The first man appeared on planet Earth 2 million years ago; archaeological excavations in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania help to draw such conclusions. During its existence, humanity has evolved, leaving behind bright traces of its existence.
What can so clearly demonstrate to us the level of development, religion, power in various periods of human habitation on earth, if not the work of human hands? Architectural monuments are a real treasure trove of history. This is what helps us remember our majestic past, our former power, recreate lost historical information, be proud of our ancestors and believe in the strength of modern society.
7 Wonders of the World– this is the most striking demonstration of the majesty of past years. Why 7? Let's start with the fact that the 7 wonders of the world were identified back in ancient times. The number “7” was considered sacred, the number of the great god Apollo; it was a symbol of completeness and impeccability.
There are stories about these delightful historical monuments back in the Hellenistic era - this is the period of time that ends with the death of Alexander the Great, or rather 323 BC. The ancient papyri that have reached us indicate that the wonders of the world were the subject of study in school.
The first to describe the 7 wonders of the world known today was Herodotus. True, the ancient Greek historian in his work “History” displayed only three monuments. And in the 3rd century AD, the world was presented with a complete list of “7 Wonders of the World”, which has survived to this day.
Over time, the list changed several times, old things were removed, new things were added. However, we will now look at the wonders of the world that were on the very first ancient list that has survived to this day.
The 7 Wonders of the World include: the Pyramid of Cheops and the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt, the Statue of Zeus in mainland Greece, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in Babylon, the Temple of Artemis and the Mausoleum in Halicarnassus in modern Turkey, and the Colossus of Rhodes on the island of Rhodes.
Of all these majestic historical monuments, only one has survived to this day; the rest of the architectural masterpieces, unfortunately, were destroyed.
The Pyramid of Cheops. This is the only wonder of the world that has survived to this day. The largest pyramid at Giza was built around 2000 BC. The base of the building is square, its height reaches 147 meters, but due to the fact that sandstorms and strong winds occurred around the pyramid for several millennia, one of the 7 wonders of the world went a little underground, significantly reducing its height.
According to scientists, the construction of this tomb lasted for thirty years. But the body of the pharaoh inside the walls of the tomb was never found - this fact remains a mystery to this day.
Looking at this historical monument will take your breath away. The Pyramid of Cheops amazes with its beauty and grandeur. Were ancient Egyptian slaves able to build such a masterpiece without modern tools? How did they do it? 
Hanging Pyramids of Babylon. In fact, hanging gardens should have been called "hanging" gardens. During archaeological excavations, historians came across a palace complex, which was made in the form of a pyramid. The entire pyramid was covered with a lot of vegetation, which seemed to hang from the tiers of the structure.
One of the Seven Wonders of the World was built in the 7th century BC, by order of King Nebuchadnezzar II, who at that time ruled Babylon the Great.
Nebuchadnezzar entered into an alliance with the ruler of Media, Cyaxares, which was reinforced by the marriage of the Babylonian king and the daughter of Cyaxares, Amytis. Amytis from Media, a country with rich nature, filled with greenery and fresh air, was forced to move to Babylon, a city built on arid terrain, dusty and sandy. Watching his wife suffer, the caring husband decided to give his wife a gift - to create a kind of oasis where Amitis would feel at home. Nebuchadnezzar did just that, thereby giving birth to one of the 7 wonders of the world - the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Why the Gardens of Babylon? The answer to this question is very simple: this is a mistake of ancient historians. They prescribed the gardens to the Assyrian queen Semiramis, who lived two centuries earlier.
Where exactly the Hanging Gardens were located still remains a mystery. Historians have several hypotheses about this. 
Zeus statue in Olympia. According to Greek mythology, Zeus is the main god. He is worshiped by thunder and lightning, the sky and the air, and the other gods fear him.
The statue of Zeus, which amazed the minds of mankind, was erected in the 5th century BC in the Temple of Zeus at Olympia. The temple was made of marble and amazed with its majesty and beauty. One of the most famous and talented architects of Greece, Phidias, was invited to make the statue of the Thunderer.
In 435 the statue was unveiled. At this moment, all of Greece froze in amazement. No wonders of the world could compare with the power, strength, and beauty of the statue of the great god Zeus. Zeus was made of gold and ivory. She sat on a golden throne, in her hands was a golden scepter, a golden eagle sat proudly at her feet, and a wreath adorned her head.
It is known that in the 5th century AD the statue still existed. But after the Greeks adopted Christianity, all temples were closed. Theodosius I ordered the statue to be dismantled into parts. After which the great work of art burned down, either in Constantinople or in Greece itself. 
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. The Temple of Artemis was built in the 6th century BC. But before this architectural structure acquired the form in which it became one of the wonders of the world, it was built many times and destroyed many times.
The inhabitants of the ancient world, namely Greece, worshiped the great goddess of fertility Artemis. At a certain point, having chosen a place where sacrifices were mainly made for the goddess, the inhabitants of Ephesus began construction. Wooden buildings could not withstand natural destruction, so the temple was built several times.
