The 7 wonders of the world as we know them give them an insight into our past that we might never have otherwise realized. Getting up close and personal with our cultural history enables us to understand a great deal more about the human race than we might have even known and for that reason, our monuments are still with us today. Was it always this way, though? The wonders of the world were once in their infancy and in ancient times, populations looked to other sources to understand the people who came before them. The ancient world is a rich tapestry of culture and change and by understanding what historical generations held dear, we can understand more about the way they saw the world. Behold; the most precious wonders of the ancient world.
- The City Of Sigiriya
(source: iliketowastemytime.com)
Still visible today, the ancient city of Sigiriya was once famed as the resting spot of one of the most powerful Kings in the world. Nestled in the heart of Sri Lanka, the ancient city was at one time the property of King Kassapa I, a powerful leader who got his way to the top by murdering his own father. The city was constructed by order of the King, featuring landscaped gardens, pavilions and palaces like never before. The citadel was once one of the most impressive feats of human ingenuity in the world and while only foundations remain today, you can still get an idea of how impressive the expanse must once have been.
- The Great Ziggurat Of Ur
(source: odysseyadventures.ca)
Forget about the Great Wall of China, you need to set your sights on the Great Ziggurat of Ur. Built in the 21st century BC, areas of the impressive stone expanse is still largely intact and can still be explored today. Located in what is now Iraq, the Great Ziggurat of Ur was once the central religious monument of Ur, an ancient and powerful metropolis. The construction was originally in the form of a mud brick tower, inlaid with a series of 100 step staircases in its center. While it is only the bottom stages that are still intact, the construction is impressive nonetheless and will give you an insight into an ancient civilization before it fell.
- Longmen Grottoes
(source: amusingplanet.com)
The most lasting of monuments stand the test of any weather and even today, a large majority of them stand in whole pieces. Such is the case for the Longmen Grottoes, a series of 11,000 carved stone statues within a limestone cave system in China. While the earliest statues in the series date back to the 5th century AD, pieces were still being added to the collection until the tenth century, after being commissioned by emperors. If you’re looking for a window into China’s path then, this is it, and even today, you can get a glimpse into the country’s powerful past.
- Tikal
(source: airpano.com)
The Mayans were perhaps one of the most developed nations ever to have been born and it is for this reason that their sudden disappearance is all the more striking. A number of ancient Mayan constructions still stand and by considering them further, we can begin to understand more about this ancient civilization. One of the most fascinating is perhaps Tikal, a ruined metropolis that lies in the Guatemalan rainforest. Among the ruins are several ancient pyramids which rise well above the jungle. The city was flourishing until around 900 AD when it was left for ruin. While researchers don’t yet know why, they can use the ruins to understand more about what happened to the people who were once on top of the world.
- Newgrange
(source: thewildgeese.irish)
Ireland is home to some of the most fascinating history out there and among its ruins lies one of the most interesting in the ancient world. Newgrange is a dome-shaped construction that serves as a huge tomb. Often cited as Ireland’s stonehenge, the monument was built with the summer and winter solstices in mind, positioned to let the light fall between the stones. Built around 3,200 BC, Newgrange is one of the most ancient standing monuments today and still serves as a window into our deep past.