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Ancient Stone Carvings and Inscriptions

Historical stone artifacts featuring carvings and inscriptions from various ancient cultures, revealing insights into past civilizations.

Central America, Belize, Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Caracol. Stone carving of altar 12. Ruins of Classic Period (300 to 900 A.D.) Mayan civilization.

France, Aveyron, Menhir statue representation of La Dame de St Sernin

The Old Jewish Cemetery in the Josefov district is one of the most historically significant Jewish cemeteries in Europe. It contains over 12, 000 gravestones and presumably the remains of 100, 000 people, Prague, Czech Republic, Europe

Mali, Carved door representing symbols of Dogon cosmogony

The Bayon was originally the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII. The Bayon, at the centre of Angkor Thom (Great City), was established in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII. Angkor Thom, meaning The Great City’, is located one mile north of Angkor Wat. It was built in the late 12th century CE by King Jayavarman VII, and covers an area of 9 km², within which are located several monuments from earlier eras as well as those established by Jayavarman and his successors. It is believed to have sustained a population of 80,000-150,000 people. At the centre of the city is Jayavarman's state temple, the Bayon, with the other major sites clustered around the Victory Square immediately to the north. Angkor Thom was established as the capital of Jayavarman VII's empire, and was the centre of his massive building programme. One inscription found in the city refers to Jayavarman as the groom and the city as his bride. Angkor Thom seems not to be the first Khmer

Sheila-na-gig on Celtic cross-shaft, Clonmacnoise, Co.Offaly, Ireland. Artist: Unknown

Decorated sarcophagus, Manastirine necropolis, Salona, Solin, Croatia. Paleo-Christian civilization.

Mexico, Chiapas, Metzabok, Selva Lacandona, North America. The ancient sacred Mayan paintings at Metzabok.

Pre historic rock paintings at Porivarai in Karikkiyoor, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India Copyright: xMxAmirtham/DinodiaxPhotox

Mani wall, Mani stone, Dudh Kosi valley, Solukhumbu, Khumbu, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal, Asia

Stone carvings on ceiling, Sachiya Mata Temple, Osian, near Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

MONASTERIO DE SANTA MARIA DE VERUELA: LAPIDAS SEPULCRALES EN LA SALA CAPITULAR . VERUELA, ZARAGOZA, ESPAÑA.

Gravestones in cemetery

Mihrab or Tombstone. Ali Ahmad ibn Abu'l Qasim al-Kharrat. Iran, 12th century. Stone. Marble

Vintage Photograph. "She who watches" Indian pictograph near Columbia River, Oregon.

Symbols on an ancient headstone, called Stellae, date from more than 12,000 years ago, ethiopia, Africa

bronze relief on Apparition hill bronze relief representing the glorious mysteries of the Rosary on Mount Podbrdo, the Apparition hill overlooking the village of Medjugorje in Bosnia ed Erzegovina Copyright: xZoonar.com/GoneWithTheWindx 6983789

Poll photo collection. Church of the wonderful bread multiplication in Tabgha on the shore of Lake Tiberias. Mosaic from the fifth century for the main altar with a basket with breads and two fish. January 1, 1964. Israel, Lake Tiberias, Tabgha

Central America, Belize, Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Caracol. Stone carvings of Altar 12. Ruins of Classic Period (300 to 900 A.D.) Mayan civilization.

Sun stone or Aztec calendar with days, months and eras. Mexican art. National Musem of Anthropology in Mexico City. Mexico. Location: MUSEO NACIONAL DE ANTROPOLOGIA. MEXICO CITY. TONATIUH. DIOS DEL SOL.

CAPITELES DE LA IGLESIA DE SANTA MARIA DEL NARANCO - ORIGINARIO PALACIO DEL REY RAMIRO DEL SIGLO IX CONVERTIDO EN IGLESIA EN EL SIGLO XIII. Location: SANTA MARIA DEL NARANCO. Oviedo. ASTURIAS. SPAIN.

Pictographs, Hospital Rock, Sequoia National Park, California, USA

Maldives: A relic-casket of Vajrayana Buddhism bearing an inscription in Nagari script, c. 10th Century CE

Armenia, Sevan. Sevanavank Monastery, churchyard and Khachkar memorial stones.

Mexico, Chiapas, Metzabok, Selva Lacandona, North America. The ancient sacred Mayan paintings at Metzabok.

French Polynesia, Marquesas Islands, Nuku Hiva. Stone tiki representing a Polynesian supernatural power.

Tiahuanaco ( Aymara Culture ) Bolivia

Yax Pasaj is presented with insignia of power by the founder of the dynasty Yax-Kuk-Mo', Altar Q, original from the Sculpture Museum, Acropolis, West Plaza, Copan Ruins, Honduras, Central America

Mali, Near Bandiagara, Dogon Country, Bandiagara Escarpment, Traditional Carved Dogon Door

Africa, Chad, Guili Dweli, Ennedi, Sahara. A painting of two figures with sun shaped heads of a very unusual style.

