Seven wonders of the world and the name of the state. Seven wonders of the world: list and description. new wonders of nature with photos and descriptions

Modern man has the power to do a lot: people conquer outer space, reveal more and more mysteries of nature - it’s impossible to list everything. It is increasingly difficult to capture the imagination of modern man, because before his eyes the most daring dreams ever created by uncontrollable human imagination are being realized.

However, what today seems like an extraordinary miracle and the pinnacle of creative thought, after a few decades will become as ordinary and familiar as, for example, television for you and me now. Nevertheless, there remain things that can surprise regardless of time, which in many generations will be looked at with admiration and, probably, awe, just as they are today. You probably guessed what I'm talking about "Wonders of the World".

As you know, there were seven wonders of the world, which are now commonly called “wonders of the ancient world.” Only one of them has survived to this day - the legendary pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Therefore, on the initiative of the Swiss Bernard Werber, a project was organized to determine which of the existing structures and attractions are worthy of being called “wonders of the world.”

The non-profit organization New Open World Corporation conducted a worldwide vote in which more than 90 million people around the world took part. From several dozen applicants for the title of one of the seven wonders of the world, winners were selected, and the results of the competition were announced in Lisbon on July 7, 2007, the “day of three sevens.”

So, we invite you to look at photos of the new seven wonders of the world, and also read their brief descriptions:

Location: China

This is the largest architectural structure in the world; the length of the wall is 8851.8 kilometers. was built to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire from raids by nomads. Today the wall is rightfully considered one of the greatest structures ever built by man. It is the most visited attraction in the world - more than 40 million tourists a year come to the country to see the Great Wall of China with their own eyes. By the way, one of the sections of the wall runs near the capital of China - Beijing.

Location: Italy, Rome

This is the largest of the ancient Roman amphitheaters, a full-fledged symbol of the Eternal City, perhaps the most recognizable architectural monument in the world. Its second name - Flavian Amphitheater - was received in honor of the Flavian dynasty, which then ruled in Ancient Rome and organized the construction of the amphitheater. For a long time, the Colosseum hosted gladiator fights and other entertainment spectacles for guests and residents of Rome.

Location: Peru

The legendary ancient city of the Incas, located in the territory of modern Peru. Machu Picchu received the nickname “city among the clouds” due to its location - it is located on the top of one of the mountain ranges, at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level. The city was built by the Inca ruler Pachacutec as an imperial residence - a “sacred mountain refuge.”

Location: Jordan

The famous stone-hewn city of Petra, located in what is now Jordan. The city is located in the Arava Valley, in the Siq canyon, surrounded on all sides by steep cliffs. You can enter the valley only through narrow gorges, which are a kind of gateway to the city. Most of the city's buildings are carved out of red sandstone cliffs - even the city's name "Petra" translates as "rock". More than half a million tourists a year come to see the mysterious city made of stone. By the way, the final scenes of Steven Spielberg's famous film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade were filmed here in Petra.

Location: India

The Taj Mahal mausoleum-mosque made of white marble is located in the city of Agra in India, on the banks of the Jamna River. This is a real pearl of the Muslim world, the best example of architecture of Indian, Persian and Islamic styles. The magnificent mausoleum was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in honor of his wife who died in childbirth.

According to one legend, an absolutely identical building made of black marble was to be built on the opposite bank of the river, and a bridge made of gray marble was to connect them. Today, the Taj Mahal is visited by millions of tourists a year, it undoubtedly deservedly took its place on the list of the new seven wonders of the world.

Location: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro

The next wonder of the world is the magnificent statue of Christ the Redeemer on top of Mount Corcovado in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro. The statue is considered a symbol of Rio and all of Brazil and is one of the tallest sculptures in the world. The height of the statue is 38 meters, the arm span is 30 meters, the weight of the statue is 1145 tons.

Location: Mexico, Yucatan

The ancient city of Chichen Itza is the political and cultural center of the Mayan state, located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. According to archaeologists, Chichen Itza was one of the religious centers, the so-called “places of power” of the Mayan culture.

Location: Egypt

Formally, the Pyramids of Giza are not among the seven new wonders of the world, but are present here as a non-competitive, honorary candidate. The Egyptian pyramids are the only one of the seven wonders of the ancient world that have survived to this day. Excursions to the pyramids are regularly conducted from the capital of Egypt and are very popular among tourists.

Last week, I went to visit my mother, and found my old children’s encyclopedia “7 Wonders of the World” from her, flipped through it with nostalgia, and finally decided to make a post about the wonders of the world, because today there are many more than 7 wonders of the world.

To begin with, I propose to recall these “7 wonders” of antiquity.

The only miracle that has survived to this day. Construction, which lasted twenty years, began around 2560 BC. e. Excavation data from January 2010 confirm the theory that the pyramids were built by civilian workers. Up to 10 thousand people were simultaneously employed at the construction site, with workers working in shifts of three months. It is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids of the necropolis of the city of Giza.

Initially, the Cheops pyramid rose to 147 meters, but due to the advance of sands, its height decreased to 137 meters.

The Cheops Pyramid consists of 2,300,000 cubic blocks of limestone with smoothly polished sides. Each block weighs on average 2.5 tons, and the heaviest is 15 tons, the total weight of the pyramid is 5.7 million tons.

Confirmation of the inexplicably high knowledge of the Egyptians in the field of astronomy and civil engineering is the location of the Cheops pyramid in relation to the cardinal points: the pyramid almost unmistakably points to the true north. As a result of precise measurements carried out in 1925, an incredible fact was established: the error in its position was only 3 minutes 6 seconds.

The base area of ​​the pyramid is comparable to the area of ​​10 football fields.

We can talk for a long time about the pyramids shrouded in myths and legends, their labyrinths and traps, mummies and treasures, but we’ll leave that to Egyptologists. For us, the Cheops Pyramid is one of the greatest structures of mankind throughout its existence and, of course, the only First Wonder of the World that has survived to this day from the depths of centuries.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon (Babylon)

The city has long ceased to exist, but even today the ruins testify to its grandeur. In the 7th century BC. Babylon was the largest and richest city of the Ancient East. There were many amazing structures in Babylon, but most striking were the hanging gardens of the royal palace - gardens that became a legend.

the famous “Hanging Gardens” were created not by Semiramis and not even during her reign, but later, in honor of another - non-legendary - woman. They were built by order of King Nebuchadnezzar for his beloved wife Amytis, a Median princess who, in dusty Babylon, yearned for the green hills of Media.

