What is the main sign of the 7 wonders of the world. Seven wonders of the world: list and description

The list of the seven ancient wonders of the world includes the most famous monuments art of the ancient world. For their beauty, uniqueness and technical complexity, they were called miracles. The list has changed over time, but the number of miracles included in it has remained unchanged. According to some versions, the ancient Greek engineer and mathematician Philo of Byzantium, who lived in the 3rd century BC, is considered the author of the classic version of the list. e.

We have already talked about each of these miracles separately, therefore we advise you to also follow the links in the article, where many useful information. We will pay special attention to the Egyptian pyramids - the first wonder of the world, talking about each of the pyramids:

The Egyptian pyramids top the list of the Ancient Seven Wonders of the World, which is not surprising, since they are the only wonders of the world that have survived to this day. These stone structures become the greatest monuments ancient Egyptian architecture. They served as tombs for the Egyptian pharaohs and were supposed to provide eternal housing for the immortal spirit of the rulers. The period of construction of the pyramids refers to the II-III millennium BC. During this time, more than a hundred of these structures were built. The largest of them is the pyramid of Cheops. Its original height was 146.6 m, and the length of the side face was 230.33 m. However, time and earthquakes have somewhat changed its appearance, and by now the height of this majestic structure reaches only 138.8 m, and the length of the side face is ~ 225 m The rest of the Egyptian pyramids are significantly inferior to it in size.

A thousand years after its creation in 1550-1397. BC. The Sphinx was buried under the sands of the desert. On the stele, located between the front paws of the Sphinx, a story is carved. It described how the young prince Thutmose, who hunted here, fell asleep in the shade of a stone body. In a dream, the Sphinx appeared to him in the form of Horus and predicted the future accession to the throne to the prince and asked him to free him from the sand. When Thutmose, a few years later, was on the throne under the name of Pharaoh Thutmose IV, he remembered his dream and carried out the first restoration. Apart from natural erosion, the most serious harm was caused to the Sphinx by the Mamluks, who beat off his nose with a shot from a cannon (Muslims were extremely negative about the image of a person). The statue was finally cleared of sand in the mid-1920s.

The statue, 57 m long and 20 m high, face width 4.1 m, face height 5 m, depicts a pharaoh who combines the power of man, god and lion. At the same time, the Sphinx is considered the head of the guard of the necropolis, he was identified with the god Horus

Pyramid of Cheops, the second pharaoh of the IV dynasty. This pyramid is still the largest architectural creation of human hands. At the base, it is a square with a side of 227.5 meters. The height during construction is 146.6 meters, and now the pyramid is 9 meters lower: the upper stones fell during earthquakes. The construction of the pyramid (and it was completed around 2590 BC) took 2.3 million stone blocks weighing two and a half tons each. The total volume of the pyramid is 2.34 million cubic meters. The faces of the pyramid are oriented to the cardinal points, and their angle of inclination to the base is 51o52 ". The entrance is on the north side. Separate blocks, according to the Arab historian Abdel Latif (XII century), fit so precisely to each other that it is impossible to slip between them blade of knife.

There are no inscriptions or decorations inside the Cheops pyramid. There are three burial chambers. The burial chamber of the pharaoh is a room about 11 meters long, five meters wide and almost six meters high. The walls of the tomb are finished with granite slabs. The red granite sarcophagus is empty. Neither the pharaoh's mummy nor grave goods have been found. It is believed that the pyramid was plundered in ancient times.

The second largest ancient Egyptian pyramid. Located next to the Great Sphinx, as well as the pyramids of Cheops (Khufu) and Menkaure on the Giza Plateau. Built in the middle of the XXVI century BC. e. a structure with a height of 143.5 m was called Urt-Khafra. The base of the pyramid is a square with sides of 215.16 meters (that is, 410 cubits); the error from a perfect square is no more than 8 cm. The parallel approach is almost ideal and equals 1'15". The side faces are oriented along the four cardinal points with an error of no more than 5'26".

