Hagia Sophia (Turkish: Ayasofya; Koinē Greek: Ἁγία Σοφία, romanized: Hagía Sophía; Latin: Sancta Sophia, lit. 'Holy Wisdom'), officially known as the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque (Turkish: Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi)[3] and formerly as the Church of Holy Wisdom (Greek: Ναός της Αγίας του Θεού Σοφίας, romanized: Naós tis Ayías tou Theoú Sofías),[4] is a Late Antique place of worship in Istanbul, designed by the Greek geometers Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles.[5] Built in 537 as the patriarchal cathedral of the imperial capital of Constantinople, it was the largest Christian church of the eastern Roman Empire (the Byzantine Empire) and the Eastern Orthodox Church, except during the Latin Empire from 1204 to 1261, when it temporarily became a Roman Catholic cathedral. In 1453, after the Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire, it was converted into a mosque. In 1935, the Republic of Turkey established it as a museum. In 2020, it was reconverted into a mosque.
Hakka is a Chinese language spoken by the Hakka people, a Han Chinese ethnic group who primarily reside in southeastern China. Hakka is one of the seven major Chinese dialects and is known for its distinctive tonal system, vocabulary, and grammar. Hakka has a rich history and has been influenced by various cultures and languages over the centuries. It is believed to have originated from northern China and was brought to southern China by the Hakka people during several migration waves in ancient times. Despite being a minority language, Hakka has a vibrant culture and has made significant contributions to Chinese literature, music, and cuisine. Many famous Chinese poets, such as Li Qingzhao, have written in the Hakka language, and traditional Hakka music is considered an important part of Chinese folk music. Hakka is still widely spoken today, especially in Taiwan, where it is one of the official languages. In mainland China, Hakka is also an officially recognized language, and there are efforts underway to preserve and promote the language and culture. In conclusion, Hakka is a rich and fascinating language with a long history and a vibrant culture. It is an important part of Chinese heritage and continues to be spoken and celebrated by millions of people around the world.
Underwater Cultural Heritage,Intangible Heritage
The history of the Hakka language can be traced back to northern China, where the Hakka people are believed to have originated. The Hakka are a Han Chinese ethnic group who have lived in many different parts of China over the centuries, and their language has evolved and developed through their interactions with other cultures and languages. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the Hakka people began to migrate from northern to southern China, and they brought their language with them. Over the centuries, the Hakka language continued to evolve and develop, influenced by the local languages and cultures of the areas where the Hakka people lived. In the 19th century, many Hakka people emigrated from China to Southeast Asia and other parts of the world, and their language was carried with them to these new lands. Today, the Hakka language is spoken by millions of people around the world, and it is considered an important part of Chinese heritage. Despite its rich history and cultural significance, the Hakka language has faced challenges in recent decades, as the number of speakers has declined and the language has been threatened by the spread of Mandarin, the official language of China. However, there are efforts underway to preserve and promote the Hakka language and culture, including the development of language education programs and the creation of Hakka cultural organizations. In conclusion, the Hakka language has a rich and fascinating history that reflects the cultural and linguistic interactions of the Hakka people over the centuries. It continues to be an important part of Chinese heritage and is celebrated by millions of people around the world.
Hamilton Palace in South Lanarkshire was once the grandest stately home in Scotland. It was developed over several centuries by the Hamilton family, eventually becoming a Palladian mansion which rivalled (and arguably surpassed) many royal residences. The demolition of the palace in the 1920s was a major loss to Scotland’s architectural heritage. Meanwhile, the sale of its furnishings and art collection brought about the dispersal of the country’s ‘biggest treasure trove’ (National Museum of Scotland 2016). Today, many are unaware of the scale and splendour of this vanished great house – a place that shortly before its destruction was praised as representing ‘the best that the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries produced’ (Country Life 1919). Hamilton Palace was demolished, after coal works beneath the house were discovered to threaten its structural integrity. "It is a thousand pities" wrote that doyen of departed country houses H. Avery Tipping in a preface to one of the 1919 Hamilton Palace sale catalogues, "that so great and historic a house should disappear. .. Within and without the Palace offers us of the best that the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries produced, and the present dispersal yields a very unusual opportunity of acquiring sumptuous examples of all three periods in the finest possible state of preservation."
