Facts about the Seven Wonders of the World
Have you ever wondered what are the most amazing and awe-inspiring structures and monuments in the world? If so, you might be interested in learning more about the seven wonders of the world, a list of remarkable achievements of human civilization that have captivated travelers and historians for centuries.
In this blog post, we will explore some interesting facts about the seven wonders of the world, both ancient and modern, and why they deserve to be on this prestigious list. We will also provide some links and references for further reading if you want to dive deeper into the history and culture behind these wonders.
So, without further ado, let's get started!
Table of Contents
- The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
- The Seven Wonders of the Modern World
- Conclusion
- Disclaimer
- FAQs
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
The seven wonders of the ancient world are a collection of extraordinary structures or monuments that were admired by ancient or modern travelers. The original list of seven wonders of the ancient world was compiled by Greek writers in the first and second centuries BCE, but only one of them still stands today. The others have been destroyed by natural disasters, wars, or human negligence.
Here are some facts about each of the seven wonders of the ancient world:
The Great Pyramid of Giza
- It is the oldest and only surviving wonder of the ancient world.
- It is located in Egypt, near the city of Cairo.
- It was built around 2560 BCE as a tomb for Pharaoh Khufu.
- It is made of about 2.3 million stone blocks, each weighing an average of 2.5 tons.
- It is estimated that it took about 20 years and 100,000 workers to complete it.
- It is the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years, until the Eiffel Tower was built in 1889.
- It is aligned with the cardinal points and the stars of Orion's belt.
- It has three chambers inside: the King's Chamber, the Queen's Chamber, and the Subterranean Chamber.
- It has several mysteries and legends associated with it, such as hidden passages, curses, and alien involvement.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
- They are considered one of the most elusive wonders of the ancient world, as their exact location and appearance are unknown.
- They are believed to have been located in Babylon, near present-day Iraq.
- They were built around 600 BCE by King Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife Amytis, who missed her homeland's greenery.
- They were described as a series of terraced gardens with exotic plants and trees, supported by stone columns and irrigated by a complex system of pumps and canals.
- They were said to have been destroyed by an earthquake in the second century BCE.
- Some scholars doubt their existence and suggest that they were a poetic invention or a mistranslation of ancient texts.
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
- It was a magnificent temple dedicated to Artemis, the Greek goddess of hunting, wilderness, and fertility.
- It was located in Ephesus, near present-day Turkey.
- It was built around 550 BCE by King Croesus of Lydia and designed by architect Chersiphron.
- It was made of marble and decorated with gold, silver, ivory, and precious stones.
- It had 127 columns, each 18 meters high, and a statue of Artemis made of ebony and gold.
- It was destroyed by a fire set by a man named Herostratus in 356 BCE, who wanted to become famous for his act. He was executed and his name was banned from being mentioned.
- It was rebuilt several times but eventually abandoned and demolished by the Goths in 262 CE.
The Statue of Zeus at Olympia
- It was a colossal statue of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, sitting on his throne.
- It was located in Olympia, near present-day Greece.
- It was built around 430 BCE by Phidias, one of the most renowned sculptors of ancient Greece.
- It was made of wood, ivory, gold, and bronze.
- It was about 12 meters high and 6 meters wide, occupying the entire width of the temple that housed it.
- It was adorned with jewels, flowers, and animals, and held a scepter and a Nike (victory) in his hands.
- It was considered one of the most beautiful and impressive works of art in the ancient world.
- It was destroyed by a fire in the fifth century CE, or possibly taken to Constantinople and later lost.
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
- It was a monumental tomb for Mausolus, a Persian governor of Caria, and his wife Artemisia II.
- It was located in Halicarnassus, near present-day Turkey.
- It was built around 350 BCE by Artemisia II, who also died before its completion.
- It was designed by Greek architects Satyros and Pythius, and decorated by four famous sculptors: Scopas, Bryaxis, Leochares, and Timotheus.
- It was made of marble and stone, and stood on a platform with 36 columns.
- It was about 45 meters high and had a pyramid-shaped roof with a chariot statue on top.
- It was adorned with sculptures, reliefs, and friezes depicting scenes from Greek mythology and history.
- It was damaged by an earthquake in the 13th century CE, and later plundered by the Knights of St. John for building materials.
- It gave its name to the word "mausoleum", meaning a large and impressive tomb.
The Colossus of Rhodes
- It was a gigantic bronze statue of Helios, the Greek god of the sun.
