The most ancient 7 wonders of the world. A Brief History of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World (8 photos)

In all centuries, people were proud and carefully protected the achievements of their civilizations. The memory of these achievements has survived to this day, becoming a worldwide property. The Seven Wonders of the World is a classic list of outstanding human creations.

An interesting fact is that it was well known even before our era. In ancient schools, children were taught various sciences, and knowledge of the 7 wonders of the world was mandatory.

In this article we will provide you not only with a list of 7 wonders of the world, but also make a brief description of each of them.

List of 7 wonders of the world

Well, now photos and descriptions of the masterpieces of antiquity, which we call nothing less than seven wonders of the world.

1 wonder of the world - Pyramid of Cheops

The exact date of construction of this grandiose structure is unknown. However, scientists suggest that it is around 2600 BC.

The original height of the Cheops pyramid was 146 meters (that’s like 5 nine-story buildings), while now it is approximately 138 m. The inclination angle of the walls is from 51° to 53°. The average weight of the blocks from which the pyramid is built is 2.5 tons, although some blocks reach 80 tons.

No cement or other binding substance was used in construction. The stone blocks of the first wonder of the world are simply stacked on top of each other. The surface of the pyramid was lined with limestone slabs. Today the coating is almost completely destroyed.

There are three chambers inside the pyramid: the underground, the Queen's Chamber and the Pharaoh's Chamber. There was only one entrance to this structure, and it was located at a height of 15 meters from the ground. But in 820 another, artificial entrance was made to the Cheops pyramid.

The purpose of this stunning building is still unknown. It was previously believed that the pyramids played the role of tombs for the pharaohs. However, such a simplified view of such a majestic and complex structure has not been taken seriously for a long time.

There are also suggestions that the Cheops pyramid was an ancient space observatory, or was a powerful energy generator.

2 wonder of the world - Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are considered the 2nd wonder of the world. This amazing structure was built in 605 BC, but already in 562 BC. it was destroyed due to flooding.

Despite the fact that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are named after the Assyrian queen Semiramis (800 BC), Nebuchadnezzar II built them in honor of his wife Amytis.

But the Hanging Gardens were included in the list of 7 wonders of the world with the name of Semiramis.

The structure consisted of four floors. All of them were equipped with cool rooms for royal walks. Columns 25 m high supported each tier.

The terraces were covered with special lead leaves and filled with asphalt to prevent water for watering the plants from leaking out. On top of all this was sprinkled with earth of such thickness that trees could grow there freely. One can only imagine how much weight the columns of the lower tier could bear.

Water for irrigation was pumped up from the Euphrates River using a cunning system. The slaves constantly turned the wheel to supply water, since the majestic building with stunning gardens required a lot of moisture.

To see the place where the 2nd wonder of the world was located - the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, you will have to go to Iraq, since the ruins of ancient Babylon were found there.

3rd wonder of the world - Statue of Zeus at Olympia

By the name of the 3 wonders of the world - the statue of Zeus, it is not difficult to guess to whom this architectural masterpiece was dedicated. The fact is that the Greeks built a temple to the pagan god Zeus in 465 BC, but the statue of Zeus, which is considered one of the 7 wonders of the world, appeared there only 30 years later.

The statue of Zeus itself was made of ivory and reached a height of 17 meters (like a five-story building). At the base of the monument there was a square slab, 6 m wide and 1 m high.

The effect produced on the Greeks by the third of the wonders of the world was stunning. The fact is that the ratio of the sizes of the temple itself and the statue of Zeus inside it was such that it seemed as if Zeus would now rise and break through the roof of the temple, since otherwise he would simply not be able to straighten up.

The statue of Zeus stood in Olympia for about 800 years. At the beginning of the 5th century AD, the temple was destroyed, and the statue was transported to Constantinople in order to preserve cultural heritage. In 425 she died in a fire.

4th wonder of the world - Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

In the ancient Greek city of Ephesus in 560 BC. The Temple of Artemis of Ephesus was built, which later became one of the 7 wonders of the world.

The height of the temple was 18 m, width – 52 m, length – 105 m. The roof was supported by 127 columns.

Some of the best masters of antiquity worked on the creation of this architectural masterpiece. The statue of Artemis itself was made of gold and ivory.

The temple had not just religious significance, but was also a cultural and economic center.

Who burned the Temple of Artemis of Ephesus?

In the summer of 356 BC. e. The Temple of Artemis, one of the 7 wonders of the world, was burned by a resident of the city of Ephesus. The name of the temple arsonist is Herostratus.

You may ask why Herostratus needed to destroy such a unique architectural monument?

By his own admission, he did this in order to go down in history and perpetuate his name forever. Despite the fact that he was executed for this crime, the name of Herostratus has indeed survived to this day.

However, the great commander Alexander the Great restored the temple of Artemis of Ephesus to its previous form, allocating colossal funds for this matter.

In 263, the fourth wonder of the world was plundered and destroyed by the Goths.

The remains of the Temple of Artemis from Ephesus can be found in Turkey, in the city of Selcuk, Izmir province.

5th wonder of the world - Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

The Halicarnassus Mausoleum, included in the list of 7 wonders of the world, appeared in 351 BC. The author of the idea is the king of Caria named Mausolus together with his wife, Queen Artemisia.

Thus, they decided to perpetuate their name following the example of the Egyptian pharaohs. It must be said that his idea was successful, since the fifth wonder of the world is still associated with his name.

