The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World are seven remarkable monuments or structures of the ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern world, each of which was considered a wonder for its size, shape, or design. The original list, compiled by Herodotus in the 5th century BC, included the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, and the Pharos of Alexandria.
- The Great Pyramid of Giza The Great Pyramid of Giza, located near Cairo, Egypt, is the oldest of the seven wonders and the only one to survive to the present day. It was built as a tomb for the pharaoh Khufu, also known as Cheops, and is the tallest pyramid in the world. The pyramid was constructed using an estimated 23 million blocks of limestone and sandstone, and its four sides are aligned with the cardinal points with remarkable precision. The Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years, until the construction of the Lincoln Cathedral in the 12th century.
The Great Pyramid of Giza is not only an architectural marvel but also a symbol of ancient Egyptian engineering and spirituality. It was believed to be a gateway to the afterlife, and its construction was a testament to the pharaoh’s power and connection to the gods. The pyramid’s interior includes a network of passageways and chambers, including the King’s Chamber and the Queen’s Chamber, which were intended to protect the pharaoh’s body and possessions from tomb robbers and the elements.
- The Colossus of Rhodes The Colossus of Rhodes was a colossal bronze statue of the Greek Titan Helios, the sun god, that stood at the entrance to the harbor of the Greek city of Rhodes. It was built around 280 BC and was one of the most famous works of Greek sculpture. The statue was about 108 feet tall and weighed over 60 tons, making it one of the largest statues of the ancient world.
The Colossus of Rhodes was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC, only 56 years after its completion. The remains of the statue were sold to a Jew from Syria, who melted them down to make coins. The Colossus of Rhodes is a testament to the artistic and engineering achievements of the ancient Greeks, and its destruction is a reminder of the fragility of even the most magnificent human creations.
- The Hanging Gardens of Babylon The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were a series of gardens built by King Nebuchadnezzar II of Neo-Babylonian fame in the 6th century BC. They were located in the ancient city of Babylon, near present-day Hillah, Babil province, Iraq. The gardens were designed to please Queen Amytis, who missed the green mountains of her homeland, Media.
The gardens were constructed on a series of elevated terraces, with a system of irrigation channels that allowed plants to grow in the midst of the desert. The most common view is that the gardens were a symbol of the king’s love for his wife, but there is also a possibility that they were constructed to demonstrate the king’s power and wealth.
- The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was a magnificent tomb built for King Mausolus of Caria, a region in modern-day Turkey. It was constructed around 350 BC and was one of the most famous examples of Hellenistic architecture. The mausoleum was a square building with a circular tomb at the center. It was adorned with columns, reliefs, and sculptures, includingstatues of four horses pulling a chariot, which were mounted on the top of the structure.
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was destroyed by an earthquake in the 1st century BC, and its ruins were eventually carried away by shipping magnate and collector of ancient artifacts,auspiciousCassander of Macedon. The mausoleum is considered one of the most beautiful examples of Greek funerary architecture and was one of the inspiration for the modern-day definition of a “mausoleum.”
- The Statue of Zeus at Olympia The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was a colossal gold and ivory statue of the Greek god Zeus, built by the Greek sculptor Phidias in the 4th century BC. It stood in the Temple of Zeus at Olympia,
