According to scientists, the construction of housing and religious buildings began long before our era, because there are still fragments of buildings that, even for the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, were considered ancient buildings, causing increased interest. Naturally, most of the oldest architectural masterpieces have been restored completely, but this has not lost their significance. And this proves the fact that modern inhabitants of the planet with admiration and reverence rush to the found temples, mounds and pantheons, because some of them amaze the imagination even now.
At all times, when archaeologists were able to find an ancient city or at least a surviving fragment of a settlement, it was considered great luck. As a rule, such amazing finds, after lengthy research by scientists, over time turned into the most visited places, where flows of tourists rushed and still rush. And this is not surprising, because it is they who allow us to slightly open the curtain of time, telling about the life of our ancestors. Therefore, the authors of Novate. Ru have found 10 of the most interesting ancient structures, which, after more than one millennium, will take your breath away with their grandeur and cause only admiration.
1. Temple of Newgrange in Ireland (built 5.2 thousand years BC)
The iconic Newgrange building, located in the Boyne Valley of Ireland, was built in 2500 BC.
Only on the day of the winter solstice, a sunbeam passes through the mysterious 19-meter corridor of Newgrange, illuminating the main cult hall.
The oldest religious building Newgrange, which is located in Ireland, is currently considered the oldest structure that has been discovered by scientists. For many centuries it was considered a burial mound, but this hypothesis was dispelled in the middle of the last century, proving that this is a real prehistoric temple.
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2. Bugon mound or Bugon necropolis in France (built 4.7 - 3.5 thousand years BC)
Tumulus of Bougon is five Neolithic mounds built over 4 thousand years ago.
The Tumulus of Bougon is made up of five Stone Age burial mounds located near Poitou-Charente, France. In the ancient necropolis, more than 200 graves have been discovered to date, which were transferred to the Bougon Museum. Considering that the necropolis was created over several centuries, it is not surprising that each mound has its own unique architectural style.
3. Tumulus Saint-Michel in France (built 4.5 thousand years BC)
Even a walk around the sacred place can leave an indelible impression (Mound Tumulus de St-Michel, France).
Tumulus de St-Michel is one of five burial mounds located east of Carnac in northwestern France. It is the largest grave in continental Europe, because it is 12 m high, 125 m long and 60 m wide.
4. Temple complex Jgantiya (built 3.7 thousand years BC)
This is how the megaliths of the Ggantija temple complex look.
Ggantija (Ggantija), which means "tower of giants", is a megalithic temple complex of the Neolithic era on the island of Gozo, off the coast of Malta. This powerful ensemble consists of two churches connected to each other, which (according to the assumption of archaeologists) belong to ritual structures.
The five apses found in Ggantia contain various altars where sacrificial rites took place.
Considering the fact that bones and remains of animals, statues of the goddesses of fertility and fertility, as well as stone hearths were found in them, it is believed that rituals and sacrifices were carried out in them. Already in the XX century, this complex was recognized as a monument of world culture and protected by UNESCO, and at the beginning of the third millennium AD (i.e. from January 1, 2001) Ggantija was completely restored and now receives tourists.
Preserved part of the Ggantija temple complex in Malta.
5. Mound of Meadhow in Scotland (built 3.5 thousand years BC)
The name Midhow comes from a massive broch found west of the tomb (Rousey Island, Scotland).
Midhow is a huge neolithic tomb (stone mound) that was discovered on the south coast of Rousey Island in Scotland. The stone tomb and broch form a veritable temple complex with 12 chambers and a 23 meter main passage. The walls of this necropolis rise 2.5 m above the ground.
The Midhow is a corridor-type tomb lined with stones without any mortar (Rousey, Scotland).
Unfortunately, the roof of those times has not survived, but experts believe that these were huge monolithic stones. Judging by the fact that the remains of 25 people and animals were found inside the complex, archaeologists suggested that this structure was intended to protect the peace of the deceased and provide relatives with access to their ashes.
6. Pyramid of Djoser in Egypt (built 3 thousand years BC)
The Pyramid of Djoser was built during the period of economic prosperity and stability of the Egyptian civilization (Saqqara).
This is one of the oldest unworked structures found so far and is located in the city of Saqqara in Egypt. This first pyramid, consisting of 6 steps hewn out of stone, was erected for Pharaoh Djoser by his architect Imhotep. The scale of the tomb is really impressive, because the base, made of white limestone, measures 125 * 115 m, and reaches 62 m in height.
7. Pyramid of Cheops in Giza (built 2560 BC)
Egypt officially celebrates the start date for the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza - August 23, 2560 BC (exact date unknown).
The pyramid of Khufu (as the Egyptians themselves call it) is the only ancient structure that has survived to this day, which is ranked among the 7 wonders of the world. The largest structure created by mankind is truly gigantic, given that its base covers an area of 53 thousand square meters. m. (10 football fields), and the lateral surface area reaches 85.5 thousand square meters. m.
About 300 tourists visit the pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) every day, given the climatic conditions (Egypt).
Initially, its height was 147 m, but now 138 m are left to the top. And the most interesting thing is that inside the pyramid of Cheops, Egyptologists found only a small portrait in the passage to the tomb of the queen, and there are simply no other inscriptions or decorative paintings. So until now, no evidence has been found proving that the pyramid belonged specifically to Pharaoh Khufu.
8. Funeral Temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Egypt (built 1470 BC)
The funeral temple of Hatshepsut in Deir el-Bahri is the main part of the Theban necropolis complex (Egypt).
The sculptures of the Hatshepsut temple complex represent the queen in three images - Osiris, Pharaoh, and the Sphinx.
This truly magnificent structure, which has survived to this day, began to be built during the life of Queen Hatshepsut, who was considered a usurper of power. Its incredible size, architectural solutions and a huge number of statues were truly sacred in that era, and it was not for nothing that it was reverently called "Jeser Jeseru", which means "Most Holy of the Sacred." But not only the ancient Egyptians were struck by its greatness, it is still considered one of the most beautiful temple buildings in the world.
9. Athenian Acropolis (Pantheon) in Greece (built 560-527 BC)
Acropolis of Athens - the main attraction of Greece.
This is the most famous monument of ancient architecture located on the territory of Greece, was the main temple in ancient Athens and was erected in honor of the patroness of this city and all of Attica, the goddess Athena the Virgin. The Acropolis consists of a quadrangular structure, erected in the style of the ancient Greek Doric order, and is located on the top of a cliff that rises 150 meters above sea level.
Today's Acropolis - almost complete reconstruction of the oldest temple (Greece).
For many centuries of existence and the hostilities that took place, the temple was almost completely destroyed, and only after the proclamation of the independence of Greece, it began to be restored, and by this time it was completely restored.
10. Great Stupa at Sanchi (built 300 BC)
Great Sanchi Stupa - a monument of early Buddhist architecture.
In the village of Sanchi (India), truly outstanding buildings of early Buddhist culture have survived to this day, among which the Great Stupa is considered the main attraction. According to legend, it was in it that the main relics of the Buddha were kept. This unusual and delightful structure, which has a diameter of 36 meters and a height of 15 meters, is crowned with three harliks (umbrellas), which symbolize the past, present and future of the Buddha.
