140 Ancient Ruins Around the World and their Specific Locations
– Ancient Ruins Around the World –
Ancient ruins all across the world provide a fascinating glimpse into the past, revealing how people lived, the spaces they occupied, and their daily routines.
Historians, architects, and tourists all marvel at these relics of the past, but it’s often difficult to imagine what these magnificent structures would have looked like at their peak.
We’ve compiled a list of 140 ancient ruins from around the world for you.
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140 Ancient Ruins Around the World
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Ayuthaya
Ayutthaya is a city with a long history, originally a Khmer military and trading post. Soon, this prosperous trading port became the ancient capital of Thailand.
It retained this title for four centuries until it was burned down by the Burmese invaders.
Since many temples and ruins in the city were made of wood, most of them were destroyed. Only about 50 stone remains and temples survived the fire and can still be seen today.
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Hampi
Hampi is the second largest medieval city after Beijing and one of the richest cities in India. Once the center of the prosperity of the Karnata Empire with temples and palaces, today there are only ruins.
Established in the 14th century by two princes, the former capital was originally a simple religious center on the banks of the river.
Highlights include the temple as a private place of worship for the royal family, the Victory House, the Vitala Temple with stone carts and musical columns, and the main temple with bizarrely carved marine creatures.
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Pompeii
The strange ruins of Pompeii are located near Naples, Italy. When the iconic Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, it destroyed the Roman city in lava waves and killed more than 2,000 residents.
This ancient city was accidentally discovered under volcanic rocks in the 1950s and is well preserved. However, it was not dug correctly until twenty years later.
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Tulum
Although it can be traced back to 564 AD, Tulum experienced its heyday in the 13th and 14th centuries. With only 1,600 residents, it is a powerful trading center for turquoise, jade, cotton and cocoa beans.
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Ephesus
Despite being one of the most impressive Greek and Roman sites on earth, the ancient city of Ephesus is located in western Turkey. It has a history of more than 2,000 years and was once the famous Temple of Artemis.
But what defines these ruins is their urgency. Unlike many other protected archaeological sites, you can touch, stand and walk anywhere in the city.
Highlights include some ancient public toilets, Celsus Library, Varius Baths, Temple of Hadrian, and Pritanion Temple.
The Great Theater of Ephesus has 25,000 seats and is the largest open-air theater in the ancient world.
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Terracotta Army
Terracotta Warriors, also known as Terracotta Warriors, is an impressive collection of thousands of life-size soldiers and horses.
In Xi’an, China, near the Mausoleum of the First Emperor Qin, there are approximately 600 underground pits dating back to the 3rd century BC. They were discovered by accident when locals dug a well in the 1970s.
Although many pits have not yet been excavated, three of them are open to the public and are located in the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum.
In addition to their huge size, the interesting thing about these mud soldiers is that each face is unique. They are hand-carved, with individual characteristics, and took about 40 years of crafting time in total.
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Acropolis
From the heights of Athens, from every corner of the city, you can see the Acropolis crowned by the Parthenon. The Acropolis was originally built and inhabited by Pericles in the 5th century AD and eventually became a temple city.
These ancient buildings are made of bronze and Pentlik marble, and some are even gilded. The repair work is still in progress, so don’t be surprised if the scaffolding is still there.
Many original artifacts are placed in the Acropolis Museum, so it is well worth a visit when you are here.
Since the Parthenon is under the scorching sun, it is best to visit in the early morning or evening. This is also the time when the number of people is the least.
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Bagan
The ancient city of Bagan is a charming temple city in Myanmar. It was the capital of a powerful kingdom in the 11th and 13th centuries, and in its heyday had more than 10,000 temples, monasteries, shrines, pagodas and stupas.
In the years that followed, Mongol invasions, negligence, and natural disasters left these holy sites in ruins. Only 2,000 temple ruins are left, scattered on the horizon.
Although you can explore the Bagan Archaeological Zone on foot, the best way to see the numerous temples is from the air.
Flying over Bagan in a hot air balloon is a wish list worth adding!
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Tikal
The gray temple peaks protrude from the dense canopy of the Guatemalan jungle. There are some very special things that give a glimpse of Tikal’s ruins.
