Alamy POTM May: Ancient Monuments

Alamy · May 2

Hi All,

How many of the world's great ancient statues and monuments have you visited?

Offering us a mesmerising peek into the ancient civilizations which preceded us, these statues and monuments are a testament to some of the incredible engineering feats built by our ancestors.

Do you have images which showcase these incredible structures? If you haven't been involved with Alamy Photo of the Month yet, the theme for May is #AlamyAncientMonuments, so why not join in?

Be inspired: https://www.alamy.com/search/lightbox/5645340.html

From Stonehenge to the Terracotta Warriors, we want to see it all. At the beginning of June we'll share our favourites with you and also our customers.

Thanks and good luck! 🛕⛩️🏛️

Louise

Rebecca Ore · May 2

My Latin American contributions:

Shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico City, interior of one of the chapels

Sign explains the Plaza de Luna in Teotihuacan in Mexico.

Tourists walking toward the Avenue of the Dead in Teotihuacan, Mexico.

Tourists walking up the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico

Plaza of the Three Cultures shows ruins of an Aztec observatory, a Colonial era Catholic cathedral, and modern Mexican apartment buildings in Mexico City.

In the Plaza de la Revolucion are the ruins of Managua's Old Cathedral,Catedral de Santiago damaged by the Managua earthquake in 1972. "The Country is Small, but the Dream is Great" is a rough translation of the Spanish.

Edited May 3 by Rebecca Ore
Not old enough, photo and caption deleted.

Michael Ventura · May 2

The Pantheon and Egyptian obelisk in Rome, Italy BCTGBK

europe-italy-rome-exterior-of-the-panteo

The Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt 2X8N0F2

africa-egypt-giza-the-great-pyramids-cam

The Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt B9WCGF

egypt-giza-the-great-pyramids-camels-B9W

The Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem CNJM2B

middle-east-israel-old-jerusalem-temple-

Detail of The Acropolis, Athens, Greece REH4RM

europe-greece-athens-athena-acropolis-er

An ancient Roman aqueduct, Pont du Gard, France BK7JKG

europe-france-provence-pont-du-gard-anci

Edited May 27 by Michael Ventura

Tony ALS · May 2

43 minutes ago, Michael Ventura said:

Not sure if this counts, St Peters Basilica, The Vatican City BCTGA4

Some clarification of what Alamy regard as 'ancient' might help!

Michael Ventura · May 2

9 minutes ago, Tony ALS said:

Some clarification of what Alamy regard as 'ancient' might help!

Well according to Google's dictionary, "belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence." I assume "no longer in existence" means that era of civilization.

So St. Peter's Basilica probably wouldn't be considered "ancient" since it has been in continuous use for the same purpose since 1506.

Ed Rooney · May 2

Older than me?

John Mitchell · May 2

1 hour ago, Michael Ventura said:

Well according to Google's dictionary, "belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence." I assume "no longer in existence" means that era of civilization.

So St. Peter's Basilica probably wouldn't be considered "ancient" since it has been in continuous use for the same purpose since 1506.

Judging by the images in the sample lightbox, Alamy means really old (even more ancient than Edo and I) -- e.g. well-known archaeological sites/ruins.

Mr Standfast · May 2

32 minutes ago, Ed Rooney said:

Older than me?

I would have put money on someone posting a question like this.

Big smiley when it landed.

👍🙂

Tony ALS · May 2

6 minutes ago, Mr Standfast said:

I would have put money on someone posting a question like this.

Big smiley when it landed.

👍🙂

Posed the question because 'ancient' appears to need to be qualified based on images being submitted to date🤷🏼‍♂️

Mr Standfast · May 2

12 minutes ago, Tony ALS said:

Posed the question because 'ancient' appears to need to be qualified based on images being submitted to date🤷🏼‍♂️

Of course, I was just amused that someone on the forum besides me equates pensionable with ancient.

😉

John Mitchell · May 2

A few starters from me. These all seem pretty ancient.

Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde, Colorado, USA BK1J1J

cliff-palace-anasazi-ruins-mesa-verde-na

El Caracol, Mayan astronomical observatory at Chichen Itza, Mexico AJAYFX

el-caracol-mayan-astronomical-observator

Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza (Pyramid of Kukulkan) AJB02N

el-castillo-pyramid-of-kukulkan-and-the-

Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan, Mexico AMRP2X

people-climbing-the-pyramid-of-the-sun-a

Ruins of Old Panama (sacked by good old Henry Morgan), Central America AR016X

the-ruined-catedral-de-nuestra-senora-de

Mayan Stela H, Copan, Honduras AHMBBH

stela-h-at-the-mayan-ruins-of-copan-hond

Temple of the Great Jaguar, Tikal, Guatemala ANXTWY

temple-1-or-temple-of-the-great-jaguar-t

Temple of the Wind God, Tulum, Mexico C479GH

temple-of-the-wind-god-at-the-ancient-ma

Tourist photographing El Castillo at Tulum, Mexico C4ANTM

tourist-photographing-el-castillo-at-the

Edited May 2 by John Mitchell

Ed Rooney · May 2

3 hours ago, Michael Ventura said:

Well according to Google's dictionary, "belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence." I assume "no longer in existence" means that era of civilization.