The mausoleum building was three-tiered.

The first tier was a massive base, surrounded around the perimeter by statues of ancient Greek heroes. Inside, after the death of Mausolus and his wife, their tombs were to be placed.

The second floor was used as a temple to serve pagan cults. There were 36 columns on it that supported the upper, main part of the Halicarnassus mausoleum.

The third tier looked like a pyramid consisting of 24 steps. At the very top the main value of the mausoleum was installed: a majestic statue representing a chariot with King Mausolus and his wife Artemisia.

It seems incredible, but in the British Museum you can see statues of both royal spouses, well preserved to this day.

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, which became one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was destroyed in the 13th century due to a large-scale earthquake.

In the Turkish resort town of Bodrum you can find the site where the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus once stood.

6th wonder of the world - Colossus of Rhodes

The Colossus of Rhodes entered the classic list of the Seven Wonders of the World almost immediately after its creation in 280 BC.

But first, let's tell the background story of the appearance of the sixth wonder of the world. Demetrius I, almost immediately after the death of Alexander the Great, attacked Rhodes, one of the largest port cities.

Having held the siege of the city for more than a year, for unknown reasons he abandoned everything he had there and left with his army.

As a token of gratitude, the residents of Rhodes decided to sell the huge property that was in their hands and use the proceeds to build a monument to Helios, the sun god.

The main architect and sculptor of this masterpiece was Jerez. The original idea of ​​the inhabitants of Rhodes was to build a statue that would be 10 times higher than the average height of a person, that is, 18 meters.

But then they decided to double the height, for which they allocated an even larger amount of money to Jerez. But they were not enough to continue construction. However, Jerez could no longer stop.

He borrowed enormous amounts of money from wealthy friends and relatives and continued to work tirelessly to create a monument that would later join the Seven Wonders of the World.

Ultimately, after 12 years of titanic work, the world saw the 36-meter Colossus of Rhodes. It consisted of an iron frame, finished with clay, and was lined with bronze. The Colossus was located right at the entrance to the harbor, and was visible from all the nearby islands.

It is interesting to note that the fate of the sculptor Jerez himself was tragic. After completing his masterpiece, he was persecuted by creditors. Ultimately, he committed suicide.

In total, 13 tons of bronze and 8 tons of iron were used to build the Colossus of Rhodes. However, 65 years after its appearance, around 225 BC. The Colossus of Rhodes fell into the sea, breaking at the knees. By the way, the expression “colossus with feet of clay” appeared precisely after this.

Eyewitnesses left information that the finger of the statue alone was so thick that two adults could barely grasp it.

The height of the colossus was approximately 60 m (like an eighteen-story building). The Rhodes statue lay in a recumbent position for almost 900 years. Then it was dismantled and sold by the Arabs, who by that time had captured Rhodes.

In the end, it should only be noted that there is no exact data about what the Colossus of Rhodes, included in the seven wonders of the world, actually looked like.

7th wonder of the world - Lighthouse of Alexandria

The last, seventh wonder of the world is the Lighthouse of Alexandria, built in the 3rd century BC. It is also called the Faros Lighthouse.

The idea of ​​​​creating this lighthouse was quite practical. The fact is that not far from Alexandria there was the island of Pharos with an important bay. At that time it was of great importance for passing merchant ships.

Probably Sostratus of Knidos (chief architect of the lighthouse) dreamed that his brainchild would be included in the seven wonders of the world and glorify his name for centuries.

The project was implemented during the reign of the Egyptian Ptolemy II. 20 years were allotted for construction, but Sostratus completed the work in just 5.

An interesting fact is that when Sostratus was asked to imprint the name of Ptolemy on the Alexandria lighthouse, he acted very cunningly. First, he carved his name on the stone, and on top of the plaster he laid out the name of the ruler.

A few decades later, the plaster collapsed, and the residents saw the name of the true master and author of the seventh wonder of the world.

The Alexandria Lighthouse consisted of three towers.

The lowest part was a technical floor, where workers and soldiers lived, and all equipment for maintaining the lighthouse was stored.

The second part looked like an octagonal tower, around which there was a ramp. Fuel for the fire was supplied through it.

The topmost, key tower of the lighthouse was equipped with a complex system of mirrors, thanks to which the light from the fire was visible so far.

The total height of the Faros lighthouse was about 140 meters. At the very top of the head was a statue of the god of the seas - Poseidon.

It is worth mentioning the reviews of contemporaries who saw the Alexandria Lighthouse in person. So some travelers talked about the amazing statues that were located at the lighthouse.

The first of them raised her hand at sunrise, pointed at it throughout the day, and after sunset the hand dropped.

The second one made a sound 24 times a day with the last second of each passing hour.

The third indicated the direction of the wind.

At night, the Alexandria lighthouse illuminated the water surface over a distance of over 60 km. During the day, a column of smoke rose from it, which also served as an important indicator for ships.

In 796, after standing for almost 1000 years, the seventh wonder of the world, the Faros lighthouse, was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake. In the 15th century, Sultan Qait Bey founded a fortress on its foundation, which still exists today.

An interesting fact is that in 2015, the Egyptian authorities approved a project to rebuild the lighthouse.

Well, here we go all seven wonders of the world. Of course, this list was disputed at various times by certain figures, but it is still considered classic.

Subscribe to. Develop with us!

