Most viewed - Ancient Sites Photo Gallery |
Afghanistan, Balkh3187 viewsThe walls of Balkh, AfganistanJoe Sermarini
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Mali, West Africa, Timbukto1988 viewsYes it does exist! although it has lost a lot from its glory days in the 14th and 16th centuries, still a fascinating place to visit. Meaning well of the woman named 'Bouctou'. In its day 25,000 students are reputed to have studied there at any one time. Some of the manuscripts can still be viewed; on such varied subjects at medicine, astronomy and arithmetic; sadly they are not well preserved.Peattie
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Israel, Jerusalem - Western Wall and Dome of the Rock1833 viewsThe first century BCE western retaining wall of the Second Jewish Temple, directly in front of the 8th century Dome of the Rock. Friday evening at sunset (beginning of Shabbat).
posted by ZamEcgþeow
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Turkey, Ephesus, Library of Celsus1464 viewsOne of the true glories of Ephesus is the reconstructed facade of the Library of Celsus. Dedicated in 120 A.D to the former governor of Asia Gaius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, the library contained up to 12,000 scrolls. It was burned when the Goths sacked the city in 260 A. D. The edifice to the right is the Gate of Hadrian which connected the library to the public agora or marketplace.
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Italy, Rome, Arch of Constantine1456 viewsView of the arch of Constantine from the top of the ColosseumJay GT4
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Turkey, Ephesus - Curetes Street1357 viewsLooking down Curetes Street named after the priests who presided over the sacred fire of Hestia. The street is paved with marble slabs with sidewalks covered in mosaics.
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Cyprus, Pafos, Roman Mosaic in "The House of the Century"1347 viewsMosaic in "The House of the Century"Jeroen
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Italy, Vulci - Great Temple1261 viewsEtruscan temple was at this site since 6th century BC, rebuilt by Romans.J. B.
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Turkey, Ephesus - Sculptured Drum of Column from Ephesus1155 views
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China, Great Wall1129 viewsIt's a wall and its great, what more do I need to say :) - BolayiPeattie
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Cyprus, Pafos, Roman Mosaic in "The House of the Century" (Detail)1039 viewsDetailJeroen
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Turkey, Ephesus - temple of Hadrian1035 viewsA magnificent relief of Medusa filling the interior arch of the temple of Hadrian. Other reliefs of Amazons and the Olympian gods grace the interior.
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Israel, Caesarea989 viewsThe ancient Roman port of Caesarea Maritima in Judaea (now Israel). This port was built by Herod the Great in the 1st century BCE. The view is of a portion of the aquaduct that brought water from the Carmel, just south of Haifa.Daniel F
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China, Great Wall979 viewsMutianyu Great Wall located in Huairou County, Beijing. Built on older pre-existing walls during the Ming Dynasty.Peattie
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Greece, Athens - Acropolis, The Erectheum898 views
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Italy, Rome, Curia892 viewsThe place where the Senate held its meetings.
Notice the three different kinds of marble used for the pavement. The beheaded statue should be Trajan's.
Posted by Strength And Honour.
Photo taken by my friend Hebe.
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Greece, Athens, Acropolis, Parthenon, North West Corner of the Parthenon846 views
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Greece, Athens, Acropolis, Parthenon, East Front of the Parthenon Restored and Dissected845 viewsJoe Sermarini
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Jordan, Petra - The Treasury835 viewsI visited the ancient city of Petra in 1999, it is located in Jordan.
The Nabateers "build" this city in the dessert, all the temples and houses are carved in the soft rock.
When you have passed the Siq, the first temple you see is the Al-Khazneh Farun, or The Treasury.pax
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Greece, Athens - Entrance to the Athens Numismatic Museum781 viewsThe former mansion of noted amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann. What was inside those doors was truly marvelous.
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France, Ambrussum, Gallia Narbonensis - Bridge over Vidourle river.781 viewsUsed to have eleven arches and still used untill the middle ages. From this bridge the via Domitia goes upwards to the settlement
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Italy, Ostia - Caupona777 viewsBeautifully preserved, it seems to step back in time.
Posted by Strength And Honour.
Photo taken by my friend Hebe.
