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| Page Views: 6,247 | The Seven Wonders Of The Ancient World by Escadora7 - last update: Apr 11, 2005 |
Let me take you through a little story first -
A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the present "Seven Wonders of the World". Though there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes:
-1- Egypt's Great Pyramids -2- Taj Mahal -3- Grand Canyon -4- Panama Canal -5- Empire State Building -6- St. Peter's Basilica -7- China's Great Wall.
While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not finished her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many". The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help". The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:
-1- To See -2- To Hear -3- To Touch -4- To Taste -5- To Feel -6- To Laugh -7- and finally to Love."
The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. The things we usually overlook as simple and ordinary and that we take for granted are truly wondrous! A gentle reminder, that the most precious things in life cannot be built by hand or bought by man.
The list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was originally compiled around the second century BC. Today, archaeological evidence reveals some of the mysteries that surrounded the history of the Wonders for centuries. For their builders, the Seven Wonders were a celebration of religion, mythology, art, power, and science. One of these days, Eve and I would like to visit the site of these seven wonders. Not much remains where these wonders once stood. But the awe at just standing where these wonders once existed would be everything to us. Below is a compiled list of these wonders listed chronologically.
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|  | The Great Pyramid of Giza
A gigantic stone structure near the ancient city of Memphis, serving as a tomb for the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu from where he could start his mystic journey to the afterlife. This is the oldest, yet the only surviving of the Seven Ancient Wonders.
Contrary to common belief, only the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), and not all three Great Pyramids, is on top of the list of Wonders. When Napoleon invaded Egypt in 1798, his pride was expressed through his famous quote: "Soldats! Du haut de ces Pyramides, 40 siècles nous contemplent". (Soldiers! From the top of these Pyramids, 40 centuries are looking at us).
Location
At the city of Giza, a necropolis of ancient Memphis, and today part of Greater Cairo, Egypt.
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The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
A palace with legendary gardens built on the banks of the Euphrates river by King Nebuchadnezzar II. It may be surprising to know that the gardens might have never existed except in the minds of Greek poets and historians!
Legend has it that the gardens were built by Nebuchadnezzar to please his wife or concubine who had been "brought up in Media and had a passion for mountain surroundings".
Detailed descriptions of the Gardens come from ancient Greek sources:
"The Hanging Garden has plants cultivated above ground level, and the roots of the trees are embedded in an upper terrace rather than in the earth. The whole mass is supported on stone columns... Streams of water emerging from elevated sources flow down sloping channels... These waters irrigate the whole garden saturating the roots of plants and keeping the whole area moist. Hence the grass is permanently green and the leaves of trees grow firmly attached to supple branches... This is a work of art of royal luxury and its most striking feature is that the labor of cultivation is suspended above the heads of the spectators".
Location
On the east bank of the River Euphrates, about 50 km south of Baghdad, Iraq.
[Footnote - If we had ONE chance to go back in time and see any one wonder then Eve and I decided unanimously that this would be it! The rest of the wonders are technically possible, this one just doesn't fail to amaze us.]
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| | | The Hanging Gardens of Babylon |
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| | The Statue of Zeus at Olympia
An enormous statue of the Greek father of gods, carved by the great sculptor Pheidias. The magnificent temple of Zeus designed and built around 450 BC seemed too mundane as the power of ancient Greece grew. The simple Doric-style temple needed modifications. The solution: A majestic statue of Zeus seated, but with the head almost touching the ceiling, so that we have the impression that if Zeus moved to stand up he would unroof the temple. In his right hand a figure of Victory made from ivory and gold. In his left hand, his scepter inlaid with all metals, and an eagle perched on the sceptre. The sandals of the god are made of gold, as is his robe.
- Pausanias the Greek (2nd century AD)
In the first century AD, there were failed attempts to transport the statue to Rome. After the banning of the Olympic games in AD 391 as Pagan practices, the temple of Zeus was ordered closed. The statue was transported by wealthy Greeks to a palace in Constantinople. There, it survived until it was destroyed by a severe fire in AD 462. Today nothing remains at the site of the old temple except rocks and debris, the foundation of the buildings, and fallen columns.
Location
At the ancient town of Olympia, on the west coast of modern Greece, about 150 km west of Athens.
