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 | Top Ten Archaeological Ruins |
| By Michelle Fama |
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| Petra |
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 | Jordan |
Entrance into Petra, Jordan |
One of the never-to-be forgotten sites on the planet is without a doubt Petra, the jewel of Jordan. The Petra Basin boasts over 800 spectacular buildings that were mostly carved from the sandstone by the Nabataeans. Technical and artistic geniuses, they created soaring temples, burial chambers, royal tombs, water channels and reservoirs, baths, staircases, cultic installations, markets, arched gates, and public buildings, all of which still stand today. Over 3,000 years ago, the Nabataean Arabs settled in Jordan and grew rich and powerful partly because their capital, Petra, was the hub for trading with Rome and China. But when the trade routes were diverted, the Nabataeans lost their hold on the ancient world and Petra faded into oblivion. For many centuries thereafter its archaeological importance and exact location remained hidden until it was uncovered by an Englishman in 1861.
| Ruins Along the Nile Valley |
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| Egypt |
Cheops Pyramid, Giza, Egypt |
Egypt is unquestionably one of the world's greatest archaeological destinations. The most recognizable sites are the pyramids—those at Giza are the last of the original Seven Wonders of the World still standing. Of the ten pyramids erected here, the Great Pyramid of Cheops is the oldest and largest, completed around 2,600 BC. You will certainly stand at the pyramid humbled and in wonderment. Who built it? How did they build it? Why did they build it? Although you can explore the insides of the pyramids, most of the treasures are displayed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The Pyramids are only the beginning to uncovering the pharoahnic gifts that are spread across the Nile Valley. The West Bank of the lower Nile Valley is where you can put on your excavation hat and enter the Valley of the Kings for exploration of the tombs of such kings as Ramses II, Tuthmosis II, and Tutankhamun. The tombs were designed to resemble the underworld, with a long, inclined rock-hewn corridor descending into either an antechamber or a series of pillared halls, and ending in the burial chamber. The longer the reign of the pharaoh, the larger and more ornate his tomb. Come prepared with a water bottle and a high tolerance for heat and exertion as you will be required to duck, climb, and navigate through the once well-hidden tombs. The Ramesseum is yet another monument near the Valley of the Kings worthy of exploration. Erected by Ramses II in praise of himself, the massive temple was built to impress his priests and subjects, and most importantly, the Gods. The Temple of Karnak and Luxor Temple all erected for the most important God—Amun, God of Creation—are also among the not-to-be missed sites in Egypt.
| The Acropolis |
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| Greece |
The Parthenon, Acropolis, Greece |
The Acropolis, crowned by the Parthenon, stands sentinel over Athens and is visible from almost everywhere in the city. After the destruction wrought by the Persian War, Pericles rebuilt the ancient city, transforming it into a showcase of colossal buildings, gigantic statues, and marble walkways. It is considered to be the very best of classical Greece. Today, the top of the Acropolis is more open space than it is monument. In fact, of the many statues and temples that used to cover it, only four structures remain: the Erechtheion, known for its Caryatids, the six maidens who take the place of columns; the Propylaia, the entrance to the Acropolis; the Temple of Athena Nike; and the most splendid of them all—the magnificent Parthenon. The huge Parthenon served as the treasury and housed the statue of the patron goddess Athena. Don't be deceived by its design however. Lines may look perfectly straight and level but the brilliant architects purposely curved columns, roofs, and floors inward or outward to work against the warping effects of perspective and distance.
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