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New World, Maya, Copan, Honduras769 viewsMayadigger - The most Southern City of the ancient Maya was Copan, "Zotz" in Maya. The name Zotz means "Bat." Cppan was the "Paris" of the Maya world. The archetecture and entablature was just superb. Seen in this photo, we see the stele of Yax Kuk Mo, "Blue Quetzal Macaw." As it turned out, Yax Kuk Mo came from Teotihuacan, in the Valley of Mexico. An imported Prince as it were...Mayadigger
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Austria, Vienna (Vindobona) - remains of Roman house from 2nd - 4th century754 viewsWien - Michaelerplatz J. B.
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Turkey, Ephesus - Public Toilets735 viewsMinus the slaves to warm the seats in winter and the live entertainment
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Greece, Athens - Acropolis, Parthenon, Slab of the North Parthenon Frieze712 views
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New World, Maya, Tikal, Guatemala, Cox Combs above the rain forest712 viewsMayadigger - The cox-comb roofs of a number of towering pyramids show just above the gigantic mahagony and giant fig trees of the Peten forest. These threes are full of parrots, toucans, and howler and spider monkeys. As far as I was concerned, my only thoughts were as how I was to get back down without breaking my neck!Mayadigger
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New World, Peru 1.5704 viewsMore Cyclopean Stones with Sheri showing their size...Mayadigger
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Italy, Rome, Arch of Titus701 viewsArch of Titus in Rome depicting the spoils of Jerusalem's temple.
Photo taken September 2005Jay GT4
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France, Ambrussum, Gallia Narbonensis - via Domitia.688 viewsVia Domitia winding its way uphill
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France, Sommiéres - Roman bridge688 views17 arch bridge built on orders of Tiberius to cross the river Vidourle and enable to connect Nemausis ( Nîmes ) with Tolosa ( Toulouse ).
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France, Ambrussum, Gallia Narbonensis - via Domitia.686 viewsSee those wagontracks as road goes upwards from the bridge towards the settlement on the top of the hill
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Italy, Rome, Trajan's Column681 views
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Italy, Ostia - Alexander and Helix's inn680 viewsPosted by Strength And Honour.
Photo taken by my friend Hebe.
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New World, Peru 1671 viewsThat's me, standing close to the stones, just to give the size...Mayadigger
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Turkey, Ephesus - Relief inside temple of Hadrian656 views
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New World, Maya, Lamanai, Belize651 viewsMayadigger - Here I am "discovering" an ancient Maya pyramid in the ruins at Lamanai. As seen, it's being recovered from the rain forest by archeologists. This particular structure ia about 80 feet tall. What makes Lamanai unique is that it was the longest inhabited city in the New World...from approx. 300BC to 1100 AD.Mayadigger
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Italy, Rome, Colosseum 1648 viewsPosted by Strength And Honour.
Photo taken by my friend Hebe.
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France, Ambrussum, Gallia Narbonensis - via Domitia.634 viewsVia Domitia going downhill towards the bridge
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Israel, Gezer - six chambered gate built by Solomon633 viewsThe Canaanite town was supposedly conquered by an Egyptian pharaoh and given to Solomon as a dowry for his daughter. Solomon then rebuilt and fortified the city, including this six chambered gate, dating from the 10th century. The chambers were to be packed with soldiers, so if enemies forced their way through the gate, they would be surrounded by soldiers on all sides.
posted by ZamEcgþeow
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Austria, Vienna (Vindobona) - remains of Roman house from 2nd - 4th century631 viewsWien - Michaelerplatz J. B.
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Israel, Gezer - Bronze Age city walls625 viewsThese are the Bronze Age city walls of the Canaanite city of Gezer. It is near this town that the battle took place where Joshua is said to have held the sun and the moon still. The Canaanites held off the attacks by the tribe of Dan until the reign of Solomon.
posted by ZamEcgþeow
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Greece, Athens - Odeon of Herodes Atticus613 viewsBuilt in 161 ADJ. B.
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Turkey, Ephesus - Central square of Terrace Houses610 viewsPart of the central square of the terrace houses in Ephesus.
