The classic list of the seven wonders of the world has been known to us since school times, when we studied Ancient history... Only the pyramids of Egypt have survived to our times, which can be seen by everyone who visits this country. The Pyramid of Cheops at Giza is the only surviving wonder of the world. The rest of the wonders - the Colossus of Rhodes, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Lighthouse of Alexandria - have collapsed over the centuries, some by fires and earthquakes, others by floods.
The classic list of wonders of the world includes:
- Pyramid of Cheops (burial place of the pharaoh of Egypt) - was created by the Egyptians in 2540 BC. e. ;
- Hanging Gardens of Babylon - created by the Babylonians in 605 BC e. ;
- Statue of Zeus at Olympia - Created by the Greeks in 435 BC e .;
- Temple of Artemis in Ephesus (built in honor of the goddess Artemis in Turkey) - was created by the Greeks and Persians in 550 BC. e .;
- Mausoleum at Halicarnassus - created by the Carians, Greeks and Persians in 351 BC. e .;
- Colossus of Rhodes - was installed by the Greeks between 292 and 280. BC e .;
- Lighthouse of Alexandria - Built in the 4th century BC. e. a lighthouse by the Greeks, and named after Alexander the Great.
All the photos below with the wonders of the world are either mock-ups of how the majestic buildings used to look, or what is left of them at the present time. It is a pity that they could not withstand natural disasters.
Some time later, cultural figures began to add additional attractions, "miracles" to this list, which still surprise and inspire. So, at the end of the 1st century, the Roman poet Martial added only the rebuilt Colosseum to the list. After a while, in the 6th century, the Christian theologian Gregory of Tours added Noah's Ark and the Temple of Solomon to the list.
Different sources mention different combinations of wonders of the world, for example, English and French writers and historians equated the Alexandria Catacombs, the Leaning Tower in Pisa, the Porcelain Tower in Nanjing, and the Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul with the wonders of the world.
New list of wonders of the world
In 2007, one of the UN organizations organized a vote to approve the new list modern wonders Sveta. Voted by phone, Internet and SMS. And here's the final list:
The Colosseum in Italy;
The great Wall of China;
Machu Picchu - ancient city the Incas in Peru;
Taj Mahal in India - a magnificent mausoleum-mosque in India;
Petra is an ancient city, the capital of the Nabataean kingdom, located in modern Jordan;
a statue of Christ the Redeemer flying over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;
the pyramids of Giza in Egypt;
Chichen Itza in Mexico, the ancient city of the Mayan civilization.
All of them have survived from ancient times, except for the statue of Christ the Redeemer, which was finally built in 1931 of the last century and since then has become a symbol of Brazil and one of its largest cities - Rio de Janeiro.
How to see them?
The new list of miracles is officially approved by the UN, and now everyone who travels to the country can see them. No one excursion route will not avoid visiting these attractions. They try to carefully preserve them for future generations, but they are also used for modern needs.
For example, the Colosseum is known for its great acoustics. Famous singers and musicians from all over the world often perform there, operas are staged right in the open air.
The Taj Mahal is also open to tourists, but this is the tomb of the beloved wife of the padishah, so it is only viewed and admired for the beauty of its architectural forms and interior painting.
To be in China and not to visit The great wall considered simply indecent. Many excursions lead to it, but you cannot climb on it: it is a huge obstacle course and it is dangerous to walk on it. Therefore, everyone is photographed at its sites in the most picturesque places.
The pyramids of Giza can be viewed from the outside and inside, and nearby you can see the grandiose statues of the ancient sphinxes.
Excursions to the ancient cities of Machu Picchu, Petra and Chichen Itza are extremely interesting, but physically difficult - you will have to walk along the ruins for a long time. However, the rest of tourists in these countries is well organized, and you will not regret if you spend a day or two visiting these magnificent places.
Chichen Itza - the ancient city of the Mayan Indians
Why exactly 7 wonders of the world, and not 10 or 15?
