The Sunken Rock Hewn church of Bet Giyorgis (St George), Lalibela, Northern Ethiopia, Ethiopia, AfricaThe most famous of Lalibela's Rock Hewn churches, The Sunken Rock Hewn church of Bet Giyorgis, 'St. George', dating from the 12th Century, Lalibela's Rock Hewn Churches rank amoung the greatest religio-historical sites, not only in the African continent but in the Christian World

The Sunken Rock Hewn church of Bet Giyorgis (St George), Lalibela, Northern Ethiopia, Ethiopia, AfricaThe most famous of Lalibela's Rock Hewn churches, The Sunken Rock Hewn church of Bet Giyorgis, 'St. George', dating from the 12th Century, Lalibela's Rock Hewn Churches rank amoung the greatest religio-historical sites, not only in the African continent but in the Christian World

A 12th century corner stone depicting a man performing with a monkey, Notre Dame de Bayeux cathedral, Bayeux, Normandy, France, Europe

Famous white pigeons at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, founded by the Seljuks in the 12th century, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

Colourfully painted houses and buildings surrounding the main old town square, Piata Mare, in the 12th century Saxon city, Sibiu, Transylvania, Romania, Europe

Colourfully painted houses and buildings surrounding the main old town square, Piata Mare, in the 12th century Saxon city, Sibiu, Transylvania, Romania, Europe

Man looking at Minaret of Bahram Shah one of two early 12th century minarets, Ghazni, Afghanistan, Asia

Security guard in front of the 12th century Minaret of Jam, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ghor (Ghur, Ghowr) Province, Afghanistan, Asia

Devotees gathered in the grounds of the 12th century Jagannath Temple, dedicated to Lord Jagannath, embodiment of Krishna, waiting for a sign from Krishna, in Puri,the oldest of India's four holiest Hindu religious centres, State of Odisha, India, Asia

Locals playing cards in front of a small temple in the grounds of the 12th century Jagannath Temple, dedicated to Lord Jagannath, an embodiment of Krishna, Puri, in the State of Odisha, India, Asia

Scene in the bazaar with cow, outside the walls of the 12th century temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath, an embodiment of Krishna, situated in Puri, State of Odisha, India, Asia

Prah Khan dating from the late 12th century, Angkor, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

A man sits near a collection of Christian artwork within the church of Bet Medhane Alem (Church of the World Savior) in Lalibela, Ethiopia

A man feeds white doves at dawn in front of the Blue Mosque, Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh Province. Hundreds of doves, who are fed by worshippers and tended by special workers, live around the mosque, and it is thought that the place is so holy that a grey or brown dove will turn white if it lands on the Mosque. The mosque is also known as the Shrine of Hazrat Ali (Hazrat Ali was the son-in-law of the prophet Mohammed), who is believed to be buried here. The shrine, of particular importance for Afghanistan's Shi'ite Muslims, was first built in the 12th century, destroyed by Genghis Khan, and rebuilt in 1481. The current mosque, considered by some to be one of the most beautiful in Central Asia, is a modern restoration.

Striking Mongol features distinguish the face of Hamir Mohammed, his daughter and grandson (who is blind), all living in the ruins of the Qala-i-Dokthar (Daughter's Castle), outside of the town of Bamiyan, August 30, 2002. Most of the old town was destroyed and up to 20,000 people of the region might have perished when Bamiyan fell to the Taliban in 2001. Bamiyan Valley is located in the Hazarajat at the edge of the Koh-i-Baba range , the end of the Hindu Kush. Bamiyan was a prosperous Buddhist kingdom on the ancient Silk Road until the 10th century, when the region was converted to Islam; in the 12th century, it was destroyed by Ghengis Khan. Most of the people of this region are of the Hazara tribe, and are Shi'a Moslems who have been persecuted for centuries by many of the Pashtun rulers of Afghanistan, who are from the Sunni sect. They most recently suffered at the hand of the Taliban, who tried for years to ethnically cleanse the region of its Shi'a people

Number 12 illuminated in highrise, Seattle, Washington, United States, Seattle, Washington, USA