The mosaics of Monreale Cathedral shine with strong Byzantine influence. Crafted by Greek artists in the 12th century, they use shimmering gold backgrounds, iconic frontal figures, and expressive eyes to tell Biblical stories. #Monreale #ByzantineArt

The exterior of Monreale Cathedral is a masterpiece of Norman-Arab style. The stone walls are decorated with geometric patterns, arches, and inlaid lava and limestone. It’s a reminder of how many cultures shaped Sicily’s history. #Monreale #Architecture 📷By Holger Uwe Schmitt

Monreale Cathedral, just outside Palermo, Sicily, is one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Europe. Built in the 12th century. The Cathedral in Sicily blends Norman, Byzantine, and Arab influences. 📷By Holger Uwe Schmitt

Mel Gibson is making "The Siege of Malta." Let me save everyone time by prejudging. The Ottomans will be nefarious, the hand of god will be everywhere, and the hero will have a road-to-Golgotha moment, before Jesus wins it.

As is my tradition, Happy Christmas from the eleventh-century mosaic of the Virgin Hodegetria in the cathedral on Torcello (#Venice).

Turkish coffee: finely ground, slow-brewed, and full of flavour. 📷 By Alet123

Ottoman miniature of a meddah (storyteller) performing in a bustling coffeehouse . ☕📜 #Ottoman #Miniature #Meddah #ArtHistory #Coffeehouse

Sultan's chief coffee-cook in his ceremonial robes c. 1790

In Ottoman life the çınar tree carried meanings that were at once symbolic, social, and practical. You’ll see it again and again in Ottoman poetry, miniature painting, architectural settings, and place-names. 📷 By Suhail Skindar Sofi

The Nahıl tree tradition, with roots in the Anatolian Seljuk era and later the Ottoman Empire, reflects the deep symbolism of the tree in Turkish culture. Linked to shamanistic beliefs and the “tree of life,” nahıl trees appeared in celebrations and weddings arkeonews.net/an-interesti...

🎄🎄🎄Welcome to @EmpirePodUK Christmas Special!🎄🎄🎄 Who Stole Father Christmas? The true story of the Heist of the Relics of St.Nicholas

From c. 3,600 years ago, an ancient Egyptian bead in the form of a hedgehog curled-up in a ball! 🦔❤️ Blue faience, c. 1985 -1650 BC. National Museum of Scotland www.nms.ac.uk/search-our-c... 📷 by me

As we approach Christmas here's another ivory depiction of the nativity - this time in whalebone, on the early 8th C Anglo-Saxon Franks Casket. MAGI is written in runes above - the bird leading them is seen as the Holy Spirit (dove or duck? 😂) 📷 British Museum www.britishmuseum.org/collection/i...

Built by Mimar Sinan for Sultan Selim II, the Selimiye Mosque (1568–1575) represents the pinnacle of classical Ottoman architecture. 📷 By rob Stoeltje

Sinan famously described his career through three mosques: the Şehzade Mosque as his apprentice work, the Süleymaniye Mosque as his journeyman’s work, and the Selimiye Mosque as his masterpiece. 📷 By Dosseman

The design of the Bayezid II Mosque in Istanbul (1500–1505) marks some of the final steps toward the classical Ottoman style—refining centralised space, the hierarchy of domes, and architectural balance that would later be perfected under Sinan. 📷 By Metuboy

Time for a random Xmas tree. 📷 def mine

In the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the central dome is decorated with a starry-sky mosaic featuring a regular pattern of golden stars on a deep-blue background, with a prominent gold cross at the apex. 📷 mine

Time for a random 5th-century Byzantine mosaic. 📷 mine

🇹🇷 Turkey Republic Day Trivia! In 1453, after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, which building was converted into a mosque? In 1935, it was secularised into a museum by the Turkish Republic. 🔎 Reconverted to a mosque in 2020.

