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Mar 7, 2024 17 tweets 6 min read Read on X
They said it was the Dark Ages, yet Europe was igniting architectural wonders that continue to mesmerize the world to this day.

Let's delve into these timeless masterpieces. 🧵⤵️ Image
1. Aachen Cathedral, built in 796 AD, crowned Charlemagne and symbolized the Holy Roman Empire's power. By Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas or alternatively © CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34481376
2. St. Peter's Basilica - The original church was built in the 4th century by Emperor Constantine, the Roman empire’s first Christian emperor, on the spot where St. Peter was thought to be buried. The new church was constructed between 1506 and 1626.
Fresco showing cutaway view of Constantine's St. Peter's Basilica as it looked in the 4th century.
The new St. Peter's Basilica
3. Hagia Sophia, completed in 537 AD, transformed into a mosque in 1453, marking the Ottomans' triumph over Constantinople. By Arild Vågen - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24932378
4. The Monastery of San Juan de la Peña, from the 9th century, allegedly protected the Holy Grail against Muslim conquest. San Juan de la Peña.
5. St. Mark's Basilica, initially erected in 828 AD, gained fame when Venice acquired Saint Mark's relics, boosting its religious clout. Image
6. Mont Saint-Michel, established in 966 AD, repelled an English siege in 1433, showcasing French defiance in the Hundred Years' War. Image
7. The Viking raid on Lindisfarne Priory in 793 AD, founded in 634, signaled the dawn of the Viking Age. By Kim Traynor - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33863202
8. Santa Maria in Cosmedin, built in the 8th century, became known for the Mouth of Truth, enveloped in legends. By globustut.by - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60479722
9. St. Michael's Mount, with its monastery from the 8th century, is tied to myths of Archangel Michael's appearance in 495. By Marktee1 at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17318191
10. The Rock of Cashel, rooted in the 4th century, is where St. Patrick reputedly used a shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. By David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada - Rock of Cashel, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=96704425
11. Ravenna's 5th and 6th-century monuments stood at the heart of empire transitions, reflecting its changing fortunes. Basilica of San Vitale By Commonists - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113592919
12. St. Gall Monastery, founded in 719 AD, preserved medieval knowledge in its library through turbulent times. By A.Savin - Own work, FAL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=134255831
13. Bobbio Abbey, established in 614 AD, became a center of learning, safeguarding classical texts during the Middle Ages. Image
14. The Glosses of San Millán, from the 6th-century San Millán Yuso and Suso Monasteries, are among the earliest examples of Spanish and Basque languages. By Cenobio - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3834838
15. The Basilica of Saint Denis, with origins in the 7th century, became the burial site for French kings, linking it closely with France's monarchical history. Image
These buildings not only exemplify architectural mastery but also stand as silent witnesses to pivotal moments that shaped Europe.

What other structures did I miss that were built between 500 AD and 1000 AD. Reichsburg Cochem was built in 1000 AD Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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More from @CultureExploreX

Apr 26
Everyone told us: “Beauty is outdated. Skill is irrelevant. Tradition is dead.”

They were wrong.

A new generation of sculptors is rising and they’re proving that Classical art never dies.

You just have to know where to look. 🧵 King Arthur at Tintagel Castle, Cornwall, England, sculpted by Rubin Eynon (2016)
1. Hossein Behzadi

Behzadi doesn’t just recreate the past—he brings it into the bloodstream of today.

Renaissance soul. Modern heartbeat.
2. Benjamin Victor

His work is enshrined in the U.S. Capitol for a reason.

Victor captures dignity, pain, and hope with a chisel—and makes marble bleed emotion. Image
Read 22 tweets
Apr 25
Most people think they’re just decorative guards in funny uniforms.

But the truth?

They’re trained killers who’d take a bullet for the Pope—without blinking.

Let me show you what 99% of people miss about the Swiss Guard.
🧵👇 The Swiss Guard ...Guardsmen guarding the Vatican.
Their colors are loud. Their movements are silent.

When Pope Francis died, they didn’t flinch.

But once you understand who they really are, you’ll never see a Vatican photo the same way again.

Here’s the full story…
They were founded in 1506 by Pope Julius II.

He needed men who wouldn’t run when the swords came out.

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They died at the altar—buying the Pope just enough time to escape. Sack of Rome, by Francisco Javier Amérigo, 1884. Biblioteca Museu Víctor Balaguer
Read 11 tweets
Apr 25
Most people think they’re just decorative guards in funny uniforms.

But the truth?

They’re trained killers who’d take a bullet for the Pope—without blinking.

Let me show you what 99% of people miss about the Swiss Guard.
🧵👇 The Swiss Guard ...Guardsmen guarding the Vatican.
Their colors are loud. Their movements are silent.

When Pope Francis died, they didn’t flinch.

But once you understand who they really are, you’ll never see a Vatican photo the same way again.

Here’s the full story…
They were founded in 1506 by Pope Julius II.

He needed men who wouldn’t run when the swords came out.

So he summoned 150 Swiss mercenaries.

Only 42 survived the Sack of Rome in 1527.

They died at the altar—buying the Pope just enough time to escape. Sack of Rome, by Francisco Javier Amérigo, 1884. Biblioteca Museu Víctor Balaguer
Read 10 tweets
Apr 25
You’ve seen the photos.
But no one tells you how it feels.

Switzerland doesn’t just look like heaven—
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Let me show you why. 🧵👇 Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland Credit: journeyranger on IG
Think picture-perfect lakes, towering peaks, and towns that seem frozen in time.

But behind the calm lies something deeper:
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Here are the places that prove it— Interlaken – Sandwiched between two lakes, Interlaken is the gateway to the Swiss Alps and endless outdoor adventures.
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Read 18 tweets
Apr 24
You’ve seen his words quoted.
His plays re-staged.
His characters meme-ified.

But what if I told you Shakespeare shaped the way painters, sculptors, and illustrators captured emotion for centuries?

This isn’t just about literature. It’s about art history. 🧵 King Lear: By William Shakespeare (Annotated Edition with In-Depth Literary Critique and Historical Context) https://amzn.to/4jHuS4t
Most people never notice this—but walk through any European gallery, and you’ll find ghosts of Hamlet, Macbeth, or Lear staring back at you.

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Apr 22
Most people think a pope dies, and that’s it. Funeral, mourning, next man up.

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Pope Francis is gone. He passed away on Easter Monday.

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Here’s what’s really going on…

and what happens next. Image
The moment a pope dies, everything stops. The Papal Apartment gets sealed.

Even though Francis didn’t live there, the tradition stands.

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Read 20 tweets

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