Legendary lost worlds that are still being searched for today. Lost Cities and Civilizations of the World Percy Fawcett and the Lost City of Z

No one knows exactly how many lost cities there are on our planet. But those that archaeologists manage to discover invariably arouse great interest both among historians and ordinary lovers of everything unusual. Here are some of the largest lost cities.

1. Tikal, Guatemala

Tikal is one of the largest city-states of the Mayan Indians. It was built back in the 7th century BC, and during its heyday its population reached 200 thousand people. The history of Tikal was full of dramatic moments, and after numerous wars and uprisings, people finally abandoned it. This happened at the end of the 10th century, and since then Tikal has remained a ghost town.

2. Ctesiphon, Iraq

In the period from the 2nd to the 7th centuries, Ctesiphon was the capital of first the Parthian kingdom and then the Sasanian one. The brick buildings of Ctesiphon that have survived to this day amaze the imagination with their splendor and size.

3. Great Zimbabwe

Big or Great Zimbabwe is the name given to the ruins of an ancient city located on the territory of the South African state of Zimbabwe. According to archaeologists, this city appeared in 1130 and for three centuries was considered the main shrine of the Shona people. About 18,000 people could simultaneously live behind the high stone walls of the city. Today the city walls represent one of the most amazing monuments of Great Zimbabwe. They are built without the use of any mortar, and their height reaches five meters.

4. Mohenjo-daro, Pakistan

A city belonging to the Indus civilization with the gloomy name of Mohenjo-Daro (which translates as “Hill of the Dead”) appeared in the Indus Valley in the territory of modern Pakistan more than four and a half thousand years ago. It is contemporary with the Egyptian pyramids and one of the first cities in South Asia. The city flourished for almost a thousand years, but eventually its inhabitants abandoned it. Archaeologists suggest that the Aryan invasion was to blame.

5. Bagerhat, Bangladesh

This city, located at the confluence of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, was built in the 15th century. During its heyday, there were 360 mosques here. But after the death of the founder, Bagerhat fell into decay, and it was almost completely swallowed up by the jungle. Today, part of the city has been cleared, and excursions are held here for tourists.

6. Mesa Verde National Park, USA

In Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado) there are many ruins of ancient cities that were built by the Anasazi Indians in the 6th-13th centuries. The largest building in the park is considered to be the magnificent “Rock Palace”, which attracts more than 700 thousand tourists every year. The city was abandoned by its inhabitants around 1300. The reasons why people abandoned their homes are still unclear, but it has been suggested that the prolonged drought is to blame.

7. Vijayanagar, India

Vijayanagar was once the capital of a powerful empire that occupied the entire south of the Indian subcontinent. Today, on the site of the City of Victory (as the name Vijayanagar is translated) is the village of Hampi. True, here today, in addition to the majestic ruins, there are also many active Hindu temples, including the famous Pampapathi temple, which is even older than Vijayanagara itself.

8. Ani city, Türkiye

Ani is the capital of the ancient Armenian kingdom, located on the territory of modern Turkey. Once the population of this ancient city exceeded 100 thousand people, and due to the abundance of temples it was known as the city of 1001 churches. The ruins of many Armenian churches of the 11th-13th centuries and the Seljuk palace have survived to this day. But all these monuments are in terrible condition - homeless people live in them, and careless tourists have picnics on their territory. The authorities do not show due attention to the protection of this historical monument.

9. Thebes, Egypt

The first human settlements in the territory of this city date back to 3200 BC. In 2000 B.C. Thebes had a population of about 40,000, making it the largest city of its time. Thebes retained its status as the largest city in the world until 1000 BC. Even today, the ruins remaining from its former splendor are amazing. The most famous monuments of Thebes are the Temple of Luxor, the Temple of Karnak (which is the largest temple complex of Ancient Egypt) and the tomb of Tutankhamun.

