26 stunning ancient ruins which are worth a see
The fact that ancient monuments built hundreds, and even thousands of years ago still stand, it may seem incredible. To get to such a place is to travel back in time and see what life was like here many years ago. From Roman baths in Britain until the Ajanta caves in India — we have gathered for you the 26 majestic ancient ruins which are worth to see.
Machu Picchu in Peru dates from the 15-16-th century. Once there was a sacred Inca religious site, a refuge of the Inca leaders. On-site Machu Picchu is located more than 150 buildings with more than 3000 steps. Despite the enormous size of Machu Picchu discovered only in 1911. For many years the Holy city was lost after the Spanish conquistadors destroyed the Inca civilization.
Pompeii was a thriving Roman city, located near modern Naples, but in 79 ad after the eruption of the volcano Vesuvius, the city was buried under ash. The eruption killed 2,000 people, but the city itself remained intact under layers of ashes until 1748, when it was discovered in the excavations.
Every year the legendary Stonehenge attracts over a million tourists. This world-famous megalithic structure is a about a hundred of mysterious boulders standing in a circle. According to recent research based on radiocarbon Dating, our ancestors from the Neolithic built this mysterious monument for about 1500 years.
Sacred site of Chichen Itza in the Mexican city of Tinum has a rich 1000-year history and the title of one of the main centers of the ancient Maya on the Yucatan Peninsula. The first human settlement on this place dates back to 415-455 ad
Angkor in Siem reap, Cambodia, covers more territory than all five boroughs of new York city (over 600 square kilometers). 9-15 th centuries there were numerous capitals of the Khmer Empire. The Church of the 12 th century Angkor Wat is one of the most revered in Cambodia. It is even present on the flag of the country.
The place where was held the famous Gladiator fights — Roman Colosseum was built by Emperor Vespasian in 70-72 ad as a gift to the Roman people, who were thirsting for "bread and circuses".
Although the first human settlements on the territory of the Greek city of Mycenae date back to the early and middle bronze age, this particular Palace was built in the 14th century. In the tombs of Mycenae were found many artifacts and works of art.
3,700 km from the Western coast of Chile is Easter island, where next to the volcano rano Raraku are the mysterious moai statues. They represent 900 stone statues, up to 13 tons each, scattered throughout the island. Their purpose is still unknown.
In the fabulous city of Cappadocia in modern day Turkey was once based Empire of the Hittites. The history of this region goes back to the 6th century BC. Unique light pipe Cappadocia served as foundations for houses and temples.
Between the Red and Dead seas in Jordan is Petra, which in prehistoric times was linked Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phoenicia. Surrounded by mountains and carved into the amazing red rock, this ancient city is truly unique.
One of the most popular tourist attractions in the UK — Roman baths in the English city of bath. Baths were an integral part of the daily bathing ritual of the ancient Romans. In addition to the visit to the baths, tourists can take a tour of the tunnels under them.
At different times in the Turkish city of Ephesus were several empires — Greek, Persian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman. In its heyday in the 2nd century BC the city lived almost 300, 000 people Today you can still see a few columns remaining from the temple of Artemis one of the seven ancient wonders of the world.
Thirty-four monasteries and temples, built into the wall of basalt rock are the caves of Ellora in the Indian state of Maharashtra. This impressive temple complex dates back to 600-1000 ad and is a Holy place for people practicing Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism.
Near Mexico city is the Holy city of Teotihuacan, which are colossal monuments such as the temple of Quetzalcoatl and the pyramids of the Sun and moon. No wonder the city's name translates as "place where gods were created".
The three pyramids of Giza, standing on the banks of the Nile in Northern Egypt, named after three of the pharaohs for which they were built: Khufu, khafra and menkaura. The pyramids date from the 4th dynasty (circa 2575-2465 BCE).
In the beginning, in the 7th century BC, the complex which is now known as the Roman forum, was located on the Etruscan cemetery. In the end, this place has become the social, commercial and political center of the Roman Empire.
Buddhist monuments in the caves of Ajanta in the Indian state of Maharashtra was built in the 1-2 century BC in Total there 29 caves, five of them were located temples and 24 monasteries.
Some of the most well-preserved rock settlements in the United States is in a national Park Messa Verde in Colorado. In from 600 to 1300 ad the tribe of the Pueblo Indians.
The complex of temples Longmen is located in China's Henan province and comprises more than 2,300 caves and niches carved in the limestone rocks, stretching over kilometers. The statues in the caves and the inscriptions on them are the largest collection of works of art since the dynasties of Wei and tan.
City-temple of Bagan in Myanmar is a 41 sq km and includes about 2000 monuments. In the 9th century, Bagan served as the Central place in Burma, which the king of Anartha combined with Theravada Buddhism.
Hadrian's wall — a defensive fortification, which is the largest in the UK structure remaining from the ancient Romans. The wall stretches for 128 km and in some places reaches a height of 6 meters. It was built by 1,500 workers in just six years — an incredible engineering achievement.
Tulum located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico not only has beautiful beaches, Snorkelling and diving, but also the imposing ruins of the ancient Maya, Dating back to the year 564 BC In the Yucatec language, "Tulum" means "wall" — once the settlement was surrounded by a huge barricade.
In Central Java, Indonesia, is a Buddhist temple Borobudur, built in the 8-9 th centuries. The temple complex was built in three tiers and includes 72 Buddhist statues.
The great wall definitely deserves its name. The construction of the wall began in the 3rd century BC, but the most famous and well preserved it was built in the period from the 14th to the 17th century ad the Wall was to protect the Chinese Empire from foreign invaders.
Located on the shores of the Gulf of Tunis, Carthage was founded in the 9th century BC Here was born and flourished successful trading Empire and civilization, while in 146 BC it was destroyed by the Romans. Then on the ruins of Carthage, the first new one was built.
Diocletian's Palace was built between the 3rd and 4th centuries BC in the city of Split, on the territory of modern Croatia. Palace ruins still can be found throughout the Central part of the city.
Keywords: Cave ruins