Medusa of the Depths

It is a source of some speculation as to why two Medusa heads were placed at the base of two of the columns in the cistern. One possibility is that they were placed there to invoke protection. Medusa, a mythological woman with snakes in the place of hair, was said to be able to turn those who met her eyes into stone.

Overnight in Istanbul and a short hop to Izmit

January 21st 2015
I'm back in Istanbul! I'm back in Istanbul! That was me announcing my arrival (to myself of course) of a Sunday evening on the 18th of January, 2015. Although I hadn't thought it at the time it was a rather auspicious date: my late mum was born that day back in 1952 and, coincidentally, my passport had been issued that day 4 years earlier (definitely not of great significance). ... read more

Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Izmit

Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who was later honored with the title Ataturk, or "Father of the Turks." Under his authoritarian leadership, the country adopt... ... read more

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