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Stonehenge Tips & articles

Mar 4, 2010 6:01:33 AM

Awe-inspiring ancient sites

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Mycerinus, Chephren and Cheops at Giza
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Taken from Lonely Planet’s 1000 Ultimate Experiences, may we present a bevy of BC (or thereabouts) beauties that have stood the test of time without losing any of their ability to drop your jaw.

Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

Egypt’s a country rich in both World Heritage sites and tourist clichés, and at the Pyramids of Giza you hit pay dirt on both. The sole survivor of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World, these pyramids still live up to more than 4000 years of hype. Their extraordinary shape, geometry and age render them somehow alien and their construction remains almost unfathomable. Visit at sunrise and be dumbstruck.

Terracotta Warriors of Xi’an, China

This subterranean life-size army of thousands of terracotta warriors has silently stood guard over the soul of China’s first emperor for over two millennia. Either Qin Shi Huang was terrified of the vanquished spirits awaiting him in the afterlife, or, as most archaeologists believe, he expected his rule to continue in death as it had in life (and needed terracotta muscle). Visit the aircraft hangar-sized Pit 1: it contains 6000 warriors and horses, all facing east and ready for battle.

Petra, Jordan

Feel the anticipation as you walk the Siq, the long, dramatic chasm that links the ancient city of Petra with the outside world. Your magical introduction to the site comes with a glimpse of the Treasury, and it’s here that most visitors fall in love with the Rose-red City. As the sun makes its daily passage over the site, the colours glow from the facades of Petra’s great temples and tombs, carved out of rose-coloured rock. If you have the time, don’t miss the candle-lit night tour.

Ancient Rome, Italy

If the past is indeed a foreign country, please let its capital be Rome. Merely the name Rome conjures up 2700 years of Western civilisation, iconic from the perfect dome topping the Pantheon to the crumbling might of the bloodstained Colosseum, by way of the ruinous Roman Forum or the catacombs of Via Appia Antica. And we can’t heap enough praise on a city that gives us la dolce vita to revel in after bringing such history lessons to life.

Hadrian’s Wall, England

Named in honour of the Roman emperor who ordered it built, Hadrian’s Wall was constructed over 117km of northern England to keep the Romans (ie, subdued Brits) in, and the hairy Pictish barbarian louts from Scotland out. Close to 2000 years after the first stone was laid (in AD 122), the still-standing sections are a testament to the Roman knack for building things that last. If you fancy an epic walk in the footsteps of the legions, the weeklong Hadrian’s Wall Walk offers enough ramparts, towers and fortlets to wear your sandals out.

Stonehenge, England

People arrive at Stonehenge hoping to tap into the site’s spooky mysticism and/or marvel at the ancient engineering system that brought these huge, 4-ton blocks from a Welsh quarry up to 5000 years ago. Who built this compelling ring of rock, how, and above all, why? Theories abound – the huge upright slabs and dramatic triliths (two vertical stones topped by a horizontal one) could constitute an ancient celestial timepiece or place of sacrificial worship. Despite the noisy nearby traffic and hordes of would-be druids, it retains its monolithic power.

Teotihuacán, Mexico

The best retreat into the ancient past from the nearby modern urban jungle of Mexico City is the stunning complex of Teotihuacán. This site, set amid what was once the greatest metropolis in Mesoamerica, is known for its two vast pyramids: Pirámide del Sol (the world’s third largest pyramid, built around AD 100 and painted bright red in its heyday) and Pirámide de la Luna (smaller and more gracefully proportioned than its sunny counterpart). Urban planners, take note: the city’s grid plan was plotted in the early parts of the 1st century AD.

Pompeii, Italy

Although former residents might not think so, the Mt Vesuvius explosion in AD 79 was one of the best things that ever happened to Roman archaeology. On 24 August, the world’s most famous volcano erupted, leaving behind fascinating ruins that provide insight into the daily life of ancient Romans, perfectly preserved under 6m of ash. On Pompeii’s ancient streets, the excavated ruins are a profound and pitiful mix of the monumental and the mundane.

Ubirr, Australia

At the extraordinary Kakadu National Park, in Australia’s Top End, you can explore thundering waterfalls and crocodile-filled billabongs, but don’t overdose on natural highs before you stop by some of the country’s most significant rock-art sites. At Ubirr, a spectacular escarpment perfect for sunset-watching, you can admire ancient Aboriginal art, some of it 20,000 years old. In the main galleries formed out of the natural rock, check out the X-ray-style wallabies, possums, goannas, tortoises and fish on the walls, and the culture-defining Rainbow Serpent painting.