Popular day trips from Flores or El Remat, these remote ruins are dotted with pyramids, temples, and palaces.
Tikal is one of the largest archaeological sites in Central America and the largest and most powerful Mayan city around 600 AD.
Don’t miss the Temple of the Two-Headed Snake. As one of the tallest pre-Columbian buildings in the Western Hemisphere, climbing to the top allows you to enjoy a 360-degree view of the tropical rainforest and beyond.
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Karnak
The Karnak Temple complex in Luxor, Egypt is impressive for its sheer size. It is larger than most ancient cities, dotted with temples, sanctuary, obelisks, and shrines.
The construction lasted more than 2,000 years, and each Egyptian pharaoh left his own architectural mark.
Strolling along the Avenue of Sphinxes, find the big pillared hall. This huge room with towering towers and huge sandstone pillars is one of the most famous and frequently photographed sights in ancient Egypt.
Here, stop to admire the holy lake and nearby granite scarabs. It is said that if you go around it seven times, your love will be very lucky.
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Borobudur
Borobudur in Indonesia is built from an impressive 2 million pieces of volcanic rock and is the largest Buddhist temple in the world.
Its history can be traced back to the 9th century, and it fell into disrepair until it was rediscovered in the 19th century. Since then, it has regained its former glory and is especially popular at sunrise.
The Borobudur Monument consists of six square platforms and three circular platforms. A path of enlightenment passes through the three levels of the Buddhist cosmology, the colored world, and the colorless world from the bottom of the pyramid.
Borobudur is decorated with more than 2,000 reliefs and 500 Buddha statues, each of which outlines Buddhist teaching.
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Moai Statues
The maximum weight of the Moai Statue is more than 80 tons. It is a landmark on Easter Island in Polynesia. In fact, even if you have never heard of them, you might recognize them in pictures.
These 800 statues, most of which face the sea, were carved from volcanic ash by Rapa Nui between 400 and 1500 AD.
It May be made of basic basalt stone pickaxes, and each of these huge monolithic statues will take nearly a year to complete.
There are many theories about why they were built, including to commemorate important clan ancestors, and because they are believed to improve the soil.
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Colosseum
The Colosseum is one of the most famous Roman ruins and is an ancient arena. The 50,000-seat amphitheater opened in 80 AD is used for various events.
This includes animal fighting and bloodthirsty gladiator fighting, in which participants fight to the death.
Even by today’s standards, the architecture of the Colosseum is impressive. The outer wall is composed of three-tiered arches with Ionian, Doric, and Corinthian columns. In their heyday, they were decorated with travertine and marble statues.
The top floor of used to support a huge awning to protect the audience from the elements. Today, you can explore the Colosseum on your own or combine a visit to the nearby Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
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Great Wall of China
This is one of the Ancient Ruins Around the World. The Great Wall of China spans 15 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China and is the longest man-made structure in the world.
It consists of a series of discrete walls and moats that were built during the course of six dynasties of China to resist invaders.
With a history of more than 2,000 years, part of the city wall has fallen into disrepair. Interestingly, for those who want to try, it takes about 18 months to climb the full length of the Great Wall of China.
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Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a huge tick on the tourist list and one of the most famous cities in the ancient Inca Empire. This historic fortress is hidden in the mountains of Peru.
In fact, it is so well hidden that it was never discovered by Spanish invaders when they arrived in the 16th century.
It was a coincidence that an explorer named Bingham didn’t discover them until 1911. He was actually looking for another city called Vilcabamba.
A miracle of advanced engineering, it is estimated that 60% of the structures are built underground, mainly for fortifications and drainage.
Today, this walled ruin can only be reached on foot or by train. Don’t miss the secret Machu Picchu Museum to gain an insight into the lost Inca City.
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Angkor
This is one of the Ancient Ruins Around the World. Angkor is derived from the Sanskrit word “nagara”, Angkor means “city”. It was the capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to 15th centuries and a prosperous ancient metropolis.
Today Angkor is famous for its Hindu temple, Angkor Wat, which is known as the largest religious shrine on earth.
