How many on our planet exists lost cities, nobody knows for sure. But those that archaeologists can be detected, causing interest as specialists, historians and ordinary lovers of unusual. Here are some of the biggest lost cities.
1. Tikal, Guatemala
Tikal - it is one of the largest city-states of the Maya. It was built in the VII century BC, and at the height of its population reached 200 thousand people. History Tikal was full of dramatic moments, and after numerous wars and uprisings people finally left him. It happened at the end of the tenth century, and since then, Tikal is a ghost town.
2. Ctesiphon, Iraq
In the period from II to VII century, Ctesiphon was the capital of the Parthian Empire first, and then the Sassanid. Come down to our times brick built Ctesiphon and today amaze with its splendor and size.
3. Great Zimbabwe
Large or the Great Zimbabwe ruins of an ancient city called, located on the territory of the South African state of Zimbabwe. Estimated archaeologists this city appeared in 1130 and for three centuries was considered the main shrine Shona people. Behind the high stone walls of the city can simultaneously accommodate about 18,000 people. Today, the city walls are one of the most amazing monuments of Great Zimbabwe. They are built without any mortar, and their height is five meters.
4. Mohenjo-Daro, Pakistan
Referring to the Indus civilization city with a gloomy title Mohenjo-daro (which translates as "Hill of the Dead) appeared in the Indus Valley in what is now Pakistan, more than four and a half thousand years ago. He is a contemporary of the Egyptian pyramids and one of the first cities in South Asia. The city flourished for nearly a thousand years, but still, in the end, its inhabitants fled. Archaeologists speculate that the reason for it was an invasion of the Aryans.
5. Bagerhat, Bangladesh
This city stands at the confluence of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, was built in the XV century.During his heyday here operated 360 mosques. But after the death of the founder of Bagerhat was in decline, and it is almost completely absorbed by the jungle. Today part of the city is cleared, and tours are available for tourists.
6. National Park Mesa Verde, USA
In the National Park Mesa Verde (Colorado) there are many ruins of ancient cities that were built in the Anasazi Indians VI-XIII centuries. The largest building in the park is considered a great "Rock Palace", which attracts every year more than 700,000 tourists. The city was abandoned by its inhabitants in about 1300. The reasons why people left their homes, are still unclear, but it has been suggested that this fault prolonged drought.
7. Vijayanagar, India
Once was the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire powerful, which occupied the entire south of the Indian subcontinent. Today on the site of the City of Victory (as translated Vijayanagar) is a village of Hampi.However, here and now in addition to the majestic ruins is still operating and many Hindu temples, including the famous temple Pampapathi that even older than the Vijayanagara.
8. City of Ani, Turkey
Ani - the capital of the ancient Armenian kingdom, standing in modern Turkey. Once the population of the ancient city of 100 thousand people, and thanks to the abundance of temples, he was known as a city of 1001 churches. Survived to the present day ruins of many Armenian churches XI-XIII centuries and Seljuk palace. But all of these sites are in terrible condition - they live the homeless and their territory careless tourists picnics. The authorities do not pay proper attention to the protection of historical monuments.
9. Thebes, Egypt
The first human settlements in the territory of the city belong to 3200 BC In 2000 BC Thebes lived about 40 000 people, making them the largest city of the time. Status of the largest cities in the world Thebes retained the right to 1000 BC Even today the ruins left by the former splendor, dazzling. The most famous monuments of Thebes - the temple of Luxor, Karnak Temple (which is the largest temple complex of ancient Egypt) and the tomb of Tutankhamun.
10. Carthage, Tunisia
Throughout its long history of Carthage was the capital of the different states. First it was the Phoenician state, which was also called Carthage. In 146 BC both the state and city were completely destroyed by the Romans, but pretty soon they themselves Romans rebuilt Carthage again. After the fall of Rome, Carthage became the capital of the Kingdom of the Vandals. The final fall of the great city was in the VII century, when the city was destroyed by the Arabs. But still survived to our time a lot of ruins mainly Roman period.
11. Persepolis, Iran
The founder of the magnificent city of Persepolis was the Persian king Cyrus the Great. The city was founded around 560 BC Over the centuries, the city passed from hand to hand, while maintaining its status as the capital and the great city. But during the Arab conquest of Persepolis was completely in ruins. The most famous monument of the city is a huge palace Apadana.
12. Ephesus, Turkey
It was in this town in the VI century BC was built by the legendary Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the world. The city prospered as long as it was near the sea. But when it is far gone from the city walls, trade gradually faded, and with it disappeared, and the magnificent city, leaving only ruins.
13. Palenque, Mexico
In III-VIII centuries Palenque had great political and cultural significance to the Maya civilization. Before our time lived a lot of magnificent stone buildings belonging to 600-800 years, including the Temple of the Sun, Temple of the Cross and the Temple of the Inscriptions. The city was abandoned long before the arrival of Columbus, probably as a result of inter-tribal wars.
14. Pompeii and Herculaneum, Italy
The two victims of the volcanic eruption. cities are probably one of the most famous cities disappeared.When 24 August 79 AD began a catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the majority of residents of Pompeii death caught up suddenly, and then the city was completely buried under a layer of volcanic ash multimeter. Herculaneum was more fortunate residents - many of them had to leave the city before he disappeared under the hot ashes.
15. Petra, Jordan
In the ancient city of Petra stood at the crossroads of important trade routes that brought him untold wealth. But over time, the Romans mastered the waterway, severely weakened overland trade.Gradually, residents left the city, and it absorbed the sands of the Arabian Desert. Today you can see the well-preserved ancient buildings gorgeous.
16. Angkor, Cambodia
Angkor was the capital of the Khmer Empire from IX to XV century. Today he is one of the largest in size of historical sites in the world. The area of this city of more than 400 square kilometers of the temple, and the splendor of his sculptures of Hindu temples is absolutely stunning.
17. Ciudad Perdida, Colombia
Name Ciudad Perdida is translated from Spanish as "The Lost City." This city is almost 700 years older than the famous Machu Picchu. In 1972, Ciudad Perdida was accidentally discovered by local Cryptstalker. When trade in archaeological treasures from the city acquired a large scale, the Colombian authorities finally interested in, and the city was discovered after a full investigation. In this area there are constant fighting between government forces and various armed groups, so tourists are quite risk, going even officially proposed routes that guard the Colombian military. The road itself in the Ciudad Perdida is also quite difficult and requires good physical preparation.
18. Machu Picchu, Peru
The ancient city of Machu Picchu in 2007 was awarded the title of the New Wonder of the World. City appeared around 1440 grams and prospered until the mysterious and sudden disappearance of all its inhabitants in 1532 City escaped the attack and destruction of the conquistadors, but residents somehow left it.
19. Chichen Itza, Mexico
Chichen Itza is one of the largest cities of the Mayan civilization. It was founded in the VII century, and in 1194 Mr. residents left him for unknown reasons. Spanish conquerors destroyed huge amounts of Mayan manuscripts, so archaeologists can not find out the real cause of the decline of the great city.
Today, crowds of tourists attracted by perfectly preserved pyramids and temples of Chichen Itza.
Today, crowds of tourists attracted by perfectly preserved pyramids and temples of Chichen Itza.
20. Xanadu, Mongolia
Xanadu - a summer residence of the legendary Mongol Kublai Khan, who in the West, better known under the name of Kubla Khan. In 1275 Mr. Marco Polo described this place as a magnificent marble palace, decorated with gold. But to have survived alone ruins.
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