Over the centuries, people have compiled a variety of lists of wonders of the world in order to highlight from the total number the most outstanding creations of human architectural genius or the most amazing manifestations of natural perfection. Most often, such lists were limited to seven laureates, following the ancient Greek seven wonders of the world, but more expanded or narrow lists are also found.

The Seven Wonders of the World (or the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) is a list of the most famous sights of the Oecumene culture. Compiling a list of the most famous poets, philosophers, generals, great kings, as well as monuments of architecture and art is a traditional “minor” genre of Greek Hellenistic poetry and a kind of exercise in rhetoric. The very choice of number is sanctified by the most ancient ideas about its completeness, completeness and perfection; the number 7 was considered the sacred number of the god Apollo (Seven against Thebes, Seven Wise Men, etc.). Like collections of sayings of famous sages, collections of anecdotes and stories of wonders, writings on the Seven Wonders of the World were popular in ancient times and included descriptions of the grandest, most magnificent, or technically most amazing buildings and monuments of art. That is why they were called miracles, while the list does not include many genuine masterpieces of ancient architecture and art - the Acropolis in Athens with the creation of Phidias - the Parthenon statue of Athena, the famous statue of Aphrodite of Knidos by Praxiteles, etc.

Mentions of the Seven Wonders appear in the writings of Greek authors starting from the Hellenistic era. You had to know them already at school; scientists and poets wrote about them. The text of one Egyptian papyrus, which was a kind of educational manual, mentions the names of famous legislators, painters, sculptors, architects, inventors, which must be memorized, then the largest islands, mountains and rivers and, finally, the seven wonders of the world. The “selection” of miracles occurred gradually, and some miracles replaced others.

Herodotus

The walls of Babylon were included in the list of the Seven Wonders of the World, but were later replaced by the Lighthouse of Alexandria

Samos Island today

Aqueduct

"I have seen your walls, Babylon, on which there is spacious
And chariots; I saw Zeus at Olympia,
Miracle of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Colossus of Helios
And the pyramids are the work of many and hard labors;
I know Mausolus, a huge tomb. But I just saw
I am the palace of Artemis, the roof raised to the clouds,
Everything else faded before him; outside Olympus
The sun does not see beauty equal to it anywhere."

The description of Antipater follows the work of Philo of Alexandria (orator of the 4th century AD or the famous mechanic of the 3rd century BC) “On the Seven Wonders.” Probably, after the construction of the Alexandria Lighthouse, this miracle of engineering replaces the walls of Babylon on the list (as a wonder of the world it is mentioned by Pliny the Elder in Natural History). In a number of works, instead of the hanging gardens, the walls of Babylon appeared again, and the lighthouse on the island. The Pharos was replaced by the Library of Alexandria; The list was also supplemented by the Pergamon altar of Zeus, the palace of Cyrus in Persepolis, the “singing” statues of Memnon near Egyptian Thebes and Thebes itself, the temple of Zeus in Cyzicus, the statue of Asclepius in Epidaurus, the Athena Parthenos by Phidias on the Athenian Acropolis, and in the Roman period - the Colosseum and the Capitol. Subsequently, the list in various combinations was also supplemented by the Temple of Solomon, Noah’s Ark, the Tower of Babel, the Temple of Sophia in Constantinople, etc.

Classic list

Around the 3rd century BC. a classic list of seven wonders of the world has been formed:

Pyramid of Cheops (Giza, 2550 BC),
Hanging Gardens of Babylon (Babylon, 600 BC),
Statue of Zeus at Olympia (Olympia, 435 BC),
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus (Ephesus, 550 BC),
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (Halicarnassus, 351 BC),
Colossus of Rhodes (Rhodes, between 292 and 280 BC),
Lighthouse of Alexandria (Alexandria, 3rd century BC).

The Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu) is the largest of the Egyptian pyramids, the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that has survived to this day. An Eastern proverb says: “Everything in the world is afraid of time, but time is afraid of the Pyramids.” It is assumed that construction, which lasted twenty years, ended around 2540 BC. e. The architect of the Great Pyramid is considered to be Hemiun, the vizier and nephew of Cheops. He also bore the title "Manager of all Pharaoh's construction projects." For more than three thousand years (until the construction of the cathedral in Lincoln, England, around 1300), the pyramid was the tallest building on Earth.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the Seven Wonders of the World. A more correct name for this structure is the Hanging Gardens Amitis (according to other sources - Amanis): this was the name of the wife of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II, for whose sake the gardens were created. Presumably they were located in the ancient city-state of Babylon, near the modern city of Hill. The Hanging Gardens existed for about two centuries. After Amytis's death, they stopped caring for the garden, then powerful floods destroyed the foundation of the columns, and the entire structure collapsed. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are the most mysterious structure of all the Wonders of the World. Scientists even doubt whether they actually existed or are just a figment of someone’s imagination, carefully copied from chronicle to chronicle.

