Living in Difficult Times: Insights from Ancient Colossae

Surgery in Ancient Times

In our modern world, invasive surgeries and organ transplantations are common: machines circulate and oxygenate blood and artificial organs have been developed. Taking a moment to contemplate these advances, it is easy to be impressed and even amazed at our accomplishments. However, if we take a further moment and consider our ancient ancestors, we may find that our amazement is considerably gr...

Ancient insights

“Constructing an island for birds is the best demonstration of the environmental sensibility here in landlocked Kars. Beside providing a haven for breeding birds, this island will promote Kars and Lake Kuyucuk,” he said. “We have so far recorded 206 species of birds at Kuyucuk, sometimes exceeding 40,000 individuals at once,” he said. The reedbeds around the lake that provided shelter and nesti...

Ocular cosmetics in ancient times.

A lthough cosmetics, from Greek kósmesis (adorn), now refers to external products used to beautify the skin, hair, eye, or other parts of the body, cosmesis was not the first objective of primitive eye painting. The first aim of body painting in primitive cultures may have been to protect people from evil spirits, which could enter their body through vulnerable openings, such as the eyes. The s...

The thorax in history 1. From ancient times to Aristotle.

Living in interesting times.