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Jordan, Petra - Qasr al-BintIt’s known locally by the name of Qasr al-Bint al-Faroun, ‘the Palace of Pharaoh’s Daughter’, but it’s really a Nabataean temple, probably originally dedicated to Dushrat. The Qasr al-Bint is one of the best preserved free-standing buildings in Petra and stands in a sacred precinct at the far end of the city’s Cardo. In front of the temple steps is a substantial open-air altar platform. The area still further in the foreground of the picture is now used as a Bedouin taxi rank, where the tired tourist who no longer wishes to walk can hire a camel or donkey for the trip back to the start of the Siq. Abu GalyonDec 12, 2009
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Jordan, Jerash - Temple of ArtemisArtemis was the patron goddess of Gerasa, and the temple dedicated to her was one of the city’s grandest monuments. It was reached by ascending an imposing processional Sacred Way, starting from the Cardo. The temple was built during the mid 2nd-century CE and worship continued there until suppressed by Theodosius around 391. Afterwards, in Byzantine times, part of the Sacred Way was converted into a church (the ‘Propylaeum Church’) and the temple courtyard was used as a pottery workshop, while the naos itself was left to crumble quietly away. Abu GalyonDec 04, 2009
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Jordan, Jerash - NymphaeumGerasa’s Nymphaeum is quite well preserved and must have been spectacular in its prime. Originally there would have been a half-dome covering the top and each niche would have contained a statue. Note the holes in the lower level niches: the sculptures here would have also served as decorative water conduits to fill the basin underneath. Abu GalyonDec 02, 2009
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Israel, Caesarea Maritima - Amphitheatre‘Amphitheatre’ is how Josephus describes this structure (Antiquities 15.341). It was designed to be suitable for races, athletics, and probably more violent entertainments. It measures about 50 x 290 m. Nearby in the city there is a more traditional semi-circular Roman amphitheatre. And a larger (90 x 450 m) hippodrome for chariot racing was built subsequently, probably at the time of Hadrian. Abu GalyonNov 30, 2009
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Israel, Caesarea Maritima - Herod's VillaAnother of Herod the Great's many residences.
This one is by the seaside.Abu GalyonNov 20, 2009
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Israel, Jericho - Herod's PalaceThe ruins at Tulul Abu el-Alaiq, site of Herod the Great’s winter retreat on the outskirts of Jericho. Jericho is over 300m below sea level and hence pleasantly warm in winter, even when it's freezing in Jerusalem. Around 35 BCE, Aristobulus, the last Hasmonaean high-priest and Herod’s brother-in-law, was murdered here on Herod’s orders, drowned in a fish pond. The palace and grounds extended across the Wadi Qilt (the seasonal river-bed in the foreground of the picture), which was spanned by a bridge. Abu GalyonNov 17, 2009
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Israel, Nazareth - Rolling Stone TombA really well-preserved example of a Jewish rolling-stone tomb. This one is part of a small necropolis which was found underneath the Convent of the Sisters of Nazareth, only a stone’s throw away from the Basilica of the Annunciation. Abu GalyonNov 13, 2009
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Israel, Qumran - TowerThe remains of the tower at Qumran. The tower is set in the middle of the north side and has a natural function as an observation or guard tower: north looks towards Jericho, and that would be the natural direction from which travellers would approach the settlement. There is no access to the tower at ground level; instead people would have entered higher up, after climbing a flight of stone steps fixed to the south-side exterior wall. Abu GalyonNov 12, 2009
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Israel, Qumran - ScriptoriumL30. From the fill of this room (which came from a collapsed upper level) de Vaux recovered two inkwells and the remains of what appeared to be a long, narrow plastered table (about 480 cm x 40 cm). Another inkwell was found in an adjacent locus. He conjectured that L30 could have been the community’s ‘scriptorium’, a room for copying manuscripts. Abu GalyonNov 10, 2009
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Israel, Qumran - MiqvahThis is L48-49, a water storage feature. The low, plastered partitions on the steps make it likely that this was a miqvah (a ritual bath), rather than a cistern. The damage on the left side of the steps dates from the earthquake of 31 BCE. Abu GalyonNov 09, 2009
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Israel, Qumran - RefectoryThe ‘Refectory’ (L77) is the largest room at Qumran. A smaller connecting space (L86) nearby contained a huge cache of pottery plates, bowls, and cups. Hence, de Vaux argued that L77 was probably the community’s communal dining room. Abu GalyonNov 09, 2009
