Historic folks constructed temples all throughout the traditional world and devoted them to a plethora of deities. Whereas a few of these buildings have not survived the take a look at of time, some nonetheless exist immediately and some are even in use.
Listed here are 31 of probably the most well-known and spectacular examples of historical temples from all over the world.
Constructed about 2,000 years in the past the Pantheon is situated in Rome and has a big dome that rises as much as 43 meters (141 toes) tall. It was constructed to honor a number of Roman gods. Within the seventh century the temple was transformed right into a Christian church. The construction nonetheless stands immediately and is used as a Catholic church. It is among the longest used spiritual buildings in existence.
Courting again 11,500 years, Göbekli Tepe is situated in modern-day southeastern Turkey and is among the oldest monumental buildings on this planet. The temple might have been constructed alongside a exact geometric plan . Its T-shaped stone pillars are as much as 18 toes (5.5 meters) tall and have carvings depicting wild animals resembling snakes, foxes, gazelles, geese, cranes and boars. There are additionally carvings displaying human-like figures and what could also be a comet .
The positioning lengthy predates the invention of writing, so figuring out precisely what actions befell on this monumental constructing is troublesome. Many students imagine that some type of ceremony was performed there, and research of obsidian from the positioning point out that individuals have been touring to it from throughout the area.
Karnak
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Constructed 2,000 to 4,000 years in the past, Karnak is an enormous historical Egyptian temple complicated situated on the east financial institution of the Nile River at historical Thebes (modern-day Luxor). It’s devoted to Amun-Ra, a god related to Thebes. This god was significantly well-liked through the New Kingdom (circa 1550 B.C. to 1070 B.C.), and far of the development work dates to this era.
Completely different Egyptian rulers left their mark at Karnak once they have been in energy, every including new buildings, resembling chapels and enormous stone entranceways that at the moment are referred to as “pylons.” At present, the temple complicated covers greater than 0.4 sq. miles (1 sq. kilometer) — an space bigger than some historical cities.
Temple Mount
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The Temple Mount in Jerusalem is the place the Temple, the holiest place in Judaism, was situated. The First Temple held the Ark of the Covenant however was destroyed when the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem in 586 B.C. One other temple was erected on the web site by King Herod (lived circa 74 B.C. to 4 B.C.) however was destroyed by the Romans throughout a revolt in A.D. 70. The Western Wall, an historical retaining wall across the Temple Mount, is among the few sections of the Second Temple left standing immediately.
The positioning can be the third-holiest web site in Islam and is taken into account to be the place the place Muhammad ascended to heaven in A.D. 621. Its Arabic title is Al-Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary), and the Al-Aqsa mosque is situated on it.
Angkor Wat
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Constructed between roughly A.D. 1113 and 1150, Angkor Wat (that means Temple Metropolis) is situated in Cambodia within the historical metropolis of Angkor. It was constructed as a Hindu temple devoted to Vishnu, a god related to preservation and safety. It was transformed to a Buddhist temple within the 14th century, and statues of Buddha have been added to it.
Its 213-foot-tall (65 m) central tower is surrounded by 4 smaller towers and a collection of enclosure partitions — a structure that recreates the picture of Mount Meru, a legendary place in Hindu mythology that’s stated to lie past the Himalayas and be the house of the gods.
Mortuary temple of Hatshepsut
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Often known as Deir el-Bahari, this mortuary temple complicated was constructed by Hatshepsut (opens in new tab) (reigned circa 1473 B.C. to 1458 B.C.), a feminine pharaoh of Egypt. Positioned on the west financial institution of the Nile River close to Luxor, it was a spot the place her cult was practiced after her demise. In historical Egypt it was widespread for pharaohs to construct temples the place they may very well be commemorated after their deaths.
This temple complicated was additionally a spot of worship for the Egyptian deities Hathor, Amun and Ra Horakhty, amongst others. The complicated’s decorations embrace scenes displaying an expedition Hatshepsut despatched to Punt, a land that could be situated round modern-day Eritrea.
