Ancient Ruins: In the wake of lost civilizations. Deceptive column. A heroic chronicle of conquest or a collection of short stories? In fact, the ruins themselves

There are places on our planet whose existence excites minds and ordinary people, and scientists. These are the remains of ancient civilizations, palaces in which great rulers lived, objects, each of which is hundreds or even thousands of years older than you ... We know almost everything about some, the origin of others remains a mystery to all mankind! We will tell you about the most spectacular ruins in the world.

Colosseum, Rome

The greatest amphitheater ancient rome and today it looks very impressive. It was built in the 1st century AD and served as an arena for many dramas. Spectators watched gladiatorial fights and theatrical performances, executions of non-believers and killings of wild animals. But unfortunately, South part The Colosseum was destroyed in 847 by a seismic shock, and time only aggravated these collapses, which does not prevent crowds of tourists from visiting the monument today.

Ruins of the city of Petra, Jordan

The city was founded in the II century BC and was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom. And it is notable for the fact that it was almost completely carved into the rock. Today, Petra is included in the list of 7 New Wonders of the World. And although earthquakes pretty much destroyed it, it still attracts tourists from all over the world.

Stonehenge, UK

There are hundreds of versions of the origin and purpose of Stonehenge: an altar, a tomb, an ancient observatory, an art object, an element of a navigation system, and even an encrypted message to posterity. The approximate date of its creation is at least the 21st century BC. And everyone who sees it stone structure with his own eyes, feels the touch of a real mystery.

Palace ruins on the Sigiriya Plateau, Sri Lanka

The legend tells of King Kassap, who killed his father for passing the throne to another son, Mogallan, and not to him. In an attempt to escape persecution, Kassap built a palace on Sigiriya ( lion rock). The main task of this rock complex was protection from the brother's army. The ruins of sculptures, many frescoes, pools and terraces, gazebos and a mirror wall created from special porcelain polished with minerals have survived to this day.

Ruins of Vijayanagara, India

According to the records of medieval travelers, Vijayanagar in its grandeur was not inferior even to Rome. Vitthala Temple is one of the most spectacular structures. It is a roof supported by 56 granite columns, each with its own unique sound. When patting the stone with your hands, the temple-orchestra sings in an extraordinary way!

Ruins of Tiahuanaco, Bolivia

The chronicles of the Incas say that Tiahuanaco, at the beginning of time, erected the supreme deity of Viracoce. And scientists say that it was built by the Incas themselves in the 16th century BC. The ancient city is located far from civilization - on Lake Titicaca, at an altitude of 3854 meters above sea level in the Andes.

Ruins of Yuanmingyuan, China

Gardens of Absolute Clarity - this is how Yuanmingyuan is translated into Russian. This park was built during the Qing Dynasty in the 17th century. He belonged to the territory of the Summer imperial palace. Elements of various styles are mixed in its architecture - this is how the Japanese and European masters of that time conceived.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

This giant temple complex dedicated to the god Vishnu. Angkor Wat is considered the largest religious building in the world; it was built as a mausoleum and temple of King Suryavarman II in the 12th century. The complex became even more popular after the filming of the blockbuster Lara Croft - Tomb Raider, which was held in local temples. In search of the ruins, you need to go into the jungle, you will find them near the city of Angkor in Cambodia.

Ruins on the Palatine Hill, Rome

Hill Palatine was the most respected of the seven hills of Rome, it was repeatedly sung in legends and tales. Remus and Romulus, Augustus and Tiberius lived here, there was a sanctuary of Cybella. And today the hill is only the ruins of past greatness: steps washed out by rain, the remains of columns, many memorial plaques and half of the temple of Venus.

Ruins of Del Rey, Mexico

The ruins of Del Rey were discovered in the 16th century, they were dated somewhere around 200 BC. The purpose of the stone complex has not yet been established: it could have been religious temple as well as an observatory. Now only iguanas live inside the central pyramid of the ruins.

