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10- Temple of Augustus and Livia
The Temple of Augustus and Livia, built at the end of the 1st century BC, survives today basically intact in the city of Vienne, France. Closely similar to the famous Roman temple Maison Carrée in Nîmes, the temple in Vienne was originally dedicated to Augustus. In 41 AD the ancient Roman temple was rededicated to his wife Livia in by her grandson Claudius, the Roman emperor who was born in nearby Lyon.
9- Temple of Zeus at Aizanoi
flickr/Sebastia Giralt
Aizanoi, has been inhabited since 3000 BC, and grew wealthy under the Roman Empire through production of wool, grain, and wine. Aizanoi’s most impressive structure, the Temple of Zeus is the best-preserved Roman temple in all of Anatolia and was built in the 2nd century AD. The money needed for the temple’s construction was met by renting out land around the temple. However, the boundaries of the temple lands were unclear, and those who worked them refused to pay the taxes Emperor Hadrian settled the dispute and copies of the letters which were of such significance for the city were later inscribed on the temple walls.
8 - Dougga Capitol
flickr/Bitxi
Located in northern Tunisia, Dougga is sometimes called “the best-preserved Roman small town in North Africa”. Amongst the most famous monuments at the site are a Punic-Libyan mausoleum, the theatre and the capitol. The capitol is a Roman temple from the 2nd century CE, principally dedicated to the three most important Roman gods: Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. It has a secondary dedication to the well-being of the emperors Lucius Verus and Marcus Aurelius.
7 - Garmi Temple
flickr/Inna_Zyu
Dedicated to Helios, the Roman god of the sun, the Garni temple in Armenia was built by the Armenian King Trdates I in the 1st century AD. The construction was probably funded with money the king received from the Roman Emperor Nero in exchange for military support against the Parthian empire. The Garni Temple contains 24 Ionic columns resting on a elevated podium and unlike other Greco-Roman temples, it is made of basalt. In 1679 an earthquake completely destroyed the ancient Roman temple and it lay in ruins until its reconstruction in the 1970s.
6 - Temple of Augustus in Pula
flickr/Sebastia Giralt
The Temple of Augustus is the only remaining structure from the original Roman forum in Pula, Croatia. Dedicated to the first Roman emperor, Augustus, it was probably built during the emperor’s lifetime at some point between 2 BC and his death in AD 14. Under Byzantine rule, the temple was converted into a church and was later used as a granary. It suffered considerable damage during WWII when the temple was hit by a bomb. Consequently, much of the structure was rebuilt since that time.
5 - Sbeitla Forum Temples
flickr/damiandude
Sbeitla (or Sufetula) is a fairly well preserved Roman city in the mid west of Tunisia. The city contains a vast almost square forum paved with stone slabs and surrounded by a wall. The forum has a gateway on one side and three Roman temples on the opposite side. Instead of constructing only one temple dedicated to the three most important Roman gods, Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva, the inhabitants of Sbeitla built separate temples for each one. A similar arrangement is only found at Baelo Claudia, in Spain.
4 - Maison Carree
Maison Carrée, located in Nimes, France, was built in 16 BC by the Roman General Marcus Vipanius Agrippa, and was dedicated to his two sons who both died young. It is one of the best preserved Roman temples in the world. The Maison Carrée owes its exceptional state of preservation to the fact that it was transformed to a Christan church in the 4th century, saving it from destruction. It has also been a town hall, a stable, a storehouse, and finally a museum.
3 - Palmyra
flickr/A travers
Situated in an oasis 130 miles north of Damascus, Palmyra is one of Syria’s most popular tourist attraction and is on the standard Roman tour destinations around the country. For centuries Palmyra was an important and wealthy city located along the caravan routes linking Persia with the Mediterranean ports of Roman Syria. There is much to see at the site today for tourists, including the huge Temple of Bel, the monumental arch and the colonnade that once consisted of 1,500 Corinthian columns.