Temple of Artemis
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The Temple of Artemis was situated in Ephesus, modern-day western Turkey, and was considered one of many seven wonders of the world by historical writers, who praised it for its magnificence. Artemis is a goddess the traditional Greeks related to animals and looking; this temple to her was inbuilt 550 B.C. by Croesus, a king of Lydia.
Over time, the temple suffered harm from varied occasions resembling a hearth in 356 B.C. and earthquake in A.D. 262. Historic data point out that it was deserted or destroyed within the fifth century A.D., and little of it stays immediately.
Mahabodhi Temple Complicated
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Mahabodhi Temple Complicated is situated within the city of Bodh Gaya in northeastern India. Buddhists imagine that Siddhartha Gautama , the founding father of Buddhism, achieved enlightenment whereas sitting beneath a fig tree close to this temple.
A temple has stood on the positioning since not less than way back to the third century B.C., and the present temple complicated dates again about 1,500 years. Its grand temple stands 164 toes (50 m) tall. The temple features a tree, often known as the Bodhi tree, that is stated to be a descendant of the one Gautama sat below.
Taputapuātea marae
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Positioned on the finish of a peninsula on Ra’iātea Island within the southern Pacific Ocean, Taputapuātea marae is taken into account a sacred place the place the island’s Polynesian inhabitants worshipped the god Oro. This temple was additionally thought of “the place the place the world of the dwelling (Te Ao) intersects the world of the ancestors and gods” in response to UNESCO, noting that it was constructed by the Mā’ohi civilization and should date again 1,000 years.
Temple of Jupiter
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The Temple of Jupiter was a very powerful temple in historical Rome and was situated on Capitoline Hill. Jupiter was a sky god who some Romans thought of to be king of the gods. The temple was constructed through the sixth century B.C. and was rebuilt a number of instances after being destroyed by disasters. It declined for good because the Roman Empire transformed to Christianity within the fourth and fifth centuries. Finally, it was closely broken and destroyed with little of it remaining immediately.
Parthenon
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Positioned on the Acropolis of Athens, the Parthenon was devoted to Athena, a goddess historical Greeks related to battle and knowledge. Constructed within the fifth century B.C., it’s 228 toes (69 m) lengthy by 101 toes (31 m) vast, standing roughly 65 toes (20 m) excessive.
The Parthenon’s pediments — triangular shapes that kind the gables of a roof — have sculptures depicting scenes involving Greek gods. As an example, sculptures on the east facet inform the story of the start of Athena, whereas these on the west depict a battle between Athena and the god Poseidon to find out who can be the patron deity of Athens. A few of the sculptures have been eliminated by Thomas Bruce, the seventh Earl of Elgin and Britain’s ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, within the early nineteenth century and have been positioned within the British Museum. There are ongoing discussions concerning the sculptures’ return .
Temple of the Feathered Serpent
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The Temple of the Feathered Serpent, also referred to as the Temple of Quetzalcóatl, is situated within the historical metropolis of Teotihuacán in Mexico. The pyramid-shaped monument has six steps, or ranges, and is believed to have been accomplished within the third century A.D. The construction incorporates low reliefs displaying alternating depictions of Quetzalcóatl, a feathered serpent god, and Tlaloc, an historical storm god. A variety of sizable temples and different spiritual buildings stand close to it.
Gango-ji Temple
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Positioned in Nara, east of Osaka, Gango-ji Temple is 1,300 years outdated and is probably the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan. Building of the temple was ordered within the seventh century by Soga no Umako, the chief of the Soga clan who helped introduce Buddhism to Japan. The temple has been rebuilt and modified over time, however immediately it contains the principle corridor, zen room and 1000’s of artifacts.
Ziggurat of Ur
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Devoted to Nanna, a Mesopotamian moon god, the ziggurat of Ur in modern-day Iraq stood about 100 toes (30 m) tall. A collection of ramps enabled folks to ascend to the highest and carry out rituals. Courting again greater than 4,000 years, it was constructed at a time when Ur was the middle of a large kingdom within the area. The ziggurat has been modified and restored a number of instances over its historical past.