As you probably already noticed, people used to have a special attitude towards the magic number seven. Everyone knows that on a person's head there are 7 holes - 2 eyes, 2 nostrils, 2 ears and a mouth. When a person sees seven objects at the same time, he can immediately count them with a glance, without even thinking, however, if there are more of them, then he will have to count them in his mind.
Thus, due to seemingly such primitive inferences, people began to strive to shine the number of something to seven. For example, select 7 days in a week, seven colors in a rainbow, 7 tones in a sound series, and so on.
It is not at all surprising that the ancient Greeks singled out exactly the Seven Wonders of the World, because the number 7 was the sacred number of Apollo, the god who patronized art.
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 , a short description and provide 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.
It is worth noting: Caliph Abdullah Al-Mamun decided to disturb the chambers of the pharaoh, who led a tunnel into the pyramid with the intention of making money, 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.
It is worth noting: 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:
Everyone has definitely heard about the legendary 7 wonders of the world - the greatest creations of mankind - even in childhood, even if not everyone can remember them in order. And although it will no longer be possible to see most of the monuments from the history textbook, people managed to compile to the delight of tourists many other, alternative, lists of outstanding sights that have survived to this day.
Ancient wonders of the world
The first attempts to single out the exceptional achievements of mankind in the list of wonders of the world took shape in the written heritage of ancient Greek authors, starting with the Hellenistic era. The "selection" of the main monuments of all times took place gradually.
So, one of the first historical list of "miracles" was compiled by Herodotus: in his "History" we are talking about three grandiose structures on the island of Samos - a mountain tunnel, a dam and the temple of Hera.
Soon, other thinkers added the list to seven attractions: the seven in antique greece was considered a holy number, was an indispensable attribute of the solar gods and myths about them.
The classic "7 Wonders of the World" of the Ancient World, familiar to many from the school curriculum, are historically associated with the empire of Alexander the Great - the second half of the 4th century BC. e. Of these, two sights were ancient Egyptian, four were located in the territories Ancient Greece and one in Mesopotamia (or more precisely, in Babylon).
The Pyramid of Cheops is the oldest, the first wonder of the world and the only one that has survived to this day. It is part of the Giza pyramid complex - the main attraction of Egypt.
The legendary Babylonian Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the second wonder of the world, presumably existed from the end of the 7th century BC. e. until the 1st century BC e., destroyed by floods.
The temple statue of Zeus in Olympia, reaching about 12-17 meters with a pedestal, was made of ivory, ebony and gold, stood for about nine centuries: from 435 BC. e. until the 5th century - burned down in a fire.
The ruins of the fourth wonder of the world, Artemis at Ephesus (from the 6th to the 4th or 3rd centuries BC), are now part of the Turkish city of Selcuk (near Izmir).
Of the lost sights, the most persistent was the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. Nonstandard for mid 4th century BC e. the architectural monument existed for 19 centuries: destroyed by an earthquake, then partially dismantled for building materials. The ruins of the mausoleum can be seen in Bodrum, Turkey - this is what the city is now called with the historical location of the fifth wonder of the world.
Earthquakes caused the death of two more ancient wonders: the bronze statue of the Colossus on the island of Rhodes (stood only 65 years, destroyed in the same III century BC) and Alexandria lighthouse in Egypt (the seventh wonder of the world, collapsed in the XIV century).
Panorama Google Maps "At the foot of the pyramid of Cheops (Khufu)"
New seven wonders of the world
The list of new wonders of the world, each of which continues to amaze tourists, was compiled in the first decade of the 21st century, in 2001-2007. Currently, it is the most famous of such ratings and therefore, along with the UNESCO World Heritage List, it is the main must-see landmark for tourists actively traveling around the world. It was compiled by a specially created non-profit foundation The New 7 Wonders of the world based on international voting via the Internet and other means of communication. Nearly 100 million votes were cast in the selection of attractions, but since the conditions allowed for multiple votes, the list became questionable almost immediately after publication.
One of the undisputed leaders on the list is the Great Wall of China. It stretches across the north of the country for almost 9 thousand kilometers, and taking into account the ruins - more than 20 thousand kilometers. The most famous landmark in China is organically inscribed in the landscape and is a truly impressive sight. Several sites are open for tourists. The most popular is Badaling, which is connected by transport to Beijing.