Archaeologists call Machu Picchu nothing more than a "mountain haven of civilization." For tourists lost city The Incas were discovered about 100 years ago. And since then adventurers go to a tropical forest, and then climb on foot to a height of 2450 m in the Andes. And all this to see with your own eyes the "city in the sky"!

The fact that ancient monuments built hundreds or even thousands of years ago are still standing may seem incredible. To get to such a place is like traveling back in time and seeing what life was like here many, many years ago. From Roman baths in Britain to the Ajanta Caves in India, we've rounded up 26 majestic ancient ruins you must see.

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1. Machu Picchu in Peru dates back to the 15th-16th century. Once it was sacred to all the Incas religious place, the home of the Inca chiefs. Machu Picchu has over 150 stone buildings with more than 3000 steps. Despite its colossal size, Machu Picchu was discovered only in 1911. Long years holy city was lost after the Spanish conquistadors destroyed the Inca civilization.

2. Pompeii was a prosperous ancient Roman city, located near modern Naples, but in 79 AD. after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the city was buried under the ashes. As a result of the eruption, 2000 people died, but the city itself remained untouched under layers of ash until 1748, when it was discovered as a result of excavations.

3. Every year, the legendary Stonehenge attracts more than a million tourists. This is world famous megalithic structure represents about a hundred mysterious boulders standing in a circle. According to the latest radiocarbon studies, our Neolithic ancestors built this enigmatic monument for about 1500 years.

4. The 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 in the Yucatan Peninsula. The first human settlement on this site dates back to 415-455. AD

5. Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia, occupies more territory than all five boroughs of New York (more than 600 square kilometers). In the 9th-15th centuries, numerous capitals of the Khmer Empire were located here. The 12th century temple of Angkor Wat is one of the most revered in Cambodia. It is even featured on the country's flag.

6. The place where the famous gladiator fights were held - the Roman Colosseum - was built by the emperor Vespasian in 70-72. AD as a gift to the Roman people, who craved "bread and circuses."

7. Although the first human settlements in the territory Greek city Mycenae date back to the beginning and middle bronze age This particular palace was built in the 14th century. Many artifacts and works of art have been found in the tombs of Mycenae.

8. 3700 km from west coast Chile is Easter Island, where, next to the Rano Raraku volcano, there are mysterious moai idols. They represent 900 stone statues, 13 tons each, scattered throughout the island. The purpose of their creation is still unknown.

9. In fabulous city Cappadocia in modern Turkey was once the home of the Hittite empire. At the same time, the history of this region goes back to the 6th century BC. The unique light pipes of Cappadocia served as foundations for both residential buildings and temples.

10. Between Red and dead seas in Jordan is Petra, which in prehistoric times connected Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phoenicia. Surrounded by mountains and carved into amazing red rock, this ancient city is truly unique.

11. One of the UK's most popular tourist attractions is the Roman Baths in English city Bat. Baths were an essential part of the daily bathing ritual of the ancient Romans. In addition to visiting the baths, tourists can take a tour of the tunnels laid under them.

12. In different eras in Turkish city Ephesus was home to several empires - Greek, Persian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman. During its heyday in the 2nd century AD. almost 300,000 people lived in the city. Today you can still see a few columns left from the temple of the goddess Artemis - one of the seven ancient wonders Sveta.

13. Thirty-four monasteries and temples built into a wall of basalt rock make up the Ellora caves in the Indian state of Maharashtra. This imposing temple complex dates from 600-1000 AD. AD and is sacred place for people who practice Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism.

14. Not far from Mexico City is the sacred city of Teotihuacan, which houses colossal monuments such as the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and the pyramids of the Sun and Moon. It is not surprising that the name of the city is translated as "the place where the gods were created."

15. The three pyramids of Giza, standing on the banks of the Nile in Northern Egypt, are named after the three pharaohs for whom they were built: Cheops, Khafre and Menkaur. The pyramids date back to the 4th Dynasty (circa 2575-2465 BC).