This king, who destroyed city after city and even entire states, built a lot in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar turned the capital into an impregnable stronghold and surrounded himself with luxury unparalleled even in those times.

The design of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon was a pyramid with a base (43x35 meters), which consisted of four tiers mounted on twenty-five-meter columns. The surface of each tier was covered with a layer of reeds (reeds), stone blocks held together with gypsum and lead plates, on which a thick layer of fertile soil was poured. All these measures helped to preserve water for plants for as long as possible, of which there was very little in Babylon.

The height of the structure was almost thirty meters! Trees, flowers, soil - all this was brought in carts drawn by oxen. Water was supplied through pipes from the Euphrates River. To do this, hundreds of slaves turned a huge wheel installed in one of the towers around the clock.

Zeus statue in Olympia

The statue of Olympian Zeus 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 Olympian Zeus, in Olympia - a city in the region of Elis. Construction of the temple took about 10 years. But the statue of Zeus did not appear in it right away. The Greeks decided to invite the famous Athenian sculptor Phidias to create a statue of Zeus.

Ancient Roman sculpture "Seated Zeus", Phidias type. Hermitage Gold covered the cape that covered part of Zeus’s body, the scepter with an eagle, which he held in his left hand, the statue of the goddess of victory - Nike, which he held in his right hand, and a wreath of olive branches on Zeus’s head. Zeus's feet rested on a stool supported by two lions. The reliefs of the throne glorified, first of all, Zeus himself. Four dancing Nikes were depicted on the legs of the throne. Centaurs, lapiths, the exploits of Theseus and Hercules, and frescoes depicting the battle of the Greeks with the Amazons were also depicted. The base of the statue was 6 meters wide and 1 meter high. The height of the entire statue together with the pedestal was, according to various sources, from 12 to 17 meters. Zeus's eyes were the size of an adult's fist.

Temple of Artemis of Ephesus (Ephesus)

Several hundred years BC, when Ephesus was at the zenith of its glory, the inhabitants decided to build a large temple. By that time, the city was already about 600 years old, it was rich and powerful, growing and prospering under the patronage of the goddess Artemis, sister of Apollo and daughter of Zeus - known in Roman mythology as Diana the Huntress. Artemis was also considered the goddess of the moon and helped women during childbirth.

The place for the new, majestic and grandiose temple in the part of the goddess was chosen as sacred - even in ancient times, religious rituals took place there. The townspeople decided not to spare either money or time, and also attracted wealthy construction sponsors from other regions of the country.

The finished temple was magnificent, and was constantly decorated with new decorative elements - after all, Ephesus was a very rich city. Historical data is contradictory, but it is mentioned that the temple had many bronze statues, the interior was decorated with gold and silver, the statue of the goddess herself was made of ivory and gold, and trimmed with ebony.

It is noteworthy that in those days the temple was not only a religious building, but also a financial and business center. The souvenir business also flourished: not far from the temple, original souvenirs - its smaller copies - were successfully sold. Scientists still have not figured out which temple was considered a wonder of the world - rebuilt or burned by Herostratus

mausoleum in Halicarnassus

The Mausoleum in Halicarnassus is a wonderful monument of ancient Greek architectural art, which went down in the history of ancient culture as one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World. Our contemporaries generally believe that the mausoleum is the tomb of great leaders.

The builders placed the tomb in the peripterus - a building framed by a colonnade of 11-meter columns. To support the roof of the mausoleum, 36 columns were needed. The spaces between the columns were filled with various statues of mythological figures, and the roof looked like a step pyramid with 24 steps. Its crown was a marble quadriga, that is, an antique chariot with four horses harnessed to it. Huge statues of Mausolus and Artemisia were placed in the chariot, playing the role of charioteers. This magnificent sculpture reached a height of 6 m. In the tomb room there were marble sarcophagi intended for the royal couple. The foot of the mausoleum was decorated with sculptures of horsemen and marble lions.

In general, the history of the Halicarnassus mausoleum is eventful. At one time, he survived the conquest of the city by Alexander the Great, and even withstood the attack of pirates who set their sights on Halicarnassus at the beginning of the 1st century. However, after the Maltese attacked the mausoleum and took away stone and marble slabs from it, only the foundation remained of the majestic structure.

Colossus of Rhodes (Rhodes)

The colossus was the name given to a giant statue that stood in the port city of Rhodes, an island in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of modern Turkey. In ancient times, the people of Rhodes wanted to be independent traders.

The colossus grew on the shore of the harbor on an artificial hill lined with white marble. For twelve years no one saw the statue, because as soon as the next belt of bronze sheets was attached to the frame, the embankment surrounding the colossus was added to make it more convenient for the craftsmen to climb up. And only when the embankment was removed, the Rhodians saw their patron god, whose head was adorned with a radiant crown.

The sparkling god was visible many kilometers from Rhodes, and soon rumors about him spread throughout the ancient world. But half a century later, a strong earthquake that destroyed Rhodes knocked the colossus to the ground; the most vulnerable point of the statue was the knees. This is where the expression “colossus with feet of clay” comes from.

So the colossus lay on the shore of the bay - the main tourist attraction of the island. The defeated giant was seen by Pliny the Elder, who came there in the first century AD. What struck Pliny most was that only a few people could wrap their hands around the thumb of the statue.

The colossus lying on the ground was overgrown with cobwebs and legends. In eyewitness accounts, he seemed much larger than he actually was. Legends appeared in Roman literature that it originally towered over the entrance to the harbor and was so large that ships passed between its legs to the city.

Alexandria Lighthouse (Pharos)

The Lighthouse of Alexandria (Faros Lighthouse) is one of the seven ancient wonders of the world, built in the 3rd century BC. e. on the small island of Pharos off the coast of the Egyptian city of Alexandria. It was a busy port founded by Alexander the Great during his visit to Egypt in 332 BC. e.

The Alexandria Lighthouse was the world's first lighthouse and the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World that served a practical purpose, helping ships safely pass the reefs on their way to Alexandria Bay. The lighthouse, according to various estimates, rose to a height of 120 to 140 meters, and the light it emitted could be visible at a distance of up to 60 km.

