"Pagan" Architecture and Structures

[Óttar]

By request I am making a thread on "pagan" temples, sites, and statuary including some of those structures erected in more recent times based on the ancient models (Renaissance, Napoleonic etc.) If I had the money, I would buy up plots of land and build several of these structures based upon the old models. I would install images, and ritual niches inside. I would establish (religious) colleges to train priests in liturgies and rites.

I see no reason why a group of dedicated "pagans" with some extra money to throw around could not combine and achieve this. Indeed, it only takes funds to bring about a "pagan" renaissance.

OK to begin, here are pontential models:

To start, the Pantheon, which has been converted into a church. Notice how the oculus and high patterned ceilings are elements which have been incorporated into many churches.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/temple_pantheon-1.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/temple_sine_nomine.jpg

Pantheon Oculus

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/pantheon_oculus.jpg

Pantheon Interior

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/pantheon_interior.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/pantheon_interior_2.jpg

Next, the Parthenon. Note: Despite the present decrepitude of the original Parthenon, an exact replica of the Parthenon fully intact has been built in Nashville Tennessee complete with the statue of Athena Parthenos in the interior, although smaller.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/parthenon_nashville_replica.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/athena_parthenos.jpg

Here is a blueprint of the Jupiter Capitolinus temple which contained a sacred stone, the Jupiter Lapis:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/temple_jupiter_capitolinus_lapis.gif

Temple of Antoninus:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/temple_antoninus.jpg

Here is an example of a Romano-Celtic Temple found in Britain:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/romano-celtic_temple.jpg

Blueprint of Apollo Temple in Aachen Germany:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/apollo_temple_aachen.jpg

Here are some ideas for interior decoration, and structures, gazebos, shrines, friezes etc:

House with Neptune mural in the dining room:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/casa_cum_neptunus.jpg

Niche to Juno, Jupiter and Minerva:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/jupiter_juno_minerva.jpg

Jupiter Column with goddess Ceres below:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/jupiter_column.jpg

Sanctuary to Attis, many small Hindu shrines are similar to this

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/attis_sanctuary.jpg

Lararium, or household shrine to the Lares (Household spirits), who would be propitiated with little offerings and prayers every morning by the paterfamilias, head of the Roman household.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/lararium.jpg

Niche to Cybele, the Great Mother (Magna Mater)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/cybele_niche.jpg

Cybele with Lion

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/cybele_leo.jpg

Cybele with children

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/cybele_magna_mater.jpg

Cybele complete with what seems to be a bloodstain (paint?) :P

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/BloodyCybeleStatue.jpg

Romano-Germano-Celtic Matronae "mother spirits" comparable to the Disir in Norse religion:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/matronae.jpg

Here are some examples of more recent structures based on "pagan" models:

Place de Concorde Obelisk

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/obelisk_concorde.jpg

Renaissance church of S. Pietro, based on Roman temples. There were many churches like this built during the renacimento.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/temple_sanpietro_renaissance.jpg

Notice how Roman temples had small doors leading to the interior. Often the interior contained a statue of a god were offerings could be made. Many Hindu temples also contain a small space with a statue where offerings can be made.

Gazebo with Venus inside:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/venus_gazebo.jpg

German American "Temple of Music" in Buffalo NY, with classical influences:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/german_american_temple_music.jpg

Plaza de Cibeles (Cybele) in Madrid:

http://www.viajesyhoteleria.es/wp-content/uploads/cibeles_con_palacio_de_linares_al_fondo.jpg

There is also a park with many modern gazebos with bronze Roman deities, but I still can't find pics.

I was watching a program and a Greek man said that Greeks take an interest in their ancient history and philosophy because there are so many ruins and ancient structures around. The theocrats in the Orthodox Church do not want to see the temples rebuilt because they know that imagery will stir up the ancient consciousness of the population. Archaeologists can talk all they want about authenticity, but allowing ruins to fall is downright ridiculous. In Japan, the authorities rebuild their shrines every 20 years. The old temples might be off limits to us now, but there is no reason why we can't buy land and build some new ones.

