Ancient history

For thousands of years, Anatolian lands have been a perfect crossroads of ancient civilizations, embodying the cultural heritage of the world. The lands, also called Asia Minor by the Romans, have seen the rise and fall of many empires and civilizations.

"From Macedonian to Thessalian Tempi" at the Museum of Byzantine Culture showcases five fortification sites - Rentina, the fortification wall of Cassandreia and the castles of Pydna, Platamon and Velika - from Macedonia and Thessaly which were founded, constructed or renovated during the reign of Justinian I (527-565).

Egypt displayed on Aug. 4 the gilded coffin of Tutankhamun, under restoration for the first time since the boy king's tomb was discovered in 1922.

Authorities on the southeastern Aegean island of Rhodes are investigating the death of two sisters in a hotel swimming pool the previous evening.

The two girls have been identified as French tourists who were holidaying on the island with their families. They were aged 16 and 19 years old.

The golden sarcophagus of the most famous ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, who lived more than 3.3 thousand years ago, will be restored in Egypt to be exhibited in one of the halls of the new Egyptian Museum near the Pyramids of Giza.

A 3,000-year-old quartzite head of Egyptian "Boy King" Tutankhamun was auctioned off for $6 million July 4 in London despite a fierce outcry from Cairo.

Goliath the Greek? Human remains from an ancient cemetery in southern Israel have yielded precious bits of DNA that a new study says help prove the European origin of the Philistines - the enigmatic nemeses of the biblical Israelites.

France on July 2 handed over to Pakistan nearly 450 ancient relics, some dating as far back as 4,000 BC, seized by French customs agents over a decade ago. 

Turkey, with its abundant cultural heritage, was home to many ancient and archaic civilizations and empires. The patterns and remains of this rich history and culture are still evident in the ancient sites of Anatolian lands. Click through this photo gallery for the most mesmerizing and mystical ancient cities in Turkey, as compiled by İnci Hazal Özcan:

The appeal hearings of two police officers convicted in the murder of 15-year-old Alexis Grigoropoulos in 2008 was adjourned until July 29 following a tumultuous session on Wednesday.