The lighthouse stood for almost a thousand years, but by the 12th century AD. e., the Alexandria Bay became so silted that ships could no longer use it and the lighthouse fell into disrepair. Abandoned, it stood for some time, until in 796 AD. e. it was not destroyed by an earthquake. At the end of the 15th century. Sultan Qait Bey erected a fortress from the rubble on the site of the lighthouse, which was subsequently rebuilt more than once.

These are the miracles that were described in my book. The same ones: 7 wonders. But time does not stand still, and now there are many more such miracles. It seems to me that they are also worthy of our attention...

New 7 wonders of the world

Great Wall of China (China)

The Great Wall of China is one of the oldest architectural monuments in China and a symbol of the power of Chinese civilization. There is probably not a single civilized person in the world who has not heard of the Great Wall of China. It stretches from the Liaodong Gulf northeast of Beijing through Northern China to the Gobi Desert.

Construction took 10 years and faced numerous difficulties. The main problem was the lack of appropriate infrastructure for construction: there were no roads, there was no adequate water and food for those involved in the work, while their number reached 300 thousand people, and the total number of builders involved under Qin reached, according to some estimates, 2 million. Slaves, soldiers, and peasants were involved in the construction. As a result of epidemics and overwork, at least tens of thousands of people died. Outrage against the mobilization for the construction of the wall caused popular uprisings and served as one of the reasons for the fall of the Qin dynasty.

Probably, no creation of human hands amazes the imagination as much as the Great Wall of China - the most grandiose and longest architectural and fortification structure on the planet. The wall is not just impressive - it is stunning. First of all, the titanic labor invested in it and its prohibitive size. Truly, only the Chinese, organized and hardworking like ants, could endure this. In China they say that a good half of their history lies in the Great Wall of China - it was built by different generations and dynasties over more than two thousand years, and all the country’s wars are connected with it in one way or another.

Christ the Redeemer Statue (Rio de Janeiro)

One of the most famous statues in the world and certainly the most recognizable in Brazil is the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Installed on Mount Corcovado at an altitude of more than 700 meters, she looks at the huge city below her with outstretched arms in a gesture of blessing. The Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro, due to its fame, attracts millions of tourists to Mount Corcovado. From its height there is a beautiful view of the city of ten million with its bays, beaches, and the Maracana stadium.

The height of the statue is 38 m, including the pedestal - 8 m; arm span - 28 m. Weight - 1145 tons. Being the highest point in the area, the statue regularly (on average four times a year) becomes the target of lightning. The Catholic diocese specially keeps a supply of the stone from which the statue was built to restore parts of the statue damaged by lightning

The statue of Christ the Redeemer is without a doubt one of the main symbols not only of Rio de Janeiro, but of all of Brazil. Many tourists visit the statue every year. Mount Corcovado experiences a particularly large influx of visitors during the traditional annual carnival, which is held in Rio de Janeiro. Definitely, this grandiose monument is one of the greatest works of sculpture in the world.

Colosseum (Rome)

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.

The construction of the largest amphitheater in the entire ancient world, with a capacity of over 50 thousand people, took place over eight years as a collective construction of the emperors of the Flavian dynasty. It began to be built in 72 AD. under Emperor Vespasian, and in 80 AD. The amphitheater was consecrated by Emperor Titus. The amphitheater was located on the site where there was a pond that belonged to the Golden House of Nero.

For a long time, the Colosseum was for the residents of Rome and visitors the main place for entertainment spectacles, such as gladiator fights, animal persecution, and naval battles.

The opening of the Colosseum was marked by 100 days of entertainment. During this time, several thousand warriors and 5 thousand wild animals brought from Africa died in gladiatorial tournaments. The theater's arena had a sliding floor that raised and lowered, and with the help of a water supply connected to the Colosseum, the stage was filled with water and naval battles were staged. Up to 3,000 gladiators could fight in the arena at the same time, and 50 thousand spectators, frantically demanding “bread and circuses,” tensely watched the bloody battles, chariot races and theatrical performances. The scale of the celebrations dedicated to the opening of the Colosseum could only be matched by the bloody celebration of the 1000th anniversary of Rome in 248, when dozens of lions, tigers, leopards, elephants, giraffes, horses, donkeys and hyenas were killed in just 3 days. The 1000th anniversary of the “eternal city” became the last day of life for 2000 gladiators.

Machu Picchu (Peru)

A city of ancient America, located on the territory of modern Peru. Machu Picchu is also often called “the city in the sky” or “the city among the clouds”, sometimes called the “lost city of the Incas”. This city was created as a sacred mountain retreat by the great Inca ruler Pachacutec a century before the conquest of his empire, around 1440, and functioned until 1532, when the Spanish invaded the Inca Empire. In 1532, all its inhabitants mysteriously disappeared.

Due to its modest size, Machu Picchu cannot claim to be a large city - it has no more than 200 buildings. These are mainly temples, residences, warehouses and other premises for public needs. For the most part they are made of well-processed stone, slabs tightly fitted to each other. It is believed that up to 1,200 people lived in and around it, who worshiped the sun god Inti there and cultivated crops on the terraces. For more than 400 years, this city was forgotten and was in desolation.

Machu Picchu, especially after receiving UNESCO World Heritage status, has become a center of mass tourism. In 2011, it was decided to limit the number of visitors. According to new rules, only 2,500 tourists per day can visit Machu Picchu, of which no more than 400 people can climb Mount Wayna Picchu, which is part of the archaeological complex. In order to preserve the monument, UNESCO requires that the number of tourists per day be reduced to 800. Machu Picchu is located in a remote region.

City of Petra (Jordan)

The city of Petra in Jordan is located in the heart of the desert. This place is the heritage of an ancient culture. Built more than two thousand years ago, it is of great value for admirers of ancient architecture and art. This ancient miracle city stretches along a winding valley formed among the rocks, on a site that was a river bed in ancient times. Steps carved into the rocks lead to an innumerable number of structures - monuments, necropolises, reservoirs, altars. More than eight hundred monuments of Petra have survived to this day.

Petra's surviving structures include rock-cut temples, dwellings, tombs, reservoirs, aqueducts and altars. If you approach the city along the es-Siq gorge, the first large monument that opens up to your gaze is el-Khazneh - a temple located in a solid rock with a two-tiered façade approx. 20 m.

A mysterious people who have reached unattainable architectural heights are the Nabateans. Without exaggeration, we can say that the best reminder that they left about themselves to their descendants and which speaks about them better than any chronicles is a windswept pink rock masterpiece, hidden by them among the inaccessible mountains.

