Top 10: The Best Ancient World Photographs from the Heritage Key Flickr Pool

10. The British Museum, by Mario Vitor Bastos

The British Museum is one of the biggest museums in the world, and one of the most stunning. This black and white photograph by Mario Vitor Bastos not only shows the architectural splendour of Sir Norman Foster's amazing glass roof, but the movement of the blurry people as they walk past the lens shows the life and movement in the Great Court.

Placed against the almost sterile backdrop of the Reading Room, this shot is definately my favourite of the British Museum.

9. The Moai of Easter Island, by JC Richardson

There's something eerie and mysterious about this photograph, but then, the Moai of Easter Island are eerie and mysterious in themselves! It's a magical shot, with these stone statues showered in the stars of the Milky Way, and creating a truly stunning photograph.

JC Richardson made the Moai come to life in this mystical photograph, and created an image you can just lose yourself in. Standing tall and lit up in the night sky, the stars add a whole new dimension to this image, and makes it one of the most beautiful images in the Heritage Key Flickr pool.

8. The Acropolis of Athens, by Spyros Tav

The Acropolis of Athens is the pinnacle of Ancient Greek architecture, and that it still remains today is a testement to exactly how much the Greeks did for us. Everything from Democracy to Literature and laying the foundations of mathematics and medicine.

Spyros took this beautiful and peaceful shot of the Acropolis, which I love for its mellow tones and use of the vegetation to give it a natural touch.

5. Stonehenge, by Sean Molin

Britain’s mysterious monolithic relic, Stonehenge, is one of the most photographed heritage sites that pops up in the Heritage Key Flickr pool, so it’d take something special to pick out a single photograph from the Salisbury Plain. But Sean Molin’s sepia image of dark skies looming over Stonehenge captured the mystery and mood perfectly in this one photograph. These famous stones have been the subject of much discussion over the years, and the site continues to unearth more secrets with the recent discovery of Bluestonehenge.

4. Pyramids of Giza, by Julian Kaesler

The Pyramids of Giza are probably the most photographed ancient site in the world, and represent the iconic heritage of Egyptian history.

It simply wouldn’t be a trip to Egypt if you didn’t have a photograph of the Pyramids, and with a whole wealth of Giza images in the Heritage Key Flickr pool, picking out a single one was touch. But this photograph by Julian Kaesler caught my eye for it’s different take – by photographing the ancient pyramids with the modern city of Cairo, you get a feel for how the two live side by side, shrouded in the dust of the Sahara desert. Stunning.

You can learn more about the Pyramids on Heritage Key, and watch videos from Egypt on our Video Page.

2. Tikal, by Javier Ucles

Tikal is amazing and beautiful in itself, but this photograph by Javier Ucles gave me the chills. It’s the sort of scene you’d expect to see in a Hollywood blockbuster – the endless, lush green forestry, dark looming skies and a mysterious temple protruding from the trees in the distance, pulling your eyes towards it.

Tikal, in the jungles of Guatemala is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centres of the pre-columbian Mayan civilization and was at its height between 200 and 900 AD. Javier's photograph captures perfectly the mystery encompassing this mysterious civilisation.

1. Caesar Augustus, by Adam Greenow

My favourite image from the pool surprisingly wasn’t a landscape shot, but of the bust of Caeser Augustus. Perfection in composition, lighting and colour – this image has it all, but then has that extra element which you can’t describe, but makes the bust look as if it may just come to life at any moment.

This is a truly stunning capture by Adam Greenow, and deservedly takes the crown as my favourite image from the Heritage Key Flickr Pool.

Want to find out how to submit your own ancient world photography to our Heritage Key Flickr pool? Simply click here for all the details, as well as reading Mary's guide to Heritage site and museum photography.