Famous for visiting the temple at sunrise. At that time, the temple’s lights were magical. In addition to Angkor Wat, the Angkor Archaeological Park also includes many other fascinating attractions.
More than 1,000 temples are scattered among forests, rice fields and farmland.
Highlights include the mysterious Beng Mealea Temple covered in jungle with its early library and well-preserved carvings, and the 12th-century Bayon Temple, marking the historic center of the ancient city of Angkor Thom.
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Giza
As one of the most mysterious ancient sites on earth, the Giza Pyramids in Cairo are truly fascinating. When the Fourth Dynasty built huge tombs for ancient Egyptian pharaohs, people had many speculations about how they were built.
Has such precise and perfect details, they are another extraordinary feat of ancient Egyptian engineering. In fact, many people think they were built by angels and even aliens.
Visitors can enter all three Great Pyramids for a fee. They were used as burial chambers and scattered treasures for pharaohs in the afterlife-which attracted many tomb robbers over the years.
Don’t forget to take a kissing picture with the Sphinx-this is almost a mandatory requirement. For those who want to escape the worst of the crowd, there are more little-known tombs, temple ruins, and pyramids worth exploring on the surrounding desert plateau.
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Red Pyramid
This is one of the Ancient Ruins Around the World. Before we visited, we didn’t even know the existence of the Red Pyramid. I don’t know why no more people visit this pyramid, it is fascinating.
In addition, you can easily enter the rooms of the pyramids, without the masses of the Giza pyramids, it is the fourth largest pyramid in Egypt.
Whenever you travel to Egypt, be sure to add the red pyramid to your list.
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Valley of the Kings
An experience to the Valley of the Kings is a need to whilst journeying Egypt.
It is a huge complicated wherein each king of the Pharaohs changed into laid to rest. If you’re curious approximately King Tut, his tomb is here!
All of the tombs are empty, however, artwork and carvings are nonetheless at the partitions of the chambers and the structure is astounding.
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Luxor Temple
The Luxor Temple is a groovy region to go to because it sits withinside the center of Luxor City. It dates again to 1400 BC and is a need to go to whilst in Egypt.
We in reality located a few Wifi at a Mcdonald’s and did our paintings whilst searching over the historic temple’s a historic town in a contemporary-day town! How cool is that?
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Por-Bazhyn
Por-Bazhyn, meaning “Clay House” withinside the Tuvan language are the stays of an adobe monastery or a fortified palace, that changed into constructed on a small island in Lake Tere-Khol, placed withinside the Sengelen mountains of southern Siberia, Russia.
Radiocarbon courting and dendrochronological research advise that Por-Bazhyn changed into constructed round AD 777 via way of means of the Uighurs, a tribal confederation beneath the Orkhon Uyghur that dominated from AD 742 to 848.
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Rujm el-Hiri
Rujm el-Hiri (meaning “stone heap of the wild cat”), additionally referred to as Gilgal Refā`īm (meaning “wheel of spirits”), is a historic megalithic monument, placed withinside the Israeli-occupied location of the Golan Heights.
Archaeologists courting sediment eolian samples, and the examine of pottery sherds excavated in situ, advise it changed into built both all through the Early Bronze Age II round 3000 to 2700 BC, or from the Chalcolithic–Early Bronze Age I among 3880– 3540 BC (despite the fact that there’s nonetheless no consensus).
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The Sunken Town of Pavlopetri
This is one of the Ancient Ruins Around the World. Pavlopetri, additionally referred to as Paulopetri, is a submerged historic metropolis, placed among the islet of Pavlopetri and the Pounta coast of Laconia, at the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece.
Ceramics recovered in situ confirms that Pavlopetri had Mycenaean occupation, however in addition archaeological proof shows that the metropolis changed into occupied as early as 3500 BC.
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The Ancient Egyptian Pyramids
The Ancient Egyptian Pyramids are defined as pyramid-formed monuments, built basically as funerary tombs and ceremonial complexes for the departed pharaohs all through the Old Kingdom (2575 BC to 2150 BC) and Middle Kingdom (2050-1550 BC) periods.
To date, about 118 pyramids of diverse definitions were observed throughout Egypt (despite the fact that reassets fluctuate with a few bringing up 138), especially sited at the west financial institution of the River Nile and grouped into numerous clusters or pyramid fields.