Anyhow, please post images of ancient ("Heathen/Pagan") structures, and tell us about them if you can. :thumb001:

[Amapola]

What about the Neptuno fountain in Madrid too?

[Osweo]

By request I am making a thread on "pagan" temples, sites,
I hope we build up a good bank of ideas here! You've made a good start, for sure. :thumb001:

For those wanting to distance themselves from Romanisation in too blatant a form, I wonder about the choice of materials. Wood demands a great deal of skill, compared to brick and concrete, but might be more fitting for Belisama or Thunor than the Classical models here. That said, there are points of overlap in theoretical considerations like layout and purpose, so separate traditions can still interfertilise each other, or however you would like to express it.

Ideally, I would like to see something that drew on the Norse Stavkirke and Russian wooden style:
http://lsinzelle.free.fr/Norvege%2099/239%20Eglise%20de%20BORGUND.JPGhttp://lsinzelle.free.fr/Norvege%2099/238%20Eglise%20de%20BORGUND.JPG
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Urnes_animals.jpg
http://lsinzelle.free.fr/Norvege%2099/212%20Eglise%20d%27URNES.JPG
http://lsinzelle.free.fr/Norvege%2099/196%20HOPPERSTAD%202.JPG
http://www.wayfaring.info/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/kizhi_church.jpg
http://gorod.tomsk.ru/i/u/9220/zodchestvo.jpg
http://www.wayfaring.info/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/2kizhi_island31.jpg
http://rusarch.ru/lisenko1.files/image005.jpg
http://www.architecture.tj/photo/wkondopoga.jpg
However, I recognise the impracticality and overambitiousness of this for many modern contexts, and so the more modest Roman temple types below interest me;

Here is an example of a Romano-Celtic Temple found in Britain:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/romano-celtic_temple.jpg

Blueprint of Apollo Temple in Aachen Germany:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/apollo_temple_aachen.jpg

Sanctuary to Attis, many small Hindu shrines are similar to this
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/attis_sanctuary.jpg
I'm curious to see any modern interpretations of the idea behind the Lararium:

Lararium, or household shrine to the Lares (Household spirits), who would be propitiated with little offerings and prayers every morning by the paterfamilias, head of the Roman household.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/lararium.jpg
This is definitely a sphere in which the most modest DIYer can excel! :)


Romano-Germano-Celtic Matronae "mother spirits" comparable to the Disir in Norse religion:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/matronae.jpg
There are a great deal of these in the religious statuary found by Hadrian's Wall, especially at the Vindolanda Museum at Chesters.
Great thread! :thumbs

[Osweo]

Some interesting Slavonic variants;
Archaeologists can only give the bare bones from the posthole remains and so on, so use your mind's eye to decorate this a little ;) :
http://historic.ru/books/item/f00/s00/z0000033/pic/st300_15.jpg
At Grossenraden in Germany:
http://www.yarga.ru/foto_arhiv/foto/zap_slavs/Gross%20Raden/10.jpg
A more fanciful version;
http://s15.radikal.ru/i188/0911/b0/19b7c4614535.jpg
Lingering memories of ancient structures in early modern folk-culture?:
http://www.ljplus.ru/img/f/i/filimoshka/HRAM-3.jpg

Contemporary pagans out east have concentrated on the simpler open-air shrines, or 'Kapishche':
http://re.foto.radikal.ru/0707/e3/962c501231e9.jpg
http://blacmagia.narod.ru/metod/mesto/bitca/15.jpg
It's worth adding that similar trunk scuptures are often found in parks in Russia, local artists having taken inspiration from archaeological exemplars. The themes are often taken from folklore and mythology.
http://content.foto.mail.ru/mail/nashkonek/363/i-412.jpg
http://rpod.ru/personal/pictures/00/00/01/17/78/0000000088.jpg

