IESCO Global Heritage Sites

[Wu Han]

[Wu Han]

The International Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has certified its 4480 series of global heritage sites. At present, Indrala has received the highest number of certifications at four, followed by Dankuk, Istalia and Selucia together tied at three. Cildania, Barmenistan and Valruzia each received a single site designation.

Under the current assessment criteria, the following sites have been recognized as having profound cultural, historical, scientific or some other form of significance to human or planetary development:

List of all IESCO Global Heritage Sites

• The Heavenly City, Indrala: (Cultural (i.), (ii.), (iii.), (iv.).)
  ↳ Seat of supreme power for over fourteen centuries (3000-present), the Heavenly City in Tian'an, with its landscaped gardens and hundreds of buildings (whose nearly 20,000 rooms contain furniture and works of art), constitutes a priceless testimony to Indralan civilization during the many dynasties which have ruled over the Indralan island and colonial empire. The Palace contains an important library and testifies to the foundation of the dynastic history of Indrala. The remarkable architectural edifice of the Heavenly City's many halls offers important historical testimony to the history of Indrala and to the cultural traditions of its people.

The Heavenly City, located in the geographic centre of Tian'an is the supreme model in the development of ancient Indralan palaces, providing insight into the social development of Indrala, especially the ritual and court culture. The layout and spatial arrangement inherits and embodies the traditional characteristic of urban planning and palace construction in ancient Indrala, featuring a central axis, symmetrical design and layout of outer court at the front and inner court at the rear and the inclusion of additional landscaped courtyards. As the exemplar of ancient architectural hierarchy, construction techniques and architectural art, it influenced official buildings of the subsequent dynasties of Indrala over a span of three thousand centuries. Meanwhile, more than a million precious imperial collections, articles used by the royal family and a large number of archival materials on ancient engineering techniques, including written records, drawings and models, provide the Heavenly City distinct prominence among heritage sites in terms of significance.

• Shengo Rock Fortress, Indrala: (Cultural, (ii.), (iii.), (iv.).)
  ↳ The ruins of this mysterious ancient fortress lie on the steep slopes and at the summit of a granite peak standing some 200m high. A series of galleries and staircases emerging from the mouth of a gigantic lion constructed of bricks and plaster provide access to the site. Emblasened on the granite walls of the interior passageways are many colourful Daenist frescoes, which provide testimony to the culture and history of Daenism in Indrala and around the world.

• Temple of Ten Thousand Bidars, Indrala: (Cultural, (i.), (ii.), (iii.), (iv.).)
  ↳ Established in 1364 in central Shencheng, the Temple of Ten Thousand Bidars contains nearly 13,000 statues of Bahram Bidar in various positions, all realistically and delicately sculpted in high and low relief, many of which are considered to be masterpieces of Daenist art in the Far East. The Temple of Ten Thousand Bidars surrounding grotto form a religious architectural complex of exceptional significance.

• Mengmai Ancient City and Archaeological Site, Indrala: (Mixed, (ii.), (iii.), (iv.), (v.), (vi.).)
  ↳ When Mount Shomi erupted around 540 BCE, it engulfed the flourishing city of Mengmai. Since then, this city has been progressively excavated and made accessible to the public since the year 3000. Considering that the impressive remains of the ancient Mesing Capital of Mengmai provides a complete and vivid picture of society and daily life at a specific moment in the past that is without parallel anywhere in the world, the Ancient City of Mengmai is a site of outstanding importance.

• Archeological site of Ancient Qolshamih, Istalia: (Cultural, (i.), (ii.), (iii.), (iv.).)
  ↳ Qolshamih has a special place among classical sites in the history of the ancient world because of the way in which its original site, typical of Selucian colonial settlements, has been preserved, as well as the substantial remains of a group of buildings from an early period that were not overlain by later structures or converted to suit later tastes and cults. The archaeological area of Qolshamih exhibits an important interchange of human values, being undoubtedly one of the leading cities in the region, bearing witness to thousands of years of cultural and artistic evolution between several other Majatran civilization, primarily the Selucian culture. In Qolshamih the Amphitheater of Alsemet the Great is an exquisite example of classical Selucian architecture and one of the largest and best conserved of its kind.

