Last week, I went to visit my mother, and found my old children's encyclopedia "7 Wonders of the World" from her, leafed through with nostalgia, and finally decided to issue a post about the wonders of the world, because today there are much more than 7 wonders of the world.
To begin with, I propose to recall these "7 wonders" of antiquity.
The only miracle that has survived to this day. Construction, which lasted twenty years, began around 2560 BC. NS. Excavation data from January 2010 support the theory that the pyramids were erected by civilian workers. The construction site simultaneously employed up to 10 thousand people, while the workers worked in shifts for three months. It is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids of the necropolis of the city of Giza.
Initially, the Cheops pyramid rose by 147 meters, but due to the onset of the sands, its height decreased to 137 meters.
The Cheops Pyramid consists of 2,300,000 cubic limestone blocks with smoothly polished sides. Each block weighs an average of 2.5 tons, and the heaviest weighs 15 tons, the total weight of the pyramid is 5.7 million tons.
Confirmation of the inexplicably high knowledge of the Egyptians in the field of astronomy and civil engineering is the location of the Cheops pyramid in relation to the cardinal points: the pyramid almost unmistakably points to the true north. As a result of the most accurate measurements carried out in 1925, an incredible fact was established: the error in its position is only 3 minutes 6 seconds.
The base area of the pyramid is comparable to the area of 10 football fields.
We can talk for a long time about the pyramids shrouded in myths and legends, their labyrinths and traps, mummies and treasures, but let's leave that to the Egyptologists. For us, the pyramid of Cheops is one of the greatest structures of mankind for all the time of its existence and, of course, the only First Wonder of the World that has come down to our days from the depths of the centuries.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon (Babylon)
The city has long ceased to exist, but today the ruins testify to its grandeur. In the 7th century BC. Babylon was the largest and richest city in the Ancient East. There were many amazing structures in Babylon, but the most striking were the hanging gardens of the royal palace - gardens that have become a legend.
the famous "Hanging Gardens" were created not by Semiramis and not even during her reign, but later, in honor of another - non-legendary - woman. They were built by order of King Nebuchadnezzar for his beloved wife Amitis - a Median princess who, in dusty Babylon, yearned for the green hills of Media.
This king, who destroyed city after city and even entire states, built a lot in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar turned the capital into an impregnable stronghold and surrounded himself with luxury unparalleled even in those days.
The structure of the hanging gardens of Babylon was a pyramid with a base (43x35 meters), which consisted of four tiers, installed on twenty five-meter columns. The surface of each tier was covered with a layer of reed (reeds), stone blocks fastened with gypsum and lead plates on which a thick layer of fertile soil was poured. All these measures helped to preserve water for plants as long as possible, of which there was very little in Babylon.
The height of the structure was almost thirty meters! Trees, flowers, soil - all this was brought in carts pulled by oxen. Water was supplied through pipes from the Euphrates River .. For this, hundreds of slaves were spinning around the clock a huge wheel installed in one of the towers.
Zeus statue in Olympia
The statue of Olympian Zeus is the work of Phidias. An outstanding work of antique sculpture, one of the seven wonders of the world. It was located in the temple of Olympian Zeus, in Olympia - a city in the region of Elis. The construction of the temple took about 10 years. But the statue of Zeus did not appear in it immediately. The Greeks decided to invite the famous Athenian sculptor Phidias to create a statue of Zeus.
Ancient Roman sculpture "Seated Zeus", Phidias type. The Hermitage was covered with a cape that covered part of Zeus's body, a scepter with an eagle, which he held in his left hand, a statue of the goddess of victory - Nike, which he held in his right hand, and a wreath of olive branches on Zeus's head. Zeus' legs rested on a bench supported by two lions. The throne reliefs glorified, first of all, Zeus himself. Four dancing Nicky were depicted on the legs of the throne. Also depicted were centaurs, lapiths, the exploits of Theseus and Hercules, frescoes depicting the battle of the Greeks with the Amazons. The base of the statue was 6 meters wide and 1 meter high. The height of the entire statue, together with the pedestal, was, according to various sources, from 12 to 17 meters. Zeus' eyes were the size of a grown man's fist.
Temple of Artemis of Ephesus (Ephesus)
Several hundred years BC, when Ephesus was at the zenith of its glory, the inhabitants decided to build a large temple. By that time, the city was already about 600 years old, it was rich and powerful, grew and prospered under the auspices of the goddess Artemis, sister of Apollo and daughter of Zeus - known in Roman mythology as Diana the hunter. Artemis was also considered the goddess of the moon and helped women in childbirth.