London Mithraeum
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Devoted to Mithras, a god of sunshine, the London Mithraeum was constructed within the third century A.D. It dates to a time when the Roman Empire managed modern-day England. The cult of Mithras might have originated in what’s now Iran however grew to become well-liked all through the Roman Empire, significantly amongst troopers. Mithraeums have been constructed all through the empire, typically close to locations the place massive numbers of troopers congregated.
Shaolin Temple
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Shaolin Temple, additionally referred to as Shaolin Monastery, is situated within the metropolis of Dengfeng, China. The Buddhist temple has existed for 1,500 years and been rebuilt and modified over time. It’s situated by Mount Music, which Buddhists have thought of an space of sacred significance since historical instances. At present, Shaolin Temple is finest recognized for the martial arts capabilities of its monks, who’re recognized for with the ability to carry out unbelievable feats resembling throwing a needle by a pane of glass. A number of martial arts hint their origins to monks who lived at this web site.
Coricancha
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Coricancha was constructed round 600 years in the past by the Inca civilization in Cuzco, its capital metropolis. The temple was devoted to Inti, a solar god who was typically represented in human kind. The Spanish conquered the Inca empire within the sixteenth century and dismantled a lot of the temple, utilizing it for constructing supplies. They constructed the Convent of Santo Domingo on high of the temple stays.
Cahuachi
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Cahuachi was constructed about 2,000 years in the past by the Nazca tradition that flourished within the arid areas of coastal Peru. Cahuachi was a ceremonial web site that contained a variety of pyramids and platforms. Pilgrims might have traveled to the positioning to participate in ceremonies. Over the previous few many years, looting has occurred on the web site that authorities have been attempting to cease.
Tikal Temple I
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Tikal Temple I, also referred to as the Temple of the Nice Jaguar, is a Maya pyramid with 9 layers, or steps, and was constructed round A.D. 730 in what’s now Guatemala. It stands about 145 toes (44 m) off the bottom. A staircase that goes up the pyramid results in a room with pictures of the ruler it was constructed for — Jasaw Kaan Ok’awil, a king who led Tikal’s forces to victory towards town’s most bitter enemy, the rival Maya metropolis of Calakmul.
Whereas immediately it’s referred to as a temple, it additionally functioned as a spot of royal burial. In 1959, archaeologists discovered Ok’awil’s burial chamber contained in the pyramid. It contained a variety of items, together with jaguar pelts, jade and carved pictures on human bones depicting folks in canoes.
Ħaġar Qim
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Ħaġar Qim is situated on a promontory on the island of Malta. It’s over 5,000 years outdated and consists of a variety of megalithic buildings constructed on the crest of a ridge, Heritage Malta (opens in new tab) famous. A few of the buildings have been constructed utilizing trilithons — stone buildings with two upright stones and a lintel connecting them. A few of the buildings are adorned with low-relief carvings, resembling swirling geometric designs. Some buildings may additionally have initially been coated by roofs supported by corbels, or brackets on partitions, Heritage Malta famous.
Mo’okini Heiau
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This stone temple is situated on the northern tip of the island of Hawaii. Based on oral traditions, a temple has existed at this spot because the fifth century A.D., whereas the present temple dates again round 700 years, in response to the Nationwide Park Service (opens in new tab) . A variety of rituals have been performed at Mo’okini Heiau, together with the sacrifice of animals and, at instances, people. The temple was constructed within the form of a parallelogram, with stone partitions various in top between 7 toes (2.1 m) and 14 toes (4.3 m).
Nice Pyramid of Cholula
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Positioned close to town of Puebla in Mexico, the Nice Pyramid of Cholula was constructed greater than 2,000 years in the past and has been modified over time. In historical instances it could have been devoted to Quetzalcóatl, a feathered serpent god who was worshipped in Mesoamerica. After the Spanish conquered the area within the sixteenth century, they imposed Christianity on the folks, and a church was constructed on high of the pyramid.
