Ancient ruins and lost artifacts are more than fragments of stone and metal; they are echoes of civilizations that vanished centuries ago. From jungle-covered temples and weathered statues to delicate objects once used in daily life, each remains a glimpse into the brilliance, mystery, and fragility of the past. Let’s take a look at 25 photos of ancient ruins and lost artifacts.
1. This Roman mosaic depicts the Trojan War and was found in Syria three years ago
2. Mohenjo-Daro in Pakistan is even older than the Pyramids
3. This 125-ton stone was perfectly placed in Sacsayhuaman, Peru
4. King Ashurbanipal’s Flood Tablet
This tablet tells an extremely similar story to the Biblical story of Noah’s Ark. It describes how a flood was sent to destroy mankind, and a man was warned and told to build an ark of his own.
5. These images highlight the progression of ancient Greek sculptures from 600 BC to 1st AD
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6. A 2700-year-old, 18-ton Assyrian Deity that was excavated in Iraq in November 2023
7. These 1,200 Rakan statues were found in a temple called Otagi Nenbutsu-ji, hidden in the hills of Arashiyama
8. The inscription of Xerxes
“Ahuramazda, the greatest of the gods, created the earth, the sky, mankind, and happiness, and made Xerxes king. I am Xerxes, great king, king of kings, son of Darius the Achaemenid. My father ordered this niche to be cut but left no inscription, so I commanded that these words be written. May Ahuramazda and the gods protect my kingdom and all I have done.”
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9. A man standing on the lap of a statue of Ramesses in Egypt, 1856
10. A colorized photo of the Lion Gate at Mycenae, Greece, 1891
11. This statue depicts the Persian King Mithridates shaking hands with the Greek God Heracles
12. Night workers of Ancient Greece would wear these boots that had a printed message that said “follow me.”
13. The sacred City of Dion, at the foot of Mount Olympus
14. Enigmatic stone horsemen found in the remote Pir Panjal range of Jammu and Kashmir
15. This statue of Hercules was uncovered in Behistun, Iran
16. The Elephanta Caves, India
17. A three-year-old girl found this 3,800-year-old Canaanite seal
18. This papyrus holds a letter a son wrote to his dad almost 2,000 years ago
The letter reads: “Dad, just sent you a basket of figs and 25 nice apples. I put a label with your name on the basket so you can see it’s yours from me. Take care, and write me back!”
19. The Temple of Zeus in the city of Cyrene, Libya
20. The Library of Celsus, Turkey
21. The shield of King Pharnakes, created in 185 B.C.
22. Cave number three of the Badami cave temples in India
23. A statue of a lioness devouring a man, from the palace of Ashurnasirpal II, 9th century BCE
24. An extremely well-preserved baptismal basin, over 1,500 years old
25. A 2,000-year-old sapphire ring that belonged to Caligula, the Roman emperor from 37 A.D.
Want to see more ancient history?
Check out 14 Ancient Civilizations That Vanished and Left Historians Guessing, or take a look at 29 Historic Artifacts That Bring the Past to Life. Finally, if you want to see artifacts that have dark pasts, check out 18 Eerie Artifacts Found in Museums Around the Globe.
