Innholdsfortegnelse for No. 10 i Explore History

When it comes to mythology and legend in British history, it is surely King Arthur who reigns supreme. Whether it’s the tale of the Holy Grail, the evocative camaraderie of the Round Table or the question of where he is buried, Arthurian legend is captivating. We consider his role at the site of Britain’s earliest known monks on page 20. We look to Russia’s relationship with its own history, in search of the truth about Perm’s Gulag museum, Perm-36 on page 28, then go beyond to the historic Opera House of Mumbai to see the results of its restoration on page 42, and dive into the buccaneering stories of the Caribbean’s infamous pirates (page 36). Unfortunately, this will be the last issue of Explore History, so the team and I…

The Witch Trials 11 February, New College of the Humanities Suzannah Lipscomb Lipscomb and her guests will explore why witches were persecuted during the 16th and 17th centuries, looking at the role of the Reformation, the importance of elite belief, neighbourhood accusations, the process of accusation, the significance of reputation, the classic ‘refusal-guilt’ syndrome and the relationship between gender and witchcraft. Illuminating the Dark Ages 1 March, New College of the Humanities Janina Ramirez Focusing on the intellectual life of the Anglo-Saxons, this Masterclass will reveal a vibrant, enigmatic world of texts, images, objects and individuals whose potency resonates down the centuries. From the Lindisfarne Gospels and to Bede and Beowulf, this is no ‘Dark Age’. The Crusades 21 March, The Army and Navy Club Peter Frankopan Drawing on written…

HEVER CASTLE Hever Castle was the last castle I visited, just before Christmas in fact, for the amazing festive evening that they do there every year. It is a completely magical place to visit. It was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn and is currently closed until 11 February 2017, but is well worth a visit when it does reopen. NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM The last museum I visited was the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London, to see its free Nelson exhibition, which was incredible. I am very far from being a naval historian myself, but I have to say I found it absolutely fascinating, particularly the more personal artefacts they had on display. VENICE I fell in love with Venice on my first visit about 15 years ago and…

Solovetsky archipelago The Solovetsky Islands corrective camps – particularly the monastery complex on Bolshoy Solovetsky – housed political prisoners from 1923 until 1939, when it was closed and became a naval base due to its proximity to Finland. The camp’s prisoners were involved in forestry and later the construction of the White Sea Canal, which under Stalin was ordered to be completed in 20 months. Prisoners used very primitive tools and sometimes dug with nothing but their hands. Today, Bolshoy Solovetsky is a UNESCO world heritage site. White Sea Canal The White Sea Canal project was one of Josef Stalin’s early obsessions. Overseen by SLON (Northern Camps of Special Significance), the canal stretched from Kem in the White Sea all the way to Saint Petersburg. Stalin ordered it built in…

“He pillaged 18 kilograms of gold dust, a great quantity of brandy, elephant teeth and 14 men to beef up his crew” Today when we think of the Caribbean, we might imagine endless golden beaches, turquoise seas and a relaxed pace of life. However, if you had set sail at the start of the 18th century and survived the long arduous journey across the Atlantic, you would not find solace and tranquillity, but instead an anarchic wilderness, overrun with pirates. Far from the eccentric, adventure-seeking rogues that pepper our cultural imagination, pirates were violent outlaws, ready to pillage anything they could get their hands on. They often sailed in ships called sloops, which enabled them to navigate much shallower waters. At one point, these outlaws even formed their own lawless…

“Fewer still knew that this landmark that lay in disrepair was once a symbol of the city’s glory days” When you enter Mumbai’s Royal Opera House, the twinkle of its grand chandeliers lights up an ornate ivory ceiling embellished with gold. The light accentuates the sheen of two marble statuettes that gaze ponderingly upon a foyer that looks exactly as it did 100 years ago. As you make your way to the box stalls, turn your glance upwards and the faces of Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw, among other intellectuals, smile at you kindly from their place on a dome rimmed with lights. On your way out, after you have admired your own reflection in the rococo mirror hemmed in with stuccowork, be sure to climb up the staircase for…

Essential information Located on Mama Parmanand Marg in Mumbai, better known as the Opera House district, the Royal Opera House Mumbai is easily reached from Charni Road Station on the Western suburban train line. The building is a short walk from the station. Alternatively, it’s just as easy and quick to take a local taxi. Mumbai is known for its expensive accommodation, with the better options concentrated in the South Mumbai region and around the airports. Most recommended are about three kilometres from the Royal Opera House. When to visit November to March is the season for pleasant weather and cultural activity in Mumbai. Time zone UTC+5.30 Currency INR Where to stay Luxury Hotel Marine Plaza One of Mumbai’s premier five-star hotels, its rooms command a fine view of the…

