Ancient Landmarks: Moai, Sigiriya, Great Wall, Angkor Wat

Ancient Landmarks

Moai Statues

• Large monolithic human statues built by the Rapa Nui people of Easter Island
• Among the most recognisable ancient wonders on earth
• The figures weigh on average 14 tons

Sigiriya (Lion Rock)

• An enormous 200 meters-high rock in Sri Lanka
• Served as a capital in the 5th century
• A royal palace was built on its top and decorated with colourful frescos under King Kasyapa's command
• Later used as a Buddhist monastery
• Is one of the most visited sites in Sri Lanka

Great Wall of China

• Was originally conceived by Emperor Qin Shi Huang (ca. 259-210 BC) in the third century BC as a means of keeping out the Mongol hordes invading the country
• Built with stones,bricks,tiles as well as wooden materials
• Can be seen from space

Angkor Wat

• One of the largest religious monuments ever constructed
• Its' name means "temple city"
• Originally built as a Hindu temple dedicated to god Vishnu, converted into a Buddhist temple in the 14th century
• Statues of Buddha were added to its already rich artwork.

Egyptian Pyramids

• Majestic ancient monuments located in the desert, on the outskirts of the cities
• The most popular for the tourists
• The complex includes Great Pyramid of Giza, the oldest monuments of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
• Egyptian pyramids built with human labour to house the bodies of the Pharaoh.

Petra

• A ruined city located in southern Peru on top of a mountain
• Rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911
• Was an important cultural center for the Inca civilization but was abandoned when the Spanish invaded the region.
• Famously referred to as the "Lost City of the Incas"