Acropolis, Athens, Greece

Athens exists because of the Acropolis, perhaps the most important ancient monument in the Western world. Still standing sentinel over Athens, it’s visible from almost everywhere in the city. Its crown jewel, the Parthenon is unsurpassed in grace and harmony. From near or far, the rows of columns gleam white in the midday sun, softening to a honey hue as the sun sinks, then becoming floodlit at night, centre stage and shining in the spotlight of a city fuelled by history.



Comments

  1. 16 March 2010 3:53PM adamjoseph Report this comment

    In the modern list of ancient wonders of the world you've got to include Machu Picchu (Peru) and Angkor Wat (Cambodia)

    Adam - Melbourne

  2. 16 March 2010 10:07PM telestella Report this comment

    i would say persepolis as well though it is not as much visited as it should be,and ancient olympia in greece the cradle of olympic games the place where the olympic flame starts its trip all over the worl

  3. 17 March 2010 7:51AM giopassarelli Report this comment

    I would add Tikal, in Guatemala. It's an impressive place.

  4. 17 March 2010 10:01AM fredjoyce Report this comment

    I would add the following two sites: Cappadocia in Central Turkey. While it is very tourist orientated, it is a "must see". The other would be Mt. Nemrut in Eastern Turkey. It is best seen when you have a rental car and can drive up on your own.

  5. 17 March 2010 5:42PM rhuneryager Report this comment

    Bagan in Burma (Myanmar)

  6. 18 March 2010 12:05AM lucy_ Report this comment

    I wouldn't consider Machu Picchu and Angkor Wat ancient - in fact I was quite disappointed when I was there how recently they were constructed. (But then I am English so may have higher expectations of historical sites than Aussies or Americans!) I mean that nicely only because so many places in the UK have castles or churches that are older than Machu ;)

  7. 24 March 2010 9:04AM ed2go Report this comment

    I add TIKAL ,with the florest all around it,to make it more unforguetable,and you also can see the places there whith out having lots of turists around its a big place,walking the trails and fell the nature.ITS also wheres is at!the two make a one beutiful ancient site,and its not iet full explored.

  8. 25 March 2010 3:48PM adamjoseph Report this comment

    @ lucy_ Sorry to take so long to respond, I've been thinking all this time ;-)

    You make a fair point, and I'm english too so I really should know better!

    I guess it all depends on how old something has to be to qualify as "ancient". If we take 500 years as the cut-off point then both qualify - Machu Picchu was built in 1400s and Angkor Wat in 1100s.

    But if you took 1,000+ years old as the qualifier then both are still young whippersnappers.

    What does everyone else think?

  9. 7 April 2010 4:23PM rubenjam Report this comment

    You are missing on of the most awe inspiring sites in the ancient world, in one of the most populated exciting countries, its name is in common use in the english laungage as a measure of absolute luxury or the lack of. It is ?

  10. 5 May 2010 7:57PM golgotha Report this comment

    That was an interesting list. I have seen a few and enjoyed the experience greatly. I however wonder how Hadrian's wall makes the list while the great wall of China does not.

  11. 5 May 2010 9:58PM ingym Report this comment

    I would add Abu Simbel. Amazing.

  12. 5 May 2010 11:26PM tastyradiskull Report this comment

    I would switch out Stonehenge, frankly poor when I was there.

    Newgrange in Ireland however, I found much more enjoyable as you could actually explore properly and it does the site justice.

    Not that Stonehenge is a bad site per se, but the way it is done is terrible.

  13. 6 May 2010 12:10AM gwong Report this comment

    No idea how this list was put together... Hadrian's Wall over Great Wall (of China)?? That's messed up.

  14. 6 May 2010 12:42AM jimmysteele Report this comment

    Seriously - how can you include Hadrian's Wall on that list and leave out the Great Wall of China?

    As to Stonehenge - Newgrange is much more impressive as a visitor experience. And perhaps Ephesus gives a better impression of a Roman city than Ancient Rome which is a bit grubby.

  15. 6 May 2010 6:26AM ruiz Report this comment

    And what about Altamira Cave in Spain ...?

  16. 6 May 2010 9:49AM andrewhorner Report this comment

    "Seriously - how can you include Hadrian's Wall on that list and leave out the Great Wall of China?

    As to Stonehenge - Newgrange is much more impressive as a visitor experience."

    I agree completely with jimmysteele, took the words right out of my mouth!

  17. 6 May 2010 2:54PM ahal Report this comment

    What a load of flan this list is ... funny how people come from all over the World for the winter solstice at Newgrange all the same ... at a site older than Stonehenge:

    http://www.newgrange.com/

    Opinion of Lonelyplanet has diminished somewhat.

  18. 7 May 2010 2:29AM john1970 Report this comment

    How deliciously ironic that a top-10 listing appearing on the BBC would contain 2 listings for England - but none for the Americas, none for the Indian sub-continent, and none for Africa, except for the de rigueur Egyptian Pyramids.

