ancient Machu Picchu city

24 Lost Cities of the World and What Happened to Them

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Throughout history, cities have risen and fallen, some vanishing so completely that they’ve become the stuff of legends. These lost cities capture our imagination, offering tantalising glimpses into past civilisations and the mysteries of human history. From the jungle-shrouded ruins of ancient Mayan metropolises to submerged Mediterranean ports, each of these lost cities tells a unique story of human ambition, ingenuity, and ultimate downfall. Some fell to natural disasters, others to war or economic collapse, while a few simply faded away as their inhabitants moved on. Here are 24 of the world’s most fascinating lost cities and the tales behind their disappearance.

1. Pompeii, Italy

Paths and ruins in ancient Pompeii
Image Credit: Shutterstock

Pompeii, the Roman city frozen in time, met its fate in 79 AD when Mount Vesuvius erupted. The volcano buried the city under metres of ash and pumice, preserving it in remarkable detail. Rediscovered in the 18th century, Pompeii provides an unparalleled window into daily life in the Roman Empire. The site continues to yield new discoveries, with recent excavations uncovering intact frescoes and evidence of social diversity in ancient Roman society.

2. Petra, Jordan

Front of Al-Khazneh carved in stone wall in Petra
Image Credit: Shutterstock

Carved into rose-coloured cliffs, Petra was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom. This city flourished as a trading hub but declined after trade routes shifted. Earthquakes and changing political fortunes led to its abandonment in the 7th century AD. Rediscovered in 1812, Petra is now Jordan’s most famous archaeological site. The city’s sophisticated water conduit system, which prevented flash flooding and provided water during drought, demonstrates the Nabataeans’ advanced engineering skills.

3. Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu in the Andes Mountains
Image Credit: Unsplash+

Perched high in the Andes, Machu Picchu was built by the Inca in the 15th century. This mountaintop city was likely a royal estate or religious retreat. It was abandoned shortly after the Spanish conquest, though the conquistadors never found it. Machu Picchu remained hidden until 1911, when American explorer Hiram Bingham brought it to the world’s attention. The site’s agricultural terraces and intricate stonework, built without mortar, showcase the Incas’ remarkable architectural and agricultural prowess.

4. Angkor, Cambodia

Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap
Image Credit: Shutterstock

Once the capital of the Khmer Empire, Angkor was a sprawling metropolis covering over 1000 square kilometres. The city declined in the 15th century, possibly due to climate change and water management issues. While never completely abandoned, Angkor was largely reclaimed by the jungle until extensive restoration efforts began in the 20th century. Recent lidar surveys have revealed that Angkor was even larger than previously thought, with an elaborate system of roads, canals, and settlements extending far beyond the main temple complexes.

5. Carthage, Tunisia

Panoramic view of ancient Carthage
Image Credit: Shutterstock

Founded by Phoenicians, Carthage became a major Mediterranean power. It was destroyed by Rome in 146 BC at the end of the Punic Wars, then rebuilt as a Roman city. The Arab conquest in 698 AD led to Carthage’s final abandonment. Today, ruins of both Punic and Roman Carthage can be seen in modern-day Tunisia. The famous Punic ports, engineering marvels of the ancient world, have been excavated and provide insight into Carthage’s maritime prowess.

6. Tikal, Guatemala

Tikal, Mayan Ruins
Image Credit: Mike Vondranderivative work: MrPanyGoff, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A major Mayan city-state, Tikal dominated much of Mesoamerica during the Classic Period. The city’s decline in the 9th century AD was likely due to overpopulation, environmental degradation, and warfare. Abandoned and swallowed by the jungle, Tikal was rediscovered in 1848 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Recent studies suggest that Tikal’s fall may have been hastened by the contamination of its water reservoirs with mercury and toxic algae.

7. Mohenjo-daro, Pakistan

ruins of Mohenjo-daro
Image Credit: Saqib Qayyum, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

One of the largest cities of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation, Mohenjo-daro flourished around 2500 BC. The city boasted advanced urban planning and a sophisticated drainage system. It was abandoned around 1900 BC for reasons still debated, possibly due to climate change or invasion. The discovery of a standardised system of weights and measures at Mohenjo-daro suggests a highly organised society with extensive trade networks.