Height: 105.07 m (~ 200 king's cubits) Base side length: 188.60 m (~ 360 king's cubits) Perimeter: 754.4 m; Area: 35,570 m2 Volume: 1,237,040 m3 Tilt: 54°34" and 43°21"

The broken pyramid is an Egyptian pyramid in Dahshur, the construction of which is attributed to Pharaoh Snefru (XXVI century BC). The southern pyramid in Dahshur is called "broken", "cut" or "rhomboid" for its irregular shape. It is different from other pyramids ancient kingdom the fact that it has an entrance not only to north side, which was the norm, but also the second entrance, which is open above, on the west side. The northern entrance is located at a height of about 12 m above ground level, leading to a sloping corridor that descends underground into two rooms with ledges. From these two rooms, a passage leads through the shaft to another small chamber, which also has a ledge in the form of a roof. The entrances on the north side of the pyramid were made during the Old Kingdom. This was due to the religious beliefs of the ancient Egyptians. Why there was a need for a second, western, entrance - this remains a mystery. In this pyramid, no trace of the presence of the sarcophagus, which would be located in these rooms, was found. Sneferu's name was written in red ink in two places in the "broken" pyramid. His own name was found on the stele, which stood inside the fence of the small pyramid. To explain the non-standard form of the pyramid, the German Egyptologist Ludwig Burchardt (1863-1938) proposed his "increment theory". According to her, the king died unexpectedly and the angle of inclination of the sides of the pyramid was sharply changed from 54 degrees 31 minutes to 43 degrees 21 minutes in order to quickly complete the work. Kurt Mendelsohn proposed an alternative: the pyramid at Meidum and the southern pyramid at Dahshur were built at the same time, but an accident occurred at Medum - perhaps after the rains the casing collapsed - and this incident forced a hasty change in the angle of the sides of the pyramid at Dahshur, when it was already half built.

Located on the road to Faiyum, about 100 km south of Cairo. The form is non-standard. Consists of 7 steps, of which only 3 are visible today. Made of limestone blocks. It was built for Pharaoh Huni, the last ruler of the III dynasty. His son Sneferu expanded and enlarged the pyramid by adding an 8th step and making the sides of the pyramid smooth.

Base size 144 m Height (originally) 93.5 m Height (today) 65 m Slope 51°50"35.

In 393, the Roman emperor Theodosius I banned the Olympic Games as a pagan event. At the beginning of the 5th century, the statue of Zeus was transported to Constantinople, where after some time it died in a fire.

ancient wonder SvetaNo. 4. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

In 550 BC, in the city of Ephesus, located in Asia Minor, the construction of a temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis was completed. It was a large white stone building, but history has not preserved it. detailed description. In 356 BC a resident of Ephesus named Herostratus burned the temple of Artemis in order to glorify his name. However, by the beginning of the 3rd century A.D. e. A new one was built on the site of the burnt church. The second temple of Artemis was larger than the previous one. Its width was 51 m, and its length was 105 m. The roof of the temple was supported by 127 18-meter columns installed in 8 rows. Inside the temple were installed statues of its builders - Praxiteles and Scopas.

At the end of the 4th century AD, the temple was closed by order of the Roman emperor Theodosius I, and then partially dismantled for new buildings.

ancient wonder of the worldNo. 5. mausoleum in Halicarnassus

This tomb was built in the middle of the 4th century BC. e. in the city of Halicarnassus, located on the territory of modern Turkey. It became a tomb for King Mausolus, the ruler of one of the regions of Asia Minor, and was named after him as a mausoleum. The tomb of Mausolus is a brick building lined with white marble. The Roman writer and historian Pliny the Elder claimed that the length of this structure was 60 m, and the height was 46 m.

This mausoleum existed for almost two thousand years and was finally destroyed only in the 16th century, when the knights of St. John dismantled its remains for the construction of a fortress.

ancient wonder of the worldNo. 6. The Colossus of Rhodes

In the III century BC, this giant statue was installed on Greek island Rhodes. Work on it lasted about 20 years. The result was a clay statue with a metal frame, trimmed with bronze sheets and depicting the sun god Helios. The height of this colossus, standing on a white marble pedestal, almost reached 36 m. About 13 tons of bronze and 8 tons of iron were spent on its manufacture.

Around 280 BC, on the small Mediterranean island of Pharos, located near the port of Alexandria, the construction of the world's first lighthouse was completed. This work took about 20 years. Height Lighthouse of Alexandria was 135 m, and the light from it was visible at a distance exceeding 60 km. At the top of the lighthouse, a fire burned constantly, the light from which was directed into the sea with the help of polished bronze plates. During the day, a column of smoke served as a guide for sailors.