16. At the very beginning, in the 7th century BC, on the territory of the complex, which is now known as the Roman Forum, there was an Etruscan cemetery. As a result, this place became a public, commercial and political center Roman Empire.

19. The Longmen Temple Complex is located in Chinese province Henan and includes over 2,300 caves and niches carved into limestone rocks, more than a kilometer long. The statues and inscriptions in the caves form the largest collection of art from the Wei and Tang dynasties.

20. The temple city of Bagan in Myanmar occupies a whole 41 square meters. km and includes about 2000 monuments. In the 9th century, Bagan served central location in Burma, which King Anoratha united with the help of Theravada Buddhism.

21. Hadrian's Wall - a defensive fortification, which is the largest building in the UK, left over 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 feat.

22. Tulum, located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, not only has amazing beaches, snorkeling and diving spots, but also impressive ancient Mayan ruins dating back to 564 AD. In the Yucatec language, "tulum" means "wall" - once this settlement was surrounded by a huge barricade.

23. In Central Java, Indonesia, is Buddhist temple Borobudur, built in the 8th-9th centuries. The temple complex was built in three tiers and includes 72 Buddhist statues.

24. Great Chinese Wall definitely deserves its name. The construction of the wall began in the 3rd century BC, but the most famous and well-preserved part of it was built between the 14th and 17th centuries AD. The wall protected the Chinese empire from foreign invaders.

25. Located on the shores of the Gulf of Tunis, Carthage was founded in the 9th century BC. A successful trading empire and civilization was born and flourished here, until in 146 BC. the Romans did not destroy it. Then a new one was built on the ruins of the first Carthage.

26. Diocletian's Palace was built between the 3rd and 4th centuries BC. in the city of Split, on the territory of modern Croatia. The ruins of the palace can still be found throughout the central part of the city.

The ancient ruins of Pompeii, Ephesus or Angkor - these archaeological wonders are well known to travelers. The founder of the magazine Timeless Travel has compiled a list of attractions ancient world, distinguished by their beauty and sophistication of forms, but not included in the standard tourist routes.

10 Ancient City Ruins You Didn't Know Existed

1. Temple Koh Ker, Cambodia

Forgotten in the dense jungle over a millennium ago, the ruins ancient city Koh Kera is practically unknown in local tourist circles. The trip to the place will take about two hours from famous city with the giant trees of Angkor Wat. Travelers will find more than a dozen temples as they travel through dense trees deep into the jungle. In the center of the attraction is a seven-tiered pyramid about 40 m high. Archaeologists believe that this building of antiquity served state temple King Jayavarman IV. Ancient ruins are often confused with. The city was the capital of the Khmer Empire from 928 to 944 AD.

How to get there?

Cambodia organized new day trips to Koh Ker from Siem Reap. Those who wish to stay longer can stay in one of the guest houses or an ecological camp nearby.

1. Ancient city of Hoquequirao, Peru

Ruin ancient civilization better known as the suburb of Machu Picchu. A trip to Hokwekwuirao is one of the popular tourist destinations to the North and South America. Only a few hundred thousand people visit the attraction during the dry season (May to October). For comparison, several tens of thousands of people a day go to see it. At an altitude of about 3000 m, in the clouds at high ridge tip visible ancient building. The city was built by Topa Yupanqui, the architect of Machu Picchu and Pachacuti in the 15th century. You can visit the city by ordering by participating in a two-day trip to Hokwukwuirao from the city of Kachora by cable car. A detailed exploration of the ruins will take several days with a guide.

How to find the way?

By bus from Cusco de Ramal next to Cachora. Further on pack mules with guides.

1. Capital of Ani, Türkiye

A treasury of archaeological sites in the Far East is occupied by the ruined church of St. Gregory in Ani. The capital of the Armenian Bagratid dynasty was built at the beginning of the 11th century. It was located on the main trade route used for over 400 years. Then Ani was more prosperous than any European city today. The population was over 100 thousand people.

