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Ancient Sites Photo Gallery

Iran, Bisitun, Kermanshah ProvinceAt the entrance to the bas relief face of Mount Bisotun, some yards up, a sculpture of Herakles rests on a lion skin, cup in hand, club, bow and quiver behind him. It dates back to the year 148 BC.Schatz

Italy, Rome, Arch of Constantine with Colosseum in the background2 commentsJ. B.

Iran, BisitunAlong the path to the main attraction there are two badly preserved Parthian reliefs, most likely from the first cent. BC and the first cent. AD. They show king Mithradates II (ca. 123 - 90 BC) receiving a delegation of four dignitaries (to the left of the defacing 17. cent. AD Safavid plate). The inscription on top of the Mithradates’ relief is in Greek.
Schatz

Iran, Naqsh-e-Rostam, Fars ProvinceOn a steep rock face just a few miles north of Persepolis lies the necropolis of the Achaemenid kings consisting of the tombs of Dareios I and three of his successors (the fourth tomb is around the corner). Some time after this picture was taken, the sandy hill in front of the rock was removed so that one could see the Sasanian rock reliefs between and below the tombs from a distance.
Schatz

Iran, Bisitun (Behistun), Kermanshah ProvinceOn the road from Hamadan (ancient Ekbatana) to the city of Kermanshah halfway up Mount Bisitun a number of unique bas reliefs from about 520 BC catch the eye. The Achaemenid king Dareios I (522 - 486 BC) had the largest one chiseled into the face of the mountain to tell the world of his triumph over his rival Gaumata and nine other rebels. The sensational part of the relief are the extensive cuneiform inscriptions above, below, and to the sides of the figures. They are in Elamite, Babylonian, and Old Persian, the latter a language which was created on the king’s order since up to then there was no written Persian language. The creation is a mixture of Elamite, Babylonian, and Aramaic. It was not deciphered until the middle of the 18th cent. AD by a British officer, adventurer, and amateur archeologist Sir Henry Rawlinson.
Schatz

Iran, Naqsh-e-Rostam, Fars ProvinceThe investiture of Narseh (293-303 AD) by the goddess AnahitaSchatz

Iran, BisitunCloser view of the main relief showing King Dareios I with his defeated rivals. Unfortunately there were no camera drones when this picture was taken.
Schatz

Iran, BisitunThe Parthian figures to the right of the Safavid plate are thought to represent king Gotarzes II (38 - 51 AD) on horseback after his victory over Meherdates, having his head adorned with a wreath or diadem by an angel. The head of another horseman’s head is visible on the left side.
Schatz

Iran, Bisitun, Kermanshah ProvinceMithradates II depicted receiving dignitaries. The relief is partly erased by the 17th cent. Safavid addition.

Sorry, the Bisitun pics are in reverse order. The Herakles sculpture should be the first of the bunch.Schatz

Iran, Naqsh-e-Rostam, Fars ProvinceTwo-panel equestrian relief showing the exploits of Bahram II, most likely against a Roman on the upper part, on the lower panel perhaps against an Indo-Sasanian ruler.Schatz

Italy, Rome, Colosseum with arch of Constantine in the backgroundJ. B.

Italy, Rome, ColosseumJ. B.

Italy, Rome, Colosseumhall inside colloseumJ. B.

Italy, Rome, ColosseumJ. B.

Germany, Trier - AmphitheaterThe arena, built in the 2nd century A.D. for cruel games with gladiators and animals, had a seating capacity of about 20,000.

Germany, Trier - AmphitheaterThe way into arena

Germany, Trier - AmphitheaterUnder the Arena

Germany, Trier - Amphitheaterthe entrance

Germany, Trier - Imperial bathsGoing to the baths was an important part of Roman life: Over 1600 years ago, the Romans built one of the grandest and most impressive baths in the world: the Imperial Baths.