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Italy, Rome, Appio-Claudian Aqueduct 2601 viewsPosted by Strength And Honour.
Photo taken by my friend Hebe.
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Italy, Ostia - Street598 viewsIt is like stepping back in time....
Posted by Strength And Honour.
Photo taken by my friend Hebe.
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New World, Maya, Altun Ha, Belize593 viewsMayadigger - Altun Ha "Rock Water", was another ancient Maya city that encompassed nearly 700 years of occupation. Lovely in situation, it's population at it's height was close to 20,000 citizens. It was another leading trade center. Mayadigger
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France, Sommiéres - Roman Bridge590 views17 arch bridge built on orders of Tiberius to cross the river Vidourle and enable to connect Nemausis ( Nîmes ) with Tolosa ( Toulouse ).
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Italy, Rome, Trajan's Markets 4585 viewsThe modern bronze statue of Trajan, which stands near this emperor's Forum.
Posted by Strength And Honour.
Photo taken by my friend Hebe.
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Italy, Ostia - House of Amor and Psyche583 viewsPosted by Strength And Honour.
Photo taken by my friend Hebe.
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Turkey, Ephesus - Terrace House576 viewsLocated in the ongoing excavation of the upper-class terrace houses. Lovely floor mosaic
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Germany, Trier - Amphitheater575 viewsUnder the Arena
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Italy, Sicily, Agrigento - remains of city wall574 viewsJ. B.
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Germany, Trier - Basilika572 viewsThe 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.
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Italy, Rome, Colosseum 2571 viewsPosted by Strength And Honour.
Photo taken by my friend Hebe.
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Germany, Trier - Porta Nigra571 viewsThe 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).
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New World, Maya, Altun Ha, Belize, Masks570 viewsAnother example of the "Pre-Classic Masks" that tell us that this city was established at least 200 AD.Mayadigger
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New World, Maya, Chicanna, Campeche, Mexico567 viewsMayadigger - Chicanna is a smallish ruin found in Southern Campeche, Mexico. Seen in the photo is a wonderous depiction of everything that the ancient Maya were really about. The ancient Maya, as well as nearly all Meso-American civilizations, believed that caves/grottos were the doors to the underworld (read after-life). In fact, when archaeologists dug beneath the vast Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan in Mexico they discovered that the enormous pyramid was centered on the top of a huge underground complex. The ancient Maya named their underworld "Xibalba" and their representaion of this phenomenon is now known as a Witz Monster. In this photo we see the Witz Monster, his mouth agape, lower jaw displayed with huge teeth, leading into a temple. To the untrained eye it may be hard to make out, but if you look close, you can see his eyes above the doorway, and his ear-flairs to either side of the portal. Very cool...Mayadigger
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Greece, Athens - Temple of Hephaestus and Athena Ergane562 viewsalso Theseion
Temple was used as church in christian times.J. B.
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Germany, Trier - Amphitheater561 viewsThe arena, built in the 2nd century A.D. for cruel games with gladiators and animals, had a seating capacity of about 20,000.
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Israel, Masada558 viewsThe ancient fortress in the Judaean desert built by Herod the Great in the first century BCE, it was the last stronghold of a small group of zealots against Rome in the year 73 CE. The view is from the top of the fortress, looing down on the remains of the ancient roman encampment.Daniel F
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Jordan, Petra - Theater 3557 viewspax
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Italy, Rome, View from the Colosseum557 viewsOn the left the Palatine Hill, the Via Sacra and Titus' Arch.
On the right Maxentius' Basilica
Posted by Strength And Honour.
Photo taken by my friend Hebe.
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Italy, Rome, Mausoleum of Augustus554 viewsPosted by Strength And Honour.
Photo taken by my friend Hebe.
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Italy, Rome, Arch of Septimus Severus552 viewsPosted by Strength And Honour.
Photo taken by my friend Hebe.
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Turkey, Ephesus - Theater552 viewsOne of the largest in the ancient world. The apostle Paul spoke here before getting booted out for causing riots.
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Italy, Rome, Trajan's Markets 3549 viewsPosted by Strength And Honour.
Photo taken by my friend Hebe.
