across regular shells need not worry, as those rarely kill. “The people who die in the munitions removal, they don’t really die from the explosive ones,” he told National Geographic. “They die from gas shells.”
It’s likely Zone Rouge will never be fully cleared. It’s been projected that it will take at least 300 years of work to completely clear the battlefields of their dangerous remnants. Even then, the likelihood there will still be some shells lurking beneath people’s feet is high.
Iron Harvest
Unexploded artillery shell placed along the side of a road
Unexploded German artillery shell along the side of a road in Belgium, awaiting collection, 2006. (Photo Credit: Redvers / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)
The town and battlefield most think of when discussing Zone Rouge is without a doubt Verdun. It was the site a 300-day battle between the French and Germans, which resulted in over 300,000 soldiers losing their lives. Millions of pieces of ammunition and munitions were used, permanently altering the landscape. A large portion were duds that became lodged in the ground.
Given this, an event known as the “Iron Harvest” has happened annually. Occurring throughout the spring planting and autumn plowing seasons, it sees the collection of unexploded ordnance, shrapnel, trench supports, barbed wire and bullets in both France and Belgium’s rural areas.
There are signs posted at the sides of roads, in the shape of a shell, that indicate where farmers can place unearthed ordnance and wartime remnants. The Department du Deminage will then come by and pick them up.
Development in Zone Rouge
Sheep grazing near the Canadian National Vimy Memorial
Sheep graze in shell and mine craters on the battlefield of Vimy Ridge, 2017. (Photo Credit: Sylvain Lefevre / Getty Images)
Despite the government closing off the area and the existence of unexploded ordnance, human activity continues to occur in and around Zone Rouge. Hunters, for instance, will hunt deer and wild boar in the area. It’s also become part of the timber industry. As Joseph Hupy stated, “Everyone needs their lumber products, and for the French, this is a great area to practice forestry.”
The landscape of Zone Rouge will likely never return to what it once was. The First World War, bringing destruction to the region, ensured it would never be the same. However, it’s now seeing some new developments. As described by Christina Holstein, “It is a bit like Sleeping Beauty. Things have just gotten frozen in time.”
While Zone Rouge is characterized by the destruction brought about by war, there are possibilities for recovery.