Germany, Trier - BasilikaLater on, the archbishop used it as his administrative center and it was enlarged by three palace wings after 1614

Germany, Trier - BasilikaThe so-called Basilika, Constantine's throne room, is the largest surviving single-room structure from Roman times. The Romans wanted the architecture to express the magnificence and might of the emperor.
It is used as a church now.

Germany, Trier - BasilikaUnbelievable size: 27 m (90 ft) wide, 33 m (108 ft) high, and 67 m (220 ft) long - with an adjoining hall outside even 75 m (250 ft).

Germany, Trier - Porta Nigrathe other side of the gate

Germany, Trier - Porta NigraThe gate dates back to a time (about A.D. 180) when the Romans often erected public buildings of huge stone blocks (here, the biggest weigh up to six metric tons).

Italy, Rome, Arch of TitusThe Arch of Titus, on the Via Sacra, Rome, just to the south-east of the Roman Forum, was completed by Domitian in 96 A.D. to commemorate Titus' victories, including the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. The Arch of Titus has provided the general model for many of the triumphal arches erected since the 16th century—perhaps most famously it is the inspiration for the 1806 Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, completed in 1836.1 commentsJ. B.

Turkey, Ephesus - temple of Artemis - 1 of the 7 wonders of ancien worldWe can only dream up what it was once.2 commentsJ. B.

Turkey, Ephesus - street in upper townJ. B.

Turkey, Ephesus - street connecting upper and lower townJ. B.

Turkey, Ephesus - temple of HadrianJ. B.

Turkey, Ephesus - Gate of Augustusgate to agoraJ. B.

Turkey, Ephesus - Library of CelsusThis building had two-storied façade but was three-storied.
built ca. CE 125 by Gaius Julius Aquila
once held nearly 12,000 scrollsJ. B.

Turkey, Ephesus - Library of CelsusJ. B.

Turkey, Ephesus - street leading from harbour to agoraJ. B.

Turkey, Ephesus - theatreJ. B.

Turkey, Ephesus - theatre44000 spectators - maybe the largest ancient theatreJ. B.

Turkey, Ephesus - street leading to harbourIn ancient times Ephesus had harbour but alluviums of local river moved coast 5,6 km further.J. B.

Turkey, Ephesus - theatreJ. B.

EGYPT, Hatshepsut Mortuary TempleLocated on the west bank of the Nile near the Valley of the Kings.

Photo taken during a visit to Egypt in March 2019.cmcdon0923

Turkey, Yakapinar (Mopsos) - Mosaics depicting Noah's Ark in the Misis Mosaic MuseumMosaics depicting Noah's Ark from ancient Mopsos in the Misis Mosaic Museum.1 commentsJoe Sermarini

Spain, Segovia, AqueductThe Aqueduct of Segovia (Spanish: Acueducto de Segovia; more accurately, the aqueduct bridge) is a Roman aqueduct in Segovia, Spain. It is one of the best-preserved elevated Roman aqueducts and the foremost symbol of Segovia, as evidenced by its presence on the city's coat of arms. As the aqueduct lacks a legible inscription (one was apparently located in the structure's attic, or top portion[citation needed]), the date of construction cannot be definitively determined. The general date of the Aqueduct's construction was long a mystery, although it was thought to have been during the 1st century AD, during the reigns of the Emperors Domitian, Nerva, and Trajan. At the end of the 20th century, Géza Alföldy deciphered the text on the dedication plaque by studying the anchors that held the now missing bronze letters in place. He determined that Emperor Domitian (AD 81–96) ordered its construction and the year 98 AD was proposed as the most likely date of completion. However, in 2016 archeological evidence was published which points to a slightly later date, after 112 AD, during the government of Traianus or in the beginning of the government of emperor Hadrianus, from 117 AD.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqueduct_of_Segovia

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AcueductoSegovia_edit1.jpg
Manuel González Olaechea y Franco, 21 March 2004Joe Sermarini

Turkey, Antalya, Hadrian's Gate in AntalyaHadrian's Gate in Antalya
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antalya
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
Ingo Mehling - 17 May 2012Joe Sermarini

Israel, The Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in the Old City of JerusalemPhoto by Andrew Shiva.Joe Sermarini

Israel, Legionary Camp of X Fretensis at MasadaRemnants of one of several legionary camps of X Fretensis at Masada in Israel, just outside the circumvallation wall which can be seen at the bottom of the image.