Searching through the RuNet with the words Yazychesky Khram (Pagan Temple), I found some very curious parallels among the celebrated Kalash of the Hindu Kush:
http://img11.nnm.ru/imagez/gallery/c/d/7/d/d/cd7dd862de9a498f2ae66a3d0c327928_full.jpg
http://img12.nnm.ru/imagez/gallery/7/8/d/a/2/78da20af04c338fddae96a324b31f5b4_full.jpg
http://img11.nnm.ru/imagez/gallery/b/5/7/1/b/b571b48af37c9097067d4a36555ae8d9_full.jpg
http://img12.nnm.ru/imagez/gallery/d/4/b/e/6/d4be6fe5e7bc155495b179f7b2255a2e_full.jpg


"…главный храм Имры находился в одном из селений и представлял собой большое сооружение с квадратным портиком, крыша которого поддерживалась резными деревянными колоннами. Одни из колонн были сплошь украшены скульптурными головками баранов, другие имели только у основания одну вырезанную в круглом рельефе голову животного, рога которого, обвивая ствол колонны и перекрещиваясь, поднимались вверх, образуя своеобразную ажурную сетку. В ее пустых ячейках располагались скульптурные фигурки потешных человечков.

"...The main temple of Imra [head of their pantheon] was found in one of the villages and constituted a large building with a four-sided portico, the roof of which was supported by carved wooden columns. One of the columns was decorated all over with carved wooden rams' heads, the others only had at their base a single carved round relief of the head of an animal, whose horns, following the trunk of the column and crossing over each other, pointed upwards, forming a curious filigree pattern. In its empty squares were placed amusing sculpted figurines.

Именно здесь, под портиком, на специальном камне, почерневшем от запекшейся крови, и совершались многочисленные жертвоприношения животных. Передний фасад храма имел семь дверей, знаменитых тем, что на каждой из них было устроено еще по одной маленькой дверце. Большие двери были наглухо закрытыми, лишь две боковые открывались, да и то в особо торжественных случаях. Но главный интерес представляли створки дверей, украшенные тонкой резьбой и огромными рельефными фигурами, изображавшими сидящего бога Имру. Особенно поражает лицо бога с огромным квадратным подбородком, доходящим почти до колен! Кроме фигур бога Имры фасад храма украшали изображения огромных голов коров и баранов. С противоположной стороны храма было установлено пять колоссальных фигур, поддерживающих его кровлю.

Right here, under the portico, on a special stone, blackened with blood, were performed numerous animal sacrifices. The front of the temple had seven doors, remarkable in so far as each had a smaller door built into it. The large doors were fastened shut, only the two at the side opened, and those only on special celebrations. Most interesting were the door-leaves [the moving part of a door], decorated with fine carving and huge figures in relief, depicting the sitting god Imra. Especially fascinating was the face of the god, with a huge square chin, reaching almost to his knees! In addition to the figures of the god Imry, the front of the temple was decorated with huge images of the heads of cows and rams. On the opposite side of the temple stood five colossal figures supporting its roof.

English to Russian and back again (:p!), from George Scott Robertson's 1896 'The Kafirs of the Hindu-Kush'.

from a superbly illustrated page on the Kalash here;
http://planeta.rambler.ru/community/begemotik52/47856100.html?parent_id=48010730

[Electronic God-Man]

Baltic Romuva temple in Prussia:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Romuva_sanctuary.jpg

[Osweo]

Plans have been underway to build a temple for the Rodnovertsy [native-faith-ists] of the town of Vinnitsi in the Ukraine for several years now, with state support, though tracking down what's come of it on the net isn't proving easy;
http://content.foto.mail.ru/mail/nashkonek/_blogs/i-533.jpg
http://www.old.risu.org.ua/rus/news/article;7963/

В Виннице заложили камень языческого храма
15.11.2005, [15:06]

ВИННИЦА — Новый языческий храм планируют построить в соответствии с современными стандартами. Здесь должен быть и главный храм, и главный офис духовного управления Собора родной украинской веры, которое находится в Виннице, – сообщила 15 ноября газета «Украина молодая».

In Vinnitsa the foundation stone of a pagan temple is laid
15.11.2005 [15:06]

Vinnitsa - A new pagan temple is to be built in accordance with modern standards. It should be the main temple and the head office of the spiritual administration of the Council of the Native Ukrainian Faith, which is located in Vinnitsa - reports the newspaper Young Ukraine Nov. 15.

