Today: Jul 08, 2026

Matryoshkas and friends

4 mins read
9 years ago
Change font size:

By Genc Pollo* The matryoshkas are a set of egg-shaped, empty, wooden dolls painted as a mature woman and they fit into one another from the smaller to the biggest one. They can be found in Russia and its neighborhood where they based on a Japanese inspiration (the shichi-fuku-jin dolls), gained much popularity in the 19th century. Matryoshkas beside being a matriarchal symbol are also a metaphor for the ongoing surprise or the lack of certainty in what you hold in your hand. I am not quite sure why I was reminded of these folklore artefacts as I followed these…

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Latest from Op-Ed

A salute to America

Change font size: - + Reset By Marco Rubio Two hundred and fifty years ago today, in a brick hall in Philadelphia, our forefathers declared their independence from the most powerful empire
19 hours ago
9 mins read
Dr. Arben Ramkaj is Chairman at the Institute for Cultural and Religious Dialogues in Albania. He is also Director of the Middle East and Muslim World Department at the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS).
Dr. Arben Ramkaj is Chairman at the Institute for Cultural and Religious Dialogues in Albania. He is also Director of the Middle East and Muslim World Department at the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS).

From the Nile to the Balkans

Change font size: - + Reset By Dr. Arben Ramkaj Tirana Times, July 3, 2026 – If you sit by the banks of the Nile on a quiet afternoon and allow its
5 days ago
5 mins read

The Strategic Price of Non-Enlargement

Change font size: - + Reset By Albert Rakipi Tirana Times, June 30, 2026 – For more than two decades, the Western Balkans have lived inside the promise of European integration. In
1 week ago
6 mins read