Ancient Awe

Break

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 11:42:06 -0400

I’m taking a short break (maybe a week) from this blog as my queue has run out and I need to do a big search for new things to post.

Chittorgarh Fort is the largest fort in India and the grandest...

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 16:25:06 -0400

Chittorgarh Fort is the largest fort in India and the grandest in the state of Rajasthan. It was ruled initially by Guhilot and later by Sisodias, the Suryavanshi clans of Chattari Rajputs, from 7th century, until it was finally abandoned in 1568 after the siege by Emperor Akbar in 1567.

A Monastery in Meteora, Greece. The area was originally settled...

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:48:06 -0400

A Monastery in Meteora, Greece. The area was originally settled by monks in the 11th Century who lived in caves within the rocks. They climbed higher and higher up the rock faces until they were living on the inaccessible peaks where they were able to build he first monasteries by bringing material and people up with ladders and baskets.

Chachapoyas Village, Peru. Little is known about the ancient...

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 11:12:06 -0400

Chachapoyas Village, Peru. Little is known about the ancient Cloud People of Peru. Accounts such as that of Cieza de León indicate that the Chachapoyas had lighter skin than other South American peoples and blond hair. The civilisation was wiped out by disease and war in the 16th century.

A nice little lake. No other information available.

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 08:36:06 -0400

A nice little lake. No other information available.

Bond Mansion by digital artist Norrit. This picture won first...

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 16:25:06 -0400

Bond Mansion by digital artist Norrit. This picture won first prize in a bizarre architecture competition. More info on the artist here: http://all.worth1000.com/artists/Norrit

Silverton, New South Wales, Australia, 25 km north-west of...

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 13:48:06 -0400

Silverton, New South Wales, Australia, 25 km north-west of Broken Hill. The town sprung up after the discovery of silver. The town is often referred to as a ghost town; however, there remains a small permanent population and mainly tourist related businesses. In 2006, Silverton had a population of 89 people.

Palmanova, Italy, is famous for its fortress plan and structure,...

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 11:12:06 -0400

Palmanova, Italy, is famous for its fortress plan and structure, called a star fort. Palmanova was supposed to be inhabited by self-sustaining merchants, craftsmen, and farmers. However, despite the elegant layout of the new city, no one chose to move there, and by 1622 Venice was forced to pardon criminals and offer them free building lots and materials if they would agree to settle the town.

Powhatan Indian Village, Jamestown Settlement, Virginia, USA....

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 08:36:06 -0400

Powhatan Indian Village, Jamestown Settlement, Virginia, USA. The Powhatan Indian village is based on archaeological findings at a site once inhabited by Paspahegh Indians, the Powhatan tribal group closest to Jamestown, and descriptions recorded by English colonists.

The Arg-é Bam, Iran, was the largest adobe building in the...

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 16:24:06 -0400

The Arg-é Bam, Iran, was the largest adobe building in the world. This enormous citadel on the Silk Road was built before 500 BC and remained in use until 1850 AD. On December 26, 2003, the Citadel was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake. A few days after the earthquake, the then Iranian President Mohammad Khatami announced that the Citadel would be rebuilt.

Piles of Salt in Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia. Salar de Uyuni is the...

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 13:49:06 -0400

Piles of Salt in Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia. Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat at 4,086 square miles. It is located in south-west Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes, and is elevated 3,656 metres above the mean sea level.

View of the roof around the atrium of La Pedrera in Barcelona,...

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 11:12:06 -0400

View of the roof around the atrium of La Pedrera in Barcelona, Spain. Completed in 1912 and designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. La Pedrera translates as ‘The Quarry’.

An Old House, Talinn, Estonia. No other information available.

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 08:37:06 -0400

An Old House, Talinn, Estonia. No other information available.

Dragon House, Mount Ohi, Eubia Island, Greece. These unusual...

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:25:06 -0400

Dragon House, Mount Ohi, Eubia Island, Greece. These unusual stone houses were explained by myths as “Dragon Houses” because they thought that the houses must have been constructed by dragons or other supernatural creatures. Photo by Flickr’s Pitheas.

Long Rope Bridge. No other information available.

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 13:49:06 -0400

Long Rope Bridge. No other information available.

Kuelap Ruins, Peru. The Chachapoyas People excelled as an...

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:12:07 -0400

Kuelap Ruins, Peru. The Chachapoyas People excelled as an isolated agricultural society from 800 AD until their conquest by the Incas in the 1470’s. The origin of the name Chachapoyas was possibly a variation of Sacha Poya, which means “Cloud People” in Quechua, the language of the Incas.

Kuelap Fortress, Peru. At 3100 metres high in the Andes...

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 08:36:06 -0400

Kuelap Fortress, Peru. At 3100 metres high in the Andes Mountains, this mountain top fortress dominates the landscape. The oval shaped city, 600 metres long with 60 feet high defensive stone walls, complete with living quarters for thousands of residents, rivals any ruins in the new world.

Castle or folly, somewhere in Northern Europe by the looks of...

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:25:06 -0400

Castle or folly, somewhere in Northern Europe by the looks of it. No other information available. Possibly a photo-manipulation.

The Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of the Greek god Helios,...

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:48:00 -0400

The Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of the Greek god Helios, erected on the Greek island of Rhodes by Chares of Lindos between 292 and 280 BC. It was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Before its destruction in 226 BC, the Colossus of Rhodes stood over 30 metres high. Picture by Flickr’s elel_442.

Taos Pueblo, New Mexico, USA. The multi-storied adobe buildings...

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 11:12:06 -0400

Taos Pueblo, New Mexico, USA. The multi-storied adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years. Adobe is a natural building material made from sand, clay, and water, which the builders shape and let dry in the sun.