Every country and society has its own culture,
customs and heritage which represent about a region and the life style
of the particular society. Historical places is also very important and
main part of a society. Historical places is made by the people and the
customs and their life style also but the most important thing is the
places of a country that count much importance in the history. The
article describes about the places which was destroyed in the past and
left amazing history behind.
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Machu Picchu (Peru)
The most famous of all the Inca ruins, Machu Picchu appears to be
suspended between two mountains and is often enshrouded in mist. It
can't be seen from the Urubamba Valley below and is an enchanting place,
especially considering that the Incas didn't even have the use of the
wheel when they built it.
Machu Picchu was built in the mid 15th century, but since its existence
was not recorded by the Spanish Conquistadors who ramsacked the region
in the 1530s, we don't really know what its purpose was. Many of the
ruins incorporate ceremonial features, so it could possibly have been a
religious sanctuary. It's likely that the place was already deserted by
the time of the Spanish invasion, as otherwise it would have been
mentioned in their reports of the Inca civilization.
The Inca had no system of writing and left no written records, so
archaeologists have been left to piece together bits of evidence as to
why Machu Picchu was built, what purpose it served, and why it was so
quickly vacated.
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Babylon (Iraq)
Some 90 kilometres south of modern Bagdhad lies the ruins of ancient
Babylon, the original name of which, "bab-ili", may be translated as
"the Gate of the Gods". For the world at large, Babylon ranks as one of
the most famous cities of antiquity, reknowned alike for its refinement,
beauty and magnificence. In classical times, the city walls of Babylon
were spoken of with admiration and astonishment, while her "Hanging
Gardens" were accounted one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
As a centre of culture and government, it flourished for about fifteen
centuries, from the arrival of the Amorites ca. 1850 B.C. down to
Alexander the Great, who died there in 322 B.C. One of the best known of
the city's early rulers was the great law-giver, Hammurabi (1792-1750
B.C.).
The ruins of Palenque are among the most important Mayan archaeological
sites in all of Mexico and Central America. Set on a ledge overlooking
the coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico,Palenque resides into the dense
tropical forest of the foothills of the Tumbala mountains of Chiapas,
Mexico.
Although analysis of pottery shards demonstrates that the area was
occupied by 100 B.C., most of the buildings we see today were
constructed between the 6th to 10th centuries AD.
The greatest ruler of this city-state was Pacal, who took power in 603
AD and commenced a construction boom of architecturally innovative
buildings that lasted through and beyond his 68-year reign. One of the
most impressive projects was the Palace. Its walls and roofs are covered
with stucco carvings depicting the ceremonies and activities of rulers
and gods, giving modern observers insight into the lives and beliefs of
the Mayas. Another magnificent structure, the Temple of the
Inscriptions, contains tablets of glyphs recounting the ancestral
history of long ago rulers.
The true reward of a trip to Palenque is to revel in the mystery of the
unanswerable questions that arise as you meander through the ruins in
morning mists that swirl around the ancient structures. Only 34 of
perhaps 500 buildings have been excavated.
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Palenque (Mexico)
The ruins of Palenque are among the most important Mayan archaeological
sites in all of Mexico and Central America. Set on a ledge overlooking
the coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico,Palenque recedes into the dense
tropical forest of the foothills of the Tumbala mountains of Chiapas,
Mexico.
Although analysis of pottery shards demonstrates that the area was
occupied by 100 b.c., most of the buildings we see today were
constructed between the 6th to 10th centuries a.d.
The greatest ruler of this city-state was Pacal, who took power in 603
a.d. and commenced a construction boom of architecturally innovative
buildings that lasted through and beyond his 68-year reign. One of the
most impressive projects was a complex called the Palace. The walls and
roofs are covered with stucco carvings depicting the ceremonies and
activities of rulers and gods, giving modern observers insight into the
lives and beliefs of the Mayans. Another magnificent structure, the
Temple of the Inscriptions, contains tablets of glyphs recounting the
ancestral history of long ago rulers. The true reward of a trip
toPalenque is to revel in the mystery of the unanswerable questions that
arise as he meanders through the ruins in morning mists that swirl
around the ancient structures. Only 34 of perhaps 500 buildings have
been excavated.
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Ruins of Ayutthaya (Thailand)
Ayutthaya, whose name means “undefeatable” in Sanskrit, may not be as
popular as Bangkok, Chiang Mai or Phuket but it's one of the many places
in Thailand that's frequented by tourists who want to see its world-reknowned
ruins.
