Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - a list of famous ancient monuments compiled by ancient historians and travelers, including the "father of history" Herodotus.
The list was edited several times, and its classic version was formed 2.2 thousand years ago thanks to the efforts of Philo of Byzantium. The list of "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World" includes: the pyramid of Cheops, the "Hanging Gardens" of Babylon, the statue of Olympian Zeus, the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, the mausoleum in Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes and the lighthouse on the island. Pharos in Alexandria.
Pyramid of Cheops, Egypt
Pyramid of Cheops, or Great pyramid is the only one of the 7 wonders of the world that have survived to this day. The structure is 4500 years old. 120 thousand Egyptians for 20 years in the sweat of their brow erected a grandiose Pharaoh's tomb. The Pyramid of Cheops is composed of 2.5 million blocks weighing 2.5 tons each. Without the use of cement and other bonding agents, the blocks are so tightly fitted to each other that the gap between them does not exceed 0.5 mm.
Initially, the pyramid had a height of 147 meters, but even today, when its top is destroyed, and the very high point located at an elevation of 138 meters, the tomb of Cheops still makes a majestic impression. Almost 4000 years, until the XIV century AD, the Pyramid of Cheops bore the title of the tallest structure in the world.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Asia
Around 600 BC in the territory of modern Iraq ancient Babylon was making noise. The city reached its highest prosperity during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II, who entered into a military alliance with his main enemy, Assyria, and became related to the Median king Cyaxar by marrying his daughter Amitis (Semiramis). For his wife, the tsar ordered the famous "Hanging Gardens" to be laid out. The gardens were located on a four-tiered area resembling an ever-flowering green hill. The base of the terraces was made of stone blocks covered with a layer of reeds and filled with asphalt. Then there was a double layer of brick, even higher - lead plates, preventing the seepage of irrigation water. A fertile soil layer was laid on top of this structure, on which trees, palms and flowers were grown. Magnificent gardens raised on great height, seemed a real wonder of the world in sultry, dusty Babylonia.
Statue of Zeus, Olympia, Greece
In 435 BC. NS. in Olympia, one of the sanctuaries of Ancient Greece, a majestic temple was built in honor of the sovereign of the gods - Zeus. Inside the temple was a huge 20-meter statue of the Olympian god, seated on a throne. The sculpture was made of wood, on top of which were glued ivory plates, imitating the upper naked part of Zeus's body. The god's clothes and shoes are plated with gold. In his left hand, Zeus held a scepter with an eagle, and in his right hand, a statue of the goddess of victory.
Temple of Artemis, Ephesus, Turkey
The Temple of Artemis was built in 560 BC. King of Lydia Croesus in the city of Ephesus on the coast of Asia Minor. The huge white marble temple was framed by 127 columns 18 meters high. Inside was a statue of Artemis, the goddess of fertility, made of gold and ivory. In 356 BC. one vain inhabitant of Ephesus - Herostratus set fire to the temple, thus deciding to become famous and perpetuate his name. The Sanctuary of Artemis was rebuilt, but in 263 it was destroyed and plundered by the Goths.
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Turkey
The ruler of Caria Mavsol during his lifetime in 353 BC. began construction of his own tomb in Halicarnassus (modern Bodrum, Turkey). The grandiose burial structure 46 meters high, girded with 36 columns and crowned with a chariot statue, made such a strong impression on contemporaries that since then all the monumental tombs have been called mausoleums after the name of King Mavsol.
Colossus of Rhodes, Greece
A giant statue of the ancient Greek sun god Helios was erected at the entrance to the port of Rhodes in 292-280. BC e .. A slender youth-god, sculptured in full growth, held a torch in his hand. Ships floated between the legs of the statue. For only 65 years, the Colossus of Rhodes stood in its place: in 222 BC. it was destroyed by an earthquake. The fragments of the sculpture were transported on 900 camels.
Lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt
Seven wonders of the world, photos and descriptions of unique architectural structures show the greatness of ancient history.
