Asia

Ancient places can be found all over Asia. Their fascinating histories and impressive artifacts open intriguing glimpses to times past, and open up a window on Asian history. Visiting such historical places in Asia 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 Asia, as well as new discoveries of ancient places that are worth paying a visit.

Prayer Flags on Tomb of Songtsen. View of Chongye Valley to the South from the Tomb.

23 April, 2017 - 19:09 dhwty

Tibet's Valley of the Kings: What Hidden Treasures Lie Within This Imperial Tibetan Graveyard?

Chongye Valley is known also as Tibet’s Valley of the Kings. This site adjoins the Yarlung Valley (about 180 km (111.85 miles)) to the Tibetan capital, Lhasa. The Chongye Valley is famed for its...

Pasargadae Tomb in Shiraz, Iran.

20 April, 2017 - 13:59 dhwty

Was the Magnificent Monumental Tomb of Pasargadae Really Built for Cyrus the Great?

The tomb of Cyrus the Great is the name given to a monument located in the ancient Persian city of Pasargadae. This city was founded by Cyrus, and served as the capital of the Achaemenid Empire until...

A photo of the Hand of Hercules.

18 April, 2017 - 13:55 dhwty

The Colossal Hand of Hercules, So Where is the Rest of Him?

The Hand of Hercules is the name given to a massive fragment of an ancient statue that was unearthed by archaeologists in Amman, the capital of Jordan. This fragment is believed to have once been a...

A copper bowl burning frankincense.

11 April, 2017 - 02:06 dhwty

Why Did Ancient People Travel Thousands of Kilometers for Incense?

In ancient times, people would travel thousands of kilometers across land and sea, along a network of trading routes, to acquire the precious commodities of myrrh and frankincense. The ancient...

Domes of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

4 April, 2017 - 18:59 dhwty

Why is the Holiest Shrine in Christianity Guarded by Two Muslim Families?

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is considered to be the holiest site in Christianity. According to tradition, this was the place where Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, and...

Sirakawa-go, Ogimachi Gassho Village, UNESCO World Heritage Site.

3 April, 2017 - 01:51 marinasohma

Historic Houses for the Silkworm! The Grand Attics of the Shirakawa-go and Gokayama

Located in the central Gifu Prefecture, not very far from Tokyo or Kyoto, a beautiful example of traditional Japanese architecture survives in the villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama. Some of the...

Art Relics Shed Light on Mysterious Ancient Civilization

26 March, 2017 - 00:50 Riley Winters

Art Relics Shed Light on Mysterious Ancient Civilization

A society still silent and secreted beneath the earth of the Himalayas, the earliest civilization associated with Hindu/Indian art history is the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC). This society is...

Taking Beauty to New Heights in China: What Stunning Sights Emerge on Huangshan and its Bridge of Immortals?

19 March, 2017 - 17:59 dhwty

Taking Beauty to New Heights in China: What Stunning Sights Emerge on Huangshan and its Bridge of Immortals?

Huangshan (written in the Han script as 黄山, and literally translated as ‘Yellow Mountain’) is a mountain range located in the southern part of Anhui Province, in the eastern region of China. This...

Derawar Fort: What Remains from a Once Thriving Desert Civilization?

13 March, 2017 - 00:08 dhwty

Derawar Fort: What Remains from a Once Thriving Desert Civilization?

Derawar Fort is a stronghold located in what is today Bahawalpur, in the Pakistani province of Punjab. The fort traces its history back to the 9th century AD, though it may be added that it only...

Countless Devotees Are Drawn to It, What Makes the Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple So Special?

8 March, 2017 - 13:48 dhwty

Countless Devotees Are Drawn to It, What Makes the Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple So Special?

Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple is a beautiful Hindu temple located in Kanchipuram (known also as Kanchi), a city in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This magnificent temple is claimed to be the...

Can Different Religions Peacefully Share a Sacred Site? A Temple Mount Tragedy

4 March, 2017 - 22:52 Dr. Steven L. D...

Can Different Religions Peacefully Share a Sacred Site? A Temple Mount Tragedy

One of the major points of contention between Israel and the Arab/Moslem world is over the most sacred piece of real estate on the planet. At 37 acres, the Temple Mount is the focal point of prayer...

How to Prevent an Invasion? Build a Bridge! The Shaharah Bridge in Yemen, a Bridge of Sighs

4 March, 2017 - 01:49 Kerry Sullivan

How to Prevent an Invasion? Build a Bridge! The Shaharah Bridge in Yemen, a Bridge of Sighs

The Shaharah Bridge was built in the 17th century in Yemen and though it may just look like a regular bridge at first, it has interesting stories connected to it. The structure was designed to fall...