Finally, the famous and talented sculptor Chersifon built a better temple in 450 BC, but a hundred years later it was burned. Then the sculptor’s followers decided to make the temple out of marble. It was the greatest masterpiece of art, and it became one of the 7 wonders of the world. The majestic structure was of enormous proportions: length – 105 meters, width – 51 meters.
Unfortunately, already in 263 the temple was plundered by the Goths. In the 4th century AD, a single religion, Christianity, was proclaimed, which demanded the destruction of all pagan cultural monuments. 
Mausoleum in Halicarnassus. When exactly the construction of the mausoleum began remains unknown. Construction is considered to have begun around the 4th century BC. The time when Kariya was still a colony of the Persian Empire.
The ruler of Caria, Mavsol, began construction during his lifetime. It was finished by Mavsol's wife.
By the way, the name “mausoleum” comes from the name of the ruler – Mavsol.
The finished structure was amazing, it was so beautiful. The mausoleum in Halicarnassus was a large architectural structure, inside of which there was its own courtyard. Thin and at the same time very powerful carved images decorated the decoration of the building.
It is not known exactly how the mausoleum was destroyed. The historical monument was finally destroyed by a Maltese raid in the 15th century, or an earthquake.
The remains of the mausoleum were found in 1977 as a result of archaeological excavations by Christian Jeppez. 
The Colossus of Rhodes. The Colossus of Rhodes is the penultimate one on the ancient list of 7 wonders of the world.
Unfortunately, if you now want to admire one of the most powerful monuments of ancient architecture - the 36-meter high Greek god of the sun - Helios, then you will not be able to. Since the greatest historical monument was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC. That work of art, which was created by the greatest ancient sculptors over the course of 12 years, stood for only 60 years.
The decision to create such a sculpture of impressive size was prompted by the gratitude of the inhabitants of Rhodes, for the fact that the supposedly great Helios contributed to the fact that Demetrius the Great was able to protect the city from the conquerors.
Now they are trying to restore one of the 7 wonders of the world. According to the plan of modern architects, the statue will be increased in size by another 30 meters, and there will be an entertainment complex inside it. 
Alexandrian lighthouse. The list of “Wonders of the World” ends with a work of art that was located near Alexandria.
Alexandria was a port city, and the shore of the Mediterranean Sea was too shallow and the bottom was rocky. Therefore, in 285, a grandiose construction began on the island of Pharos, near Alexandria.
As a result of lengthy work, a 120-meter statue consisting of three sections appeared to the world. In the upper compartment of which a huge fire was burning. Stone and marble are the main components of the structure, which was supposed to be built to last. But, unfortunately, fate was not destined for such a long existence for the magnificent tower. After standing for almost 1000 years, the masterpiece of ancient art collapsed as a result of an earthquake. 
Wonders of the world, how many mysteries and secrets do they contain? There is so much we still don’t know and will never know. One thing becomes clear: it is necessary to carefully protect our cultural values so that our descendants can admire the amazing historical monuments with their own eyes.
The familiar concept of “Seven Wonders of the World” was born in ancient times, more than 2 thousand years ago. Since then, it has united famous creations of ancient architecture.
Let's remember what is included in these “miracles”. After all, they have practically not survived to this day.
Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt
The only exception is the Cheops pyramid. It is already 4.5 thousand years old, but it still impresses with its grandeur. Construction took place over 20 years, and tens of thousands of Egyptians and slaves took part in it. Another hundred thousand were busy delivering blocks. Construction was completed around 2560 BC.
The pyramid consists of - as calculated today - 2.5 million blocks. The most amazing thing is that they are not held together by cement or any other binder. They are held together by tightly fitting each other. Now the top of the Cheops pyramid has been destroyed. Previously, its height was 147 meters.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon in Iraq
The next miracle is the “Hanging Gardens” of Babylon. Their purpose was to please the beauty, the wife of King Nebuchadnezzar P
The gardens rose in four tiers. From a distance it seemed that they were rising above the ground. In fact, it was very difficult to build structures in which, like in huge pots, not only flowers and shrubs, but also trees would grow. Both stones and lead plates were used. It was also necessary to bring and pour here a fairly large layer of fertile soil.
It is not surprising that in arid Babylon such an oasis seemed like a real miracle.
Zeus statue in Greece
In Greece there was a third “miracle” - a statue of Zeus. In the 5th century BC. a temple was built here in honor of the most important Greek god. Naturally, there was a statue of him inside the temple. The 20-meter tall Zeus sat on the throne, overwhelming the believers with his magnificence. This was not just a sculpture. The wooden body was covered with ivory. The god's robe naturally shone with gold.
Temple of Artemis in Turkey
Where modern Türkiye lies, in ancient times there was a temple of Artemis. It was built in the 6th century. BC. by order of King Croesus. The greatness and power of the goddess was to be emphasized by her statue. The basis of production was ivory. And also 127 high columns, as if supporting a huge structure.