The statue of Zeus at Olympia is the work of Phidias. An outstanding work of ancient sculpture, one of the seven wonders of the world. It was located in the temple of Zeus, in Olympia - a city in the region of Elis, in the north-west of the Peloponnese peninsula, where from 776 BC. e. to 394 AD e. Every four years the Olympic Games were held - competitions between Greek and then Roman athletes. The Greeks considered those who did not see the statue of Zeus in the temple unfortunate. The Olympic Games, held for 300 years in honor of the god Zeus, were extremely popular among the people. Despite this, there was no main temple of Zeus in Greece and only in 470 BC. began collecting donations for its construction. According to legend, the temple was magnificent. The entire temple, including the roof, was built of marble. It was surrounded by 34 massive columns made of shell rock. Each was 10.5 meters high and more than 2 meters thick. The area of ​​the temple was 64x27 m. On the outer walls of the temple there were slabs with bas-reliefs depicting the 12 labors of Hercules. Bronze doors, 10 meters high, opened the entrance to the cult room of the temple. In the 5th century BC. e. The citizens of Olympia decided to build a temple of Zeus. The majestic building was erected between 466 and 456 BC. e. It was built from huge stone blocks and was surrounded by massive columns. For several years after construction was completed, the temple did not have a worthy statue of Zeus, although it was soon decided that one was necessary. The famous Athenian sculptor Phidias was chosen as the creator of the statue. Around 40 AD e. The Roman Emperor Caligula wanted to move the statue of Zeus to his home in Rome. Workers were sent for her. But, according to legend, the statue laughed, and the workers fled in horror. The statue was damaged after an earthquake in the 2nd century BC. e., then it was restored by the sculptor Dimophon. In 391 AD e. The Romans closed the Greek temples after adopting Christianity. Emperor Theodosius I, who affirmed Christianity, banned the Olympic Games as part of a pagan cult. Finally, only the base, some columns and sculptures remained from the Temple of Olympian Zeus. The last mention of it dates back to 363 AD. e. At the beginning of the 5th century AD. e. The statue of Zeus was transported to Constantinople. The statue burned down in a temple fire in 425 AD. e. or in the fire in Constantinople in 476 AD. e.

Ancient ruins in Olympia

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was located in the Greek city of Ephesus on the coast of Asia Minor (currently the city of Selcuk in the southern province of Izmir, Turkey). The first large temple was built in the middle of the 6th century BC. e., burned by Herostratus in 356 BC. e., soon restored in a rebuilt form, in the 3rd century it was plundered by the Goths. In the 4th century it was closed by Christians due to the ban on pagan cults and destroyed. The church built in its place was also destroyed.

Artemis of Ephesus

Model of a temple in Turkey in Miniaturk Park

View of the temple ruins

This is what the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus looked like

Halicarnassus Mausoleum is a tombstone of the Carian ruler Mausolus (Greek: Μαύσωλος), built in the middle of the 4th century BC. e. by order of his wife Artemisia III in Halicarnassus (modern Bodrum, Turkey), one of the ancient wonders of the world. The mausoleum stood for 19 centuries. In the 13th century it collapsed from a strong earthquake, and in 1522 the remains of the Mausoleum were dismantled by the Knights of St. John for the construction of the fortress of St. Petra. In 1846, the ruins were explored by an expedition from the British Museum led by Charles Thomas Newton. Based on the results of the research, several options for reconstructing the original appearance were compiled, one of which was used as the basis for the Grant Mausoleum in Manhattan.

Carian king Mausolus

Perhaps this is what the Colossus of Rhodes looked like

The Colossus of Rhodes (Greek Κολοσσός της Ρόδου, lat. Colossus Rhodi) is a giant statue of the ancient Greek sun god Helios, which stood in the port city of Rhodes, located on the island of the same name in the Aegean Sea, in Greece. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The sculptor Hares, a student of Lysippos, worked for twelve years to create an almost 36-meter bronze giant. When the work on the statue was completed, a tall and slender young god with a radiant crown on his head appeared before the eyes of the amazed Rhodians. He stood on a white marble pedestal, leaning slightly back, and intensely peered into the distance. The statue of the god stood right at the entrance to the harbor of Rhodes and was visible from the nearby islands. The statue was made of clay, had a metal frame at its base, and was covered with bronze sheets on top. The production of the grandiose monument required 500 talents of bronze and 300 talents of iron (about 13 and about 8 tons, respectively). The colossus also gave rise to a kind of fashion for giant statues in Rhodes already in the 2nd century. BC e. About a hundred colossal sculptures were installed. The colossus stood for sixty-five years. In 222 BC. e. The statue was destroyed by an earthquake. As Strabo writes, “the statue lay on the ground, overthrown by an earthquake and broken at the knees.” But even then the Colossus caused surprise with its size. Pliny the Elder mentions that only a few could wrap both hands around the thumb of the statue's hand (assuming the natural proportions of the human body are observed, this indicates the height of the statue at 200 feet or 60 m). The remains of the Colossus lay on the ground for more than a thousand years, until they were finally sold by the Arabs, who captured Rhodes in 977, to a merchant who, as one chronicle says, loaded 900 camels with them.