The denomination belongs the most recent - it about ten years old. Documents for registration were first filed in 1995, but registration was finalised only in 2000. According to the chairman of the council Oleg Bezverkhy (priest Oriya), it is not yet numerous - about a thousand believers in 12 communities in Vinnitsa, Kiev, Zaporozhye and Donetsk. Since the Vinnitsa community is the largest and most active, then it is here must be all-Ukrainian Council Temple.

At the request of the Rodnovertsy the City government has allocated a hectare of land on the outskirts of the Old City, and here was installed and consecrated the stone to the One God of the Universe Dazhbog. Today, there are preliminary design of the future temple, at the stage of production - a working draft. After its approval to begin construction work to be carried out mainly by members of the community. Oleg Bezverkhy is sure that the construction of the main sanctuary of the total area of about 400 square meters will require two and a half years. Further time will be needed for the construction of offices and landscaping of the territory.

The paper reported that there were also some problems. Unidentified persons burnt a tree planted by the Rodnovertsy, and tried to break the stone. The Rodnovertsy threatened to seize the territory of one of the Christian denominations. Oleg Bezverkhy urged authorities to take measures to avoid inter-religious conflict. He stressed: "We preach love and peace among all people and we want peaceful, tolerant relations with believers of all faiths."

[Osweo]

And in Podolsk, more of a tourist attraction I think;
http://www.sundakov.ru/upload/kremlin/IMG_7386n.jpg
http://www.sundakov.ru/upload/iblock/aa2/rugevit.ru_002.Kolyada.jpg
< Sundakov's 'Slavyansky Kreml' project, not too far from Moscow;
http://www.sundakov.ru/kremlin/

[Psychonaut]

A humble modern Heathen lodge: Ormswald Hof.

http://www.neopax.com/asatru/mxh/hof0.jpg

http://www.neopax.com/asatru/mxh/hof1.jpg

http://www.neopax.com/asatru/mxh/hofinterior1.jpg

http://www.neopax.com/asatru/mxh/hofinterior2.jpg

http://www.neopax.com/asatru/mxh/hofinterior0.jpg

http://www.neopax.com/asatru/mxh/hofinterior3.jpg

http://www.neopax.com/asatru/mxh/hofinterior4.jpg

http://www.neopax.com/asatru/mxh/swordtree2.jpg

http://www.neopax.com/asatru/mxh/swordtree1.jpg

[Tabiti]

The Bulgarian old Pagan capital of Pliska. There were pipes and central heating of the main buildings. Unfortunately, ottomans destroyed almost everything to use the stones for the building of the first railway line.
http://www.bulgariainside.com/images/galleries/th_641x426/d9fe61b269cf039839d1d6623e5bdb8f.jpeg
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff267/ENJOYeast/Dunav/Pliska/14Pliska-14.jpg
http://www.bibo-bg.com/images/directory_stzbulgaria/old_basilica_in_pliska_2.JPG
http://iseebg.com/fx/wp-content/gallery/photos/20091108goliamata_bazilika/goliamata_bazilika_03.JPG
http://kreposti.free.bg/images/100_2366.JPG
http://www.bgoffers.com/imagespage/pliska1.jpg
http://www.svetini-bg.net/public/files/gallery_slides/11/11_present_800x600.jpg

[Amapola]

Do they have to be relegious? (dedicated to the Gods)?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/TemploDebod01M.JPG/800px-TemploDebod01M.JPG
Templo de Debod (Egypt's gift to Spain)

http://www.spanisharts.com/arquitectura/imagenes/roma/merida_marte.jpg
Templo de Marte, Santa Eulalia.

http://www.spanisharts.com/arquitectura/imagenes/roma/talavera_cilla.jpg
Templo de Diana.

http://www.spanisharts.com/arquitectura/imagenes/roma/barcelona_templo.jpg
http://www.spanisharts.com/arquitectura/imagenes/roma/barcelona_templo1.jpg
Templo de Augusto, Barcelona.