Stele with armenian inscription raised for the repose of the soul of Mechitar (year 1246).

The Virgin Mary Assumption Church of Metekhi, Tbilisi, Georgia, Central Asia, Asia

Wood carvings in Dogon village, Mali,Africa

Native American petroglyphs featuring an image of crosses at Petroglyph National Monument, outside Albuquerque, New Mexico

Nemrut Statue on Mount Nemrut in Turkey Copyright: xZoonar.com/GalynaxAndrushkox 16272768

Interior view in the Georgenkirche, North German brick Gothic, Hanseatic city of Wismar, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, Europe

Buddhist mani stones line trail on popular trekking route in Ladakh, northern India.

San (Bushmen) rock paintings, Cedarburg, Western Cape

Jordan, Madaba, The famous mosaic map of Palestine, called the Madaba Map, on the floor of St. George's Church. It was originally the floor of a Byzantine church and was crafted in 560 A.D. and is the oldest map of Palestine in existence. Shown here is the part of the map depicting Jerusalem at that time.

Naxi tribe stone carving at cable car station, at base of Yulong Xue Shan Mountain, Lijiang, Yunnan Province, China

The Shaolin Temple, martial arts training center. The Forest of the Pagodas, cemetery of the illustrious monks. Henan, Song Shan Mountain, China

Cueva de las Manos del Rio Pinturas, Cave of the Hands, Patagonia, Province of Santa Cruz, Argentina

Rock engraving of a giraffe and Tifinagh writings, Adrar Tekemberet, Immidir, Algeria, Sahara, North Africa, Africa

Petroglyphs On A Boulder Show A Large Of Number Of Sogdian And Brahmi Inscriptions, A Pagoda-Shaped Stupa And Scenes From The Sibi Jataka, Shatial Nea...

Cross-shaped tombstone with Coptic funerary inscription for a man named Phoibamun.. Limestone. 601-900 CE. Byzantine Period-Islamic Period. Unknown.

Carved Kilmartin Stones, collection of 79 ancient graveslabs at Kilmartin parish church, Argyll, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

Close up of a Menorah Mosaic, a seven branched candelabrum, Jerusalem, Israel

An Anglo-Scandinavian Cross showing a warrior, c.10th century. Artist: Unknown

Bet Giyorgis Church, Lalibela, Ethiopia, Africa

DETALLE DEL ALTAR FUNERARIO DE MARMOL CONSTRUIDO EN HONOR DEL SENADOR NONIUS BALBUS SITUADO EN EL AREA SAGRADA - SIGLO I. Location: CIUDAD ROMANA. ITALIA.

Church of Saint Uraiel, one of the rock hewn churches in Lalibela (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Ethiopia

antique synagogue of En Gedi, tessellated ground, Dead Sea, Israel

Head of Christ, from an Icon of the Crucifixion. Culture: Byzantine. Dimensions: Overall: 2 9/16 x 3 1/8 x 3/4in. (6.5 x 7.9 x 1.9cm). Date: 12th century.These two fragments are from icons of the Crucifixion. In the Gospels (Mark 15:39; Matthew 27:54), the Roman centurion identifies Christ as the Son of God at the Crucifixion. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Yemen, Tarim, Not In Library Carved Engraved Tombstones

Pesepolis Pesepolis, world heritage archeological site, Persia, Iran Copyright: xZoonar.com/MassimoxLamax 6973918

PIca Baptismal de la iglesia de San Justo y San Pastor de Son, Alto Aneu (Pallars Sobirà). Siglo IX-X.

The outer wall of the Hazara Rama One thousand Ramas Ramachandra temple is embellished with carvings of elephants and horses in procession, dancing girls and martial combats in Hampi, Karnataka, South India, India, Asia. UNESCO World Heritage Site, Asia

Inscription on a stone lantern at Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara, Japan

U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, Charlotte Amalie, Charlotte Amalie Synagogue, second oldest Jewish temple in the Western Hemisphere, sand floor

Main wall showing the image of Lanzon Deity at Chavin de Huantar, Chavin, Ancash region, Peru.

Mani stone with mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum", Korzok, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India, Asia

Konso Waka Statues

Mayan ruins at an archaeological site, Copan, Copan Ruinas, Honduras

bas-relief Nilus Church, archaeological excavation Mamshit, Mamshit National Park, Negev, Israel

South Cross, a high cross in the Museum in Clonmacnoise Monastery, County Offaly, Leinster, Republic of Ireland, Europe

Aztec calendar stone

cross in relief from the cover of Opus signium of a tomb, basilica of Son Pereto, V-VII AD. Manacor History Museum, Manacor, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.

China, Macau, A-Ma Temple, Chinese Junk Engraving

Shanti stupa, Dauli hill, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India Copyright: xRxModi/DinodiaxPhotox

Basílica del Fornàs de Torelló,mosaicos, siglo V-VI . Maó.Menorca.Balearic islands.Spain.

Canyonlands National Park, UT Ancestral Puebloan pictographs in the Needles District. Hands.