The place for the new, majestic and grandiose temple in the part of the goddess was chosen as a sacred one - even in ancient times, religious rituals were held there. The townspeople decided not to spare either money or time, and also attracted wealthy construction sponsors from other regions of the country.
The completed temple was magnificent, and was constantly being decorated with new decorative elements - after all, Ephesus was a very rich city. Historical data are contradictory, but it is mentioned that there were many bronze statues in the temple, the interior was trimmed with gold and silver, the statue of the goddess herself was made of ivory and gold, and trimmed with ebony.
It is noteworthy that in those days the temple was not only a religious building, but also a financial and business center. The souvenir business also flourished: not far from the temple, original souvenirs - its small copies - were successfully sold. Scientists still have not figured out which temple was considered a wonder of the world - rebuilt or burned by Herostratus.
mausoleum in Halicarnassus
The Mausoleum in Halicarnassus is a wonderful monument of ancient Greek architectural art, which went down in the history of ancient culture as one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World. It is generally accepted by our contemporaries that the mausoleum is the burial vault of great leaders.
The builders placed the tomb in the peripter, a building framed by a colonnade of 11-meter columns. It took 36 columns to support the roof of the mausoleum. The gaps between the columns were filled with various statues of mythological figures, and the roof looked like a stepped pyramid with 24 steps. Its crown was a marble quadriga, that is, an antique chariot with four horses harnessed to it. Huge statues of Mavsol and Artemisia were placed in the chariot, playing the role of charioteers. This magnificent sculpture reached a height of 6 m. In the tomb there were marble sarcophagi intended for the royal couple. The foot of the mausoleum was decorated with sculptures of horsemen and marble lions.
In general, the history of the Halicarnassus mausoleum is rich in events. At one time, he survived the conquest of the city by Alexander the Great, and even withstood an attack by pirates who coveted Halicarnassus at the beginning of the 1st century. However, after the Maltese attacked the mausoleum and took away stone and marble slabs from it, only the foundation remained of the majestic structure.
Colossus of Rhodes (Rhodes)
Colossus was the name of a giant statue that stood in the port city of Rhodes, an island in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of modern Turkey. In ancient times, the people of Rhodes wanted to be independent traders.
The colossus grew on the coast of the harbor on an artificial hill faced with white marble. For twelve years no one has seen the statue, because as soon as another belt of bronze sheets was attached to the frame, they poured the embankment surrounding the colossus so that it would be more convenient for the craftsmen to climb up. And only when the embankment was removed, the Rhodians saw their patron god, whose head was adorned with a radiant crown.
The glittering god was visible many kilometers from Rhodes, and soon the rumor about him spread throughout the ancient world. But after half a century, a strong earthquake that destroyed Rhodes knocked the colossus to the ground, the knees turned out to be the most vulnerable point of the statue. This is where the expression "colossus with feet of clay" came from.
So the colossus lay on the coast of the bay - the main tourist attraction of the island. The defeated giant was seen by Pliny the Elder, who came there in the first century AD. Pliny was most struck by the fact that only a few people could wrap their hands around the statue's thumb.
The colossus lying on the ground was overgrown with cobwebs and legends. In eyewitness accounts, he seemed much more than he really was. Legends appeared in Roman literature that it originally towered over the entrance to the harbor and was so great that ships passed between its legs to the city.
Lighthouse of Alexandria (Pharos)
Lighthouse of Alexandria (Pharos lighthouse) - one of the seven ancient wonders of the world, was erected in the III century BC. NS. on the small island of Pharos near the shores of the Egyptian city of Alexandria. It was a bustling port founded by Alexander the Great during his visit to Egypt in 332 BC. NS.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria was the world's first lighthouse and the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World to serve a practical purpose, helping ships navigate the reefs safely on their way to Alexandria Bay. The lighthouse, according to various estimates, rose to a height of 120 to 140 meters, and the light it emitted could be seen at a distance of up to 60 km.
The lighthouse stood for almost a thousand years, but by the 12th century A.D. e., the bay of Alexandria was so silted up that ships could no longer use it and the lighthouse fell into disrepair. Abandoned, it stood for some time, until in 796 AD. NS. it was not destroyed by the earthquake. At the end of the 15th century. Sultan Kait-bey erected a fortress from the wreckage on the site of the lighthouse, which was subsequently rebuilt more than once.
These are the miracles that were described in my book. Those same: 7 miracles. But time does not stand still, and now there are many more such miracles. It seems to me that they are also worthy of our attention ...
New 7 wonders of the world
Great Wall of China (China)
The Great Wall of China is one of the oldest architectural monuments in China and a symbol of the might of Chinese civilization. Probably, there is not a single civilized person in the world who has not heard of the Great Wall of China. It stretches from the Liaodong Bay northeast of Beijing through northern China to the Gobi Desert.