Kyaiktiyo Pagoda

3 March, 2017 - 18:56 dhwty

Kyaiktiyo Pagoda: Sacred Boulder Teeters Terrifyingly on Cliff Edge

Kyaiktiyo Pagoda (known also as the ‘Golden Rock’) is a Buddhist pilgrimage site located in the Mon State, an administrative region in the southern part of Myanmar / Burma. The site consists of a...

Inside Shah Cheragh.

26 February, 2017 - 19:07 dhwty

Shah Cheragh and The Dazzling Dome of Mirrors

Shah Cheragh is a religious monument located in Shiraz, the capital of the Fars Province in the southern part of Iran. The story of its founding and its awe-inspiring decoration have made it one of...

What Wondrous Sights Have Been Seen in the Brilliant Hall of Mirrors at Lavish Golestan Palace?

24 February, 2017 - 18:50 dhwty

What Wondrous Sights Have Been Seen in the Brilliant Hall of Mirrors at Lavish Golestan Palace?

Golestan Palace (which means the ‘Roseland Palace’ in Persian) is a palace complex that once was part of a group of monuments situated within the mud-thatched walls of Tehran’s Arg (citadel). The...

The Library of Pergamum: A Contender for the Greatest Library of the Ancient World

24 February, 2017 - 01:58 Veronica Parkes

The Library of Pergamum: A Contender for the Greatest Library of the Ancient World

Pergamum, Anatolia, now the modern Turkish town of Bergama, was one of the most important cities in the Hellenistic Greek age. It was culturally rich, with an extensive library at its heart. The city...

The Krak des Chevaliers: Can this Crusader Fortress Survive the Current Syrian Conflict?

12 February, 2017 - 02:02 marinasohma

The Krak des Chevaliers: Can this Crusader Fortress Survive the Current Syrian Conflict?

The Krak des Chevaliers, located in modern day Syria, is one of the best-preserved examples of European medieval military architecture done in the Gothic style. It is a massive fortress that was...

Living Remnants of Early Christianity: The Mar Saba Monastery

10 February, 2017 - 02:01 Caleb Strom

Living Remnants of Early Christianity: The Mar Saba Monastery

Today, the predominant religion in the Middle East is Islam. Christianity, however, has also played an important role in the history of the Middle East and at one point was the largest religion in...

The White Temple of Ranakpur: 1444 Decorated Pillars and No Two are Alike!

7 February, 2017 - 19:02 dhwty

The White Temple of Ranakpur: 1444 Decorated Pillars and No Two are Alike!

The Ranakpur Jain Temple is a world-famous temple complex located in Ranakpur, Rajasthan, India. This spectacular temple complex was built in the 15th century AD, and is one of the five major...

Finding Zen in the World’s Most Famous Rock Garden

27 January, 2017 - 01:56 dhwty

Finding Zen in the World’s Most Famous Rock Garden

Ryōanji, translated as Peaceful Dragon Temple, is a Zen Temple located in the northwestern part of Kyoto, Japan. This well-known temple was built during the 15th century, and is today best known for...

Trading in the Bronze Age: Living the High Life in the Great City of Ugarit

19 January, 2017 - 03:48 dhwty

Trading in the Bronze Age: Living the High Life in the Great City of Ugarit

Ugarit is an ancient city located on the coast of Syria. The ruins of this site are in the form of a tell (or mound) known as Ras Shamra, and are situated 10 km (6.2 miles) to the north of Latakia,...

Tell Brak, an ancient city in Syria

16 January, 2017 - 00:51 Caleb Strom

Ancient Syria: Another Cradle of Civilization?

Traditionally, it has been thought that civilization in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean began in two centers, Sumer in the east between the Tigris and Euphrates, and Egypt in the west...

Legends, Mysteries, Light and Darkness: The Secret History of the Biblical Cave of the Patriarchs

11 January, 2017 - 03:55 Natalia Klimczak

Legends, Mysteries, Light and Darkness: The Secret History of the Biblical Cave of the Patriarchs

The Cave of the Patriarchs is a very famous site in the Middle East. Known as Ibrahim Mosque or the Sanctuary of Abraham today, it appears in the Bible, the Torah, and the Quran. Legends tell of a...

A Sumerian king and an official

1 January, 2017 - 22:15 ancient-origins

Where Sumerian Rulers Lie: The Royal Tombs of Ur

The Royal Tombs of Ur is a 4,800-year-old Sumerian burial site of around 2,000 graves located in the ancient city of Ur in southern Mesopotamia (in the south of modern day Iraq). Sixteen of the...

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