The antique Colosseum is an iconic landmark of Rome, its signature silhouette. This amphitheater, a masterpiece of architectural thought of the 1st century AD, almost immediately after its creation was proclaimed a wonder of the world in the list of the Roman poet Martial, his contemporary.
The symbol of Rio de Janeiro - the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Mount Corcovado - blesses the city, stretching out his hands over it from above. At night, the illuminated figure of Christ is clearly visible from almost any part of the city, however best view to her appears from the mountain Pan de Asucar. In the list of the new 7 wonders of the world, the statue, erected in honor of the century of Brazil's independence, is the youngest attraction, its age is less than a hundred years.
Lost in the middle of the desert in Jordan, Petra, the capital of the ancient kingdoms of Idumea and Nabatea, opened to Europeans only in the 19th century. The main attractions of Petra, " stone city", - crypts carved into the rocks of red sandstone and the rocky temple of El-Deir.
The pearl of Muslim architectural art in India is the Taj Mahal mausoleum-mosque in Agra, built in the 17th century by the will of the padishah Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. It is not surprising that today the Taj Mahal is considered not only an outstanding architectural and spiritual monument, but also a symbol of love. Every year the marble complex becomes a place of pilgrimage for millions of people from all over the world.
The lost city of the Incas of Machu Picchu is located in the territory of modern Peru. This sixth new wonder of the world was created as a sacred mountain haven when Pachacutec ruled the Incas in the middle of the 15th century. However, the alpine city remained inhabited for less than a century - until the invasion of the Spaniards, who, however, never reached it. The worldwide discovery of the Inca "city among the clouds" took place only in 1911. Many mysteries of Machu Picchu have remained unsolved, and they still haunt researchers.
Completing the list of modern wonders of the world is the legacy of the Maya - another lost civilization of America. Sacred city Chichen Itza in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula was founded around the 7th century AD, later the Toltecs who captured it made their contribution to the architecture of the complex. It is not known exactly why such a developed city was deserted at the end of the 12th century. The complex of the preserved monuments of Chichen Itza includes temples-pyramids, play "stadiums", ruins of colonnades, a well of sacrifices and an observatory.
Everyone has heard about the wonders of the world, but confusion often arises with what exactly is considered such. Often this list includes those buildings and monuments that, of course, have a huge historical and cultural value, however, are absent from the official list. In addition, in 2007, Portugal selected new "miracles", so we can say that there are already more than seven of them. All of them have made a huge contribution to the culture of humanity. Wikipedia and other encyclopedias write about the seven wonders of the world in great detail. Let's dwell on short description everyone.
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The wonders of the ancient world are studied at school in history lessons. It includes those structures that were created before our era. None of them has survived to this day, except for the pyramids of Cheops in. These include:
- Pyramid of Cheops.
- The statue of Zeus at Olympia.
- Colossus of Rhodes.
- Alexandrian lighthouse.
Pyramid of Cheops and Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Both structures are legendary tombs, but the time of their construction is very different.
It is interesting that the pyramid of Cheops - the most ancient miracle Sveta and at the same time the only one that has survived to this day... It was created approximately two thousand years BC. e., and the mysteries of its construction are still debated and sometimes completely incredible theories are put forward. For example, the shape of the arrangement of the pyramids exactly repeats the arrangement of the stars in the constellation Orion, so some consider the pyramids to be a gift. alien civilizations... Every year thousands of tourists from all over the world come to see them. Indeed, the structure strikes once and for all.
This building, like all the mausoleums built later, received the name of King Mavsol, who ordered after his death to erect a monument similar to the pyramids of Egypt, and glorifying the king himself and his wife. The building was not only a tomb, but also a temple. The king rested on the first tier, and on the second it was possible to conduct divine services. Both the statues of the gods and the statues of Mavsol himself and his wife Artemisia were installed in the mausoleum. The statues of the royal couple have survived to this day, you can find their photos and even look at them in the British Museum.