- It was located in Rhodes, near present-day Greece.
- It was built around 280 BCE by Chares of Lindos, a student of Lysippos, one of the most famous sculptors of ancient Greece.
- It was made of iron bars and bronze plates, supported by a stone base.
- It was about 33 meters high and weighed about 70 tons.
- It stood at the entrance of the harbor of Rhodes, possibly straddling it with one foot on each side. Some scholars dispute this and suggest that it stood on one side of the harbor or on a hill nearby.
- It was a symbol of the freedom and prosperity of Rhodes, which had successfully resisted a siege by Antigonus I Monophthalmus in 305 BCE.
- It was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BCE, breaking at the knees and falling to the ground. The Rhodians refused to rebuild it, believing that it had offended Helios.
- Its remains were left untouched for over 800 years, until they were sold to a Jewish merchant by the Arabs in 654 CE. He reportedly needed 900 camels to carry them away.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria
- It was a towering lighthouse built on the island of Pharos, near Alexandria in Egypt.
- It was built around 280 BCE by Ptolemy II Philadelphus, one of the successors of Alexander the Great.
- It was designed by Sostratus of Cnidus, a Greek architect and engineer.
- It was made of limestone and granite blocks, reinforced with molten lead.
- It had three sections: a square base, an octagonal middle, and a cylindrical top. It had a spiral ramp inside for access to the upper levels.
- It was about 120 meters high and had a large fire at the top that burned day and night. It also had a mirror that reflected the sunlight during the day and amplified the firelight at night. It could be seen from up to 50 kilometers away.
- It served as a landmark and a guide for sailors entering the harbor of Alexandria. It also had a siren that warned of enemy ships approaching.
- It was damaged by several earthquakes between the 10th and 14th centuries CE, and eventually collapsed and submerged under the sea. Some of its remains have been discovered by divers and archaeologists.
The Seven Wonders of the Modern World
The seven wonders of the modern world are a list of remarkable landmarks from different continents and cultures, chosen by a global poll conducted by the New7Wonders Foundation in 2007. The list was based on a shortlist of 21 finalists selected from a pool of 200 nominations. The aim was to update the ancient list with more contemporary and diverse examples of human ingenuity and creativity.
Here are some facts about each of the seven wonders of the modern world:
The Great Wall of China
- It is the longest man-made structure in the world, stretching over 21,000 kilometers across northern China.
- It is not a single continuous wall, but a series of walls and fortifications built by different dynasties and states over more than 2,000 years.
- It was built to protect China from nomadic invaders, especially the Mongols, and to assert China's territorial claims and sovereignty.
- It was mostly built with rammed earth, stone, brick, wood, and other materials available locally.
- It had watchtowers, beacon towers, barracks, garrisons, and signal stations along its length. It also had gates and passes that controlled trade and movement along the Silk Road.
- It is estimated that millions of workers were involved in its construction, many of whom died and were buried within or near the wall.
- It is a symbol of China's ancient history, culture, and civilization. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist attraction.
The Taj Mahal
- It is a stunning mausoleum built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth in 1631.
- It is located in Agra, near present-day India.
- It was built between 1632 and 1653 by about 20,000 workers and craftsmen from India, Persia, Turkey, and Europe.
- It was made of white marble and decorated with precious and semi-precious stones, such as jade, turquoise, lapis lazuli, coral, and diamonds.
- It has a symmetrical design with four minarets, a large dome, an arched entrance, and a garden with fountains and pools. It also has intricate carvings, calligraphy, and inlay work depicting floral and geometric patterns.
- It has a chamber inside where the tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal are placed. The actual graves are located in a lower level beneath the chamber.
- It is considered one of the most beautiful and romantic buildings in the world. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist attraction.
Petra
- It is an ancient city carved out of red sandstone cliffs by the Nabataeans, an Arab tribe that ruled the region from the 4th century BCE to the 1st century CE.
- It is located in Jordan, near present-day Israel.
- It was built as a trading hub and a religious center for the Nabataeans. It had temples, tombs, palaces, theaters, markets, baths, and water channels.
- It was famous for its elaborate facades that blended Hellenistic, Egyptian, Roman, and Arabian influences. The most iconic facade is the Treasury (Al-Khazneh), which is believed to be a royal tomb or a temple.
- It was abandoned after an earthquake in 363 CE and remained hidden from the outside world until it was rediscovered by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812.