The construction lasted 10 years and faced numerous difficulties. The main problem was the lack of appropriate infrastructure for construction: there were no roads, there was no adequate amount of water and food for those involved in the work, while their number reached 300 thousand people, and the total number of builders employed under Qin reached, according to some estimates, 2 million. Slaves, soldiers, peasants were involved in the construction. As a result of epidemics and backbreaking work, at least tens of thousands of people died. Outrage at the mobilization for the construction of the wall caused popular uprisings and was one of the reasons for the fall of the Qin dynasty.
Probably not a single creation of human hands is so amazing as the Great Wall of China - the most grandiose and longest architectural and fortification structure on the planet. The wall is not only impressive - it is stunning. First of all, the titanic labor invested in it and its exorbitant dimensions. Truly, only the Chinese, organized and hardworking like ants, could endure this. In China, they say that a good half of their history falls on the Great Wall of China - it was built by different generations and dynasties for more than two thousand years, all the country's wars are somehow connected with it.
Christ the Redeemer statue (Rio de Janeiro)
One of the most famous statues in the world and definitely the most recognizable in Brazil is the Christ the Redeemer statue. Installed on Mount Corcovado at an altitude of more than 700 meters, it looks with outstretched arms in a blessing gesture at the huge city below it. The statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro, due to its fame, attracts millions of tourists to Mount Corcovado. From its height, a beautiful view of the ten-million-strong city with its bays, beaches, and the Maracanã stadium opens up.
The height of the statue is 38 m, including the pedestal - 8 m; arm span - 28 m. Weight - 1145 tons. As the highest point in the area, the statue regularly (on average, four times a year) becomes a target of lightning. The Catholic Diocese specially keeps a reserve of stone from which the statue was erected to restore parts of the statue damaged by lightning
The statue of Christ the Redeemer is undoubtedly one of the main symbols not only of Rio de Janeiro, but of the whole of Brazil. Many tourists visit the statue every year. Mount Corcovado experiences a particularly large influx of visitors during the traditional annual carnival held in Rio de Janeiro. Definitely, this grandiose monument is one of the greatest sculptures in the world.
Colosseum (Rome)
amphitheater, an architectural monument of Ancient Rome, the most famous and one of the most grandiose structures of the ancient world that have survived to our time. It is located in Rome, in the hollow between the Esquiline, Palatine and Celievsky hills.
The construction of the largest amphitheater in the entire ancient world, with a capacity of over 50 thousand people, was carried out for eight years as a collective construction of the emperors of the Flavian dynasty. It began to be built in 72 AD. under Emperor Vespasian, and in 80 AD. the amphitheater was consecrated by the Emperor Titus. The amphitheater is located in the place where there was a pond that belonged to the Golden House of Nero.
For a long time, the Colosseum was for the inhabitants of Rome and visitors the main place for entertainment, such as gladiator fights, animal persecution, sea battles.
The Colosseum opened with 100 days of entertainment. During this time, several thousand warriors and 5 thousand predatory animals brought from Africa died in gladiatorial tournaments. The arena of the theater had a sliding floor that rose and fell, and with the help of the aqueduct connected to the Colosseum, the stage was filled with water and naval battles were organized. Up to 3,000 gladiators could fight in the arena at the same time, and 50,000 spectators, frantically demanding "bread and circuses," tensely watched the bloody battles, chariot races and theatrical performances. In terms of the scale of the celebrations dedicated to the opening of the Colosseum, only the bloodily celebrated 1000th anniversary of Rome in 248, when dozens of lions, tigers, leopards, elephants, giraffes, horses, donkeys and hyenas were killed in just 3 days. The 1000th anniversary of the "eternal city" became the last day of life for 2000 gladiators.
Machu Picchu (Peru)
The city of ancient America, located on the territory of modern Peru. Also Machu Picchu is often called "the city in the sky" or "the city among the clouds", sometimes called the "lost city of the Incas". This city was created as a sacred mountain refuge by the great Inca ruler Pachacutec a century before the conquest of his empire, that is, around 1440, and functioned until 1532, when the Spanish invaded the territory of the Inca empire. In 1532, all of its inhabitants mysteriously disappeared.
Due to its modest size, Machu Picchu cannot claim the role of a large city - there are no more than 200 structures in it. These are mainly temples, residences, warehouses and other premises for public needs. For the most part, they are built of well-worked stone, slabs tightly fitted to each other. It is believed that up to 1,200 people lived in and around it, who worshiped the sun god Inti there and cultivated crops on the terraces. For more than 400 years this city was forgotten and was in desolation.