The gardens were named after the legendary Queen Semiramis, but, oddly enough, she has nothing to do with them. Two centuries after her death, the Babylonian king decided to marry the daughter of the king of Media, a country drowning in gardens and greenery. Babylon stood in the desert, and in order to strike the bride, the ruler ordered the creation of gardens of unprecedented beauty. The tubs with plants bloomed so luxuriantly that they almost hid the building, on the walls of which they were located, and seemed to be hanging in the air. The structure looked especially majestic in the middle of the barren desert, when the traveler saw a magic garden in the endless sands, symbolizing the greatness of Babylon and its king.
Supreme Greek God reached the height of a five-story building, to work on it, the architect Phidias demanded to create a workshop, repeating the temple in which the statue was installed. At the same time, Zeus, sitting on the throne, seemed to "not fit" into the temple, if the statue could stand, then broke the vault. Thus, the greatness of God was emphasized.
The materials were also selected as appropriate: ivory and gold... Interesting: Phidias in those distant times, when physics had not yet reached its heyday, managed to choose the material and location of the statue in such a way that it seemed that the light falling on it was reflected, and it seemed to glow from the inside. After the establishment of Christianity and the closure of pagan temples, Zeus was transported to Constantinople, where, unfortunately, he burned down.
Its significance was great, the building was used not only for religious rituals, but also for public meetings and even trade. The best sculptors and architects worked on the construction; the building was striking in its beauty and grandeur. It is also famous for the fact that it was burned by the hot-tempered young man Herostratus, who thus decided to leave his name in history. It is worth noting that he really did it. Fortunately, the temple has been rebuilt.
The Colossus of Rhodes
The colossus on feet of clay collapsed seventy years after its construction, but it rightfully takes a place among the wonders of the world. There are disputes about its height, they indicate sizes from forty to sixty meters. There is a legend that ships easily sailed between his legs, although this theory is now controversial. According to the descriptions found, the colossus could not be in the port, but on land, in the city of Rhodes. It was erected as a gratitude to the god Helios for protecting the city from enemy troops who left after a year of siege. It is interesting that the chief sculptor of the colossus committed suicide, as he borrowed a huge amount to complete his creation, which he could not return.
Alexandrian lighthouse
Lighthouse of Alexandria - this structure saved the lives of more than one ship, since its light spread over sixty kilometers... Built among reefs and rocks, the one hundred and thirty-five meter high lighthouse pointed the way to a saving bay in one of the most dangerous marine locations. According to the surviving descriptions, the sculptures inside the lighthouse were very interesting:
- One of them pointed to the position of the sun all day, and at night her hand dropped.
- The other was arranged like a clock, striking an hour every sixty minutes.
- The third always pointed with her hand in the direction the wind was blowing, and thus was used as a weather vane.
To immortalize his name, the sculptor, who was required to glorify the king, went to the trick - he carved his name on a stone, covered it with plaster and wrote the name of the king. Centuries later, the plaster was crumbling, and the name of the architect, Sostrat of Cnidus, has come down to us.
There are many mysterious and mysterious places in the world. But only a few of them are recognized as true miracles, which were no longer equal on Earth! From this article you will find out which of the 7 wonders of the world have survived to this day, and which have sunk into oblivion forever. We present to your attention 7 wonders of the world - the list consists of the following items:
This exclusive complex is included in the list of the 7 wonders of the world. The basis of the gardens of Semiramis was a monumental building in four tiers, erected in the form of a pyramid. Hanging green spaces combined with fountains and ponds have turned it into a true oasis. According to an old legend, these gardens were created for the wife of the Babylonian ruler Nebuchadnezzar II named Amitis.
To keep the green miracle alive, it took a large number of water. The problem was solved at the expense of human resources, or rather, slave labor. The slaves rotated non-stop a wooden wheel to which leather wineskins were tied. This wheel took water from the river (according to another version, from some underground sources). Water was pumped to the uppermost tier, and from there flowed down a complex system of numerous channels.