This 700 year old church is the largest parish church in England. Holy Trinity church was founded by Edward I after he purchased the port of Wyke from the monks of Meaux Abbey. Hull sits on clay, so there is no readily available building stone – consequently the church was built of brick – and has some of the earliest medieval brickwork in the country. In later years, merchants left their own imprint on the building widening the chancel, adding a perpendicular nave and endowing various chantry chapels. During the period of the Commonwealth, the church was divided in two – townspeople worshipping on one side of a wall and garrison soldiers on another. The church was known to the Restoration poet Andrew Marvell, once MP for Hull, as well…

Visit Hull and you can’t fail to notice the rather chic, cream coloured phoneboxes that dot the city streets. They’re cream rather than red because Hull is the only city in the UK that runs its own telephone system. It has done so since the late 1890s as it never came under the Post Office monopoly – the city corporation controlled the telephones instead. The boxes, the same iconic K6 structures as those designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, were originally painted green and white but later became the more elegant cream. The crown which adorned the red boxes on other British streets was removed. Once known as Hull Telephones, the telephone system was forcibly privatised in the late 20th century and is now known as KC (Kingston Communications). It…

1 Egypt excavation In a rare excavation in 1880, Pitt Rivers discovered palaeolithic remains in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. 2 Lecturer Pitt Rivers was a member of a number of archaeological and anthropological societies, regularly giving lectures. 3 Public educator In Farnham, Dorset, near Cranborne Chase, he established an educational museum “where visitors may instruct themselves.” 4 First inspector Pitt Rivers became the first inspector of ancient monuments after Sir John Lubbock’s Ancient Monuments Act in 1882. 5 Advocate of cremation When he died in 1900, Pitt Rivers requested that his body be cremated at a time when cremation was rare.…

The picturesque landscape of Dumfries and Galloway is home to some truly inspiring historic churches. Here are five of the best Lincluden Collegiate Church Although ruins are all that remain of the church built here in 1389, it is still possible to get an impression of the building that was once a centre of worship. The ornate tomb of 15th-century Princess Margaret can be viewed here, and it’s well worth a stop. EXPLORER’S ESSENTIALS ✵ Open 24 hours Entrance is free Located east of the A76. Parking available at the Abbey Inn Kirkmadrine Early Christian Stones Three of the eight stones here date back to the 5th century, providing evidence of early Christian worship in Dumfries and Galloway. Considered to be one of the earliest Christian sites across all of…

Thank you for joining us on journeys around the world and into the past over the ten issues of Explore History. We’ve enjoyed bringing you stories from across the globe, unearthing the truth behind history’s myths and legends, and digging deeper into the latest archaeological finds. If you’ve loved reading about them, fear not – there’s still plenty of fascinating history to be found in our sister magazines. Whether you’re looking to be surprised each month with in-depth features on subjects from throughout the centuries, or you’re looking for more specialist articles on royalty or military history, there’s sure to be something for you inside All About History, History of Royals and History of War. For now, we’d like to thank you again for reading, and hope you’ve enjoyed our…

A Short History Of Gardens by Gordon Campbell ‘Garden’ may seem like an incredibly broad concept to cover in a ‘short’ history, but Campbell has traced the trend for formalised outdoor spaces from ancient beginnings in Egypt to the present-day. £12.99/$16.95 Spitalfields by Dan Cruickshank Cruickshank has lived in Spitalfields in London for 40 years, and so has seen first hand the evolution of the area through the last century and beyond. In this book, he covers the history of the area and its people, from Roman times through until today. Price: £25/$30 Gerber and Bear Grylls Pocket Compass When out exploring, knowing south from north is a pretty basic need. This lightweight, compact, sleek compass is a perfect gadget to keep on you at all…

Colonial cannon unearthed A cannon dating from the 18th century has been found in Brunswick County, North Carolina, USA. It was found by a dredging company in the Cape Fear river, and seems to have burst, but does not have any distinctive marking. It will be kept in burlap and water until proper preservation can begin. Scottish Neolithic artefacts Installation of a pipeline between Saint Andrews and a nearby campus revealed a selection of exciting Neolithic tools and pottery. The tools were likely made from flint quarried in England, and may have been used for skinning hides and stripping bark from trees. Traces of Japanese fortress The last remains of the 17th century Sanadu Maru fortress have been found in the grounds of Osaka Castle in Honshu, Japan. It is…