The ancient era, with its greatest cultural and historical monuments, laid the foundation for the outstanding creations of mankind, which continue the legacy with new discoveries and genuine miracles.
What are the wonders of the world, how many there are, what they are, why is the word "miracle" used in relation to them, what significance these objects have for world history and culture - we will try to answer these questions, as well as give a definition , short description and bring photographs of those that exist in the 21st century.
Since the time of Ancient Hellas, an antique work of architecture and art has been called a wonder of the world, which has no equal beauty, majestic size, precious decoration and originality.
There were 7 such miracles in the ancient world. Who has not heard about the Eighth Wonder of the World? Probably everything. Can you name it? List them, and you will see that there are only seven of them in our time. No list or table in the tutorial contains it. And all because the 8th wonder of the world does not officially exist - this is just an expression designed to assess something truly delightful and grandiose, or ... to emphasize the extraordinary curiosity of some phenomenon or incident.
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7 wonders of the world - list
So what is included in the list:
- - the age is about 4.5 thousand years, daily crowds of tourists visit this sights of Egypt.
- - an amazing and unusual gift made by a husband for his beloved wife. Amid dusty Babylon, beautiful green gardens full of exotic plants, birds and animals have sprung up.
- Zeus statue in Olympia- only this miracle was on the territory of the continent of Europe. For 300 years, the Olympic Games were held, and only then the construction of the majestic and main temple began.
- Temple of Artemis of Ephesus- a wonderful building, burned for the sake of "glorifying" the name.
- mausoleum in Halicarnassus- stood in its place for a long time - nineteen centuries.
- The Colossus of Rhodes- a huge statue of the sun god who was worshiped by the people.
- Alexandrian lighthouse- not just a lighthouse, but a fortress city, on the top of which a fire burned day and night. They brought firewood by mullahs along a winding road inside the building.
Detailed description of the seven wonders
The Pyramid of Cheops
The first wonder of the world is the Cheops pyramid. The ancient heritage of Egypt is located in the northwestern part of Cairo. The location points to the 4 parts of the world and shows the unique precision of the structure. The greatest Egyptian wonder of the world took 20 years to build. For its construction, the labor of about a million slaves was used, whose work continued after the death of Pharaoh Cheops.
The base area of the pyramid reaches 53,000 square meters. m, and the height at the end of construction reached 147 m. You can get inside to the tomb of the pharaoh only through one entrance, which is located above the ground at a level of 15.5 m.
Its useful to note: Caliph Abdullah Al-Mamun decided to disturb the chambers of the pharaoh, who led a tunnel into the pyramid with the intention of profit, and in the end did not find any treasures.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The second wonder of the world is the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. They represent a gorgeous gift from Nebuchadnezzar - the Babylonian ruler for his beloved wife. Subsequently, the wealth and splendor of the city was destroyed by flooding. The structures and buildings where the gardens grew are eroded and broken under the influence of a powerful water flow.
The attraction misleads contemporaries about its location. Many archaeological scientists have made repeated attempts to find traces of this ancient phenomenon.
Zeus statue in Olympia
The third wonder of the world - the majestic Zeus was a masterpiece of jewelers. The author is the great master of that time - Phidias. The wonders of the world, described on Wikipedia, say that the author has been creating his creation for about 10 years. Until now, the size of the statue has not been precisely determined; it is believed that the approximate height was 12-18 m.
The throne pedestal was impressive in size, decorated with fragments from the Olympic Games and the life of the gods. On it sat a thunderer naked to the waist, supported at the feet of two lions. On the body - a gold cloak with images of animals and plants. On his head is a wreath, the thunderer is holding a scepter in one hand, and a golden statue of the goddess of Victory in the other.
Temple of Artemis of Ephesus
The fourth wonder of the world is the Temple of Artemis of Ephesus. The ancient pilgrim center is located in Turkey. It was erected by the forces of the Amazons, who were considered the founders of the city. The city was soon burnt down by Herostratus. In the 6th century, a new construction project under the leadership of Khersifron included white marble columns.
