This is Beirut - History

Napoleon Collection Auction Fetches Over $10M in Paris

This is Beirut, 26/06 12:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

History Napoleon Auction Sotheby's France Culture

A massive trove of artwork and curios linked to Napoleon Bonaparte, including one of his iconic bicorne hats, has sold for more than $10 million in Paris, an auction house said. Sotheby's said it had originally estimated the more than 110 items of Napoleonic memorabilia that it sold on Wednesday at around $7 million. Famous paintings of the ...

Before the Olympic Cauldron, a Balloon in the Tuileries: A Flight Through History

This is Beirut, 20/06 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Olympic cauldron Tuileries History Paris Culture

Before the Olympic cauldron—suspended from a helium balloon 60 meters above the ground—returns this Saturday to the Tuileries Gardens in Paris for the entire summer, the iconic location had already played host to one of the very first hydrogen balloon flights, dating back to 1783. On December 1 of that year, over 200 years ago, scientist ...

What If We Could Archive Scents to Awaken Memories?

Bélinda Ibrahim, 08/06 19:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Scent Archive Memories Perfume History

Today, researchers, perfumers and artists are trying to capture these invisible traces. Rather than merely describing smells, they are now trying to recreate them. Like restoring a painting or documenting a dying language, their goal is to preserve the world’s disappearing aromas — those of the past and those vanishing before our eyes. In an ...

Napoleon’s Personal Sword to Be Auctioned in Paris

This is Beirut, 26/04 11:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Paris France Napoleon History Culture Art

A sword once belonging to Napoleon, "commissioned for his personal use" in 1802 and preserved throughout his reign, will take center stage at an auction on May 22 at Hôtel Drouot in Paris. The piece, presented by the Giquello auction house, is valued between €700,000 and €1 million. "Bonaparte, then First Consul, ordered the sword between ...

A New Approach to Teaching History: Will Lebanon’s Schools Embrace Multiple Narratives?

Sana Richa Choucair, 13/04 15:30 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

history lebanon schools civil war CRDP

In Lebanon, the official history textbook ends with the withdrawal of French troops in 1946, following the country’s independence in 1943. Entire chapters of the country’s modern history remain unaddressed—most notably the 1975–1990 war, which left at least 150,000 dead and 17,000 missing. Even the terminology remains contested: Should it ...

Iconic Paris hotel Lutetia Taken over by Mandarin Oriental

This is Beirut, 04/04 10:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

France Hotel History Heritage Culture Art

Situated in the center of the Left Bank area of the French capital, the Art Deco institution was opened in 1910 and owes its existence to its neighbor Bon Marche, one of the first department stores in the world. Real estate group Alrov, controlled by Alfred Akirov and his family, will retain ownership of the building. Originally baptized with the ...

March 8: When Women Shake the World

Bélinda Ibrahim, 08/03 18:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

8 March Culture Women' s Rights History World

In the misty streets of New York in 1908, no one could have imagined that a group of exhausted, underpaid textile workers were paving the way for a global movement. As they stood up against inhumane working conditions, they had no idea they were writing the first chapter of a long history of struggle. Back then, March 8 was just another date on ...

Evie Riski: A Life, A Century and 32,500 Pages Filled With Memories

Bélinda Ibrahim, 07/03 14:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Story Diary Evie Riski Culture History

In a modest home with wooden planks weathered by Lakota’s harsh winters, a timeworn hand glides across the paper. This daily ritual, repeated consistently for nearly a century, has become as natural to Evie Riski as the act of breathing. Since the first day of the year 1936, this now-centenarian has never missed her appointment with writing, ...

New Ancient Discoveries in Luxor Shed Light on Egypt’s History

This is Beirut, 09/01 18:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Egypt Culture History Archaeology Tourism

On January 8, Egypt unveiled a series of significant archaeological discoveries at the Deir al-Bahari necropolis in Luxor, shedding light on ancient history, spanning from the Middle Kingdom through the 18th Dynasty. Among the finds were 4,000-year-old tombs of high-ranking officials and artwork dating back to the reign of Queen Hatshepsut, one of ...

Celebrate in Style: When Festive Fashion Tells a Story

Juliana Breidy, 2024-12-26 19:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Fashion Culture Holidays Festive History

The 90s: Minimalism in the Spotlight The 90s marked a break from the extravagance of previous decades. Elegance became understated, silhouettes were simplified, and luxurious fabrics like satin and silk crepe took center stage. The little black dress established itself as a timeless essential, while clean lines added a subtle modernity. Recreate ...

Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral: Modern Stained Glass Sparks Controversy

This is Beirut, 2024-12-19 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Notre-Dame Paris Artist History Art Culture

On Wednesday, December 18, the designs for six new stained glass windows for the fire-damaged Notre Dame Cathedral were unveiled for the first time. French contemporary artist Claire Tabouret has been selected to infuse the iconic 12th-century structure with a modern twist as part of its ongoing restoration, following the devastating 2019 ...

Ancient Treasures Unearthed Beneath Athens’ Modern Streets

This is Beirut, 2024-12-11 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Athens Greece History Culture

In a striking reminder of Athens’ rich historical tapestry, laborers digging a trench for natural gas pipelines unearthed a marble statue and Roman-era artifacts near the Acropolis. Greece’s Culture Ministry announced the discovery on Tuesday, highlighting its significance to the country’s archaeological heritage. The centerpiece of the ...

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