The Alexandria (Faros) lighthouse is one of the 7 wonders of the world, built in the 3rd century BC. e. in the Egyptian city of Alexandria, so that ships could safely pass the reefs on their way to the Alexandria Bay. At night they were helped in this by the reflection of flames, and during the day by a column of smoke. It was the world's first lighthouse, and it stood for almost a thousand years. The lighthouse was built on the small island of Pharos in the Mediterranean Sea near the coast of Alexandria. This busy port was founded by Alexander the Great during his visit to Egypt in 332 BC. e. The building was named after the island. Its construction was supposed to take 20 years, and it was completed around 283 BC. e., during the reign of Ptolemy II, king of Egypt. The construction of this gigantic structure lasted only 5 years. Architect - Sostratus of Cnidus. The Faros lighthouse consisted of three marble towers standing on a base of massive stone blocks. The first tower was rectangular and contained rooms in which workers and soldiers lived. Above this tower was a smaller, octagonal tower with a spiral ramp leading to the upper tower. The upper tower was shaped like a cylinder in which a fire burned. By the 12th century AD. e. Alexandria Bay became so silted that ships could no longer use it. The lighthouse fell into disrepair. The bronze plates that served as mirrors were probably melted down into coins. In the 14th century, the lighthouse was completely destroyed by an earthquake. A few years later, its ruins were used to build a fortress. The fortress was subsequently rebuilt several times. Interestingly, before the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the seventh wonder of the world was the walls of Babylon. Before its construction, the walls of Babylon were considered the second wonder of the world. When a 130-meter lighthouse was built at the mouth of the Nile, contemporaries were so amazed by this outstanding technical achievement that they simply crossed out the walls of Babylon from the list of the Seven Wonders of the World and added the lighthouse to it as the latest, newest miracle.

The Colosseum was also added to the list of wonders of the Ancient World

The first mention of the Seven Wonders in Rus' is found in Simeon of Polotsk, who was familiar with their description from some Byzantine source. In modern Europe, they became widely known after the publication of Fischer von Erlach’s (1656–1723) book “Sketches on the History of Architecture,” which also contained the first known reconstructions of famous monuments of ancient architecture.

The history of the ancient world is interesting and beautiful. She attracts many of our contemporaries. Even after many years, people are interested in the way of life of their ancestors. And, of course, the most famous monuments of the ancient world - the Seven Wonders of the World - arouse curiosity.

The wealth of antiquity

It is impossible to tell about the ancient world with a few words. This is a huge layer of time that begins in those distant times when man first appeared and goes all the way to the Middle Ages. During this time, people managed to create a lot. It was then that inventions appeared that are still considered brilliant to this day.

Much of what was created before our era and in the first centuries after the birth of Christ is useful to this day. Any lawyer can talk about the enormous importance of Roman law, and philologists will talk about the role played by ancient languages ​​that are now considered dead.

It was then that world religions were born. Then Zeus and Artemis were worshiped, then Jesus was born. The wonders of the ancient world are countless. But among them there are seven main ones.

Seven Wonders of the World

The history of the ancient world would be incomplete without telling about the Seven Wonders of the World. The list of them has changed over the centuries. But the number remained unchanged. There were always seven of them. The world was built around religious beliefs. Therefore, this number was not chosen by chance. Seven is the number He was considered the most beautiful of all gods. He was a patron of the arts. And his number was a symbol of completeness and perfection.

The very first list of the Seven Wonders of the World was created in the 3rd century before the birth of Jesus. It included the most significant architectural monuments that were created at that time by people. Many miracles of that time have not reached ours.

Pyramids of Giza

The Great Pyramids are an important part that the history of the ancient world cannot do without. The most famous of them was She is recognized as the largest. Therefore, it is difficult to imagine the hellish torment that the slaves experienced during the construction of this wonder of the world. During the construction of the pyramid, a mortar was used, which is still stronger and more durable.

No one can say for sure why these grandiose structures were erected. Previously it was believed that these were the tombs of the rulers of Egypt - the pharaohs, as well as their spouses. But researchers were never able to find the remains of the bodies of these important Egyptians. Until now, this wonder of the world gives rise to many questions and mysteries. And the silent Sphinx continues to protect them.

Babylon

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are that wonder of the ancient world that has not survived to our times. The gardens were once the most grandiose building in Babylon. Now, not far from Baghdad, you can find what is left of them. But some scientists are willing to argue that those ruins are not a reminder of the world's second greatest wonder.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the most romantic gifts not only in the history of the ancient world, but also in human history in general. The Babylonian ruler noticed that his beloved wife Amytis missed her native land. In dusty Babylon there were no those beautiful gardens that they were used to enjoying in childhood. And then, so that his wife would not be sad, he ordered this structure to be erected.

Some believe that this is just a beautiful legend. In the writings of Herodotus there was not a word about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. But they are described in detail by Berossus. The history of the ancient world holds many mysteries. And this is one of them.

Zeus statue in Olympia

The names of the gods of the ancient world remained known after many centuries. Even now people can talk about the powerful god Zeus. And BC, a new wonder of the world was created, dedicated to this patron of the ancient Greeks.

The appearance of the statue and the temple in which it was located is closely connected with the Olympic Games. When they gained fame and began to attract all kinds of people, it was decided to build a temple dedicated to the father of all gods.

In order to create a statue of Zeus, the famous master Phidias was invited to Athens. From ivory and precious metals, he created a new wonder of the world, the glory of which quickly spread across different lands.

The statue of Zeus from Olympia did not survive to our times. Her troubles began when a Christian who disliked paganism took the throne. For a long time it was believed that the statue did not survive the looting of the temple. Centuries later, the remains of the temple and statue were found. Thanks to these finds, scientists were able to see for themselves and show others this wonder of the ancient world.

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

Artemis is one of the most famous goddesses of antiquity. She helped women in labor endure pain and was the patroness of hunters. And the residents considered her their protector. For the glory of their goddess, the townspeople decided to erect a temple that would have no equal. They wanted not only to glorify their city, but also to earn the favor of Artemis.

