6:03 PM
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Lhasa Tibet - China
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Posted in: Thursday, June 21, 2012
Teotihuacan - Mexico
Teotihuacán was the largest urban center in pre-Columbian America and, in the
hey-day of its existence, one of the three largest cities in the world, rivaling Rome
in Europe and Beijing in Asia. It is located in the Valley of Mexico, a highland basin
on the Mexican plateau which was centered on a large, shallow lake known as
the "Lake of the Moon", about 50 km (30 miles) northeast of modern Mexico City.
The city was founded about 150 B.C. by refugees from the ancient "Olmec"
ceremonial center of Cuicuilco, which lay near the southwestern edge of the lake.
An eruption of the volcano Xitle had sent the residents of Cuicuilco fleeing around
the lake to the northeast, where they laid out their new metropolis according to
a meticulously gridded "grand design". When archaeologists began seriously
excavating the site in the 1960's, they found that the entire city and its environs
had been oriented along axes that varied 15.5º from the cardinal points. Thus, the
the principal thoroughfare of the city -- called by the Aztecs "The Street of the
Dead" -- began at the Pyramid of the Moon and ran south-southwestward along an
azimuth (i.e., compass bearing) of 195.5º, or 15.5º west of south. (See photograph
above.) All major structures, such as the gigantic Pyramid of the Sun (seen in the
middle background of the photograph above and from its western front in the
photograph below), and all cross-streets were aligned at right angles to this in turn,
meaning that they were oriented to an azimuth of 285.5º, or 15.5º north of west.
Visitors to the museum at Teotihuacán are informed that the city owes its
layout to the azimuth at which the suns sets on the days that it passes directly
overhead at the site, namely July 26 and May 18. Yet, when the sunset azimuths
are calculated for those dates, it will quickly be seen that they occur at 290.7º
and not 285.5º as the city master-plan itself reveals!
In 1975, when I put my students to work calculating what "sunset" the city's
orientation actually commemorated, they were quick to come up with an answer
that proved immensely exciting -- August 13th, "the day the world began"
according to the ancient Mesoamericans! Here, on the Plateau of Mexico, city-
planners had built a ceremonial center with a configuration commemorating a date whose
calendrical importance had first been recognized 1000 km (600 miles) away to
the south more than a millenium earlier. And, in addition, they had located the
city with such precision that it was also aligned to the highest mountain in
all of Mexico at sunrise on the winter solstice --Citlaltépetl, or Orizaba (5700 m,
or 18,700 ft. in elevation). To be sure, a low ridge obscures the mountain from
the direct view of anyone standing atop the Pyramid of the Sun, but the alignment
is so exact that in a paper published in 1978 I hypothesized that a "relay station"
of sorts must have been constructed on the intervening ridge to alert the priests
of the solsticial sunrise. In January, 1993, with the help of a GPS (i.e., global position-
ing system) receiver I managed to confirm that such a "station" had in fact existed.
hey-day of its existence, one of the three largest cities in the world, rivaling Rome
in Europe and Beijing in Asia. It is located in the Valley of Mexico, a highland basin
on the Mexican plateau which was centered on a large, shallow lake known as
the "Lake of the Moon", about 50 km (30 miles) northeast of modern Mexico City.
The city was founded about 150 B.C. by refugees from the ancient "Olmec"
ceremonial center of Cuicuilco, which lay near the southwestern edge of the lake.
An eruption of the volcano Xitle had sent the residents of Cuicuilco fleeing around
the lake to the northeast, where they laid out their new metropolis according to
a meticulously gridded "grand design". When archaeologists began seriously
excavating the site in the 1960's, they found that the entire city and its environs
had been oriented along axes that varied 15.5º from the cardinal points. Thus, the
the principal thoroughfare of the city -- called by the Aztecs "The Street of the
Dead" -- began at the Pyramid of the Moon and ran south-southwestward along an
azimuth (i.e., compass bearing) of 195.5º, or 15.5º west of south. (See photograph
above.) All major structures, such as the gigantic Pyramid of the Sun (seen in the
middle background of the photograph above and from its western front in the
photograph below), and all cross-streets were aligned at right angles to this in turn,
meaning that they were oriented to an azimuth of 285.5º, or 15.5º north of west.
Visitors to the museum at Teotihuacán are informed that the city owes its
layout to the azimuth at which the suns sets on the days that it passes directly
overhead at the site, namely July 26 and May 18. Yet, when the sunset azimuths
are calculated for those dates, it will quickly be seen that they occur at 290.7º
and not 285.5º as the city master-plan itself reveals!
In 1975, when I put my students to work calculating what "sunset" the city's
orientation actually commemorated, they were quick to come up with an answer
that proved immensely exciting -- August 13th, "the day the world began"
according to the ancient Mesoamericans! Here, on the Plateau of Mexico, city-
planners had built a ceremonial center with a configuration commemorating a date whose
calendrical importance had first been recognized 1000 km (600 miles) away to
the south more than a millenium earlier. And, in addition, they had located the
city with such precision that it was also aligned to the highest mountain in
all of Mexico at sunrise on the winter solstice --Citlaltépetl, or Orizaba (5700 m,
or 18,700 ft. in elevation). To be sure, a low ridge obscures the mountain from
the direct view of anyone standing atop the Pyramid of the Sun, but the alignment
is so exact that in a paper published in 1978 I hypothesized that a "relay station"
of sorts must have been constructed on the intervening ridge to alert the priests
of the solsticial sunrise. In January, 1993, with the help of a GPS (i.e., global position-
ing system) receiver I managed to confirm that such a "station" had in fact existed.