• Palace of Villareale, Istalia: (Cultural, (i.), (iv.).)
  ↳ The Palace of Villareale is a former royal residence built for the Selucio-Nicoman kings of the Kingdom of Istalia. It is one of the largest palaces erected in Majatra during the 18th century and is the largest royal residence in the world by volume with over 2 million m³ and covering an area of about 235,000 m². The Palace was commissioned by the second King of Istalia Arturo Gabriele I who also baptized a town near Eristano, Villareale, to become the administrative capital of the Kingdom. The Istalian court remained in the Palace until 1959 when the island of Alaria was conquered by the Emirate of Quanzar, which already controlled the Sarrentina Peninsula. Under the Quanzarian Emirate it was transformed into an army barrack. Following the establishment of the first Istalian Republic, Palace was designated as the Museum of the Istalian Kingdom. Considered a masterpiece of the baroque architecture, however heavily influenced by the Neo-Selucian style, it is one of the most visited Istalian sites.

• Calliari Ruhi Temple, Istalia: (Cultural, (i.), (ii.), (iii.), (iv.).)
  ↳ The first temple of the Ruhi Faith, the Spiritual Temple in Calliari was erected in 4295 by Vito Sarti, an Istalian industrialist and one of the first converts to the Faith. Construction was initiated a few weeks after the martyrdom of the religion's founder. The Spiritual Temple is a domed structure surrounded by gardens and fountains, and it is clad in a concrete mixture of cement and quartz, into which many intricate details are carved. Symbols belonging to a number of religions are carved on each exterior pillar, to symbolize the Ruhi belief in the unity of all religions and the fact that the Temple is open to people of any religion.

• Domus Consularis, Selucia: (Cultural, (i.), (ii.), (iv.).)
  ↳ Built over the ancient site of the residence of the Imperator of the Selucian League, the Domus Consularis (Selucian for "Consular House") is the headquarters of the Selucian executive and as such serves as the centre of power in Selucia. Most recently renovated in 4320, the Domus Consularis preserves Selucian art and architecture dating back to the Renascentia if not further back. The most distinguishing feature of the Domus is its essentially unchanging nature, in spite of numerous renovations or even wholesale reconstructions over the millennia. The current architectural plan of the Domus dates back to the 15th century, with only minor and non-essential modifications to account for modern amenities. Even after renovation architects strove to locate surprisingly well preserved construction materials and decorative elements. In order to preserve its timeless appearance there are no time-measuring devices to be found within the Domus Consularis.

• Empyrean Temple, Selucia: (Cultural, (i.), (ii.), (iii.), (iv.).)
  ↳ The Empyrean Temple is the official headquarters of the Arch-Patriarch of the Aurorian Patriarchal Church, over which it exercises full sovereignty as the Empyrean Temple City. The Temple was built in the 29th century to celebrate Selucia's liberation from the Terran Patriarchal crusaders and to serve as the headquarters of what was then Selucia's national Church, the Selucian Patriarchal Church. The Temple is built in a Selucian Triumphalist style in the form of a Kalopian Cross with a dome inspired by circular Selucian Pagan temples and as such it is considered a prime example of Selucian Triumphalism, an architectural style characterized by grandiose and powerful aesthetic and typical of Selucian buildings of the Selucian Imperium era, aiming to present the triumph of both the nation and the Church over its enemies. As one of the holiest sites in Aurorian Hosianism the Temple is a famous site of pilgrimage and can accommodate tens of thousands of visitors.

• Altar of the Republic, Selucia: (Cultural, (ii.), (iii.), (iv.).)
  ↳ Built in 2992, the Altar of the Republic (Ara Rei Publicae) in Sadarium, Occidentria is, together with the Triumphal Arch in Saturnium in Cor Patriae one of the monumental structures built by the Triariist Pagan-Nationalist regime that ruled Selucia between 2989 and 3000 and marked the last significant attempt of the Pagan population of Selucia to regain their lost political leadership role. The Altar of the Republic is built in an eclectic style with heavy influence from Selucian Triumphalism. The Altar features stairways, columns, fountains, and two statues of the goddess of victory riding on quadrigas, and inside it houses a museum dedicated to Pagan history. The monument has symbolic importance for both Selucian Pagans and Republicans, but it is not without criticism, being seen as conspicuous and overly pompous, a criticism that is often leveled at other monuments influenced by Selucian Triumphalism.