The temple took a very long time to build. The first architect, Kharsifron, did not have time to see his brainchild. His work was continued by his son, and after him by other architects. In the center of the temple was a statue of Artemis. But what took so long to build was destroyed in a short period of time. Herostratus, who madly wanted to become famous, but did not know how to do it, set fire to the temple. If this miracle of architecture were intact now, it would surpass everything that has ever been built by mankind.

Halicarnassus Mausoleum

The Halicarnassus Mausoleum is one of the most luxurious tombs ever invented by man. The mausoleum was named after the formidable and cruel ruler Mausol, who was able to ensure that his lands became rich and strong.

It took a long time to build the mausoleum. It began to be built during the life of Mausolus, but when the ruler died, his tomb was not yet ready. After the death of Mausolus, the mausoleum was supplemented with statues of gods, who guarded the king’s body and did not allow it to be disturbed. In addition to the gods, in the tomb one could see statues of Mausolus himself and his beautiful wife Artemisia.

The mausoleum joined the list of wonders that have not survived to this day. He survived many wars. But over time it was dismantled to build Christian churches.

The Colossus of Rhodes

Rhodes is one of the richest cities, which went down in history as the birthplace of the sixth wonder of the world. The Colossus was the largest structure. He was a tall, strong young man holding a torch above his head. It is in his image and likeness that centuries later will be created

The Colossus of Rhodes is also on the list of wonders of the world that our generation will not see. The young man's legs could not bear his weight. Therefore, during an earthquake, the statue fell into the water. It lay on the coast for about ten centuries. And only then it was decided to melt down the Colossus.

Alexandrian lighthouse

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World amazed their contemporaries. And people of our time are surprised when they learn about those magnificent creations of the human mind. The Alexandria Lighthouse takes a worthy place on the list.

It was built in a city named after Alexander the Great. Over the centuries, this lighthouse has illuminated the path for many travelers and traders. But this grandiose structure could not survive into our century. Nature itself destroyed him. The lighthouse did not survive the strongest tremors. Only at the end of the last century were scientists able to show what that wonder of the world looked like.

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World are something that will always attract people's attention. Until now, these human creations are surrounded by mysteries. And it is unlikely that all questions will ever be answered.

The New Seven Wonders of the World is a project whose goal was to find the modern seven wonders of the world. It was organized by the non-profit organization New Open World Corporation (NOWC) on the initiative of the Swiss Bernard Weber. The selection of the new seven “wonders of the world” from the famous architectural structures of the world took place via SMS, telephone or Internet. The result was announced on July 7, 2007.

The Colosseum or Flavian Amphitheater is an amphitheater, an architectural monument of Ancient Rome, the most famous and one of the most grandiose buildings of the Ancient World that have survived to this day. Located in Rome, in the hollow between the Esquiline, Palatine and Caelian hills.

In ancient Rome, many historical monuments have been preserved, but the most extraordinary of them is the Colosseum, in which people doomed to death desperately fought and died for the entertainment of free citizens of Rome. It became the largest and most famous of all Roman amphitheatres, and one of the greatest masterpieces of Roman engineering and architecture that has survived to this day. The grandiose Colosseum amazed everyone who came to the capital of the empire for the first time. This is a symbol of Rome and its centuries-old history, the largest and most beautiful stadium of the ancient world.

The amphitheater is a Roman invention. It consisted of an elliptical-shaped arena, surrounded by tiers of rows of seated stands, from which a large public, without putting themselves at risk, could watch exciting bloody spectacles. Gladiator fights were held here and wild exotic animals were paraded, then pitted against each other in mortal combat in front of a captivated crowd.

Even before the construction of the Colosseum, Rome had several amphitheaters, but after a great fire in 64 AD. e. a new building was needed. Roman Emperor Vespasian, who reigned from 69 AD. e., wanting to further spread the bloody sport of gladiators, he ordered to begin in 72 AD. e. construction of an amphitheater, which was to bear the name of the new imperial dynasty and surpass all previous ones in unprecedented size and beauty. The amphitheater was initially called Flavian (Amphiteatrum Flavium).

It was erected at the bottom of an artificial reservoir dug under Vespasian's predecessor, Emperor Nero, for his famous luxurious Golden House. Such a choice of location was very advantageous not only from a technical, but also from a political point of view, as if demonstrating a break with the previous decadent luxury. Vespasian developed construction plans on a scale no less than Nero, but this was construction for public needs, and not at all to satisfy the personal whims of the emperor.

The Colosseum's circumference reaches 527 meters; it has the shape of an ellipse with diagonals of 188 and 156 meters. The height of the undestroyed part is 57 meters. The four floors of the building could accommodate 80 thousand people. A giant canopy was attached to the columns of the upper tier, protecting spectators from the scorching sun. The inside of the building was paved with marble, and the façade was paved with travertine (a porous rock widely used in ancient times as a building material), the slabs of which were held together with iron brackets. Under the sand-covered wooden floor of the arena, numerous underground passages began. During performances, decorations, animals, gladiators and their weapons were raised along these passages using special mechanisms. The audience was separated from the arena by a metal grill. You could get inside the building through one of the 80 arches on the first tier.

It was solemnly consecrated in 80 AD. e. already Vespasian's heir, Emperor Titus. On this occasion, a holiday was held that lasted exactly 100 days. During that period of time, 5 thousand predators brought from northern Africa and hundreds of gladiators were killed in the Colosseum arena. But even then, despite the official opening, construction was not yet completely finished. The last, upper platform for spectators was completed only under Titus' successor, Emperor Domitian.