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Herodium
Herodium, also known as Har Hordus (meaning “Mount Herod”), is an archaeological site and ancient palace-fortress in ArRahniah in the Judean Desert on the West Bank of Israel.
Also, Herodium was built on a huge hill, where Herod allegedly fought against the victorious Jews who were loyal to his enemy Antigonus (the last King of Hasmoni).
A contemporary report by the Roman Jewish historian Josephus stated that Herod “built a city in this place to commemorate his victory, and expanded many beautiful palaces… and named Herod Castle after him.”
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Ġgantija
Ġgantija is an archaeological site and an ancient Neolithic temple complex on the Xagħra plateau on the Mediterranean island of Gozo, Republic of Malta.
Documents concerning settlement on the island are from 5000 BC. In BC, during the Għar Dalam stage of the early Neolithic period, there were later settlers on the island, beginning in the 4th century BC. Start to build the temple.
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Siq al-Barid
This is one of the Ancient Ruins Around the World. Siq al-Barid, also known as “Little Petra”, is a Nabataean site in Ma’an Governorate, Jordan. It features rock tombs, stone buildings, and complex hydrological engineering systems.
Siq al-Barid was established by the Nabataeans (also known as the Nabataeans), a nomadic Bedouin tribe from the Arabian desert who took their herds across the desert to find pasture and water.
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The Great Serpent Mound
The Great Serpent Mound is an image of a huge mound, depicting a snake with a curly tail. It was built on the site of a classic astronomical problem. The problem was struck by a stone less than 320 million years ago.
The impact crater was caused by the erosion of the meteorite in Ohio, USA.
Historically, the mound belonged to the Adna culture (1000 BC-100 AD), was built in 381 BC (1000 AD to 1750 AD), and the construction date was 1070 AD.
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The Roman Villa of Tiberius
This is one of the Ancient Ruins Around the World. Villa Tbilisi is a group of dilapidated Roman villas in the current city of Sperlonga in the Latin province of the west coast of Italy. Villa
Hosted a luxurious dinner, in the center is a large natural cave with a rectangular and circular pool.
It is decorated with colorful works of sectile floors, artificial stalactites and scales, statues known as Sperlonga sculptures, and a triangular terrace (a dining room with sofas) on the island of the cave entrance.
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Sarmizegetusa Regia
This is one of the Ancient Ruins Around the World. Sarmizegetusa Regia is the capital and political center of the Dacia people. It is located in the Orăştie Mountains in the Grădiştea Muncelului Natural Park in Romania.
During the reign of the Thracian King Burebista (82/61 BC.
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Noushabad
Noushabed, also known as Oeei or Ouyim), was an ancient underground city built under the small town of Nushabad in modern Iran.
The earliest part of the city was built during the Sassanid dynasty from 224 to 651 AD and was further excavated in the post-Islamic era. There is evidence that the Qajar dynasty was occupied.
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Ketl
Chetro Ketl is an archaeological site in the Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico, USA, and an ancient site where the ancestors of the Pueblo people live.
However, Chetro Ketl was founded in 990 AD for a long time, and political meetings are often associated with the Kachina belief system.
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Teōtīhuacān
This is one of the Ancient Ruins Around the World. Teōtīhuacān, named by the Nahuatl-speaking Aztecs, roughly translated as “the birthplace of the gods”, is an ancient Mesoamerican city in the Teotihuacan Valley in the Free State of Mexico. It is now Mexico.
The development of Teōtīhuacān can be determined by four different successive stages, called Teōtīhuacān I, II, III, and IV. Also, the first stage is approximately 200-100 v basin in Teōtīhuacān valley.
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Kerma
Kerma, also known as Karmah, is an archaeological site. It is the former capital of the ancient Kerma kingdom. It is located in the territory of the Donggula Empire and above the third largest waterfall on the Nile, which is now Sudan.
The Kelma Kingdom is an indigenous Nile culture that originated around the middle of the third millennium BC. BC, most likely from the CGroup culture in the southern part of Upper Nubia.
However, In its heyday, the kingdom controlled several cataracts on the Nile, covering almost the same size as neighboring Egypt.