- It is nicknamed "The Rose City" because of the color of its rocks. It is also called "The Lost City" because of its mysterious history and location.
- It is a symbol of Jordan's rich cultural heritage. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist attraction.
The Colosseum
- This wonder is also on the list of the seven wonders of the ancient world. See above for more details.
Chichen Itza
- It is an ancient city built by the Maya civilization between the 6th and 13th centuries CE.
- It is located in Yucatan, near present-day Mexico.
- It was a political, economic, and religious center for the Maya. It had temples, pyramids, palaces, ball courts, observatories, and cenotes (natural wells).
- It was famous for its impressive architecture and astronomical knowledge. The most iconic structure is the Temple of Kukulkan (El Castillo), a pyramid with 365 steps that represent the days of the year. It also has a phenomenon where a serpent shadow appears on the staircase during the spring and autumn equinoxes.
- It was abandoned after the Spanish conquest in the 16th century and remained hidden in the jungle until it was rediscovered by explorers and archaeologists in the 19th century.
- It is a symbol of the Maya's advanced civilization and culture. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist attraction.
Christ the Redeemer
- It is a colossal statue of Jesus Christ with open arms, overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
- It is located on the peak of Corcovado mountain, at an altitude of 710 meters.
- It was built between 1922 and 1931 by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, French sculptor Paul Landowski, and Romanian artist Gheorghe Leonida.
- It was made of reinforced concrete and soapstone tiles. It is 30 meters high, not including the 8-meter pedestal. It has a wingspan of 28 meters and weighs about 635 tons.
- It was funded by donations from Brazilian Catholics as a symbol of their faith and devotion. It was also intended to promote peace and goodwill among people.
- It is illuminated at night by electric lights that change color according to special occasions. It also has a chapel at its base that can hold up to 150 people.
- It is considered one of the most iconic and recognizable landmarks in the world. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist attraction.
Machu Picchu
- It is an ancient citadel built by the Inca civilization in the 15th century CE.
- It is located in the Andes mountains, at an altitude of 2,430 meters, near present-day Peru.
- It was built as a royal estate for Inca emperor Pachacuti and his successors. It had temples, palaces, terraces, fountains, and houses.
- It was famous for its harmonious design and engineering that blended with the natural surroundings. It also had an advanced water management system that supplied fresh water to its inhabitants.
- It was abandoned after the Spanish conquest in the 16th century and remained hidden from the outside world until it was rediscovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911.
- It is a symbol of the Inca's cultural and spiritual legacy. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist attraction.
Conclusion
The seven wonders of the world are more than just impressive structures and monuments. They are also expressions of human creativity, ingenuity, and perseverance. They reflect the diversity and richness of our history and culture. They inspire us to explore, learn, and appreciate the beauty and wonder of our world.
We hope you enjoyed this blog post and learned something new about the seven wonders of the world. If you want to know more about them, you can check out some of the links and references we provided below. You can also share your thoughts and opinions with us in the comments section or contact us directly if you have any questions or suggestions.
Disclaimer
This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice or endorsement of any product or service. The information provided here is based on our research and sources that we believe to be reliable, but we do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. We are not responsible for any errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from your use of this information. You should always do your own research and consult with experts before making any decisions or taking any actions based on this information.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the seven wonders of the world:
Q: How were the seven wonders of the world chosen?
A: The seven wonders of the ancient world were chosen by Greek writers based on their personal preferences and criteria. The seven wonders of the modern world were chosen by a global poll conducted by the New7Wonders Foundation based on a shortlist of 21 finalists selected from a pool of 200 nominations.
Q: Are there other lists of wonders of the world?
A: Yes, there are many other lists of wonders of the world, both natural and human-made, by different organizations and criteria. Some examples are the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Seven Wonders of the Industrial World, the Seven Wonders of the Solar System, and the Seven Wonders of the Underwater World.
Q: Can I visit the seven wonders of the world?
A: Yes, you can visit the seven wonders of the world, except for the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which are considered lost or mythical. However, you should always check the travel restrictions and safety measures of each destination before planning your trip. You should also respect the local culture and environment and follow the rules and regulations of each site.
Q: What is the eighth wonder of the world?
A: There is no official or definitive answer to this question, as different people may have different opinions and preferences. However, some candidates that have been suggested or claimed as the eighth wonder of the world are the Great Pyramid of Giza (which is an honorary candidate on the modern list), Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Grand Canyon in the USA, the Terracotta Army in China, and the Internet.
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