In the 12th century A.D. e. The bay of Alexandria was no longer used due to silt filling, and the Pharos lighthouse lost its significance. In the XIV century, it was damaged by an earthquake, and then dismantled by Muslims to build a fortress.

For a long time, sages and travelers made a list of 7 wonders of the world, they added the most beautiful and most majestic buildings of the whole world in their opinion.

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 that, 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 was named 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 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 pyramid module 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 still has one name - the Hanging Gardens of Amitis, that was the name of the wife of the king of Babylon. For her, these gardens were created. The Babylonian ruler, Nebuchadnezzar II, twice giving the city to his enemy, decided to join his 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, Amitis. Amitis, who was accustomed to green gardens, was not happy with the "dusty" Babylon, and in order to comfort her wife, Nebuchadnezzar builds these hanging gardens for her.

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 only the temple, only this fact allows us to put it on the list of 7 wonders of the world! A sculpture of Zeus is seated on a throne, holding a scepter with a falcon in his left hand, and in 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, 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 middle of the 4th century BC. e. by order of the wife of Mausolus - Artemisia III.

The 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, Satyrus and Pytheas, and the most recognized architects of that time - Leochar, Skopas.

The Colossus of Rhodes

This huge statue 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., It 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 was built in the III century BC. e. in the Egyptian city of Alexandria. The Lighthouse of Alexandria was the very first lighthouse in history. This lighthouse stood for about a thousand years!

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

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

Story ancient world interesting and wonderful. It attracts many of our contemporaries. Even after many years, people are interested in the way of life of their ancestors. And, of course, the most famous monuments of the ancient world, the Seven Wonders of the World, arouse curiosity.

The wealth of antiquity

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

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

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

Seven Wonders of the World

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

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

Pyramids of Giza

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

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

Semiramis

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

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon is one of the most romantic gifts not only in the history of the ancient world, but in general in human history. The Babylonian ruler noticed that his beloved wife Amitis was missing native land. Dusty Babylon did not have those beautiful gardens that they used to enjoy in childhood. And then, so that his wife would not miss, he ordered to erect this structure.

Some people think it's just beautiful legend. In the writings of Herodotus there was not a word about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. But on the other hand, they are described in detail by Berossus. The history of the ancient world holds many mysteries. And this is one of them.

Zeus statue in Olympia

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

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

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

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

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

Artemis is one of the most famous goddesses of antiquity. She helped women in labor endure pain, was the patroness of hunters. And the inhabitants considered her their protector. To the glory of their goddess, the townspeople decided to erect a temple, which will not be equal. They wanted not only to glorify their city, but also to earn the favor of Artemis.

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

Mausoleum of Halicarnassus

The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus is one of the most luxurious tombs that has only been invented by man. The mausoleum was named so in honor of the formidable and cruel ruler Mausolus, who was able to ensure that his lands became rich and strong.

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

The mausoleum added to the list of miracles that have not survived to this day. He survived many wars. But over time, it was dismantled in order to build Christian churches.

The Colossus of Rhodes

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

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

Alexandrian lighthouse

The seven wonders of the world of the ancient world amazed their contemporaries. And people of our time are surprised when they learn about those magnificent creations of the human mind. The lighthouse of Alexandria occupies a worthy place in the list.

It was built in a city named after Alexander the Great. For centuries, this lighthouse has lit the way for many travelers and merchants. But even this grandiose structure could not survive to our century. It was destroyed by nature itself. The lighthouse did not survive the strongest tremors. Only at the end of the last century, scientists were able to show what that wonder of the world looked like.

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

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.

The earliest information about the seven wonders of the world was found in the writings of the ancient philosopher and scientist Herodotus. Five thousand years BC Herodotus tried to classify these wonderful and mysterious objects. The work of Herodotus, in which he described in detail the unique architectural masterpieces of the ancient world, burned down in a fire in the Library of Alexandria, like many other unique manuscripts. Only separate records in the surviving manuscripts and fragments of structures related to the seven wonders of the world, which were found as a result of archaeological excavations, have survived to this day.

In a short essay by Philo of Byzantium, entitled "On the Seven Wonders of the World", seven objects of antiquity are described on twelve pages. But the author wrote his work on the basis of the stories of others he had heard, but he himself had never seen them.

In Europe, the seven wonders of the world became known after the publication of the book Sketches in the History of Architecture. In it, the author, Fischer von Erlach, meticulously described seven unique objects of antiquity.

In Rus', the very first mention of the seven wonders of the world was found in the writings of Simeon of Polotsk, who in his notes refers to a certain Byzantine source.

The list of the most famous monuments of the ancient world includes: the Egyptian pyramid at El Giza, the statue of Olympian Zeus, the Pharos Lighthouse, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes and the Temple of Artemis of Ephesus.

Pyramids of Giza.

Today, of all the listed seven wonders of the world of the ancient world, only great pyramid Cheops, located in El Giza.

For about four thousand years, the pyramid of Cheops was the most tall building. It was designed and built as the tomb of the famous pharaoh- Khufu (Cheops). The 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 queens. But the Great Pyramid of Cheops is the largest of them. Archaeologists suggest that the construction of this pyramid took about 20 years and at least one hundred thousand people participated in its construction. It took 2 million stone blocks to build, each weighing at least 2.5 tons. Workers used levers, blocks and ramps to lay without mortar and fit each block together. In its completed form, the pyramid was a stepped structure. The steps were then covered with polished white limestone blocks. The blocks fit so tightly together that you can't even stick a knife blade between them. The Great Pyramid has risen up to 147 meters! The length of one side of the base of the pyramid of Cheops is 230 meters. The pyramid covers an area larger than nine football fields. The ancient Egyptians believed that if you save the body of the pharaoh, then his spirit will live on after death, so they mummified the body of Pharaoh Khufu and placed him in a burial chamber located in the center of the pyramid.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

In the sixth century BC. The Neo-Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II ordered the construction of marvelous gardens for his wife Amitis. As a Median princess, she missed her homeland in dusty and noisy Babylon, which was famous for the aromas of numerous gardens and green flowering hills. The king wanted not only to please Amitis, but also to create such a masterpiece that could glorify him.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are considered the second wonder of the world. There are chronicles that describe in great detail the gardens of the Babylonian king. According to records found, the gardens were built around 600 BC. ancient babylon was located on the banks of the Euphrates River, south of modern Baghdad. Despite the fact that the idea of ​​​​creating flowering gardens and green hills among the arid Babylonian plain was considered an unrealizable fantasy, the project of Nebuchadnezzar II nevertheless came true.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were a four-tiered pyramid, the tiers of which were both terraces and balconies. The tiers were held by powerful columns. On each of them were planted 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 flowering hill. Designed for gardens unique system irrigation. Around the clock, several hundred slaves turned wheels with buckets to supply plants with water.

The Babylonian gardens were truly an oasis in the hot and stuffy Babylon. It is not known why Queen Amitis was called by the name of the Assyrian queen - Semiramis, therefore the amazing gardens of Babylon were also called the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

In the 9th century BC, Alexander the Great was so captivated by the magnificence of the gardens of Babylon that he placed his residence in the palace. He loved to relax in the shade of the gardens and remember his native Macedonia. When the city fell into decay, there was no one to supply water to the gardens, all the plants died, and numerous earthquakes finally destroyed the palace. Babylon disappeared along with one of the most beautiful objects antiquity - hanging gardens Semiramis.

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was created on the initiative and funding of Alexander the Great. The interior of the temple was magnificent: beautiful statues and stunning paintings created by the best artists and architects of that time. But the history of this temple began long before that. In 560 B.C. King Croesus of Lydia (considered the richest ruler of that time) built a majestic temple in the city of Ephesus in honor of the moon goddess Artemis, who was considered the patroness of young girls and animals. The temple was built from local building materials - marble and limestone, quarried in the nearby mountains. The main feature of the temple was the giant marble columns in the amount of 120 pieces. In the center of the temple stood a statue of the goddess Artemis. This temple exceeded in size the then famous temple of Athens Parthenon. He stood for two hundred years and in 356 BC. the temple was completely burned down. According to history, Herostat set fire to it, thus dreaming of becoming famous for centuries. An interesting coincidence - the temple was burned on the day when Alexander the Great was born. Years have passed. Alexander the Great visited Ephesus and ordered the restoration of the temple. The temple built by Alexander survived until the 3rd century AD. The city was dying, the bay of Ephesus was covered with silt. The temple was plundered by the Goths, flooded by numerous floods. Today, only a few blocks and one restored column can be seen on the site of the temple.

Mausoleum of Halicarnassus.

Mausolus, the ruler of Caria, managed to achieve power and acquire considerable wealth. Kariya was then part of the Persian Empire, and the city of Halicarnassus became its capital. He decided to build a tomb for himself and his queen. But, as he dreamed, the tomb should be unusual - it should become a monument to his wealth and power. Mausolus himself did not live to see the completion of this majestic object, but his widow continued to supervise the construction. The tomb was completed in 350 BC. and named it after the name of the king - Mausoleum. In the future, this name began to be given to the majestic and impressive tombs.

The mausoleum in Halicarnassus was a rectangle measuring 75x66 meters and 46 meters high. The ashes of the reigning couple were kept in golden urns placed in the tomb of the Mausoleum. Several stone lions guarded this room. A majestic temple towered above the tomb itself, surrounded by statues and columns. A step pyramid was erected on top of the building. And the whole complex was crowned with a sculptural image of a chariot, which was ruled by a reigning couple. After 18 centuries, a powerful earthquake destroyed the Mausoleum to the ground. In 1489, the ruins of the majestic tomb were used by Christian knights to build their castle. The tomb itself was ruthlessly plundered by marauders. Currently, parts of the foundation of the Mausoleum, reliefs and statues that were found during excavations are in the British Museum in London.

The Colossus of Rhodes.

The fifth wonder of the world of the ancient world is the statue of the Colossus of Rhodes. giant statue stood in port city on the island of Rhodes. The inhabitants of Rhodes considered themselves independent traders and tried not to interfere in other people's military conflicts, but they could not avoid the fact that they themselves were repeatedly conquered. In the 4th century, the people of Rhodes managed to defend their city from the invasion of warlike Greeks. To commemorate this victory, they decided to build a statue of the sun god Helios. The exact location and appearance of the statue remained unknown to us, from the annals it follows only that it was made of bronze and reached a height of thirty-three meters. To make it stable, during construction, its hollow shell was filled with stones. She was erected for 12 years! In 280 B.C. The colossus stood at full height over the bay of Rhodes. After 50 years, there was a strong earthquake, and the Colossus collapsed, breaking at the level of the knees. The local oracle demanded not to restore the statue. 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.

Alexandrian lighthouse.

In the III century BC. on the island of Foros, not far from the coast of the Alexandrian bay, a lighthouse was built to help ships passing the reefs on the way to the port of Alexandria. The lighthouse, 117 meters high, consisted of three massive marble towers. At the top of one of the towers stood a statue of Zeus. At night, the lighthouse reflected flames, and during the day, a column of smoke rose above it. The lighthouse needed a large number of fuel. The tree was brought to the lighthouse by numerous mules and horses. Instead of mirrors directing light into the sea, bronze plates were used. The Foros lighthouse stood for 1500 years and was destroyed by an earthquake. On the ruins of the lighthouse, the Muslims built their military fort. This military facility still stands on the site of the Faros lighthouse.

Olympian statue of Zeus.

Three thousand years ago, Olympia was religious center Greece. At that time, the most revered Greek deity was the king of the gods - Zeus. Festivities were regularly held, including sports competitions. It is believed that the first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC. After that, competitions were held every four years for 1100 years. At the time of the games, all wars were stopped in order to allow the participants to arrive at the competition site. The citizens of Olympia decided to build a majestic temple dedicated to Zeus in the city. It took ten years to build it. The temple was supposed to have a statue of Zeus. The sculptor Phidias and his assistants first created a wooden frame for the sculpture, then covered it with ivory plates, while the god's clothes were made of gold sheets. Despite the huge amount of detail that the sculpture consisted of, it looked like a monolithic figure. Zeus sat majestically on a throne adorned with precious stones and inlaid with ebony. 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 the seventh wonder of the world. The Roman emperor Caligula wanted the statue to be moved to Rome. According to legend, when the workers sent by the emperor arrived, the statue burst into loud laughter, and the workers fled in fright. In 391 AD the Romans banned Olympic Games and closed all Greek temples. A few years later, the statue of Zeus was moved to Constantinople. In 462 AD the palace where the statue was located burned down. The temple at Olympia was destroyed by an earthquake. Mankind has lost one of its wonders - the statue of Zeus at Olympia.

It remains to be hoped that someday world technology will reach such a level that they will be able to recreate the seven wonders of the world of the ancient world. And it will be truly a tribute to the memory of generations of talented architects of antiquity, who created architectural masterpieces that have no equal in the modern world.