Temple of Amun, Temple complex of Karnak, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Thebes, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Ramses IV tomb, Valley of the Kings, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Thebes, Luxor, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Ramses IV tomb, Valley of the Kings, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Thebes, Luxor, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Tomb of Seti I, Valley of the Kings, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Thebes, Luxor, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

The tiny 18th-century Stavropoleos Church is one of the most beautiful religious monuments in the capital of Romania. Tucked away between taller buildings in Bucharest´s Old Town, the monument was originally part of Stavropoleos Monastery

Temple of Horus, Idfu, Aswan, Egypt

Religion, ethiopia. Orthodox archbishop gregorius visiting tullo gudo island and monastery of debre zion, lake ziway. Reading ancient parchment bibles and manuscripts stored in church.

Religion, ethiopia. Temple of yeha, c5th bc. Boy and priests showing off manuscripts at the small yeha museum

Religion, ethiopia. Na’akuto la’ab church, 7 kms from lalibela, built in a cave. The priest showing some of the church’s treasures: with a manuscript book depicting the miracles of mary

Religion, ethiopia. Na’akuto la’ab church, 7 kms from lalibela, built in a cave. The priest showing some of the church’s treasures: with a manuscript book depicting the miracles of mary

Kalabsha temple, Aswan, Nubia, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Priest writing ancient Dongba script, hands, Dongba Research Center at the Black Dragon Pool, Lijiang, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China, Asia

Priest writing ancient Dongba script, hands, Dongba Research Center at the Black Dragon Pool, Lijiang, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China, Asia

Men and boys on bikes ride past a towering, ancient minaret, outside of Ghazni, Afghanistan, October 1, 2002. Made of brick decorated with Kufic and Naksh Script and floral motifs, the minaret dates back to the early 12th century and was built by Sultan Masud III of the Ghaznavid Dynasty, who ruled over an empire encompassing much of Afghanistan, Northern India, Persia and Central Asia. The minaret was once three times as tall as its current 70 feet, and is thought to have been part of a large mosque complex. Now an important truck stop on the road to Kandahar, Ghazni, located on the Lora River at the elevation of 2,225 meters, is the capital of Ghazni province and is a market for sheep, wool, camel hair cloth, corn, and fruit-it also continues to be a haven for Taliban insurgents.

Afghan men pause on the road with an ancient brick minaret and many shrines in the background, outside of Ghazni, Afghanistan, October 1, 2002. Made of brick decorated with Kufic and Naksh Script and floral motifs, the minaret dates back to the early 12th century and was built by Sultan Masud III of the Ghaznavid Dynasty, who ruled over an empire encompassing much of Afghanistan, Northern India, Persia and Central Asia. The minaret was once three times as tall as its current 70 feet, and is thought to have been part of a large mosque complex. Now an important truck stop on the road to Kandahar, Ghazni, located on the Lora River at the elevation of 2,225 meters, is the capital of Ghazni province with a population of 35,900, and is a market for sheep, wool, camel hair cloth, corn, and fruit, and continues to be a haven for Taliban insurgents.

Men on bikes ride past an ancient brick minaret toward the old walls and citadel of the town of Ghazni, Afghanistan, October 1, 2002. Made of brick decorated with Kufic and Naksh Script and floral motifs, the minaret dates back to the early 12th century and was built by Sultan Masud III of the Ghaznavid Dynasty, who ruled over an empire encompassing much of Afghanistan, Northern India, Persia and Central Asia. The minaret was once three times as tall as its current 70 feet, and is thought to have been part of a large mosque complex. Now an important truck stop on the road to Kandahar, Ghazni, located on the Lora River at the elevation of 2,225 meters, is the capital of Ghazni province with a population of 35,900, and is a market for sheep, wool, camel hair cloth, corn, and fruit.

Close-up view of the iconic Colosseum against a blue sky, showing a marble plaque above the East Entrance dedicated to Christian martyrs; Rome, Lazio, Italy