10. Carthage, Tunisia

Throughout its long history, Carthage was the capital of various states. At first it was a Phoenician state, which was also called Carthage. In 146 BC. both the state and the city were completely destroyed by the Romans, but pretty soon the Romans themselves rebuilt Carthage. After the fall of Rome, Carthage became the capital of the Vandal kingdom. The final fall of the great city occurred in the 7th century, when the city was destroyed by the Arabs. But still, many ruins, mainly from the Roman period, have survived to this day.

Humanity has always been interested in the mysteries of past civilizations. Archaeologists have traveled to the most dangerous places in the world to find lost cities that can tell the story of the past of entire peoples. Not the least role in the search for these ancient settlements is played by myths and legends about treasures hidden from human eyes for thousands of years. Such stories inspire not only scientists, but also directors who make adventure films based on ancient legends. Today we decided to create a list of lost cities, both real and movie ones.

Lost Cities of the World: What is it?

It is difficult to imagine which legends of the past are entirely fiction, and which are based on real historical facts. After all, most archaeologists, when organizing their expeditions, always draw inspiration and information from fragmentary written sources and numerous myths that are passed down among many peoples from generation to generation.

Many novice researchers are concerned about the question of which settlements can be classified as “lost cities”. Finding the exact answer will be quite difficult. Indeed, throughout the history of mankind, a huge number of legends have accumulated about cities that once flourished, but for unknown reasons, the inhabitants left their homes and never returned to their original place. In many settlements, even household utensils and all household items remained intact, which allows archaeologists to claim that the inhabitants left the city in great haste. It is unknown what made them leave all their belongings behind. In order to at least slightly reveal the secret of ancient civilizations, scientists spend many years searching for cities, and then for several more years they study all the finds in detail in order to understand how and how the townspeople lived.

Many lost cities are located high in the mountains and at the bottom of the seas, which makes access to them much more difficult. But even the danger and fear of losing their lives cannot stop brave archaeologists in their search. It is thanks to such people that we got the opportunity to compile the top 5 lost cities of the world, already found and still remaining unknown.

First place: Eldorado - lost treasures of the Indians

The legend of the lost city of Eldorado is known to many people on the planet. Researchers from all over the world have been searching for this mysterious place for several hundred years, but so far the city has not revealed the secrets of its location to any of the adventurers.

According to archaeologists, El Dorado is located deep in the jungles of Mexico, but the exact place where to look for this city is not indicated in any of the legends. But the myths tell about its inhabitants in some detail. It is believed that the city was built by a highly developed civilization that possessed mysterious technologies that allowed it to perfectly process any surface. Thanks to this, Eldorado had very strong walls and various engineering structures that made life easier for the townspeople. The masters of the lost city were famous for their jewelry and figurines made of gold. According to legend, this metal was the most common in El Dorado - not only jewelry, but also entire buildings of temple complexes were made from it. The walls of such structures were inlaid with precious stones of incredible sizes and decorated with bizarre figurines.

The legend of Eldorado was perceived by many adventurers as something unreal, until in different parts of the planet scientists began to find unusual gold items that were difficult to attribute to any known civilizations. In addition, the processing of these finds was highly technological, which forced archaeologists to draw a parallel between all the treasures found and conclude that they were all made by the hands of the same craftsmen.

Since about the mid-sixteenth century, several attempts have been made to find El Dorado, but the treasures of the lost city have never been found. Modern scientists believe that it is impossible to find this city, since Mexico City was built on its ruins. Indeed, during excavations in the city, archaeologists managed to find one of the most ancient octagonal temples, which was not typical for any of the previously known Indian civilizations.

Runner-up: Atlantis of the Sands

The story of Atlantis is known to absolutely everyone, but few have heard about the city that was swallowed up by the sands of Arabia and hid under them from human eyes for several millennia. This city is known as Iram, and its legend is reminiscent of the biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Koran says that Iram was quite a rich and popular entertainment center. Rich people came here, dreaming of spending a few days surrounded by beauties in hot springs, of which there were several dozen in the territory of Iram.