A distinctive feature of this structure is the large number of tiers. Its architecture shows how ingeniously it is possible to simply organize and direct the movement of countless crowds of people. A complex system of staircases and passages provided unobstructed and easy access to the stands and seats. Four main entrances made it possible to quickly enter the arena, and through 80 arches in just 10 minutes you could be in numbered spectator seats. Spectators often spent several days in a row here, so they brought food with them from home. All this speaks of a high engineering and architectural level of the design. But it should also be noted that there were no toilets there, with all the attendant circumstances.

Seats in the Colosseum were distributed according to the social status of the spectators. The lower ones were intended for representatives of the upper strata of society - government officials, priests, vestals. Commoners sat on the upper tiers. The imperial box - a podium with a spacious terrace - was located right next to the arena. The rows closest to her were reserved for wealthy patricians and honored guests. The amphitheater was divided into sectors, each of which had a serial number.

The name of the architect who designed the amphitheater is unknown, but it is assumed that he was Rabirius, who later became the author of Domitian’s palace. The outside of the amphitheater is entirely covered with travertine and has four tiers. The three lower ones represent arched propets running along the entire profile, cut by pilasters and semi-columns in the canonical sequence: on the first tier - Doric, on the second - Ionic, and on the third - Corinthian. The fourth, upper tier, completed a little later, is a solid wall, dissected by Corinthian pilasters and cut through by small windows. The crowning cornice still has holes where supports were inserted to stretch the bright awning, protecting spectators from the heat. Each arched flight of the first tier corresponded to an entrance to the seats for spectators: 76 of these entrances were numbered (Roman numerals can still be seen on the arches); four main entrances were intended: one for the imperial retinue, another for the Vestals, the third for judges and the last for honored guests.

The Colosseum operated 36 elevators, manually operated by slaves. Each elevator could be lifted by up to 10 slaves. They also transported wild animals. In 523 AD e., after long popular protests, a decree was passed in Rome prohibiting the killing of predators. In this ancient stadium, the display of gladiator fights continued until the 5th century AD. e.

In the center of the Roman Colosseum there was an arena surrounded by archers who protected spectators from attacks by predators. A terrace was built around the arena, where the imperial box and the boxes of prominent senators, judges and popes were located. The remaining spectator seats were divided into three tiers. The lower tier is for noble nobles and wealthy businessmen, the second is for the free citizens of Rome of the middle class, the last is for the common people. In the very top rows sat slaves operating the elevators. And even higher than the slaves were the sailors of the imperial navy, Classis Miseniensis. What were they doing there? They controlled the huge linen canvas that covered the top of the Colosseum so that the arena remained always open. For this purpose, a complex structure was built here, consisting of 240 pillars, supporting a giant substance. And since the sailors were excellent masters in sail control, they were the ones responsible for this sector. Under the arena there were special passages that were used for performances, as well as cages with wild animals. The creators of the Colosseum designed a complex system of passages and lifts through which angry animals released from their cages in the dungeon fell directly into the arena. There were 2 special exits in the Colosseum: the exit of life and the exit of death. The winners or pardoned gladiators came out into one, and the dead were carried out through the other.

Entry to the Colosseum was free. Many emperors cared about the amusement of their people, in this way they could be more easily kept under control. For the same purpose, before entering the stadium, flour for baking bread was distributed free of charge. Among the spectators there were many women who were ardent fans of these bloody spectacles.

Gladiatorial fights began at dawn and ended at dusk, and some festive performances lasted for several days. The performance usually opened with the performance of festively dressed gladiators, under their feet there was a wooden floor sprinkled with sand to absorb the blood.

The first number on the program was cripples and clowns: these also fought, but not seriously and without blood. Sometimes women also appeared and competed in archery. And only then came the turn of the gladiators and animals. First, trained animals performed, and then wild ones were released into the arena, which were set against each other or against armed people. The Romans' love for such spectacles led to the mass extermination of animals. But much more brutal were the battles of the gladiators who fought for life and death. They were recruited from slaves, convicted criminals, or prisoners of war. The main weapon of gladiators was a short double-edged sword - a gladius. When mortally wounded soldiers fell, a man dressed as Charon (a character from Greek mythology - the carrier of the dead to the afterlife) entered the arena. The body was taken out, the bloody stain was covered with sand, and the place of the dead gladiator was taken by the next one. Anyone who was seriously wounded could lie on the floor and beg the audience for mercy. If the crowd thought he had fought valiantly, they would chant “Mitte!” (“Free him!”). But if a fighter failed to win the sympathy of the public, the inexorable “Ingula!” followed. ("Kill him!"). In the Colosseum, the all-powerful Caesar did not contradict the wishes of his subjects: at the request of “Mitte!” he raised his thumb up, granting the gladiator life, and sometimes freedom, while after shouts of “ingula!” put his finger down, condemning the fighter to death.

The use of wild animals in the arena has become so diverse and complex that specially trained people - bestiaries - began to be brought in to perform performances with them. The Roman mob especially loved shows with animals. The highest nobility preferred gladiator fights. Bestiaries were trained in a special school. They had their own traditions, their own uniforms and their own professional jargon. During the magnificent celebrations on the occasion of the opening of the Colosseum in 80 AD. e. gladiators killed about 5 thousand lions, hippos, elephants, and zebras. A huge number of animals died in 248, during the festivities in honor of the 1000th anniversary of Rome.