8. Great Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe

Aerial view of the ruins of Great Zimbabwe
Image Credit: Shutterstock

The capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, this stone city flourished between the 11th and 15th centuries. Great Zimbabwe was a centre of cattle-herding, gold trading, and political power. Its decline coincided with the collapse of the gold trade, though the exact reasons for its abandonment remain unclear. The city’s most impressive structure, the Great Enclosure, is the largest ancient structure in sub-Saharan Africa, showcasing the kingdom’s architectural skills.

9. Persepolis, Iran

ruins of the Persepolis
Image Credit: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Built by Darius I as the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, Persepolis was renowned for its opulent architecture. Alexander the Great sacked and burned the city in 330 BC, leading to its gradual decline. The ruins of Persepolis, rediscovered in the 1930s, remain a testament to ancient Persian grandeur. The site’s elaborate reliefs provide valuable information about the diverse peoples and cultures that made up the Persian Empire.

10. Palenque, Mexico

mayan ruins of Palenque
Image Credit: Unsplash+

A Mayan city-state in southern Mexico, Palenque reached its peak in the 7th century AD. The city is known for its sophisticated architecture and intricate sculptures. Palenque was abandoned around 900 AD, likely due to warfare and ecological stress. Its ruins were gradually reclaimed by the jungle until their rediscovery in the 18th century. The discovery of Pakal’s tomb, one of the richest Mayan burials ever found, has provided invaluable insights into Mayan royal funerary practices.

11. Chan Chan, Peru

ruins of Chan Chan with fishnet carvings
Image Credit: Shutterstock

The largest pre-Columbian city in South America, Chan Chan was the capital of the Chimú Empire. This vast adobe city flourished between 900 and 1470 AD. The Inca conquest led to Chan Chan’s decline, and Spanish colonisation hastened its abandonment. Today, the fragile ruins face ongoing threats from climate change and erosion. The city’s elaborate system of reservoirs and canals demonstrates the Chimú’s advanced water management techniques in a desert environment.

12. Babylon, Iraq

processional way in Babylon
Image Credit: MohammadHuzam, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

One of the most famous cities of antiquity, Babylon was the centre of several Mesopotamian empires. The city reached its peak under Nebuchadnezzar II, who built the legendary Hanging Gardens. Babylon declined after the Persian conquest and was largely abandoned by the 2nd century AD. Extensive restoration work in the 20th century has partially recreated its ancient splendour. The Ishtar Gate, now in Berlin’s Pergamon Museum, showcases Babylon’s stunning blue-glazed brick architecture.

13. Ctesiphon, Iraq

ruins of  Ktesifon Palace in Ctesiphon
Image Credit: Shutterstock

The capital of the Parthian and Sasanian Empires, Ctesiphon was one of the great cities of late antiquity. Its most famous structure, the Taq Kasra, boasts the largest single-span vault of unreinforced brickwork in the world. The Arab conquest in the 7th century AD led to Ctesiphon’s gradual abandonment as nearby Baghdad rose to prominence. The city’s multicultural nature is evident in its blend of Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman architectural styles.

14. Sukhothai, Thailand

large Buddha statue in in Sukhothai, Thailand
Image Credit: Unsplash+

The first capital of Siam, Sukhothai flourished in the 13th and 14th centuries. The city was a centre of Thai culture and Buddhist art. Sukhothai’s importance waned as political power shifted to Ayutthaya. While never completely abandoned, the city declined into a small town, with its ancient monuments lying neglected until restoration began in the 20th century. Sukhothai is credited with developing the graceful Thai style of Buddha image that remains influential to this day.

15. Vijayanagara, India

Virupaksha temple in Vijayanagar Indi
Image Credit: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, this city was one of the largest in the world during the 16th century. Known for its grand temples and bustling markets, Vijayanagara was sacked in 1565 by a coalition of Muslim sultanates. The city was abandoned shortly after, leaving behind vast ruins that attest to its former grandeur. The city’s elaborate water management system, including aqueducts and tanks, demonstrates advanced engineering skills that supported its large population in a semi-arid region.

16. Heracleion, Egypt

ruin of the Heracleion, Egypt underwater
Image Credit: The Puzzlarium

Also known as Thonis, this ancient Egyptian port city sank into the Mediterranean around 800 AD, likely due to earthquakes and rising sea levels. Rediscovered in 2000, underwater excavations have revealed stunning artefacts, including giant statues and gold coins. Heracleion’s submerged ruins provide a unique glimpse into ancient Egyptian maritime trade. The discovery of numerous shipwrecks in the city’s harbour has yielded valuable information about ancient shipbuilding techniques and trade routes.

