The seven wonders of the ancient world are a series of brilliant human creativity and remarkable architectural feats that even the best artists of the modern day will have a tough time replicating today.
These structures were built during classical times. Herodotus, the famous Greek philosopher, wrote about these architectural achievements. The list includes the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Garden of Babylon, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Statue of Zues at Olympus, the Colossus of Rhoades, the Temple of Artemis and the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. Of these wonders, one still stands, two were destroyed by fire and four were destroyed by earthquake.
The Great Pyramid of Giza
The Great Pyramid of Giza was built in 2570 BC as a monument for the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu. Located in Egypt, it stands 80ft high, and the sides measure 755ft long. It took twenty years and over two million stones to complete the structure. The pyramid currently is the only wonder of the ancient world that has survived the test of time.
The Hanging Garden of Babylon
It was built by King Nebuchadnezzar ii around 605 and 652 BCE for his homesick wife, who longed for plants from her homeland. It was destroyed in 226 BC by an earthquake. Although there are controversies about the garden’s existence because of inadequate evidence to support its existence. It was located in Al Hillah Iraq.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria
It was one of the world’s tallest buildings, standing at 130 meters, and was the most popular lighthouse during ancient times. It was located in Alexandria, Egypt. It was completed in 280 BCE and destroyed by an earthquake in the 14th century. It had a large, curved mirror used to reflect fire at night and sunlight during the day.
Statue of Zues at Olympia
The statue was sculpted by Phidias from ivory and gold in 435 BCE. Zues is depicted sitting on a throne holding a sceptre with an eagle at the top in his left hand and on the right hand, the sculpture of the victory goddess, Nike. It was in Olympia, Greece, and stood at 40ft tall. It was razed by fire in 426 AD.
The Colossus of Rhodes
Built in 282 BC, it was dedicated to the god Helios. It was built of bronze and took twelve years to build. It stood at 110ft tall and overlooked the harbour of Rhoades, Greece.
Temple of Artemis
The temple was dedicated to the cult of the goddess Artemis or Diana. Built in 550 BC, it was built of marble and glittered with gold. The Temple of Artemis was home to many incredible artworks, with the most famous being the statue of Artemis. It was located in Ephesus, Turkey. It was destroyed by arson by Herostratus in 356 BC on the night Alexander the Great was born.
Mausoleum of Halicarnassus
The monument was built in 352 BC for Mausolus, a governor of the Persian Empire. The monument was built by Greek architects. It had 36 columns and 10ft statues of Greeks battling Amazons, marble chariots and step pyramids that lead to the top of the monument. It was located at Bodrum, Turkey. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1404 AD and completed by European crusaders in 1494.