Bloody gladiator fights were banned only in 404 AD. e. In 523 AD BC, after long popular protests, a decree was passed in Rome prohibiting the killing of predators.

The barbarian invasions left the Flavian Amphitheater desolate and marked the beginning of its destruction. From the 11th century until 1132, it served as a fortress for noble Roman families who competed with each other for influence and power over their fellow citizens, especially for the families of Frangipani and Annibaldi. The latter, however, were forced to cede the Colosseum to Emperor Henry VII, who donated it to the Roman Senate and people. Back in 1332, the local aristocracy organized bullfights here, but from that time on the systematic destruction of the Colosseum began. They began to look at it as a source of obtaining building material, and not only the stones that had fallen off, but also the stones deliberately broken out of it began to be used for new structures. So, in the 15th and 16th centuries, Pope Paul II took material from it to build the so-called Venetian palace, Cardinal Riario - the palace of the chancellery, Paul III - the Palazzo Farnese. However, a significant part of the amphitheater survived, although the building as a whole remained disfigured. Sixtus V intended to use it to set up a cloth factory, and Clement IX actually turned the Colosseum into a plant for the extraction of saltpeter.

The removal of the stone, which threatened to completely destroy the ancient monument, was stopped only in the middle of the 18th century by Pope Benedict XIV, who installed a cross on the building, and around it a number of altars in memory of the torture, the procession to Calvary and the death of the Savior on the cross, and consecrated it as a place of martyrdom of many Christians. This cross and altars were removed from the Colosseum only in 1874. The popes who followed Benedict XIV, especially Pius VII and Leo XII, continued to take care of the safety of the surviving parts of the building and reinforced the parts of the walls that were in danger of falling with buttresses, and Pius IX corrected some of the internal stairs in it.

The current appearance of the amphitheater is almost a triumph of minimalism: a strict ellipse, three tiers made in three orders, a precisely calculated arch shape. Initially, each arch was accompanied by a statue, and the giant opening between the walls was covered with canvas using a special mechanism.

The classic list of the Seven Wonders of the World has been known to us since our school days, when we studied Ancient History. Only the pyramids of Egypt have survived to our times, which can be seen by anyone 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 - were destroyed over the centuries, some by fires and earthquakes, others by floods.

The classic list of wonders of the world includes:

1. Pyramid of Cheops (burial site of the Pharaoh of Egypt) - created by the Egyptians in 2540 BC. e. ;
2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon in Babylon - created by the Babylonians in 605 BC. e. ;
3. Statue of Zeus at Olympia - created by the Greeks in 435 BC. e.;
4. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus (built in honor of the goddess Artemis in Turkey) - created by the Greeks and Persians in 550 BC. e.;
5. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus - created by the Carians, Greeks and Persians in 351 BC. e.;
6. The Colossus of Rhodes was established by the Greeks between 292 and 280. BC e.;
7. Lighthouse of Alexandria - built in the 4th century BC. e. by the Greeks a lighthouse, and named in honor of Alexander the Great.

All the photographs presented below with the wonders of the world are either models of what the majestic structures used to look like, or what remains of them at the present time. It's a pity that they couldn't withstand natural disasters.

Some time later, cultural figures began to add additional attractions to this list, “miracles” that 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, Christian theologian Gregory of Tours added Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple 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 as wonders of the world.

New list of wonders of the world

In 2007, a UN organization organized a vote to approve a new list of modern wonders of the world. They voted by phone, Internet and SMS messages. And this is the final list:

Colosseum in Italy;
The great Wall of China;
Machu Picchu – ancient Inca city in Peru;
Taj Mahal in India is a magnificent mausoleum-mosque in India;
Petra is an ancient city, the capital of the Nabataean kingdom, located in modern Jordan;
Christ the Redeemer statue flying over Rio de Janeiro in Brazil;
pyramids of Giza in Egypt;
Chichen Itza in Mexico, an ancient city of the Mayan civilization.

All of them have been preserved from ancient times, except for the statue of Christ the Redeemer, which was finally built in 1931 of the last century and has since become a symbol of Brazil and one of its largest cities - Rio de Janeiro.

How to see them?

The new list of wonders has been officially approved by the UN, and now everyone who travels to the country can see them. No excursion route will avoid visiting these attractions. They try to carefully preserve them for future generations, but also use them for modern needs.

For example, the Colosseum is known for its excellent acoustics. Famous singers and musicians from all over the world often perform there, and operas are staged in the open air.

The Taj Mahal is also open to tourists, but this is the tomb of the padishah’s beloved wife, so people only inspect it and admire the beauty of its architectural forms and interior paintings.

It is considered simply indecent to be in China and not visit the Great Wall. There are many excursions to it, but you cannot climb it: it is a huge obstacle course and walking on it is dangerous. That's why everyone takes pictures near her plots 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 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 for a long time through the ruins. However, tourist holidays in these countries are well organized, and you will not regret if you spend a day or two visiting these magnificent places.

Chichen Itza - ancient Mayan city

Why exactly 7 wonders of the world, and not 10 or 15?

As you have probably already noticed, people used to have a special attitude towards the magical number seven. Everyone knows that there are 7 holes on the human head - 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 his eyes, without even thinking, however, if there are more of them, he will have to count them in his mind.

Thus, due to seemingly such primitive conclusions, people began to strive to reduce the number of something to seven. For example, highlight 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 identified the Seven Wonders of the World, because the number 7 was the sacred number of Apollo, the god who patronized art.