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What Makes Baku’s History So Rich and Complex?

What Makes Baku’s History So Rich and Complex?

Baku, the vibrant capital of Azerbaijan, boasts a rich and complex history stretching back to the Stone Age. Its strategic location on the Caspian ...

Why Does Baku Feel Like Both Europe and Asia at Once?

Why Does Baku Feel Like Both Europe and Asia at Once?

Baku, the vibrant capital of Azerbaijan, stands as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of diverse cultural traditions. Often referred to as t...

How Do Historians Decide What Really Happened in the Past?

How Do Historians Decide What Really Happened in the Past?

History, at its core, is the systematic study of the past, with a primary focus on the human past. As an academic discipline, it involves analyzing...

Rome Unveils Largest Roman Wall Mosaic and Ancient Fresco After 14-Year Restoration

Rome Unveils Largest Roman Wall Mosaic and Ancient Fresco After 14-Year Restoration

The city of Rome has revealed the largest Roman wall mosaic ever discovered, alongside a colorful 2,000-year-old fresco, following a comprehensive 14-year restoration project. The monumental 'Great Mosaic,' measuring 10 meters high and 16 meters long, is situated beneath the Oppian Hill, an area where Emperor Nero constructed his Golden House between 64 and 68 AD. Archaeologist Francesco Pacetti stated that this is likely the biggest wall mosaic found in the Roman world, with excavations still ongoing to determine its full extent. The mosaic, dating from the 1st century AD, depicts a walled port city from a bird's-eye view, featuring public squares and towers. Intricate details in blue and terracotta hues illustrate various scenes within the port city, including a life-size bearded philosopher and his muse, statues, and a theatrical stage. The adjacent 'Painted City' fresco, also from the 1st century, is 10 square meters and details a walled city with a port entrance, roads, a theater, and a temple. The en...

Monumental Roman Wall Mosaic, 'Muse and the Philosopher,' Unveiled Beneath Baths of Trajan

Monumental Roman Wall Mosaic, 'Muse and the Philosopher,' Unveiled Beneath Baths of Trajan

Archaeologists in Rome have unveiled what is believed to be the largest ancient Roman wall mosaic ever discovered, known as the 'Muse and the Philosopher.' This monumental mosaic, measuring approximately 10 meters high and 16 meters wide, is located on the Oppian Hill overlooking the Colosseum, beneath the Baths of Trajan. Dating from the 1st century AD, the composition depicts an elaborate architectural setting, interpreted as a two-tiered theatrical backdrop (scaenae frons), featuring columns, architectural façades resembling marble inlay, statues, and figures including Muses, a bearded philosopher, and the god Apollo. Most of the mosaic was uncovered during excavations in 2011, with recent investigations revealing an additional section depicting maritime villas surrounding a Roman harbor. The mosaic is now accessible to the public for the first time with the opening of the new Museum of the Baths of Trajan, though access is currently restricted to small groups on selected days with advance booking.

What Ancient Tattoos Reveal About the Cultures That Created Them

What Ancient Tattoos Reveal About the Cultures That Created Them

Tattoos, permanent marks made by inserting ink into the skin, have a rich and varied history spanning millennia and cultures worldwide. From ancien...

Azerbaijan to Launch Digital Nomad Visa in 2027-2028, Targeting Remote Workers

Azerbaijan to Launch Digital Nomad Visa in 2027-2028, Targeting Remote Workers

Azerbaijan has announced its intention to introduce a digital nomad visa, expected to launch electronically in 2027 or 2028. This initiative is part of the country's 2026-2030 State Program for Tourism Development and aims to create a dedicated immigration route for foreign remote workers who earn income from abroad. The proposed visa will allow individuals to temporarily reside in Azerbaijan while working for companies or clients located outside the country. Details regarding income requirements, validity periods, and tax implications are yet to be finalized, as the government plans to study similar programs and amend its Migration Code. The program is also described as a 'digital traveler' visa and is intended to attract international professionals and foster the growth of Azerbaijan's digital economy. This strategy includes potential plans for a separate Digital Talent Visa and incentives related to tax, residency, and social insurance.

Azerbaijan Approves Multilateral Convention to Combat Tax Base Erosion and Profit Shifting

Azerbaijan Approves Multilateral Convention to Combat Tax Base Erosion and Profit Shifting

The Republic of Azerbaijan has officially approved the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (MLI). This convention, signed by Azerbaijan on November 20, 2023, received approval from the Milli Majlis through Law No. 1165-VIQ on May 31, 2024. The MLI is set to enter into force for Azerbaijan on January 1, 2025. Following its implementation, appropriate amendments will be made to the existing international agreements on the elimination of double taxation that Azerbaijan has concluded with various states. This move signifies Azerbaijan's commitment to international tax cooperation and efforts to prevent tax avoidance by multinational enterprises. The convention aims to modify bilateral tax treaties to incorporate measures developed under the OECD/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Project, without the need for renegotiating each individual treaty.

What Angkor Wat's Design Reveals About Its Royal Origins

What Angkor Wat's Design Reveals About Its Royal Origins

Angkor Wat, a magnificent temple complex in Cambodia, was conceived and initiated by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century. Commissioned in...

Archaeological Research Challenges Traditional Views on the Rise of Autocratic Rule

Archaeological Research Challenges Traditional Views on the Rise of Autocratic Rule

New archaeological research, led by archaeologist Gary Feinman of the Field Museum in Chicago, is challenging long-held assumptions about the inevitability of autocratic governments as societies grow. Traditional historical narratives suggest that the development of agriculture and increasing population sizes naturally led to top-down, coercive leadership, with democracy emerging much later in ancient Greece and Rome. However, Feinman's work, detailed in a 2023 overview in the Annual Review of Anthropology and subsequent studies in PNAS and Science Advances, indicates that less autocratically organized societies existed globally, not just in Europe, and were present at various points in history. His findings suggest that the concentration of power is not solely a function of population size but is more closely tied to how resources are channeled into political institutions. For instance, societies that relied on internal resources like taxes from many farmers tended to be more democratically organized, whi...

Azerbaijan Reports 438 Mine Casualties Since Second Karabakh War, Clears Over 300,000 Hectares

Azerbaijan Reports 438 Mine Casualties Since Second Karabakh War, Clears Over 300,000 Hectares

Since the conclusion of the Second Karabakh War, Azerbaijan has recorded 438 casualties due to mines and other explosive ordnance, with 73 fatalities. This information was provided by Vugar Suleymanov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), during a high-level roundtable at the 4th Baku Climate Action Week. Suleymanov highlighted that Azerbaijan is among the most mine-contaminated countries globally, with preliminary estimates suggesting over one million mines in the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions during their occupation. ANAMA and other demining organizations have cleared 300,565 hectares of land and neutralized 261,705 mines and explosive devices since the end of the 44-day conflict. These cleared areas are designated for various purposes, including early warning systems (31,037 hectares), agriculture (132,447 hectares), residential infrastructure (71,202 hectares), energy infrastructure (12,443 hectares), and land reclamation and water ...