Over time, the inhabitants of the city became mired in sin and immorality, they turned away from Allah, plunging deeper and deeper into a depraved life. In order to save them, a prophet was sent to Iram. For a long time he exhorted the Iranians to return to the true faith, but the people did not listen to the prophet. Then Allah sent a sandstorm to the city, which lasted a whole week. When the wind calmed down, Iram was completely buried under a multi-meter layer of sand.

In the nineties of the last century, Nikolai Clapp gathered a group of scientists and went in search of the lost year. With the help of modern technology, archaeologists managed to find a place in Oman where, according to numerous photographs, ancient trade routes converged. During the excavations, a magnificent fortress appeared on the surface, but later it was destroyed, falling into a karst sinkhole. The secret of the lost city remained under the sands of Arabia.

Third Place: The Lost City of Z

This amazing city, according to scientists, was very developed; it had a lot of engineering structures that made life easier in the jungles of Brazil. Archaeologists believe that there were several temples on the territory of the city, and even a sewerage system was laid.

The most important evidence of the city's existence is in the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro. The ten-page manuscript details a journey made to the lost city in the mid-eighteenth century by a Portuguese explorer. Although the city itself is described very accurately, its location is not revealed in the manuscript.

In the first quarter of the last century, a group of researchers set out in the footsteps of the Portuguese in search of the lost city of Z. But none of the group members returned back, and several subsequent expeditions also disappeared in the jungles of Brazil. Until now, the location of the city has not been found, and nothing is known about the fate of the brave archaeologists.

Fourth place: Helik - the metropolis of antiquity

Helik was located on the Peloponnese peninsula in its most seismically dangerous zone. Despite this, the city was truly huge; it united twelve cities, which over time literally merged into one territory. The city was located in a very convenient place where trade routes converged, and was the center of trade of the ancient world. It was this fact that later helped archaeologists determine the location of the city, because many references to it were found in written sources.

Scientists believe that in three hundred and seventy-three BC Helik was completely destroyed as a result of an earthquake, and later sank under water due to a powerful tsunami that came from the Gulf of Corinth. Before this, the city residents had several evidence of the impending disaster, but most of the townspeople did not pay attention to the pillars of fire bursting out of the ground and the departure of small animals from the city. In just one day, Helik was wiped off the face of the earth along with its inhabitants.

They have been searching for the lost city since the mid-nineteenth century, but it was found only five years ago. Archaeologists have suggested that the city is not located at the bottom of the Gulf of Corinth, but in an internal lagoon, and over many millennia it was completely covered with silt and sand. The scientists' assumption turned out to be correct; they were able to determine the location of the city and, by removing silt deposits, discovered ancient ruins. Now Helik is being carefully studied, but archaeologists promise to show the world a real sensation over time.

Fifth place: Skara Brae in Scotland

This amazing city dates back to the Neolithic era, it was created approximately in three thousand BC. But it lasted no more than six hundred years, since the inhabitants of Skara Brae abandoned it for an unknown reason. Over time, the city was completely buried underground, and only in the mid-nineteenth century, as a result of a storm, scientists were able to see the exposed ruins of the ancient settlement.

Skara Brae still amazes archaeologists with its structures. Despite the age of the buildings, they were made with great engineering ingenuity. Each of the eight houses found had a large fireplace, a sewer and stone cabinets. Surprisingly, each family had its own toilet, but scientists were never able to establish the purpose of the huge carved balls. The Lost City has not yet revealed all its secrets to researchers.

Adventure film about the lost city

As we have already said, filmmakers are often inspired by mysterious stories. As a result, films appear that interpret in their own way the events of bygone years and put forward new versions of the tragedies of the past. Recently, the adventure film “The Lost City of Z” was shown at the festival in New York. Brad Pitt became the producer of this film, although it was his candidacy that was originally nominated for the leading role.