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Italy, Rome, Trajan's Markets 1540 viewsThe first mall in history.
Posted by Strength And Honour.
Photo taken by my friend Hebe.
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Italy, Rome, Appio-Claudian Aqueduct 1539 viewsPosted by Strength And Honour.
Photo taken by my friend Hebe.
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Italy, Sicily, Agrigento - Temple of Concordia536 viewsgreek colony - Akragas
temple from 5. century BC
6 x 13 columns built over a basament of 39.44 x 16.91 m
temple was turned into church in the 6th century ADJ. B.
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New World, Maya, Lubaantun, Belize, Sign ruins535 viewsThe small site of Lubaantun is found in the remote rain forests of Southern Belize. One of the most interesting bits about this ruin is that the Maya did not use mortar between the building stones. Very rare...never saw it before or since.Mayadigger
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Italy, Rome, Arch of Constantine with Colosseum in the background532 viewsJ. B.
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New World, Maya, Tikal, Guatemala530 viewsMayadigger - Tikal was the home to 45,000 + citizens from 200-800 AD. This truly maginificent site is located deep in the Peten rainforest. The pyramid seen here is approx. 140 feet tall, whose temple is topped with a "cox-comb" roof decoration. In the right foreground is seen the Great Plaza with a number of stone stelae commemorating the city's kings. In the right background is the acropolis, where the elites not only lived, but were also buried with great pomp.
Mayadigger
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New World, Maya, Lamanai, Belize525 viewsMayadigger - This is a detail seen on the previous structure. What you're looking at is known to Meso-American archaeologists as a "Pre-Classic Mask" and are only found on Maya structures from the Pre-Classic time, i.e. 200-400 A.D. This fellow is a "Kinich Ahau" or a "Shining-faced" Lord. Kinich Ahau was the Maya Sun God, but this was also the title of the Maya rulers. As all Maya structures were built onion-style, that is, one layer atop another, it is easy for us to date them when we come across masks such as seen here.Mayadigger
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Germany, Trier - Basilika525 viewsUnbelievable 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).
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Germany, Trier - Porta Nigra520 viewsthe other side of the gate
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Jordan, Petra - The collonaded street519 viewsThis is the centre of the lower city and divides it in north and south.
This is the road that leads to the Semenos gate (at our back)
You can also see the following tombs (from left to right)
Corinthian tomb, Silk tomb and the Urn tomb.pax
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Germany, Trier - Amphitheater519 viewsthe entrance
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Italy, Rome, Ludus Magnus Gladiatorum517 viewsPosted by Strength And Honour.
Photo taken by my friend Hebe.
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Italy, Rome, Colosseum 3516 viewsPosted by Strength And Honour.
Photo taken by my friend Hebe.
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Italy, Rome, Colosseum 4515 viewsPosted by Strength And Honour.
Photo taken by my friend Hebe.
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Greece, Athens - Parthenon514 viewsTemple of Athena built by Perikles.J. B.
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Turkey, Ephesus - Central Square511 viewsPart of the central square of the terrace houses in Ephesus.
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New World, Maya, Lubaantun, Belize, Sign ruins close509 viewsMayadigger - Note the lack of mortar...very cool!Mayadigger
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Jordan, Petra - Gate of Temenos505 viewsPetra, Gate of Temenospax
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New World, Maya, Lamanai, Belize505 viewsMayadigger - Lamanai, "Submerged Crocodile" in Maya, is a truly pristine and very remote ancient Maya city. In this case we, took a small boat up a long, turgid river. It can be reached by "road", read 50 mile muddy track. I know, we did it a few years later and never again. In ancient days, Lamanai owed its wealth to being a trade center centrally located between the vast Maya cities of Tikal, Altun Ha, Caracol, and Copan. Killer ruins...but do not forget your bug spray!Mayadigger
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Germany, Trier - Amphitheater504 viewsThe way into arena
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Germany, Trier - Basilika502 viewsLater on, the archbishop used it as his administrative center and it was enlarged by three palace wings after 1614
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Germany, Trier - Imperial baths489 viewsGoing 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.
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Jordan, Petra - Theater486 viewsA vieuw on some graves and on the left side a theater.pax
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