“It’s a tale told by John of Glastonbury but like most stories associated with King Arthur, it is little more than fantasy” King Arthur sank to his knees before the altar. For three consecutive nights, while staying at the nearby monastery on Wearyall Hill, his sleep had been disturbed by a recurring dream telling him to visit Beckery Chapel. Now he had come. He was right to make the short journey to the small monastic church. While there, Arthur was the recipient of a powerful vision of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus. So moved was he by the experience, that Arthur converted to Christianity and changed his banner from that of a dragon to one depicting the Virgin and Child. It’s a tale told by John of Glastonbury,…

King Arthur Who was he? A leader who led resistance against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries. Who says he went to Beckery? John of Glastonbury’s Chronicle Of Glastonbury Abbey, written around 1340, is the first recorded mention. What did he do? Arthur received a vision of the Virgin Mary with Jesus that contributed to him converting to Christianity. Later, shortly before his death, Arthur saw Excalibur cast into the waters around Beckery. What other evidence is there? Medieval pilgrims flocked to Glastonbury to view the graves of Arthur and Guinevere after they were discovered there in the late 12th century. Did Arthur really go to Beckery? Probably not. It was likely an elaborate hoax concocted by the monks of Glastonbury Abbey who needed money. Saint…

The privateer is said to have acquired a vast treasure when he turned to piracy but by the time he was arrested, the infamous loot had vanished. During his incarceration, Kidd wrote to Sir Robert Harley, the Commons Speaker of the time, offering the location of his £100,000 loot (which is about £10.5 million in today’s money) if his sentence was commuted; unfortunately for him the offer was declined. The so called Kidd-Palmer charts, discovered by›Hubert Palmer in a bureau purportedly from Kidd’s ship The Adventure Galley – which was purchased in 1935 – allegedly pointed to the treasure being in the China Sea. The charts vanished in 1957, as has any evidence of a historical evaluation by the British Museum, who were long purported to have verified the charts…

Cinema arrived in India with the screening of the Lumière Brothers’s pictures at Bombay’s Watson Hotel in 1896, shortly after their first screening in Paris. The films caused a sensation and were followed by a few early films made by Indian filmmakers including a documentary on wrestlers and the recording of a play. Dadasaheb Phalke is credited with the first full-length Indian feature film, Raja Harishchandra (1913), a film based on a story from Hindu mythology. The film became immensely popular, paving the way for the success of Indian cinema. Madan Theatre was a pioneering film production company that hired foreign directors to make films such as Nala Damayanti (1920). Ardeshir Irani’s Alam Ara (1931), a love story in Hindi/Urdu, was India’s first talkie, beating Madan’s Shirin-Farhad by a few…

Essential information Tickets can be purchased on site or online and allow free unlimited return visits for a year. Entry is £14 for adults and £8 for children and discounts are available for senior citizens and students. Ticket price includes the use of free audio guides, allowing you to listen to the true stories of the passengers and crew. All areas of the site (Dry Dock, Dockyard Museum, Brunel Institute and ship) are accessible for wheelchair users and to avoid the uneven cobblestones at the main gate there is an alternative entrance by the Dockyard Cafe Bar. There are lively social events, story telling and educational programmes on offer to visitors of all ages. When to visit ss Great Britain is open every day except for the 24 and 25…

The poet Philip Larkin (1922-1985), recently commemorated in Westminster Abbey, was librarian at the University of Hull for more than 30 years and his work was inspired and informed by this ‘isolate city spread over water’, and the quiet churches and villages of its rural hinterland. He took up his post in 1955 and stayed until his death, living in an attic flat in Pearson Park and later in a 1950s house in Newland Park. He said that Hull suited him as it was: “…a little on the edge of things. I rather like being on the edge of things.” There is a Larkin Trail through the city and countryside, with 25 specially commissioned artworks at various sites connected to his life and work. Places include Paragon station, starting point…

As the birthplace of Western civilisation, democracy and philosophy, the ancient sites of Athens are undeniably important. Representing these very ideas is the city’s eternal core, the Acropolis, the icon of the city that continues to tower over the beautiful urban landscape. Our modern admiration for, and sheer fascination with Greece’s ancient world shines on the Golden Age of Athens, which flourished under the leadership of military general, talented orator and statesman Pericles (ruler from 461 to 429 BCE). This era was a time of peace, political›hegemony, economic growth and flourishing culture. However, it was to be the trying times of war that sparked the greatest years of Athenian history. It began with the Persians capturing the city in 480 BCE. In response, Athens and its allies formed the Delian…

