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Naqsh-e Rustam rock cuts & reliefs Each of the four buildings is square in appearance and mostly architectural ornamentation, but the facades have large entrance doors that are remarkably similar in detail. Sassanid kings wished to imitate the glory of the Achaemenid kings, so they provided enormous facilities to the tomb. There is also different evidence to suggest that Necropolis was highly significant during the Elamite period. The destruction of the stone indicates that the place was near one of the political and religious capitals in ancient times as the monuments include different inscriptions which are cuneiform and lightly inscribed with a theme of praise to Ahura Mazda. In the inscriptions, Darius I speaks of his victories and beliefs, besides the image of Xerxes’ battle with the Romans which is another impressive engraving there. In addition, the oldest inscription in Naqsh-e Rustam dates back to the time of Elam a thousand years ago. Although the relief is damaged, it depicts a blurry image of a man with an unusual scarf that appears to be Elamite. Alexander the Great, king of ancient Greece, conquered Persepolis, and his troops plundered the engravings of Naqsh-e Rustam. Hey there! How about we take a quick trip over to Shiraz's page to discover some exciting facts about this amazing city? You'll be amazed at what we can learn about this fascinating place! https://lnkd.in/edf8yeG5

Did you know? The Chronicle of Georgia is a monument located near the Tbilisi sea. The Chronicle of Georgia is a striking monument located near the Tbilisi Sea in Tbilisi, Georgia. Here are some key points about this remarkable site: Creation and Design: The monument, designed by the Georgian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli, was started in 1985 but remains incomplete. It is often referred to as the "Georgian Stonehenge" due to its large, imposing pillars. Structure and Features: The monument consists of 16 pillars that are between 30 and 35 meters high. The lower parts of the columns depict scenes from the life of Christ, while the upper parts illustrate Georgian kings, queens, and important historical figures, highlighting significant events in Georgia's history. Location: Situated near the Tbilisi Sea, a large artificial lake, the Chronicle of Georgia offers panoramic views of the surrounding area, making it a popular spot for both tourists and locals. Symbolism: The monument is intended to commemorate 3,000 years of Georgian sovereignty and 2,000 years of Christianity in Georgia. It reflects the country's rich cultural heritage and its deep historical ties to Christianity. Accessibility: While the site is a bit off the beaten path, it is accessible by car or public transport from central Tbilisi. Its location and the impressive scale of the monument make it a worthwhile visit for those interested in history, art, and panoramic views. Tourist Attraction: Despite not being as well-known internationally as some other landmarks, the Chronicle of Georgia is a significant cultural and historical attraction, offering insight into Georgian identity and pride. The Chronicle of Georgia stands as a testament to the country's rich history and artistic legacy, providing a unique and visually stunning experience for visitors. ...ctto...

Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, commonly known as Sameba, is the main cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church located in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Constructed between 1995 and 2004, it is the third-tallest Eastern Orthodox cathedral in the world and one of the largest religious buildings in the world by total area. Sameba is a synthesis of traditional styles dominating the Georgian church architecture at various stages in history and has some Byzantine undertones. The idea to build a new cathedral to commemorate 1,500 years of autocephaly of the Georgian Orthodox Church and 2,000 years from the birth of Jesus emerged as early as 1989, a crucial year for the national awakening of the then-Soviet republic of Georgia. In May 1989, the Georgian Orthodox Patriarchate and the authorities of Tbilisi announced an international contest for the "Holy Trinity Cathedral" project. Finally the design by architect Archil Mindiashvili won. The construction of the church was proclaimed as a "symbol of the Georgian national and spiritual revival" and was sponsored mostly by anonymous donations from several businessmen and common citizens. At least part of the site chosen for the new cathedral complex included land within what had once been an old Armenian cemetery called Khojavank. The Sameba Cathedral is erected on the Elia Hill, which rises above the left bank of the Kura River (Mtkvari) in the historic neighborhood of Avlabari in Old Tbilisi. Designed in a traditional Georgian style but with a greater vertical emphasis, and "regarded as an eyesore by many people, it is equally venerated by as many others". The cathedral has a cruciform plan with a dome over a crossing resting on eight columns. At the same time, the parameters of the dome is independent from the apses, imparting a more monumental look to the dome and the church in general. The dome is surmounted by a 7.5 meter tall gilded gold cross. The cathedral consists of nine chapels (chapels of the Archangels, John the Baptist, Saint Nino, Saint George, Saint Nicholas, the Twelve Apostles, and All Saints); five of them are situated in a large, underground compartment. The overall area of the cathedral, including its large narthex, is 3,000 square meters and the volume it occupies is 137,000 cubic meters. The interior of the church (nave) measures 56 metres by 44 metres, with an interior area of 2,380 square metres. The height of the cathedral from the ground to the top of the cross is 87.1 metres (height of stairs 1 metre). The underground chapel occupies 35,550 cubic metres and the height is 13.1 metres. Natural materials are used for construction. The floor is made of marble tiles and the altar will also be decorated with mosaic. The painting of the murals is being executed by a group of artists guided by Amiran Goglidze.