    No, I don’t see any cultural bias here at all.

  19. 6 September 2010 2:41AM rafapardo Report this comment

    Must be a joke... stonehenge! Hadrian's wall! Ha,ha,ha Sure the list was made by british people. Thought lonely planet was far more serious... why not camden town?! Ha,ha! Suggestions: china's great wall,machu pichu,la alhambra,abu simbel,tikal,luxor,karnak,nazca!!! Be more professional,please. Objectivity! Hadrian's wall...ha,ha!! U made my day

  20. 9 September 2010 12:30PM just_wishing Report this comment

    The new (and improved!) 7 Ancient Wonders of the World! (In no particular order)

    1. The Pyramids of Giza 2. The Great Wall of China 3. The Colosseum in Rome 4. The Taj Mahal 5. Machu Picchu 6. Petra - Jordan 7. Eiffel Tower

    I have spoken. That is all. Return to your everyday lives and bother me no more! Peace out!

  21. 21 September 2010 4:38AM ben2world Report this comment

    Hadrian's Wall -- world's Top 10 -- seriously? Anybody with any sense of objectivity will replace it with China's Great Wall -- or easily think of another 100 worthier candidates! Brit nationalism run amok?

  22. 12 February 2011 1:13AM intolatinamerica Report this comment

    Lucy has a good point about Machu Picchu not being all that old. So how about Kuelap, Nazca or the Huacas of the Moon and the Sun - all stunning ancient sites in Peru.

  23. 12 May 2011 5:38PM torketobbe Report this comment

    Bagan in Myanmar beats all other temple sites I've ever seen!

  24. 4 September 2011 11:49PM anilmarya Report this comment

    While talking of ancient sites, how could we miss out India - Land of ancient wonders. Be it Sun Temple Konark, 12th century site (also called the Black Pagoda), or Brideeshwara Temple Tanjore (4th century) or the Qutb Minar (12th century Minaret) or the Iron Pillar at the same site that has not corroded for last 1600 years (Yeah, it is much older than the Minaret itself- there is absulutely no comparison of their architechture, beauty or mystique with anything else in the world. Pyramids yes. Acropolis Yes. Rome Yes. Grt wall of China - a big Yes. But Stone henge is a big NO. Probably, Englishmen, with all due respect, know how to sell their ware better and that is why it is such a big tourist attraction.

  25. 4 September 2011 11:49PM anilmarya Report this comment

    While talking of ancient sites, how could we miss out India - Land of ancient wonders. Be it Sun Temple Konark, 12th century site (also called the Black Pagoda), or Brideeshwara Temple Tanjore (4th century) or the Qutb Minar (12th century Minaret) or the Iron Pillar at the same site that has not corroded for last 1600 years (Yeah, it is much older than the Minaret itself- there is absulutely no comparison of their architechture, beauty or mystique with anything else in the world. Pyramids yes. Acropolis Yes. Rome Yes. Grt wall of China - a big Yes. But Stone henge is a big NO. Probably, Englishmen, with all due respect, know how to sell their ware better and that is why it is such a big tourist attraction.

  26. 17 March 2012 3:08PM laurelh Report this comment

    Lighten up people, your prejudices are showing. Surely We are each allowed to admire what appeals to each person. Hadrian'sWall is in for me. It speaks of complex history. Egypt has many sites. Taj Mahal? Not so much! Stonehenge a huge yes! You do have to get past the tourists and wannabes but I would like to see the naysayers build it. The inclusion of the natural wonders of Kakadu opens up all sorts of others like the Burgess Shield in the Canadian Rockies, the 600 million year old fossils found in Newfoundland, and any number of deserts. Instead of sneering and whining let's learn from other people and be still long enough to appreciate the mysticism of sacred places be they religious or natural.

  27. 17 March 2012 7:20PM colinjholm Report this comment

    I think Hadrians Wall is a good choice. You really get an echo of the past and a sense of discovery as you discover sections of wall before you get to the majestic central sections.

  28. 5 April 2012 4:42PM lasuj Report this comment

    Isn't it incredibly sad that pompei has been standing since 79AD and the past 20 years of italian politics are making it slowly crumble to bits?! (and not too slowly either. There are continuous reports of bits and pieces breaking almost everyday on the IT papers).

  29. 5 April 2012 5:43PM seafieldfarm Report this comment

    Don't forget Kilmartin Glen in Argyll, Scotland. An amazing landscape full of standing stones, burial cairns and ancient rock art.

  30. 5 April 2012 6:11PM shortsforwinter Report this comment

    I'm going to agree with giopassarelli, Tikal needs to make the list.

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