The temple was burned in 356 BC. But he remained forever in people's memory.
Mausoleum in Halicarnassus Türkiye
The next “miracle” was again located in Turkey. This is the mausoleum at Halicarnassus. It became the tomb for Mausolus, the ruler of Caria, who lived in the 4th century BC. This structure, although inferior in height to the Cheops pyramid, still reached a significant height - 46 m. It was framed by columns, and crowned by a sculpture of a chariot.
Colossus of Rhodes in Greece
The sixth “miracle” can be called the statue of the Sun God - Helios. Its other name is the Colossus of Rhodes. This statue stood in Greece in the 3rd century BC. So the Greeks decided to thank their beloved god. They believed that it was Helios who helped them survive the fight against the invaders and survive the siege. In the hand of the young god there was a torch, as if lighting the way for ships sailing to and leaving the port of Rhodes. Six and a half decades later, the statue was destroyed by an earthquake.
At the moment they want to restore the statue to attract tourists.
By the way, in the famous series “Game of Thrones” there is a similar sculpture
Alexandria Lighthouse in Egypt
The world also lost the seventh “miracle” as a result of the shaking of the soil. This is the Lighthouse of Alexandria, which in the 3rd century BC. was in Egypt, on the island of Pharos. For that time it was a huge tower. According to historians, its height reached 120 m. But even more amazing was the way in which the lighthouse sent light to ships. At its top, servants kept the fire burning, and specially made metal mirrors directed the light into the distance.
Sailors located 60 km from the port saw a distant spark in the night. It was a fire burning on top of the lighthouse. The most difficult task was to deliver enough wood for the fire. Carts and mules were used for this purpose. They went up the spiral staircase.
The series “Game of Thrones” also played up their own version of the Alexandria Lighthouse
Even now, thousands of years later, we respect these creations by the hands of ancient masters. What can we say about how their contemporaries perceived them! Indeed, these were miracles, there is no better way to say it.
New "Seven Wonders of the World" of the modern world.
Since almost all of these incomparable creations have been lost, the Swiss Bernard Weber proposed implementing the “New Seven Wonders of the World” project. The results were announced on July 7, 2007. Magic number "7".
Great Wall of China in China
Of course, the Great Wall of China, which at one time protected the state from nomads, could not give the palm to anyone. The wall was also supposed to unite the empire, which had just been formed, to help unite its people.
Construction lasted many years, in difficult conditions, when there were no roads and there was a shortage of necessary materials. But the result was great. There is no other architectural structure like this on our planet. The wall stretches for 8851.8 km. Every year over 40 million tourists come to see this miracle.
Amphitheater Colosseum in Italy
The largest amphitheater, the Colosseum, which survived from the times of Ancient Rome and now constitutes one of the main attractions of Italy, also enjoys well-deserved fame. The name "Colosseum" also comes from the word "colossus". To the Romans, the amphitheater seemed truly huge. After all, at that time the buildings reached a height of 8-10 m. Against their background, the Colosseum looked majestic. Once upon a time, thousands of guests flocked here to watch the famous gladiator fights.
Ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu Peru
On the territory of the present state of Peru is the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu. Its location is unique - on the tops of the mountains, in the heart of the inaccessible Andes. Despite all the achievements of science, the secrets of Machu Picchu have not yet been fully solved. It is also called “the city among the clouds” and is associated with the name of the ruler Pachacutec. The residence of the ruler, located at an altitude of 2450 m, was inaccessible to enemies. And to those who were on earth, it seemed that it was fitting for the ruler to live next door to the gods. Most likely, the city was built in the 15th century. Even today you can come there along the path of ancient pilgrims, you just need to be prepared for the fact that the hike will take several days.
But you will see a majestic sight - mountain peaks and an ancient city. Beautiful llamas graze here.
Ancient city - Petra in Jordan
Another ancient city, Petra, is located in what is now Jordan. The peculiarity of this city is that it is carved from stone. Otherwise it would have been impossible to build it here in the Siq Canyon. Bare rocks, steep cliffs, narrow gorges - such a panorama opens up to the eyes of tourists. But people lived and fought with enemies here too. Truly, a person is capable of inhabiting any place!
Taj Mahal Temple in India
Compared to this ascetic shelter of ancient people, the Taj Mahal temple in India seems to be a symbol of beauty and harmony. There is probably no better creation in Indian architecture. This temple is a mausoleum. It was built by order of Emperor Shah Jahan. His beloved wife unexpectedly died during childbirth, and the inconsolable husband decided to perpetuate her memory in this way - by erecting a most beautiful temple. Today there is no tourist coming to India who would not like to see the Taj Mahal. This temple is located in the city of Agra.