Listen to: Ancient Greek History Podcast Listen to Yale University’s Professor Donald Kagan’s insight into the political, intellectual and artistic achievements of Athens, from the Bronze Age to the Golden Age. Read: Oedipus Rex, the powerful Athenian tragedy written by Sophocles Sophocles’s Oedipus Rex is considered the purest expression of Greek tragic drama, in which the mythical king of Thebes unwittingly killed his father and married his mother. Watch: Troy The 2004-film starring Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom, which follows the assault on›the city of Troy›by united Greek forces, brings Homer’s epic tale of love and war to Hollywood grandeur.…

Essential information Where Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece, set on a peninsula that stretches south into the Aegean Sea. Served by the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, flights connect to major cities worldwide including direct to the UK. The city’s main port of Piraeus often sees cruise ships and is a hub for ferries set to the Greek islands. The Athens Metro stops at major points of interest, the port of Piraeus and connects to train lines. Several stations exhibit ancient antiquities found during construction. A trolley and bus system also serves Athens. When to visit Athens is a year-round destination, but very popular during the summer especially for those en route to the Greek islands. Avoid crowds and enjoy pleasant weather in the late spring and…

Christiansborg Palace Beneath the opulent Christiansborg Palace, home of the Danish parliament, is a mysterious world. These are the ruins of the 12th-century castle of Bishop Absalon. Visitors can tour not only the splendour of Christiansborg Palace, but also the evocative remains of the ruined castle. EXPLORER’S ESSENTIALS ✵ Tues-Sun: 10am-5pm Adult: 150 DKK (£16/$20) Child: 75 DKK (£8/$10) visitcopenhagen.com Rosenborg Castle This stunning 17th-century castle takes travellers back in time to meet the waxworks of those who once called its halls their home. Here you can relive some of their most scandalous episodes. However, whatever you do, don’t miss the Danish crown jewels, which are sure to take your breath away. ✵ Tues-Sun: 10am-2pm Adult: 105 DKK (£12/$15) Child: Free visitcopenhagen.com Frederiksborg Castle Set on an island in its…

Lyme Park Famed for its numerous appearances in film and TV, Lyme Park has something for everyone. Whether you want to play an Edwardian piano, admire the artwork or just stroll through the deer park and let younger visitors loose on the adventure playground, Lyme is sure to be a great day out. EXPLORER’S ESSENTIALS ✵ Tues-Fri: 11am-5pm Adult: £11 ($13), Child: £5 ($6) nationaltrust.org.uk Castle Howard One of the most magnificent stately homes in Great Britain, Castle Howard has long been a favourite of many filmmakers. With its evocative interiors, breathtaking architecture, hectares of parkland and a packed schedule of events for everyone in the family, this is not a place to miss. ✵ Mon-Sun: 10am-5pm Adult: £18 ($21), Child: £9 ($10) castlehoward.co.uk Harewood House Harewood House just oozes…

If King Arthur really existed (and it is a particularly big if) he was probably a military leader who fought the Saxon hordes in the 5th and 6th centuries. A chronicle written by Nennius, a Welsh cleric, is thought to be the foundation of the Arthur legend. His 9th-century work, History Of The Britons, describes Arthur as a military commander – not a king or even a royal – and lists 12 different battles in which Arthur fought, including the Battle of Badon where it is said that he killed 960 men. However, some believe that Nennius was recycling fictional deeds taken from ancient folklore, or that he even used some of the traditions associated with a Celtic god. Three centuries later, another Welsh writer pushed Arthur back into the…

The Solovetsky archipelago in the White Sea region of Arctic Russia was deemed a perfect place to send what the Bolsheviks coined as ‘class enemies’ – later known as ‘wreckers’ – those who sought to undermine the revolution and sabotage, through political agitation, espionage or literature, the Soviet state. It wasn’t just Tsarists, clergy and aristocrats seen as undesirable to the state, but factions of rival socialists. Knowing he had to consolidate his grip on the country and wipe out dissent, Lenin summed up in a semi-joking quip to a comrade his intentions towards fellow revolutionaries: “It will be after we hanged the last Socialist-Revolutionary that the first Menshevik will get hanged.” In the wake of the Red Terror, instigated after a failed assassination attempt on Lenin’s life, rivals were…