http://www.spanisharts.com/arquitectura/imagenes/roma/fabara_mausoleo_plano.jpg
http://www.spanisharts.com/arquitectura/imagenes/roma/fabara_mausoleo2.jpg
Templo Funerario de Fabara

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Sadaba_Atilis_1.jpg/300px-Sadaba_Atilis_1.jpg
Mausoleo de los Atilios, Zaragoza

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/TarragonaTorreScipioni.jpg/250px-TarragonaTorreScipioni.jpg
Torre de los Escipiones, Tarragona.

http://www.paseovirtual.net/biblioteca/distylo1.jpg
Dístilo de Zalamea de la Serena

http://www2.cartagena.es/archivos/15-1203-IMA_FOTO/Torre%20Ciega.jpg
Torre de la Ciega, Cartagonova.

http://estaticos.20minutos.es/img/2006/03/10/374907.jpg?v=20060522110911
Templo de la Cilla, Cáceres.

http://www.artencordoba.com/CORDOBA-ROMANA/FOTOS/TEMPLO_ROMANO_CLAUDIO_MARCELO_06.jpg
Templo de Claudio Marcelo, Córdoba

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Templo_romano_de_Vic_-_001.jpg/731px-Templo_romano_de_Vic_-_001.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Templo_romano_de_Vic_-_002.jpg/604px-Templo_romano_de_Vic_-_002.jpg
Templo Romano de Vic.

http://ficus.pntic.mec.es/jmas0085/tempusibarbourou/ruinasdeitalica.jpg
Itálica

http://www.spanisharts.com/arquitectura/imagenes/roma/italica_templo.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13zyswCHzl4&feature=player_embedded#!
Traianeum, Italica

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/AltarUlaca01.JPG/250px-AltarUlaca01.JPG
Altar de Sacrificios de Ulaca.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Chamartin0536.jpg/250px-Chamartin0536.jpg
Necrópolis del castro de la Mesa de Miranda.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/IMGToros_Guisando.JPG/800px-IMGToros_Guisando.JPG
Toros de Guisando, El tiemblo.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Dolmen_axeitos.JPG/800px-Dolmen_axeitos.JPG
Dolmen de Axeitos

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Dolmen_dombate.jpg
Dolmen de Dombate

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Covadendaina.jpg
Cova d'en Daina, Romanyà de la Selva

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Mores02.jpg/450px-Mores02.jpg
Mores Cerdeña, Dolmen Sa Coveccada

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Azaila_-_Tumba_%C3%ADbera.JPG/800px-Azaila_-_Tumba_%C3%ADbera.JPG
Iberian túmulo

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Torre_de_H%C3%A9rcules2.jpg/397px-Torre_de_H%C3%A9rcules2.jpg
Torre de Hércules and Breogán

http://www.arteespana.com/imagenes/pozomoro.jpg
Iberian turriforme

[Liffrea]

Literature has some good ideas:

Heorot:

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/Liffrea66/heorot-1-port.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/Liffrea66/heorot3.jpg

A stylised version:
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/Liffrea66/heorot.jpg

Meduseld (Tolkien's version of Heorot):

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/Liffrea66/meduseld.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/Liffrea66/meduseld2.jpg

Stone circles:

Two from Derbyshire where I have been involved in blots, the first is Arbor Low:
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/Liffrea66/arbor_low.jpg

Nine Ladies:
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/Liffrea66/nine-ladies-1.jpg

Personally I'm more in favour of natural settings (Dove Dale in Derbyshire):
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/Liffrea66/dovedale-1.jpg

[Lithium]

All stone circles around the world are amazing!

[Óttar]

There's no reason why we couldn't employ stained glass. Check out these Germanic gods from Cardiff castle.