In its heyday, Ayutthaya was a bustling metropolis of international
repute, whose progress, according to historians, rivaled even Europe's
capitals at the time. So prosperous was the kingdom that her neighbor
Burma (now Myanmar) coveted her, so the Burmese army burned and sacked
the city. Today, only the debris of the empire's glory remains, forming
part of what is now known as the Ayutthaya Historical Park, which is
listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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The Colosseum (Italy)
One of the greatest works of Roman architecture and perhaps the most
recognized ruin in the world, the Colosseum or Roman Coliseum
--originally the Flavian Amphitheatre-- is an elliptical amphitheatre in
the center of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire.
Capable of seating 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for
gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. As well as the gladiatorial
games, other public spectacles were held there, such as mock sea
battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and
dramas based onClassical mythology. About 500,000 people and over a
million wild animals died in the Colosseum games.
Although in the 21st century it stays partially ruined due to damage
caused by devastating earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum is an
iconic symbol of Imperial Rome and its breakthrough achievements in
earthquake engineering. It is one of Rome's most popular tourist
attractions and still has close connections with the Roman Catholic
Church, as each Good Friday the Pope leads a torchlit "Way of the Cross"
procession around the various levels of the amphitheatre.
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Tikal Ruins (Guatemala)
Tikal is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centers of
the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It is located in the archaeological
region of the Petén Basin in northern Guatemala. This amazing site is
part of Guatemala's Tikal National Park, and in 1979 was declared a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tikal was one of the major cultural and population centers of the Maya
civilization. Though monumental architecture at the site dates from the
4th century BC, Tikal reached its apogee during the Classic Period, ca.
200 to 900 AD, during which time the site dominated the Maya region
politically, economically, and militarily while interacting with areas
throughout Mesoamerica, such as central Mexican center of Teotihuacan.
There is also evidence that Tikal was even conquered by Teotihuacan
inthe 4th century.
Following the end of the Late Classic Period, no new major monuments
were built at Tikal and there is evidence that elite palaces were
burned. These events were coupled with a gradual population decline,
culminating with the site's abandonment by the end of the 10th century. |
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Chichén Itzá Ruin (Mexico)
A large pre-Columbian archaeological site built by the Maya
civilization, Chichen Itza is located in the northern center of the
Yucatán Peninsula, in the Yucatán state, Mexico.
It was a major regional focal point in the northern Mayan lowlands from
the Late Classic through the Terminal Classic and into the early portion
of the Early Postclassic period. The site exhibits a multitude of
architectural styles, from what is called “Mexicanized” and reminiscent
of styles seen in central Mexico to the Puuc style found among the Puuc
Maya of the northern lowlands. The presence of central Mexican styles
was once thought to have been representative of direct migration or even
conquest from central Mexico, but most contemporary interpretations view
the presence of these non-Mayan styles more as the result of cultural
diffusion.
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The Parthenon (Greece)
Greek goddess Athena's temple, the Parthenon was built in the 5th
century BC on the Athenian Acropolis. It is the most important surviving
building of Classical Greece, generally considered to be the culmination
of the development of the Doric order. Its decorative sculptures are
considered one of the high points of Greek art. The Parthenon is
regarded as an enduring symbol of ancient Greece and Athenian democracy,
and one of the world's greatest cultural monuments. The Greek Ministry
of Culture is currently carrying out a program of restoration and
reconstruction.
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Jesuitical Ruins of Trinidad (Paraguay)
Located about 25 km away from Encarnacion, on the route to Ciudad del
Este, Paraguay, is one of the most interesting and suggestive ruins of
the 8 missions in Paraguay.
Trinidad was founded by natives that came from the mission of San
Carlos. Its main architects were fathers Juan Bautista Prímoli of Milan
and the Catalan Jose Grimau. Uncompleted, this mission had one of the
larges and prettiest churches of all missions, according to descriptions
by travelers of that period.
After crossing the nave of the old church, you can see an impressive
view of the frieze high on the altar wall, entirely decorated on the
very stone, with a sequence of angels in baroque postures and their
instruments. The two doors giving access to the sacristies are worth
mentioning: the columns with disproportionate capitals and a triple row
of leaves supporting the frieze with two lateral pillars and a
sculptural motif in the center.
On the west side are the ruins of the tower and a long chapel. The
tower, with a square base, reminds us of a fort tower and it is not
known whether it was a belfry, an observation tower, or both at the same
time. The chapel was probably used while the main church was being
built. One of the sacristies also holds a small museum with local items
(in original colors) and a scale model of the mission. It was declared
Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO in 1993.
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Copan Ruins (Honduras)
A Mayan capital from the 400s to the 800s, Copan is one of the largest
and most impressive of all the Mayan centers discovered so far. It
consists of pyramids, temples and 21 stone pillars, or stelae, with
exquisite carved likenesses of ancient Copan kings. Although Tikal in
Guatemala is the largest known Mayan site and is easier to get to, Copan
shouldn't be missed by anyone interested in the Mayan civilization.
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