With so much being invented today, it can be easy to overlook some incredible historical marvels still standing today. Our world is filled with such monuments that stand as testaments of past civilizations.
Discover these fascinating historical sites ranging from tombs built for Nguyen Dynasty’s 12th monarch to one of the world’s oldest temples.
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is one of the world’s most beloved monuments, inspiring myths and theories since ancient times. Over centuries it has piqued antiquarians’ and archaeologists’ interest; John Aubrey in 1666 was the first to examine it scientifically, noting pits he later named “Aubrey holes”, associating it with Druids as well as Malagasy archaeologist Ramilisonina who explained that stones symbolised our ancestors while wood represented those still living.
Within three miles there is an unparalleled concentration of prehistoric monuments dating back to the fourth millennium bce, such as 17 long barrows and two cursus monuments dating to that era. At the center of this complex stands an imposing monument featuring 80 bluestone (dolorite, rhyolite and tuff) pillars weighing up to four tons each that were transported from Wales’ Preseli Hills over at least 185 miles.
The Great Sphinx of Giza
The Great Sphinx of Giza is an enormous limestone carving depicting a mythical creature with the body of a lion and human features, such as human ears. It’s considered one of the world’s earliest monuments and its exact date or builder is still unknown. Situated on Giza Plateau near Khafre (Cheops) and Menkaura pyramids, its face represents Ra-Horakhty the sun god and was created as an expression of royal power symbolization.
Many scholars and writers, such as Zechariah Sitchin and Erich von Daniken, have asserted that the Sphinx is much older than conventional Egyptology allows. Unfortunately, regardless of attempts at restoration, its state continues to deteriorate naturally over time.
It is believed that the Sphinx was constructed as a memorial to Khufu, who built Giza’s second largest pyramid during his reign and abandoned during its completion; however, evidence suggests workers abandoned their efforts on it during construction due to partially quarried bedrock as well as lunch and tools left by workers that may indicate when work stopped on this statue and temple complex.
The Acropolis
The Acropolis of Athens, situated atop of Athens city proper, dates back to Neolithic times when it served as an important landmark for controlling nearby countryside and seas. Today it stands as a monument of European culture.
Not until the fifth century BC did Acropolis become the seat of an influential democracy, when Pericles, an influential stateman of ancient Athens, led a reconstruction effort that transformed this hilly structure into one of classical antiquity’s finest monuments to art and thought.
Before visiting the Acropolis, be sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water. Arriving early morning or after sunset is ideal in order to avoid crowds and the summer heat. While the Acropolis itself remains open year-round, certain buildings such as Parthenon may be closed for renovation. To gain more knowledge about each building’s history it would be beneficial if accompanied by a guide.
Easter Island
Easter Island has long captivated the global imagination. Its towering statues known as moai have inspired speculation, amazement and admiration from visitors for centuries.
Historians, archaeologists, and other scholars have conducted extensive studies of Moai in order to better understand its past. Researchers have discovered that its inhabitants were highly skilled craftsmen and engineers who constructed its impressive structures; yet many questions still exist regarding Moai; these include why its statues were built, how they were carved without metal tools, and their transport.
Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen made the first known European visit to Easter Island in 1722, when he estimated its native population of approximately 3,000 people. Four years later, British navigator James Cook arrived and found that due to what seemed like civil strife or warfare on the island, its population had plummeted dramatically; only 111 residents remained. Later that same year, Easter Island was designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
