AncientGloberovers Magazine

Gyeongju: Museum without Walls

August 7, 2020

Kwaneum Jeon (Avalokitesvara's Shrine), Bulguksa Temple complex, Gyeongju, South Korea.

By Steve Kennedy – Located in the south-east of South Korea, the ancient city of Gyeongju remains somewhat off the average visitors’ itinerary. Yet, while this intriguing city does not have the size – or indeed the pulling power – of the nation’s capital, Seoul, there are a growing number of tourists dropping it into their plans for a nationwide sweep of the southern part of Korea. A key reason for this, it can be deduced, is that the city holds more temples, pagodas, tombs, palaces, gardens and Buddhist statuaries than any other place within the country. Situated in the [MORE...]

The Long Road to Shwesandaw – Bagan, MYANMAR (by Nathan James Thomas)

June 25, 2017

Words by Nathan James Thomas Photos by Globerovers Magazine The Shwesandaw Pagoda was built almost 1,000 years ago, by order of King Anawrahta, the founder of the Pagan Empire. It’s one of over 2,000 temples that still stand in the ancient city of Bagan, in the centre of Myanmar. This particular pagoda is distinguished by its five terraces leading up to a cylindrical stupa, and is said to contain sacred hairs of the Gautama Buddha. More pertinently for the tourist however, it’s also tall, stable, and easily climbed. We thought it would be an ideal spot to catch the famous Bagan sunrise, [MORE...]

10 Great Ruins of LATIN AMERICA

August 4, 2016

Known as “pyramids”, and sometimes as “temples”, or “temples atop pyramids”, or just “structures”, Latin America is strewn with many impressive ruins with some city foundations dating as far back as the 4th century B.C. Most were built by the Aztecs (such as Mexico’s Teotihuacan), the Incas (such as Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu in Peru), the Maya people (such as Palenque, Tikal, and Copán), or built by the mother of them all, the Olmecs. Some visitors will literally walk around with a flashlight and magnifying glass to decipher the ancient reliefs and inscriptions such [MORE...]

Ruins of the Middle East (Photo Essay)

September 5, 2014

I somehow didn’t really care about exploring the Middle East until I arrived there. Well, isn’t this normally true that you don’t know what you are missing until you have experienced it. A highlight across much of the Middle East is the ancient ruins of which some of the most impressive are in Iran (Persepolis, etc.), Jordan (Jerash, Petra, etc.), Syria (Bosra, Palmyra, Apamea, etc.), Lebanon (Baalbek, Tyre, etc.) and others. If I have to pull out one exceptionally interesting country with ancient ruins, then it unequivocally must be Syria. Incredibly sad how Syria [MORE...]

10 Best ancient ruins of the MIDDLE EAST

September 3, 2014

There are many reasons to travel all over the Middle East (and arguably many reasons not to travel to the Middle East at all), though one of the strongest arguments in favour of travel is to explore the many ancient ruins. With a long history, the Middle East boasts some of the most incredible remnants of ancient civilisations. However, with war constantly raging at various burning points, one can only wonder how long these ruins will still be standing. Among the best ruins are those in Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Jordan, and Turkey. Palmyra, the ancient city in Syria, recently suffered damage [MORE...]