The Old Seven Wonders Of The Word
The old seven Wonders of the World, also known as the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World are monuments that are representatives of the achievements of ancient civilizations. There are only one of these Wonders that is still standing and the old seven Wonders of the World have been replaced by newer monuments that are representative of some of the mankind's more recent achievements. This is a list of the monuments that are most often considered as the old Seven Wonders Of The World.
The Great Pyramid of Giza
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only ancient Wonder of the World that is still standing to this day. The Great Pyramid was built between 2584 and 2561 BCE and is the resting place of Pharaoh Khufu. The pyramid was not restored until the 19th century and is still being studied. It remained the tallest man-made structure for 4,000 years and is still one of the most popular touristic attractions of Egypt.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Hanging Gardens were built by king Nebuchadnezzar II as a gift to his wife. The construction of the gardens is dated back to the sixth century BCE. The gardens were a series of terraces with self-watering exotic plants and were destroyed in an earthquake sometimes during the first century CE. Other monuments built in Babylon are sometimes considered as Wonders of the Ancient World besides the gardens.
The Statue Of Zeus At Olympia
Phidias created this statue during the 5th century BCE. This sculptor is also known for his work on the statue of Athena in Athens and on the Parthenon. The statue reached 40 feet and showed Zeus on his throne. Old rites and traditions were abandoned with the rise of Christianity and the statue was brought to Constantinople. An earthquake would destroy it during the 5th or 6th century CE.
The Mausoleum Of Halicarnassus
The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus was the tomb of Persian King Mauslos. The tomb reached 135 feet and gave birth to the English word 'mausoleum'. The tomb was originally built in 351 BCE by Artemisia, king Mauslos' wife. The tomb was partially destroyed by earthquakes and the stones were used by the Knights of St. John of Malta to build one of their castles during the 15th century CE.
The Lighthouse Of Alexandria
This 440 feet high lighthouse was built on the island of Pharos by Ptolemy I. The lighthouse was finished during the third century BCE and was the third tallest structure at the time. The light, reflected by a mirror, could be seen as far as 35 miles at sea. A series of earthquakes caused damages to the lighthouse until is completely disappeared. Some of the stones from the lighthouse were used to build the Egyptian fort of Quality.
The Temple Of Artemis At Ephesus
This temple took more than a century to build. The temple was 425 feet high and 225 feet wide. The construction was financed by King Croesus of Lydia and considered as one of the most impressive structures built at the time. In 356 BCE, a man by the name of Herostratus set the temple on fire to have his name recorded in history. Smaller versions of the temple were rebuilt twice only to be destroyed again.
The Colossus Of Rhodes
This statue represented the god Helios and was built between 292 and 280 BCE. The 110 feet high statue towered the harbor and would later inspire the Statue of Liberty. The Statue was built to celebrate the victory of the Island of Rhodes against Demetrius' invasion. The equipment left behind by Demetrius' army was sold and the money was used to finance the construction of the statue. An earthquake destroyed the statue in 226 BCE.
These Seven monuments are usually considered as the Seven Wonders Of The Ancient World, but there are other curiosities that sometimes make the list. These seven wonders are the ones selected by Philo of Byzantium to create the first list of this type. However, the Egyptian Labyrinth, the Ishtar Gate of Babylon, the walls of Babylon and the library of Alexandria are sometimes considered as Wonder of the Ancient World by historians.