Temple of Apollo
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The Temple of Apollo in Delphi, Greece, was the place the place the Pythia, also referred to as the “oracle of Delphi” would give predictions. Apollo was a Greek god related to prophecy, amongst many different issues. Notable people from throughout Greece and different elements of the traditional world would come to this temple to supply choices and have the oracle predict what their future may maintain. This temple dates again over 2,600 years.
Borobudur
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Constructed round 1,200 years in the past, the Borobudur temple complicated is situated on the island of Java in Indonesia. The primary temple seems a bit like a pyramid and has a big stupa — a mound-like construction housing Buddhist relics — constructed round a pure hill (opens in new tab) , UNESCO famous. Among the many temple’s decorations are 72 platforms, every of which has a statue of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha). The temple was deserted within the fifteenth century however rediscovered within the nineteenth century and restored within the twentieth century, in response to UNESCO.
Kalasasaya
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Positioned within the historical metropolis of Tiwanaku, close to Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, the Kalasasaya dates again round 2,000 years. The oblong-shaped temple has a big gateway now referred to as the “Gate of the Solar.” A variety of carved monoliths are situated on the temple, a few of which can depict deities. Along with serving a spiritual goal, the temple may additionally have been used for astronomical observations (opens in new tab) , UNESCO famous.
Nice Temple
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Identified immediately because the Nice Temple, this now-ruined spiritual constructing is situated on the historical metropolis of Petra in southern Jordan. It was constructed by an historical folks referred to as the Nabataeans round 2,000 years in the past at a time when Petra was a flourishing heart of commerce.
The temple is the biggest freestanding construction in Petra, Brown College’s web site (opens in new tab) famous. There’s some debate amongst students about whether or not the construction was really used for spiritual ceremonies. Different potentialities is that it might have served as a reception corridor of kinds.
Solar Temple
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A construction now often known as the “Solar Temple” was constructed about 750 years in the past by the Anasazi folks in what’s immediately Mesa Verde Nationwide Park, Colorado. The D-shaped temple had a wide range of geometric shapes that integrated the golden ratio . Its partitions might have initially stood as much as 16 toes (5 m) excessive. It is potential that the temple was used for astronomical observations in addition to spiritual ceremonies. Mesa Verde declined round A.D. 1300, and the Solar Temple might not have been accomplished.
Maa Mundeshwari Devi Temple
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Courting again round 1,900 years, Maa Mundeshwari Devi Temple is a Hindu temple within the state of Bihar in northeast India. The native authorities claims that it’s the oldest temple on this planet that is been in steady use (opens in new tab) . There are pictures of a variety of deities within the temple, and people worshipped there might have modified all through time. At present, the temple is devoted to Lord Shiva — a deity Hindus affiliate with medication and fertility, amongst many different issues — and Shakti, a goddess related to energy, the native authorities web site famous. The temple was constructed within the form of an octagon.
Maison Carrée
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The two,000-year-old Maison Carrée (which interprets as “sq. home”) is situated within the metropolis of Nîmes in southern France. Its development was ordered by the Roman Emperor Augustus and was devoted to his grandsons, Gaius and Lucius Caesar, who had each died in younger maturity. Constructed with Corinthian-style columns, the temple stands about 56 toes (17 m) tall.
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple
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Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, situated within the Tiruchirapalli district in southern India, dates again about 2,000 years. This Hindu temple is devoted to Ranganatha, a reclining type of Vishnu, in response to UNESCO (opens in new tab) . The temple has been expanded and modified all through its historical past and incorporates not less than 640 inscriptions, UNESCO famous.
Prambanan temple
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Constructed over 1,000 years in the past, the Prambanan temple compound is situated in Indonesia on the island of Java. It is devoted to Shiva, a Hindu deity related to destruction, in response to UNESCO (opens in new tab) . It incorporates about 240 temples, a few of that are devoted to different Hindu deities resembling Vishnu and Brahma, UNESCO famous. A few of the temples have decorations that illustrate the Ramayana, a Sanskrit epic during which Prince Rama goes on a journey to rescue his spouse Sita.
