Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Amazing Historical Monuments to See

By Mark Paulson

The world is filled with marvelous ancient wonders. These places tantalize the mind and teach us a lot about our past and about ancient cultures. Everyone has their favorite sites in the world and there is even an official seven wonders of the world. There are far more than seven though. Here are some of the best:

Chichn Itz, Mexico- This is one of the most famous Mayan ruins in the world. This giant pyramid attracts thousands of tourist per year. It is a classical representation of Mayan architecture and the ruins around it tell us a lot about Mayan culture. This was the last temple ever to be built by the Mayan civilization.

Christ Redeemer, Brazil- This statue of Jesus Christ stands around 40 meters tall, atop the Corcovado mountain ranges overlooking Rio de Janeiro. Heitor da Silva Costa, a Brazilian designer designed this wonderful piece of art and French sculptor Paul Landowski sculpted it. It is one of the world's best-known monuments. Christ with open arms symbolizes the charitable attitude of Brazilians and their hospitable nature.

Machu Picchu in Peru- In the 15th century, the Incan Emperor Pachactec built a city on the mountain known as Machu Picchu ("Old Mountain"). Above the Urubamba River in the Amazon jungle lies this architectural wonder that is half way up the Andes ranges. Every year, millions of people hike the four day Incan trail to reach this place. It's a wonder achievement to what people cane accomplish if they travel around the world.

The Taj Mahal, India- This giant mausoleum was built on the orders of emperor Shah Jahan, the fifth Muslim Moghul emperor, in honor of the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Built out of white marble and standing in formally laid-out gardens, the Taj Mahal is regarded as the jewel of Muslim art in India.

Located around the world, these seven wonders provide us with a clue into the diverse cultures and development of societies around the world. All of these are architectural marvels that took a lot of thinking and creativity to create. They are truly wonders of the world.

About the Author:

No comments: