7 wonderful. The most majestic buildings of antiquity are the seven wonders of the world. Briefly about everything
About the legendary 7 wonders of the world - the greatest creations of mankind - everyone definitely heard in childhood, even if not everyone can remember them in order. And although most of the monuments from the history textbook can no longer be seen, people managed to compile many other, alternative, lists of outstanding sights that have survived to this day, to the delight of tourists.
ancient wonders of the world
The first attempts to single out the exceptional achievements of mankind in the list of wonders of the world took shape in the written heritage of ancient Greek authors, starting from the Hellenistic era. The "selection" of the main monuments of all times took place gradually.
So, one of the first historical list of "miracles" was Herodotus: in his "History" we are talking about three grandiose structures on the island of Samos - a mountain tunnel, a dam and a temple of Hera.
Soon, other thinkers added to the list to seven attractions: seven in ancient Greece was considered a holy figure, was an indispensable attribute solar gods and myths about them.
The classic "7 Wonders of the World" of the Ancient World, familiar to many from the school curriculum, is historically associated with the empire of Alexander the Great - the second half of the 4th century BC. e. Of these, two sights were ancient Egyptian, four were located in the territories of Ancient Greece and one in Mesopotamia (more precisely, in Babylon).
The Pyramid of Cheops is the oldest, the first wonder of the world and the only one that has survived to this day. It is part of the Giza Pyramid Complex, the main attraction of Egypt.
The legendary Babylonian Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the second wonder of the world, supposedly existed from the end of the 7th century BC. e. until the 1st century BC e., destroyed by floods.
The temple statue of Zeus at Olympia, reaching about 12-17 meters along with the pedestal, was made of ivory, ebony and gold, stood for about nine centuries: from 435 BC. e. before the 5th century, it burned down in a fire.
The ruins of the fourth wonder of the world, Artemis at Ephesus (from the 6th to the 4th or 3rd centuries BC), are now included in the line Turkish city Selcuk (near Izmir).
Of the lost sights, the most persistent was the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. Non-standard for the middle of the IV century BC. e. the architectural monument existed for 19 centuries: destroyed by an earthquake, then partially dismantled for building materials. The ruins of the mausoleum can be seen in Bodrum, Turkey - this is the name of the city with the historical location of the fifth wonder of the world.
Earthquakes caused the death of two more ancient wonders: the bronze statue of the Colossus on the island of Rhodes (it stood for only 65 years, destroyed in the same III century BC) and the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt (the seventh wonder of the world, collapsed in the XIV century).
Panorama Google Maps "At the foot of the pyramid of Cheops (Khufu)"
New seven wonders of the world
The list of new wonders of the world, each of which continues to amaze tourists, was compiled in the first decade of the 21st century, in 2001-2007. Currently, these are the most famous of these ratings and therefore, along with the list world heritage UNESCO, the main must see landmark for tourists actively traveling around the world. It was compiled by a specially created non-profit foundation The New 7 Wonders of the world based on international voting using the Internet and other means of communication. About 100 million votes were accepted as part of the selection of attractions, but since the conditions allowed for multiple votes, this list became questionable almost immediately after publication.
One of the undisputed leaders of the list is the Great Wall of China. It stretched across the north of the country for almost 9 thousand kilometers, and taking into account the ruins - more than 20 thousand kilometers. The most famous landmark of China is organically inscribed in the landscape and is a truly impressive sight. Several sites are open for tourists. The most popular is Badaling, connected by transport to Beijing.
The ancient Colosseum is an iconic landmark of Rome, its signature silhouette. This amphitheater, a masterpiece of architectural thought of the 1st century AD, almost immediately after its creation was proclaimed a wonder of the world in the list of the Roman poet Martial, his contemporary.
The symbol of Rio de Janeiro - the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Mount Corcovado - blesses the city, stretching out his hands over it from a height. At night, the illuminated figure of Christ is clearly visible from almost any part of the city, however best view it appears from Mount Pan de Azucar. In the list of the new 7 wonders of the world, the statue, erected in honor of the century of independence of Brazil, is the youngest attraction, its age is less than a hundred years.
Lost in the middle of the desert in Jordan, Petra, the capital of the ancient kingdoms of Idumea and Nabatea, was opened to Europeans only in the 19th century. Top attractions in Petra stone city”, - the crypts carved into the rocks of red sandstone and the rock temple of El Deir.
The pearl of Muslim architectural art in India is the mausoleum-mosque Taj Mahal in Agra, built in the 17th century at the behest of the king Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. It is not surprising that today the Taj Mahal is considered not only an outstanding architectural and spiritual monument, but also a symbol of love. Annually marble complex becomes a place of pilgrimage for millions of people from all over the world.
The Lost Inca City of Machu Picchu is located in what is now Peru. This sixth new wonder of the world was created as a sacred mountain retreat during the Inca rule of Pachacutec in the middle of the 15th century. However, the mountainous city remained inhabited for less than a century - until the invasion of the Spaniards, who, however, never reached it. The worldwide discovery of the Inca "city among the clouds" took place only in 1911. Many mysteries of Machu Picchu have remained unsolved, and they still haunt researchers.
The list of modern wonders of the world is completed by the legacy of the Maya, another lost civilization of America. The sacred city of Chichen Itza in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula was founded around the 7th century AD, later the Toltecs who captured it contributed to the architecture of the complex. It is not known exactly why such a developed city was deserted at the end of the 12th century. The complex of surviving monuments of Chichen Itza includes pyramid temples, gaming "stadiums", ruins of colonnades, a well of sacrifices and an observatory.
There are many mysterious and mysterious places in the world. But only a few of them are recognized as genuine miracles, which were no longer equal on Earth! From this article you will find out which of the 7 wonders of the world have survived to this day, and which ones have sunk into oblivion forever. We present to your attention the 7 wonders of the world - the list consists of the following items:
This exclusive complex is included in the list of 7 wonders of the world. The basis of the gardens of Babylon was a monumental building in four tiers, erected in the shape of a pyramid. Hanging green spaces combined with fountains and ponds have turned it into a real oasis. According to an old legend, these gardens were created for the wife of the Babylonian ruler Nebuchadnezzar II named Amitis.
To keep the green miracle in a viable state, it was required a large number of water. The problem was solved at the expense of the human resource, or rather, slave labor. The slaves kept turning the wooden wheel, to which the skinskins were tied. This wheel took water from the river (according to another version - from some underground sources). Water was pumped to the uppermost tier, and from there it flowed down through a complex system of numerous channels.
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 began to gradually 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.
Pyramid of Pharaoh Cheops
This now existing geographical feature, which is also included in the list of 7 wonders of the world, is sometimes called the Great Pyramid of Giza. It serves as the tomb of the Egyptian ruler Cheops (Khufu). The pyramid was built near Giza, a suburb of Cairo. It took the combined efforts of 100,000 people to create this miracle. According to the calculations of archaeologists, the work lasted about twenty years.
Zeus statue in Olympia
A truly monumental structure was erected in honor of the God of Thunder. The temple of Zeus was built entirely of marble, including even the roof. Around the perimeter of the sanctuary there were 34 columns made of limestone. The walls of the temple were covered with picturesque bas-reliefs with images, as well as the exploits of Hercules.
But not included in the list of 7 wonders of the world temple complex and a statue of Zeus. The ancient Greek sculptor Phidias worked on the realization of this masterpiece. The body of the god was created from ivory, a great variety of rare gems and about 200 kg of gold without the slightest admixture of ligature also took to decorate the statue. The eyes of the Thunderer seemed to be throwing lightning, and the head and shoulders shimmered with an unearthly light.
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 of copper was erected at the site of the blow. The statue of Zeus was destroyed in a fire that broke out in the temple in 425. There is another version, according to which it was transported to Istanbul, where the figure of the Thunderer burned down in 476.
The ancient city of Halicarnassus was famous for its residences of nobles, theaters and green gardens. But the list of 7 wonders of the world did not include these architectural beauties, but the tomb of the cruel ruler Mausolus. There were 3 levels in the mausoleum, the total height of the building was 46 meters. This man-made masterpiece mixed several architectural trends.
Traditional columns, as well as statues of horsemen and lions were used as decoration of the mausoleum. At the very top was a sculpture of King Mausolus, proudly seated in a horse-drawn chariot. The mausoleum stood for about 19 centuries, the reason for its destruction was a strong earthquake. An interesting fact - some fragments of the mausoleum went to the construction of the fortress of St. Peter.
The Pharos lighthouse was built in the 3rd century BC and is also included in the world famous list of 7 wonders of the world. This object was supposed to help sea vessels safely navigate coastal reefs and avoid shipwreck. During the day, sailors were led by a column of smoke, and at night they could focus on flames.
Alexandrian lighthouse towered 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 navigators. To make the light flow as efficient as possible, the builders used an original system of curved mirrors.
The Pharos 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 middle of the 14th century. Some fragments of the Lighthouse of Alexandria were discovered by scientists at the bottom of the sea during research in 1996.
The Colossus of Rhodes
This statue was made in honor of Helios (the sun god). It was assumed that the height of the figure would be 18 meters, but later it was decided to make it 36 meters. The statue in the form of a god-youth was cast in bronze; it is located on a marble pedestal. Construction was carried out on a hill created artificially. Stones were placed inside the figure, which was done to increase the stability of the structure.
The sculptor Hares, who worked on the Colossus of Rhodes, made a miscalculation in determining the amount of materials needed. The master had to borrow a lot of money to be able to complete his masterpiece. Hares was completely ruined and surrounded by creditors, the sculptor committed suicide.
The Colossus of Rhodes was destroyed by an earthquake that occurred in 222 or 226 BC. The statue broke at the knees, and its fragments continued to lie in place for about 1000 years. The fragments of the Colossus were sold by the Arabs who captured Rhodes in 977. To take out parts of the sculpture, it was necessary to equip a caravan consisting of 900 camels.
By the way, have you ever wondered why there are only seven wonders of the world? In this case, we recommend that you read the article "" - and you will discover the secret meaning of this "lucky" number!
In our time, it is customary to call the wonder of the world unique artistic and technical creations, which, with their level of performance, arouse the admiration of most specialists. But in fairness, this erroneous approach should be corrected - the wonders of the world include specific objects created by people in ancient times.
Below is a list of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World...
1. Pyramids of Cheops (Giza)
Pyramid of Pharaoh Khufu (in the Greek version of Cheops), or great pyramid- the greatest of the Egyptian pyramids, the oldest of the seven wonders of the world of antiquity and the only one of them that has come down to our time. For over four thousand years, the pyramid was the largest building in the world.
The pyramid of Cheops is located in the far suburbs of Cairo Giza. Nearby are two more pyramids of the pharaohs Khafre and Menkaure (Khafren and Mikerin), according to ancient historians, the sons and successors of Khufu. These are the three largest pyramids in Egypt.
Following the ancient authors, most modern historians consider the pyramids to be the burial structures of the ancient Egyptian monarchs. Some scientists believe that these were astronomical observatories. There is no direct evidence that pharaohs were buried in the pyramids, but other versions of their purpose are less convincing.
Based on the ancient "royal lists", it is established that Cheops ruled around 2585-2566. BC. The construction of the "Sacred Height" lasted 20 years and ended after the death of Khufu, around 2560 BC.
Other versions of construction dates based on astronomical methods give dates from 2720 to 2577. BC. The radiocarbon method shows a spread of 170 years, from 2850 to 2680. BC.
There are also exotic opinions expressed by supporters of theories of visiting the Earth by aliens, the existence of ancient pra-civilizations, or adherents of occult currents. They determine the age of the pyramid of Cheops from 6-7 to tens of thousands of years.
2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon (Babylon)
The existence of one of the wonders of the world - many scientists question and argue that this is nothing more than a figment of the imagination of an ancient chronicler, the idea of \u200b\u200bwhich was picked up by his colleagues and began to diligently rewrite from chronicle to chronicle. They justify their statement by the fact that they most carefully describe the gardens of Babylon precisely those who have not seen them in their eyes, while historians who have visited ancient Babylon are silent about the miracle erected there.
Archaeological excavations have shown that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon still existed.
Naturally, they did not hang on ropes, but were a four-story building built in the shape of a pyramid with a huge amount of vegetation, and were part of the palace building. This unique structure got its name due to a mistranslation of the Greek word “kremastos”, which actually means “hanging” (for example, from a terrace).
The unique gardens were erected by order of the Babylonian ruler Nebuchadnezzar II, who lived in the 7th century BC. BC. He built them specifically for his wife Amitis, daughter of Cyaxares, king of Media (it was with him that the Babylonian ruler made an alliance against a common enemy, Assyria, and won a final victory over this state).
Amitis, which grew up among the mountains of green and fertile Media, did not like dusty and noisy Babylon, located on a sandy plain. The Babylonian ruler was faced with a choice - to move the capital closer to his wife's homeland, or to make her stay in Babylon more comfortable. They decided to build hanging gardens that would remind the queen of her homeland. Where exactly they are, history is silent, and therefore there are several hypotheses:
- The main version says that this wonder of the world is located near the modern city of Hilla, which is located on the Efrat River in the center of Iraq.
- Alternative version, based on the re-decoding of cuneiform tablets, claims that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are located in Nineveh, the capital of Assyria (located in the north of modern Iraq), which, after its fall, went to the Babylonian state.
The very idea of creating hanging gardens in the middle of a dry plain looked like fantastic at that time. This task turned out to be within the power of local architects and engineers of the ancient world - and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which were later included in the list of seven wonders of the world, were built, became part of the palace and were located on its northeast side.
They say that the statue of Zeus at Olympia turned out to be so majestic that when Phidias, having created it, asked his creation: “Are you satisfied, Zeus?” thunder boomed, and the black marble floor at the feet of the god cracked. The Thunderer was pleased.
Despite the fact that only memories of one of the most majestic statues of this magnitude have come down to us, the mere description of the monument, which was in its way a real jewelry masterpiece, cannot but stagger the imagination. Both before and after the creation of the statue of Olympian Zeus, people did not create a monument of this magnitude - and it is not a fact that they will ever be created: this wonder of the world turned out to be too expensive in cost and huge in scale.
The uniqueness of this monument also lies in the fact that the statue of Olympian Zeus, the only one of all the wonders of the ancient world, was located on the territory of continental Europe, in the Greek city of Olympia, which is located on the Balkan Peninsula.
The statue of Zeus in Olympia was created for a long time: Phidias spent about ten years on it. When she appeared before the inhabitants and guests of Olympia in 435 BC, she was a real wonder of the world.
The exact dimensions of the statue have not yet been determined, but apparently, its height was from 12 to 17 meters. Zeus, naked to the waist, sat on a throne, his feet were on a bench, which was supported by two lions. The pedestal on which the throne was located was quite huge: its dimensions were 9.5 by 6.5 m. Ebony, gold, ivory and jewelry were used for its manufacture.
The throne itself was decorated with images of scenes from the life of the Greek celestials, the goddesses of victory danced on its legs, and the battles of the Greeks with the Amazons were depicted on the crossbars and, of course, it was not without Olympic Games(painted by Panen). The Thunderer was made of ebony, while his entire body was covered with plates of ivory of the highest quality. The master selected the materials for his statue extremely meticulously.
There was a wreath on the head of the supreme god, and in one hand he held the golden Nike, the goddess of Victory, in the other - a scepter decorated with an eagle, symbolizing supreme power. The god's clothes were made of gold sheets (in total, about two hundred kilograms of gold were used to make the sculpture). The cloak of the Thunderer was decorated with images of representatives of the animal and plant world.
Nowadays, a marble copy of one of the wonders of the world can be seen in the Hermitage, where it was brought from Italy in 1861. Apparently, this statue of Zeus was created by a Roman author in the first century BC, and it was found during archaeological excavations in the vicinity of Rome at the end of the 18th century. It is notable for the fact that today it is one of the largest ancient sculptures that are in the museums of the world - the height of the monument is 3.5 meters and weighs 16 tons.
The sculpture was acquired at the beginning of the 19th century by one of the Italian collectors, Marquis D. Campana.
She did not stay with him for long, because after a while he went bankrupt, his property was confiscated and sold at auction. Before the auction, the director of the Hermitage managed to persuade the Italian authorities to give him the opportunity to purchase some items before the sale, so the best exhibits from the collection of the ruined marquis, including the statue of the Thunderer, ended up in the Hermitage.
4. Temple of Artemis of Ephesus (Ephesus)
According to the ancient Greek belief, Artemis was the goddess of hunting and fertility, the patroness of all life on earth. She looked after the animals in the forest, herds of domestic animals, plants. Artemis ensured a happy marriage and assisted in childbirth.
In honor of Artemis in Ephesus, a temple was built on the site of the former sanctuary of the Carian goddess, also responsible for fertility. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was so big that it was immediately included in the list of the seven wonders of the world. ancient world. The financing of the construction was covered by the Lydian king Croesus, the construction work was led by the architect from Knossos Harsiphron. Under him, they managed to erect walls and columns. After his death, the post of chief architect was taken over by his son Metagen. The last stage of construction was led by Paeonite and Demetrius.
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was completed in 550 BC. A delightful spectacle opened before the locals, the like of which has never been built here. And although at present it is impossible to recreate the former decoration of the temple, one can be sure that the best masters of their time, employed here at work, could not blunder. The very statue of the culprit of the construction was made of ivory and gold.
Recreate the image of the past majestic temple Goddess Artemis in Ephesus succeeded only after archaeological excavations. The temple measured 105 by 51 meters. The roof of the building was supported by 127 columns, each 18 meters high. According to legend, each column was donated by one of the 127 Greek rulers.
In addition to religious services, financial and business life was in full swing in the temple. It was the center of Ephesus, independent of the authorities, subordinate to the local college of priests.
In 356 BC, when the famous Alexander the Great was born, the temple of Artemis was burned down by the Ephesian resident Herostratus. The motive of this feat is to remain in history in the memory of posterity. The arsonist after the capture was waiting for the death penalty. In addition to it, it was also decided to eradicate the name of this person from history. But what is forbidden sits even more firmly in the memory of people, and the name of Herostratus is now a household name.
By the 3rd century BC, the wonder of the world, the temple of Artemis in Greece, was restored at the initiative of the aforementioned Alexander the Great, but with the advent of the Goths, it is again destroyed. Later, with the ban on pagan cults, the Byzantine authorities closed the temple. Then they begin to gradually disassemble into building materials, as a result of which the temple goes into oblivion. A Christian church was erected in its place, but it also faced the fate of destruction.
On October 31, 1869, the English archaeologist Wood manages to find the location of the former temple of Artemis in Turkey, and excavations begin. Now in its place stands one column restored from the wreckage. Despite this, the place still attracts thousands of tourists.
5. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Fast forward to ancient city Halicarnassus. It was the capital of Caria and, as is due to the capital of the state, was famous for its beauty and grandeur. Temples, theaters, palaces, gardens, fountains, a living harbor guaranteed honor and respect for the city. But Special attention here occupied the tomb of King Mausolus, one of the seven wonders of the world in the ancient world. So, the wonder of the world mausoleum in Halicarnassus.
King Mausolus ruling Caria in the 4th century BC (377-353 years), according to the experience of the Egyptian pharaohs, he began the construction of his tomb during his lifetime. It was supposed to be a unique building. Located in the center of the city, among palaces and temples, it symbolizes the power and wealth of the king. And to worship the late king, it must combine both the tomb and the temple. The best architects and sculptors were allocated for the construction - Pythius, Satyr, Leohar, Skopas, Briaxides, Timothy. After the death of the king, his wife, Queen Artemisia, approached the construction even more intensively. eternal monument great husband.
The building was completed in 350 BC. Her appearance combined several architectural styles that time. The mausoleum has three levels. overall height at 46 meters. The first tier was a massive plinth made of bricks lined with marble. Further on it towered a temple with 36 columns. The columns supported the roof in the form of a pyramid with 24 steps. At the top of the roof was a sculpture of King Mausolus and Artemisia in a chariot drawn by 4 horses. Around the building were statues of horsemen and lions. The beauty of the structure was fascinating, it is no coincidence that the mausoleum in Halicarnassus quickly entered the seven wonders of the world of the ancient world.
The tomb of Mausolus and his wife was located in the lower tier. To worship the king, an upper room was built with columns and a statue of Mausolus. The statue has survived to this day, and fully reflects the image of the despot king. The sculptor in the facial features subtly conveyed the character of Mausolus - evil, cruel, capable of getting everything he needs. No wonder he was a very rich man. Next to the statue of Mausolus was a statue of Queen Artemisia. The sculptor embellished her, filed in a stately, soft image. The famous sculptor of that time Skopas worked on it. Both of these statues are now considered among the best in Greek culture IV century BC. Separately, it is worth mentioning the upper part of the base of the mausoleum. The sculptors decorated it with scenes from the Greek epic - the battle with the Amazons, hunting, the battle of the Lapiths with the centaurs.
Mausoleum - a word that came from the name of King Mausolus, is now a household word among all peoples.
After 18 centuries, the mausoleum was destroyed by an earthquake. Later, its ruins were used to build the castle of St. Peter by the Knights of St. John. When the Turks arrived, the castle became the fortress of Budrun, currently called Bodrum. Excavations here were carried out in 1857. Relief slabs, statues of Mausolus and Artemisia, a statue of a chariot were found. They are currently on display in the British Museum.
6. Colossus of Rhodes (Rhodes)
The Colossus of Rhodes is a huge statue that has become one of the seven Wonders of the World. The grateful inhabitants of the island of Rhodes decided to build it in honor of the sun god Helios, who helped them withstand the unequal struggle against the invaders. Siege beautiful island lasted almost a year and the probability of victory was negligible, but the patron helped the islanders win. For this, Helios was immortalized in the guise of a huge statue. For the people of Rhodes, the statue represented independence and freedom, just like the Statue of Liberty in New York for Americans.
The island of Rhodes had a favorable geographical position, its inhabitants freely traded with many countries, which ensured the wealth of the city as a whole and each citizen individually. From the moment of foundation to the III century. BC. Rhodes was alternately ruled by the famous king Mausolus, the Persian rulers and Alexander the Great. None of them oppressed the city and did not prevent it from developing. However, after the death of Alexander the Great, his heirs began to divide the inherited lands in a bloody struggle.
The island of Rhodes went to Ptolemy, but another heir (Antigon) considered this unfair and sent his son to destroy the city. This would help to equal the power of Ptolemy. Demetrius, son of Antigonus, gathered a huge army that outnumbered the islanders. Only impregnable walls prevented the soldiers from immediately entering the capital and destroying it. Enemies used siege towers - huge wooden catapults that were installed on ships. The inhabitants of Rhodes managed to detain the enemies before the arrival of Ptolemy's army and defend their homeland.
Having sold siege engines and the surviving ships of the invaders, the inhabitants of Rhodes decided to build huge statue the god Helios, his patron. Until now, any statues were called colossi, but after the Colossus of Rhodes, only the largest of them began to be called that way.
The construction of the Colossus began in 302 BC. and finished only after 12 years (according to other sources after 20 years). They installed a statue on an artificial embankment that blocked the entrance to the harbor. Behind this hill, for a long time, individual parts of the sculpture were hidden from prying eyes. The mound with the statue turned into a kind of gate to the city. Some poets have described the Colossus as standing on two hills. The ships were supposed to sail between the legs of Helios. However, this version is considered doubtful. The stability of such a sculpture would be too small, and big ships would not be able to moor in the port.
The statue has not survived to this day, but numerous descriptions of contemporaries testify that the Colossus stood on one of the banks, and not at all in the form of an arch, as the artists depict it. In the giant's hand was a bowl of blazing fire. At the base there were three pillars that served as a support. Two of them the builders inlaid with bronze details to disguise at the feet of Helios. The third pillar was in the place where the cloak or part of the sheet of the majestic Colossus fell.
The residents wanted the statue to point into the distance, but the sculptor understood that this would reduce the stability of the structure, so the statue seemed to cover its eyes from the sun with its palm. The torso and main elements were made from sheets of iron and bronze. They were fixed on support poles. The space inside was filled with large stones and clay to increase stability. The free space was covered with earth so that the workers could move freely on the surface and fix the following parts. In total, the manufacture of the Colossus required 8 tons of iron and 13 tons of bronze. The resulting statue reached a height of 34 m.
The statue of the Colossus of Rhodes was so huge that it could be seen from ships sailing in the distance. According to the descriptions of contemporaries, she was a tall young man with a radiant crown on his head. One hand of the young man covered his eyes, and the other picked up the falling robe.
Another poet - Philo - described the Colossus differently. He claimed that the statue was on a marble pedestal and struck by the size of the feet. Each of them was itself the size of a small statue. On the outstretched hand was a working torch. It was lit at night to light the way for sailors.
Scientists are still trying to find out where the Colossus of Rhodes is located or where exactly it was installed. At the end of the 20th century, huge boulders were discovered off the coast of the island of Rhodes, which resembled fragments of a statue in shape. However, the theory that these are elements of an ancient sculpture has not been confirmed. But the researcher Ursula Vedder suggested that the Colossus did not stand near the coast at all, but on the hill of Monte Smith. The ruins of the temple of Helios are preserved here, and its foundation has a suitable platform on which the Colossus could rise.
7. Lighthouse of Alexandria (Pharos)
Only one of the seven wonders of the ancient world had a practical purpose - the Lighthouse of Alexandria. It performed several functions at once: it allowed the ships to approach the harbor without any problems, and the observation post, located at the top of the unique structure, made it possible to monitor the expanses of water and notice the enemy in time.
The locals claimed that the light of the Lighthouse of Alexandria burned enemy ships even before they approached the coast, and if they managed to approach the coast, the statue of Poseidon, located on the dome of an amazing design, emitted a piercing warning cry.
The height of the old lighthouse was 140 meters - much higher than the surrounding buildings. In ancient times, buildings did not exceed three floors, and against their background, the Faros lighthouse seemed huge. Moreover, at the time of completion of construction, it turned out to be the most tall building the ancient world and remained so for an extremely long time.
The lighthouse of Alexandria was built on east coast small island Pharos, located near Alexandria - the main seaport of Egypt, built by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. It is also known in history as the Pharos lighthouse.
The great commander chose the place for the construction of the city very carefully: he initially planned to build a port in this region, which would be an important trade center.
It was extremely important that it be located at the intersection of both water and land routes of three parts of the world - Africa, Europe and Asia. For the same reason, it was necessary to build at least two harbors here: one for ships arriving from mediterranean sea, and the other - for those who sailed along the Nile.
Therefore, Alexandria was not built in the Nile Delta, but a little to the side, twenty miles to the south. When choosing a place for the city, Alexander took into account the location of future harbors, paying special attention to their strengthening and protection: it was very important to do everything so that the Nile waters did not clog them with sand and silt (a dam connecting the continent was subsequently built specifically for this with an island).
After the death of Alexander the Great (who, according to legend, was born on the day of the destruction of the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus), after some time the city came under the rule of Ptolemy I Soter - and as a result of skillful management, it turned into a successful and prosperous port city, and the construction of one of the seven wonders of the world significantly increased his wealth.
The lighthouse of Alexandria made it possible for ships to sail into the port without problems, successfully bypassing pitfalls, shallows and other obstacles in the bay. Due to this, after the construction of one of the seven wonders, the volume of light trade increased dramatically.
The lighthouse also served as an additional reference point for sailors: the landscape of the Egyptian coast is quite diverse - mostly lowlands and plains alone. Therefore, signal lights in front of the entrance to the harbor were most welcome.
A lower structure would have successfully coped with this role, so the engineers assigned another important function to the Lighthouse of Alexandria - the role of an observation post: enemies usually attacked from the sea, since the desert protected the country well from the land side.
It was also necessary to install such an observation post on the lighthouse because there were no natural hills near the city where this could be done.
The lighthouse of Alexandria served from 283 BC. until the 15th century, when a fortress was erected instead. Thus, he survived more than one dynasty of Egyptian rulers, saw Roman legionnaires. This did not particularly affect his fate: no matter who ruled Alexandria, everyone made sure that the unique structure stood as long as possible - they restored the parts of the building that had collapsed due to frequent earthquakes, updated the facade, which was negatively affected by wind and salty sea water.
Time has done its job: the lighthouse stopped working in 365, when one of the strongest earthquakes in the Mediterranean Sea caused a tsunami that flooded part of the city, and the death toll of the Egyptians, according to chroniclers, exceeded 50 thousand inhabitants.
After this event, the lighthouse significantly decreased in size, but stood still for quite a long time - until the XIV century, until another strong earthquake wiped it off the face of the earth (a hundred years later, the Sultan of Kait Bey erected a fortress on its foundation, which can be seen and Nowadays). After that, the pyramids at Giza remained the only ancient wonder of the world that has survived to this day.
In the mid 90s. the remains of the Lighthouse of Alexandria were discovered at the bottom of the bay with the help of a satellite, and after some time, scientists, using computer modeling, were able to more or less restore the image of a unique structure.
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In all ages, people have been proud and carefully guarded the achievements of their civilizations. The memory of these achievements has reached our days, becoming the property of the world. 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 short description each of them.
List of 7 wonders of the world
Well, now a photo and description of the masterpieces of antiquity, which we call nothing more 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, scholars suggest that this is around 2600 BC.
The initial height of the pyramid of Cheops was 146 meters (that's like 5 nine-story houses), while now it is approximately 138 m. The 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 binder was used in the 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. To date, the coating is almost completely destroyed.
Inside the pyramid there are three chambers: underground, "Queen's Chamber" and "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 to the pyramid of Cheops was made.
The purpose of this stunning building is still unknown. Previously, it was 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 pyramid of Cheops 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 second wonder of the world. Built it amazing building in 605 BC, but already in 562 BC. it collapsed due to floods.
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 Amitis.
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 so that the water for watering the plants would not seep through. From above, all this was sprinkled with earth of such thickness that trees could freely grow there. One can only imagine how much weight the columns of the lower tier withstood.
Water for irrigation was pumped up from the Euphrates River using a cunning system. Slaves constantly turned the wheel to supply water, as 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 ancient Babylon found right there.
3 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 easy 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 house). At the base of the monument 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 amazing. The fact is that the ratio of the sizes of the temple itself and the statue of Zeus inside it were such that it seemed as if Zeus would now rise and break through the roof of the temple, because otherwise he would simply not be able to straighten up.
The statue of Zeus stood at 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 the cultural heritage. In 425 she died in a fire.
4 wonder of the world - Temple of Artemis in Ephesus
IN ancient Greek city Ephesus in 560 BC The temple of Artemis of Ephesus was erected, 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 only religious significance but was also a cultural and economic center.
Who burned down the temple of Artemis of Ephesus?
In the summer of 356 BC. e. The temple of Artemis, which is one of the 7 wonders of the world, was burned by a resident of the city of Ephesus. The name of the arsonist of the temple is Herostratus.
You ask why Herostratus needed to destroy such a unique monument of architecture?
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 atrocity, the name of Herostratus has really come down to our days.
However, the great commander Alexander the Great restored the temple of Artemis of Ephesus in its former form, allocating colossal funds for this work.
In 263, the fourth wonder of the world was sacked 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.
5 wonder of the world - Mausoleum in Halicarnassus
The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, 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. I must say that his idea was successful, since the fifth wonder of the world is still associated with his name.
The building of the mausoleum was three-tiered.
The first tier was a massive plinth, 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 for serving pagan cults. There were 36 columns on it, which held 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 established: a majestic statue, which was a chariot with King Mausolus and his wife Artemisia.
It seems incredible, but in the Museum of Britain you can see the statues of both royal spouses, well preserved to this day.
The mausoleum in Halicarnassus, which became one of the seven wonders of the world, was destroyed in the 13th century due to a massive earthquake.
Turkish resort town Bodrum you can find the place where the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus once stood.
6 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 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.
After holding 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 inhabitants of Rhodes decided to sell the huge property that was in their hands and use the proceeds to build a monument to Helios, the god of the sun.
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 Sherry. But they were not enough to continue construction. However, Jerez could no longer stop.
He borrowed colossal money from wealthy friends and relatives and continued to work tirelessly to create a monument that would later add to 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 trimmed with clay and faced with bronze. The Colossus was located right at the entrance to the harbor, and was visible from all nearby islands.
It is interesting to note that the fate of the sculptor Sherry himself was tragic. After completing his masterpiece, he was harassed by creditors. Ultimately, he committed suicide.
In general, 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 collapsed into the sea, breaking at the knees. By the way, the expression "colossus with feet of clay" appeared just after that.
Eyewitnesses left information that only one finger of the statue was so thick that two adults could barely clasp it.
The height of the colossus was approximately 60 m (like an eighteen-story building). Lying down Rhodes statue lay for almost 900 years. Then it was dismantled and sold by the Arabs, who had captured Rhodes by that time.
In the end, it should only be noted that there is no exact data on how the Colossus of Rhodes, included in the seven wonders of the world, actually looked.
7 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. In another way, it is also called the Faros Lighthouse.
The idea of creating this lighthouse was quite practical. The fact is that not far from Alexandria was the island of Pharos with an important bay. At that time it was of great importance for passing merchant ships.
Probably Sostratus of Cnidus (the chief architect of the lighthouse) dreamed that his brainchild would enter the seven wonders of the world and glorify his name for centuries.
The project was implemented during the reign of the Egyptian Ptolemy II. The construction was given 20 years, but Sostratus completed the work in just 5.
An interesting fact is that when Sostratos was required to imprint the name of Ptolemy on the lighthouse of Alexandria, he acted very cunningly. First, he carved his name on a stone, and on top of the plaster he laid out the name of the ruler.
A few decades later, the plaster collapsed, and the name of the true master and author of the seventh wonder of the world appeared to the inhabitants.
The lighthouse of Alexandria consisted of three towers.
The lowest part was a technical floor, where workers and soldiers lived, and all inventory for the care of 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, the 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 was a statue of the god of the seas - Poseidon.
Mention should be made of the reviews of contemporaries who saw the Lighthouse of Alexandria in person. So some travelers talked about the amazing statues that were located on the lighthouse.
The first of them raised their hand with the sunrise, pointed to it throughout the day, and after sunset, the hand fell.
The second - 24 times a day made a sound with the last second of each elapsed hour.
The third indicated the direction of the wind.
The lighthouse of Alexandria illuminated the water surface at a distance of over 60 km at night. During the day, a column of smoke rose from it, which also served as an important indicator for ships.
In 796, having stood for almost 1000 years, the seventh wonder of the world, the Pharos lighthouse, was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake. In the 15th century, the Sultan of Kait Bey founded a fortress on its foundation, which still exists.
An interesting fact is that in 2015, the Egyptian authorities approved a project to rebuild the lighthouse.
Well, here it is all seven wonders of the world. Of course, this list is different time was disputed by certain figures, but it is still considered a classic.
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Good day, my dear readers! Today I invite you to little trip V Ancient world and help children prepare material for a presentation on the topic "7 ancient wonders of the world." Of course, everyone has heard about them, but if you ask them to list them, not everyone will cope with this task.
Lesson plan:
Why seven and why miracles?
Ancient Greece is a state that brought many legends and legends into our lives. rich history. Mentions of architectural marvels appeared in the writings of the Greeks, and the selection of worthy ones took place gradually. According to scientists, the first list consisted of just three unique buildings, and its authorship is attributed to the historian Herodotus, who lived around the 5th century BC.
He included in the wonders of the world those architectural monuments that were on Greek island Samos in the Aegean.
Over time, new curiosities made by human hands began to “grow” on the territory of Ancient Greece and in the states adjacent to it, which in the 3rd century BC expanded the list of Herodotus to seven points. This happened thanks to a poem by the poet Antipater. He mentioned grandiose buildings pleasing to the eye in his work.
And this list would have been unchanged if not for the built Lighthouse of Alexandria, which later replaced the Babylonian walls previously included in the list, putting an end to itself. So finally the list of ancient miracles was fixed during the time of the Macedonian empire. The classic version that has come down to us, according to scientists, was compiled by the ancient Greek mathematician Philo of Byzantium.
Why just seven?
Nothing was accidental with the ancient Greeks. The number 7 was attributed to Apollo and was associated with perfection and completeness.
Why a miracle? The thing is that the wonderful list includes unique, technically complex monuments ancient art masterpieces, one of a kind. And the fact that these are really magnificent buildings, you can now see for yourself.
We will touch each of them, give their description and tell a little bit about their history of appearance.
The Pyramid of Cheops
She tops the list. If you hear that everyone is considered a wonder of the world Egyptian pyramids, know that this is a little wrong. The legendary list includes only one of the largest, the largest, otherwise called the pyramid of Khufu. By the way, this is the only ancient creation man, preserved in full beauty to this day.
The tomb of the pharaoh, which is about 4500 years old, was built by more than a hundred thousand Egyptians over twenty years. It is composed of 2.5 million block components. At first, the height of the structure was at the level of 146.7 meters, but later the upper part of the pyramid was lost, and today it rises to 137.3 meters. Each side is 230 meters.
The pyramid has three chambers inside. The lower one, at a depth of 30 meters from the base of the rock, on which the pyramid itself is erected, remained unfinished. Above it are the tomb of the queen (at a height of 20 meters) and the tomb of the king (at a height of 42 meters).
There is an opinion! Some supporters of the existence of other civilizations believe that the pyramid of Cheops was built by aliens, since it has ideal proportions and the correct angle of inclination so that it does not fall, albeit very high. And also they do not believe that it is possible to build such a "colossus" only by human hands, without any mechanisms.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
They are in second place. Some historical sources indicate that the gardens were created in the 7th century BC for the wife of the king of Babylon named Amitis. She came from the full green of Media, and she did not like the dusty Babylon, stretched out on the sands. To console his wife, King Nebuchadnezzar II decided to build gardens.
The gardens were built on the principle of pyramids: four platforms arranged in tiers stood on 20-meter columns. From a distance, these structures resembled a hill with greenery, fountains and streams. Among the sands of hot Babylon, the Hanging Gardens really looked like a miracle. Unfortunately, the evergreen splendor has not survived to this day.
There is an opinion! No one can reliably say whether these gardens actually existed. But all scientists say that the name named after Semiramis, who lived 2 centuries earlier, was assigned to the gardens by coincidence by mistake.
Statue of Zeus
Third place. It was built in ancient Greek Olympia by the Athenian sculptor Phidias in the 5th century BC. The history of construction began with a temple in honor of the god Zeus, the patron saint of Olympia. For 10 years of work, the building turned out to be magnificent - with 34 powerful columns 10 meters high, massive entrance doors, bas-reliefs with the exploits of Hercules on the walls, but the appearance of Zeus himself was not there.
As a result, from a tree covered with ivory plates, with precious stones and in golden clothes and shoes, with a scepter in his left hand and a statue of the goddess of victory in his right, Zeus appeared before the Greeks 17 meters high.
Majestic Zeus "sat" in the temple for a short time. In the 2nd century, as a result of an earthquake, the temple was badly damaged, and after the prohibition of the games on Olympus by thieves, the statue of Zeus was “undressed”: the stones were taken out, the gold was torn off. The remains of the sculpture, taken to Constantinople, burned down during a fire.
There is an opinion! Found in 1954 during excavations at the site of the workshop where the masterpiece was created, personal belongings and tools belong to the sculptor Phidias.
Temple of Artemis
The owner of the fourth meta. The temple was created in the port of Ephesus in the 5th century BC on the idea of the architect Khersifron. 127 columns 18 meters high encircled the walls 51 meters wide and 105 meters long. Inside the temple there were many paintings and an ivory statue of the goddess of fertility Artemis herself, decorated with gold.
In the 4th century BC, a resident of Ephesus, Herostratus, who wanted to become famous, set fire to the temple, and Holy place restored anew with the money of Alexander the Great. In the 3rd century, it was completely plundered, the remains were washed away by underwater rivers.
In 1869, archaeologists found a holy place and dug out the foundation. Today, in modern Turkey, only a single column and the remains of ruins have survived from the temple.
There is an opinion. According to legend, 127 columns of the temple were donated by 127 kings.
Mausoleum of Halicarnassus
The fifth place in the list of wonders of the world is occupied by the mausoleum built at the behest of King Mausolus in Halicarnassus on the territory of present-day Turkish Bodrum in the 4th century BC.
It was conceived as a tomb, as a royal grave was erected inside the courtyard on a stone platform. The 46 meter high square with 36 columns made it to the wonderful list due to its design and interior decorations. There were no statues of gods in it, but 330 sculptures of representatives of the dynasty and animals. A chariot was hoisted at the top of the pyramid.
The building could not resist the earthquake that happened in the 13th century, its ruins were found in 1846. On their basis, several reconstructions were created, one of which was taken as the basis of the Grant Mausoleum in Manhattan and the Washington Masonic Temple.
There is an opinion! The appearance of the temple, far from the usual worship of the gods, showed the continuity of power.
Statue of the Colossus of Rhodes
In sixth place is the statue of the Colossus of Rhodes, which was built in 12 years and installed in the 3rd century BC on the Greek island of Rhodes. The height of Helios, the god of the sun, made of clay in bronze, standing on a white marble pedestal with a torch in his hands, reached almost 36 meters, and ships sailed between his legs to the port.
During an earthquake somewhere in 225-222 BC, the Colossus of Rhodes “fell to its knees”, its fragments lay on the ground for another thousand years, and then the Arabs were sold to some merchant who took everything out on 900 camels.
There is an opinion! The statue took 13 tons of bronze and about 8 tons of iron.
Alexandrian lighthouse
Completes our list of wonders of the world Lighthouse of Alexandria, built on the island of Pharos in Egypt in the 3rd century BC. Its height was 120-140 meters. It consisted of three towers made from marble. In the first, the largest, the attendants lived, through the second octagonal one passed into the third, built in the form of a cylinder, where the light burned. On the upper dome was the figure of the patron of the seas, Poseidon.
As a result of several earthquakes, the lighthouse was badly damaged, turning into ruins. On them, the Egyptian Sultan built a defensive fort. Many remains of the lighthouse were buried in the depths of the sea.
There is an opinion! The light of the lighthouse was so strong that sailors could see it for 60 kilometers. A lot of firewood was burned for fire, and the flame was reflected in bronze mirrors and illuminated the path.
Here they are, the ancient wonders of the world. If you add colorful illustrations to these description slides, then your presentation will rightfully become the best.
Read about other wonders of the planet Earth on the ShkolaLa blog! you will learn about ball lightning, about small, white snowflakes, and about the great Amazon River.
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Evgenia Klimkovich