There’s something deeply charming about Istanbul’s storefronts. #Istanbul2025 #StorefrontStories #WindowsWithSoul #UrbanCharm #Istanbulstreets

Icon with Saint Demetrios Byzantine, 950–1000 Saint Demetrios stands armed with spear and shield, protector of the faithful. Martyred in Thessalonike, he became the city’s patron saint. 📷 Metropolitan Museum of Art #ByzantineArt #Icon #SaintDemetrios #MedievalArt

Circular Box (Pyxis) with the Women at Jesus’ Tomb Byzantine, 6th century Ivory pyxis showing the women at Christ’s empty tomb (Gospel of Luke 24:1–10). Figures appear in prayer as censers approach a domed structure with curtains. 📷 Metropolitan Museum of Art #ByzantineArt #EarlyChristianArt

Early Byzantine floor mosaic showing Ktisis, the personification of foundation/creation—an allegory linking architecture, prosperity, and order. Byzantine, 500–550 CE 📷The Metropolitan Museum of Art #ByzantineArt #Mosaic #LateAntiquity #ArtHistory

Iznik tiles from the harem in Topkapi Palace. 📷 mine

The famous Iznik tiles of the Topkapi Palace.

IO SATURNALIA! It’s time to celebrate this Roman winter festival. Here’s our special episode all about it 🥂🎩 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Annunciation. Mary looks pleased in spite of Gabriel's rather faded lilies. What was that about, one wonders. By Tyrolean artist Michael Pacher, whose day is today.

here's an angel

🌿 Stillness in Seneca's words: “Silence is a lesson learned through life’s many sufferings.”

Even the hotels in Istanbul look like they are about to welcome the Sultan.

The Venetians and Ottomans are at it again. The Battle of Zonchio (1499) by an unknown Venetian artist (British Museum)

The Chinese identity of St Mark’s bronze ‘Lion’ and its place in the history of medieval Venice | Antiquity | Cambridge Core - bit.ly/3JYSxkm

NEW HISTORY BLOG POST UoP third-year history student Elliott Thomas examines the surprisingly pragmatic relationship between Catholic Venice and the Islamic Ottoman Empire in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. history.port.ac.uk?p=3685

A group of female musicians playing traditional instruments, in an Ottoman miniature painting from the book Surname-i Vehbi, written by Seyyid Vehbi (1793).

Looking to get a circumcision? Hire these guys. Miniature of dancers and musicians performing at a circumcision ceremony. From the Süleymanname.

There is also a wonderful Buddha from the Buddhist university, library and monastery in Nalanda, brilliantly juxtaposed with an image of Ptolemy II who built the Library of Alexandria.

“To accuse others for one’s own misfortunes is a sign of want of education.” – Epictetus #stoic #philosophy #wisdom

“On their side are the resources of a mighty empire, strength unimpaired, experience and practice in fighting, a veteran soldiery, habituation to victory, endurance of toil, unity, order, discipline, frugality and watchfulness,” Ogier Ghiselan de Busbecq 📷 By Levni

Anatolia’s only known ‘Good Shepherd’ Jesus fresco uncovered in Iznik, crafted in Roman style - Türkiye Today www.turkiyetoday.com/culture/anat...

2/2 Dealing with an over-excited horse. Must keep him in his proper place! As geometrically defined by perspective genius Paolo Uccello of Florence.

Young woman in profile, painted around 1460 by Paolo Uccello of Florence. Today is his day.

A yatagan made in 1526–27 for Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent by court jeweler Ahmed Tekel. Its blade shows a dramatic dragon vs. phoenix in gold, framed by foliate scrolls—motifs inspired by Chinese art and carried into Ottoman design through Persian contacts. 📷 Met Museum

Short Sword from the Court of Süleyman the Magnificent (reigned 1520–66) 📷 Met Collection

Short Sword from the Court of Süleyman the Magnificent (reigned 1520–66) 📷 Mine

Thomas Cromwell Book of Hours - Hever Castle. 📷 mine

Ever wondered why the Ottomans were so victorious in war? 📷 By Tim Sheerman-Chase

16th century Venetian lawyer/bibliophile Odorico Pillone shelved his books spine-inward and commissioned Cesare Vecellio (Titian’s nephew) to paint their fore-edges with colourful images suggesting their subject matter. Here’s how they looked on the shelf news.yale.edu/2019/03/14/p...