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For many civilizations the palace is the greatest symbol of a successful culture. Castles may be beautiful but they are built for defense, monasteries are exclusive and (supposedly) humble and cathedrals are for God, not for you.
But the palace is the ultimate luxury built by the wealthy elite for their personal enjoyment. Often such palaces are the finest record of how these elites lived, and equally often how they died. Many edifices bear the scorch marks of violent destruction.
Here are six amazing palaces from history, which lie today in ruins.
1. The Darul Aman Palace
![](https://www.historicmysteries.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Darul-1.jpg)
2. The Sonargaon Palace of Bangladesh
![](https://www.historicmysteries.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Sultanate.jpg)
3. Ruzhany Palace in Belarus
![](https://www.historicmysteries.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/main-1024x579.jpg)
4. Tachara, Mighty Palace of Persepolis
![](https://www.historicmysteries.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Palace-1024x452.jpg)
5. The Palace of the Minoans, Knossos, Crete
![](https://www.historicmysteries.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/center.jpg)
6. The Yuanmingyuan, the Old Summer Palace of China
Top Image: Partially reconstructed section of the Minoan Palace ruins at Knossos: a depiction of a bull can be seen. Source: Lucian Bolca / Adobe Stock.
By Joseph Green