12 famous ancient cities have disappeared

These 12 cities used to serve as cultural, social and spiritual centers of humankind in the ancient world but today, they are only remnants of a glorious time.

1. Ancient city of Petra, Jordan

Petra is famous for having many statues carved on the cliff. The work in the picture is called El-Deir, it is towering and used by later societies as a church or a monastery, although many believe it was originally a temple.

Until now, it was not clear when Petra's history began, it was estimated between 1550 and 1292 BC, in the 18th dynasty of Egypt.

2. Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is also called 'The Lost City of the Incas' . Although archaeological findings about Machu Picchu existed 100 years ago, historians still cannot fully understand this ancient Inca. 'Why is Machu Picchu built? What purpose does it serve? Why is it so quickly forgotten? ' are questions that still challenge the search for science.

3. Palenque, Mexico

The Maya soon began to live in tropical rain forests in southwestern Mexico and Guatemala about 3,000 years ago. For nearly 1,400 years, these settlements expanded into a large, vibrant city.

Most of the remaining works today were built between the 6th and 10th centuries AD and developed most strongly during the reign of King Pacal (615-683). These include King Pacal's tomb of Templo de las Inscripciones.

4. Ancient Troy

Excavation in northwestern Turkey in 1871 proved that this mysterious city really existed.

In 1871, the German explorer Heinrich Schliemann began excavating at the site of Hisarlik (photo) in search of traces of the legendary city. Since then, nine ancient cities have been found overlapping, in the middle is a citadel located in the middle of a crowded town, surrounded by high walls and dating back about 5,000 years.

At the time, most archaeologists doubted that Troy was just one of the remnants of the ancient world, but that evidence shows that the capital Troy actually exists and is in the area. this area.

5. Mohenjo Daro, Pakistan

The Indus Valley civilization was completely unknown until 1921, an excavation that revealed the existence of the two great ancient cities of Harappa and Mohenjo daro (pictured).

This mysterious culture appeared almost 4,500 years ago and thrived for 1,000 years thanks to the fertile lands of the Indus Delta region and trade, exchanging with Mesopotamia civilization nearby.

Mohenjo Daro is the largest city monument in the Indian River civilization. At first, archaeologists judged that it was just a normal 'ghost yard' , but when excavating large-scale they were amazed by its beauty.

6. Palmyra, Syria

There is evidence that the ancient city of Palmyra, also known as Tadmor, has existed since the 19th century BC. Its importance was confirmed at around 300 BC, when trade groups considered it a stop between Mesopotamia and Persia. Palmyra's strategic position and prosperity drew the attention of the Romans, who took control of the city in the first century AD.

7. Tanis, Egypt

The city of Tanis is not as famous as other historical sites of Egypt, although this is one of the largest archaeological sites ever found. Having once been the capital of Egypt, the royal tombs in Tanis have artifacts equal to the treasure of King Tutankhamun.

8. Great Enclosure, Zimbabwe

This is the most important archaeological site found in sub-Saharan Africa. Although historians are still seeking answers about the origin and purpose of the city, there is evidence that Shona, the ancestor of the modern Bantu, began building it around 1250 AD use and use it to serve spiritual needs.

9. Nimrud, Iraq

Nimrud is in northern Iraq, once the capital of the Assyrian empire. The Assyrians appeared in the 14th century BC and had 1,000 years of domination in the Middle East. They are bloodthirsty and violent people.

Nimrud and the Assyrian Empire collapsed quickly around 612 BC, after Nineveh - the sister city of Nimrud - was occupied by the Babylonians.

10. Persepolis, Iran

The ancient city of Persepolis in Iran today is one of the four capitals of the mighty Persian Empire. Beginning construction around 520 BC, the city is a symbol of the incredible wealth of this empire, with many great structures, lavish buildings with gold and silver, or works. Scale and sophisticated sculpture.

The Persian Empire lasted from about 550 BC until 330 BC, when Alexander the Great overthrew the Archaemenid dynasty and burned Persepolis.

11. Stonehenge, England

Over the centuries, archaeologists have discovered many facts about the famous Stonehenge monument that appeared from the Neolithic and Bronze Age in the south of England. However, the basic questions such as who built this mysterious work and its purpose are still unanswered.

12. Mesa Verde, Colorado

More than 600 cliff houses were built by ancestors of Pueblo people (aka Anasazi people) scattered throughout Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado.

The Anasazi arrived in this area in 550 AD, building houses and cultivating on high mountains. Even so, around 1150, they began moving houses into canyons. Most houses are quite small but still have a relatively small number, which can accommodate up to 250 people.