The Ancient Agora of Athens was a central hub of Athenian life, serving as a place for socializing, conducting business, and participating in religious festivals. The site held significant importance for women, as they could gather and socialize during religious festivals, and even officiate the worship of goddess Athena. The Agora was home to important buildings, such as the Temple of Hephaestus and the Stoa of Attalos, and was known for its rich decoration with famous works of art.
In the 5th century BC, the Agora became the seat of the Athenian democracy, hosting the city council, law courts, and meetings of the assembly. Despite being destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC, the Athenians rebuilt the Agora, showcasing their commitment to preserving this historic site. The Agora's significance extends beyond its political and commercial roles, as it was also the setting where philosophers like Socrates and Plato shared their ideas.
Today, the Ancient Agora of Athens is an archaeological ...
Wat Chaiwatthanaram วัดไชยวัฒนาราม is a Buddhist temple in the city of Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand, on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, outside Ayutthaya island.
It is one of Ayutthaya's best known temples and a major tourist attraction.
The temple was constructed in 1630 by the king, Prasat Thong, as the first temple of his reign, as a memorial of his mother's residence in that area.
The temple's name literally means the Temple of long reign and glorious era. It was designed in the Khmer style to gain Buddhist merit and as a memorial to his mother, however Prince Damrong believed it was built to celebrate Ayutthaya Kingdom's victory over Longvek (the capital of modern day Cambodia at the time).
It has a central 35 meter high (115 ft) prang พระปรางด์ประธาน with four smaller prangs. The whole construction stands on a rectangular platform. About halfway up there are hidden entrances, to which steep stairs lead.
The eight ...
Wat Mangkon Kamalawat วัดมังกรกมลาวาส, previously (and still commonly) known as Wat Leng Noei Yi วัดเล่งเน่ยยี่ 龙莲寺 is the largest and most important Chinese Buddhist temple in Bangkok, Thailand.
Wat Mangkon Kamalawat was founded as a Mahayana Buddhist temple in 1871 or 1872, by Phra Archan Chin Wang Samathiwat (also known as Sok Heng), initially with the name Wat Leng Noei Yi. It was later given its current name, Wat Mangkon Kamalawat, meaning "Dragon Lotus Temple", by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V).
It is located in the district of Pom Prap Sattru Phai in the city's Chinatown, in a courtyard off Charoen Krung Road. It is served by Wat Mangkon MRT station which is located in front of the temple.
The temple is built in a classic Chinese architectural style, with typical sweeping tiled roofs decorated with animal and floral motifs, including the ubiquitous Chinese dragons. The ubosot (ordination hall) houses the temple's main, gold ...
Wat Phra Si Sanphet วัดพระศรีสรรเพชญ์ "Temple of the Holy, Splendid Omniscient" was the holiest temple on the site of the old Royal Palace in Thailand's ancient capital of Ayutthaya until the city was completely destroyed by the Burmese in 1767.
It was the grandest and most beautiful temple in the capital and it served as a model for Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok.
In 1350 U-thong, also known as King Ramathibodi I, ordered the construction of a royal palace in the same area that Wat Pra Si Sanphet stands today. The palace was completed in 1351 and King Ramathibodi established Ayutthaya as the capital of his Kingdom. The palace contained three wooden buildings named "Phaithun Maha Prasat", "Phaichayon Maha Prasat", and "Aisawan Maha Prasat". Upon finalization of the palace in 1351, he established Ayutthaya as his capital and was bestowed the title of King Ramathibodi I.
In 1448 King Borommatrailokkanat built a new palace to the north and converted the old palace ...