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Israel, Qumran - Cave 4Cave 4 was the nearest cave containing documents to the site at Qumran - it’s only about 500 metres away. Most visitors to Qumran take a picture like this one. But mostly they don’t realise that the highly visible cave entrance in their picture is modern, knocked into the side by looters. The ancient entrance to Cave 4 is on the top and well-hidden. Which is perhaps why Cave 4 was found by the local Bedouin, not by Western archaeologists, and why it wasn’t discovered until 1952, over five years after the original manuscript finds of 1946/7. Abu GalyonNov 06, 2009
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Israel, Sepphoris - 'Mona Lisa' MosaicPart of a Roman mosaic, usually dated to the early 3rd-century CE, from the dining room floor of a mansion in the upper town at Sepphoris. When it was first excavated, the Israeli press named it 'the Mona Lisa of the Galilee'. Over-hype, maybe, but it is certainly attractive.Abu GalyonOct 27, 2009
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Jordan, Petra - 'Little Petra'This is Al-Barid (often called 'Little Petra') which is about 5 km distant from the central parts of Petra which attract all the tourists. By contrast, Little Petra is not often visited, but it's very atmospheric (with its own mini-Siq!) and an excursion here can also take in the nearby and fascinating Neolithic site of Beidha.Abu GalyonOct 16, 2009
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Croatia, Split - Diocletian's palace - peristyle - sphinxDiocletian's palace is historical centre of Split - Croatia.J. B.Oct 12, 2009
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Croatia, Split - Diocletian's palace - peristylepart of cathedrale of St. Duje in the left upper cornerJ. B.Oct 12, 2009
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Croatia, Split - Diocletian's palaceDiocletian's palace is historical centre of Split - Croatia.J. B.Oct 12, 2009
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Croatia, Split - Diocletian's palace - Cathedral of St. Domnius (St. Duje)Cathedral of St. Duje is build over Diocletian's mausoleum.J. B.Oct 12, 2009
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Croatia, Split - Diocletian's palace - silver gateeast gate leading to the centre of Split.J. B.Oct 12, 2009
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Jordan, Petra - Silk TombThe 'Silk Tomb' is hard to photograph and is best visited near sunrise or sunset. Depending on the time of day (i.e. on the angle at which the sunlight strikes the rock) the colours either look vibrant and alive or flat and dull.Abu GalyonOct 07, 2009
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Jordan, Petra - Roman Soldier's TombIt's popularly called the "Roman Soldier's Tomb" because the central headless figure on the facade is clearly wearing a cuirass. The trouble is that the tomb can't really be dated later than the early years of Rabbel II, i.e. at least 30 years before the Roman annexation in 106 CE. That makes a Roman officer's burial highly questionable. The interior layout is elaborate - a tomb intended for someone of quite high status.Abu GalyonOct 05, 2009
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Jordan, GadaraPart of an early Byzantine church complex at Umm Qais in north-west Jordan. Umm Qais is ancient Gadara of the Decapolis (as in the 'Gadarene swine' of Matthew 8:28-34). The city is built from a mixture of white limestone and dark basalt, often mixed together, which gives some of the buildings a curious chess-board look.Abu GalyonOct 02, 2009
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Jordan, Amman - AcropolisAmman in Jordan was ancient Philadelphia, a Decapolis town. Not much remains of the (second-century CE) Temple of Heracles which once dominated the city's acropolis, but the surviving columns are impressively large. Heracles also features prominently on Philadelphia's coinage.Abu GalyonSep 30, 2009
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Jordan, MachaerusMachaerus is in central Jordan, not far from the Dead Sea. It's one of Herod the Great's hilltop desert fortresses. Not as well-known or impressive as Masada perhaps, but Machaerus has it's own claim to fame: according to Josephus, Machaerus is where John the Baptist was imprisoned and executed.Abu GalyonSep 29, 2009
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Jordan, Petra - Ed DeirThis is Ed Deir, one of the 'high places' of Petra. There's a rock cut path, you have to climb about 800 steps above Cardo level to get there, but worth it. Early Western visitors called it 'the Monastery', which perhaps it was during Byzantine times, originally though, a Nabataean temple (not a tomb).Abu GalyonSep 28, 2009
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Jordan, Jerash - Oval PlazaJerash is ancient Gerasa in Jordan, one of the Decapolis cities. The superb Oval Plaza stands at one end of the Cardo.Abu GalyonSep 28, 2009
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Turkey, Ephesus - LibraryEaster 2007Potator IISep 23, 2009