The Vijayanagara Empire's capital, Hampi was a fortified city during the 14th century, and is located in the state of Karnataka. At the time, it was India's richest city which drew traders from Portugal and Persia. In 1565, the Vijayanagara Empire was conquered by a coalition of Muslim sultanates, and Hampi was pillaged and destroyed and ultimately left in ruins. Currently, Hampi is a religious centre, and UNESCO describes it consist of "forts, riverside features, royal and sacred complexes, temples, shrines, pillared halls, mandapas, memorial structures, water structures and others". Arab and European travellers from the time describe Hampi to have been a prosperous and wealthy city, with numerous markets and temples.
Hampi is a subset of the Vijayanagar ruins which were built approximately 700 years ago, discovered by Colin Mackenzie in the year 1800. What makes Hampi a heritage site is not just that it was built ages ago but also that firstly, it was the capital of Vijaynagar (Empire established 1336 CE and declined around 1600 CE). Hampi used to serve as the bazaar (marketplace) and also as the center for music and dance. The central stage (which has weathered down and inaccessible to the public) is to this date considered an engineering marvel as it had pillars of solid granite with minute differences in shapes and sizes which when struck with a wooden beater would sound like instruments like the Mridangam and Veena (Indian classical instruments).
Hampi, Karnataka, India. One of the many Vijayanagara market ruins in the boulder strewn landscape, with Tungabhadra River in the background
Hanami, otherwise known as flower viewing, is the Japanese tradition of observing the annual bloom of flowers – specifically those from cherry and plum trees. This is an example of intangible cultural heritage normally practiced between the end of March and early May when cherry trees bloom across Japan. Participants normally engage in large gatherings at public parks to view the cherry blossoms and through smaller flower viewing events such as picnics with seasonal foods. The tradition originated during the eight century Nara period as a means of honouring Shinto deities. Consequently, hanami may be said to have wider importance to all practitioners of Shinto globally. Climate change has begun to negatively impact the practice of this intangible cultural heritage. This may be observed in the increasingly erratic blooming of the cherry trees due to changing seasonal temperatures. This makes it harder for the population to plan events around the blooming of the flowers and thereby engage with the tradition. Additionally, warmer weather coupled with milder winters have aided invasive species of pests harmful to cherry trees, decreasing their numbers. Of note is that the increased temperature combined with pollution projected to lead to widespread tree die-off in 50-100 years.
People having a picnic in Japan as part of the Hanami celebrations
The hanbok, also called Chosŏn-ot is traditional Korean clothing. It is worn not only by South and North Korea, but also by the joseon-jok, a minority group in China. The term hanbok literally means “Korean clothing.” Hanbok is also depicted in detail on murals from the Goguryeo period in Korea. Due to the isolation from each other for about 50 years, the styles of hanbok in South Korea, North Korea, and joseonjok, worn by the Korean ethnics from these three countries have developed separately from each other. Since the 1990s, the South Korean-style and the North Korean-style have been looking more and more similar to each other. Similarly, since the Chinese economic reform of China, there have been more exchanges with both Koreas leading to both the development and changes in joseonjok-style Chosŏn-ot in China;some of designs of the joseonjok-style Chosŏn-ot have been influenced and inspired by both South-Korean and North Korean hanbok designs.
Hanuman Uddana Veerabhadra Temple, Hampi
Relief of Hanuman in the court of the Uddana Veerabhadra Temple, Hampi, Karnataka, India. The colour blots on the relief are made by priests or devotees with sindoor.
St Andrews Harbour photo of lock gates area. 1916.
With 953 honeycomb-shaped and beautifully carved windows on the outside wall, Hawa Mahal is located in Badi Choupad, Pink City of Jaipur, India. It was constructed in 1799 by the Kachhwaha Rajput ruler, Sawai Pratap Singh, grandson of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh as an extension to Royal City Palace. The building consists of five stores and builds in the form of Krishna's crown as the king was a devotee of Shri Krishna. Windows allow the breeze to blow through the palace making it a perfect summer destination. In contrast to the rich exterior of the Palace, the interior is comparatively simple but gives the visitors the best views of the pink city.
Hazelius, A.I. (1881): Det inre af en badstuga.
A depiction of the inside of a Finnish "bath-hut" by Hazelius, A.I. in 1881.