Statue of Christ in Brazil
The sixth of the new wonders of the world was the statue of Christ in Brazil. On Mount Corcovado, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, the merciful Lord stretched out his hands over the people. This is Christ the Redeemer. It is symbolic that when thunderstorms rage here, the statue is often struck by lightning. After all, it is the highest point in the surrounding area. The height of this figure is 38 m, and it weighs more than 1145 tons. After a lightning strike, it is necessary to repair the damage caused to the reinforced concrete sculpture. Since they could not create such a huge figure in Brazil, they made the sculpture in France. They delivered it to Brazil in parts.
The seventh miracle was another ancient city of Chichen Itza. It belonged to the Mayan Indians and is located in Mexico. It was here that the Mayans gathered for prayers, and here, like nowhere else, they felt the presence of God. And today people feel awe when approaching the pyramids that were built by representatives of an ancient civilization. The most famous is the El Castillo temple in honor of the god Kukulkan.
All these sights, which only recently received the proud status of “New Wonders of the World,” have long become genuine treasures of our cultural heritage. The flow of tourists eager to see these wonderful places with their own eyes does not dry out. And it is gratifying that the “baton” of the ancient “miracles” has been taken up by no less wonderful, but accessible for viewing, “new miracles”.
The classic list of the Seven Wonders of the World has been known to us since our school days, when we studied Ancient History. Only the pyramids of Egypt have survived to our times, which can be seen by anyone who visits this country. The Pyramid of Cheops at Giza is the only surviving wonder of the world. The rest of the wonders - the Colossus of Rhodes, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Lighthouse of Alexandria - were destroyed over the centuries, some by fires and earthquakes, others by floods.
The classic list of wonders of the world includes:
- Pyramid of Cheops (burial site of the Pharaoh of Egypt) - created by the Egyptians in 2540 BC. e. ;
- Hanging Gardens of Babylon in Babylon - created by the Babylonians in 605 BC. e. ;
- Statue of Zeus at Olympia - created by the Greeks in 435 BC. e.;
- Temple of Artemis at Ephesus (built in honor of the goddess Artemis in Turkey) - created by the Greeks and Persians in 550 BC. e.;
- Mausoleum at Halicarnassus - created by the Carians, Greeks and Persians in 351 BC. e.;
- The Colossus of Rhodes was established by the Greeks between 292 and 280. BC e.;
- Lighthouse of Alexandria - built in the 4th century BC. e. by the Greeks a lighthouse, and named in honor of Alexander the Great.
All the photographs presented below with the wonders of the world are either models of what the majestic structures used to look like, or what remains of them at the present time. It's a pity that they couldn't withstand natural disasters.
Some time later, cultural figures began to add additional attractions to this list, “miracles” that still surprise and inspire. So, at the end of the 1st century, the Roman poet Martial added only the rebuilt Colosseum to the list. After a while, in the 6th century, Christian theologian Gregory of Tours added Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple to the list.
Different sources mention different combinations of wonders of the world, for example, English and French writers and historians equated the Alexandria Catacombs, the Leaning Tower in Pisa, the Porcelain Tower in Nanjing, and the Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul as wonders of the world.
New list of wonders of the world
In 2007, a UN organization organized a vote to approve a new list of modern wonders of the world. They voted by phone, Internet and SMS messages. And this is the final list:
Colosseum in Italy;
The great Wall of China;
Machu Picchu – ancient Inca city in Peru;
Taj Mahal in India is a magnificent mausoleum-mosque in India;
Petra is an ancient city, the capital of the Nabataean kingdom, located in modern Jordan;
Christ the Redeemer statue flying over Rio de Janeiro in Brazil;
pyramids of Giza in Egypt;
Chichen Itza in Mexico, an ancient city of the Mayan civilization.
All of them have been preserved from ancient times, except for the statue of Christ the Redeemer, which was finally built in 1931 of the last century and has since become a symbol of Brazil and one of its largest cities - Rio de Janeiro.
How to see them?
The new list of wonders has been officially approved by the UN, and now everyone who travels to the country can see them. No excursion route will avoid visiting these attractions. They try to carefully preserve them for future generations, but also use them for modern needs.
For example, the Colosseum is known for its excellent acoustics. Famous singers and musicians from all over the world often perform there, and operas are staged in the open air.
The Taj Mahal is also open to tourists, but this is the tomb of the padishah’s beloved wife, so people only inspect it and admire the beauty of its architectural forms and interior paintings.
It is considered simply indecent to be in China and not visit the Great Wall. There are many excursions to it, but you cannot climb it: it is a huge obstacle course and walking on it is dangerous. That's why everyone takes pictures near her plots in the most picturesque places.
The Pyramids of Giza can be viewed from the outside and inside, and nearby you can see the grandiose statues of ancient sphinxes.
Excursions to the ancient cities of Machu Picchu, Petra and Chichen Itza are extremely interesting, but physically difficult - you will have to walk for a long time through the ruins. However, tourist holidays in these countries are well organized, and you will not regret if you spend a day or two visiting these magnificent places.