The Red Basilica 🧱 🧱The Red Basilica, also known as the Red Hall, is a monumental structure located in the town of Bergama (ancient Pergamon), in modern-day Türkiye🇹🇷. It is one of the most significant Roman architectural remains outside of Italy and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes Pergamon and its multi-layered cultural landscape. 🧱Historical Background: The Red Basilica was originally constructed in the 2nd century AD during the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. It was initially built as a temple dedicated to the Egyptian gods Serapis and Isis, reflecting the syncretism of religious practices in the Roman Empire, where gods from different cultures were worshipped alongside traditional Roman deities. 🧱Architecture and Features: The complex is known as the "Red Basilica" due to the red bricks used in its construction, which is quite distinctive amid the city's landscape. It originally consisted of a large temple within a vast courtyard, surrounded by porticoes. The complex included two round towers at the entrance and was built alongside the river Selinus, on the northern edge of the ancient city of Pergamon. The temple itself was a massive structure, and its ruins suggest it was one of the largest temples of the Roman Empire. 🧱Later History: In the Byzantine period, the Red Basilica was converted into a Christian church, which is a testament to the adaptability and reuse of Roman architectural spaces for new religious practices as Christianity became the dominant religion in the Roman Empire. Over the centuries, the structure has been subjected to earthquakes and other forms of damage but remains a significant historical and architectural site. 🧱Significance: The Red Basilica is notable not only for its impressive size and architectural features but also for its historical role in the religious life of ancient Pergamon. It serves as a reminder of the city's importance as a religious and cultural center in both the Hellenistic and Roman periods. 🧱Today, the Red Basilica is a prominent tourist attraction in Bergama, offering visitors insights into the architectural prowess of the Roman Empire and the complex tapestry of ancient religious practices. The transformation of the Red Basilica from a pagan temple to a Christian church and its survival through centuries highlights the rich and multi-layered history of Bergama/Pergamon, reflecting the broader changes in the Roman Empire and the transition to the Byzantine period.

Of course, Romantic landscape painters didn't depict only Middle Ages Gothic-style or ancient Greco-Roman ruins, especially the latter according to a Neoclassical fashion. Sometimes, they were attracted also by more exotic ones. For instance, at https://lnkd.in/dkgyBbWN we may have seen how the American Hudson River School artist Robert S. Duncanson depicted some remains of old Maya temples, then recently rediscovered in the Yucátan, Mexico. Here, let's consider the Italian-Swiss and tireless traveller Carlo Bossoli. Before travelling, he grew up at Odessa, in the Ukraine on the Black Sea, where his parents had emigrated from Lugano. No wonder, one of his colour print collections is titled «The Beautiful Scenery and Chief Places of Interest Throughout the Crimea, from Paintings by Carlo Bossoli» (London: Day & Son, 1854 and 1856). For a long time, those were contested lands of conquest. Not seldom, the various dominations left more or less imposing ruins. Below, from left to right and top to bottom, four relevant examples: “Remains of Ancient Chersonessos, near Sevastopol”, “Remains of the Genoese Forts of Ciufat-Kale”, “The Ruins of Chersonesus, Crimea”, “Ruins of the Genoese Fortress in Sudak.” The Chersonese – today Kherson, Ukraine – was a Greek colony, founded in the 6th century BCE, on the south-western coast of the Crimean peninsula. Part of the Russian Empire by the 19th cent., the region retained a Tatar or Turkish population, having been under Ottoman rule from the 15th to the 18th centuries. As to the medieval fortress in Sudak, it was part of the Genoese colonies in Crimea, in particular Caffa, modern Feodosia or Theodosia.

