When we talk about 10 great feats of early architecture, we’re celebrating the ingenuity of ancient builders whose stone, wood, and mortar have defied millennia. From sacred temples perched on mountain slopes to monumental tombs that whisper myths, these structures prove that durability and beauty can go hand‑in‑hand.
10 Great Feats of Early Architecture
10 Saint Hripsime Church AD 618
The first nation to proclaim Christianity as its state religion, Armenia boasts a wealth of holy sites, and the Saint Hripsime Church stands out as a shining example from the seventh century. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this church was erected to replace an earlier mausoleum honoring Saint Hripsime herself.
Hripsime’s story is woven into Armenia’s Christian heritage. Around AD 300 she lived as a hermit in a Roman monastery with thirty‑five fellow women. Fleeing the advances of Emperor Diocletian, she sought refuge in Armenia, where her striking beauty attracted the pagan King Trdat. When she refused his advances, Trdat ordered her and her companions to be tortured and killed. After the nation’s conversion to Christianity under St. Gregory the Illuminator, the first chapel honoring Hripsime was constructed, cementing her legacy in stone.
9 The Jokhang AD 639
Regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Tibet, the Jokhang sits proudly in Lhasa. While scholars debate its exact inception, AD 639 is widely accepted as the construction year. Legend tells that King Songtsen Gampo married two princesses—Bhrikuti of Nepal and Wencheng of China—each bringing a Buddha statue as a wedding gift.
Enamored with the Chinese statue, Gampo commissioned a temple to house it. Princess Bhrikuti, spurred by jealousy, demanded a counterpart for her own statue, prompting the creation of the Jokhang. Folklore adds that the temple rises from a dried lakebed atop a sleeping demoness whose heart was sealed by the structure’s foundations. Though expanded over centuries, the core of the temple remains faithful to its original design.
8 Arch Of Titus AD 82
Triumphal arches were the Roman way of commemorating victories, and the Arch of Titus is no exception. Erected to honor Emperor Titus, whose brief two‑year reign earned him a reputation as a capable ruler and military commander, the arch celebrates his conquest of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Second Temple.
Located on the Via Sacra—the Sacred Road—the arch was commissioned by Titus’s younger brother, Emperor Domitian, after he succeeded him in AD 81. Its sculpted panels depict the spoils taken from the Jews and the emperor’s own triumph. The arch set a precedent for later monuments, inspiring the iconic Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and demonstrates that such structures could also celebrate civic achievements beyond warfare.
7 Seokguram AD 774
Perched on the slopes of Mount Toham in Korea, the Seokguram Grotto is a hermitage that shelters a majestic Buddha statue. Recognized as a World Heritage Site, it was constructed in the eighth century under Prime Minister Kim Dae‑seong, who sought to honor his parents across two lives—his present family and his previous incarnation.
Unfortunately, Kim died before the project’s completion, leaving the grotto’s interior to the ravages of weather and the occasional careless tourist. The inner sanctum now features a glass wall to protect the exquisite sculptures of devas, bodhisattvas, and disciples—considered among East Asia’s finest Buddhist artistry.
6 Dhamek Stupa AD 500
Before Buddhism, Indian rulers honored their dead with massive rounded structures called stupas. When the Buddha introduced his teachings, he decreed that enlightened individuals deserved similar reverence. The Dhamek Stupa, located near Sarnath in northeastern India, is among the oldest surviving examples.
Commissioned under Emperor Ashoka, a pivotal figure in spreading Buddhism throughout the subcontinent, the Dhamek Stupa marks the spot where the Buddha is believed to have delivered one of his earliest sermons. Its massive stone dome, whose name translates from Sanskrit as “heap,” continues to draw pilgrims seeking a tangible link to the ancient teacher.
5 The Royal Mausoleum Of Mauretania 3 BC
Near Algiers, Algeria, stands the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania, built for the last two monarchs of the ancient kingdom: Juba II and Cleopatra Selene II. Its design mirrors the tomb of Roman Emperor Augustus, reflecting Juba II’s desire to align his realm with Rome.
Also known as “the tomb of the Christian woman” due to a cross‑shaped motif on a false door, the mausoleum endured centuries of vandalism, theft, and neglect. It wasn’t until Napoleon III’s 1866 decree that the site received protection. Yet, despite its 1982 World Heritage status, ongoing maintenance issues and repeated vandalism keep it precariously balanced between preservation and ruin.
4 Ponte Sant’Angelo AD 134
Commissioned by Emperor Hadrian—famous for building the eponymous wall in Britain—the Ponte Sant’Angelo remains a functional Roman bridge in Rome. Originally called the Pons Aelius (“Bridge of Hadrian”), its name changed in the Middle Ages after Archangel Michael allegedly appeared to Pope Gregory the Great in AD 590.
The bridge originally linked the Campus Martius to Hadrian’s mausoleum, now known as Castel Sant’Angelo. While the original Roman statues have been replaced over the centuries, the bridge still showcases Bernini’s 1688 angelic sculptures, merging ancient engineering with Baroque artistry.
3 Treasury Of Atreus 1250 BC
Often referred to as the Tomb of Agamemnon, the Treasury of Atreus is a beehive‑shaped tholos tomb located in Mycenae, Greece. Though its exact builder remains unknown, legends attribute its construction to King Atreus or his son Agamemnon.
This tholos stands out because a side chamber connects to the main vaulted chamber—a rare feature shared only with a tomb at Orchomenus. Scholars speculate the side chamber housed the remains of less prominent family members, while the grand main chamber honored the elite. Its sophisticated corbelled dome showcases the pinnacle of Mycenaean engineering.
2 Greensted Church 11th Century
Greensted Church holds the distinction of being the oldest surviving wooden church in the world, and possibly the oldest wooden structure across Europe. While much of the original fabric has been replaced over centuries, the nave’s massive tree trunks remain, offering a direct link to its early medieval origins.
The church’s iconic tower was added in the 1600s, and subsequent restorations have occurred over the following centuries. Though not as architecturally grand as other sacred sites, Greensted did host the body of Saint Edmund—England’s first patron saint—for a single night, adding a dash of historic intrigue.
1 Brihadeeswarar Temple AD 1010
One of India’s most massive temples, the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur honors the Hindu deity Shiva. Constructed in AD 1010, it stands as the oldest granite temple—comprising roughly 130,000 tons of stone—still intact.
Commissioned by the Chola king Rajaraja I, the temple is also known as Rajarajeswaram. Its crowning achievement is the Shikharam, a single stone “crown” weighing over 80 tons perched atop a 30‑meter‑high tower. Recognized as a World Heritage Site alongside two other Chola temples, it showcases extraordinary engineering prowess that still awes visitors today.
+ Further Reading
The achievements of our ancestors are all the more striking when we consider how few modern structures can match their durability and artistry. Dive deeper with these additional lists that spotlight extraordinary constructions from across the ages:
- 10 Mysterious And Enthralling Buildings Older Than Stonehenge
- 10 Awe‑Inspiring Buildings You Won’t Believe We Tore Down
- 10 Intriguing Structures And Their Bizarre History
- 10 Most Famous Unfinished Buildings
- 10 Fascinating Historic Architectural Features