Throughout the ages, humans have built temples dedicated to deities. Here are 31 of the most famous monumental temples from around the world.
Ancient people built temples all across the ancient world and dedicated them to a plethora of deities. While some of these structures haven't survived the test of time, some still exist today and a few are even in use. PantheonBuilt about 2,000 years ago the Pantheon is located in Rome and has a large dome that rises up to 43 meters tall. It was built to honor multiple Roman gods. In the seventh century the temple was converted into a Christian church.
Different Egyptian rulers left their mark at Karnak when they were in power, each adding new structures, such as chapels and large stone entranceways that are now called"pylons." Today, the temple complex covers more than 0.4 square miles — an area larger than some ancient cities. Its 213-foot-tall central tower is surrounded by four smaller towers and a series of enclosure walls — a layout that recreates the image of Mount Meru, a legendary place in Hindu mythology that is said to lie beyond the Himalayas and be the home of the gods.
Over time, the temple suffered damage from various events such as a fire in 356 B.C. and earthquake in A.D. 262. Ancient records indicate that it was abandoned or destroyed in the fifth century A.D., and little of it remains today. Temple of JupiterThe Temple of Jupiter was the most important temple in ancient Rome and was located on Capitoline Hill. Jupiter was a sky god who some Romans considered to be king of the gods. The temple was constructed during the sixth century B.C. and was rebuilt several times after being destroyed by disasters. It declined for good as the Roman Empire converted to Christianity in the fourth and fifth centuries.
Gango-ji TempleLocated in Nara, east of Osaka, Gango-ji Temple is 1,300 years old and is possibly the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan. Construction of the temple was ordered in the seventh century by Soga no Umako, the leader of the Soga clan who helped introduce Buddhism to Japan. The temple has been rebuilt and modified over time, but today it includes the main hall, zen room and thousands of artifacts.
CoricanchaCoricancha was built around 600 years ago by the Inca civilization in Cuzco, its capital city. The temple was dedicated to Inti, a sun god who was sometimes represented in human form. The Spanish conquered the Inca empire in the 16th century and dismantled much of the temple, using it for building materials. They constructed the Convent of Santo Domingo on top of the temple remains.
Ħaġar QimĦaġar Qim is located on a promontory on the island of Malta. It is over 5,000 years old and consists of a number of megalithic structures built on the crest of a ridge, Heritage Malta noted. Some of the buildings were built using trilithons — stone structures with two upright stones and a lintel connecting them. Some of the buildings are decorated with low-relief carvings, such as swirling geometric designs.
BorobudurConstructed around 1,200 years ago, the Borobudur temple complex is located on the island of Java in Indonesia. The main temple looks a bit like a pyramid and has a large stupa — a mound-like structure housing Buddhist relics — built around a natural hill , UNESCO noted. Among the temple's decorations are 72 platforms, each of which has a statue of Siddhartha Gautama .
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