List of Top 10 Ancient Lost Cities

The top 10 ancient lost cities are Machu Picchu, Petra, Troy, Atlantis, Pompeii, Angkor, Herculaneum, Great Zimbabwe, Mohenjo-Daro, and Hampi. These Top 10 Ancient Lost Cities once active centers of trade and culture, have been forgotten and abandoned. While some of these cities have been found again recently, some have not been found in a long time.

There have been several rises and falls in civilization throughout history. Beautiful ruins from a few of these civilizations can be seen today, providing information about their past. There are only myths and stories remaining from other civilizations that have disappeared completely.

In this article, we will look into the list of the top 10 ancient lost cities, their location, civilization, period, and rediscovery if it happened.

About the Ancient Lost Cities

The Top 10 Ancient Lost Cities are amazing ruins of former civilizations, each with a special history and importance. These cities provide an understanding of the various cultural fabric of humanity, from the glory of Machu Picchu in the Peruvian Andes to the mysterious ruins of Petra formed into the sandstone cliffs of Jordan. These cities, like Pompeii, which was destroyed by Mount Vesuvius, and Troy, which was immortalized in Homer’s epics, were lost to time and were found via archeology and research. They still attract and inspire scholars, travelers, and storytellers. They act as doors into the lives, customs, and achievements of ancient civilizations.

List of Top 10 Ancient Lost Cities

The following table lists the top 10 ancient lost cities:

Lost City	Location	Civilization	Period	Rediscovery
Machu Picchu	Andes Mountains, Peru	Inca	15th century	1911
Petra	Jordan	Nabatean	4th century BC – 2nd century AD	Rediscovered
Troy	Turkey	Various	Around 1300 BC	Various
Atlantis	Unknown	Mythical	N/A	N/A
Pompeii	Italy	Roman	1st century AD	18th century
Angkor	Cambodia	Khmer	9th – 15th centuries	19th century
Herculaneum	Italy	Roman	1st century AD	18th century
Great Zimbabwe	Zimbabwe	Unknown	11th – 15th centuries	19th century
Mohenjo-Daro	Pakistan	Indus Valley	2600 – 1900 BC	1920s
Hampi	India	Vijayanagara	14th – 16th centuries	1800s

1. Machu Picchu (Andes Mountains, Peru)

Machu Picchu is an ancient Inca citadel located in the Andes Mountains of Peru, situated at an altitude of approximately 2,430 meters (7,970 feet) above sea level.

• Machu Picchu was built by the Inca civilization in the 15th century, during the reign of Emperor Pachacuti.
• Machu Picchu is famous for its outstanding stone architecture, featuring finely crafted walls, terraces, and buildings made of precisely cut and fitted stone blocks, without the use of mortar.
• Major structures include the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana stone, and the Room of the Three Windows.
• Machu Picchu was abandoned by the Inca people in the late 16th century, possibly due to the Spanish conquest or the outbreak of disease.

2. Petra (Jordan)

Petra is an ancient city located in present-day Jordan, known for its spectacular rock-cut architecture and beautiful archaeological remains.

• Petra served as the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom, a trading empire that prospered from the 4th century BC to the 2nd century AD.
• Petra is known for its amazing rock-cut architecture, with many of its monuments, such as tombs, temples, and theaters, carved straight into the rose-red sandstone cliffs. The most famous of these is Al-Khazneh, also known as the Treasury, which is a spectacular temple façade carved into a rock face.
• Petra was a wealthy trading center that connected the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, and the Mediterranean globe.
• Petra’s importance decreased following the fall of the Nabatean Kingdom, and it was eventually abandoned. It remained virtually unknown in the Western world until 1812 when it was rediscovered by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.

3. Troy (Turkey)

Troy, also known as Troia or Ilion, was an ancient city located in present-day Turkey, near the Dardanelles strait in the northwest of Anatolia.

• Troy is famous for its association with Greek mythology, particularly the Trojan War, as described in Homer’s epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey.
• Troy gained archaeological significance when German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann conducted excavations at the site in the late 19th century.
• Excavations revealed multiple layers of occupation at Troy, with Troy VI and Troy VII being the most important.
• Troy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its cultural significance and contribution to understanding ancient civilizations.

4. Atlantis

Atlantis is a legendary island civilization first mentioned by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato in his dialogues “Timaeus” and “Critias.”

• According to Plato’s accounts, Atlantis was an advanced and prosperous civilization located beyond the “Pillars of Hercules,” believed to be the Strait of Gibraltar.
• Plato considers Atlantis’s fall as a catastrophic disaster sinking into the water in a single day and night as a result of its residents’ arrogance and moral degradation.
• For centuries, Atlantis caught people’s imaginations, becoming a famous subject in literature, art, and pop culture.
• Atlantis continues to represent both the attraction of vanished civilizations and the effects of human arrogance and foolishness.

5. Pompeii (Italy)

Pompeii was an ancient Roman city located near modern-day Naples in Italy, at the base of Mount Vesuvius.

• In 79 AD, Pompeii was buried under a thick layer of volcanic ash and pumice during the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which resulted in the city’s preservation.
• Pompeii was a flourishing economic and residential hub, with public buildings, marketplaces, amphitheaters, and luxurious villas covered with beautiful artworks that represented its prosperity and cultural richness.
• Systematic excavations of Pompeii began in the 18th century, discovering extremely well-preserved buildings, streets, frescoes, mosaics, and even the bodies of its residents frozen in place.
• Today, Pompeii is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an iconic tourist attraction, attracting millions of people who come to take a look at its well-preserved ruins.