The world’s greatest transatlantic passenger steam ship The ss Great Britain changed history when it set sail on its first voyage, from Liverpool to New York in 1845. The 5,360 kilometres were covered in 14 days and 21 hours at an average speed of 9.4 knots (or about 17 kilometres per hour), crushing the previous speed record for this journey. However, on only its fifth voyage across the Atlantic the ship ran aground in Dundrum Bay, County Down, Ireland. Brunel was furious to find her abandoned to the elements and wrote: “The finest ship in the world has been left and is lying like a useless saucepan kicking about on the most exposed shore that you can imagine.” Eventually it was towed away for repairs and sold for £18,000 to…

Essential information Kingston-upon-Hull is in the East Riding of Yorkshire and can be reached by direct trains from London Kings Cross and Manchester Piccadilly. Paragon Interchange is the main transport interchange and coaches also run here from London. P&O Ferries run services to Rotterdam and Zeebrugge in northern Europe, while Humberside Airport is a 30 minute drive away. For tourist information call the Tourist Information Centre on 01482 300306 or see Visit Hull and East Yorkshire www.visithullandeastyorkshire.com. When to visit Pretty much any day in 2017 has to be the time to visit Hull, as there are events planned throughout the year. For further information see website below. Time zone UTC Currency GBP Where to stay Luxury North Star Club www.northstarclub.co.uk Self-catering woodland glamping ‘suites’ near Sancton, Beverley. They provide…

One of ancient Greece’s most compelling myths tells how Athens came to be called Athens. The first king of Athens, Cecrops, held a contest between two Olympian gods who wanted the right to name the great city. Poseidon, the god of the sea and›Athena, the goddess of wisdom, would offer a truly valuable gift for the citizens and Cecrops would choose the more worthy one. Poseidon›struck his massive trident into the earth, which burst through to the waters of the sea over which Poseidon ruled, showing that he would offer the city significant naval power. However, the people didn’t appreciate that they couldn’t drink the salt water. Athena buried something in the ground, which grew into an olive tree, a symbol of prosperity and peace. The Athenians deemed it as…

Pericles The Golden Age of Athens flourished under Pericles, a gifted orator and statesman who helped democracy to flourish. Under his leadership, the Acropolis was built along with other architectural feats. Through his naval alliance, Athens controlled a vast empire. Sophocles Sophocles, a master of Greek tragedy, was a celebrated playwright who won numerous writing competitions. He is said to have written more than 100 plays with his best-known work cited as Oedipus Rex. Herodotus Before Herodotus, no one tried to explain the cause-and-effect of world events. Known as the father of history, Herodotus chronicled the Greco-Persian Wars in his work called The Histories, which is considered a founding work in Western literature. Socrates Famous for being a questioner of everything and everyone, Socrates immortalised the Socratic Method. Seen as…

Biographers are unclear about the exact date in 1876 when Stevenson first met his future wife, Fanny van de Grift Osbourne, but that’s alright – the couple were too. Writing to Fanny from Manasquan, New Jersey, on their 8th wedding anniversary, Stevenson wished he knew other “more important dates,” including, “…the day when I looked through the window”. That referred to their first meeting, during an evening meal at Hotel Chevillon in Grez. “It was a soft, sweet evening, and the doors and windows were open; dusk drew near, and the lamps had just been lit,” Fanny’s sister Nellie later wrote. “Suddenly a young man approached from the outside. It was Robert Louis Stevenson, who afterwards admitted that he had fallen in love with his wife at first sight when…

Montmartre Once littered with the victims of the Reign of Terror, Montmartre is now an oasis of tranquility in one of the city’s most famed districts. Rich in awe-inspiring sculpted tombs and resting place of some legendary Parisians, it is not to be missed. EXPLORER’S ESSENTIALS ✵ Mon-Sun: 9am-5:30pm Entrance is free en.parisinfo.com Père Lachaise The largest of these cemeteries is also the world’s most visited. Thousands of visitors flock to it every single day to wander through its 70,000 tombs and pay homage to figures from rockstars to artists to politicians and beyond. No trip to Paris is complete without a stroll through Père Lachaise. ✵ Mon-Sun: 9am-5:30pm Entrance is free en.parisinfo.com The Panthéon This iconic and opulent building is famed for its magnificent crypt, where visitors can easily…