In Pics: The Most Ancient Temples In The World

Shreya Cheema

Temple of Hatshepsut, Egypt 

Built around 1,470 B.C. and also known as Djeser-Djeseru, this funerary shrine features a lengthy colonnade and still holds a relief depicting the divine birth of a female pharaoh.

Temple of Hatshepsut | Shutterstock.com

Temple of Amada, Nubia 

Built between 1,550 and 1,189 B.C., this ancient temple, the oldest in Nubia, was relocated to higher ground in the 1960s and '70s to protect it from flooding.

Temple of Amada | Shutterstock.com

Göbekli Tepe, Turkey 

Built around 10,000 B.C., Göbekli Tepe is the world's oldest known temple. Buried around 8,000 B.C., its purpose remains a mystery.

Göbekli Tepe | Shutterstock.com

Luxor Temple, Egypt 

Built between 1,100 and 1,600 B.C. and serving as a place of worship for over 3,500 years, it boasts an avenue of sphinxes and the grand Pylon of Ramses II. It is dedicated to Amun, Mut, and Khonsu.

Seated statue of Ramesses II by the Luxor Temple entrance, Egypt | Shutterstock.com

Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni, Malta 

Built around 2,500 B.C., this subterranean labyrinth features false windows, decorative paintings, and carved stone ceiling accents. Only 80 visitors are allowed here per day.

Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni | Shutterstock.com

Stonehenge, England

Built beginning in 3,000 B.C., it's believed to have been a temple for ancient earth deities. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.

Stonehenge | Shutterstock.com

Ġgantija Temples, Malta 

Built between 3,600 and 3,200 B.C., these massive temples on Gozo were believed to be built by giants. Constructed of coralline limestone, they are part of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Ġgantija Temples | Shutterstock.com

Temple of Apollo, Delphi, Greece 

Built in 330 B.C. on the site of two earlier temples, it boasts intricate pediment decorations and a rich history.

Temple of Apollo | Shutterstock.com

Tchogha Zanbil, Iran 

Built in 1,250 B.C. and founded by Elamite ruler Untash-Gal, it's a religious centre with a massive ziggurat—the largest outside Mesopotamia. It was discovered in 1935.

Tchogha Zanbil | Shutterstock.com

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