Pyramid of Kukulcan (Mexico)

25 meters high with nine levels, located in the center of a large square. The base of the pyramid is a square with sides of 55.5 meters. On each side of the pyramid there are four wide staircases, each with 91 steps. And these stairs lead to the upper platform on which the temple is located.

The northern staircase of the pyramid ends with snake heads - a symbol of Kukulkan, because translated from the Mayan language, Kukulkan is a feathered serpent.

Exactly at 17:15, the light show begins - the sun's rays, when going around the ledges of the pyramid on the days of the equinox, through the play of light and shadows, depict the image of a revived ancient god. This effect lasts for 3 hours and 22 minutes. The sun goes lower and the image becomes clearer. Soon the seven curves of the body of the Solar Serpent appear - they are formed by the shadows of the seven ledges of the pyramid. The sun goes down - and the snake also slides, lower and lower. And below, at the foot of the pyramid, the head of the image coincides with the real stone sculptured head of the serpent, which ends the northern staircase of the pyramid.

The ancient builders of the Mayan tribe were simply brilliant, being able to calculate the parameters so accurately at that time and placing the walls of the pyramid strictly along the cardinal points. The Kukulcan Pyramid has some astronomical significance. Each of its staircases has 91 steps, and the total number of steps is 364, plus the upper platform step at the base of the temple, for a total of 365 - a number corresponding to the number of days in a year. And the side parts of the structure are divided in accordance with the number of months in the Mayan calendar - into eighteen sections.

Taj Mahal (India)

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum-mosque located in Agra, India, on the banks of the Jamna River (the architects were probably Ustad-Isa and others). Built by order of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth (Shah Jahan himself was later buried here). Although the white marble dome of the mausoleum is the most famous component, the Taj Mahal is a structurally integrated complex. The building began to be built around 1632 and was completed in 1653, employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The management of the construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a Council of Architects under imperial control, including Abd ul-Karim Mamur Khan, Makramat Khan and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Lakhauri is usually considered the main designer.

Majestic, divine, radiant, and, despite its 74-meter height, so light and airy that it is like a fairy-tale dream, the Taj Mahal mausoleum rises in the valley of the Yamuna River - the most beautiful architectural creation of India, and, perhaps, of the whole earth... White marble domes soar high into the sky - one large and four small ones, in the chaste outlines of which one can guess the female form. Reflected in the motionless surface of an artificial canal, the Taj Mahal seems to float in front of us, representing an example of extraterrestrial beauty and perfect harmony... But it is not only architectural perfection that attracts millions of travelers from all over the world to the Taj Mahal. The story of its origin makes no less impression on the hearts of people... A story more like an oriental fairy tale or legend that any poet would envy...

The familiar concept of “Seven Wonders of the World” was born in ancient times, more than 2 thousand years ago. Since then, it has united famous creations of ancient architecture.

Let's remember what is included in these “miracles”. After all, they have practically not survived to this day.

Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt

The only exception is the Cheops pyramid. It is already 4.5 thousand years old, but it still impresses with its grandeur. Construction took place over 20 years, and tens of thousands of Egyptians and slaves took part in it. Another hundred thousand were busy delivering blocks. Construction was completed around 2560 BC.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon in Iraq

The next miracle is the “Hanging Gardens” of Babylon. Their purpose was to please the beauty, the wife of King Nebuchadnezzar P
The gardens rose in four tiers. From a distance it seemed that they were rising above the ground. In fact, it was very difficult to build structures in which, like in huge pots, not only flowers and shrubs, but also trees would grow. Both stones and lead plates were used. It was also necessary to bring and pour here a fairly large layer of fertile soil.
It is not surprising that in arid Babylon such an oasis seemed like a real miracle.

Zeus statue in Greece

In Greece there was a third “miracle” - a statue of Zeus. In the 5th century BC. a temple was built here in honor of the most important Greek god. Naturally, there was a statue of him inside the temple. The 20-meter tall Zeus sat on the throne, overwhelming the believers with his magnificence. This was not just a sculpture. The wooden body was covered with ivory. The god's robe naturally shone with gold.

Temple of Artemis in Turkey

Where modern Türkiye lies, in ancient times there was a temple of Artemis. It was built in the 6th century. BC. by order of King Croesus. The greatness and power of the goddess was to be emphasized by her statue. The basis of production was ivory. And also 127 high columns, as if supporting a huge structure.
The temple was burned in 356 BC. But he remained forever in people's memory.

Mausoleum in Halicarnassus Türkiye

The next “miracle” was again located in Turkey. This is the mausoleum at Halicarnassus. It became the tomb for Mausolus, the ruler of Caria, who lived in the 4th century BC. This structure, although inferior in height to the Cheops pyramid, still reached a significant height - 46 m. ​​It was framed by columns, and crowned by a sculpture of a chariot.

Colossus of Rhodes in Greece

The sixth “miracle” can be called the statue of the Sun God - Helios. Its other name is the Colossus of Rhodes. This statue stood in Greece in the 3rd century BC. So the Greeks decided to thank their beloved god. They believed that it was Helios who helped them survive the fight against the invaders and survive the siege. In the hand of the young god there was a torch, as if lighting the way for ships sailing to and leaving the port of Rhodes. Six and a half decades later, the statue was destroyed by an earthquake.

At the moment they want to restore the statue to attract tourists.

By the way, in the famous series “Game of Thrones” there is a similar sculpture

Alexandria Lighthouse in Egypt

The world also lost the seventh “miracle” as a result of the shaking of the soil. This is the Lighthouse of Alexandria, which in the 3rd century BC. was in Egypt, on the island of Pharos. For that time it was a huge tower. According to historians, its height reached 120 m. But even more amazing was the way in which the lighthouse sent light to ships. At its top, servants kept the fire burning, and specially made metal mirrors directed the light into the distance.

Sailors located 60 km from the port saw a distant spark in the night. It was a fire burning on top of the lighthouse. The most difficult task was to deliver enough wood for the fire. Carts and mules were used for this purpose. They went up the spiral staircase.

The series “Game of Thrones” also played up their own version of the Alexandria Lighthouse

Even now, thousands of years later, we respect these creations by the hands of ancient masters. What can we say about how their contemporaries perceived them! Indeed, these were miracles, there is no better way to say it.

New "Seven Wonders of the World" of the modern world.