The success of the film among the audience was stunning, this is associated not only with the excellent acting, but also with the fact that the script is based on a truly real story. The writers created speculation about the fate of the seekers of the lost city of Z and its real location. The film will be released in Russia at the end of April 2017.

The Lost City in the horror film genre

In 2016, a horror film called The Lost City of Demons was released. The film has not yet become particularly popular, but still received high praise from critics. The plot is based on a fictional story about a young family who moved to a new city and faced darkness and horror that was intended to destroy their unborn baby.

Lost City for Kids

Animators also could not ignore the theme of lost cities, so five years ago a wonderful and kind cartoon was created, suitable for family viewing, “Ted Jones and the Lost City.” The main character is an ordinary Chicago resident who leads a boring and measured life, but secretly dreams of incredible adventures. Quite by accident, he is confused with a famous archaeologist and sent into the jungle in search of a lost city. To realize his dream, Thad Jones will have to go through many tests that can strengthen the character of a humble builder.

To this day, it is unknown how many lost cities are still waiting for their discoverers, but scientists suggest that of all the secrets they have discovered only ten percent. This means that today’s generations will have enough adventures and discoveries. After all, everyone can someday find another lost city and go down in history as a great archaeologist.

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The legend of Atlantis tells of a lost land that disappeared without a trace in the depths of the sea. In the cultures of many nations, there are similar legends about cities that disappeared under water, in the sands of the desert or overgrown with forests. Let's look at five lost cities that were never found.

Percy Fawcett and the Lost City of Z

Ever since Europeans first arrived in the New World, there have been rumors of a golden city in the jungle, sometimes called El Dorado. Spanish conquistador Francisco Orellana was the first to venture along the Rio Negro in search of the legendary city.

In 1925, a 58-year-old researcher Percy Fawcett delved into the jungles of Brazil in order to find a mysterious lost city, which he called Z. Fostt's team and himself disappeared without a trace, and this story became the reason for numerous publications. Rescue operations failed - Fossett was not found.

In 1906, the Royal Geographical Society of England, which sponsors scientific expeditions, invited Fawcett to explore part of Brazil's border with Bolivia. He spent 18 months in the state of Mato Grosso, and during his expeditions Fawcett became obsessed with the idea of lost civilizations in the region.

In 1920, in the National Library of Rio de Janeiro, Fawcett came across a document called "Manuscript 512". It was written in 1753 by a Portuguese explorer. He claimed that in the Mato Grosso region, in the Amazon rainforest, he found a fortified city that resembles an ancient Greek one.

The manuscript described a lost city with multi-story buildings, towering stone arches, and wide streets leading to a lake where the explorer saw two white Indians in a canoe.

In 1921, Fawcett embarked on the first of his expeditions in search of the lost city of Z. His team suffered many difficulties in the jungle, surrounded by dangerous animals, people were exposed to serious illnesses.

ABOUTDean from Percy's routes

In April 1925, he tried to find Z for the last time. This time he prepared thoroughly and received more funding from newspapers and societies, including the Royal Geographical Society and the Rockefellers.

In the last letter home delivered by a member of his team, Fawcett wrote a message to his wife Nina: "We hope to get through this area in a few days... Don't be afraid of failure." This turned out to be his last message to his wife and the world.

Although Fawcett's Lost City of Z has not been found, ancient cities and traces of religious sites have been discovered in recent years in the jungles of Guatemala, Brazil, Bolivia and Honduras. New technologies for scanning areas give new hope that the city of Z will be found.

The Lost City of Aztlan - Home of the Aztecs

The Aztecs, a powerful empire of ancient America, lived in what is now Mexico City. The lost island of Aztlan, where they created a civilization before their migration to the Valley of Mexico, is considered to be the epicenter of Aztec culture.

Skeptics consider the Aztlan hypothesis to be a myth, similar to Atlantis or Camelot. Thanks to legends, images of ancient cities live on, but it is unlikely that they will be found. Optimists dream of the joy of finding legendary cities. The search for Aztlan Island stretches from Western Mexico all the way to the deserts of Utah. However, these searches are fruitless, because the location of Aztlan remains a mystery.