Mani the moon god.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/mani_cardiff.jpg

Tyr

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/tyr_cardiff.jpg

Woden

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/woden_cardiff.jpg

Thor

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/thor_cardiff.jpg

Frigga

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/frigga_cardiff_castle.jpg

Saeter (:confused:)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/saeter_cardiff.jpg

Syf (Sunna) at Cardiff castle

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/syf_cardiff.jpg

Check out these statues from a "garden temple" in Stowe, Buckhinghamshire:

Syf (Sunna)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/sun_stowe.jpg

Thor (Thunor)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/thunor_saxontemple_stowe_buckingham.jpg

Here's a temple to Mithras (called Mihr by the Armenians) in Artashat, present day Yarevan, Armenia. Contemporary Armenian pagans have taken to gathering here:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/temple_mihr_artashat.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/Kalidasa/yarevan_mithra_armenian.jpg

[Osweo]

I was just reading about the Toda (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toda_people)of southern India. They have some nice rustic easy-to-do sites;
http://www.imagesofasia.com/html/india/images/large/toda-house.jpg
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS73A_Bk_kooPYj7uezOGBBFw-SsVonw4xCZduSmzYha-zMbh7vnw&t=1
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/TodaTemple1.jpg/800px-TodaTemple1.jpg
http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/data/504/medium/r_Toda_temple.JPG
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Toda_Hut.JPG/800px-Toda_Hut.JPG
http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/data/2/medium/36260027.jpg
That little house and yard remind me superficially of our wooden structures of the neolithic, later replaced by long barrows.

It's not too different from their houses;
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Kandelmund_toda_1837.jpg/800px-Kandelmund_toda_1837.jpg

An odd thing;
http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1340/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1340-351.jpg
Here's two of them;
http://nature.berkeley.edu/~bsramage/toda_ethnobotany_files/todas_vasamalli_and_pothili.jpg
(Frightfully inbred, actually. There were only a few hundred early last century, and they all look very alike, apparently! Supposedly an island of nordindids deep in the south, reminiscent of Sikhs, anthropologically speaking)



Vishwanathan, H., et al, 'Insertions/Deletions Polymorphism in Tribal Populations of Southern India and their possible Evolutionary Implications, Human Biology. Vol 75. #6. December 2003. The Toda & Kota have shared genes which separate them from the other Nilgiri Hill Tribes and share their closest affinity to the Greek Cypriots.
:shrug:

[Argyll]

Here's some Celtic heathen architecture:
http://www.aaacollection.com/new/UploadImages/EnlargementImages/E1AA11_L.jpg

I know some people are going to grumble at stone circles being Celtic or not, but I believe that they are, more or less, because the Celtic people were descended from the Megalithic people, which can be seen at the spiral patterns at New Grange.
http://www.great-britain.co.uk/world-heritage/stonehenge/Stonehenge.jpg

http://www.great-britain.co.uk/world-heritage/stonehenge/Stonehenge.jpg

Spiral patterns at Newgrange:
http://www.bamjam.net/Ireland/images/Newgr2.jpg
http://www.ufo-contact.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/newgrange-spirals1.jpeg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Newgrange.JPG/300px-Newgrange.JPG

Alas, I can't really find any Celtic heathen architecture, besides from the huts. However, Urquhart castle could be considered heathen architecture, if you go by the legend in where the heathen Picts lived there and were converted by Saint Columba after witnessing a Pict being saved from the Loch Ness Monster.

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/drumnadrochit/urquhart/images/castle-450.jpg

[askra]

the Holy Wells

the most beautiful one is the holy well and astronomic observatory of Santa Cristina built about 1,100 years BC.
it was used for the cult of water and the study of the solstices and the Lunar motion and phases.

http://www.cuboimages.it/getImageBin.asp?filename=MCA1076%2Ejpg
http://www.cuboimages.it/getImageBin.asp?filename=MCA1110%2Ejpg

The Giant's Graves


http://download.kataweb.it/mediaweb/image/brand_lanuovasardegna/2010/12/03/1291366696752_tombedigigantiditamulimacomer.jpg
http://www.ghivine.com/800x600/S'ena%20'e%20thomes2m.jpg