Since almost all of these incomparable creations have been lost, the Swiss Bernard Weber proposed implementing the “New Seven Wonders of the World” project. The results were announced on July 7, 2007. Magic number "7".

Great Wall of China in China

Of course, the Great Wall of China, which at one time protected the state from nomads, could not give the palm to anyone. The wall was also supposed to unite the empire, which had just been formed, to help unite its people.
Construction lasted many years, in difficult conditions, when there were no roads and there was a shortage of necessary materials. But the result was great. There is no other architectural structure like this on our planet. The wall stretches for 8851.8 km. Every year over 40 million tourists come to see this miracle.

Amphitheater Colosseum in Italy

The largest amphitheater, the Colosseum, which survived from the times of Ancient Rome and now constitutes one of the main attractions of Italy, also enjoys well-deserved fame. The name "Colosseum" also comes from the word "colossus". To the Romans, the amphitheater seemed truly huge. After all, at that time the buildings reached a height of 8-10 m. Against their background, the Colosseum looked majestic. Once upon a time, thousands of guests flocked here to watch the famous gladiator fights.

Ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu Peru

On the territory of the present state of Peru is the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu. Its location is unique - on the tops of the mountains, in the heart of the inaccessible Andes. Despite all the achievements of science, the secrets of Machu Picchu have not yet been fully solved. It is also called “the city among the clouds” and is associated with the name of the ruler Pachacutec. The residence of the ruler, located at an altitude of 2450 m, was inaccessible to enemies. And to those who were on earth, it seemed that it was fitting for the ruler to live next door to the gods. Most likely, the city was built in the 15th century. Even today you can come there along the path of ancient pilgrims, you just need to be prepared for the fact that the hike will take several days.
But you will see a majestic sight - mountain peaks and an ancient city. Beautiful llamas graze here.

Ancient city - Petra in Jordan

Another ancient city, Petra, is located in what is now Jordan. The peculiarity of this city is that it is carved from stone. Otherwise it would have been impossible to build it here in the Siq Canyon. Bare rocks, steep cliffs, narrow gorges - such a panorama opens up to the eyes of tourists. But people lived and fought with enemies here too. Truly, a person is capable of inhabiting any place!

Taj Mahal Temple in India

Compared to this ascetic shelter of ancient people, the Taj Mahal temple in India seems to be a symbol of beauty and harmony. There is probably no better creation in Indian architecture. This temple is a mausoleum. It was built by order of Emperor Shah Jahan. His beloved wife unexpectedly died during childbirth, and the inconsolable husband decided to perpetuate her memory in this way - by erecting a most beautiful temple. Today there is no tourist coming to India who would not like to see the Taj Mahal. This temple is located in the city of Agra.

Statue of Christ in Brazil

The sixth of the new wonders of the world was the statue of Christ in Brazil. On Mount Corcovado, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, the merciful Lord stretched out his hands over the people. This is Christ the Redeemer. It is symbolic that when thunderstorms rage here, the statue is often struck by lightning. After all, it is the highest point in the surrounding area. The height of this figure is 38 m, and it weighs more than 1145 tons. After a lightning strike, it is necessary to repair the damage caused to the reinforced concrete sculpture. Since they could not create such a huge figure in Brazil, they made the sculpture in France. They delivered it to Brazil in parts.

The seventh miracle was another ancient city of Chichen Itza. It belonged to the Mayan Indians and is located in Mexico. It was here that the Mayans gathered for prayers, and here, like nowhere else, they felt the presence of God. And today people feel awe when approaching the pyramids that were built by representatives of an ancient civilization. The most famous is the El Castillo temple in honor of the god Kukulkan.
All these sights, which only recently received the proud status of “New Wonders of the World,” have long become genuine treasures of our cultural heritage. The flow of tourists eager to see these wonderful places with their own eyes does not dry out. And it is gratifying that the “baton” of the ancient “miracles” has been taken up by no less wonderful, but accessible for viewing, “new miracles”.

About the history of the seven ancient wonders of the world.

The most ancient mentions of the seven wonders of the world were found in the works of the ancient scientist and philosopher Herodotus. As early as 5000 BC, Herodotus described and tried to classify these wonderful objects. But, unfortunately, the work of Herodotus, in which he described in detail the unusual architectural masterpieces of the ancient world, burned in a fire in the Library of Alexandria, like many other unique manuscripts. Only isolated entries in surviving manuscripts and fragments of structures related to the 7 wonders of the world, which were found as a result of archaeological excavations, have reached us. You can also read about them in a short work by Philo of Byzantium, called “On the Seven Wonders of the World.” On twelve pages the author described 7 ancient objects. But this work is based on information from heard stories of others, but the author himself has never seen them. In Europe, they learned about the 7 wonders of the world from the book “Sketches on the History of Architecture.” In it, the author, Fischer von Erlach, described in detail seven amazing objects of antiquity. And in Rus', Simeon of Polotsk spoke about the seven wonders of the world in his works. In his notes he points to some Byzantine source. The list of 7 wonders of the ancient world includes: the Egyptian pyramid of Cheops in El Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, the statue of Zeus in Olympia, the Mausoleum in Halicarnassus, the Pharos Lighthouse, the Colossus of Rhodes.

1. Pyramid of Pharaoh Cheops

The Egyptian pyramid of Cheops (Khufu) ranks first among the seven wonders of the world, and is the only one that has survived to this day. This still existing geographical object is sometimes called the Great Pyramid of 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 archaeologists' calculations, the work lasted about twenty years. The Pyramid of Cheops is the largest pyramid in Egypt. Previously, its height was about 146 meters, and today it is approximately 138 m. The date of construction is somewhere around 2600 BC, although this is imprecise and is disputed by many scientists. The construction of the Cheops pyramid took more than two million limestone blocks, each weighing about 2.5 tons. Initially, the height of the monument reached 147 meters (approximately the equivalent of 5 nine-story buildings installed one on top of the other). The pyramid was partially covered with sand, so its height decreased to 137 meters. Nevertheless, it can rightfully be considered the most grandiose monument to human vanity. Construction of the pyramid was completed in 2580 BC. Then more pyramids were built here for the grandson and son of Cheops, as well as pyramids for the queens. But the Great Pyramid of Cheops is the largest of them. Today, this stunning building surprises with its size and incredible accuracy of engineering calculations. It seems that the ancient Egyptians knew perfectly well the principle of the golden ratio, possessed the secret of the number Pi and other scientific knowledge that was discovered much later. There is an assumption that these stone giants are space observatories. After all, the shape of the pyramids exactly follows the contours of the Orion constellation. Others believe that these buildings used to serve as powerful energy generators. They were originally covered in limestone, and shone in the sun like supernatural beacons. Inside the first wonder of the world, the Pyramid of Cheops, you will find three chambers: the underground, the “Queen’s Chamber” and the “Pharaoh’s Chamber”. You can get inside the artificial mountain through a natural entrance, located at an altitude of about 15 meters (somewhere like a 5-story building) or through an artificial one, which was made in 820.