Masada Roman Ruins by David Shankbone.

Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Masada_Roman_Ruins_by_David_Shankbone.jpg#/media/File:Masada_Roman_Ruins_by_David_Shankbone.jpgJoe Sermarini

Turkey, Misis, Roman bridge over the PyramusRoman bridge in Misis-Mopsuestia over the Pyramus. Constantius II built this magnificent bridge over the Pyramus (Malalas, Chronographia, XIII; P.G., XCVII, 488) afterwards it was restored by Justinian (Procopius, De Edificiis, V. 5) and it has been restored again recently. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mopsuestia Joe Sermarini

Turkey, Perge city overviewRoman rule of Perge began in 188 BC, and most of the surviving ruins today date from this period. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Perge remained inhabited until Seljuk times, before being gradually abandoned.

Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Perge_city_overview.jpgJoe Sermarini

Greece, Delphi - theatre1 commentsJ. B.

Greece, Delphi - tholos1 commentsJ. B.

Greece, Delphi - temple of Apollo1 commentsJ. B.

Greece, Delphi - Ionian column and treasure of AthensJ. B.

Greece, Athens - tower of the Windson the Roman agora,
built in 50 BC - maybe earlierJ. B.

Greece, Athens - ParthenonTemple of Athena built by Perikles.1 commentsJ. B.

Greece, Athens - Odeon of Herodes AtticusBuilt in 161 AD1 commentsJ. B.

Greece, Athens - Temple of Hephaestus and Athena Erganealso Theseion
Temple was used as church in christian times.1 commentsJ. B.

Greece, Athens - Theatre of Dionysus17000 spectratorsJ. B.

Greece, Athens - Temple of Olympian Zeuscompleted by HadrianusJ. B.

Greece, Corinth - temlpe of Apollo - Acrocorinth in the backgroundCorinth was completely destroyed by Romans in 146 BC - except this temple. Romans built new Corinth 100 years later.J. B.

Greece, Corinth - Peirene fountain - Acrocorinth in the backgroundJ. B.

Greece, Epidaurus - theatre1 commentsJ. B.

Greece, Mycenae - Lion gateJ. B.

Greece, Mycenae - tomb of KlytaimnéstraJ. B.

Greece, TirynsTiryns reached its height between 1400 and 1200 BC.
Tiryns is famous for its cyclopean tunnels and especially its walls.
Walls of Tiryns are first referenced by Homer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TirynsJ. B.

Greece, Mycenian bridgebetween Nafplio and EpidaurusJ. B.

Italy, Rome, Temple of Apollo SosianoBohemian

Greece, Messene - EkklesiasterionJ. B.

Greece, Messene - StadiumJ. B.

Greece, Messene - Stadium - votiv columnJ. B.

Greece, Messene - theatreentrance to koilon - auditoriumJ. B.

Greece, Messene - Stadium - "VIP sector"J. B.

Greece, Messene - ancient springJ. B.

Greece, Messene - Arcadian gateJ. B.

Greece, Bassae - Temple of Apollo Epikurosbuilt 450 - 400 BC
designed by Iktinos - architect of the Temple of Hephaestus and the Parthenon
!!! There is the earliest example of Corinthian capital. Corinthian capital is in interior, exterior is built in Doric style.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BassaeJ. B.

Jordan, Qasr Al-Abd, Hellenistic palace dating from approximately 200 BCJordan, Qasr Al-Abd, Hellenistic palace dating from approximately 200 B.C.
Photo by by Carole Raddato from Frankfurt, Germany, 18 April 2017.