An unusual map from 1704, drawn by Giovanni Francesco Gemelli Careri. The first publicly published version of the legendary Aztec migration from Aztlan.

According to Nahuatl legend, seven tribes lived in Chicomostoc, “the place of the seven caves.” These tribes represented seven Nahua groups: Acolhua, Chalca, Mexica, Tepaneca, Tlahuica, Tlaxcalan and Xochimilca (sources give variant names). Seven tribes with a similar language left the caves and settled together near Aztlan.

The word Aztlan means “land to the north; the land from which the Aztecs came." One theory is that the people of Aztlan became known as the Aztecs and later migrated from Aztlan to the Valley of Mexico.

The Aztec migration from Aztlan to Tenochtitlan is a turning point in Aztec history. It began on May 24, 1064, the first solar year of the Aztecs.

Seekers of the Aztec homeland, hoping to find the truth, undertook many expeditions. But ancient Mexico is in no hurry to reveal the secrets of Aztlan.

The Lost Land of Lionesse - a city at the bottom of the sea

According to Arthurian legend, Lyonesse is the birthplace of the main character in the story of Tristan and Isolde. This mythical land is now called the "lost land of Lionesse". It is believed that she sank into the sea. Although Lyonesse is mentioned in legends and myths, it is believed that it sank at sea many years ago. It is difficult to determine the line between fiction and reality of hypotheses and legends.

Lyonesse is a large city surrounded by one hundred and forty villages. He disappeared on November 11, 1099 (although some accounts give the year 1089, and some say the 6th century). Suddenly the land was flooded by the sea, people drowned.

Although the story of King Arthur is a legend, Lyonesse is believed to be a real place adjacent to the Isles of Scilly in Cornwall, England. In those days, sea level was lower.

Scilly is the westernmost and southernmost point of England, as well as the southernmost point of Great Britain

Fishermen from the Isles of Scilly say they have pulled pieces of buildings and other structures from their fishing nets. Their words are not supported by evidence and are subject to criticism.

Stories about Tristan and Isolde, the final battle between Arthur and Mordred, the legend of the city that was swallowed up by the sea, stories about Lionesse encourage you to find a ghost town.

The search for Eldorado - the lost city of gold

For hundreds of years, treasure hunters and historians have searched for the lost city of gold, Eldorado. The idea of a city filled with gold and other riches tempted people from different countries.

The number of people wishing to find the greatest treasure and ancient miracle is not decreasing. Despite numerous expeditions across Latin America, the golden city remains a legend. No traces of his existence were found.

The origins of Eldorado originate in the stories of the Muisca tribe. After two migrations - one in 1270 BC. and another between 800 and 500. BC. - The Muisca tribe occupied the Cundinamarca and Boyaca regions of Colombia. According to the legend in El Carnero by Juan Rodríguez Fraile, the Muisca performed rituals for each new king using gold dust and other treasures.

The new king was brought to Lake Guatavita and covered naked with gold dust. The retinue, led by the king, went to the center of the lake on a raft with gold and precious stones. The king washed gold dust from his body, and his retinue threw pieces of gold and precious stones into the lake. The meaning of this ritual was to make a sacrifice to the Muisca god. For the Muisca, Eldorado is not a city, but a king, who was called “he who is gilded.”

Although the meaning of “el dorado” is originally different, the name has become synonymous with the lost city of gold.

In 1545, conquistadors Lazaro Fonte and Hernán Pérez de Quesada wanted to drain Lake Guatavita. Gold was found along the shores, which fueled suspicions among treasure hunters about the presence of treasures in the lake. They worked for three months. The workers passed water in buckets along the chain, but did not completely drain the lake. They didn't make it to the bottom.

