Calamos Supports Greece

Constantinople

On This Day in 1930 Constantinople is Renamed Istanbul, Both Greek Words

Built as Byzantium about 657 BC, then renamed Constantinople in the 4th century CE after Constantine the Great made the city his capital, the city of Istanbul officially received its present name on this day in 1930. Surprisingly the capital...

The Remarkable Women of the Byzantine Empire

The position of women in Byzantine society is not easy to assess considering the vast reach of the empire. It was an empire comprised of different cultures of Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, West Asia, and North Africa. In the course...

The Sports Riot That Nearly Destroyed Constantinople in 532 AD

The Greek world has a troubled past of sports riots, particularly with football hooliganism, but this pervasive history goes back further than one might expect, with one instance nearly leading to the destruction of Constantinople and the overthrow of...

The 1,500-Year-Old Lady’s Sandals With Sweet Message in Greek

A pair of 1,500-year-old lady's sandals with a sweet message in Greek was discovered during a dig in Istanbul. The sandals have become one of the major attractions of the city's archaeological museum. There is a message in Greek on...

The Greek Architects of Italy’s Renaissance

Throughout history, many Greek scholars became the unsung heroes of the Renaissance, the period that linked ancient wisdom with a new modern era of scientific knowledge. The Renaissance emerged in European history as an opportunity of enlightenment, shining a new...

Little Known Facts About the Byzantine Empire

The contribution of the Byzantine Empire to Western Civilization was of great importance as it preserved ancient Greek knowledge in philosophy and science

What Do Greeks Have Against Tuesday the 13th?

Like the Anglo-Saxons consider Friday the 13th a bad luck day, Greeks have branded Tuesday the 13th as a day you'd rather stay home and avoid everything that might cause an accident. The main reason Tuesday the 13th is not...

Imposing Walls Defended Constantinople For Ten Centuries

As the wealthy capital of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, Constantinople was a tempting target for many rulers during late antiquity and the Medieval period. For this reason, it was essential to encircle the city with a ring of...

The Giant Whale That Terrorized Constantinople

Under Byzantine (Eastern Roman) rule, the inhabitants of Constantinople faced many threats. The Avars, Sassanids, Slavs, Crusaders, and Ottomans all laid siege to the legendary capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. However, there was one threat lurking in the waters...

Turkey Introduces Entrance Fee for Tourists Visiting Hagia Sofia

Foreign tourists entering the former Orthodox Christian cathedral of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul will have to pay an entrance fee of 25 euros ($27) starting on Monday. Turkish nationals visiting for religious worship will continue to enter for free from...