You’ll never distill their secrets: 5 historical monuments that remain mysterious

According to the epic, magician Merlin built the construction. In fact, Stonehenge appeared long before the time of King Arthur’s contemporary. How could people transport heavy rocks from the quarry, found at long range? And what about the purpose of building it: whether it was the observatory (the model of the solar system), or the sanctuary (that was used by Druids)?

The monument was discovered in the XVII century. However, its research began only after three centuries. As a result, a mound was discovered. It was perfectly round, with an great diameter. It was older than the Egyptian pyramids. Archaeologists found a tomb inside of the mound. During the solstice, a ray of light fills the entire cell. Irish superstitions say that this place is an entrance to the country of fairies and elves.

One of the largest settlements of the Maya is hidden in green jungles. The territory includes artificial ponds, a golf ball and palaces. The most amazing is the pyramids, forming a town square. They built their temporary pattern corresponding to the periods of its development. There are many theories about their functions: religious buildings, research centers, cemeteries or both. The etymology of the name "Tikal" is also unknown. But there is a clear "nickname" - City of votes. It is called so, because even the whisper there turns into booming echo.

Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang includes more than 8000 statues of Chinese warriors and horses. Instead of humans and animals, they were unconventionally buried together with the governor. A life-size army was made with smallest details (no recurring face) in 200's BC. Archaeologists always have to work very carefully, because, they say, the emperor was accompanied by mercury rivers.

A huge statue in the middle of the sands is, perhaps, the biggest mystery. It was generally believed that Pharaohs built it. However, they only restored the Sphinx. Its body of a lion has many furrows. According to the most venturous opinions, it’s the result of the Great Flood. Yet it is strange that the head is clearly contrary to the proportions. In addition, it turned out that there are spaces inside the giant and under it. Attempts to study these spaces led either to incidents or to prohibitions of the authorities. Is this the guardian not of the desert, but some secret knowledge, left, for example, from the sunken Atlantis?