The seven wonders of the ancient world are an example of the exceptional popularity of inventions and structures. This is the best monument in history dedicated to the creative thought of the rulers, the unbridled imagination of architects and the craft of builders. The imagination of people over the millennia helps to recreate the missing elements of the cultural heritage, which received the common title of “Seven Wonders of the World”. Legends about the creations of human hands that have disappeared from the face of the earth continue to excite the minds of new adventurers.
Seven Ancient Wonders of the World
It is easier to understand the significance of the list of outstanding monuments for the ancient world if we draw analogies with modern ratings of the most popular sights and phenomena. The list of seven wonders of the world can be considered the first and most famous tourist booklet in history. But the significance of this small list of the greatest monuments is much deeper. Unfortunately, the grandiose structures were not preserved. Time, catastrophes, natural elements and wars did not spare seven wonders of the world, or rather, 6 out of 7.
The history of one of the most famous lists of attractions begins in the distant past of world civilization. Perhaps the idea of traveling and exploring the monuments on the land of North Africa, Persia, Babylon and Ancient Greece came from the great Alexander of Macedon, who conquered in the 4th century BC. e. a significant part of the world known at that time. The wisdom of the commander did not escape the grandeur of the plan, which follows the pyramid of Cheops in Egypt. By the joint efforts of travelers, conquerors, scientists, writers of antiquity and the Middle Ages, descriptions of the greatest monuments of antiquity were compiled. It is generally accepted that the historian of antiquity Herodotus worked on one of the first lists of world wonders 450 years before the advent of a new era. Peru, an outstanding scientist and poet of ancient Greece - Philo of Byzantium - owns the manuscript "On the Seven Wonders of the World", which appeared about 300 BC. e.
In ancient Greece, the number 7 was considered magical, so the number of attractions on the list remained unchanged for many centuries. The canonical seven wonders of the world is a list that has come down to a new time in a poem by the ancient Greek writer Antipater of Sidon. He wrote about the luxury of tombs, beautiful temple complexes, colossal monuments and hanging gardens.
Great Pyramids
By the Middle Ages, when the classic list of “Seven Wonders of the World” was formed today, the Egyptian pyramids erected on the west bank of the Nile were preserved on the planet and were available for inspection. The oldest monuments date back to the period from 2700 to 2550 years BC. e. Of the ten pyramids in Giza, three are especially striking in their size and grandeur of construction work.
Admirable is the good preservation of structures that have been experiencing for several millennia the withering heat of the day and the ringing night cold when, in the words of the locals, “the stones are crying” in the desert. Remarkable in engineering design and simple in form designs appeared due to the most accurate measurements, which were unbelievably difficult for their time. In addition to complex calculations, for the construction it was required to deliver extremely heavy stone blocks from afar, to raise them to a great height.
Giza Pyramid
The Great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt is considered the most famous wonder of the world. Pharaoh Khufu, who ruled from 2584–2561 BC e., implemented a grandiose plan to build his necropolis on the Giza plateau. To create a pyramid and fence around the building, 13 hectares of land were allotted. The construction of the great pyramid is one of the earliest and most vivid examples of the combination of human enthusiasm, fantasy and engineering calculation. The construction of the necropolis can be called the most time-consuming historical project, given the lack of all the necessary tools and construction equipment in Ancient Egypt.
The Cheops Pyramid is distinguished by massiveness, an abundance of internal halls, galleries, and cameras. In addition to this, for 3800 years she headed the list of the highest man-made structures in the world (146.7 m per year of construction). There are many interpretations and explanations associated with the form and purpose of the great pyramid. When the rays of the all-consuming tropical sun glide along the edges of the structure, the idea of the ancient ruler of Egypt, who, like these rays, wanted to go to the divine luminary after his death, becomes clear.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon in Iraq
Beautiful gardens in the ancient city-state of Babylon were built by the great king Nebuchadnezzar II in about 605 BC. e. Researchers of ancient manuscripts claim that the ancient ruler approved the magnificent landscape project at the request of one of his beloved wives, yearning for the trees and grasses of his native country. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon is the most mysterious of miracles on the list. They are surrounded by myths and legends, the exact location of the structure has not been established, the remains of buildings have not been found.
Some scholars of the ancient world doubt the existence of such a magnificent ancient park on a hill located south of modern Baghdad. Maybe the gardens are born of the fantasy of storytellers? Historians find very little accurate information, facts, documentary evidence in the annals of Babylon. But the ancient Greek poets claimed that the priests prepared the design of the hanging gardens, led their creation. Diodorus of Sicily described multi-level gardens with a height of 22 m, equipped with machines for lifting water from the nearest Euphrates River.
The Greek historian Strabo mentioned beautiful quadrangular gardens with arched vaults and stairs for lifting people and water to the very top. Slaves planted trees and flowers on the 400 m 2 brick-fortified slopes, and a beautiful garden was protected by a roof from above. One can understand why contemporaries were fascinated by the hanging gardens of Babylon. In Iraq, on the arid land of ancient Mesopotamia, it is very difficult to create large, well-groomed green spaces. In the historical chronicles, the gardens are depicted as beautiful and luxurious. To achieve such perfection was not easy, this area from ancient times receives little rainfall. The gardens were destroyed by several earthquakes two centuries after the reign of Nebuchadnezzar.
Zeus statue in Olympia
It did not last long, erected around the 430s BC. e. the temple for which the sculptor Phidius created a statue of Zeus. In Olympia, in Greece, a religious building dedicated to the supreme god was built for 10 years on the donations of the population. The sanctuary was built of marble, strengthened by a massive colonnade of local shell rock. The external surfaces of the walls were decorated with bas-reliefs on which sculptors recreated myths about the 12 exploits of Hercules - the mythical hero, the son of the supreme deity. One could get into the temple by going through huge bronze doors.
A significant part of the cult premises was occupied by a statue of Zeus. In Olympia, in Greece, the ancient Olympic Games were dedicated to this deity. The sculpture was not created simultaneously with the construction of the temple, but over time it became the most grandiose and most magnificent part of the temple complex. The statue of Zeus by Phidias rested on a wide pedestal, its height along with the base was approximately 15 m. The Supreme God of Olympus sat on the throne, his cape was gilded, ivory was used for decoration.
Fear for the preservation of the statue forced the Greeks to transport it to Constantinople, but the fire destroyed the wonderful creation. Although the monument has not been preserved, it remains on the list of “Seven Wonders of the World”. The statue of Zeus is depicted in the paintings, there are its models that accurately convey the depth of the plan of the sculptor, glorifying the ancient deity. In our time, one can only imagine the true greatness of this monument, the attitude of the Greeks towards God, whom they tirelessly extolled in their temples and dwellings.
Wonder of the World at Ephesus
The construction of the temple, dedicated to the Greek goddess of hunting and wildlife, was completed by 550 BC. e. The Ephesus miracle is often attributed to one of the most famous "long-term construction projects": it took about 120 years to erect it. Contemporaries might not know that the religious building will be included in the list of “Seven Wonders of the World”. The Temple of Artemis (Diana) in Ephesus was a beautiful marble building. The builders decorated it with slender columns, covered it with a wooden roof, on which they laid tiles. In this amazing building, contemporaries were struck by the harmonious combination of the decoration of the interior with the external design of the entire building.
The temple, built of magnificent marble, was a favorite building from the list of miracles for Antipater of Sidon, the compiler of this famous list. Herostratus - a young Greek - burned the temple of Artemis in Ephesus (in Turkey). This event happened in the summer of 356 BC. e. The barbaric act was caused by a great desire to become famous over the centuries, to achieve fame. Outraged citizens sentenced Herostratus to death and banned the mention of his name. The temple of Artemis at Ephesus began to be gradually restored already under the Turkish rulers, but the ancient shrine was again destroyed, now by the Goths. The newly restored building was finally demolished in 401 by an angry crowd of religious fanatics led by the Archbishop of Constantinople.
Rhodes Colossus
One of the most recognizable ancient wonders is the Colossus of Rhodes in Greece. This grandiose monument owed its appearance to the ancient city-states that existed 2 centuries before the beginning of a new era. The population and rulers of Rhodes decided to perpetuate the memory of the victorious struggle with the One-Eyed Antigone, to celebrate the lifting of the siege. Fighting vehicles were melted into a giant statue of the patron saint of Rhodes - the god Helios - 30 m high.
It is not known exactly when the construction began, ancient authors cite different dates in the sources. The ancient historian Pliny several centuries later wrote that the Colossus was built for 12 years. The task to cast the bronze statue of Helios - the god of the Sun - was received by Greek sculptors. A giant monument was erected on the cape, strengthened by a system of stone blocks and iron bars.
The list of "Seven Wonders of the World" lost one sight after a strong earthquake in Greece. The colossus could not resist the power of tremors and was destroyed only 56 years after its triumphant appearance in the bay of Rhodes. The fall of the statue was immediately commented on by the Delphic oracle. An ancient psychic said that the inhabitants of Rhodes angered the god Helios. The ruler of Egypt offered his help in rebuilding the monument, but he was refused.
The magnificent tomb in Halicarnassus
A giant white tomb was erected to repose the governor of one of the provinces of Persia - Mausolus - on the orders of his wife, who lived in Halicarnassus. This is the territory of the modern resort of Bodrum on the coast of the Aegean Sea. The mausoleum in Halicarnassus in Turkey was erected by Greek sculptors. The design was tall and richly decorated inside and out. The tomb was crowned by a pyramid of 36 columns. The spouse of Mavsol did not spare funds for the construction of an elevated grave, her ashes should also be in a magnificent mausoleum.
In the ancient world, the luxury of the tomb in Halicarnassus was appreciated. The architectural grandeur of the structure and its aesthetic merits impressed not only Greek scientists and poets, but also the commander of Antipater. There is a mention in historical chronicles that it was he who proposed to consider the building as one of the wonders of the world. In the XV century, the tomb in Halicarnassus collapsed after another earthquake, and the stones were used for construction in Bodrum. Now, when it comes to colossal burial expenses, they recall Tsar Mavsol, who has become a model of ostentatious wealth and luxury.
