Theatre of Dionysus
The theatre of Dionysos Eleuthereus was built in the 6th century BCE and is seen on the hill of the Acropolis in Athens. Modified and expanded over the centuries, it is the oldest Greek theatre and is the site where some of the most famous Greek plays from antiquity were first performed. In the 4th century BCE, the theatre reached its full extent, holding upto 17,000 people. It continued to flourish in the Roman era but fell into decline in the Byzantine era and thereafter. It was excavated and then resorted to its current condition in the 19th century. The … Continue reading Theatre of Dionysus
The Louvre Museum, Paris
Louvre or French Musée du Louvre is the world’s most-visited art museum, with a collection that spans work from ancient civilizations to the mid-19th century. Famous displayed works include the Mona Lisa, Liberty Leading the People, Alexander in Babylon, Family Portrait among many others. The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace, originally built as the Louvre castle in the late 12th to 13th century under Philip II. In 1546 Francis I converted it into the primary residence of the French Kings. During the French Revolution, the National Assembly decreed that the Louvre should be used as a museum to … Continue reading The Louvre Museum, Paris
Quilotoa Crater Lake, Ecuador
On the Ecuadoran Andes, you can find the Quilotoa crater lake. As the name suggests, it is a water filled caldera and about 3km wide. It wsa formed by the collapse of the volcano following a catastrophic eruption about 600 years ago. The eruption is estimated to have followed after a dormant period of 14,000 years and is known as the 1280 Plinian eruption.. The fourth (of seven) eruptive phase was phreatomagmatic, indicating that a Crater lake was already present at that time. The lake is about 250m deep and is green in colour due to the dissolved minerals. Sources … Continue reading Quilotoa Crater Lake, Ecuador
Ring Tail Lemur, Madagascar
Lemurs are primates found only on the African island of Madagascar and some tiny neighboring islands. The Ring tail Lemur, is found in southern and southwestern Madagascar. It inhabits deciduous forests, dry scrub, montane humid forests, and gallery forests (forests along riverbanks). Ring-tailed lemurs also spend a lot of time on the ground, which is unusual among lemur species. They forage for fruit, which makes up the greater part of their diet, but also eat leaves, flowers, tree bark, and sap. They live in groups known as troops. These groups may include 6 to 30 animals, but average about 17. … Continue reading Ring Tail Lemur, Madagascar
Palanque, Mexico
Palenque is an ancient Mayan city of the Late Classic Period (c. 600–900 CE) and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. The Temple of the Inscriptions is best preserved and is also noted for its hieroglyphic inscriptions. In 1952 a crypt was discovered under the temple. Inside the crypt, jade ornamented remains of a likely ruler-priest was discovered. Another important site is the Temple of the Sun which is noted for large stucco bas-relief throne and figures. The famous structures possibly represent a rebuilding effort in response to the attacks by the city of Calakmul and its client states … Continue reading Palanque, Mexico
Tulum, Mexico
Tulum (meaning Trench) is the site of a pre-Columbian Mayan walled city, not very far from Playa del Carmen. Tulum was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya; it was at its height between the 13th and 15th centuries. It is one of the rare cities built by Mayans because it was a walled city, perched on a 12m cliff facing the Caribbean sea. There are three major structures of interest at the Tulum archaeological site. El Castillo, the Temple of the Frescoes, and the Temple of the Descending God. Even though, the site is more … Continue reading Tulum, Mexico
