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<\/p>\nAncient ruins give us a fascinating window into the past: how people lived, the spaces they inhabited and their daily lives. Historians, architects and travellers alike marvel at these remnants of time past, but it\u2019s often hard to get a sense of what these spectacular buildings would have looked like at their peak. We decided to step back in time and recreate some of our favorite ancient ruins in their original locations.<\/p>\n
Back in ancient times, this temple sheltered a monumental golden statue of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, craft and war. Sitting atop the hill at the Acropolis, an ancient citadel in Athens, the Parthenon cuts an imposing shape. In 1687 it was severely damaged in the Great Turkish War, but much of the sturdy Doric architecture withheld the blast, and a good chunk of it is still intact to this day. Nowadays it\u2019s a tourist hotspot attracting millions of visitors a year. Here it is, fully restored to its original glory. Athena herself would be proud.<\/p>\n
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Cob\u00e1 is a Mayan ruin in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The site is thought to have been first settled between 100 BC and 100 AD and abandoned around 1550, upon the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors.\u00a0 At 137 feet tall, Nohoch Mul is the tallest Mayan pyramid on the Yucatan Peninsula and the second tallest Mayan pyramid in the world. It was discovered in the 1800s, but the archaeological site wasn’t opened to the public until 1973, as the thick jungle which surrounded it made it difficult to find. It\u2019s off the beaten path, but nowadays you can get there by public transport or car.<\/p>\n
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Built in dedication to Jupiter, the god of the sky and thunder, this temple was the main center of religious life in the ancient city of Pompeii, a small Roman town on the Bay of Naples. It stood dominant in the Forum, with Mount Vesuvius looming ominously behind it. The volcano erupted in August of 79 AD, tragically destroying Pompeii. The site was rediscovered in the 16th century, and many years of excavation have given the millions of yearly visitors a fascinating insight into the daily life of this 1st century Roman city.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Source_V1-02_Jupiter_1080_v2.gif\")
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Stretching 73 miles across some of the most dramatic countryside in England, Hadrian’s Wall dates back to the 1st century AD. Historians still debate the reasons for the construction of the wall. The most popular theory is that on becoming Roman Emperor in 117 AD, Hadrian had the wall built to make his empire more secure. To increase security, forts known as milcastles were placed along the wall at intervals of approximately one Roman mile. Here we\u2019ve recreated one the milecastles, so if you\u2019re planning a visit to the wall, why not try and locate it?<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/04_Milecastle-39.gif\")
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Since its inception, Luxor Temple, which takes its name from the Arabic term, al-Uksur (\u201cfortification\u201d), has been a sacred site. Commissioned by Amenhotep III in 1380 BC, the temple was renovated by Rameses II about a hundred years later to incorporate a great pylon gateway and an open courtyard. It was once joined to the neighboring Karnak Temple by an avenue of sphinxes, who guarded the temple gates. With epic obelisks and architraves, Luxor Temple represents some of ancient Egypt\u2019s most monumental stone architecture. It\u2019s a testimony to the country\u2019s long history and a must-see on any Egyptian holiday.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/05_Luxor-Temple.gif\")
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Teotihuac\u00e1n was one of the first urban centers in central Mexico and is now one of the most important archeology sites in Mexico. It was constructed between the 1st and 7th centuries CE, but we know very little about the people who built it and lived here. They built the first complex cities in the region and then mysteriously disappeared. The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest building in Teotihuacan and one of the oldest pyramids in central Mexico. It is also one of the largest, and as you can see from this reconstruction, it was a spectacular mountain of a structure.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/06_ThePyramid-of-the-Sun.gif\")
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This square in Rome houses not one, but four Roman temple ruins. It was discovered during construction work in the 1920s. Temple B is the most recent of the four temples, and six of its columns, the original flight of steps and the alta are all still intact. Visitors to the area will not only find a fascinating archaeological site, but also hundreds of cats living among the ruins. Volunteers feed, clean and look after the cats and visitors are encouraged to say hello or even adopt one of them. Here is what the temple would have looked like, minus the cats.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/07_Area-Sacra-di-Largo-Argentina.gif\")
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Whether you\u2019re a history buff, architecture enthusiast, or planning your next getaway, a trip to one of these incredible sites won\u2019t leave you disappointed. Whichever ruin you choose to visit, make sure you have these reconstructions handy so you can see what they looked like in their prime.<\/p>\n
A big thank you to\u00a0Przemys\u0142aw Sobiecki and Maja Wro\u0144ska from THIS IS RENDER<\/a>\u00a0for their help with these renderings.<\/p>\n A View on Cities. (2017) Area Sacra dell’Argentina<\/a>.<\/a> aviewoncities.com<\/strong><\/p>\n Cartwright, M. (2015) Teotihuacan<\/a>. ancient.eu<\/strong><\/p>\n Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2017) Parthenon<\/a>. <\/a>b<\/strong><\/a>ritannica.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Famous Wonders. (2017) Machu Picchu Architecture<\/a>.<\/a> famouswonders.com<\/strong><\/p>\n Following Hadrian. (2014) Walking Hadrian\u2019s Wall<\/a>. followinghadrian.com<\/strong><\/p>\n Canadian Museum of History. (2017) Luxor Temple<\/a>. museedelhistoire.ca<\/strong><\/p>\n Hearn, K. Golomb, J. Machu Picchu<\/a>.<\/strong> nationalgeographic.com<\/strong><\/p>\n History World. (2017) History of Architecture: Karnak and Luxor<\/a>. historyworld.net<\/strong><\/p>\n Met Museum. (2001) Teotihuacan: Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon<\/a>.<\/a> metmuseum.org<\/strong><\/p>\n Mundo Maya. (2017) Coba<\/a>. <\/a>mundomaya.travel<\/strong><\/p>\n