Chichen Itza - ancient Mayan city
Why exactly 7 wonders of the world, and not 10 or 15?
As you have probably already noticed, people used to have a special attitude towards the magical number seven. Everyone knows that there are 7 holes on the human head - 2 eyes, 2 nostrils, 2 ears and a mouth. When a person sees seven objects at the same time, he can immediately count them with his eyes, without even thinking, however, if there are more of them, he will have to count them in his mind.
Thus, due to seemingly such primitive conclusions, people began to strive to reduce the number of something to seven. For example, highlight 7 days in a week, seven colors in a rainbow, 7 tones in a sound series, and so on.
It is not at all surprising that the ancient Greeks identified the Seven Wonders of the World, because the number 7 was the sacred number of Apollo, the god who patronized art.
Pyramids of Giza
Every person, regardless of the level of education and social status, has heard about seven wonders of the world, representing the greatest monuments of human civilization since ancient times. Few people remember the entire list, and almost all of them have not survived, however, even in our time, attempts are being made to compile new, alternative lists of attractions that can compete with the ancient creations of human genius.
The first who tried to formulate human achievements in the form list of wonders of the world, were the ancient authors of ancient Hellas, whose written heritage has survived to this day.
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Zeus statue in Olympia
The "father of history" Herodotus was the first to point out the architectural wonders that existed in his time. His work mentions three majestic structures on the Greek island of Samos - a mountain tunnel, a temple of Hera and a dam.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Beginning with Herodotus, the list of attractions grew, changed and was supplemented by other Greek authors until it was formulated in its final form as a list of seven points.
Historically and geographically 7 Wonders of the Ancient World are related to the territories conquered by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC.
They were scattered throughout all the territories of the Ecumene - from ancient Egypt to Babylon and ancient Greece.
mausoleum in Halicarnassus
The most ancient wonder of the world, but ironically the only one that has survived to this day is the main Egyptian attraction - The Pyramid of Cheops, included in the complex. When selecting the new Seven Wonders of the World, the pyramid was awarded the title of “Honorary Candidate”.
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
Second wonder of the world, semi-mythical Hanging Gardens of Babylon, existed for 7 centuries until they died in a flood of the 1st century BC.
The third miracle, huge Temple statue of Zeus at Olympia, made of ivory, precious woods and inlaid with gold, stood for 9 centuries, but burned down in a fire in the 5th century AD.
In the Turkish city of Selcuk you can still see the ruins of the fourth wonder of the world, Temple of Artemis in, which at one time exceeded the size of the huge temple of Jupiter in.
Statue of the Colossus of Rhodes
Halicarnassus Mausoleum lasted longer than all other attractions of the ancient world (with the exception of the Pyramid of Cheops).
This amazing architectural monument stood proudly for 19 centuries, but the elements overcame it too - the mausoleum was destroyed by an earthquake.
Lighthouse in Alexandria
The ruins of the colossal structure can currently be seen in Bodrum, Turkey.
Earthquakes also destroyed two other ancient monuments - a bronze statue of the Colossus of Rhodes(destroyed in the 3rd century BC) and in Egypt (destroyed in the 14th century).
New seven wonders of the world
At the beginning of the 21st century, on July 7, 2007, on the day of the “three sevens,” new seven wonders of the world were named in the capital of Portugal, Lisbon, each of which could well compete with lost architectural treasures.
The project was organized by the non-profit organization New Open World Corporation (NOWC) on the initiative of the Swiss Bernard Weber. The selection of the new seven wonders of the world from the famous architectural structures of the world took place via SMS messages, telephone or Internet. About 100 million votes were taken as part of the selection of attractions, but since the conditions did not prohibit voting more than once, this list began to be questionable almost immediately after publication.
However, at present this is the most famous of such ratings and therefore, along with it, is the main guide for tourists actively traveling around the world with
The great Wall of China
One of the undisputed leaders of the list is one of the largest and oldest architectural monuments in the world. Its total length is 8851.8 km, in one of the sections it passes near Beijing. Construction began in the 3rd century BC. e. during the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. A fifth of the then population of the country, i.e., about a million people, took part in the construction.
Today the wall is a symbol of China, both for the Chinese themselves and for foreigners. At the entrance to the restored part of the Wall you can see an inscription made by Mao Zedong - “If you have not visited the Great Wall of China, you are not a real Chinese.”
Machu Picchu
The famous statue of Jesus Christ, with outstretched arms and gaze turned towards the city, stands on the top of Mount Corcovado in. At the foot of the monument there is an observation deck, which offers amazing views of the sandy beaches, the huge bowl, the bay and the Sugarloaf peak, similar in its outline to a lump of sugar.
White Temple Wat Rong Khun
Along with the main lists of wonders of the world, new, alternative lists exist and continue to be compiled - author’s and based on survey results.
Statue of Liberty in New York
As a modern alternative to the famous the Pyramid of Cheops a glass pyramid of Paris (France) was proposed.