Qasr al-Abd (Arabic: 'Castle of the Slave') is a large Hellenistic palace from the first quarter of the second century BCE. Its ruins stand in modern-day Jordan in the valley of Wadi Seer, close to the village of Iraq Al-Amir, approximately 17 kilometers west of Amman.

Qasr al-Abd is believed to be Tyros, the palace of a Tobiad notable, Hyrcanus of Jerusalem, head of the powerful Tobiad family and governor of Ammon in the 2nd century BCE. The first known written description of the castle comes down to us from Josephus, a first-century Jewish-Roman historian:

He also erected a strong castle, and built it entirely of white stone to the very roof, and had animals of a prodigious magnitude engraved upon it. He also drew round it a great and deep canal of water. He also made caves of many furlongs in length, by hollowing a rock that was over against him; and then he made large rooms in it, some for feasting, and some for sleeping and living in. He introduced also a vast quantity of waters which ran along it, and which were very delightful and ornamental in the court. But still he made the entrances at the mouth of the caves so narrow, that no more than one person could enter by them at once. And the reason why he built them after that manner was a good one; it was for his own preservation, lest he should be besieged by his brethren, and run the hazard of being caught by them. Moreover, he built courts of greater magnitude than ordinary, which he adorned with vastly large gardens. And when he had brought the place to this state, he named it Tyre. This place is between Arabia and Judea, beyond Jordan, not far from the country of Heshbon.
— Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, translated by William Whiston, Book XII, Chapter IV, 11.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qasr_al-AbdJoe Sermarini

Turkey, Kizilcakuyu (Euromus, Caria) The Temple of Zeus LepsinosThe Temple of Zeus Lepsinos at Euromus was built on the site of an earlier Carian temple in the 2nd century AD during the reign of the emperor Hadrian.1 commentsJoe Sermarini

Greece, Gortys (Peloponnese Arcadia) - sanctuary of AsclepiusGortys lost its influence after foundation of Megalopolis in 371 BC.1 commentsJ. B.

England, Roman Baths, Bath (1)These celebrated Roman Baths were unknown until, in 1880, sewer workers uncovered the first glimpse of Roman structures under the Georgian Spa. This led to the discovery of the Roman Baths and their treasures.

The walls, columns and parapet that surround the Great Bath today were built in the Victorian period, and the "Roman" statues that gaze down upon the pool from the upper walkway are also Victorian.

This photograph was taken in the 19th century not long after the Baths were discovered and before the Victorian structures we see today were built.
*Alex

Italy, Sicily, View of Solanto from the ruins of Soluntum (aka Solus, Solous, and Kefra)View of Solanto from the ruins of Soluntum (aka Solus, Solous, and Kefra), Sicily

Solus (or Soluntum, near modern Solanto) was an ancient city on the north coast of Sicily, one of the three chief Phoenician settlements on the island, about 16 kilometers (10 miles) east of Panormus (modern Palermo). It lay 183 meters (600 ft) above sea level, on the southeast side of Monte Catalfano 373 meters (1,225 ft), in a naturally strong situation, and commanding a fine view. The date of its founding is unknown. Solus was one of the few colonies that the Phoenicians retained when they withdrew to the northwest corner of the island before the advance of the Greek colonies in Sicily. Together with Panormus and Motya, it allied with the Carthaginians. In 396 B.C. Dionysius took the city but it probably soon broke away again to Carthage and was usually part of their dominions on the island. In 307 B.C. it was given to the soldiers and mercenaries of Agathocles, who had made peace with the Carthage when abandoned by their leader in Africa. During the First Punic War it was still subject to Carthage, and it was not until after the fall of Panormus that Soluntum also opened its gates to the Romans. It continued to under Roman dominion as a municipal town, but apparently one of no great importance, as its name is only slightly and occasionally mentioned by Cicero. But it is still noticed both by Pliny and Ptolemy, as well as at a later period by the Itineraries. Its destruction probably dates from the time of the Saracens.

