Handicrafts

In an effort to transform the Artemis Bath, located in the ancient city of Epiphaneia in Hatay's Erzin district, into a tourist attraction, authorities have commenced working meticulously to open the renowned structure to visit with a designated tour route.

Famous for its mosaic figures, the historical bath dates back to the Roman era and feeds from the ancient city's aqueduct.

The Culture and Tourism Ministry announced that a mosaic floor, dating back to the 2nd century B.C., has been discovered in the ancient city of Side in the southern province of Antalya.

The artifact came to light during works carried out within the scope of the ministry's Heritage to the Future Project.

Greece, a mosaic of sun-drenched landscapes and azure seas, is primed for daring exploits and unforgettable moments.

Turkish authorities raided two illegal animal museums in Istanbul, seizing taxidermy specimens of polar bears, crocodiles, lions, cheetahs and bison, among numerous other wildlife.

In her tiny Athens apartment, 93-year-old Ioanna Matsouka has knit thousands of brightly colored scarves for children in need from Greece to Ukraine - and she has no plans to quit just yet.

"Until I die, I will be knitting," Matsouka said. Her knitting needles clicked through her expert fingers, her nails painted red. "It brings me joy to share them."

Italian archaeologists have uncovered a luxurious Roman home near the Colosseum, boasting an "unparalleled" mosaic featuring shells, marble and precious glass, the Culture Ministry said on Dec. 12.

In "The Tale of Tools: The Untold Narrative of Wooden Handiwork Implements from Greece," the Benaki Museum (benaki.org) has put together a very informative presentation that showcases beautifully crafted tools used in traditional spinning, sewing, knitting and embroidery.

The dancers' futuristic headgear glints under the lights at a top ballet show, but just two months ago their plastic costumes were sticky bottles tossed into a Tokyo recycling bin.

"Plastic," a new production by renowned Japanese company K-BALLET, aims to draw attention to a global pollution crisis through some unusual set and wardrobe design.

The history of Hatay, which has hosted many civilizations and has been one of the centers of mosaic art, is a source of inspiration for artists, where works produced in the mosaic workshop in the southern city are exported to more than 30 countries upon demand.

During the excavations in the ancient city of Germanicia in the southern province of Kahramanmaraş, a mosaic describing an open-air feast where three women are dancing to music has been unearthed. The mosaic is believed to date back to 1,500 years.