A thread of religious architectural wonders that most people haven't heard of... 🧵
1. Church of the Transfiguration: an entirely wooden, 22-dome church built without a single nail...
1. Church of the Transfiguration: an entirely wooden, 22-dome church built without a single nail...
Part of the Kizhi Pogost, Russia — the world's tallest wooden structure. Built to gather Christians in the remote Karelia region.
The current, restored church used metal nails, but the 18th century original didn't. Instead, it used horizontal logs that interlock in the corners.
The current, restored church used metal nails, but the 18th century original didn't. Instead, it used horizontal logs that interlock in the corners.
2. Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
Another of the wondrous, Byzantine-influenced domes of the Russian Empire (modern-day Kharkiv, Ukraine).
But this one was demolished by Stalin on his anti-religious campaign that razed thousands of churches.
Another of the wondrous, Byzantine-influenced domes of the Russian Empire (modern-day Kharkiv, Ukraine).
But this one was demolished by Stalin on his anti-religious campaign that razed thousands of churches.
3. Vank Cathedral
One of the world's most beautiful churches is surprisingly in Iran — built by Armenian Christians in 1606 after they fled the Ottoman–Safavid War.
They built it like an Iranian mosque, but with frescoes of the Biblical stories...
One of the world's most beautiful churches is surprisingly in Iran — built by Armenian Christians in 1606 after they fled the Ottoman–Safavid War.
They built it like an Iranian mosque, but with frescoes of the Biblical stories...
4. Church of Saint George
One of 11 rock-cut churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia, carved directly down into solid rock in the 12th century.
It was an effort to establish a "new Jerusalem", after pilgrimages to the Holy Land were made difficult by Muslim conquests.
One of 11 rock-cut churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia, carved directly down into solid rock in the 12th century.
It was an effort to establish a "new Jerusalem", after pilgrimages to the Holy Land were made difficult by Muslim conquests.
5. Kailasa Temple
Also hewn from top to bottom from a single rock: a massive, 8th century complex of caves and intricate carvings called the Ellora Caves.
200,000 tons of bedrock were excavated for it — nobody really knows who did it (or how)...
Also hewn from top to bottom from a single rock: a massive, 8th century complex of caves and intricate carvings called the Ellora Caves.
200,000 tons of bedrock were excavated for it — nobody really knows who did it (or how)...
6. Meenakshi Temple
Staying in India, this complex of elaborate, Dravidian structures was built in the 16th century. There are over 33,000 hand-carved sculptures across the site and its towers ("gopurams").
Staying in India, this complex of elaborate, Dravidian structures was built in the 16th century. There are over 33,000 hand-carved sculptures across the site and its towers ("gopurams").
7. Sanctuary of Las Lajas
A neo-Gothic church in Colombia hanging 150 feet above a canyon. Built at a site where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared before someone caught here in a storm.
A neo-Gothic church in Colombia hanging 150 feet above a canyon. Built at a site where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared before someone caught here in a storm.
8. Temple of Hathor
Egypt's best-preserved (and most underrated) temple, with rich detail executed on immense scale.
The ceiling of the hypostyle hall is over 2,000 years old (built by Cleopatra's father, Ptolemy XII) — and yet those colors are original.
Egypt's best-preserved (and most underrated) temple, with rich detail executed on immense scale.
The ceiling of the hypostyle hall is over 2,000 years old (built by Cleopatra's father, Ptolemy XII) — and yet those colors are original.
9. Temple of Bacchus
One of the largest Roman temples ever constructed is in modern-day Lebanon. It's also one of the very best preserved wonders of the empire.
Notice the person for a sense of scale...
One of the largest Roman temples ever constructed is in modern-day Lebanon. It's also one of the very best preserved wonders of the empire.
Notice the person for a sense of scale...
Right next to it are the largest known ancient columns in existence, belonging to the Temple of Jupiter.
They're 65 feet high with a girth of over 7 feet — almost twice as large as the Parthenon's columns.
They're 65 feet high with a girth of over 7 feet — almost twice as large as the Parthenon's columns.
10. Fanjingshan Temples
Impossibly-perched Buddhist temples in the Chinese Wuling Mountains, only reachable via an 8,000-step climb.
Built by intrepid monks possibly as early as the 7th century Tang Dynasty.
Impossibly-perched Buddhist temples in the Chinese Wuling Mountains, only reachable via an 8,000-step climb.
Built by intrepid monks possibly as early as the 7th century Tang Dynasty.
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11. The Casa Professa
A Baroque church in Palermo with unfathomably-detailed marble inlays, from floor to ceiling.
A symphony carved from stone...
A Baroque church in Palermo with unfathomably-detailed marble inlays, from floor to ceiling.
A symphony carved from stone...
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