Its construction lasted 120 years and was carried out according to the same project, with preliminary collection Money and the jewels of the townspeople.
Good to know: on the day of the fire of the temple, Alexander III the Great was born, and the phrase "Herostratus' glory" became a symbol of a bad deed.
mausoleum in Halicarnassus
The fifth wonder of the world is the mausoleum at Halicarnassus. The ruler Mavsol built his tomb under his personal supervision. The three-level mausoleum was 46 meters high. The lower level was faced with marble. It housed the tomb of the king. The next level was a colonnade supporting the roof, creating a pyramidal shape.
The top was personified by the figures of King Mavsol and Artemisia, who are in a chariot with 4 horses.
The Colossus of Rhodes
The sixth wonder of the world is the colossus of Rhodes. The islanders of Rhodes erected a monument to their patron, Helios, in gratitude for their victory with the invaders. The monument is the personification of the freedom and independence of the inhabitants of the island. The construction of the statue has been going on for 12 years. According to numerous descriptions of contemporaries, the Colossus was located on an embankment, which was a kind of gateway to the city. In one hand the young man held the blazing fire of Helios.
The height of the statue reached 36 m. The supporting pillars of the structure of the structure turned out to be unreliable and after only 65 years collapsed as a result of an earthquake. The statue of the Colossus of Rhodes is a wonder of the world that lasted the least of all.
Its useful to note: fragile structures later became known as the "Colossus with feet of clay".
Alexandrian lighthouse
The seventh wonder of the world is the Lighthouse of Alexandria. The tower got its name from the city of the same name, located near the island of Faros. The lighthouse fulfilled its direct role, lighting up the path of ships lost to the shore with flames at night. The designer of the gigantic structure of 140 meters was Sostratus of Cnidus.
Consisting of several tiers, the lighthouse served as housing for sailors and port workers. At the top of the octagonal tower was a light source - a large bonfire. The unique creation served until the 15th century, when an earthquake completely destroyed it.
Note: the second name of the lighthouse is Zeus the Savior.
Who first described the 7 wonders of the world
The original founder of the work "On the Seven Wonders of the World" was Philo of Byzantium. His short essay on 12 pages consists of eyewitness accounts of unique buildings.
None of the described miracles Philo of Byzantine saw with his own eyes, and wrote about them from the stories of others
Information about the life and work of the great engineer and poet consists of small facts that are famous for their great discoveries. The wonders of the world were described by many talented authors: Herodotus, Strabo, Pausanias, Sequestre, Cassiodorus, etc. However, they did not have a single idea and in their own way defined unique monuments.
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Famous wonders of the world that have entered our lives and make up miracles the ancient world... Why are the wonders of the world not five or six ... namely 7?
"7" is a number associated with the sacred god Apollo, signifies completeness and perfection in the mind of the ancient civilization.
Compiles a list of venerable rulers of the ancient age. Based on their significance, grandiose monuments of that time were created.
Each monument from the list is an embodiment of architectural art. From the beginning of the Hellenic era, writings on unique monuments were circulated on papyri by Greek authors. They were widely studied at school and were a teaching aid.
How many wonders of the world have survived to this day
Only one pyramid of Cheops has been completely preserved to our time. Egyptian miracle antiquity still keeps the secrets of great ancestors. V this moment This is the largest architectural structure made of stone, reaching 137 m.During its existence, it decreased by almost 10 m.
Architectural sights, interesting to many researchers in the world and constituting the wonders of the ancient world, have been preserved in part or in the form of a copy:
- The lighthouse of Alexandria collapsed due to the earthquake and could not be restored. By now only the fortress has survived.
- A copy of Zeus is on display in the Hermitage. This is the tallest antique sculpture of our time, 3.5 m high.
- Having existed for 19 centuries, the mausoleum in Halicarnassus was destroyed by an earthquake. The tombs of Artemisia and Mausolus are in the British Museum.
