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Ravenna like

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What a surprise! The remains of the basilica Santa Maria Formosa in Pula turned out to be built in Ravenna style. The south chapel that is left looks almost exactly similar as the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. The only difference is that this basilica was built by natural stones whereas Ravenna was built by red bricks. A salient detail from the legend: virgin Mary appeared to the bishop disguised as a voluptuous woman hence giving the name Formosa to this basilica. 

The Quest for the Origin of the Minoans

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After my vacation to the Greek island of Crete last year, I am fully fascinated by the Minoan civilization that once was there 5000 years ago. It was not only Europe first civilization but also a highly advanced one. Back home I frentically studied many academic and popular publications on the Minoan civilization where I could get hold of it. I have come to the following preliminary conclusions: 1. The Minoan deity with the head of a bull might be just the Baal that was worshipped in the Levant. The argument for this is that there was close cultural and trade contact between the Minoans and the Phoenicians on the coast of Canaan. The Minoan language may have some similarities with the Semitic languages. A Minoan style frescoes were found in a palace at Tel Kabri in Israel. There were already Minoans settled in Canaan in the Bronze Age. The Bible mentions that Abraham encountered Philistines. The word 'Philistines' here was used in Hebrew to refer people coming from overseas,...