2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon

In the list of the seven wonders of the world, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are considered the second wonder. This truly legendary structure was created in 605 BC. However, already in 562 BC. this architectural masterpiece was destroyed by floods. Despite the well-established connection between the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the name of the Assyrian queen, Semiramis, who lived around 800 BC, scientists consider this a misconception. In fact, the official version of the origin of this wonder of the world is as follows. Nebuchadnezzar II fought against Assyria. In order to strengthen the army, an alliance was concluded with the Median king. After destroying the enemy, Nebuchadnezzar II decided to marry the daughter of the Median sovereign. But the dusty city of Babylon, located essentially in the desert, could not be compared with the green and blooming Media. It was for this reason that the ambitious ruler decided to build the Babylonian Hanging Gardens. By the way, the queen’s name was Amytis, so it would be more correct to call the second of the seven wonders of the world by this name. But the unforgettable Semiramis, who was also an extraordinary person, was entrenched in history, although she lived two centuries earlier. But the king wanted not only to please Amytis, but also to create a masterpiece that could glorify him. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were a four-tiered pyramid, the tiers of which were both terraces and balconies. The tiers were supported by powerful columns. Each of them was planted with unique plants (flowers, trees, grass and shrubs). Seeds and seedlings for gardens were brought from all over the world. Outwardly, the pyramid resembled a constantly blooming hill. A unique irrigation system was designed for the gardens. Around the clock, several hundred slaves turned wheels with buckets to supply the plants with water. Surprisingly, the unique building, which was included in the seven wonders of the world, was not new at that time. It’s just that Nebuchadnezzar II, under whom many architectural masterpieces were built, managed to supply water to his hanging gardens in an unusual way. This structure consisted of four levels. Each of them had many cool rooms where the royal family walked during the heat of the day. The building's vaults were supported by 25-meter columns at each level. The fortified terraces were covered with earth, the thickness of which was sufficient for trees to grow there. To prevent liquid from leaking to the lower floors, the platforms of each tier, consisting of huge slabs, were covered with lead leaves and covered with asphalt. Water was supplied upward using a specially designed mechanism pumping it from the Euphrates River. The hundred-meter walls of Babylon and the crowns of trees towering above them instilled in everyone who saw this wonder of the world the thought of the power and strength of the kingdom. And proud Amytis, to whom this grandiose building was actually dedicated, enjoyed the greenery of flowering plants stretching for many kilometers around. 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 gradually began to fall into disrepair; the Gardens of Babylon were also left without proper care. After some time, a nearby river overflowed its banks, which led to the erosion of the foundation of the building. By the way, if the Hanging Gardens of Babylon still existed then, to look at them, we would have to go to Iraq, since it was in this state that the ruins of the ancient city of Mesopotamia - Babylon were found.

3.Temple of Artemis in Ephesus

The Temple of Artemis of Ephesus is the third wonder of the world. The name itself hides the origin of the famous temple - this is the ancient Greek city of Ephesus. If it existed to this day, then you would have to go to Turkey, to the city of Selcuk, Izmir Province, to see it with your own eyes. But we can only be content with photographs of reconstructions and engineering models of the Temple of Artemis of Ephesus. And only the ruins of this ancient building, erected in the fifth century BC, can be seen in person. The temple was built in honor of the patroness of love relationships and the family hearth - the goddess Artemis. The money for the construction of the religious building was provided by the Lydian king Croesus, whose name became a symbol of wealth. The Temple of Artemis was destroyed during a fire started by Herostratus. This citizen of Ephesus wanted to become famous in this way. The daring madman was sentenced to execution, and his name was to be consigned to oblivion. However, we know the story of Herostratus, thanks to the works of the ancient Greek historian Theopompus. On the site of the architectural structure where one of the seven wonders of the world appeared, there were two temples. In the 6th century BC. e., a unique cult center, included in the chronicles, was built there. The temple was built from local building materials - marble and limestone, mined in the nearby mountains. The dimensions of the third wonder of the world - the Temple of Artemis of Ephesus, were as follows. Width – 52 m, length – 105 m, and height – 18 meters. The roof lay on 127 columns. There is information that at the opening of the Temple of Artemis, the townspeople were indescribably delighted. This is not surprising, because the best sculptors, artists and craftsmen of the ancient world worked on the decoration of this wonder of the world. The statue of Artemis of Ephesus was made of gold and ivory. It seems that this object had a purely religious purpose. In fact, the temple represented the largest economic, business and cultural Greek center in Ephesus. The interior of the temple was magnificent: beautiful statues and stunning paintings created by the best artists and architects of that time. By the beginning of the 3rd century BC. At the behest of Alexander the Great, the Temple of Artemis was restored to its original appearance. But, unfortunately, the architectural masterpiece was not destined to survive to this day. In 263, the temple complex was partially plundered by the Goths, and later it was closed due to the persecution to which absolutely all pagan cultures began to be subjected. It is unlikely that we would have known anything about the place of former Greek glory if not for the titanic work of the English archaeologist John Wood . In 1869, he managed to find traces of one of the seven wonders of the world - the Temple of Artemis of Ephesus. Despite many problems and marshy terrain on the excavation site, Wood managed to find the remains of a once majestic structure. Unfortunately, little has survived and today you can see a single, restored column standing proudly on the site of the Temple of Artemis.