So St. Peter's Basilica probably wouldn't be considered "ancient" since it has been in continuous use for the same purpose since 1506.

Joking aside, Michael, I believe something must be at least 1500 years old to be considered ancient.

John Mitchell · May 2

12 minutes ago, Ed Rooney said:

Joking aside, Michael, I believe something must be at least 1500 years old to be considered ancient.

Think I spotted the Taj Mahal in the lightbox that Alamy provided. It's a relative youngster, dating back only to the 1600s.

Roadrunner · May 2

All from Burma/Myanmar

The Lions of Stone statues at the Mingun Pagoda. Image ID: 2A93RE8

local-villagers-sitting-at-a-table-near-chinthe-the-lions-of-stone-statues-at-the-mingun-pagoda-myanmar-burma-2A93RE8.jpg

Local children entering the Nanpaya Temple in Bagan. Image ID: 2A8NGT7

local-children-entering-the-nanpaya-temple-in-bagan-myanmar-burma-2A8NGT7.jpg

The Shwedagon Pagoda. Image ID: MAFNCP

the-shwedagon-pagoda-officially-named-shwedagon-zedi-daw-and-also-known-as-the-great-dagon-pagoda-is-a-gilded-stupa-located-in-yangon-myanmar-MAFNCP.jpg

Nanpaya Temple, Bagan. Image ID: 2C4CC3Y

tour-guide-at-nanpaya-temple-one-of-the-earliest-of-the-bagan-temples-myanmar-burma-2C4CC3Y.jpg

Edited May 5 by Rico

Michael Ventura · May 2

3 hours ago, Ed Rooney said:

Joking aside, Michael, I believe something must be at least 1500 years old to be considered ancient.

My son agrees with you Edo. He is a big-time history buff.

John Mitchell · May 3

7 hours ago, Michael Ventura said:

My son agrees with you Edo. He is a big-time history buff.

I believe that 1500 years is based on the collapse of the Roman Empire, so it really only applies to regions that were influenced and/or controlled by the Romans. For instance, the ancient civilizations of the Americas developed independently of what is usually considered to be "Western Civilization." The ancient Maya civilization is thought to have collapsed between A.D. 800 and 1000. I think that "ancient" is a relative term, depending on what area of the planet you're referring to. Our view of history still tends to be very "Euro-centric".

Edited May 3 by John Mitchell

VbFolly · May 3

I think these are ancient enough.

Delphi, Greece

The 4th century BC amphitheater - Image ID HB5BBG

the-archaeological-site-of-delphi-in-gre

Temple of Apollo - Image ID: HB5BB2

I the-archaeological-site-of-delphi-in-gre

The Athenian Treasury - Image ID HB5BAM

the-archaeological-site-of-delphi-in-gre

Tomb of the Kings, Paphos, Cyprus - Image ID KPB9TM

the-tombs-of-the-kings-part-of-the-arche

Pentre Ifan Neolithic burial chamber, Wales - Image ID TTBNN1

pentre-ifan-neolithic-burial-chamber-or-

Silbury Hill, a prehistoric artificial chalk mound - Image ID 2AGGH1X

silbury-hill-in-wiltshire-england-uk-dur

Avebury Stone Circle - Image 2AGC4TY

visitors-at-avebury-stone-circle-touchin

Image ID 2AGC4TN

visitors-at-avebury-stone-circle-touchin

Castlerigg Stone Circle - Image ID: 2H65BXC

castlerigg-stone-circle-a-historic-landm

Image ID 2H65BXF

castlerigg-stone-circle-a-historic-landm

David Fowler · May 3

R9XKJ0 4th Century BC retaining wall at Chorio on the Greek island of Halki an-ancient-retaining-wall-in-the-hills-a

David Fowler · May 3

HG4TJ0 Circa 330 BC thrones of Zeus and Hekate at Chorio on the Greek island of Halki the-thrones-of-greek-gods-zeus-and-hekat

David Fowler · May 3

HR5P2F Tourists on the steps of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece tourists-on-the-steps-of-the-acropolis-i

Allan Bell · May 3

East end Ripon Cathedral, Ripon city, North Yorkshire, England, UK

- Image ID: 2RB96K0 east-end-ripon-cathedral-ripon-city-nort

Cathedral Church of Our Lady and St Philip Howard Arundel West Sussex

- Image ID: CB3KDB

cathedral-church-of-our-lady-and-st-phil

Avebury stone circle Wiltshire England similar to BF43C3 colours brightened for more impact

- Image ID: FX90F0

avebury-stone-circle-wiltshire-england-s

Lincoln castle observation tower and walls Lincoln city Lincolnshire October 2020

- Image ID: 2D69R7E

lincoln-castle-observation-tower-and-wal

Jews House and Jews Court The Strait, Lincoln city old town, 2022

- Image ID: 2JPC9EA

jews-house-and-jews-court-rhe-strait-lin

Lincoln Cathedral from Castle wall lincoln lincolnshire 2021

- Image ID: 2G47E91

lincoln-cathedral-from-castle-wall-linco

All images above in my post are of structures which over 1500 years old. I double checked to make sure. 😃

Allan

Edited May 8 by Allan Bell

eclectic · May 5

A couple of views of Colchester Castle, the largest Norman keep in Europe, built in the 11th century on the foundations of the Roman temple of Claudius.