Tag Archives: ancient

knossos Palace by vasiliosgavrilis

From an archaeological point of view, the terms, “Knossos,” and “palace,” are somewhat ambiguous. The palace was never just the residence of a monarch, although it contained rooms that might have been suitable for a royal family. Most of the structures, however, were designed to serve a civic, religious and economic center. The term palace complex is more accurate. In ancient times, Knossos was a town surrounding and including Kephala Hill. This hill was never an acropolis in the Greek sense. It had no steep heights, remained unfortified, and was not very high off the surrounding ground. These circumstances cannot necessarily be imputed to other Minoan palaces. Phaestos, contemporaneous with Knossos, was placed on a steep ridge, controlling access to the Mesara Plain from the sea, and was walled.

via http://ift.tt/1MWZoAq

Ankor Wat (Siem Reap) 033 by roysingh0611

Angkor Wat (City of Temple) is a temple complex in Cambodia and the largest religious monument in the world. It was originally founded as a Hindu capital for the Khmer Empire, gradually transforming into a Buddhist temple toward the end of the 12th century. It was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yaśodharapura (present-day Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum. Breaking from the Shaiva tradition of previous kings, Angkor Wat was instead dedicated to Vishnu. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious center since its foundation. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country’s prime attraction for visitors.

Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple-mountain and the later galleried temple. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in Hindu mythology: within a moat and an outer wall 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) long are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next. At the centre of the temple stands a quincunx of towers. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west; scholars are divided as to the significance of this. The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, its extensive bas-reliefs, and for the numerous devatas adorning its walls.

The modern name, Angkor Wat, means “Temple City” or “City of Temples” in Khmer; Angkor, meaning “city” or “capital city”, is a vernacular form of the word nokor, which comes from the Sanskrit word nagara. Wat is the Khmer word for “temple grounds” (enclosure).

via http://ift.tt/1kdLfHX

Stoa of Philippos – Delos by vasiliosgavrilis

This imposing stoa was constructed by Philippos V of Macedonia in 210 BC, in honour of Apollo. It is 72 metres long and 11 metres wide, and used to be supported by 16 Doric columns.

This dedicatory inscription, “The king of the Macedonians, Philippos, son of the King Demetrios, dadicates this to Apollo”, is still legible.

via http://ift.tt/1Ny9pH2

The Trumpeters by LindaEdgecombPhotography

The angel trumpeters on the Classical Corinthian Order Colonnade at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas…Each angel is made of marble…and each column is decorated with acanthus leaves…Please check out my friend Glenn Dipaola’s beautiful edition of this same place….:))) I want to thank all of you , my dear friends for your endless kindness always!! ^_^

via http://ift.tt/1LvGz9A