The Domus de Janas(the houses of the fairies) built between 3400 and 2700 BC

http://www.comune.irgoli.nu.it/docs/cultura/galleria/i131333908142358644.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3125/2567607412_24ca4b02a5_z.jpg?zz=1
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2601/4025701579_6514265e8d_z.jpg?zz=1
http://www.lorenzobellu.com/sito/gallerie/storia/Bonorva%20-%20Sant'Andrea%20Priu/slides/_OPL3418.jpg
http://www.pypeople.com/mediafiles/gallery/uniai_930.jpg

step pyramids

the megalithic temple and astronomic observatory of Monte D' Accoddi (the most ancient part of the building is dated 4,000 years BC). it was discovered less than 40 years ago, another similar structure was discovered last year.

http://download.kataweb.it/mediaweb/image/brand_lanuovasardegna/2010/12/03/1291366680741_altarepreistoricodimontedaccoddisass ari.jpg


Menhirs (in Sardinia are called Pedras Fittas or Betili)

a menhir next to the town of gavoi
http://www.pypeople.com/mediafiles/gallery/perda_fitta_930.jpg

the menhir of perda Pintà:
http://www.askitaly.com/userimg/108.jpg

the Biru e' concas alignments
http://prolocosorgono.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/03_marzo1.jpg

the menhir of Corru Tundu (the tallest of Sardinia - 6 meters)
http://rete.comuni-italiani.it/foto/2009/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/225977-800x600.jpg

the ruin of a menhir and some prehistoric cinerary urns
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4032/4496596019_c549bff301_z.jpg

there are also a lot of dolmens and menhir circles.

[Nairi]

Garni (Armenian: Գառնի) is a temple complex located in the Kotayk Province of Armenia, situated approximately 32 km southeast from Yerevan.

The first traces of human occupation date back to the 3rd millennium BC and are concentrated in an easily defensible terrain at one of the bends of the Azat river. The first literary testimony to the existence of a fortress on the spur crowning the site of Garni comes from the Roman historian Tacitus and dates from the middle of the 1st century AD. Excavation of the existing remains was conducted for a brief period in 1909–1910 and was later resumed (1949) by Soviet archaeologists. The results have shown that the actual fortification had been erected much earlier, probably sometime in the 3rd century BC[1] as a summer residence for the Armenian Orontid and Artaxiad royal dynasties.[2] The fortress of Garni (Gorneas in Latin) became the last refuge of king Mithridates of Armenia, where he and his family were assassinated by his son in law and nephew Rhadamistus.[3] Several constructions and buildings have been identified within the enclosed area, including a two-storey royal summer palace, a bath complex, a church built in AD 897,[2] a cemetery[1] and the site's most famous and best preserved edifice, a peristyle Greco-roman temple built in the Ionic order. Of particular interest is the bathhouse located in the northern part of the site.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_EVq2ku_dmOo/SawUJ734KkI/AAAAAAAALxo/Q0ElUvhHTKM/IMG_0574.jpg


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/Tethys_garni.jpg/405px-Tethys_garni.jpg
Mosaic floor in bathhouse

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Garni_temple-3.jpg

ARmenian ARordis (sons of Sun God AR/pagans) hold their festives at Garni Temple.

http://pics.livejournal.com/bsw_am/pic/000gfxqx

http://pics.livejournal.com/bsw_am/pic/000ggcgp

http://pics.livejournal.com/bsw_am/pic/000gpgrb

http://pics.livejournal.com/bsw_am/pic/000h74tc

http://pics.livejournal.com/bsw_am/pic/000grcy6

http://pics.livejournal.com/bsw_am/pic/000gt6zt

http://pics.livejournal.com/bsw_am/pic/000gwepa

http://pics.livejournal.com/bsw_am/pic/000h8zyg

It is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Armenia

http://travelingev.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/pst-village-garni-temple.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Garni_temple_Armenia.jpg

[Hurrem sultana]

looks nice :)

[Artaxat]

the Holy Wells

the most beautiful one is the holy well and astronomic observatory of Santa Cristina built about 1,100 years BC.
it was used for the cult of water and the study of the solstices and the Lunar motion and phases.

http://www.cuboimages.it/getImageBin.asp?filename=MCA1076%2Ejpg
http://www.cuboimages.it/getImageBin.asp?filename=MCA1110%2Ejpg


Majestic! specially the stone fitted conical roof and the hole in the roof to allow sun ray pierce into the chamber. This enables observing the cyclical/seasonal patterns.