The most striking among modern temple complexes is considered to be the Buddhist one opened in 1997 in Thailand. This temple, according to journalists, is quite capable of eclipsing the ruins Temple of Artemis in Other similar structures include one built in 1604 in Amritsar (India), in (Japan) and Sagrada Familia in Barcelona (Spain).
Temple complex Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Dubai "Garden of Miracles"(UAE), where on an area of 72 thousand square meters. m grow 45 million flowers, also (according to journalists) can compete with Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The royal botanical records also fully comply with the formal criteria. Kew Gardens(UK), Royal Flower Park Keukenhof(Netherlands) and gardens (France).
Compare with 137-meter Alexandria lighthouse in terms of beauty these days, lighthouses in Lindau(Germany) and lighthouse "Cape Florida"(USA). And the lighthouse Jeddah(Saudi Arabia) almost catches up with Alexandria in height - 133 meters.
Acropolis in Athens
Statue of Zeus at Olympia, according to the logic of journalists, today it may eclipse Golden Buddha in (Thailand) - the world's largest golden statue of a deity. At the same time, it does not matter at all that Buddha is not nearly as stern and angry as Zeus the Thunderer.
And Mausoleum at Halicarnassus there were followers in the modern world, this title was awarded to the mausoleum and Mausoleum of V.I.Lenin in Moscow.
Alhambra Palace and Fortress
And finally, the statue Colossus of Rhodes journalists compared it with a statue in (Brazil), which is comparable to the ancient structure not only in height, but also in its location by the sea.
At the same time, some new lists of wonders of our time are deliberately narrowed to cover sites by location or time of creation.
Easter Island
For example, ratings by country have been repeatedly compiled (in Russia, Portugal, Belgium and others) or exceptional objects of the underwater world have been identified (cracks, reefs, islands and even underwater ruins).
The finals of the competition for the title of man-made new wonders of the world also included other equally worthy attractions, and some of them, in the opinion of many people, are much more worthy of being on the final list of “the very best.”
Timbuktu
In particular, obvious competition could come from the American one, which is larger in size and installed 40 years earlier. . It is also quite surprising that the final list of seven wonders does not mention the Cambodian - the largest religious building ever created by people.
All these great monuments of human civilization were on the list of contenders, along with, Sydney Opera, in Spanish Granada, Eiffel Tower, Moscow Kremlin,, moai sculptures on, a castle, a Buddhist temple in and the city.
Seven new wonders of nature
Iguazu Falls
Komodo Park
Seven new wonders of nature is a competition also organized by the Swiss non-profit organization New Open World Corporation (NOWC), which, through a worldwide popular vote, has found the seven most amazing natural places on Earth.
Project "Seven New Wonders of Nature" started at the end of 2007. Until 07/07/09, the nomination and preliminary selection of all candidates took place, among whom was the Russian natural pearl - Lake Baikal. Voting was completed by the mystical date - 11/11/11.
Among the main natural wonders are the longest river in the world - Amazon and its jungle; The largest underground river is in the Philippines.
Seven Wonders of the World, photos and descriptions of unique architectural structures show the greatness of ancient history.
The ancient era, with its greatest cultural and historical monuments, laid the foundation for the outstanding creations of mankind, which continue the legacy with new discoveries and genuine miracles.
What are the wonders of the world, how many of them exist, what are they, why is the word “miracle” used in relation to them, what significance do these objects have for world history and culture - we will try to answer these questions, as well as give a definition , a brief description and provide photographs of those that exist in the 21st century.
Since the times of Ancient Hellas, it has been customary to call a wonder of the world an ancient work of architecture and art, which has no equal in beauty, majestic size, precious decoration and originality.
There were 7 such miracles in the ancient world. Who hasn’t heard about the Eighth Wonder of the World? Probably everything. Can you name him? List them and you will see that there are only seven of them in our time. Not a single list or table in the textbook contains it. And all because the 8th wonder of the world does not officially exist - it is just an expression designed to evaluate something truly amazing and grandiose, or... to emphasize the extraordinary curiosity of some phenomenon or incident.
In contact with
7 wonders of the world - list
So what's included in the list:
- - the age is about 4.5 thousand years, every day crowds of tourists visit this attraction of Egypt.
- - an amazing and unusual gift made by a husband for his beloved wife. Beautiful, green gardens full of exotic plants, birds and animals grew among the dusty Babylon.
- Zeus statue in Olympia- only this miracle was located on the territory of continental Europe. The Olympic Games had been held for 300 years, and only then did the construction of the majestic and main temple begin.
- Temple of Artemis of Ephesus- a beautiful building, burned to “glorify” the name.
- mausoleum in Halicarnassus- stood in its place for quite a long time - nineteen centuries.
- The Colossus of Rhodes- a huge statue of the sun god, whom the people worshiped.
- Alexandrian lighthouse- not just a lighthouse, but a fortress city, on the top of which a fire burned day and night. Firewood was transported by mullahs along a winding road inside the structure.