The church was destroyed by an earthquake in 1319. Today, its ruins can be seen near a number of ancient churches, a Zoroastrian fire temple, palaces and city walls. Traveling to the sights of Turkey takes a whole day.

How to get there?

You can get to the city of Ani by taxi or rented car from the city of Kars, 46 km from the airport serving domestic flights from Ankara and

1. Roman city of Conimbriga, Portugal

One of the oldest Roman settlements in Portugal is located about halfway between Lisbon and Porto, near the village of Condeixa Nova. The city prospered during the reign of the Roman Empire and has been well preserved to this day.

In a small area, the remains of Roman baths, luxury houses, an amphitheater, a forum, shops, gardens with fountains and city walls can be found.

In the center of the ruins is one of the largest houses of the Western, Casa de Cantaber, built next to an ornamental swimming pool with a garden, decorated with a garden, with its own bath and heating system. On the territory is modern museum, cafe and picnic area. Entrance to the fountain costs a few coins. The plan of the attraction can be tracked by a guidebook purchased at the museum.

Conimburig can be reached from the cities of Porto or Lisbon with Easyjet and Ryanair. The cost of the trip is about 50 euros.

1. Terracotta figures of Han Yangling, China

All the attention of tourists is riveted on the terracotta warriors of Xi'an, while travelers overlook the tomb of Emperor Jingdi, who died in 141 BC, and his wife, Empress Wang. The ancient ruins are located 20 km north of Xi'an. Viewing is organized through glass panels over the graves. Nearby is a museum of values ​​of the Chinese dynasty, where you can see clothes and objects made of wood from the era of ancient civilization. In the tombs, figures of courtiers and animals, the petrified remains of wooden chariots, were left in their original place.

How to get there?

Han Yangling Tomb can be reached by taxi from international airport Xi'an. The trip will take approximately 25 minutes.

1. Stone Age finds in Pella, Jordan

Archaeologically interesting are the ancient ruins of Jerash and Umm Qais, Pella, in the north of the Jordan Valley. The place is considered inhabited since the Neolithic period - the Stone Age. The ruins include stunning ruins of Roman and Byzantine period, the remains of a Canaanite temple dating from 1700 BC, and Bronze Age city walls from 3200 BC.

Climbing to the top of Husn will give you amazing impressions. WITH south side opens great view from the ruins to the Jordan Valley.

Which transport to choose?

The ancient ruins are located 45 minutes from the city of Irbid, two hours from Amman. Buses leave from Irbida and stop at the modern village of Tabaqat Fahle.

1. Vatican Necropolis, Italy

Beneath the foundations of the Vatican City lie the ancient streets of Rome and tombs. The Vatican cemetery was originally located on the southern slope of the Vatican Hill. It is said that Saint Peter was buried here after he was martyred in Nero. Emperor Constantine I built a basilica over the tomb of the apostle in the 4th century. AD The mausoleum was found in the 1940s during excavations. Exploring the ancient streets will be a memorable experience for those who are fond of time travel.

How to see the ruins of Rome?

To go to the ancient sights, you need to book a tour at the official office of archeology of the Vatican. Tour groups followed by 12 people. Travel time - 1.5 hours.

1. Ancient settlement of Tah t Soleiman, Iran

The theater is located next to the harbor in the northeast of the city. Capacity - 20,000 spectators. In the summer, gladiator fights were held in the arena. The stage has also been used for games, concerts and festivals. Distinctive feature Pula's amphitheater are stone mounts - canopies used to protect visitors from the sun.

How to go to Pula?

Departure to Pula from Stansted regular flights by Ryanair. The cost of the flight is from 117 euros.

