Ancient Places

Ancient places can be found all over the world. Their fascinating histories and impressive artifacts open intriguing glimpses to times past, and visiting such ancient places in the world can be an unforgettable experience.

Science is constantly discovering new archaeological places and uncovering more evidence into what we once thought we knew about our history, therefore offering new pieces to the ever changing puzzle of humanity’s past and altering how we interpret it. This section will present the most interesting archaeological sites all over the world, as well as new discoveries of ancient places that are worth paying a visit.

Tsodilo Hills in Northwestern Botswana.

12 February, 2019 - 01:57 Ed Whelan

Kebokwe’s Cave: A Supernatural Site That Was Feared, Now a Sacred Place for Worship

Caves have always fascinated humans and often been regarded with awe and superstition. Kebokwe’s Cave , in the Southern African nation of Botswana , has many legends told about it and it has...

Ancient man (ginettigino / Adobe Stock)

10 February, 2019 - 22:57 Ed Whelan

Olorgesailie Prehistoric site, Kenya: A Factory of Tools With 1.2 Million Years of History

Kenya is a beautiful land, famous for its abundant wildlife and dramatic scenery and has been so for millions of years. It is also a country which plays a pivotal role in the early history of...

A view of the great megalithic walls surrounding the Acropolis of Chimalacatlan. Some of the stones measure over 3 meters long, with an estimated weight of between 5 to 8 tons.

9 February, 2019 - 01:43 Marco M. Vigato

Tamoanchan – In Search of the Lost Cradle of Mesoamerican Civilizations

The oldest Nahua legends speak of a mythical place called Tamoanchan , considered to be the cradle of all Mesoamerican civilizations and a sort of terrestrial paradise from which the ancestors of the...

Bojjannakonda Buddha

8 February, 2019 - 01:46 Ed Whelan

Bojjannakonda, India: The Hill of the Buddha Where Kings and Nobles Donated Countless Treasures

Buddhism is one of the most well-known spiritual traditions in India and its long history in the country has resulted in many spectacular and significant Buddhist sites and ruins. These include...

Buddha in Polonnaruwa temple - medieval capital of Ceylon whose history the Mahavamsa describes.

6 February, 2019 - 02:03 dhwty

The Mahavamsa: An Epic Poem that Sheds Light on Sri Lankan History

The Mahavamsa (meaning ‘Great Chronicle’) is one of the most important works of ancient literature from the island of Sri Lanka. This work takes on the form of an epic poem and was written either...

The Great Zimbabwe Ruins.

5 February, 2019 - 13:56 Michelle Freson

No Queen of Sheba Involved! Great Zimbabwe Ruins and Those Who Fought for the Truth

Great Zimbabwe was a medieval city of unparalleled architecture in southern Africa. Construction of the stone buildings started in the 11th century and continued for over 300 years. The city, built...

Agrasen ki baoli.

4 February, 2019 - 13:51 Ed Whelan

Agrasen Ki Baoli: A Subterranean Architectural Wonder

When we think of architectural wonders, we do not typically think of the water supply. However, in the heart of modern New Delhi, near one of its most popular tourist sites, is a remarkable...

Statue of ancient Greek athlete

3 February, 2019 - 14:00 dhwty

Before the Olympiad There Was The Panathenaea – The Greek Festival and Games to Honor Athena

The Panathenaea was an ancient and important festival celebrated in the ancient Greek city state of Athens. This festival was held in honor of Athena Polias , the city’s patron goddess, and...

St. Basil's Cathedral on Red Square, Moscow, Russia.

2 February, 2019 - 13:56 dhwty

The Iconic Saint Basil's Cathedral – So Magnificent the Architects Were Blinded

Saint Basil’s Cathedral is a church located on Moscow’s Red Square and is one of Russia’s most recognizable landmarks. The building of the church was commissioned by Tsar Ivan the Terrible during the...

Five Arch Rock

1 February, 2019 - 01:49 Ed Whelan

The Isolated Ennedi Geological Formations Are Rarely visited But Never Forgotten

In some of the most desolate areas on earth there are astonishing natural features and geological wonders. The Ennedi geological features in the African country of Chad are a prime example. These are...

Ruins of Gedi Palace

31 January, 2019 - 01:56 Ed Whelan

Could The Gedi Ruins Be Haunted By Jins?

Historic cities throughout the world have always intrigued experts and travelers and one of the most fascinating is the abandoned city known as Gedi on the coast of Kenya. The ruins of Gedi are...

Woman at Petra.