The Colossi of Memnon, two monumental stone figures of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, have stood sentinel over the Theban necropolis near Luxor for around 3,400 years. Each statue reaches a commanding height of about 60 feet (18 meters), ranking them among the largest sculptures of ancient Egypt. These imposing figures originally guarded the entrance to Amenhotep III's mortuary temple—a structure that was once even more expansive than the Karnak complex. Over time, however, the temple succumbed to destruction, most likely due to the flooding of the Nile, leaving the colossi as some of the few remnants of its former majesty. The northern colossus became particularly renowned for the "Vocal Memnon" phenomenon. It was said to emit a singing sound every morning at dawn during the Greco-Roman era. This sound was probably caused by changes in temperature and humidity affecting the stone's fissures at sunrise. The phenomenon turned the statue into a pilgrimage site, attracting visitors from across the Mediterranean. This mysterious 'singing' ceased when Roman Emperor Septimius Severus attempted to restore the statue in 199 AD. While the repair silenced the phenomenon, it also helped preserve the integrity of the statues, which might have otherwise deteriorated further. Today, the Colossi of Memnon stand in solitary splendor, remnants of a once larger and incredibly opulent complex that included an avenue lined with hundreds of ram-headed sphinxes, echoing the famous sphinx avenue between the Luxor and Karnak temples. The sheer scale and grandeur of the original site suggest that it was the largest and most lavish temple in Egypt during its era.

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Tetradrachms are highly sought after by collectors for their historical significance, artistic craftsmanship, and tangible connection to ancient civilizations. Collectors are drawn to Tetradrachms for their intricate designs, historical context, and the thrill of owning a piece of ancient history. https://lnkd.in/exqvMQub

Byzantine art (4th - 15th century CE) is generally characterised by a move away from the naturalism of the Classical tradition towards the more abstract and universal, there is a definite preference for two-dimensional representations, and those artworks which contain a religious message predominate. However, by the 12th century CE Byzantine art has become much more expressive and imaginative, and although many subjects are endlessly recycled, there are differences in details throughout the period. Whilst it is true that the vast majority of surviving artworks are religious in subject, this may be a result of selection in subsequent centuries as there are abundant references to secular art in Byzantine sources and pagan subjects with classical iconography continued to be produced well into the 10th century CE and beyond. Using bright stones, gold mosaics, lively wall paintings, intricately carved ivory, and precious metals in general, Byzantine artists beautified everything from buildings to books, and their greatest and most lasting legacy is undoubtedly the icons which continue to decorate Christian churches around the world. #RomanArt #HagiaSophia #Constantinople #History #WHE

Sacred architecture Sacral architecture (also known as sacred architecture or religious architecture) is a religious architectural practice concerned with the design and construction of places of worship or sacred or intentional space, such as churches, mosques, stupas, synagogues, and temples. Is church a building according to the Bible? Tyndale, translating the Greek New Testament into English in 1536, wanted to make clear that ekklēsia in the New Testament refers to the people, not to a place or building. So, he translated ekklēsia as “congregation,” not “church,” rendering Matthew 16:18 as “I wyll bylde my congregacion. https://lnkd.in/dewPiK-9. What does the Quran say about building a mosque? Tafsir Surah At-Tawbah - 18 - Quran.com. In fact, the mosques of Allah are built-up only by those who believe in Allah and in the Last Day and those who establish Salah and pay Zakah and who fear none but Allah. So, it is in all likelihood that they are to be among those on the right path. What does the mandala mean in Islam? In Islam, mandalas combine geometric arrangements and cultural motifs to symbolise connections with Allah (God) What does a mandala symbolize? A mandala is a symbol of the universe in its ideal form, and its creation signifies the transformation of a universe of suffering into one of joy. https://lnkd.in/dwsgqCPR. Mandalas have also been used in most traditional sacred buildings and Islamic-Iranian worship places, mosques, and shrines. Is it just an aesthetic decorative element or affects a person's mental state? The mandala is a symbol of existence and a system based on revelation. Platos sacred geometry. Plato's sacred geometry: In Euclidean geometry there are five Platonic solids. Each of them was associated with an element, and since there are five, one of these shapes were considered sacred by the old Greeks, and to know the shape, and to share that knowledge was punishable. https://lnkd.in/d5rgFPa8. We saw modernism we saw Le Corbusier's Ronchamp, we saw avant-garde came with storms to change everything, and we reconsidered the place of religion in society to prevent social harm. I talked about Plato, I talked about Ancient Persian minds in architecture ... So, Do you remember the cave of Plato,how he described we actually seeing shadow of the perfect world like something projected to this world,  What is your opinion about this sacred architecture, should we keep it in this way or change it?