4.Zeus statue at Olympia

The Olympic Games, to which the Greeks paid so much attention, were held, as a rule, in honor of the pagan god Zeus. However, the temple of this mythical character did not exist! Only in 466-465 was a unique building built in Olympia, in which a grandiose statue of Zeus appeared over time. A truly monumental structure was erected in honor of the Thunder God. 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 depicting the ancient Greek god, as well as the labors of Hercules. But the list of 7 wonders of the world included not the temple complex, but the statue of Zeus. The ancient Greek sculptor Phidias worked on bringing this masterpiece to life. The body of the god was created from 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 Thunderer's eyes seemed to flash lightning, and his head and shoulders shimmered with an unearthly light. The statue reached a height of 13 meters, reaching the ceiling of the temple. For 800 years after its creation, the statue of Zeus at Olympia was included in the list of 7 wonders of the world. It took ten years to build it. According to legend, lightning struck the center of the marble floor of the temple. This was regarded as an expression of approval from Zeus. An altar made of copper was erected at the site of the impact. At the base of the statue there was a slab, 6 meters wide and 1 m high, respectively. In general, according to various sources, the height of the monument was close to 17 meters, which is approximately equal to a 5-story building. The relationship between the Olympic wonder of the world - the statue of Zeus and the building itself in which it was installed, produced an amazing effect. It seemed that if the Thunderer wanted to get up, he would destroy the roof! In 391 AD The Romans banned the Olympic Games and closed all Greek temples. A few years later, the statue of Zeus was transported to Constantinople. In 462 AD. the palace where the statue was located burned down. The Temple at Olympia was destroyed by an earthquake. Humanity has lost one of its wonders - the statue of Zeus at Olympia. Despite this, it was included in the Seven Wonders of the World, as an example of the extraordinary engineering, artistic and sculptural achievements of antiquity.

5.Mausoleum in Halicarnassus

The fifth wonder of the world is the mausoleum at Halicarnassus. If you want to visit this historical area, go to the Turkish resort town of Bodrum. It was there that scientists discovered the ruins of the wonder of the world, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. In the 4th century BC, King Mausolus, together with his wife, Queen Artemisia, decided to perpetuate their memory following the example of the Egyptian pharaohs. For these purposes, a grandiose structure was erected, which became a wonder of the world. The ancient structure was named after the ruler of Caria, Mausolus, as it was his tombstone. Actually, it was from that time that mausoleums became so widespread in ancient Rome. What became famous for this architectural masterpiece? 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 does not include these architectural beauties, but the tomb of the cruel ruler Mausolus. To begin building the mausoleum in Halicarnassus, the best specialists of that time were invited: Satyr and Pythias - architects who arrived from great Greece, as well as outstanding sculptors named Timothy and Briaxides, Leochares and Scopas. By the way, the works of the last two also decorated the Temple of Artemis of Ephesus, which is also included in the seven wonders of the world. Work on the construction of the mausoleum began before the ruler of Caria died, that is, in 359 BC. In fairness, it must be said that Queen Artemisia was responsible for the grandiose work. Already in 350 BC. The Halicarnassus mausoleum was presented to the people. A description of the construction by Pliny the Elder, as well as Vitruvius, has been preserved. In general, the building consisted of three tiers. The first played the role of a powerful plinth, built of brick with marble cladding. Along the perimeter it was surrounded by statues with representatives of the Greek epic. The base was three-level, which made the mausoleum a symbol of power and durability. The second tier had the significance of a temple. It was surrounded by 36 columns that supported the upper part of the Halicarnassus mausoleum - the pyramid. The pyramid itself consisted of 24 steps that led to the top. It was there that the main statue was placed: a chariot with King Mausolus and Queen Artemisia. The original idea was this: in the lower part of the mausoleum there was a direct tomb of the ruler of Caria and his wife, while in the middle there was a temple with a sculpture of Mausolus for the veneration of the deceased king. Surprisingly, both statues of Mausolus and Artemisia have survived quite well to this day. The same goes for the chariot that was once on top of the fifth wonder of the world mausoleum at Halicarnassus. All these historical artifacts are kept in the British Museum. The total height of the building was 46 meters. This man-made masterpiece combines several architectural styles. Traditional columns, as well as statues of horsemen and lions, were used to decorate the mausoleum. At the very top there was a sculpture of King Mavsol, proudly seated in a horse-drawn chariot. The mausoleum stood for about 19 centuries; the cause of its destruction was a strong earthquake. And some of the fragments of the mausoleum were used to build the fortress of St. Peter.

6.Alexandria lighthouse

The sixth wonder of the world is the Lighthouse of Alexandria (also known as the Faros Lighthouse). It was built in the 3rd century BC on the Mediterranean Sea. In Egypt, on the small island of Pharos, not far from Alexandria, there was a bay that was of great importance for merchant ships. It was for this reason that the need arose for the construction of the Faros lighthouse. This facility was supposed to help sea vessels safely overcome coastal reefs and avoid shipwrecks. At night, the flames reflected by the water surface were visible at a distance of more than 60 kilometers, allowing the ships to safely pass the reefs. During the day, instead of light, a column of smoke was used, which was also visible extremely far away. The Alexandria lighthouse rose 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 decorated with a statue of Isis-Faria, who was revered as the patroness of sailors. To make the flow of light as efficient as possible, the builders used an original system of curved mirrors. The Faros 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 that occurred in the mid-14th century. Scientists discovered some fragments of the Alexandria lighthouse on the seabed during research in 1996. During the reign of Ptolemy II in Egypt, it was decided to build the famous lighthouse. According to the plan, the implementation of the idea should have taken 20 years, but all residents saw the masterpiece much earlier. The main architect and builder of this structure is Sostratus of Cnidus. He carved his name on the marble wall of the lighthouse, and then, applying thin plaster, wrote words glorifying Ptolemy. Naturally, after a short period of time the plaster crumbled, and the name of the outstanding master entered the centuries. So, Sostratus completed the construction of the Pharos lighthouse in 5 years, which by the standards of antiquity was generally an instant! The Alexandria lighthouse consisted of three towers. The first, lowest, rectangular part of the monument served technical purposes. Workers and soldiers lived there, and the tools and equipment necessary to maintain the lighthouse were stored there. A second, octagonal tower rose above the first part. A ramp wound around it to lift fuel for the fire. The third tier was a majestic cylindrical building equipped with a complex system of mirrors. It was here that the vital fire burned, spreading its light for many kilometers around. The height of the seventh wonder of the world, the Faros lighthouse, ranged from 120 to 140 meters. At the very top there was a statue of the god of the seas, Poseidon. Some travelers, describing the miracle that amazed them, mentioned unusually constructed statues. The first one pointed her hand at the sun throughout the day, and when the sun set, her hand dropped. The second statue chimed every hour day and night. The third constantly indicated the direction of the wind, playing the role of a weather vane. In the 12th century AD, ships stopped using the Alexandria Bay because it became extremely muddy. This is what caused the outstanding building to fall into complete disrepair. Even later, in the 14th century, as a result of an earthquake, the wonder of the world, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, was completely destroyed. In its place a fortress was erected, which changed its appearance more than once. Now this historical site is the base of the Egyptian fleet and, despite various proposals, the authorities are not considering the idea of ​​restoring the lighthouse. Having stood for almost 1000 years, the Alexandria Lighthouse was seriously damaged by an earthquake that occurred in 796 AD. When the Arabs came to Egypt (XIV century), they decided to restore the grandiose building, reaching only 30 meters from the original height. However, the reconstruction was not destined to be completed, and by the end of the 15th century, Qait Bey, the famous sultan, founded a fortress on the foundations of the lighthouse. By the way, it still exists.