- Only the German historian Robert Koldewey managed to discover the gardens of Semiramis in 18 years of excavation. Found buildings of Ancient Babylon and structures that surrounded the gardens.
Seven Wonders of the World of Our Time
On July 7, 2007, a list of 7 modern wonders of the world was compiled. We will give a description and present a photo of each object that was included in the list, which was called the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
the great Wall of China
The construction of the greatest defensive structure began in the 3rd century BC, and now it still harbors many legends. During the construction, the main goals were pursued: the protection of the territory from the Mongol invasion and the creation of a guarantee for the protection of one state from another. Inadequate attention to the great structure gradually destroyed it in some places. A large-scale restoration of architecture began at the end of the twentieth century.
1997 was marked by the entry into the status of a miracle modern world. Architectural structure stretches for almost 9 thousand km, has a height of 6 to 10 meters.
Do you know that: the erection of the wall resulted in tens of thousands of deaths due to hard work and epidemics.
Statue of Christ the Redeemer
The famous symbol of the Brazilian people is located at the very top of the Corcovado mountain. Towering over the city with outstretched arms, Christ the Redeemer, with his 38-meter height, seems to embrace all the inhabitants of the metropolis, and at the same time, from afar, he warmly welcomes guests.
The construction of the monument is timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of independence. All residents of the country collected funds for the construction. Detailed production of the statue took place in France.
Taj Mahal
The pinnacle of the Mongolian architectural style is a snow-white palace located on the banks of the Jamna. Construction was underway for two decades, it was built by the middle of the 17th century.
The mausoleum contains the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan, a descendant of Tamerlane. The presence of four minarets at the edges of the palace helps to protect the tombs from tremors and destruction.
Coliseum
The largest amphitheater of the ancient era can accommodate more than 50 thousand people. The beginning of construction during the Flavian dynasty lasted 8 years. In the VIII century, due to its impressive size, it began to be called.
At the beginning of their existence, gladiators practiced their art in the arena of the amphitheater. After being plundered by barbarians and an earthquake in the 14th century, the Colosseum was literally pulled apart brick by brick. Only from the 18th century the building was taken under protection as an important architectural mega-object.
Machu Picchu
This is the nickname for the city in the sky, which is located at an altitude of about 2500 m above the sea. Previously it was the residence of the emperor. The almost untouched ancient urban architecture did not suffer from the attacks of the Spanish conquerors.
The clear structure of the city delights with its architectural design. However, little is known about the urban population and the city.
Petra
Jordan Petra is a city in a rock, located above the sea at a level of 900 meters. The road to it is laid through a natural gorge, which serves as city walls.
Remaining ruins of houses built using the traditional stone method stretch for kilometers. Ad-Deir is a 45-meter monastery carved into the rock. The main attraction - the mausoleum of Al-Khazneh - still keeps the legend of untold treasures. Previously, the city served as a trade route connecting Damascus and the Red Sea regions.
Note: Indiana Jones' adventure film filmed in Petra.
Chichen Itza
Mexico is famous for its legendary city named local residents... Chichen Itza, a Mayan civilization, has a 24-meter pyramid called the Temple of Kukulkan, which has 365 steps.
There are as many steps as there are days in a year. The located natural well is the Sacred Cenote. Its depth is "deadly" - 50 m. Earlier it served for the rite of sacrifices. It is known that living people were thrown into the cenote. Now tourists swim in it.
The change of civilizations leaves behind a grandiose architectural heritage, which has been partially preserved to this day. The question - how many wonders of the world are in the world and which ones - can now be answered definitely. The appearance of new miracles is evidence that there are many more mysterious places to study and recognize their significance for all of humanity.
