1. Chichén Itzá, Mexico
Chichén Itzá, the most famous Mayan temple city, served as the
political and economic center of the Mayan civilization. Its various
structures - the pyramid of Kukulkan, the Temple of Chac Mool, the Hall
of the Thousand Pillars, and the Playing Field of the Prisoners – can
still be seen today and are demonstrative of an extraordinary
commitment to architectural space and composition. The pyramid itself
was the last, and arguably the greatest, of all Mayan temples.
2. Christ Redeemer, Brazil
This statue of Jesus stands some 38 meters tall, atop the Corcovado
mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. Designed by Brazilian Heitor da
Silva Costa and created by French sculptor Paul Landowski, it is one of
the world’s best-known monuments. The statue took five years to
construct and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931. It has become a
symbol of the city and of the warmth of the Brazilian people, who
receive visitors with open arms.
3. The Great Wall, China
The Great Wall of China was built to link existing fortifications
into a united defense system and better keep invading Mongol tribes out
of China. It is the largest man-made monument ever to have been built
and it is disputed that it is the only one visible from space. Many
thousands of people must have given their lives to build this colossal
construction.
4. Machu Picchu, Peru
In the 15th century, the Incan Emperor Pachacútec built a city in
the clouds on the mountain known as Machu Picchu (”old mountain”). This
extraordinary settlement lies halfway up the Andes Plateau, deep in the
Amazon jungle and above the Urubamba River. It was probably abandoned
by the Incas because of a smallpox outbreak and, after the Spanish
defeated the Incan Empire, the city remained ‘lost’ for over three
centuries. It was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911.
5. Petra, Jordan
On the edge of the Arabian Desert, Petra was the glittering capital
of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to 40 A.D.). Masters
of water technology, the Nabataeans provided their city with great
tunnel constructions and water chambers. A theater, modelled on
Greek-Roman prototypes, had space for an audience of 4,000. Today, the
Palace Tombs of Petra, with the 42-meter-high Hellenistic temple facade
on the El-Deir Monastery, are impressive examples of Middle Eastern
culture.
6. The Roman Colloseum, Italy
This great amphitheater in the centre of Rome was built to give
favors to successful legionnaires and to celebrate the glory of the
Roman Empire. Its design concept still stands to this very day, and
virtually every modern sports stadium some 2,000 years later still
bears the irresistible imprint of the Colosseum’s original design.
Today, through films and history books, we are even more aware of the
cruel fights and games that took place in this arena, all for the joy
of the spectators.
7. The Taj Mahal, India
This immense mausoleum was built on the orders of Shah Jahan, the
fifth Muslim Mogul emperor, to honor the memory of his beloved late
wife. Built out of white marble and standing in formally laid-out
walled gardens, the Taj Mahal is regarded as the most perfect jewel of
Muslim art in India. The emperor was consequently jailed and, it is
said, could then only see the Taj Mahal out of his small cell window.
_________________
Chichén Itzá, the most famous Mayan temple city, served as the
political and economic center of the Mayan civilization. Its various
structures - the pyramid of Kukulkan, the Temple of Chac Mool, the Hall
of the Thousand Pillars, and the Playing Field of the Prisoners – can
still be seen today and are demonstrative of an extraordinary
commitment to architectural space and composition. The pyramid itself
was the last, and arguably the greatest, of all Mayan temples.
2. Christ Redeemer, Brazil
This statue of Jesus stands some 38 meters tall, atop the Corcovado
mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. Designed by Brazilian Heitor da
Silva Costa and created by French sculptor Paul Landowski, it is one of
the world’s best-known monuments. The statue took five years to
construct and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931. It has become a
symbol of the city and of the warmth of the Brazilian people, who
receive visitors with open arms.
3. The Great Wall, China
The Great Wall of China was built to link existing fortifications
into a united defense system and better keep invading Mongol tribes out
of China. It is the largest man-made monument ever to have been built
and it is disputed that it is the only one visible from space. Many
thousands of people must have given their lives to build this colossal
construction.
4. Machu Picchu, Peru
In the 15th century, the Incan Emperor Pachacútec built a city in
the clouds on the mountain known as Machu Picchu (”old mountain”). This
extraordinary settlement lies halfway up the Andes Plateau, deep in the
Amazon jungle and above the Urubamba River. It was probably abandoned
by the Incas because of a smallpox outbreak and, after the Spanish
defeated the Incan Empire, the city remained ‘lost’ for over three
centuries. It was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911.
5. Petra, Jordan
On the edge of the Arabian Desert, Petra was the glittering capital
of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to 40 A.D.). Masters
of water technology, the Nabataeans provided their city with great
tunnel constructions and water chambers. A theater, modelled on
Greek-Roman prototypes, had space for an audience of 4,000. Today, the
Palace Tombs of Petra, with the 42-meter-high Hellenistic temple facade
on the El-Deir Monastery, are impressive examples of Middle Eastern
culture.
6. The Roman Colloseum, Italy
This great amphitheater in the centre of Rome was built to give
favors to successful legionnaires and to celebrate the glory of the
Roman Empire. Its design concept still stands to this very day, and
virtually every modern sports stadium some 2,000 years later still
bears the irresistible imprint of the Colosseum’s original design.
Today, through films and history books, we are even more aware of the
cruel fights and games that took place in this arena, all for the joy
of the spectators.
7. The Taj Mahal, India
This immense mausoleum was built on the orders of Shah Jahan, the
fifth Muslim Mogul emperor, to honor the memory of his beloved late
wife. Built out of white marble and standing in formally laid-out
walled gardens, the Taj Mahal is regarded as the most perfect jewel of
Muslim art in India. The emperor was consequently jailed and, it is
said, could then only see the Taj Mahal out of his small cell window.
_________________