Detailed description of the seven wonders
The Pyramid of Cheops
The first wonder of the world is the Pyramid of Cheops. The ancient heritage of Egypt is located in the northwestern part of Cairo. The location points to 4 parts of the world and shows the unique precision of the structure. The greatest Egyptian wonder of the world took 20 years to build. The labor of about a million slaves was used for its construction, whose work continued even after the death of Pharaoh Cheops.
The base area of the pyramid reaches 53,000 square meters. m, and the height at the end of construction reached 147 m. You can get inside the tomb of the pharaoh only through one entrance, which is located above the ground at a level of 15.5 m.
It is worth noting: Caliph Abdullah Al-Mamun decided to disturb the chambers of the pharaoh, who dug a tunnel into the pyramid with the intention of profit, but in the end did not find any treasures.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The second wonder of the world is the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. They present a luxurious gift from Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian ruler, for his beloved wife. Subsequently, the wealth and splendor of the city were destroyed by flood. The structures and buildings where the gardens grew were washed away and broken under the influence of a powerful water flow.
The attraction confuses contemporaries about its location. Many archaeological scientists have made repeated attempts to find traces of this ancient phenomenon.
Zeus statue in Olympia
The third wonder of the world - the majestic Zeus was a masterpiece of jewelers. The author is the great master of that time - Phidias. Wonders of the World, described on Wikipedia, say that the author spent about 10 years creating his creation. To date, the exact dimensions of the statue have not been determined; it is believed that the approximate height was 12-18 m.
The pedestal for the throne was of impressive size and was decorated with fragments from the Olympic Games and the lives of the gods. On it sat a bare-chested Thunderer, supported at his feet by two lions. On the body there is a golden cloak with images of animals and plants. There is a wreath on his head, the Thunderer holds a scepter in one hand, and a golden statue of the Goddess of Victory in the other.
Temple of Artemis of Ephesus
The fourth wonder of the world is the Temple of Artemis of Ephesus. The ancient pilgrimage center is located in Turkey. It was built by the forces of the Amazons, who were considered the founders of the city. Soon the city was burned by Herostratus. In the 6th century, a new building project led by Hersiphron included white marble columns.
Its construction lasted 120 years and was carried out according to the same project, with the preliminary collection of funds and jewelry from the townspeople.
Good to know: On the day of the fire of the temple, Alexander III the Great was born, and the phrase “Gerostratus’s glory” turned into a symbol of a bad deed.
mausoleum in Halicarnassus
The fifth wonder of the world is the mausoleum at Halicarnassus. Governor Mavsol built his tomb under his personal supervision. The three-level mausoleum rose 46 meters. The lower level was faced with marble. It contained the tomb of the king. The next level featured a colonnade supporting the roof, creating a pyramidal shape.
The top was personified by the figures of King Mausolus with Artemisia, in a chariot with 4 horses.
The Colossus of Rhodes
The sixth wonder of the world is the Colossus of Rhodes. The islanders of Rhodes erected a monument to their patron Helios in gratitude for the victory against the invaders. The monument is the personification of the freedom and independence of the island’s inhabitants. The construction of the statue took 12 years. According to numerous descriptions of contemporaries, the Colossus was located on an embankment, which was a kind of gateway to the city. In one hand the young man held the flaming fire of Helios.
The height of the statue reached 36 m. The supporting pillars of the structure turned out to be unreliable and, just 65 years later, collapsed as a result of an earthquake. The statue of the Colossus of Rhodes is a wonder of the world that lasted less than all the others.
It is worth noting: the fragile structures later became known as the “Colossus with Feet of Clay.”
Alexandrian lighthouse
The seventh wonder of the world is the Lighthouse of Alexandria. The tower got its name from the city of the same name, located near the island of Pharos. The lighthouse fulfilled its direct role, illuminating the path of ships lost to the shore with flame at night. The designer of the gigantic structure of 140 meters was Sostratus of Knidos.
Consisting of several tiers, the lighthouse served as housing for sailors and port workers. At the top of the octagonal tower there was a light source - a large fire. The unique creation lasted until the 15th century, when an earthquake completely destroyed it.
Note: the second name of the lighthouse is Zeus the Savior.
Who first described the 7 wonders of the world
The founder of the work “On the Seven Wonders of the World” was Philo of Byzantium. His short 12-page essay consists of eyewitness accounts of unique buildings.
Philo of Byzantium did not see any of the described miracles with his own eyes, and wrote about them from the stories of others
Information about the life and work of the great engineer and poet consists of small facts that are famous for their great discoveries. The wonders of the world were described by many talented authors: Herodotus, Strabo, Pausanias, Sequester, Cassiodorus, etc. However, they did not have a single idea and uniquely defined unique monuments.
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
The famous wonders of the world that have come into our lives constitute the wonders of the ancient world. Why are there not five or six wonders of the world... but 7?
"7" is a number associated with the sacred god Apollo, signifying completeness and perfection in the minds of ancient civilization.
