Five Abandoned Places

Another installment in our series on abandoned places in the world.

1. Cleopatra’s Palace, Alexandria, Egypt

In the words of Mary J. Blige: “So tired, tired of this drama, No more, no more, I wanna be free,” Cleopatra succumbed to a self-inflicted (or was it?) cobra bite in the year 30 BCE. Leaving behind both her palace and temple complex, the royal quarters were eventually submerged into the sea following cataclysmic earthquakes and tsunamis more than 1,600 years ago. Rediscovered in 1996, historians believe it is one of the richest underwater archaeological sites in the world.

I’m a lion

2. Skara Brae, Scotland

Located on the Bay of Skaill in Scotland, Skara Brae was a neolithic settlement occupied between 3180 to 2500 BCE. Discovered in 1850, the original site was gradually abandoned due to encroaching sand dunes. The surviving eight dwellings have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Many thanks to Mean_Ol_Liberal for this suggestion.

I’m a room with a central fireplace

3. Great Zimbabwe National Monument, Zimbabwe

The Great Zimbabwe was the capital city of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe between the 11th and 15th centuries. Spanning an area of 1,784 acres, the city served as an important trading centre for the Bantu civilization of the Shona and housed approximately 18,000 people. Eventually abandoned due to lack of food and firewood, the Great Zimbabwe National Monument was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

I’m a wall built without mortar

4. Yonaguni Monument, Japan

While there is still ongoing debate as to whether the underwater rock formation off of Japan’s Ryukyu Islands is natural, modified or man-made (I’m going with a lost set from Costner’s Waterworld), the fact remains that a massively large geometric structure with a series of terraces and broad steps exist below sea level. Dating back to 2,000 to 3,000 years ago, the site was discovered in 1997 and serves as a popular attraction for divers.


I’m a turtle

5. Palenque, Mexico

Palenque was a Mayan city dating back to 226 BCE to 1123 CE. Located in southern Mexico, only approximately 10% of the total area of the ruined city has been explored, leaving more than 1,000 structures still tucked away in the Mexican jungle.

I’m a passageway

For previous entries, please click here.

(Images c/o 123, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

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