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Turkey, Ephesus - Temple of Hadrian - Easter 2007Potator IISep 23, 2009
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Turkey, Hierapolis - Easter 2007Potator IISep 23, 2009
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Turkey, Miletos - TheaterEaster 2007Potator IISep 23, 2009
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Italy, Rome, Forumruins of The Forum - Temple of Saturn being excavated 1999
We were unable to get close, I think this pic was taken from the sidewalk by hte main road that ran by.Randygeki(h2)Sep 21, 2009
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Italy, Rome, Forum1999
I think this is ( or near) The Forum - Temple of SaturnRandygeki(h2)Sep 21, 2009
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Italy, Venice - Bridge of SighsBridge of Sighs 1999Randygeki(h2)Sep 21, 2009
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Italy, Venice - Grand Canal and St. MarksVeiw from the ferry 1999Randygeki(h2)Sep 21, 2009
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Israel - Bar'am SynagogueThis is one of the oldest synagogues in all of Israel.AarmaleSep 10, 2009
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Israel, Tzipporri - Tzipporri MosaicA mosaic found in Tzipporri, Israel.AarmaleSep 10, 2009
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Turkey, Ephesus - theatreJ. B.Aug 01, 2009
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Turkey, Ephesus - street leading to harbourIn ancient times Ephesus had harbour but alluviums of local river moved coast 5,6 km further.J. B.Aug 01, 2009
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Turkey, Ephesus - theatre44000 spectators - maybe the largest ancient theatreJ. B.Aug 01, 2009
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Turkey, Ephesus - theatreJ. B.Aug 01, 2009
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Turkey, Ephesus - street leading from harbour to agoraJ. B.Aug 01, 2009
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Turkey, Ephesus - Library of CelsusJ. B.Aug 01, 2009
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Turkey, Ephesus - Library of CelsusJ. B.Aug 01, 2009
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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.Aug 01, 2009
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Turkey, Ephesus - Gate of Augustusgate to agoraJ. B.Aug 01, 2009
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Turkey, Ephesus - street connecting upper and lower townJ. B.Aug 01, 2009
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Turkey, Ephesus - temple of HadrianJ. B.Aug 01, 2009
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Turkey, Ephesus - street in upper townJ. B.Aug 01, 2009
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Turkey, Ephesus - temple of Artemis - 1 of the 7 wonders of ancien worldWe can only dream up what it was once.J. B.Aug 01, 2009
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Turkey, Hierapolis - theatreJ. B.Jul 13, 2009
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Turkey, Hierapolis - roman bath(northern bath)J. B.Jul 13, 2009
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Turkey, Hierapolis - necropolisJ. B.Jul 13, 2009
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Turkey, Hierapolis - necropolisJ. B.Jul 13, 2009
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Turkey, Hierapolis - necropolisJ. B.Jul 13, 2009
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Turkey, Hierapolis - main streetHierapolis was used as spa since Hellenistic times.J. B.Jul 13, 2009
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Turkey, Hierapolis - main streetHierapolis was used as spa since Hellenistic times.J. B.Jul 13, 2009
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Greece, Kos - Asclepieion - mosaique of Satyr?J. B.Jul 13, 2009
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Greece, Crete, Knossos - palacecenter of Minoan culture - the first civilization in Europe
Old palace is from 19th to 16th centuries BC J. B.Jul 13, 2009
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Greece, Crete, Knossos - palacecenter of Minoan culture - the first civilization in Europe
Old palace is from 19th to 16th centuries BC J. B.Jul 13, 2009
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Italy, Sicily, Villa Casale - room of the 10 girls in bikinisbuilt 301-325 AD
it was centre of huge latifundium but later it was used for holiday in byzantine and arabic times. It was abandoned in twelfth century.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Romana_del_CasaleJ. B.Jul 01, 2009
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Italy, Sicily, Villa Casalebuilt 301-325 AD
it was centre of huge latifundium but later it was used for holiday in byzantine and arabic times. It was abandoned in twelfth century.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Romana_del_CasaleJ. B.Jul 01, 2009
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Greece, PhilippiPhilippi is site of famous battle. Marcus Antonius and Octavius defeated Brutus and Cassius.