Helmsdale, a fishing village on the North East coast of Scotland.
During the nineteenth century the village of Helmsdale in Sutherland was one of the largest centres for herring fishing in Scotland. The village and harbour were built around 1818 as part of efforts at economic development by the Sutherland Estate. The new fishing port was intended to provide employment and housing for families who had been forcibly driven out from farms in the Kildonan area during the Highland clearances. This reconstruction shows how Helmsdale may have looked in about 1890, when the herring trade was still thriving. Fish was unloaded on the shore and then taken along to the curing yards, where it was processed and packed into barrels for transport to other parts of the United Kingdom and overseas. Herring from Helmsdale was sent as far away as the West Indies – where in the early nineteenth century it formed part of the diet of slaves working on the plantations. The modern Timespan centre is on the site of the nineteenth century curing yard represented in this reconstruction.
Helsinki Cathedral viewed from Senate Square
Standing to the north side of Senate Square in Helsinki, Helsinki Cathedral is a Lutheran Cathedral built between 1830 - 1852 and designed by Carl Ludvig Engel (d. 1840). The Building was later altered by Ernst Lohrmann who added the four small domes around the edge and 12 statues to the roof. The building and crypt are popular tourist destinations and were visited by half a million people in 2018. It is however not a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The design of the cathedral is based upon a Greek Cross and the ends are supported by six Corinthian columns. 12 zinc apostles adorn the edge of the roof and are the largest unified collections of zinc statues in the world.
Hierapolis-Pamukkale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Turkey, blends natural and historical splendour. The location has a rich history and is known for its beautiful travertine terraces from hot springs and well-preserved Greco-Roman city remains. Founded as a thermal spa in the 2nd century BC, Hierapolis became an influential cultural and healing center. Today, visitors explore ancient landmarks like the theater, Temple of Apollo, Roman baths, and a vast necropolis. Pamukkale, or Cotton Castle, showcases stunning white travertine terraces with turquoise pools, drawing visitors for millennia. Climate change threatens Hierapolis-Pamukkale, with temperature and precipitation shifts potentially degrading both ruins and travertine formations. Protection efforts include climate monitoring, sustainable tourism, and conservation measures. Engaging with Hierapolis-Pamukkale's heritage via digital exhibits and interactive experiences raises awareness about protective action.
Cotton Castle, photographed during the tour on 24 April 2023
Highland Cattle is a breed of cattle originally from the Scottish Highlands and the Western Islands of Scotland. Highland cattle became an important part of the economy in Scotland and were used for their milk, meat, and fur (Highland Cows, 2019). Their double coat of hair makes them well suited for the weather conditions in the Highlands, which have made it difficult for other breeds to survive. The Highland Coo has become a symbol of Scotland's untamed beauty (lovetovisitscotland, 2023). Their distinctive look makes them popular among tourists, and many farms offer different activities where tourists can interact with the cows and even cuddle with them. Their cultural significance is also prominent as they are referenced in classic literature, folklore, as well as different cultural festivals and celebrations (Highland Cows in Literature and Folklore: Exploring Their Cultural Sig, 2023). Preserving Highland cows through digital methods would address Sustainable Development Goals (United Nations, 2015) such as: - SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, specifically Target 11.4: "Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage." - SDG 4.7: Education and Awareness - SDG 15.5: Biodiversity Conservation - SDG 2.4: Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is the Scottish Government's economic and community development agency for a diverse region which covers more than half of Scotland and is home to around 450,000 people.
A World Heritage Site, the Old City of Cairo consists of five distinct Old City districts at the centre of this sprawling modern metropolis. Founded in the 10th century, the Old City of Cairo is one of the oldest Islamic cities in the world and has become the centre of the Islamic world. The Old City is home to a number of classified monuments (some 800 in total) spanning 1,300 years from the 7th century onwards. These monuments include ancient mosques, madrasas, hammams and fountains, the massive walls and the huge citadel with its mosques and palaces. The central area of the World Heritage Site covers 312 hectares and comprises the bustling heart of the old city, from the Citadel and the Ibn Tulun Mosque in the south to the outskirts of Al-Azhar in the north, dominated by the huge Al-Azhar Mosque and the Khan al-Khalili Market, which is made up of shops and alleys.