The two pictures are from the same complex?

[Amapola]

Iberian old megalites, all in Antequera, Málaga

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Dolmen_de_Menga_Antequera20.jpg


http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a97XgsMd7oI/S6vRQicPbJI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/Jl4EvwI_uSY/s640/DolmendeMenga.jpg

http://tinastones.merodema.nl/spain/Sdol01.JPG

http://turismo.antequera.es/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/dolmenes-antequera.jpg

http://blogsaverroes.juntadeandalucia.es/pordios/files/2011/03/dolmen-menga.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/2536119396_8e9b8f2d2e.jpg

http://static.photaki.com/dolmen-de-romeral-antequera-provincia-de-malaga-andalucia_6049.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bwwiiRL3Jxk/Rlm-3eU9YuI/AAAAAAAAEGc/f6BPu2yNzSo/Dolmen%20del%20Romeral%20Antequera%20011.JPG

http://recursos.educarex.es/escuela2.0/Humanidades/Historia/curso-interactivo-historia/Arte_prehistorico/images/Megalitismo_Romeral_dolmen_de_corredor_jpg.jpg

http://images.imagestate.com/Watermark/2109485.jpg

http://www.stockimagesphoto.com/img/fotos_agua/JA10444.jpg

http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/original/1498167.jpg

and the wonderful view of the hill the natives had from the tombs

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3565/3407829420_7b2f04c05b.jpg

[Artaxat]

Winter Solistice Celebration at Garni Temple, Armenia

0.40 bringing the Sacred Bull
0.50 starting the Sacred Fire (symbolic birth of new Sun)
1.15 consecration of the Sword
1.00 Slaying the Bull
1.40 Spilling the Sacred Blood on white Snow (purity, sacrifice)
2.40 Dance and celebrate, noisy flute, drums to scare off southern invaders :mad:
3.10 A Martial Arts session to scare off potential enemies :D
R2XuUBgwmrs

PS: for animal friendly users, the Bull's meat is cooked and eaten by the crowd. So it's not Sacrifice for nothing, but a sacrifice for a Nation and Its Peeople.

[Ar-Man]

R2XuUBgwmrs
:thumbs up

Man the Karate demonstration in the end is killing me, I remember in the 80s early 90s half of the kids were into folk dancing while the other half(Bruce Lee fans) was into some kind of martial arts, performing everywhere at some ceremony, inaguration etc. :D

[askra]

Majestic! specially the stone fitted conical roof and the hole in the roof to allow sun ray pierce into the chamber. This enables observing the cyclical/seasonal patterns.

The two pictures are from the same complex?

yes, it's the same complex

the hole had two functions, collecting rain water and the study of moon phases, exactly every 18 years during the winter solstice the Moon reflects itself perfectly perpendicular in the bottom of the well.

while the Sun rays reach the bottom of the well during the spring equinox entering from the main entrance (where there are the stairs)

this is the hole at the top of the well (it's very little)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/it/c/ce/S.Cristina_(Oristano)_Pozzo_sacro_particolare.JPG

http://www.contusu.it/images/stories/leggende/7_4_200604141233181.jpg

http://www.neroargento.com/imag/pozzi/cristina4p.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/3204121053_0e2d19fd78.jpg

http://www.neroargento.com/imag/pozzi/cristina3p.jpg

http://www.neroargento.com/imag/pozzi/cristina5p.jpg


there are other holy wells like this, but they are today in ruins

http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae317/viaggioinsardegna/archeologia/cagliari/nuragus-pozzoconi.jpg

http://www.viaggioinsardegna.it/Portals/0/ARCHEOLOGIA/CAGLIARI/archeologia/serri%20-%20s.vittoria%20copy.jpg

[Thunderkin]

I would have loved to see one of the Ancient Hofs the Germanic tribes built.
Unfortunately they were destroyed or just abandoned and rotted away.