We bring to your attention an interesting film about the seven wonders of the ancient world:
The pyramids of Giza were built during the reign of the 4th dynasty of the pharaohs (about 2550 BC), presumably as tombs for kings and queens. Architecture Ancient egypt represented by 90 pyramids, the main of which is the Pyramids of Giza, which are located on the edge of the capital of Cairo. The largest in the world - the Pyramid of Cheops, towering over the plateau is one of the most ancient and untouched by time historical and cultural monument... For 4300 years, the Pyramid of Cheops was the most tall building on the ground. In 1889, it was replaced by Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The pyramid is built entirely of limestone. Scientists have not yet been able to find out by what mechanisms this grandiose pyramidal complex was built. During its construction, 1,300,000 stone blocks weighing from 2.5 to 15 tons were used. Its base is 230 meters long. The four sides of the Cheops Pyramid look at the four cardinal directions at an angle of 52 degrees. The original height of the Pyramid was 146.5 m, but today it is only 137 meters. The pyramid lost 9 meters in height due to the fact that the limestone cover and facing stones that were on the top were removed from the pyramid and used by the Turks in power in Egypt and used in the construction of houses and mosques in Cairo. The Cheops pyramid has two exits. Both of them are located in its northern part: one main and the second 17 meters above ground level.
In the XI century. NS. the treasure hunter Caliph El-Mamun suggested that there were untold treasures inside the pyramid and sent masons to open the entrance to it. They have carved a tunnel in the pyramid, which deviates from the original entrance and connects with it after 35 meters. They did not find anything inside the pyramid: the tombs of the pharaohs were plundered in ancient times.
A long narrow corridor with a low ceiling leads from the main entrance to the Pyramid to the place where the sarcophagus was located. It descends to a depth of over 100 meters and leads to a chamber located approximately 24 meters below ground level.
There is another tunnel 20 meters from the descending corridor, which leads to the very heart of the pyramid. It ends at the largest part of the pyramid - the Great Gallery. And it is a rectangular room 49 square meters long and 15 meters high. From the Great Gallery, a long tunnel leads into the chamber of the second chamber, which is known as the Tombs of the Queens.
Rising from the Great Gallery, you can find the entrance to the third chamber, here is a sarcophagus, which was made of a single block of granite stone. The room in this chamber is an amazing archaeological find: it is built of granite blocks that were brought from the southern city of Egypt Aswan, located 1000 km from the Giza plateau! The roof of the chamber consists of 9 granite slabs, each weighing approximately 50 tons. The burial chamber has small rectangular exits from the pyramid. Scientists suggest that these recesses in the pyramid served to provide ventilation, or, according to the beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, ensured contact of the pharaoh with the stars.
The Great Pyramid in Egypt belonged to the Egyptian king Khufu. The name "Cheops" was given to him by the Greeks. Both names are common. The same applies to the Pyramid of Khafre (in Greek "Khafre") and the Pyramid of Menkaur (in Greek "Mikerina") located nearby on the Giza plateau.
Pyramid of Khafre, the second in order and largest pyramid on the Giza plateau of Egypt. The main difference of this pyramid is the layer of facing white stone... When examining the Pyramids of Giza, one gets the impression that it is the largest. In fact, this is just an optical illusion, since she stands on a hill. The height of the Pyramid of Khafre is only 136 m, the width of the base is 214.5 m. Initially, the Pyramid of Khafre was 143.5 m in height.
No corridors leading to its center and burial chambers have been found in the pyramid. The pyramid has a single entrance 15 meters above the ground, and a descent along a narrow corridor at an angle of 25 degrees into a burial chamber with an area of 14.2 by 6.9 m. This chamber contains a large black sarcophagus.
The smallest of the three pyramids on the Giza plateau was built for Khefren's son, Mikerin: 65.5 m in height (currently 62 m), with a base of 105 m and at an angle of 51.3 degrees. This pyramid, like the other two on the Giza plateau, has a northern entrance. In addition to its size, the Pyramid of Mikerin differed from the other two in that its facing was made of pink granite, which was brought from Aswan. King Muhammad Ali Pasha of Egypt used it to build a residence in Alexandria.