Mexico, Mexico City, National Museum of Anthropology, The sun stone also called the Aztec calendar on display.

MOSAICO PALEOCRISTIANO DE LA BASILICA DE NEBO. Location: MONTE NEBO-DONDE MOISES VIO LA TIERRA PROMETIDA. Nación.

Lolei is the northernmost temple of the Roluos group of three late 9th century Hindu temples at Angkor. Lolei was built as part of the city of Hariharalaya that once flourished at Roluos, and in 893 the Khmer king Yasovarman I dedicated it to Shiva and to members of the royal family. Once an island temple, Lolei was located on an island slightly north of centre in the now dry Indratataka baray, construction of which had nearly been completed under Yasovarman's father and predecessor Indravarman I. Scholars believe that placing the temple on an island in the middle of a body of water served to identify it symbolically with Mount Meru, home of the gods, which in Hindu mythology is surrounded by the world oceans.

Statue of mother feeding baby in Courtyard of the Kamakhya temple at Guwahti, India Copyright: xMxAmirtham/DinodiaxPhotox

Shravanabelagola Jain Temple; Karnataka, India

Thou Shalt Follow Pictographs

Petroglyph at Twyfelfontain, Namibia.

Fetish in Lobi village Fetish used to protect Lobi village, Burkina faso Copyright: xZoonar.com/MassimoxLamax 10057257

CATEDRAL DE SANTA MARIA Y SAN JULIAN O CATEDRAL DE NUESTRA SEÑORA DE GRACIA. DOCUMENTOS Y LIBROS DEL ARCHIVO CUENCA, ESPAÑA.

Maya, Copan, Honduras, Glyphs, Margarita Tomb, 437 AD, Robert Sharer, David Sedat

Painting in the initiation area of Songo, a Dogon tribe village in Mali.

Balbals, historical gravestones in the shape of human faces, near Tokmok, Chuy, Kyrgyzstan, Asia

Petroglyph Petroglyphs on newspaper rock in Canyonlands national park, Utah Copyright: xZoonar.com/GalynaxAndrushkox 11454719

Poll photo collection. Middle East 1950-1955: Jerusalem. In the lithostrotos basement: Increded drawing of the thorns crown in the original paveisel that would have covered the 'through Dolorosa' at the time of Jesus' crucifixion. Second station. 1950. Israel, Jerusalem, Jordan

A mystery monolith in the primeval forest of Quirigua, Guatemala, 1922.Artist: Alfred P Maudsley

Outer walls of the Hazara Rama temple show Hindu festive procession, Hampi, Karnataka, India, Asia

China, Ningxia Province, Yinchuan, Helan shan nomads rock carvings dating back 10000 years

India. Kashmir. Ladakh. Old Buddhist statue at Shey (shoe)

Jew. Friedhof Prague The old Jewish cemetery in the Josefstadt of Prague existed from 1439 to 1787 with around 12,000 gravestones in several layers of earth.

Rune stone, Stora Runhallen, Uppland, Sweden, july

Nepal, Himalaya, Solukhumbu District, Khumbu, Nepalese writings on stone wall along trekking route

old history in the antique kingdom of saudi arabia

Human skulls in the catacombs at San Francisco Church in Lima in Peru, South America. The catacombs are an underground cemetery consisting of a subterranean gallery with recesses for tombs and pits containing human remains.

Stone tablets in Isa Bey Mosque, Selcuk, Ephesus, Turkey, Asia

Sacred place at Ancient monastery Noravank in the mountains in Amaghu valley, Armenia. Was founded in 1205.

Photo of stone column with symbol of death, skull and bones in cemetery in Surabaya in Java province, Indonesia, Asia

Fragment of a Doorpost with a Cross 6th-7th century In the 500s Apa (Father) Jeremias founded a Coptic monastery at Saqqara, the ancient Egyptian necropolis (cemetery) of the city of Memphis, near the oldest pyramids. He and the earliest monks lived in tombs at the site. As the monastery grew, several grand churches with lavish decoration were built, as well as many chapels, public buildings, and complexes of cells (rooms) for each monk. The monastery continued to grow after the Arab conquest with materials from early Byzantine tomb structures being reused for additional monastic structures. Inscriptions record prayers to numerous holy figures. Sculptural elements from Saqqara are often carved with deeply undercut patterns to intensify the play of light and shadow and to mask the solidity of the architecture. This sculptural style was popular throughout the Byzantine world in the 500s.. Fragment of a Doorpost with a Cross. 6th-7th century. Limestone; carved in relief. Found Egypt, Saqq

Mani wall, Mani stone, Dudh Kosi valley, Solukhumbu, Khumbu, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal, Asia

Mausoleo de Revash, burial place of the Chachapoya culture in the steep rock face, Luya province, Amazonas region, Peru, South America

Tibetan Buddhism, Mani stones with Tibetan script, former monastery of Nyengo Gompa above Lake Manasarovar, Mapham Yutsho, Kailash area, Ngari, Trans-Himalaya, Himalayas, West Tibet, Tibet Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China, Asia

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