The East Coast Islands
Koh Samui and Koh Phangan are islands on the east side of Thailand which are popular with both vacationers and backpackers. The islands are known for their palm tree lined white sandy beaches, clear turquoise waters and laid back attitudes. On Koh Phangan you’ll find also plenty of bohemian style bars and cafes and of course the world-famous full moon parties. Nearby, the islands of Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan are much less touristy due to their more isolated locations and are perfect for those looking for peace and world-class snorkelling and diving.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Karnak Temple Complex in Egypt
Karnak Temple Complex in Egypt
In the ancient city of Thebes, the sprawling Temple of Karnak covers more than 200 acres. Often referred to as a temple, don't misunderstand this term to mean anything in the singular. The Temple of Karnak is actually a complex of temples as well as other monumental and religious buildings situated near the Nile River close to the modern city of Luxor, which was built on the site of the ancient Thebes.
The Karnak Temple is unique not only among Egyptian temples, but also among religious sites throughout the world as it is the largest ancient religious site in the world, also often considered the largest open-air museum in the world. Unlike many Egyptian temples, Karnak was not constructed by a single pharaoh or even during a single time period. Construction began in the sixteenth century BC and continued for over 1,300 years. Approximately thirty different pharaohs contributed to the complex, adding temples, pylons, chapels, or obelisks all devoted to the gods of Thebes. Among the contributing pharaohs were Thutmosis I, Seti I and Ramses II, whose tombs are located in the Valley of the Kings and all of whom now rest at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Today, the site of the Temple of Karnak has several precincts or parts, including the precinct of Amun-Re, the only section open to the public. Even though the site lies in ruins, it is second only to the Giza pyramids as most visited of Egypt tourist attractions. Much of the site is open air, including an outdoor museum, exposing visitors to the elements so be prepared for lots of sun, wear sunscreen, and bring water or money to buy water.
Like the Sphinx and pyramids, the Temple of Karnak features a light and sound show every evening, which reviews the history of Thebes, the religious center of Egypt during a large portion of Egyptian history, as well as facts about the Egyptian temples at Karnak and the pharaohs who built them. The show runs in several languages; check a schedule for times and what language the show will be in.
As with many Egypt tourist attractions, there are many ways to get to the Temple of Karnak. If you are staying in Luxor, taxis are always an option, but in this case you can also walk from Luxor - Karnak is just over a mile away - or take a horse-drawn carriage. Many Nile River cruises visit this spectacular site, too, arriving from Cairo or other locations along the Nile.
When considering where to visit on your trip to Egypt, of course don't miss the pyramids of Giza, but also don't miss the Temple of Karnak. A walkway lined with ram-headed sphinxes will take you back to the regal glory of ancient Egypt, while the towering columns of the Hypostyle Hall will take your breath away. Even if you are not a history buff or have not heard of this site, its sheer size makes it one of the best Egypt tourist attractions.
In the ancient city of Thebes, the sprawling Temple of Karnak covers more than 200 acres. Often referred to as a temple, don't misunderstand this term to mean anything in the singular. The Temple of Karnak is actually a complex of temples as well as other monumental and religious buildings situated near the Nile River close to the modern city of Luxor, which was built on the site of the ancient Thebes.
The Karnak Temple is unique not only among Egyptian temples, but also among religious sites throughout the world as it is the largest ancient religious site in the world, also often considered the largest open-air museum in the world. Unlike many Egyptian temples, Karnak was not constructed by a single pharaoh or even during a single time period. Construction began in the sixteenth century BC and continued for over 1,300 years. Approximately thirty different pharaohs contributed to the complex, adding temples, pylons, chapels, or obelisks all devoted to the gods of Thebes. Among the contributing pharaohs were Thutmosis I, Seti I and Ramses II, whose tombs are located in the Valley of the Kings and all of whom now rest at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Today, the site of the Temple of Karnak has several precincts or parts, including the precinct of Amun-Re, the only section open to the public. Even though the site lies in ruins, it is second only to the Giza pyramids as most visited of Egypt tourist attractions. Much of the site is open air, including an outdoor museum, exposing visitors to the elements so be prepared for lots of sun, wear sunscreen, and bring water or money to buy water.
Like the Sphinx and pyramids, the Temple of Karnak features a light and sound show every evening, which reviews the history of Thebes, the religious center of Egypt during a large portion of Egyptian history, as well as facts about the Egyptian temples at Karnak and the pharaohs who built them. The show runs in several languages; check a schedule for times and what language the show will be in.
As with many Egypt tourist attractions, there are many ways to get to the Temple of Karnak. If you are staying in Luxor, taxis are always an option, but in this case you can also walk from Luxor - Karnak is just over a mile away - or take a horse-drawn carriage. Many Nile River cruises visit this spectacular site, too, arriving from Cairo or other locations along the Nile.
When considering where to visit on your trip to Egypt, of course don't miss the pyramids of Giza, but also don't miss the Temple of Karnak. A walkway lined with ram-headed sphinxes will take you back to the regal glory of ancient Egypt, while the towering columns of the Hypostyle Hall will take your breath away. Even if you are not a history buff or have not heard of this site, its sheer size makes it one of the best Egypt tourist attractions.