In 1580, Antonio de Sepulveda made another attempt. And again gold items were found on the shores, but the treasures remained hidden in the depths of the lake. There were other searches at Lake Guatavita. The lake is estimated to contain $300 million worth of gold.

However, the search was stopped in 1965. The Colombian government has declared the lake a protected area. However, the search for Eldorado continues. The Muisca legends and ritual sacrifice of treasure eventually evolved into the current story of El Dorado, the lost city of gold.

Dubai's Lost Cities: A Buried History

Dubai maintains the image of an ultra-modern city with stunning architecture and effortless opulence. However, hidden in the deserts are forgotten cities. History shows how the early inhabitants of the sands adapted and overcame dramatic climate change in the past.

The lost city is a legend of Arabia - medieval Julfar. Historians knew of its existence from written evidence, but could not find it. Home to the Arab sailor Ahmed ibn Majid and supposedly to the fictional Sinbad the Sailor, Julfar flourished for a thousand years before falling into ruin and disappearing from human memory for two centuries.

In the Middle Ages, Julfar was known as a prosperous port city - a center of trade in the southern part of the Persian Gulf. It was located on the Persian Gulf coast, north of Dubai, but its actual location was discovered by archaeologists in the 1960s. Traces found at this site date back to the 6th century. Residents of the port conducted regular trade with India and the Far East.

The 10th to 14th centuries marked a golden age for Julfar and long-distance Arab trade, with Arab sailors regularly sailing halfway around the world.

Arabs sailed into European waters long before Europeans managed to sail across the Indian Ocean and into the Persian Gulf. Julfar played an important role in the maritime adventures of the Persian Gulf for more than a thousand years. Arab merchants considered the extremely difficult 18-month sea voyages to China commonplace. The range of goods will surprise modern traders.

Julfar attracted constant attention from competing powers. In the 16th century, the Portuguese took control of the port. There were already 70 thousand people living in Julfar.

A century later, the Persians captured the city, but lost it in 1750. It then fell into the hands of the Qawazim tribe from Sharjah, who had established themselves nearby in Ras al-Khaimah, which they continue to rule to this day. And old Julfar gradually fell into decay until its ruins, located among the coastal sand dunes, were forgotten.

Today, much of Julfar appears to still remain hidden beneath the sands north of Ras al-Khaimah.

Today, in many corners of our planet, perfectly preserved ruins of ancient cities, built using unknown technologies, have been discovered. Tall buildings made of stone, unusual altars and ceremonial halls, rock paintings and ancient writings - there is a lot of evidence of the life of ancient civilizations that disappeared from the face of the earth for reasons unknown to us.

There are several of the most majestic and famous cities lost in our world.

Of course, absolutely everyone knows the legend about the sunken Atlantis, but many assure humanity that this city was found, and several countries claim this unique event. Atlantis is an ancient city, the patron and creator of which is considered to be the god Poseidon himself. The first mention of Atlantis comes from the young Plato, to whom the greatest minds of Atlantis opened their city. The Egyptian priests also knew about him. This island-city was inhabited by Atlanteans, who developed their possessions and built beautiful cities with elegant palaces and beautiful statues, and the most stunning building was the Temple of Poseidon, made of pure gold. At that time, Atlantis reached its strongest development with enormous military power, its own economy and politics. After a few centuries, people on Atlantis began to change, they were more interested in the thirst for power and gold, and they stopped honoring basic human laws and moral values, which unpleasantly surprised the gods. Because of this attitude, the Gods decided to get rid of the entire continent by destroying Atlantis, drowning it in the waters of the ocean.

This is another famous city that was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. In those days, it was the greatest city with a developed infrastructure and beautiful temples, which scientists were able to almost completely recreate thanks to the outlines of architectural structures strewn with volcanic ash. The unexpected volcanic eruption took the city's residents by surprise and no one was able to avoid a tragic fate. Today, the ruins of Pompeii are a popular attraction in Italy, home to the ruins of delightful temples, amazingly beautiful statues, ritual tables for sacrifices and other buildings of unknown purpose.

