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Fascinating Structures
7 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Fascinating Structures
by Sabina » Wed Jun 02, 2010 7:45 pm
I am rarely amazed by modern architecture, though there are exceptions, but I cannot imagine anything to be constructed that would, for me, compare to the significance of certain already existing structures.
There are a few locations that hold a very special meaning for me, in most of these cases I don't even know why exactly. I do plan to find out within my lifetime, so I definitely will, but for now I wanted to share them with you.
If there is any spot on Earth, any structure built by humans, that has a special significance for you personally, I invite you share it here as well. With, or without the background story. That's up to you!
My 3 Top Spots
1. Karnak, Egypt
The Karnak Temple Complex - usually called Karnak - comprises a vast conglomeration of ruined temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings, notably the Great Temple of Amen and a massive structure begun by Pharaoh Ramses II (ca. 1391–1351 BC). An ancient sacred lake is part of the site as well. It is located near Luxor, some 500 km south of Cairo, in Egypt. The area around Karnak was the ancient Egyptian Ipet-isut ("The Most Selected of Places") and the main place of worship of the eighteenth dynasty Theban Triad with the god Amun as its head. It is part of the monumental city of Thebes.
2. Petra, Jordan
The site remained unknown to the Western world until 1812, when it was introduced by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. It was described as "a rose-red city half as old as time" in a Newdigate Prize-winning sonnet by John William Burgon. UNESCO has described it as "one of the most precious cultural properties of man's cultural heritage."
3. Various temples, Cambodia
Angkor Wat (or Angkor Vat) and Angkor Thom are a couple of the many temples I would like to visit when in Cambodia.
There are a few locations that hold a very special meaning for me, in most of these cases I don't even know why exactly. I do plan to find out within my lifetime, so I definitely will, but for now I wanted to share them with you.
If there is any spot on Earth, any structure built by humans, that has a special significance for you personally, I invite you share it here as well. With, or without the background story. That's up to you!
My 3 Top Spots
1. Karnak, Egypt
The Karnak Temple Complex - usually called Karnak - comprises a vast conglomeration of ruined temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings, notably the Great Temple of Amen and a massive structure begun by Pharaoh Ramses II (ca. 1391–1351 BC). An ancient sacred lake is part of the site as well. It is located near Luxor, some 500 km south of Cairo, in Egypt. The area around Karnak was the ancient Egyptian Ipet-isut ("The Most Selected of Places") and the main place of worship of the eighteenth dynasty Theban Triad with the god Amun as its head. It is part of the monumental city of Thebes.
- karnak1.jpg (97.14 KiB) Viewed 8929 times
- karnak2.jpg (90.03 KiB) Viewed 8929 times
- karnak3.jpg (32.15 KiB) Viewed 8929 times
2. Petra, Jordan
The site remained unknown to the Western world until 1812, when it was introduced by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. It was described as "a rose-red city half as old as time" in a Newdigate Prize-winning sonnet by John William Burgon. UNESCO has described it as "one of the most precious cultural properties of man's cultural heritage."
- petra1.jpg (107.5 KiB) Viewed 8929 times
- petra2.jpg (86.58 KiB) Viewed 8929 times
- petra3.jpg (111.67 KiB) Viewed 8929 times
3. Various temples, Cambodia
Angkor Wat (or Angkor Vat) and Angkor Thom are a couple of the many temples I would like to visit when in Cambodia.
- cambodia1.jpg (109.38 KiB) Viewed 8929 times
- cambodia2.jpg (105.05 KiB) Viewed 8929 times
- cambodia3.jpg (110.84 KiB) Viewed 8929 times
- cambodia4.jpg (126.71 KiB) Viewed 8929 times
"Whether You believe you can, or you can't, you are right."
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Sabina - Posts: 1745
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Re: Fascinating Structures
by mirjana » Tue Jul 06, 2010 10:45 pm
Sabina wrote:I am rarely amazed by modern architecture, though there are exceptions, but I cannot imagine anything to be constructed that would, for me, compare to the significance of certain already existing structures.
These words could be mine.
What a walk through the eternal beauty. They are all amazing, but I am breathless in front of Petra in Jordan. Thank you for reminding us to this beauty.
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mirjana - Posts: 1576
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Re: Fascinating Structures
by Alexander » Tue Sep 14, 2010 12:38 am
Modern architecture often seems disconnected from the surrounding environment, from nature itself. Those beautiful examples you included, Sabina, even though they are human constructions, artificial they seem to blend with their surroundings in an unintrusive way. We are part of nature, but somehow we have managed to set ourselves apart from it opposing it in every way we can. Those structures stand there with their solemn, majestic presence reminding us of our origins, our past and future.
Love,
Alexander
Love,
Alexander
"The high mission of any art is, by its illusions, to foreshadow a higher universe reality, to crystallize the emotions of time into the thought of eternity."
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Borobudur
by Jade » Wed Sep 29, 2010 7:44 pm
Borobudur, Indonesia is the largest Buddhist monument in the world.
The icon in my signature is the floor plan of Borobudur and looks like a Mandala.
- Borobudur, Indonesia
- borobudur.jpg (103 KiB) Viewed 4407 times
The icon in my signature is the floor plan of Borobudur and looks like a Mandala.
- borobudur.gif (64.28 KiB) Viewed 4407 times
Borobudur, or Barabudur, is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist monument near Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.[1] A main dome, located at the center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.
The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path circumambulating the monument while ascending to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely Kāmadhātu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness). During the journey the monument guides the pilgrims through a system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the balustrades.
The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path circumambulating the monument while ascending to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely Kāmadhātu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness). During the journey the monument guides the pilgrims through a system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the balustrades.
From Wikipedia
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a man is good-for-nothing until he is educated." Chinese proverb |
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Jade - Posts: 64
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Re: Fascinating Structures
by mirjana » Thu Sep 30, 2010 9:17 pm
The Metéora is one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece.The six monasteries are built on natural sandstone rock pillars, at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly near the Pineios river and Pindus Mountains, in central Greece.
The meaning of the word in Greek is"suspended in the air" or "in the heavens above".
The Metéora is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List .
The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron is the largest of the monasteries located at Metéora. It was erected in the mid-14th century AD and was the subject of restoration and embellishment projects in 1483 and 1552. Today it serves as the main museum .
The meaning of the word in Greek is"suspended in the air" or "in the heavens above".
The Metéora is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List .
- 200px-07Meteora01.jpg (35.07 KiB) Viewed 4398 times
The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron is the largest of the monasteries located at Metéora. It was erected in the mid-14th century AD and was the subject of restoration and embellishment projects in 1483 and 1552. Today it serves as the main museum .
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mirjana - Posts: 1576
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Re: Fascinating Structures
by mirjana » Thu Sep 30, 2010 9:55 pm
- 800px-Meteora_Varlaam_IMG_7800.jpg (42.87 KiB) Viewed 4397 times
The Holy Monastery of Varlaam is the second largest monastery in the Metéora complex. It was built in 1541 and embellished in 1548.
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mirjana - Posts: 1576
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Re: Fascinating Structures
by mirjana » Thu Sep 30, 2010 10:01 pm
- 800px-AgiaTriada.jpg (24.82 KiB) Viewed 4397 times
The Monastery of the Holy Trinity is on top of the cliffs. It was built in 1475 and was remodeled many times until the middle of the 18th century.
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