tiabunna's photos with the keyword: ancient

The four Buddhas in the temple at Wat Phu, through clouds of incense smoke. Somewhere I saw these described, rather unkindly, as more like aliens than the usual Buddhas: I guess I'd have to agree, though they attract the faithful regardless. In the Pips are other Buddhas, one located further down the path to the temple, the other outside in the top Sanctuary area. I may be wrong, but to me both the "outside" Buddhas looked to be much older in style than the others inside.

The Wat Phu Sanctuary was originally built as a Hindu temple, somewhere about the 10th century. With the demise of the Khmer empire, it came under Lao and Buddhist conrol about the 14th century. It has since been a Theravada Buddhist temple and it's fair to say they have slipped somewhat on maintenance! See also Pip 1. Above the entrances are ornamental lintels, the one in PiP 2 showing the Hindu god Indra riding the three-headed elephant Airavata. Laos was known as the land of the elephants and Airavata became the official symbol of the Lao monarchy. A note for anyone visiting Wat Phu, just be aware that it's a fair climb from the flat to the top and hot going!

From the North and South Palaces (see previous image), the causeway path leads up the mountainside, climbing through the terraces in the background. Images taken on the way (a good excuse for a "breather") are in the PiPs and below.

Best viewed large. Wat Phu is the name of these temple ruins, now World Heritage listed, in southern Laos. An earlier temple was built here in the 5th century, associated with the now-gone city of Shrestapura and dedicated to Shiva because of the spring (considered sacred) coming from the cliffs behind and the natural lingam-shaped outcrop (obscured by clouds) on the summit. In the 10th century it came under the rule of the Khmer Empire based in Angkor (in Cambodia) and the old temple was replaced in the 10th century with the current structures. Several centuries later it came under Lao control and consequent ongoing Buddhist use. Wat Phu consisted of the causeway, seen at the right, leading between two substantial buildings, the North and South Palaces, then continuing up a stairway (hidden by the row of trees) to a series of shrines and other buildings. The causeway was flanked by several ornamental lakes ("barays", now mainly empty) There are seven stone terraces on the way to the spring at the top. More images to come. It was extremely hot and humid for our visit, just writing this brings it all back! It's a fascinating place though and largely off the 'tourist trail'. Stay safe everyone, HFF and have a great weekend.

Around Australia are many sites sacred to the Aboriginal people, usually meaning the details cannot be divulged to outsiders, including the "white fellers" whose ancestors arrived only in recent centuries. This site of ancient rock carvings (petroglyphs) goes by the name of Ewaninga and is in the Northern Territory. While the age and significance are secret to the Elder men of the Arrernte People, it has been estimated at between 30-40,000 years. The site is accessible for visits and is part of a Conservation Reserve run by the NT Parks and Wildlife Service. I (and most Australians) have been horrified and outraged in recent days to read that a major mining company in Western Australia, in the course of ripping out iron ore, has destroyed two caves containing sacred sites , with archaeological evidence showing occupation going back 46,000 years. They should have been World Heritage protected. The mining company's response could be summarised as "Oops, nobody told us it was important". Not only do Black Lives Matter, so does Black Heritage!

Back in about 220 BCE, Emperor Qin decided he needed a durable army to protect himself in the afterlife. The "Terracotta Warriors" were the result: there are over 8,800 life size individual replicas of his army. Stored in a large wooden structure covered in an earth mound, they were only discovered in 1974, by which time the structure had long collapsed. It now is a major archaeology site, covered in a giant aircraft hangar style building, and visited by huge numbers of people. It was high on my "bucket list" of things to see in China. View large.