EMPORIUM

The Cost of a Bishop’s Vestments in Pure Gold: A Practical Assessment with Historical Context Abstract:This article provides a practical assessment of the cost of high-ranking clerical vestments (bishop/archbishop) made entirely of pure gold. The main components, their estimated weights, and market value are considered, including the work of jewelers. Additionally, a historical overview of… Read more: The Cost of a Bishop’s Vestments in Pure Gold

🧬 The Feline Gene in Our Blood (or: What Blaschko’s Lines Reveal About Who We Are) 📑 Table of Contents 1. Introduction: Hidden patterns beneath the skin At first glance, our skin appears uniform, smooth, continuous.But under the right light, in certain diseases, or viewed through a scientific lens, a deeper order emerges — hidden… Read more: The Feline Gene in Our Blood

Modern artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are rapidly penetrating all areas of life—from entertainment and education to healthcare and psychotherapy. Most widely used AI systems today are so-called “narrow” or “weak” intelligences, designed to perform specific tasks such as text generation, image recognition, or information retrieval assistance. However, with their growth, new challenges arise related to… Read more: Interaction Between Weak Intelligences and AI: Risks, Real-Life Examples, and an Insider’s Perspective

When Pints Are a Rarity — and April Fools’ Day is Sacred In the heart of Soho, among the bustling pubs of London, there’s one place that proudly defies convention: The French House. Known for its bohemian charm, rich cultural history, and strict anti-technology policy, this pub also boasts one of the city’s most peculiar… Read more: The One Day a Year You Can Get a Pint: The Curious Case of The French House Pub in London, Soho

Abstract: In the 18th and 19th centuries, Britain witnessed a peculiar cultural phenomenon: the rise of so-called “intelligent animals.” Among them, none shone brighter than a pig named Toby. This article explores Toby’s place in the intersection of pseudoscience, showmanship, and public fascination, shedding light on a moment when pigs briefly walked the stage of… Read more: When Pigs Could Read, Count, and… Read Minds: The Curious Case of Toby the Sapient Pig

✍️ Author’s Note This is not the tale of a prince born in silks, nor of a hero forged in prophecy.This is the story of a man forgotten by fate — a drinker, a dreamer, a minor clerk — who, well into his forties, looked the empire in the eye… and took it. Liu Bang… Read more: The Drunkard and the Empire: Chronicles of a Commoner Who Claimed the Dragon Throne After Forty

Colours often speak louder than words. In a world where shades carry emotional weight, status, and symbolism, purple holds a place that is nothing short of mystical. It has never been just a colour — it has been a mark of divinity, nobility, and imperial power — and, at times, even the essence of birth… Read more: Purple: The Colour Empires Were Born In

Amid the forgotten sands of the Arabian Peninsula lies one of the world’s most remarkable architectural wonders — Shibam, a historic city in Yemen, perched along the Wadi Hadhramaut valley. Enclosed within ancient walls, this vertical settlement has rightfully earned the nickname “The Manhattan of the Desert.” While human presence in the region dates back… Read more: The Ancient City of Skyscrapers: Yemen’s Shibam — The Manhattan of the Desert

Abstract The modern names of calendar months, commonly used across most European languages, have ancient Roman origins and serve as a key element of cultural continuity between Antiquity, Byzantium, and the Eastern Slavic world. This article explores the etymology and meaning of each month’s name and traces how these terms entered the East Slavic linguistic… Read more: The Origins and Cultural Significance of Month Names in the Roman and Byzantine Traditions

Contents 1. Introduction For centuries, the domestic architecture of Ancient Rome has been a subject of great interest among scholars due to its unique blend of practicality and social stratification. Alongside the luxurious domus residences of the Roman elite, a widespread and essential element of urban infrastructure was the insula — multi-story apartment buildings that… Read more: Insulae: Architecture, Social Stratification, and Living Conditions in the Apartment Buildings of Ancient Rome