Philippi is also the first place in Europe where St. Paul evangelized. He was kept in prison there too.J. B.Jul 01, 2009
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Greece, Thasos - agoraJ. B.Jul 01, 2009
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Greece, Kos - agoraKos is place where Hippocrates (father of medicine) was born.J. B.Jul 01, 2009
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Greece, Kos - Asclepieionparts of column, temple in the back ground.
Kos is place where Hippocrates (father of medicine) was born.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AsclepieionJ. B.Jul 01, 2009
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Cyprus, Paphos - tombTombs were built between 400 BC and 300 AD.J. B.Jul 01, 2009
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Cyprus, Paphos - theatreJ. B.Jul 01, 2009
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Tunisia, Tunis (Carthage) - bath of AntoninusJ. B.Jul 01, 2009
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Tunisia, Tunis (Carthage) - bath of AntoninusJ. B.Jul 01, 2009
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Tunisia, Tunis (Carthage)Carthage was completely destroyed 146 BC so all excavations are from roman times.J. B.Jul 01, 2009
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Portugal, Algarve, Site of Milreuspace for the warm air that heated the floorpaxJun 29, 2009
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Portugal, Algarve, Site of Milreuremains of the floor of a roman villa (with heating) underneath a 16th cent. farmer housepaxJun 29, 2009
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Portugal, Algarve, Site of Milreuremains of roman villa underneath a 16th cent farmer house, mosaic floorpaxJun 29, 2009
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Portugal, Algarve, Site of Milreudetail of the fishespaxJun 29, 2009
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Portugal, Algarve, Site of Milreufrigidarium, cold bath. with fishes paxJun 29, 2009
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Portugal, Algarve, Site of MilreuDetail of mosaic.paxJun 29, 2009
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Portugal, Algarve, Site of MilreuTempel at the site of a Villa Rustica, build in the 1st cent. AD.
Transformed into a church and abandoned in the 6th cent.paxJun 29, 2009
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Greece, Athens - tower of the Windson the Roman agora,
built in 50 BC - maybe earlierJ. B.Jun 15, 2009
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Italy, Capua - AmphitheatreJ. B.Jun 10, 2009
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Italy, Capua - AmphitheatreJ. B.Jun 10, 2009
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Italy, Capua - AmphitheatreThe second largest amphitheatre ... arena is only 10m shorter and 8m narrower than colosseumJ. B.Jun 10, 2009
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Italy, Sicily, Agrigento - remains of city wallJ. B.Jun 10, 2009
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Italy, Sicily, Agrigento - Temple of Heraclesbuilt in 5. century BCJ. B.Jun 10, 2009
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Italy, Sicily, Agrigento - Temple of Castor and Polluxbuilt +- 450 BCJ. B.Jun 10, 2009
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Italy, Sicily, Agrigento - Temple of Junobuilt in the 5. century BC and burnt in 406 BC by the Carthaginians
used for the celebration of weddingsJ. B.Jun 10, 2009
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Italy, Sicily, Casale - roman villa - Basin at the entrancebuilt 301-325 AD
it was centre of huge latifundium but later it was used for holiday in byzantine and arabic times. It was abandoned in twelfth century.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Romana_del_CasaleJ. B.Jun 10, 2009
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Greece, Thasos - theatrephoto was taken in 2000
now theatre is reconstructed :-(J. B.Jun 10, 2009
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Italy, Sicily, Taormina - theatreJ. B.Jun 10, 2009
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