Sacred Places People and their Beliefs 1

Why a sacred place? Nearly every culture in human history has sought to honour the divine, the mysterious, the supernatural, or the extraordinary in some way. Most often this happens at sacred places. These might be natural places, sites connected to a god, a saint, or a hero, places where miracles or visions were reported, or buildings made for worship or ritual. 2

Do you have to believe? But you don't have to be a believer to recognize that holy places, religious architecture, and sacred art are some of the most beautiful and interesting sights you'll encounter in your travels. 3

Egypt’s Sacred Places The pyramids of Giza are some of the world’s oldest sacred site. The pyramids were used for the burial of pharaohs. The Great Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel consists of four seated colossal statues of Ramses II carved into the mountain. The sun's rays travel through the mountain and illuminate Ramses statue twice a year. 4

Italy’s Sacred Places The Colosseum in Rome was built in the 1st century AD, it was a place that could seat 45,000. It hosted gladiatorial combats, spectacles with wild beasts it is regarded as a sacred placeRome The Vatican is a City/State within Rome and is the most holiest place for Catholics. The Pope lives here and St Peter’s Basilica for worship 5

England’s Sacred Places Stonehenge is a mysterious circle of upright stones in southern England and a place of worship. Construction began 5,000 years ago. Westminster Abbey is a church in London that is the place of coronation and burial for English monarchs. It dates back to the year

India’s Sacred Places The Bodhi Tree - "Tree of Awakening," is a direct descendent of the tree under which Siddharta Gautama after 49 days of meditation became the Buddha, the "Enlightened One.“ The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra. It was built by the Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife. 7

China’s Sacred Places The Tirthapuri Hot Springs fill the barren landscape with steam. Pilgrims come here after completing the Kailash pilgrimage. They bathe in pools fed by the sacred springs, then visit the cave and monastery. The Longmen Caves is a sacred site of 1,350 caves, which are filled with thousands of Buddhist statues carved out of the hard limestone cliffs. 8

Peru’s Sacred Places Machu Picchu (literally, "old peak") is a ruined ancient Incan town high on a mountain ridge in Peru. One of the most mystical and sacred sites in the world. The Nazca Lines are giant sketches drawn in the desert of western Peru by ancient peoples. These sacred lines may have been an offering to the gods; or they could have been a major pilgrimage site. 9

Australian Sacred Places Aboriginal sacred sites are areas or places in the Australian landscape of significant Aboriginal Australian meaning within their belief system, known as The Dreaming, which has its origins in Dreamtime.Aboriginal AustralianThe Dreaming Dreamtime 10 Baiame Cave, Milbrodale, New South Wales Uluru, Northern Territory

Todays Activity You will be viewing a Dreamtime Story on the Creation of the markings on Uluru. You will be completing a pictorial flow chart of the events that make this Aboriginal Dreaming. 11