This is a city of untold riches, hidden in the tropical jungles of Mexico. Eldorado still remains a great treasury, sought after by millions of treasure hunters and antiquities hunters. Myths and fabulous legends about this golden city are formed in many countries. It was assumed that the inhabitants of El Dorado were a highly advanced society, having mastered the unknown technologies of stone and gold processing, which allowed them to build such magnificent temples and statues. Jewels and gold ornaments have been found in some parts of the world, which have interested scientists, but until now the lost city has not been found and remains a fairy-tale legend about a beautiful life. Others believe that modern Mexico City was built on the site of the lost city of El Dorado, where the ruins of one of the temples of the mysterious legendary city were discovered.

City of the Holy Grail

This city is also known as Petra. This mysterious city is located in Jordan. The Holy Grail is a kind of cup with a magical drink from a miraculous source that appeared when Moses struck a stone with the staff of Moses. Excavations of this ancient city gave people hope for a legendary find, but no one has yet been able to find this shrine, and it is unlikely that they will ever be able to. The entire city is carved into pink rocks and is one of the greatest wonders of the world. The most beautiful temples and buildings have been preserved quite well to this day, and the internal passages and caves are still being explored in attempts to learn the true history of humanity and ancient civilizations.

Once upon a time there was a luxurious city of Mohenjo-Daro in the territory of modern Pakistan, where the Harappan civilization developed. Today the site contains only the ruins of stunning architectural structures, cobbled streets and rock carvings. But in those days, our ancestors lived in caves and hunted wild animals to get food. How developed were the inhabitants of this city and why they disappeared - no one knows. The city suffered several earthquakes, floods and wars along the way, which most likely contributed to its severe destruction.

This is the Greek Minorian civilization, which lived many millennia ago under the reign of the mythical king Minos, who built the labyrinth famous according to legend. We learned this story only after the discovery of the ruins of a palace in the city of Knossos. Today, here are the remains of the former city, on the modern resort of Greece - the island of Santorini. Most scientists agree that the city was buried under the lava of the erupting volcano Fera, thanks to which some buildings and monuments of ancient architecture have perfectly preserved their appearance.

This is one of the oldest Inca cities, discovered in Peru, on the top of a mountain. This world is often called a city in the sky. All the inhabitants of this mysterious city disappeared without a trace in 1532. Among the ruins of the city found, one can distinguish several temples and palace complexes, altars for sacrifices, several residential stone houses, agricultural terraces and other structures. At the moment, the mysterious city of Machu Picchu is a popular attraction in Peru and a historical monument to one of the developed civilizations of the ancient world.

Tikal is the ancient abode of one of the tribes of the Mayan civilization. Today the ruins of this city are located in Guatemala. A majestic temple in the shape of an unusual pyramid, ruins of palaces, prisons, playgrounds and stadiums were found here. The city was not destroyed, all the inhabitants of a huge tribe simply abandoned it, as a result of which the city was covered with vegetation and merged with the wild jungle. The discovery of such well-preserved historical monuments of architecture and ancient history was the greatest find of the 19th century.

This is an unusually beautiful settlement of the ancient peoples of the Indian continent. Ancient temples with carved decorations and columns carved from solid stone are perfectly preserved here. The village of Hampi is considered the most interesting for archaeologists and tourists, with striking examples of Hindu temples and numerous sculptures of the former majestic empire of ancient civilizations. Chief among the ancestral architectural structures is the Pampapathi temple, whose construction date exceeds the age of the lost city of Vijayanagar.

This is an ancient Roman lost city discovered in what is now Algeria in North Africa. Even the ruins of this mysterious place exude an atmosphere of romance and unknown adventures. The city was home to military settlements, which were often subject to raids by nomads and looting. Gradually the city grew, turning into a powerful metropolis with trade routes and Christian churches. But the buildings of Timgrad destroyed by vandals in the 7th century led the city into decline and the inhabitants left this place. After many centuries, archaeologists discovered among the sands of the Sahara the ruins of a huge ancient city, which retained enough information about its history. Here you can see amphitheaters, the Temple of Jupiter, Trajan's triumphal arch, baths and huge columns standing at the entrance to the city.