They haven't completely stood the test of time, have they? Otherwise they would not be called ruins. But, despite the obvious signs of dilapidation, the loss of a full appearance, once conceived by unknown geniuses, there is still a lot of beauty in them. Yes. Despite the fact that, looking at them, you feel the burden of centuries .... They are witnesses to the rise of civilization, how many generations feasted or prayed in these ruins that were once beautiful palaces and temples!
Are we watching?

Machu Picchu (Cusco, Peru)

Photo Boris G
... City ancient America Machu Picchu in the country of modern Peru, on top mountain range at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level, it dominates the valley of the Urubamba River.

Chichen Itza (Tinum, Mexico)

Photo Ted Van Pelt

Pre-Columbian Mayan city of Chichen Itza​​ visited by more than 1.2 million people annually. It is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico. One of the most legendary and mysterious...

Stonehenge (Wiltshire, England)

And this one? Do you recognize? Romantic building... A sanctuary built in an incomprehensible way. How did the ancients raise these stones?
Surrounded by hundreds of graves, Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England. Archaeologists claim that it was built between 3000 and 2000 BC.

Ta Prom (Siem Reap, Cambodia)

Made even more famous by the filming of the blockbuster Lara Croft Tomb Raider, overrun by trees and suffocating vines, Ta Prohm retained the mysterious atmosphere of the past and has become for many a highlight of a visit to the Angkor complex.

French School Council Far East it was decided not to carry out a full-scale restoration in the temple, although, on the one hand, the trees were slowly destroying the monument, on the other hand, they were so fused with the ancient walls that they became one with them.

Created by Jayavarman VII for his mother, and consecrated in 1186, Ta Prohm Temple became central part city, as well as an active Buddhist monastery.

« stone caves at the dragon gate longmen)

Longmen (literally "Stone caves at the Dragon Gate") - a complex of Buddhist cave temples in the Chinese province of Henan, 12 km south of Luoyang. Along with Mogao and Yungang, it is considered one of the three most significant cave temple complexes in China. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Luxor Temple (Luxor, Egypt)

Ancient people called Luxor in Egypt (then Thebes) "the city of palaces". Indeed, several magnificent temples have been preserved in Lukosra and its environs.

Hadrian's Wall

Hadrian's Wall stretches across northern England from Irish to North Sea. The wall was assembled from stones, peat and turf 5-6 high ... The fortresses of Hadrian's Wall. The best preserved fortification ruins can be seen in the counties of Cumbria and Northumberland.

Baalbek (Bekaa, Lebanon)

Already in the 16th century, Europe became aware of the presence of grandiose ruins here, which became a must-see for European travelers of the 19th century. Flaubert, Twain and Bunin left curious descriptions of their impressions of Baalbek.

And this is the largest processed stone. The riddle, how did the ancients succeed?

Among all the wonders of antiquity, the Baalbek veranda (Baalbek terrace) occupies a special position.
From the guide:
This city is associated with almost mystical story: when archaeologists “rediscovered” it, many came to the conclusion that it was the fruit of the construction of extraterrestrial civilizations that explored the solar system in ancient times. It was hard to believe that the huge blocks of the Baalbek terrace are the result of only human labor without the use of any high-tech mechanisms.

Coba (Quintana Roo, Mexico)

In the first millennium AD, Koba was largest city Maya with a population of 50 thousand people. After the Spanish conquistadors came to the Yucatan, the Indians left the city, and the buildings gradually collapsed and overgrown with jungle. The ruins of Koba were discovered at the end of the 19th century, but excavations are still ongoing.

Much of what we know about ancient civilizations today comes from archeology and written documents left to us as the legacy of the ancients. In some cases, artifacts can leave clues as to who the people who created the ancient monuments, now in ruins, were. But often we have more questions than answers.

Lake Michigan holds the secret of Stonehenge at the bottom

Historians, archaeologists, and geologists have many theories about the ruins on this list, but they are just theories. These ancient ruins have more questions than answers, and in some cases, experts are not even sure that they were created by human civilization on Earth.

STONEHENGE LAKE MICHIGAN.