Hanging gardens were located in Babylon. Their creation in ancient times was associated with a certain queen Semiramis. At present, it is believed that the king of Babylon Nebuchadnezzar II was involved in the construction of this miracle of technical thought.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon: History and Legend
The modern history of the gardens of Semiramis is associated with the name of an archaeologist from Germany, Robert Koldevei. Having been excavating ancient Babylon since 1899, one day he stumbles upon a strange structure not typical for the area. So, for example, the vaults had a different shape, laid with stone, instead of the usual brick, there were underground structures, and most importantly, an interesting water supply system from three mines was found.
Obviously, this type of building was used for some special purpose. Koldewey had to find out. He could understand that the whole structure was a kind of water elevator for the continuous supply of water upward. He was helped by the mention of the writers of antiquity, which said that the stone in Babylon was used in only two places. One of them, at the northern wall of Qasr, was discovered earlier by the archaeologist. Another place was semi-legendary, it was about the discovery of one of the 7 wonders of the world in the gardens of Semiramis.
The main references in antiquity to the gardens of Semiramis are associated with the name of the Greek Ctesias. But due to the use of exaggerations and fantasies noticed behind him, almost all our information about this wonder of the world is controversial and unreliable.
In antiquity, the image of Semiramis pops up quite often. According to many legends, Semiramis was a brave warrior and builder with excellent architectural taste. According to one of the legends, she was the daughter of the mermaid Atargatis, who is a moon goddess, and an ordinary person. According to other stories, Semiramis was left by her parents from birth, and pigeons were engaged in her upbringing.
In fact, the name of Semiramis was understood by the Greeks as the Assyrian queen Shammuramat, who lived around 800 BC. After the death of her husband Shamshi-Adad V, she had to take power completely into her own hands, until her son came of age. But even after his accession to the royal throne, the title of queen was retained for Shammuramat. And it is no coincidence that the state was strengthened under her, the borders were expanded by conquering Media.
But still, the wonder of the world, the gardens of Semiramis, according to modern researchers, could not be associated with Shammuramat itself. According to a more truthful version, this miracle was presented to the wife of Nebuchadnezzar II Amitis two hundred years after the reign of Semiramis. According to legend, Nebuchadnezzar made an alliance with the king of Media for the war with Assyria. After the victory, to reinforce the alliance, he married the daughter of the Medes king. But life in desolate Babylon was incomparable to the mountainous and verdant Media. To please and comfort his wife, Nebuchadnezzar ordered the construction of these evergreen gardens in the city. So the full name of this building is most likely "Amitis Hanging Gardens".
Hanging Gardens of Babylon: a short description and interesting facts
The Babylonian Hanging Gardens were a four-level structure with many cool rooms lavishly decorated with plants. To water them, a water lift was used, for the functioning of which the slaves had to turn the wheel. The vaults of the building at each level were propped up by 25-meter columns. Terraces were laid out with tiles, covered with asphalt and covered with a layer of earth sufficient to grow even trees.
The water supply system used in the gardens of Babylon was not new to Mesopotamia. The same is found in local ziggurats, including the legendary Tower of babel and The Great Ziggurat of Ur... But it was in the gardens that the irrigation technique reached its perfection.
If we talk about the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II, then this was a time of great construction of great structures. During his reign, many of the city's roads were built, including the famous Processional Road leading from the gate of the goddess Ishtar, a huge number of palaces and temples.
We should also mention the legendary walls of babylon, originally also included in the list of wonders of the world. According to the descriptions, their width allowed two chariots to move freely. Watchtowers were installed in two rows of walls every 50 meters. There were 360 of them on the inner wall, and 250 on the outer.
But with the erection Alexandria lighthouse the walls of the city with the gardens of Semiramis left the famous list, but the gardens themselves proudly survived with it to our times. Of course, one can dispute for a long time the place of gardens in this list, but the fact that it was one of the best engineering structures of antiquity is beyond doubt.
