No matter what happens in this world, time continues to flow unceasingly. Everything that exists today will gradually become part of the past, a memory. Everything in this world must undergo the influence of time, which is why it is said that time possesses tremendous power.
Thanks to technological advancements, photographs are preserved year after year, allowing us to look back and realize how much has changed. The series of images “Then – Now” of the famous locations below clearly illustrates this point.
1. Chichen Itza Pyramid, Mexico
The Chichen Itza Pyramid is one of the most enigmatic ancient architectural structures of the Maya civilization, built by the Maya in Central America around the 11th century. It is also known as the Kukulkan Pyramid or El Castillo. In 2007, this pyramid was recognized as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
2. The Colosseum, Rome, Italy
The Colosseum is located in the center of Rome, Italy. This ancient amphitheater is the largest ever built and remains the largest to this day, despite its age. The Colosseum was initially used for entertainment purposes and ceased operations in the early Middle Ages. It was later repurposed for workshops, housing, and other uses.
3. Machu Picchu, Eastern Cordillera, Peru
Machu Picchu is one of the most fascinating ancient ruins that still exist today. Built by the Incas in the 15th century, it is located in the Eastern Cordillera, southern Peru. Archaeologists believe that this ancient Inca city was constructed between 1438 and 1472. It is often referred to as the “Lost City of the Incas.”
4. The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China was built over a lengthy period of 2,000 years through various dynasties, from the Western Zhou to the Qing Dynasty. Besides defense, the main objectives of the Great Wall also included border control, taxation of goods moving along the Silk Road, regulating or promoting trade, and managing immigration and emigration.
5. Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Tulum is the ruins of a pre-Columbian Maya port city, which served as the main port for Coba, located in Quintana Roo, Mexico. The remains sit on a 12-meter high cliff along the eastern coastline of the Yucatan Peninsula, overlooking the Caribbean Sea.
6. Hampi, Vijayanagara District, Karnataka, India
Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century. According to the chronicles of Persian and European explorers, primarily the Portuguese, Hampi was a prosperous, wealthy, and vast city located by the Tungabhadra River, filled with temples, farms, and trade markets. It was later destroyed by conquerors, leaving the city in ruins.
7. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat is a temple complex in Cambodia built in the 12th century. The contemporary Khmer name for Angkor Wat, also known as Nokor Wat, translates to “City of Temples.”
8. Roman Forum, downtown Rome, Italy
The Roman Forum is located in the heart of Rome and is also known by its Latin name, Forum Romanum, surrounded by several ruins of ancient government buildings. For centuries, this square has been the center of daily life in Rome, featuring many notable and significant structures.
9. Hoover Dam, USA
This dam is located on the border between Nevada and Arizona in the USA. Through the photograph, we can see how much the water level has decreased over the decades.