This is another of the mysterious cities of the Mayan civilization, found in one of the Mexican states - Chiapas. The perfectly preserved architectural structures of the Mayan people amaze with their beauty and grace. The date of construction of the city reaches approximately 100 AD. Among the historical buildings here you can see an ancient temple of inscriptions with plaster bas-reliefs, a similar pyramidal temple on Tikal and other equally important finds. The city was abandoned, but no one will know for sure where all the inhabitants of the famous Mayan civilization went.

Other ancient cities of different nations of the world are also known, which used technologies for the production of building materials unknown at that time and erected amazing works of art of ancient architecture. Such cities have been discovered in Turkey, India, Syria, Egypt, Zimbabwe and other countries of the world. There are still many unsolved mysteries and mysteries on our planet that the strongest minds of humanity are struggling with.

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Percy Fawcett and the Lost City of Z

The manuscript described a lost city with multi-story buildings, towering stone arches, and wide streets leading to a lake where the explorer saw two white Indians in a canoe.

ABOUTDean from Percy's routes

The Lost City of Aztlan - Home of the Aztecs

The Aztecs, a powerful empire of ancient America, lived on the territory of today's Mexico City. The lost island of Aztlan, where they created a civilization before their migration to the Valley of Mexico, is considered to be the epicenter of Aztec culture.

An unusual map from 1704, drawn by Giovanni Francesco Gemelli Careri. The first publicly published version of the legendary Aztec migration from Aztlan.

The Aztec migration from Aztlan to Tenochtitlan is a turning point in Aztec history. It began on May 24, 1064, the first solar year of the Aztecs.

Seekers of the Aztec homeland, hoping to find the truth, undertook many expeditions. But ancient Mexico is in no hurry to reveal the secrets of Aztlan.

The Lost Land of Lionesse - a city at the bottom of the sea

According to the legend of King Arthur, Lionesse is the birthplace of the main character in the story of Tristan and Isolde. This mythical land is now called the "lost land of Lionesse". It is believed that she sank into the sea. Although Lyonesse is mentioned in legends and myths, it is believed that it sank at sea many years ago. It is difficult to determine the line between fiction and reality of hypotheses and legends.

Although the story of King Arthur is a legend, Lyonesse is believed to be a real place adjacent to the Isles of Scilly in Cornwall, England. In those days, sea level was lower.

Scilly is the westernmost and southernmost point of England, as well as the southernmost point of Great Britain

Fishermen from the Isles of Scilly say they have pulled pieces of buildings and other structures from their fishing nets. Their words are not supported by evidence and are subject to criticism.

Stories about Tristan and Isolde, the final battle between Arthur and Mordred, the legend of the city that was swallowed up by the sea, stories about Lionesse encourage you to find a ghost town.

The search for Eldorado - the lost city of gold

For hundreds of years, treasure hunters and historians have searched for the lost city of gold, Eldorado. The idea of a city filled with gold and other riches tempted people from different countries.

Although the meaning of “el dorado” is originally different, the name has become synonymous with the lost city of gold.

However, the search was stopped in 1965. The Colombian government has declared the lake a protected area. However, the search for Eldorado continues. The legends of the Muisca tribe and the ritual sacrifice of treasure eventually evolved into the current story of Eldorado, the lost city of gold.

Dubai's Lost Cities: A Buried History

The 10th to 14th centuries marked a golden age for Julfar and long-distance Arab trade, with Arab sailors regularly sailing halfway around the world.

Julfar attracted constant attention from competing powers. In the 16th century, the Portuguese took control of the port. There were already 70 thousand people living in Julfar.

Today, much of Julfar appears to still remain hidden beneath the sands north of Ras al-Khaimah.