• Beonyeongsalm Palace, Dankuk: (Cultural, (ii.), (iii.), (iv.).)
  ↳ Originally constructed in approximately 1150 CE, Beonyeongsalm Palace was at the center of post-nomadic Kyo civilization, housing the monarchs of the founding Baekgu Dynasty. Much later it would become home to the revived Kyo monarchy under the House of Ryeo, serving initially as a rallying point for renewed Kyo identity in Dranland and later as the official royal palace under the Kingdom of Dankuk. In its long history the palace has been twice destroyed and it has seen new additions over time as well. The current palace complex, still sitting upon the original grounds that feature some preserved ruins, was constructed in the late 44th Century, replicating the traditional Kyo design of the ancient palace. Adjacent to the traditional complex are modern constructions with neoclassical architectural design accompanied by gardens and a fountain, a reflection of Western influences on Dranian history and culture.

• The Norfiords, Dankuk: (Natural, (v.), (vi.), (vii.).)
  ↳ The Norfiords are a region of unique geography and preserved natural beauty in northern Dankuk. Boasting a number of large fjords, lakes, sheltered bays, waterfalls, and scattered archipelagos, the Norfiords were originally formed from receding ancient glaciers. In ancient times this region, sparsely populated due to the often harsh weather of the north, was home to a number of hardy fishing villages populated by Kyo or Draddwyr. Even in modern times, much of the natural landscape of the Norfiords has been preserved and the area is a popular sightseeing destination. The Norfiords thrive ecologically, featuring waters rich with life, large seabird populations, and a deep-water coral reef. More inland there are dense forests filled with wildlife and a number of natural hot springs.

• Royal Tombs of Baekgu, Dankuk: (Cultural, (ii.), (iii.), (iv.).)
  ↳ The Royal Tombs of Baekgu are a number of tombs containing members of the Baekgu Dynasty (600-1721). The tombs are mostly concentrated to a rural area between Gongmangdo and Soleunggo. They were built to honour and respect the ancestors and their achievements, and assert their royal authority. The tombs are constructed around central mounds that contain the buried king or queen, featuring short stone walls, deity statues, and ritualistic stonework. From ancient Sindo practices, the features of the tomb are connected by a stone path that comes from the red-pillared entrance gate. The largest tomb houses Baekgu the Great, the founder of the ancient unified Kyo state.

• Mor Yaqub Cathedral, Cildania: (Cultural, (i.), (ii.), (iv.).)
  ↳ The Mor Yaqub Cathedral, built during the Middle Ages, was one of the most important heritage sites in Cildania. In 3870 the ultra-secular and Selucian-minority government ruling Cildania at the time, wishing to put an end to religious practice in the nation, confiscated and demolished the medieval cathedral, an action that was widely regarded as a crime against humanity and that became one of the central causes behind the brutal Cildanian Civil War. After the defeat of the Selucian apartheid regime but before the end of the civil war a new cathedral was built on the same location in 3878. Built in an Art Moderne and New Classical style, the new Mor Yaqub Cathedral is characterized by its light, airy interior (reminiscent of an open-air Qedarite temple yard) and its traditional Augustan-style iconography. The new Cathedral has been controversial since its construction, as it ignored the architecture of the medieval Cathedral in favour of an ultra-modern style.

• Shrine of the Messiah, Barmenistan: (Cultural, (i.), (ii.), (iii.), (iv.).)
  ↳ The most sacred site in the Ruhi Faith and the qibla of the religion is the Shrine of the Messiah. Serving as a mausoleum for the religion's founder and the site of the mandatory pilgrimage all Ruhis are obliged to undertake, the Shrine was completed in 4358 and its construction was initiated by the religion's first Caliph. The Shrine is a domed structure in traditional Barmenian style, with heavy inspiration from local Ahmadi mosques. The Shrine is surrounded by gardens, a school, a pilgrim's hostel, a small hospital, and a building for groundskeepers.

• Ignanski Congressional Center of Nowogard, Valruzia: (Cultural, (iii.).
  ↳ Ignanski Congressional Center of Nowogard (val.: Centrum Kongresowe imienia Ignańskiego w Nowogardzie) is a notable high-rise building situated in Nowogard, the capital city of Valruzia. Constructed in 3689, it immediately became an icon of the city. Ever since its construction it has been the centre for various cultural, business and social institutions, headquarters for various companies. It is the main headquarters of the Valruzian Academy of Science. The entire complex of the CKI consists of 6 connected buildings. At 237 meters high, it is the 5th tallest building in Valruzia and the 9th on the Seleyan continent. Designed by Krzysztof Rudnicki in 3684 was supposed to boost the economy of Valruzia which at that time was at one of the greatest depressions in the history of the country. Rudnkicki's initial plans included cutting-edge technology and innovations like high-velocity elevators and one of the first solar panels which were supposed to be placed on the building's elevation making the building self-sufficent in terms of electric energy.


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