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The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
A beautiful temple in Asia Minor erected in honor of the Greek goddess of hunting and wild nature built around 550 BC, the temple served as both a marketplace and a religious institution. For years, the sanctuary was visited by merchants, tourists, artisans, and kings from as far as Persia and India who paid homage to the goddess by sharing their profits with her.
On the night of 21 July 356 BC, a man named Herostratus burned the temple to ground in an attempt to immortalize his name, which he did indeed. Oddly enough, Alexander the Great was born the same night. The historian Plutarch later wrote that the goddess was "too busy taking care of the birth of Alexander to send help to her threatened temple".
Location
The ancient city of Ephesus near the modern town of Selcuk, about 50 km south of Izmir (Smyrna) in Turkey.
But when I saw the sacred house of Artemis that towers to the clouds, the [other Wonders] were placed in the shade, for the Sun himself has never looked upon its equal outside Olympus.
- Antipater of Sidon
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| | | The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus |
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| The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus |
| | The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
A fascinating tomb constructed for King Maussollos, Persian satrap of Caria. The project was conceived by his wife and sister Artemisia, and the construction might have started during the king's lifetime. The Mausoleum was completed around 350 BC, three years after Maussollos death, and one year after Artemisia's.
For 16 centuries, the Mausoleum remained in good condition until an earthquake caused some damage to the roof and colonnade. Today, a massive castle stands in its place, and the polished stone and marble blocks of the Mausoleum can be spotted within the walls of the structure. Because the statues were of people and animals, the Mausoleum holds a special place in history as it was not dedicated to the gods of Ancient Greece.
Location
In the city of Bodrum (f.k.a. Halicarnassus) on the Aegean Sea, in south-west Turkey.
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The Colossus of Rhodes
A colossus of Helios the sun-god, erected by the Greeks near the harbor of a Mediterranean Island.
The construction of the Colossus took 12 years and was finished in 282 BC. When the colossus was finished, it stood about 33 m (110 ft) high. For years, the statue stood at the harbor entrance, until a strong earthquake hit Rhodes about 226 BC. The city was badly damaged, and the Colossus was broken at its weakest point -- the knee. And when it fell, "few people can make their arms meet round the thumb", wrote Pliny
Location
At the entrance of the harbor of the Mediterranean island of Rhodes in Greece.
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| The Lighthouse of Alexandria |
| | The Lighthouse of Alexandria
A lighthouse built by the Ptolemies on the island of Pharos off the coast of their capital city. Of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, only the Lighthouse of Alexandria had a practical use in addition to its architectural elegance. For sailors, it ensured a safe return to the Great Harbor. For architects, it meant even more: it was the tallest building on Earth. And for scientists, it was the mysterious mirror that fascinated them most... The mirror which reflection could be seen more than 50 km (35 miles) off-shore. Legend says the mirror was also used to detect and burn enemy ships before they could reach the shore.
For centuries, the Lighthouse of Alexandria (occasionally referred to as the Pharos Lighthouse) was used to mark the harbor, using fire at night and reflecting sun rays during the day. It was even shown on Roman coins, just as famous monuments are depicted on currency today.
Of the six vanished Wonders, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was the last to disappear.
Location
On the ancient island of Pharos, now a promontory within the city of Alexandria in Egypt.
[Sostratus, the son of Dexiphanes, the Cnidian, dedicated this to the Saviour Gods, on behalf of those who sail the seas.
Dedicatory inscription of the Lighthouse ]
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 Comments for Escadora7 about World | | | | |
icunme Wed Aug 5, 2009 15:22 UTC
Hi there Ash & Eve - Lovely homepage and wedding pix! Will tour a bit with you while I'm here. Ciao, Carol | Suzze Mon Jun 1, 2009 13:28 UTC
Lovely homepage! Totally agree with your preview bit, good on you for getting your point across. I wish you a great future with the love of you life X :-) | tini58de Tue Apr 7, 2009 14:35 UTC
Just returned from South Africa, so that is why I am late wishing you a happy birthday! I do hope you had a lovely one! | 37SingleMaleInDubai1 Sat Mar 28, 2009 13:17 UTC
Hello Ash and Eve, Wish you both a very Happy Birthday and many more returns. Regards from lovely Dubai, Amir........ :-) |
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