These are seven of the most interesting things built during medieval times that have history, culture, and a little bit of mystery surrounding them.
Stonehenge is an unsolved mystery of the past 4000 years since this megalithic structure was built. No one knows whom, why, or how these giant stones were placed into the empty Salisbury plain in the United Kingdom.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa started being built in 1173 but was not finished until 1372 due to multiple wars distracting Pisa residents from the construction. The fact that this building survived hundreds of years despite the unstable soil underneath the tower and a consistently growing lean is quite remarkable. Many other crooked European buildings either collapsed or were replaced over the years, but only the tower of Pisa maintained its crooked yet standing stature with a little help from modern engineering.
The Roman Coliseum, actually named the Flavian Amphitheater, was the largest public entertainment structure in the Roman Empire. It remained the largest coliseum in the world for 18 centuries, which is how it earned the title of “The Coliseum,” no further specification is required.
Hagia Sophia, also referred to as the Place of Holy Wisdom, this famous mosque in Turkey was the largest cathedral in the world for about a thousand years and a symbol of Byzantine architecture.
The Great Wall is often likened to that of a 5,500-mile long dragon defending China from outsiders. It was originally built as a fortification system during the Ming dynasty after they lost a battle to the Mongols, so I suppose we have them to thank for this medieval wonder.
The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa or “Mound of Shards” named after the piles of broken pottery surrounding the tomb left by relatives visiting their deceased loved ones. The tombs were most likely started for one wealthy family and grew into a larger burial site for unknown reasons. Alexandria is often considered “The Paris of Antiquity” due to these catacombs.
The Lost Porcelain Pagoda, or the Tower of Nanjing, unfortunately no longer exists. It was once considered the most beautiful pagoda in China because it was made out of white porcelain bricks instead of the usual wood. Tragically, Taiping rebels destroyed the tower in 1856 after they took control of the city.
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