Explore the diverse breathtaking moments From urban streets to remote landscapes across the globe

The impeccable stonework of Sacsayhuamán reveals the precision of 15th-century Inca megalithic architecture. Each stone—some weighing over 100 tons—was expertly shaped to fit perfectly without mortar, with joints so tight that not even a hair or a sheet of paper can pass between them.

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The impeccable stonework of Sacsayhuamán reveals the precision of 15th-century Inca megalithic architecture. Each stone—some weighing over 100 tons—was expertly shaped to fit perfectly without mortar, with joints so tight that not even a hair or a sheet of paper can pass between them.

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Abuna Yemata Guh is a monolithic church located in Tigray, Ethiopia. It is situated at a height of 2,580 metres and has to be climbed on foot to reach. It is notable for its spectacular location, architecture and dome dating back to the 6th century, and 15th century wall paintings

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Abuna Yemata Guh is a monolithic church located in Tigray, Ethiopia. It is situated at a height of 2,580 metres and has to be climbed on foot to reach. It is notable for its spectacular location, architecture and dome dating back to the 6th century, and 15th century wall paintings

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Interior of the 15th century CE Incan temple "Coricancha" in Cusco, Peru. To construct Coricancha, the Inca used ashlar masonry which made the temple much more difficult to construct, as the Inca did not use any stone with a slight imperfection or break

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Interior of the 15th century CE Incan temple "Coricancha" in Cusco, Peru. To construct Coricancha, the Inca used ashlar masonry which made the temple much more difficult to construct, as the Inca did not use any stone with a slight imperfection or break

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Abuna Yemata Guh is a monolithic church located in Tigray, Ethiopia. It is situated at a height of 2,580 metres and has to be climbed on foot to reach. It is notable for its spectacular location, 1500 year old goat skin Bible, 6th century dome, and 15th century wall paintings

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Abuna Yemata Guh is a monolithic church located in Tigray, Ethiopia. It is situated at a height of 2,580 metres and has to be climbed on foot to reach. It is notable for its spectacular location, 1500 year old goat skin Bible, 6th century dome, and 15th century wall paintings

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The west portals of the massive Strasbourg Cathedral in France . Built between 1015 and 1439 CE, it is widely considered to be among the finest examples of Rayonnant Gothic architecture

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The west portals of the massive Strasbourg Cathedral in France . Built between 1015 and 1439 CE, it is widely considered to be among the finest examples of Rayonnant Gothic architecture

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The Golden Buddha statue in Thailand, weighting 5.5 tons. At one point in its history, the statue was covered with a layer of stucco to conceal its true value. During relocation of the statue in 1955, the plaster was chipped off and the beautiful shining gold revealed. 13th-15th cent. CE

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The Golden Buddha statue in Thailand, weighting 5.5 tons. At one point in its history, the statue was covered with a layer of stucco to conceal its true value. During relocation of the statue in 1955, the plaster was chipped off and the beautiful shining gold revealed. 13th-15th cent. CE

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Green stone jaguar mortar from the Correra culture, Ecuador 1500-300 BC. Works such as this one are thought to have served as ritual mortars for the preparation of hallucinogenic snuffs, to be inhaled by shamans to facilitate their interaction with the spirit realm

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Green stone jaguar mortar from the Correra culture, Ecuador 1500-300 BC. Works such as this one are thought to have served as ritual mortars for the preparation of hallucinogenic snuffs, to be inhaled by shamans to facilitate their interaction with the spirit realm

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The Library of Celsus in ancient Ephesus was built in the 2nd century AD, with marble columns, carved capitals and deeply detailed coffers designed to impress from every angle, ruins feature impressive stonework that has remained remarkably preserved for nearly 2,000 years

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The Library of Celsus in ancient Ephesus was built in the 2nd century AD, with marble columns, carved capitals and deeply detailed coffers designed to impress from every angle, ruins feature impressive stonework that has remained remarkably preserved for nearly 2,000 years