17. Hattusa, Turkey

the lion gate of hattusa, turkey
Image Credit: Shutterstock

The capital of the Hittite Empire, Hattusa was a formidable city with massive fortifications. It was suddenly abandoned around 1200 BC, possibly due to attacks from the mysterious Sea Peoples. Rediscovered in 1834, Hattusa’s ruins have provided valuable insights into Hittite culture and architecture. The discovery of cuneiform tablets at Hattusa has been crucial in deciphering the Hittite language and understanding their diplomatic relations with other ancient powers.

18. Taxila, Pakistan

aerial view of Taxila
Image Credit: Unsplash+

A major city on the Silk Road, Taxila was an important Buddhist centre and seat of learning. The city changed hands many times, ruled by Persians, Greeks, and Kushans. Taxila declined after the Hephthalite invasions in the 5th century AD and was abandoned by the time of the Muslim conquests. The ruins of Taxila showcase a unique blend of Persian, Greek, and Indian architectural styles, reflecting its cosmopolitan history.

19. Mesa Verde, USA

Mesa Verde's Cliff Palace
Image Credit: Shuterstock

Home to the Ancestral Puebloans, Mesa Verde is famous for its cliff dwellings. These remarkable structures were built in the 12th and 13th centuries. The area was abandoned around 1300 AD, likely due to prolonged drought. The well-preserved ruins of Mesa Verde offer insights into the lives of these ancient Native American people. The site’s kivas, circular underground chambers used for religious ceremonies, demonstrate the complex spiritual life of the Ancestral Puebloans.

20. Ani, Turkey

church of Saint Gregory of Abumarents in Ani
Image Credit: Unsplash

Known as the “City of 1001 Churches,” Ani was the capital of medieval Armenia. The city was a major centre of art and culture, renowned for its impressive architecture. Ani declined after Mongol invasions and was largely abandoned by the 18th century. Today, its haunting ruins straddle the Turkey-Armenia border. Ani’s churches showcase the development of Armenian ecclesiastical architecture and contain some of the earliest examples of Gothic-style pointed arches.

21. Ephesus, Turkey

Celsus Library in Ephesus
Image Credit: Shutterstock

One of the most important cities of the ancient world, Ephesus was a major port and centre of early Christianity. The city declined as its harbour silted up, cutting off its primary source of wealth. Abandoned by the 15th century, Ephesus’s well-preserved ruins, including the Library of Celsus, attract millions of visitors annually. The Terrace Houses of Ephesus provide a rare glimpse into the daily lives of wealthy Romans, with intact frescoes and mosaics.

22. Timgad, Algeria

ruins of Timgad
Image Credit: Zakzak742, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Founded by the Roman Emperor Trajan, Timgad was built as a colonial town in North Africa. The city flourished for several centuries before declining under Vandal occupation. Abandoned after the Arab conquest, Timgad was buried by the Sahara until its excavation in 1881. Its ruins offer a remarkably well-preserved example of Roman urban planning. The city’s library, one of the few Roman libraries to have been identified, indicates the high level of culture and learning in this frontier town.

23. Caral, Peru

Aerial view of Caral city
Image Credit: Shutterstock

One of the oldest cities in the Americas, Caral flourished around 2600 BC. This ancient city boasted complex architecture and sophisticated urban planning. Caral was mysteriously abandoned around 2000 BC. Its ruins, discovered in 1948, have revolutionised our understanding of early civilisation in the Americas. The absence of defensive walls or weapons at Caral suggests a peaceful society that prioritised trade and cultural development over warfare.

24. Merv, Turkmenistan

ruins of the Merv, Turkmenistan
Image Credit: Kalpak Travel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

One of the largest cities in the ancient world, Merv was a major oasis-city on the Silk Road. The city reached its peak under the Seljuk Turks in the 11th and 12th centuries. Merv was devastated by the Mongols in 1221 and never fully recovered. Its extensive ruins, spanning several ancient cities, form one of the most significant archaeological sites in Central Asia. The Great Kyz Kala, a unique corrugated building in Merv, exemplifies the distinctive architectural style of Central Asia during the Islamic Golden Age.

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Katy Willis is a writer, master herbalist, master gardener, and certified canine nutritionist who has been writing since 2002. She’s finds joy in learning new and interesting things, and finds history, science, and nature endlessly fascinating.

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