Compiles a list of venerable rulers of the ancient century. Based on their significance, grandiose monuments of that time were created.
Each monument on the list is the embodiment of architectural art. From the beginning of the Hellenic era, writings about unique monuments were distributed on papyri by Greek authors. They were widely studied at school and served as a teaching aid.
How many wonders of the world have survived to this day?
Only one Cheops pyramid has been completely preserved to this day. The Egyptian miracle of antiquity still holds the secrets of its great ancestors. At the moment, this is the largest architectural structure made of stone, reaching 137 m. During its existence, it decreased by almost 10 m.
Architectural sights, interesting to many researchers in the world and constituting the wonders of the ancient world, have been preserved partially or in the form of a copy:
- The lighthouse of Alexandria was destroyed by an earthquake and could not be restored. To date, only the fortress has survived.
- A copy of Zeus is on display in the Hermitage. This is the tallest ancient sculpture of our time with a height of 3.5 m.
- Having existed for 19 centuries, the mausoleum in Halicarnassus was destroyed by an earthquake. The tombs of Artemisia and Mausolus are in the British Museum.
- Only the German historian Robert Koldewey managed to discover the Gardens of Babylon over 18 years of excavations. The buildings of Ancient Babylon and the structures surrounding the gardens were found.
Seven Wonders of the World of Our Time
On July 7, 2007, a list of 7 modern wonders of the world was compiled. We will give a description and present a photo of each object that is included in the list, which was called the UNESCO World Heritage List.
the great Wall of China
The construction of the greatest defensive structure began in the 3rd century BC, and now it is still fraught with many legends. During construction, the main goals were pursued: protecting the territory from the Mongol invasion and creating a guarantee of the protection of one state from another. Lack of attention to the great structure gradually destroyed it in some places. Since the end of the twentieth century, a large-scale restoration of architecture began.
The year 1997 was marked by inclusion in the status of a miracle of the modern world. The architectural structure extends for almost 9 thousand km and has a height of 6 to 10 meters.
Do you know that: the construction of the wall led to tens of thousands of deaths due to hard labor and epidemics.
Statue of Christ the Redeemer
The famous symbol of the Brazilian people is located at the very top of Mount Corcovado. Rising above the city with outstretched arms, Christ the Redeemer, with his 38-meter height, seems to embrace all the inhabitants of the metropolis, and at the same time, he warmly welcomes guests from afar.
The construction of the monument is timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of independence. All residents of the country collected funds for the construction. The detailed production of the statue took place in France.
Taj Mahal
The pinnacle of the Mongolian architectural style is the snow-white palace, located on the banks of the Jumna. Construction took two decades and it was built by the middle of the 17th century.
The mausoleum contains the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan, a descendant of Tamerlane. The presence of four minarets along the edges of the palace helps protect the tombs from tremors and destruction.
Coliseum
The largest amphitheater of the ancient era seats more than 50 thousand people. The beginning of construction during the Flavian dynasty lasted 8 years. In the 8th century, due to its impressive size, it began to be called.
At the beginning of their existence, gladiators practiced their art in the arena of the amphitheater. After the plunder by barbarians and the earthquake of the 14th century, the Colosseum was literally taken away brick by brick. Only since the 18th century has the building been protected as an important architectural mega-object.
Machu Picchu
This is the nickname for the city in the sky, which is located at an altitude of about 2500 m above the sea. Previously it was the residence of the emperor. The almost untouched ancient city architecture did not suffer from the attacks of the Spanish conquerors.
The clear structure of the city is a delightful architectural design. However, little is known about the urban population and the city.
Petra
Jordanian Petra is a city in the rock, located above the sea at a level of 900 meters. The road to it is laid through a natural gorge, which serves as city walls.
The remaining ruins of houses built using the traditional stone method stretch for kilometers. Ed-Deir is a 45-meter monastery carved into the rock. The main attraction - the El-Khazneh mausoleum - still preserves the legend of countless treasures. Previously, the city served as a trade route, connecting Damascus and the Red Sea regions.
Note: The Indiana Jones adventure film was filmed in Petra.
Chichen Itza
Mexico is famous for the legendary city with a name reminiscent of legumes, which, among other things, are loved by the locals. Chichen Itza - a Mayan civilization, has a 24-meter pyramid, the Temple of Kukulcan, which has 365 steps.
There are as many steps in a year as there are days. The natural well located is the Sacred Cenote. Its depth is “deadly” - 50 m. Previously it was used for the ritual of sacrifice. It is known that living people were thrown into the cenote. Now tourists swim in it.
The change of civilizations leaves behind a grandiose heritage of architecture, which has been partially preserved to this day. The question - how many wonders of the world there are in the world and what they are - can now be answered definitely. The appearance of new wonders is evidence that there are still many mysterious places in the world to study and recognize their significance for all humanity.
We bring to your attention an interesting film about the seven wonders of the ancient world:
