Once there were wonders so great, that those that saw them were struck mute by their sheer awe. Feats of humankind that are probably unrepeatable by modern standards. These wonders are known as the 7 wonders of the ancient world.
Modern historians have been fascinated by the tales of the 7 wonders of the ancient world since records of them were first found in the various writings of ancient Greek historians. Today, all historians can do is read about most of the 7 wonders as only one of the ancient wonders survive into the modern era.
The First Wonder of the Ancient World
The Great Pyramid of Giza
This is the only remaining wonder of the ancient world and many are in agreement that what is left does not hold a candle to what was. It was built to be the final resting place of King Khufu. The Great Pyramid was the tallest structure in the world until the 1800’s. What makes the Great Pyramid such a wonder is that not only was it a massive construction but the mathematics, astronomy and precision that were required to build it still baffles scientists of today.
The Second Wonder of the Ancient World
The Lighthouse of Alexandria
While it does not remain standing today, the Lighthouse of Alexandria did remain in existence long enough to have been witnessed by medieval writers. The lighthouse was a safe guide for all ships that came into the harbor of Alexandria. It has been written that the light from the Alexandia Lighthouse could be seen as far as 30 miles away. To this day, many scientists are unsure how exactly the mirror used in the lighthouse was constructed or how it was able to reflect light so far.
The Third Wonder of the Ancient World
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Perhaps one of the most unbelievable hydroponic gardens ever to existed, or not. The Hanging Garden were described by foreigners (mostly Greek) as being a magnificent garden above the ground but Babylonian writings do not mention them at all. For years, historians and archaeologist have argued whether or not the description of how the gardens were irrigated was possible.
The Fourth Wonder of the Ancient World
The Statue of Zeus at Olympia
We celebrate the Olympics today as a test of the strength, beauty and dextaity of the human body. But the roots of the Olympics come from worshipping the strenth, beauty and power of a god, Zeus. It was for reasons of worship that the statue of Zeus was erected. The statue was forty feet tall and depicted a sitting Zeus resplendent in all sorts of precious materials, from gold and silver to ivory.
The Fifth Wonder of the Ancient World
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
Rumored to be the most beautiful structure ever to have been constructed, there is no actual description of the Temple of Artemis. Despite the fact that the Temple was rebuilt several times, only pieces and parts of what the temple contained or was built of have been passed down. But, this much is know. This place of worship was so beautiful that people would travel for literally thousands of miles just to be able to worship inside this magnificent temple.
The Sixth Wonder of the Ancient World
The Colossus of Rhodes
The Colossus of Rhodes is perhaps one of the most famous images of the 7 Wonders. A massive statue that straddled the entrance to the harbor of Rhodes is what is commonly depicted. While the statue was massive and it was at the entrance to the harbor, chances are it did not straddle anything. This was the shortest lived ancient wonder, surviving less than 60 years after its completion. It measured 110 feet tall and was brought down by a massive earthquake.
The Seventhth Wonder of the Ancient World
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Of all the Ancient 7 Wonders, the Mausoleum is the most likely to be forgotten. Built in honor of Mausollos, King of Caria, by his wife Artemisia, the Mausoleum was remember not for any feat of human ingenuity. The Mausoleum is remembered for its beauty and opulance. While it was an impressive sized monument, the building is best remembered for its dozens of finely crafted statues that adorned its walls. While the building no longer exists, some of the craftsmanship and statues can still be seen in museums in Europe.
So there you have it, the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, marvels even by today’s standards.