- In Egypt, the pyramids at Giza are a supreme example of ancient engineering.Pyramids fo Giza image by AJT from Fotolia.com
Throughout history, humans have built colossal monuments to pay homage to famous persons, events, gods and nature, or to increase the splendor of the cities in which they live. Early, ancient monuments were built long before Columbus sailed to the New World. - The three great pyramids at Giza in Egypt may be the most well-known ancient monuments in the world. They were constructed during the Old Kingdom period of 2575 to 2150 B.C. The largest of them was commissioned by the Pharaoh Kufu (Cheops), and it is the largest pyramid in the world. Adjacent to this monument is the pyramid of his son Kephren, and adjacent to this is the pyramid of Menkaure, Kephren's son. The pyramid of Menkaure is notable in that it didn't contain only limestone like the others, but contained brick at the uppermost part.
- Stonehenge construction was started about 5,000 years ago, and it is located on the Salisbury Plain two miles west of the town of Amesbury in southern England. It is made of huge, mostly rectangular stones aligned vertically, and in some cases horizontally. The initial phase of construction involved setting up a bank and ditch earthwork called a "henge." The stones which form the outer circle weigh up to 50 tons, and the transportation of them across 20 miles was extremely difficult. Modern studies estimate the task required at least 600 men.
- The Coliseum in Rome is a huge ancient amphitheater that measures 118 feet high, 465 feet long and 386 feet wide. The cement foundation is 23 feet thick. It still stands today, though in a time-worn state. In ancient Rome, the Coliseum was used for entertainment spectacles. However, gladiator fights were outlawed in 438. Seating was divided into classes. The Imperial court had lower-level seating, while the commoners occupied the middle tier and women were only allowed at the top.
- The Parthenon is located in Athens, Greece and is among the most famous temples in the world. It was built to honor the Greek goddess Athena. Construction started in 447 B.C. and was finished by 432 B.C. Sculptures in the temple include the metopes, which portray conflicts between the powers of order and criminal chaos. Pedimental relief sculptures can be found, which are larger than the metopes and depict actions of major Greek deities.
