Science, technology and engineering are not a new concept but have been used for centuries. Engineering has been used since the beginning of the world. Humans have implemented concepts like that of pulleys and wheels way before these things were theoretically explained. People in the ancient times made use of their knowledge of engineering to build palaces, sites and structures with so advanced skills that sometimes it is hard to believe the actual dates when these things were crafted. The engineering and architecture in some of the structures is so marvelous that these places are declared by UNESCO as the World Heritage sites. Ten sites that are an engineering wonder of Ancient Civilizations are discussed below:
- THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA, CHINA
The Great Wall of China is not an unknown name in the world and is a magnificent example of ancient engineering. The wall stretches from Northern China to Southern Mongolia. The construction of the fortification began in the 7th century by Qin Shi Huang. Though the wall was intended to be built as a defense in the warfare, it took nearly 2500 years and numerous dynasties to finish it. It consists of countless walls, out of which several are parallel to each other. The most significant part of the wall was constructed in the Ming Dynasty. Covering a distance of 21,196 km the wall in its initial stage was made up of rammed earth, stone and wood. Later on materials such as bricks, tiles, lime and stone were used in construction. As stone can bear more weight, the foundation, brims and gateways of the wall were made of rectangular shaped stones. The Wall is a well planned and executed architecture.
- EGYPTIAN PYRAMIDS, EGYPT
The Egyptian civilization has blessed Egypt with its famous pyramids. With the Old Kingdom, came the era of the pyramids in Egypt. The pyramids are four sided stone structures which were mainly used to keep the tomb of the kings. By the forth dynasty the first triangular shaped pyramid was made and these symbolizes the endurance of humanity to reach heaven. It startles to think how the people of that age use to carry the massive stones to build the pyramids. Among all the pyramids the pyramids of Giza are the most famous. It is a site for one of the seven wonders of the ancient civilizations and consists of the Pyramid of Cheops, the pyramid of Khafre and the pyramid of Menkaure . The Pyramid of Cheops is the largest of all and is made up of 2 million limestone block weighing 25tons, brought from a place near river Nile. Another magnificent structure from the Egyptian civilization is the Sphinx. It is a mythological figure which has a body of a lion and a head of a human which represent the sun god. It is carved out of limestone and is a 19.8m high and 73m long structure. The method used to build the pyramids is still a mystery to all and is a classic example of the ancient engineering.
- ROMAN COLOSSEUM, ITALY
The largest open air performing venue is an illustration of the Roman Architecture. The Coliseum was built by using travertine limestone, tuff, brick-faced concrete, wood, tiles and mortar. Though professional engineers, builders and artists contributed in its making but the Colesseum was built by unskilled labors who were mainly prisoners of war. The elliptical shaped building is 189m long and 156m wide. The shape is kept elliptical to provide visibility from all the corners. Also arches in the bottom levels of the building make its huge size possible. The outer walls are made of travertine and are held together by iron clamps instead of mortar. Colosseum has a number of features which makes it a vintage piece of engineering marvel. Canvas canopy known as the vela enveloped above the audience, sheltering them from the sunrays.
- CHAND BAORI, INDIA
World’s largest and deepest step well was constructed in 9th century in Abhaneri village of Rajasthan. It was build to harvest water and holds an important spot in the Indian architecture because of the engineering involved in its making. Also known as the upside-down pyramid, the step well is 100 feet deep, consist of 3500 steps, 13 floors and is known for its symmetrical design. Chand baori is constructed by the application of geometrical pattern and the use of volcanic rocks. The temperature on the bottom is comparatively cooler than in the top.
- LESHAN GIANT BUDDHA , CHINA
Built during the tang dynasty between the year 713 and 803, Leshan Giant Buddha is a stone statue sculpted on cliff of red sandstone. The statue is in the leshan city of China at the confluence of the Min River, Qingyi River and Dadu River. After many hindrances due to lack of finances, the largest statue of Buddha, sitting with his hands resting on his knees was completed after 90. The Buddha statue has an integrated drainage system which is in a functioning state. During its early days the statue was shielded from weather conditions with the help of a 13 floored wooden structure. This 71 m tall statue is perfectly symmetrical and very skillfully crafted.
- THE GREAT BATH, PAKISTAN
The great bath is a fine brickwork structure in Mesopotamia from the Indus Valley Civilization. As old as from the 3rd millennium BCE, the site is a rectangular structure resembling a swimming pool. The entire structure is made up of baked bricks and has been made water tight with a layer of bitumen. It was perhaps believed to be used for bathing on special occasions. The Great Bath was provided water from adjacent well and has a proper drainage outlet. The foundation was divided into 27 square blocks and 10 narrow aisles. The bathing spot has adjoining rooms, probably for the purpose of changing. The people of Mesopotamia were great in designing and made a remarkable use of engineering in executing their plans. This is visible in their town planning, drainage system and other famous sites.
- SACSAYHUAMAN, PERU
The Sacsayhuaman is an archaeological site located 3700m above the sea level in Cusco, Peru. Sacsayhuaman has sacred building made up of giant rocks weighing up to 125 tons each. Dating back to the 15th century, the walls of the towers here are made up of dry stones in zigzag format. The stones on the lower wall are so massive that it is impossible to believe humans have put them together in the absence of modern day technologies. The huge stones are so perfectly aligned together that not even a pin or thin sheet of paper can be inserted in the cap between the stones.
- AQUEDUCT OF SEGOVIA, SPAIN
The city of Segovia in Spain is known for its famous aqueduct. This aqueduct is as old as the 1st century and the materials used to construct it includes mortar and granite block. Its peculiar features include its 165 circular arches which are divided into two levels. The upper level contains the watercourse for water to pass through. Despite being two millennia old, the aqueduct of Segovia stands perfectly tall.
- PATHENON, GREECE
Built in the 5th century BCE, Pathenon use to be a temple in Athenian Acropolis, Greece. Made with white marble, most of its parts are worn off but its basic structure remains unbroken. It consists of a colonnade to support the roof (entabular). The colonnade comprise of 8 columns running in the east-west direction and 17 columns running in the north-south direction, enclosing the inner hall which is divided into three aisles. Its refined architecture gives it a sculptural outlook and many of its proportions follow the golden ratio.
- BOROBUDUR, INDONESIA
This massive Buddhist monument is one of the finest exemplar of ancient architecture. Comprising of Stupa, Temple Mountain and the Mandala, Borobudur was constructed in the 8th century in the Shailendra dynasty. Material wise it is made of volcanic gray rocks and uses no adhesive to hold the rocks together. It consists of 500 detailed statues of Buddha and has been recognized as a World Heritage Site in the year 1991. It is the largest Buddhist temple in the world is a popular pilgrimage for the followers of Buddhism.