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Göbekli Tepe
This is one of the Ancient Ruins Around the World. Also, Göbekli Tepe is an archaeological site and polyphasic site, considered to be the oldest Mesolithic temple complex in the Anatolia region of southeastern Turkey.
The main structure identified was built around the 10th century BC. Also, Dating back to the pre-ceramic neolithic age A (PPNA), there are more small architectural remains of the pre-ceramic neolithic age B (PPNB) dating back to the 9th century BC.
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More Ancient Ruins Around the World
- Por-Bazhyn – The Mysterious Island Fortress in Siberia
- Rujm el-Hiri – the “Stonehenge of the Levant”
- The Sunken Town of Pavlopetri
- The Ancient Egyptian Pyramids
- Herodium – The Palace Fortress of King Herod
- Ġgantija – The Megalithic Temple Complex
- Siq al-Barid – ‘Little Petra’
- The Great Serpent Mound
- The Roman Villa of Tiberius
- Sarmizegetusa Regia – The Mountain Capital of the Dacians
- Noushabad – The Hidden Underground City
- Ketl – The Great House
- Teōtīhuacān – Birthplace of the Gods
- Kerma – The Ancient African Kingdom
- Göbekli Tepe
- The Prehistoric Altar of Monte D’Accoddi
- Rani ki vav – The Inverted Stepwell Temple
- Nemrut
- Akrotiri
- Longyou Caves
- Petra
- The Etruscan Pyramid
- Cape Matapan & Taenarum – Gateway to Hades
- The Mysterious Stone Spheres of Costa Rica
- The Mozu Kofungun Keyhole Burial Mounds
- Khara-Khoto – The Black City
- Tongwancheng – Capital of the Xia kingdom
- Vallum Aulium – Hadrian’s Wall
- Vallum Antonini – The Antonine Wall
- The Giants’ Graves
- Karakorum – The Mongol Capital
- L’Anse aux Meadows – The Viking Settlement in Canada
- Machaerus – The Palace Fortress of King Herod
- Isca Augusta – The Roman Legionary Fortress
- Tenochtitlan
- Aggersborg – The Giant Viking Trelleborg
- The Gila Cliff Dwellings
- Amarna – The City of the “Heretic Pharaoh”
- Camulodunum – The First Capital of Britannia
- The Ancient Pyramid City of Túcume
- Ancient Troy
- Jiaohe – The Castle City
- The City of Ur
- The Oracle of Delphi
- Grianan of Aileach – Seat of the Kingdom of Ailech
- The Limes Arabicus
- Avebury Stone Circle
- Cliff Palace
- The Ancient City of Termessos
- The Caves of Valerón
- Masada
- Axum/Aksum
- Pueblo Bonito
- Sigiriya
- Mohenjo-daro
- Meroë
- Persepolis
- Mari
- Hattusa
- The Maunsell Sea Forts
- Qatna
- Merv the Great
- Guyaju Caves
- Ciudad Perdida
- Venta Silurum
Other Ancient Ruins Around the World
- Timgad
- Tanis
- Takht-e Soleymān
- Cliff Villages of Bandiagara
- Khami
- Pella
- Skellig Michael
- The Great Pyramid of Cholula
- Salona
- Nan Madol
- Ostia Antica
- Aquae Sulis
- Kuélap
- Serjilla
- The Ellora Caves
- Great Zimbabwe
- Derinkuyu
- Ani
- Rutupiae
- Choquequirao
- Maijishan Grottoes
- Ancient Miletus
- El Tajín
- Tintagel
- Salamis
- Ma’rib
- Chan Chan
- Volubilis
- Thera
- Koi Krylgan Kala
- Skara Brae
- Carthage
- Hardknott Roman Fort
- Montezuma Castle
- Gümüşler
- The Prehistoric Altar of Monte D’Accoddi
- Rani ki vav – The Inverted Stepwell Temple
- Nemrut
- Akrotiri
- Longyou Caves
We hope this article on Ancient Ruins Around the World was helpful. Also, Do well to visit any of these places if you’re on a tour. Also, if this was helpful, please do well to share with friends and loved ones.