After the death of the ruler Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon for some time became the residence of Alexander the Great. After the death of the great commander, the city began to gradually fall into desolation, the gardens of Semiramis were also left without proper care. After a while, a nearby river overflowed its banks, which led to the erosion of the building's foundation.
Pharaoh Cheops pyramid
This present geographic feature, which is also on the list of 7 wonders of the world, is sometimes called The great pyramid Giza. It serves as the tomb of the Egyptian ruler Cheops (Khufu). The pyramid was erected near Giza, a suburb of Cairo. To create this miracle, it took the joint efforts of 100 thousand people. According to the calculations of archaeologists, the work continued for about twenty years.
Zeus statue in Olympia
In honor of the God of Thunder, a truly monumental structure was erected. The Temple of Zeus was entirely built of marble, including even the roof. Along the perimeter of the sanctuary, there were 34 columns made of limestone. The walls of the temple were covered with picturesque bas-reliefs with images, as well as the exploits of Hercules.
But the list of 7 wonders of the world was not included temple complex and the statue of Zeus. The ancient Greek sculptor Phidias worked on the realization of this masterpiece. The body of the god was created of ivory; a great many rare gems and about 200 kg of gold without the slightest admixture of ligature were also used to decorate the statue. The eyes of the Thunderer seemed to be throwing lightning, and his head and shoulders shimmered with unearthly light.
According to legend, lightning struck the center of the marble floor of the temple. This was seen as an expression of approval from Zeus. A copper altar was erected at the site of the impact. The statue of Zeus was destroyed in a fire that occurred in the temple in 425. There is another version, according to which she was transported to Istanbul, where the figure of the Thunderer was burned down in 476.
The ancient city of Halicarnassus was famous for the residences of nobles, theaters and green gardens. But the list of 7 wonders of the world included not these architectural beauties, but the tomb of the cruel ruler Mavsol. The mausoleum had 3 levels, the total height of the building was 46 meters. Several architectural trends are mixed in this man-made masterpiece.
Traditional columns were used to decorate the mausoleum, as well as statues of horsemen and lions. At the very top there was a sculpture of King Mavsol, proudly seated in a chariot drawn by horses. The mausoleum stood for about 19 centuries, the cause of its destruction was a strong earthquake. An interesting fact - some of the fragments of the mausoleum were used to build the fortress of St. Peter.
The Pharos lighthouse was built in the 3rd century BC, it is also included in the world famous list of the 7 wonders of the world. This object was supposed to help sea vessels safely overcome coastal reefs and avoid shipwreck. During the day, the sailors were led by a column of smoke, and at night they could navigate by the tongues of flame.
The Alexandria lighthouse towered 120 meters above sea level, its signals could be seen at a distance of up to 48 km. The upper part of the structure was adorned with a statue of Isis-Faria, who was revered as the patroness of seafarers. To make the flow of light as efficient as possible, the builders used an original curved mirror system.
The Pharos lighthouse, like many other objects from the list of 7 wonders of the world, was destroyed in a rather trivial way. It was destroyed by a powerful earthquake in the middle of the 14th century. Scientists discovered some fragments of the Alexandria lighthouse on the seabed during research in 1996.
The Colossus of Rhodes
This statue was made in honor of Helios (the sun god). It was assumed that the height of the figure would be 18 meters, but later it was decided to make it 36 meters. The statue in the form of a youthful god was cast from bronze, it is located on a marble pedestal. The construction was carried out on a hill created by artificial means. Stones were placed inside the figure, which was done to increase the stability of the structure.
The sculptor Hares, who worked on the Colossus of Rhodes, made a mistake in determining the amount of materials needed. The master had to borrow a lot of money to be able to complete his masterpiece. Hares was completely ruined and surrounded by creditors, the sculptor committed suicide.
The Colossus of Rhodes was destroyed by an earthquake in 222 or 226 BC. The statue broke at the knees, and its fragments continued to lie in place for about 1000 years. The fragments of the Colossus were sold by the Arabs, who captured Rhodes in 977. To take out the pieces of the sculpture, it was necessary to equip a caravan consisting of 900 camels.
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