Faros Lighthouse
The Alexandrian lighthouse on the island of Faros was one of the highest among the ancient structures, and its base reached almost 400 m in length. It was the first lighthouse in history, during the construction of which many innovative technologies known at that time were used. The Greek architect Sostratus created a project by order of the ruler of Ptolemy II in 304 BC. e. A warning system about the danger of entering the Alexandria Bay past the island of Faros in the Mediterranean Sea was created in stages over the course of more than 20 years. The lighthouse was supposed to warn of the underwater reefs of Faros, on which it was built.
The design consisted of three oblong marble towers, their total height could be from 120 to 140 m. The last part was a cylinder, fire was burning on its top. The inventors came up with a way to obtain directional solar reflection using mirrors that gave a signal in the afternoon. At night, the attendants of the lighthouse traditionally lit a fire. If there was no sun during the day, then sailors were warned by a column of smoke. For several centuries, the construction was considered the highest artificial construction.
Several earthquakes severely damaged the wonderful Alexandria lighthouse on Faros. Sailors, military, merchants and travelers needed to be restored. The Arabs, having invaded Egypt, began repairs and brought the construction height to 30 m. At this, the construction work was completed, and in 1480 a fort was erected from the same building materials from the same building materials. The lighthouse on Faros stood in the sea for nearly 1000 years.
List of miracles - a heritage of world history and culture
Scientists believe that more complete and accurate lists of wonders of the world could be stored in the Alexandria Library - the most important world collection of ancient manuscripts. The repository was badly damaged during a fire caused by the invasion of Alexandria by Julius Caesar. Almost 500 thousand books and scrolls destroyed the tongues of fire. A huge layer of cultural heritage has disappeared, on which the paths that world history has taken have depended in many respects.
Seven wonders of the world are valuable monuments of ancient art and architecture. These are not only beautiful sights, but also complex construction and technical solutions. Each of the creations was unique, outstanding for its time. Ancient buildings and monuments were elevated to the rank of miracles by the most outstanding scientists, creators, and rulers of the ancient world. Little is mentioned in various sources that some changes were made to the list, but its essence and name remained unchanged. The list necessarily included seven miracles, as has been the case since Herodotus and Philo of Byzantium.
Of the amazing structures of the ancient world, only the Cheops pyramid has survived to our days, the rest fell under the onslaught of barbarians or became victims of natural disasters. No one knows exactly what the six wonders of the world looked like. All images are the fruit of historical search, reconstructions, fantasies of historians and artists. Each generation brings something of its own to the understanding of a cultural phenomenon called the "seven wonders of the world." Each of these artifacts has its own website on the Internet. A solid scientific work is devoted to the study of man-made miracles.
The role of mythology in maintaining interest in the seven wonders of the world
For 2.5 millennia, the antique list of the main attractions of the Old World excites the minds of researchers, travelers, ordinary people. All past centuries, the attitude to the seven wonders of the world was almost mystical. It is surprising that the ancient authors did not show much desire to expand the “top 7”, to replace the old sights in the list with new monuments.
Researchers of the ancient world claim that the attitude to miracles from the famous list has always been respectful. It was believed that seven ancient architectural structures and monuments are deservedly included in a short but capacious list. Each participant in this historic “hit parade” has become a national shrine, an object of worship and veneration.
The magic of the number 7 in ancient times was considered divine, irrational. The mythology and life of many peoples of the planet are associated with this number of elements in different spheres of life. For example, in a week - 7 days. The explanation can be the structure of the solar system, or rather, the way the celestial sphere was represented in ancient Greece. The Sun, Moon and five planets were visible with the naked eye. The ancient gods had the same names (Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus, Mercury).
Wonders of the World: New Version
What seven wonders of the world could compete with the wonderful structures that disappeared from the face of the planet? Based on online voting, a list of other wonders of the world has been created that have been preserved, and you can admire them personally. The action was organized and held on the threshold of the third millennium by a non-profit organization. The initiators of this grandiose action put forward several good reasons that prompted us to compile various lists and codes of world attractions of the highest level:
- traditional ancient miracles were located only in that part of the Old World that was familiar and submitted to Hellenic culture;
- the list did not include grandiose structures in a significant part of Asia, in the New World and in other regions;
- selection to the list was carried out according to criteria depending on the ideas of the ancient Greeks about wonderful monuments;
- "Overboard" were natural phenomena that sometimes surpass man-made miracles in their grandeur.
The determination of the winners of the entire project was decided to be carried out separately among architectural and natural monuments. The results were also summed up twice: in 2007 and 2011. Residents of two hundred states participated in an online survey. According to its results, “favorites” were selected - attractions that are known to most of the inhabitants of the planet. We are talking about the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal in India, the construction of Machu Picchu in Peru in South America and other phenomena. But the UNESCO Committee responded to this action by stating that popular voting is not the method that needs to be used to find miracles that can replace artifacts of world history and culture that have disappeared in antiquity.