In 2007, explorer Mark Holley was scouring the bottom of Lake Michigan looking for the cause of shipwrecks. Indeed, among other things, this place is considered an analogue of "". At the site of the study, he discovered that the lake harbors a structure similar to Stonehenge in its waters. 13 meters below the surface of the water are large stones arranged in a circular shape.

We do not know who built this structure and why it was built. Location mysterious building kept secret to follow the wishes of the Traverse Bay American Indian Community, who seek to keep the area a secret.

The stones do not look as great as we would like, but they are almost perfectly aligned with each other. At the same time, if they were laid out by people, then the circular rock formation should have appeared between 6,000 and 10,000 years.

Over 6,000 years ago, the Lake Michigan region was dry and home to hunter-gatherers. The reason why some suggest that education rocks may be older than 6000 years, associated with the image on one of outer rings mountain circle.

Underwater explorers have found a petroglyph clearly carved on a large granite block that looks like an ancient "mastodon" animal. The ancient elephant is a serious artifact in itself, as it disappeared about 10,000 years ago, so for ancient man who carved the animal had to live at the same time as the mastodon in order to meet.

On the other hand, some geologists claim that all formations are "built" in a natural way. Yonaguni is in an area prone to frequent earthquakes, which causes the sandstone to break down and the subsequent movement of the plates into exotic shapes.

Of course, it is very unusual to see so many of these types of formations in such a small area. But we have no evidence that Yonaguni's education is really the work of man, skeptics say.

GOBEKLI TEPE.

Göbekli Tepe is a unique archaeological site that has the potential to completely change the way historians and archaeologists understand human history.

Potbellied Hill (another name for Göbekli Tepe) challenges many of the assumptions made about hunter-gatherers who, after completing this phase of development, moved on to farming and raising livestock. Gobekli Tepe - ancient area, located in Turkey, but unlike the other ruins on our list, there is no doubt that it was man-made.

The area was discovered in 1963, and construction is now suspected places of worship began in the Mesolithic, stretching for several thousand years. Initially, researchers believed that this was an ancient human settlement. However, more than that, this is something more than a medieval burial.

In 1994, Klaus Schmidt came across an overview of Göbekli Tepe and decided to take a closer look at the ancient ruins. On the spot, he found out that limestone stones and slabs had the potential not only for tombstones, but also for T-pillars.

The ongoing excavation allowed the team of archaeologists to find massive columns that were buried under the surface. Studying amazing artifact will take about 50 years, experts believe. Schmidt, for example, suggested leaving most complex intact, preserving the construction of future generations of scientists, when archaeological tools should become more advanced.

The massive structure was created by placing a ring of massive 7-ton stone pillars on the ground. Another ring of stone pillars will be placed on top, continuing to create the gently sloping hill structure. The ruins date back 11,000 years and were created at a time when there were no settled inhabitants in the region.

An interesting structure would require a large number of people working for a long period of time. Bones found at the excavation site confirm that the builders hunted wild animals a lot.

Surprisingly, we see in this artifact the ability to create large structures. After all, in fact, the weight of some parts of the complex reaches 50 thousand tons! It is still not really clear how ancient people could handle such a huge weight of stones.

The researchers, comparing the images with the constellation map of that time, also concluded that around 10950 BC, a comet could have fallen to Earth. The image of a man without a head speaks of the numerous victims of a long-past event, scientists have suggested. In addition, for major disaster followed by a period from the end of the XI to the end of the X millennium BC, known as the "Late Dryas", marked by a sharp cooling.

Today, the archaeological site of Göbekli Tepe is known as the "Navel of the Earth". The huge temple complex on the Navel Mountain was erected in the pre-ceramic Neolithic era, dating back 12 thousand years. Indeed, this oldest building on a planet older than Stonehenge and the first Egyptian pyramids. The monument is not just a heritage of ancestors, it shows us how little we know about ancient civilizations and amazing technologies of ancient people.