7.Colossus of Rhodes

In Greece, on the shores of the Aegean Sea, is the ancient island of Rhodes. It was there, in 280 BC, that the seventh wonder of the world was built - the Colossus of Rhodes. It all started with the fact that after the collapse of the empire of Alexander the Great, Demetrius I attacked Rhodes. With him were about forty thousand warriors. Having besieged the main port city, he held the siege for more than a year. Then, despite the fact that a lot of effort was spent establishing siege engines, Demetrius decided to retreat, abandoning all the buildings. The Rhodes residents, shocked by this turn of events, sold all the things left behind by the occupiers, deciding to use the proceeds to erect a monument to the Sun God Helios. According to legend, Helios was the creator of the island. It was assumed that the height of the figure would be 18 meters, but later they decided to make it 36 ​​meters. The statue in the form of a youth god was cast from bronze and was located on a marble pedestal. Construction took place on a hill created artificially. There were stones inside the figure, which was done to increase the stability of the structure. After 12 years of titanic labor, the 36-meter wonder of the world, the Colossus of Rhodes, appeared before the eyes of city residents. The giant was made of clay and bronze, based on a metal frame. It stood right at the entrance to the harbor and was visible from the nearby islands. To build this wonder of the world, about 13 tons of bronze and 8 tons of iron were spent. We can say with confidence that it was this Colossus who became the founder of a unique fashion. By the end of the 2nd century BC. There were over a hundred giant monuments on the island of Rhodes. The fate of the Colossus of Rhodes was merciless. Just 65 years later, around 225 BC. an earthquake occurred which destroyed it. The statue broke near its knees and fell to the ground. By the way, it was after this that the expression “Colossus with feet of clay” appeared. The local oracle demanded that the statue not be restored. For 900 years, every visitor to Rhodes could look at the statue of the defeated god. In 654 AD. The Syrian prince, who captured the island, removed all the bronze plates from the statue and took them to Syria. To remove parts of the sculpture, it was necessary to equip a caravan consisting of 900 camels.

We can only hope that someday world technology will reach such a high level that it will be able to recreate the seven wonders of the ancient world. And this will truly be a tribute to the memory of generations of talented architects of antiquity, who created unique masterpieces of architecture that have no equal in the modern world.

Have you ever wondered why there are only seven wonders of the world? In this case, we recommend that you read the article “magic number 7” - and the secret meaning of this “lucky” number will be revealed to you!

Long ago, sages and travelers compiled a list of 7 wonders of the world, including the most beautiful and, in their opinion, most majestic buildings of the whole world.

The most majestic buildings of antiquity - the seven wonders of the world

Initially, in the 5th century BC. There were only 3 wonders of the world on the list. After this, in the 3rd century BC, thanks to the poem of Antipater from Sidon, 4 more wonders of the world were added to the list and so the list received the name 7 wonders of the world. Here is the list of 7 wonders of the world:

The Pyramid of Cheops

This pyramid is the largest of all the Egyptian pyramids and the most popular among the 7 wonders of the world. It was erected in 2540 BC. e.

The height of this giant is approximately 138.75 m. The heaviest stone module of the pyramid weighs 15 tons. Imagine! The pyramid consists of 2.5 million blocks, which weigh 2.5 tons each.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

This wonder of the world also has one name - the Hanging Gardens of Amytis, that was the name of the wife of the king of Babylon. These gardens were created for her. The Babylonian ruler, Nebuchadnezzar II, having twice given the city to his enemy, decided to join forces with the king of Media. Having won the war, Nebuchadnezzar II and the ruler of Media divide the territory of Assyria.

To confirm the military alliance, Nebuchadnezzar II marries the daughter of the Median king, Amytis. Amitis, who was accustomed to green gardens, was not happy with the “dusty” Babylon and to console his wife, Nebuchadnezzar builds her these hanging gardens.

Third of the Seven Wonders of the World - Statue of Zeus at Olympia

This statue was made in the Temple of Zeus by the brilliant architect Phidias. The temple was built much earlier than the statue itself.

It took 10 years to build the temple alone, only this fact allows it to be included in the list of 7 wonders of the world! The sculpture of Zeus sits on a throne, holding a scepter with a falcon in his left hand, and in his right hand a sculpture of the goddess of victory - Nike.

Temple of Artemis of Ephesus

The temple was located in the old town of Ephesus and was built in the 6th century BC. e. In 356 BC. burned by Herostratus. This temple was built for Artemis because, according to legend, she had a special gift: she could cause the growth of all vegetation, took care of animals, blessed happiness in marriage and the birth of babies.

mausoleum in Halicarnassus

This wonder of the world was built in the mid-4th century BC. e. by order of Mausolus's wife, Artemisia III.

Construction of the mausoleum began even before the death of Mausolus, for whom the monument was actually built. The wife of the Carian ruler called the most notorious architects of Greece, Satyr and Pytheas, and the most recognized architects of those times - Leochares, Skopas.

The Colossus of Rhodes

This huge statue of the ancient Greek sun god Helios was located in Rhodes. The statue was created by the majestic architect Hares. The height of the statue was 36 m and was made entirely of bronze. 13 tons of bronze and 12 years of work by the architect Hares were spent on the statue.

The seventh wonder of the world of the seven wonders of the world is the Lighthouse of Alexandria

The lighthouse would have been built in the 3rd century BC. e. in the Egyptian city of Alexandria. The Alexandria Lighthouse was the very first lighthouse in history. This lighthouse stood for about a thousand years!

At the end of the 15th century, Sultan Qait Bey built a fortress on the site of the Alexandria Lighthouse, which still exists today.

That's the whole list of 7 wonders of the world or just wonders of the world.