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A Muromachi Period embroidered painting of the Buddha with human hair woven into it, produced in Japan. These pieces were typically produced by women devotees, and documented examples have been noted to have human hair woven into the Buddha's vestments or hair

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A Muromachi Period embroidered painting of the Buddha with human hair woven into it, produced in Japan. These pieces were typically produced by women devotees, and documented examples have been noted to have human hair woven into the Buddha's vestments or hair

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A drone photo of Fort 9, with the canal-lined Great Gorgan Wall visible on the right. Built in the 5th or 6th century CE by the Sasanian Empire in Iran, the wall is 195 km long and 6–10 m wide, and features over 30 fortresses spaced at intervals of between 10 and 50 km

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A drone photo of Fort 9, with the canal-lined Great Gorgan Wall visible on the right. Built in the 5th or 6th century CE by the Sasanian Empire in Iran, the wall is 195 km long and 6–10 m wide, and features over 30 fortresses spaced at intervals of between 10 and 50 km

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Skeleton of Hatch dog on board the Mary Rose responsible for catching rats. According to DNA performed on his teeth, he was a young adult male, between 18–24 months, with a light brown-dark brown coat. He may have spent his entire life on-board the Mary Rose, rarely if ever going ashore

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Skeleton of Hatch dog on board the Mary Rose responsible for catching rats. According to DNA performed on his teeth, he was a young adult male, between 18–24 months, with a light brown-dark brown coat. He may have spent his entire life on-board the Mary Rose, rarely if ever going ashore

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A finely carved double seat monolith is found on the upper platform of the Vilcashuamán Usnu in Peru. According to the chronicles, it was used by the Inca and his colla , to pray. 15th-16th century CE

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A finely carved double seat monolith is found on the upper platform of the Vilcashuamán Usnu in Peru. According to the chronicles, it was used by the Inca and his colla , to pray. 15th-16th century CE

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The skull of a viking man with filed teeth, found in a mass grave in Dorset. The purpose behind filed teeth remains unclear but some researchers believe that the teeth carvings were likely dyed to frighten opponents in battle or to show their status as a great fighter

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The skull of a viking man with filed teeth, found in a mass grave in Dorset. The purpose behind filed teeth remains unclear but some researchers believe that the teeth carvings were likely dyed to frighten opponents in battle or to show their status as a great fighter

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In 2017, during construction work at an IKEA parking garage near the Via Tiburtina, in Rome, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a Roman road, believed to have been used between the 2nd-4th centuries CE, and which still bore the marks of wagon wheels carved into its stone surface

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In 2017, during construction work at an IKEA parking garage near the Via Tiburtina, in Rome, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a Roman road, believed to have been used between the 2nd-4th centuries CE, and which still bore the marks of wagon wheels carved into its stone surface

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This tombstone, made for a woman named Hyralia, bears a seven-line Coptic inscription within a frame of engraved vines: "Do not grieve, Hyralia; no one is immortal on earth! This is the path of every human being." 9th century AD

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This tombstone, made for a woman named Hyralia, bears a seven-line Coptic inscription within a frame of engraved vines: "Do not grieve, Hyralia; no one is immortal on earth! This is the path of every human being." 9th century AD

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In 1650 CE, the Chinese Empress Dowager Wang sent a written letter to Pope Innocent X. In it she reported that impressed by the work of the Jesuits, she had converted to Catholicism, and requested the Pope to send more missionaries to her kingdom. Vatican Apostolic Archives

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In 1650 CE, the Chinese Empress Dowager Wang sent a written letter to Pope Innocent X. In it she reported that impressed by the work of the Jesuits, she had converted to Catholicism, and requested the Pope to send more missionaries to her kingdom. Vatican Apostolic Archives

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An ancient Chinese incense burner. Stoneware, with clear glaze and modeled dragons and lotus petals. Sui to early Tang dynasty, late 6th–7th century CE. Now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

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An ancient Chinese incense burner. Stoneware, with clear glaze and modeled dragons and lotus petals. Sui to early Tang dynasty, late 6th–7th century CE. Now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

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