ok I finally gave in and decided to have a go , if only for the pushing experience to help delvelop.I have only been using Maya or any 3D app for 3 weeks so I guess that is considered noob so go easy guys ..lol.
My basic idea was to create an ancient scene that is not real but could well be , maybe even some race of people from a distant planet that might have once settled here.
I have made a start but not got many details in yet ,most notably the stairs...but if you look close the structures central ornament on the top is a sacrificial font.
here a quick start preview.