Excavations have brought to light considerable remains of the ancient town, belonging entirely to the Roman period, and a good deal still remains unexplored. The traces of two ancient roads, paved with large blocks of stone, which led up to the city, may still be followed, and the whole summit of Monte Catalfano is covered with fragments of ancient walls and foundations of buildings. Among these may be traced the remains of two temples, of which some capitals and portions of friezes, have been discovered. An archaic oriental Artemis sitting between a lion and a panther, found here, is in the museum at Palermo, with other antiquities from this site. An inscription, erected by the citizens in honor of Fulvia Plautilla, the wife of Caracalla, was found there in 1857. With the exception of the winding road by which the town was approached on the south, the streets, despite the unevenness of the ground, which in places is so steep that steps have to be introduced, are laid out regularly, running from east to west and from north to south, and intersecting at right angles. They are as a rule paved with slabs of stone. The houses were constructed of rough walling, which was afterwards plastered over; the natural rock is often used for the lower part of the walls. One of the largest of them, with a peristyle, was in 1911, though wrongly, called the gymnasium. Near the top of the town are some cisterns cut in the rock, and at the summit is a larger house than usual, with mosaic pavements and paintings on its walls. Several sepulchres also have been found.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soluntum

Photo by Allie Caulfield from Germany.Joe Sermarini

Israel, Tzipporri - Tzipporri MosaicA mosaic found in Tzipporri, Israel.Aarmale

Israel - Bar'am SynagogueThis is one of the oldest synagogues in all of Israel.Aarmale

Turkey, Istanbul - the Column of MarcianThe column of emperor Marcian, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey.

The Column of Marcian was dedicated to Marcian, built by the praefectus urbi Tatianus, sometime between 450 and 452. It still stands in modern Istanbul, though the statue of Marcian which originally topped it has been lost. Marcian also had a statue in the Forum of Arcadius, which contained the statues of several of Arcadius' successors.

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20111224_Flavius_Marcianus_Augustus_Column_Fatih_Istanbul_Turkey.jpgJoe Sermarini

Greece, Olympia - tholosJ. B.

Greece, Olympia - temple of HeraJ. B.

Greece, Olympia - Entrence to Olypmic stadiumJ. B.

Greece, Olympia - start line at Olympic stadiumgrooves hold Athlets' toes during startJ. B.

Iran, Naqsh-e-Rajab, Fars ProvinceThe investiture of Ardashir I (left) by Ahura Mazda2 commentsSchatz

Iran, Naqsh-e-Rostam, Fars ProvinceThe top of this tomb shows king Dareios I worshiping in front of a fire altar with Ahura Mazda’s symbol above.Schatz

Iran, Naqsh-e-Rostam, Fars ProvinceThe tomb of Dareios I (522-486 BC)is the only one identified with certainty from the head of the relief. The others are believed to be those of Xerxes I (486-465 BC), Artaxerxes I (465-424 BC), and Dareios II (423-404 BC).Schatz

Italy, Ravenna, Mausoleum of Galla PlacidiaThe building was formerly the oratory of the Church of the Holy Cross and now contains three sarcophagi. The largest sarcophagus was thought to contain the remains of Galla Placidia (died 450). Other is attributed to her husband, Emperor Constantius III. The last sarcophagus is attributed to Galla's son, Emperor Valentinian III, or to her brother, Emperor Honorius.J. B.

Italy, Ravenna, Mausoleum of Galla Placidiait is describbed as "the earliest and best preserved of all mosaic monuments, and at the same time one of the most artistically perfect"

The building was formerly the oratory of the Church of the Holy Cross and now contains three sarcophagi. The largest sarcophagus was thought to contain the remains of Galla Placidia (died 450). Other is attributed to her husband, Emperor Constantius III. The last sarcophagus is attributed to Galla's son, Emperor Valentinian III, or to her brother, Emperor Honorius.J. B.

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