Mountains of Central China

Photos feature Yuntai shan (mountain), Jiyuan shan, and Chaya shan in north central China. Jiyuan shan hosts an ancient Palace of Greeting built for a visiting emperor. Monkey Mountain is named that for reasons which may be apparent from the photos. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/leefoxx1949/MountainsOfCentralChina#

Sanya & Hainan Island

Sanya, on the southern tip of Hainan Island, is the site of China’s only subtropical beaches. Large numbers of Russian tourists frequent the beaches, so most signs are in Russian. Westward along the coast lies Nanshan (South Mountain) Culture Zone, a Buddhist theme-park with a 108-meter tall statue of the 3-faced Boddhisattva Guanyin built out in the ocean. It is the second tallest statue in the world. The site also contains the world’s largest gold & jade buddha statue. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/leefoxx1949/HainanIsland#

Hong Kong

Mostly scenic photos of the skyscrapers of Hong Kong, plus some photos of my wife Amy at Hong Kong Disney. I’ve created a separate posting for the History Museum. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/leefoxx1949/HongKong#

Old Kingdom Egypt: Saqqara, Giza, Memphis

These are photos of ancient Egyptian sites dating from the 3rd & 4th Dynasties of the Old Kingdom in Saqqara, Giza, & Memphis. They were taken shortly after 9-11, which explains the delightful absence of droves of tourists. I have created separate albums for the Cairo Museum, Abu Simbel, & other New Kingdom sites. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/GaryLeeTodd/EgyptOldKingdomSaqqaraGizaMemphis#

Abu Simbel: Temple of Rameses II

These are photos of the great Temple of Rameses II built on the southern border of Egypt during the New Kingdom. The entire temple was relocated 50 years ago to preserve it from the rising waters of Lake Nassar formed by the Aswan Dam. I have created other albums for the Cairo Museum, Old Kingdom sites, and other New Kingdom sites. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/GaryLeeTodd/AbuSimbelTempleOfRamesesII#

New Kingdom Egypt: Karnak, Luxor, & Valley of Kings

Here are some ancient Egypt sites dating from the New Kingdom: Temple of Amun at Karnak, Luxor Temple, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and several tombs in the Valley of the Kings. I have created other albums for the Cairo Museum, Old Kingdom sites, and other New Kingdom sites. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/GaryLeeTodd/NewKingdomEgyptKarnakLuxorValleyOfTheKings#

New Kingdom Egypt: Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan

These New Kingdom (and later) Egypt sites lie along the Nile south of Luxor/Thebes. I have separate photo albums for Cairo Museum, Old Kingdom Egypt, Abu Simbel, and for the Karnak/Luxor/King’s Valley area. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/GaryLeeTodd/NewKingdomEgyptEdfuKomOmboAswan#

Ancient Mesoamerica: Teotihuacan, El Tajin, Tenochtitlan

Teotihuacan (c. 200 BC - c. 600 AD) was once one of the largest cities in the world. It was given its name “City of the Gods” by the later Colhua Mexica (Aztecs), whose emperors made frequent pilgrimages there. El Tajin was contemporary and perhaps related. It is located near Veracruz. Neither culture left a written history. Tenochtitlan was the capital of the Mexica and was destroyed by Hernan Cortez & his Tlaxcalan allies in 1521. The Templo Major (Great Temple) was the site of thousands of human sacrifices to the war god Huitzilopochtli and rain god Tlaloc. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/leefoxx1949/AncientMesoamericaTeotihuacanElTajinTenochtitlan#

Ancient Maya: Tikal & Yaxha

Tikal flourished in the Peten region of Guatemala from at least 250 AD until nearly 900 AD when it was abandoned. It was one of the greatest of all the Maya cities of the Classic Age, with a rich history recorded on stone monuments. Yaxha lies about 30 km from Tikal, but remains largely unexcavated, and has little known history. Much note has been made of the similarities between Mesoamerican and Chinese art. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/leefoxx1949/AncientMayaTikalYaxha#

Maya Cities of the Yucatan

The ancient Maya sites of Chichen Itza, Uxmal, the Puuc Route, Edzna, Mayapan & Tulum on the Yucatan Peninsula span the time period from Late Classic to Terminal Post-Classic. Tulum was apparently still inhabited when Columbus sailed by there in 1502. Historical records are generally lacking, but architecture is among the finest in ancient Mesoamerica. Photos by Gary L. Todd, Ph.D., Professor of History, Sias International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China. http://picasaweb.google.com/leefoxx1949/YucatanMayaChichenItzaUxmalPuucSitesEdznaMayapanTulumOthers#