28 January, 2019 - 17:36 Sarah P Young

Were the Women of Petra More Important Than the Men?

The Nabataeans were a society who inhabited Arabia and the Southern Levant from the 3rd century BC to approximately 106 AD when the Nabataean kingdom was annexed by the Roman Empire. Known for their...

Powerful Roman Emperor

28 January, 2019 - 13:57 dhwty

The Five Good Emperors: Prosperity and Power Before the Final Fall

The Five Good Emperors is a term referring to a group of Roman emperors who reigned between the 1 st and 2 nd centuries AD. This period is often regarded to be the high point of the Roman Empire, as...

Scraping hides at the Chouara Tannery, the largest of the Fez’s leather tanneries and the oldest in the world.

26 January, 2019 - 22:59 dhwty

The Ancient and Vibrant Leather Tanneries of Fez, Morocco

Fez is one of the most important cities in Morocco. Located in the northern part of the country, this ancient city served as Morocco’s capital for centuries. The historic part of the city, known also...

Relief representing a two-headed eagle on the sphinx located at the right of the Sphinx Gate, Alaca Höyük, Turkey.

24 January, 2019 - 13:59 Carly Silver

How a Two Headed Bird of Prey Ruled Ancient Mesopotamia and Hatti

Several infamous empires of the early modern period and current modern periods bore curious insignia. The Byzantine, Austrian, and Russian Empires all adopted the symbol of a mythical creature, a...

Pirate or privateer, buccaneer or corsair?

22 January, 2019 - 13:58 dhwty

The Intricate World of Pirates, Privateers, Buccaneers, and Corsairs

Piracy can be defined as “the act of attacking ships in order to steal from them”, and one who participates in this act is known simply as a pirate . As simple as this may sound in theory, there were...

Roman soldiers and their general (vukkostic / Adobe Stock)

19 January, 2019 - 22:58 dhwty

The Roman Republic – Was It Truly A Republic?

The Roman Republic was the period in ancient Roman history that superseded the Roman Kingdom and preceded the Roman Empire. Traditionally, the founding of the Roman Republic is dated to 509 BC, when...

Buddhist Monastery Swat Pakistan.

19 January, 2019 - 13:38 dhwty

Ancient Gandhara Kingdom Was A Melting Pot That Left Its Legacy in Art

Gandhara was an ancient kingdom located in what is the region that is today northwestern Pakistan and northeastern Afghanistan. The history Gandhara can be traced all the way back to the Vedic period...

Abourma Rock Art

19 January, 2019 - 01:52 Ed Whelan

Abourma Rock Art Displayed In Djibouti’s Most Inhospitable Landscape

Rock art has greatly enhanced our knowledge of our prehistoric ancestors and the Abourma site, in the African state of Djibouti, is enhancing our understanding further. These carvings which are set...

Pulemelei Mound

18 January, 2019 - 01:38 Ed Whelan

The Perplexing Purpose of the Gigantic Pulemelei ‘Pyramid’ Mound of Samoa

One of the most important archaeological sites in Polynesia is the Pulemelei mound - the largest ancient monumental structure, not only in Samoa, but in the South Pacific. This monument, commonly...

Funi Aziri Bangwe

15 January, 2019 - 00:38 Ed Whelan

The Comoros Archipelago and An Aged Tradition of Public Spaces

The Comoros is an archipelago of islands located off the East Coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean and north of Madagascar, and yet, one of the least known countries in Africa. Because of its relative...

All images credit Ioannis Syrigos.

12 January, 2019 - 01:56 dhwty

Which Invading Elite Are Buried in Cyprus’ Monumental Tombs of the Kings?

The Tombs of the Kings is an awe-inspiring archaeological site located in the Paphos District of Cyprus. The site is a 2,400-year-old necropolis that is carved into massive rocks. It is so immense...

The Pantheon is an iconic example of beautiful Roman architecture

10 January, 2019 - 02:00 Mark Miller

Durability, Power, and Imposing Public Edifices of Roman Architecture

Ancient Rome borrowed from ancient Greece for architecture, among other things, but then innovated and invented its own architectural features and building types. Roman architecture made a statement...

Cathedral of the Holy Saviour of Congo

9 January, 2019 - 01:42 Ed Whelan

Cathedral of the Holy Savior of Congo In Angola Is A Christian Landmark in Sub-Saharan Africa

Angola is a country that is rarely visited and its tourist industry is underdeveloped. This is in part due to the devastation caused by the wars of independence and civil wars that only ended in 2002...

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