Discover Some Of The Oldest Monuments In The World
The oldest monuments in the world account for and celebrate some event in time. They also show what was relevant to a particular culture. A tomb, a building or a sculpture tell us about how a people thought, about their traditions and their values.
These structures are found in many parts of the world and in some cases are several thousand years old. Many have a sacred character and others contain scientific questions due to their degree of complexity in various aspects.
Monuments are also a legacy and evidence of the passage of human beings through the world. This is something that should interest us all as a species. For this reason, we invite you to take a tour of some of the oldest monuments on the planet.
1. Dolmen de Menga, Spain: one of the oldest monuments
This is one of the oldest monuments and is located in Antequera, Spain. It is a tomb built with huge vertical and horizontal stones, resembling a table. The burial chamber, along with a corridor and atrium, are 3.5 meters high, 6 meters wide and 27 meters deep.
This colossal structure weighs several hundred tons. In addition, it presents a narrow and deep well towards the bottom. Also in it is a set of anthropomorphic engravings with the appearance of crosses and stars.
To visit the Menga dolmen the first thing is to get to the municipality of Antequera and look for the road to Malaga. Access is free and guided tours can be requested. The opening hours are from Tuesday to Saturday from 09:00 to 17:30 and Sundays and holidays from 09:00 to 15:30.
2. Step pyramid, Egypt
The stepped pyramid is actually the tomb of Pharaoh Djoser, corresponding to the III Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. It dates from the year 2650 BC. Its construction is attributed to Imhotep (Egyptian architect and engineer). This construction served as a prototype for the construction of the other pyramids in Egypt .
The stepped pyramid was the first to be built in carved stone. It was designed with a rectangular base measuring 118 × 140 meters and 60 in height through 6 steps that reduce its base to the top.
To visit the Step Pyramid you can take the subway or taxi from Cairo for 3-4 US dollars. The tour lasts from 35 to 45 minutes. The hours of operation are from 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon. There are two exceptions: during Ramadan and during the summer, when they close at 3pm.
3. Stonehenge, one of the oldest monuments
We are facing a circular construction that is located in the Amesbury region of the Wiltshire county, in the United Kingdom. Stonehenge arose in several stages, between 3100 and 2000 BC.
The complex is made up of huge stone blocks arranged in a circular and concentric way. In the center there is a slab that they call an altar. The complex is surrounded by a circular moat, to which a ritual route is attributed.
It is not known for sure for what purpose this construction was carried out, but it is believed that it served as an astronomical observatory. It would be a kind of calendar that made it possible to predict seasonal changes. It is open all year round, except during the Christmas and New Years holidays.
4. Ziggurat of Ur, Sumeria Iraq
The ziggurat of Ur is of Sumerian origin and is found in what is now Iraq. It was built in honor of the goddess Nama, which means moon in Sumerian. It has a rectangular base measuring 45.7 × 61 meters and a height of 21 meters.
This ziggurat is a pyramidal-shaped construction that has sloping walls and three enabled terraces of the seven it has. It has a sanctuary at its top, which is accessed by means of a set of ramps. The system was built in adobe and buttresses reinforced with fired brick.
It arose around the year 2000 before our era. It has been attacked and rebuilt throughout its history on several occasions. The last attack he received occurred during the Gulf War. Shrapnel impacts and four large holes caused by bombs are still visible. Despite this, it is still standing and has been declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