2 - Pantheon
flickr/John Morton
One of the best preserved Roman buildings, The Pantheon in Rome was built in 126 AD as a temple for all the Roman gods. The temple has served as a Roman Catholic Church since the 7th. The Pantheon consists of a large circular portico with three ranks of huge granite Corinthian columns. The portico opens into a rotunda which is topped with a concrete dome with a central opening: the oculus. A great time to visit the Pantheon during a Roman tour is when it’s raining in Rome and you can see the rain pouring into the building through the oculus.
1 Baalbek
flickr/upyernoz
Baalbek, also called Heliopolis, is a spectacular archaeological site in northeastern Lebanon. From the 1st century BC and over a period of two centuries, the Romans built three temples here: Jupiter, Bacchus and Venus. Created to be the largest temple in the Roman empire, the temple of Jupiter was lined by 54 massive granite columns each each of which were 21 meters (70 feet) tall. Only 6 of these titanic columns remain standing but even they are incredibly impressive. The best preserved temple at the site is the Temple of Bacchus built in 150 AD. The ancient Roman temple was dedicated to Bacchus, also known as Dionysus, the Roman god of wine. Today, it is one of the top tourist attractions of a Roman tour in Libanon.
Map of Ancient Roman Temples
10 of the World's Most Amazing Sculptures
Throughout the world you can discover a wide range of sculptures. Some of these are pretty ordinary, but others, as you’re about to see are extremely eye-catching. To save you from having to take a trip across the world, we have put together a collection of some of the world’s most creative sculptures. The following 10 sculptures will definitely amaze you.
“Wonderland,” Calgary, Canada
The coolest thing about this statue is that you can actually go inside it. On the outside, this is a 12-meter wire frame in the shape of a head, but from the inside, it’s a whole new world. This fascinating sculpture was created by Spanish sculptor Juame Plensa.
“Karma,” New York, USA
The sculpture, created by Korean sculptor Do-Ho Suh greets those who visit the New York Albright-Knox Art Gallery. This statue is just 7 meters high, but to those looking up at it, it seems endless.
“Last Supper,” Nevada, USA
Created by Albert Szukalski, this sculpture is the author’s rethinking of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous fresco. Set against the backdrop of the famous Death Valley, the figures look more mysterious at night, when they’re lit up from inside with a special illumination.
“Diamonds,” Canberra, Australia
This photo has not been rotated or edited in any way. New Zealander, Neil Dawson creates sculptures that you cannot pass without wondering how they are defying gravity. The effect is usually created with the help of barely visible wires. This particular sculpture can be found outside the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.
Balancing Sculpture, Dubai
This bronze statue completely defies the laws of physics. How Jerzy Kedziora’s works do not overturn under the influence of gravity and wind is something that puzzles everyone who sees them.
Monument to the Violinist, Amsterdam, Netherlands
In Amsterdam’s “Stopera,” where the city hall and the music theater are located, the marble floor was broken so that this sculpture could be fitted. No one knows who created this sculpture, and most locals do their best to try and ignore it.
Porsches at the Festival of Speed, Sussex, UK
These incredible car sculptures, created by Gerry Judah, seem to rush into endless space. During his time as a sculptor, Judah has managed to work with some of the world’s most famous cars. This particular sculpture can be found in the grounds of Goodwood House in West Sussex.
“Diminish and Ascend,” Sydney, Australia
This sculpture, created by David McCracken, has a secret – each successive step is smaller than the previous one. Therefore, when somebody looks upon it, it seems like it goes on forever.
“Features of Gravity for the Elephant, Paris, France
This sculpture, by Daniel Firman, can be found in the Paris Castle of Fontainebleau. It is dedicated to Firman’s strange theory that an elephant can balance on its own trunk at a height of 18,000 km above sea level.
“Runner,” Athens, Greece
When looking at this sculpture, one gets the impression that it’s moving. This colossal figure, created by Costas Varotsos, is made up of thousands of dark green glass pieces.
H/T: brightside