The Megalopolis is located in Arcadia, Greece, and is thought to have been established in 371 BC as one of the first urban cities in the region. This ancient town of Megalopolis spans between Tripoli, Kalamata, and Sparta.
It contains a theatre that would have held around 20,000 people and is believed to have been built by the ancient Greek architect Polykleitos the Younger. Over many years, the ancient city has seen wars and invasions, but the ruins have survived. Today, Megalopoli (as it is called today) contains the usual, modern-day comforts of hotels, shops, and other attractions.
Staffordshire Hoard
The Staffordshire Hoard may look like movie props, but the beautiful treasures were actually found in 2009 on farmland near Lichfield, Staffordshire. The Hoard is considered the largest Anglo-Saxon collection of gold and silver found to date and contains both pagan and Christian symbols.
Many of the objects are intricate, geometric patterns and animals. It is thought that treasures belonged to a male warrior or high status, but very little is known about the circumstances surrounding these abandoned objects.
Valley of the Kings
Located in Luxor, Egypt, the Valley of the Kings holds over 60 tombs of Egypt’s pharaohs. Here you can find the final resting places of pharaohs from the 18th, 19th and 20th dynasties, including Tutankhamun, Nefertiti, Ramses the Second, and Seti the First, among others.
Tutankhamun, Nefertiti, Ramses the Second, and Seti the First, among others. The tombs are elaborately painted with scenes of the deceased royal with gods of the afterlife. The tombs were also, at one time, filled with all the necessities that Egyptians thought were needed for the afterlife.
Cachette of the Priests
Egypt boasts yet another riveting archaeological find in the Cachette of the Priests. The Cachette is a collection of astoundingly well-preserved mummies that were discovered in an ancient cemetery near Luxor, Egypt. Within the Cachette, which is believed to be 3,000 years old, there are 23 males, five females, and two children.
Notably, the paintings on the coffins were exceptionally preserved, with detailed renditions of hieroglyphs and Egyptian deities. The mummies (many believed to have been priests) were moved from Luxor to the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
The Bronze Shields
These remarkable bronze shields were discovered in Danish boglands and are estimated to have been made between 1100 - 700 B.C. What is really fascinating about the shields is that it is believed that they were not used for war but were ceremonial instead.
The shields were from the Bronze Age, a time period known for its advancement in metalworking (hence the name). It is thought that the etchings on these shields may signify ritual dances that they were used in.