The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is a list of remarkable constructions from antiquity that were considered the most impressive achievements of their time. Here, we'll delve into the history and significance of these incredible structures.
The Original List
The original list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was compiled by ancient Greek historians and philosophers. The most widely recognized list was created by Philo of Byzantium in the 3rd century BCE. Here are the seven wonders that made the cut:
- The Great Pyramid of Giza: The oldest and only surviving structure of the original seven wonders, the Great Pyramid of Giza is an engineering marvel built as a tomb for Pharaoh Khufu around 2580 BCE.
- The Hanging Gardens of Babylon: Located in present-day Iraq, the Hanging Gardens were said to have been built by the Neo-Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife, Queen Amytis, around 600 BCE.
- The Statue of Zeus at Olympia: This massive statue of the Greek god Zeus was built by the famous sculptor Phidias and completed around 432 BCE. It was located in Olympia, Greece.
- The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus: Dedicated to the Greek goddess Artemis, this massive temple was built in present-day Turkey around 550 BCE.
- The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus: Built around 350 BCE for King Mausolus, a satrap of the Persian Empire, this grand tomb was famous for its intricate sculptures and massive size.
- The Colossus of Rhodes: A massive bronze statue of the Greek god Helios, the Colossus of Rhodes was built in the 3rd century BCE and stood over 100 feet tall.
- The Lighthouse of Alexandria: Built on the island of Pharos in Egypt around 280 BCE, this towering lighthouse was an engineering marvel that guided ships into the busy port of Alexandria.
Statistics and Metrics
- The Great Pyramid of Giza is estimated to have taken around 20 years to build and required the labor of around 100,000 workers.
- The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were said to have been built using a complex system of irrigation and arches to support the weight of the gardens.
- The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was around 40 feet tall and took around 12 years to complete.
- The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was built using marble and cedar wood and took around 120 years to complete.
- The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was around 140 feet tall and took around 10 years to complete.
- The Colossus of Rhodes was built using bronze plates and iron framework and took around 12 years to complete.
- The Lighthouse of Alexandria stood at around 120 meters (400 feet) tall and took around 15 years to complete.
Resources
- Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Wonders_of_the_Ancient_World
- National Geographic - https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/seven-wonders
- World History Encyclopedia - https://www.worldhistory.org
- Ancient History Encyclopedia - https://www.ancient.eu
Other Information
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre - https://www.whc.unesco.org
- The British Museum - https://www.britishmuseum.org
- National Geographic - https://www.nationalgeographic.org
- World History Encyclopedia - https://www.worldhistory.org
- Ancient History Encyclopedia - https://www.ancient.eu