Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Let's take a look at these notable structures of the world. The list has changed several times over the centuries, the first known 7 wonders dates back to the 2nd - 1st century BC.

Great Pyramid of Giza

This is the only one that still exists. The world's tallest human-made structure for nearly 4,000 years. Built on the west bank of the Nile River, the Great Pyramid served as the tomb of the 4th-century pharaoh Khufu. 

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The Greek historians Strabo & Diodorus Siculus described this as marvels of agricultural engineering -- an amazing array of blooming flowers, luscious fruit, exotic foliage & impressive waterfalls.

Statue of Zeus at Olympia

Phidias, the most renowned sculptor of the ancient era created the stunning representation of the great god Zeus. The statue showed Zeus seated on a throne crusted in gold, precious gems, ivory & ebony. Zeus held a statue of Nike, the goddess of victory, in his right hand ; a scepter topped with an eagle in his left hand. The statue was destroyed in an earthquake in the 5th century B.C.E.

Temple of Artemis

The Temple of Artemis was constructed in Ephesus (now Western Turkey). It was originally constructed to celebrate Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt, and became a revered place of worship. It was decorated with fine sculptures & paintings. It's destruction was a claim to fame by Herostratus. 

Mausoleum of Halicarnassus

Designed by Greek architects, Satyro & Pythis, the mausoleum was created for Mausollos, a governor in the Persian Empire. It was adorned with intricate exterior carvings & precious works of art. It was ruined by a series of earthquakes.

Colossus of Rhodes

The sculptor Chares of Lindos created the statue as a victory monument to honour the defeat of the invading army of Demetrius in 304 B.C.E. The statue of the Greek god Helios greeted visitors to ancient Rhodes, an island in the eastern Aegean Sea. It stood for 56 years, until an earthquake ruined it in 224 B.C.E.

Lighthouse of Alexandria

Built in Pharos, an island in the harbour of Alexandria in Egypt, is considered a technical masterpiece that served as a model for all lighthouses that followed. The lighthouse was constructed in 3 distinct stages: a square stone base; an octagonal middle section; and a cylindrical section at the top. At the apex, a mirror was erected to reflect sunlight during the day. At night, a fire was lit to guide travelers. It was gone by 1480 C.E. due to earthquakes.

SOURCE: National Geographic 

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