6. Angkor Wat (Cambodia)

Angkor Wat refers to the ancient city of Angkor, located in present-day Cambodia, near the town of Siem Reap.

• Angkor was the capital city of the Khmer Empire, which flourished from the 9th to the 15th centuries, including much of Southeast Asia and reaching its peak during the reign of King Jayavarman II.
• Angkor Wat, a huge religious complex devoted to the Hindu god Vishnu, is one of Angkor’s most prominent landmarks. It is well-known for its architectural beauty and gorgeous bas-relief artwork showing Hindu mythology.
• Angkor was one of the world’s greatest pre-industrial towns, stretching over 1,000 square kilometers and having an elaborate system of reservoirs, canals, and temples, including the Bayon and Ta Prohm.
• Angkor’s decline is caused by several circumstances, including environmental degradation, shifting trade routes, and political instability. The city was eventually abandoned, and the jungle recovered much of its area.

7. Herculaneum (Italy)

Herculaneum was an ancient Roman city located near present-day Naples in Italy, situated at the base of Mount Vesuvius.

• Like its more famous neighbor Pompeii, Herculaneum was buried under a thick layer of volcanic ash and debris during the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
• Unlike Pompeii, which was engulfed in volcanic ash, Herculaneum was buried by a pyroclastic flow, resulting in better preservation of organic materials such as wood, furniture, and even food.
• Herculaneum was famous for its luxurious residential districts, which had beautiful houses covered with expensive decorations, marble flooring, and elaborate artworks, indicating a prosperous and cultured culture.
• Herculaneum is now a famous tourist site, with tourists able to explore its beautifully preserved ruins, which include the Villa of the Papyri, the House of the Relief of Telephus, and the Suburban Baths.

8. Great Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe, Africa)

Great Zimbabwe is an ancient city located in present-day Zimbabwe, in southeastern Africa.

• Great Zimbabwe was the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, which flourished between the 11th and 15th centuries AD. It was the center of a powerful trading empire that controlled extensive trade routes in gold, ivory, and other goods.
• The city is famous for its impressive stone structures, including the Great Enclosure, which is the largest ancient structure in sub-Saharan Africa built without mortar.
• Great Zimbabwe was not only a political and commercial hub, but also a cultural center, as shown by the items discovered on the site, which included soapstone sculptures, ceramics, and gold objects.
• The decline of Great Zimbabwe is still a subject of debate among historians. Factors such as environmental changes, economic shifts, and political instability may have contributed to its abandonment in the 15th century.

9. Mohenjo-Daro (Indus Valley, Pakistan)

Mohenjo-Daro is an ancient city located in present-day Pakistan, along the banks of the Indus River in the Sindh province.

• Mohenjo-Daro was one of the major cities of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, which flourished around 2600 to 1900 BC, making it one of the world’s earliest urban centers.
• The city was systematically planned, with a grid-like street layout, advanced drainage system, and multi-story brick houses, indicating a well-organized society with great engineering and architectural skills.
• Excavations at Mohenjo-Daro found a variety of items, including pottery, seals, figurines, and tools, providing information on the Indus people’s daily lives, culture, and trade.
• The decline of Mohenjo-Daro is still debated among historians, with explanations that include natural disasters to sociopolitical unrest. The city was eventually abandoned around 1900 BC and buried for centuries until it was discovered by researchers in the 1920s.

10. Hampi (Vijayangara, India)

Hampi is an ancient city located in the state of Karnataka, India. It is situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in the eastern part of the state.

• Hampi was once the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, one of the largest and wealthiest empires in South India. It flourished from the 14th to the 16th centuries.
• The city is famous for its impressive architecture, including grand temples and royal buildings. The Virupaksha Temple, Vittala Temple, and Hampi Bazaar are some of its important landmarks.
• Hampi’s prosperity ended in the 16th century when Deccan Sultanate soldiers attacked and destroyed it. The city fell into ruin and was ultimately abandoned.
• Hampi has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its cultural and historical significance. It attracts tourists, historians, and archaeologists from around the world.

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FAQs on the Top 10 Ancient Lost Cities

What is Machu Picchu?

Machu Picchu is an ancient Inca citadel located in Peru, renowned for its impressive stone architecture and stunning mountain scenery.

Where is Petra located?

Petra is an ancient city in Jordan, famous for its rock-cut architecture and elaborate tombs carved into rose-red sandstone cliffs.

What happened to Troy?

Troy, the legendary city of the Trojan War, was destroyed and abandoned, leaving behind archaeological ruins that continue to be studied for information into ancient history.

Is there any evidence of Atlantis?

There is no archaeological evidence to support the existence of Atlantis as described by Plato. It remains a mythical tale rather than a historical reality.

How was Pompeii preserved?

Pompeii was preserved under layers of volcanic ash and pumice after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

What makes Angkor special?

Angkor was the capital of the Khmer Empire and is known for its vast temple complex, including the iconic Angkor Wat, representing the height of Khmer architecture and civilization.

What is unique about Herculaneum’s preservation?

Herculaneum was preserved by volcanic ash and pyroclastic flows during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, leading to exceptional preservation of organic materials such as wood and food.

What was the significance of Great Zimbabwe?

Great Zimbabwe was the capital of a medieval African kingdom and is known for its impressive stone structures, indicative of a sophisticated civilization engaged in trade and commerce.