Machu Picchu, especially after receiving the status of a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, has become a center of mass tourism. In 2011, it was decided to limit the number of visitors.According to the new rules, only 2500 tourists per day can visit Machu Picchu, of which no more than 400 people can climb Mount Vaina Picchu, which is part of the archaeological complex. In order to preserve the monument, UNESCO demands to reduce the number of tourists per day to 800. Machu Picchu is located in a remote region.
Petra (Jordan)
The city of Petra in Jordan is located in the heart of the desert. This place is a heritage of ancient culture. Built more than two thousand years ago, it is of great value for admirers of ancient architecture and art. This ancient wonder city stretches along a winding valley, formed among the rocks, on a place that was a riverbed in ancient times. Steps carved into the rocks lead to an innumerable number of structures - monuments, necropolises, reservoirs, altars. More than eight hundred monuments of Petra have survived to this day.
The structures of Petra that have survived to this day include churches, dwellings, tombs, reservoirs, aqueducts and altars carved into the rocks. If you approach the city along the gorge of es-Sik, the first large monument that opens up to the eye turns out to be al-Khazneh - a temple located in a solid rock with a two-tiered facade approx. 20 m.
The mysterious people who have reached unattainable architectural heights are the Nabateans. Without exaggeration, we can say that the best reminder that they left about themselves to their descendants and which speaks of them better than any chronicles is a pink rocky masterpiece blown by the winds, hidden by them among the inaccessible mountains.
Pyramid of Kukulcan (Mexico)
25 meters high with nine levels, located in the center of a large square. The base of the pyramid is a square with sides of 55.5 meters. On each side of the pyramid there are four wide staircases, each of which has 91 steps. And these stairs lead to the upper platform on which the temple is located.
The northern staircase of the pyramid ends with snake heads - the symbol of Kukulkan, because in translation from the Mayan language, kukulkan is a feathered serpent.
Exactly at 17 hours 15 minutes, a light show begins - the sun's rays, when going around the ledges of the pyramid on the days of the equinox, draw the image of the revived ancient god with the play of light and shadows. This effect lasts for 3 hours and 22 minutes. The sun goes down and the image becomes clearer. Soon, the seven bends of the Sun Serpent's body become - they are formed by the shadows of the seven ledges of the pyramid. The sun goes down - the snake also slides down, lower and lower. And below, at the foot of the pyramid, the head of the image coincides with the real, stone sculpted head of a serpent, which ends with the northern staircase of the pyramid.
The ancient builders of the Maya tribe were simply brilliant, having managed at that time to calculate the parameters so accurately and placing the walls of the pyramid strictly on the cardinal points. The pyramid of Kukulkan has some astronomical significance. Each of its stairs has 91 steps, and the total number of steps is 364, plus the upper step-platform at the base of the temple, giving a total of 365 - the number corresponding to the number of days in a year. And the side parts of the building are divided in accordance with the number of months in the Mayan calendar - into eighteen sections.
Taj Mahal (India)
Taj Mahal is a mausoleum-mosque located in Agra, India, on the banks of the Jamna River (architects, probably Ustad-Isa, etc.). Built by order of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth (later Shah Jahan himself was buried here). Although the white marble dome of the mausoleum is the most famous component, the Taj Mahal is a structurally integrated complex. The building began to be built around 1632 and completed in 1653, thousands of artisans and craftsmen worked. The leadership of the Taj Mahal construction was entrusted to a Council of Architects under imperial control, including Abd ul-Karim Mamur Khan, Makramat Khan and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Lahauri is usually considered the main designer.
Mausoleum, divine, shining, and, despite its 74-meter height, so light and airy that it looks like a fabulous dream, the Taj Mahal mausoleum rises in the valley of the Yamuna River - the most beautiful architectural creation of India, and perhaps of the whole earth ... High into the sky rush white marble domes - one large and four small, in the chaste outlines of which one can guess female forms. Reflecting in the motionless surface of an artificial canal, the Taj Mahal seems to soar in front of us, representing an example of extraterrestrial beauty and perfect harmony ... But not only architectural perfection attracts millions of travelers from all over the world to the Taj Mahal. The history of its origin makes no less impression on the hearts of people ... A story more like an oriental fairy tale or legend that any poet would envy ...
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 there are, what they are, why is the word "miracle" used in relation to them, what significance 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 time of Ancient Hellas, an antique work of architecture and art has been called a wonder of the world, which has no equal in beauty, majestic dimensions, precious decoration and originality.
There were 7 such miracles in the ancient world. Who has not heard about the Eighth Wonder of the World? Probably everything. Can you name it? List them, and you will see that there are only seven of them in our time. No list or table in the tutorial contains it. And all because the 8th wonder of the world does not officially exist - this is just an expression designed to assess something truly delightful and grandiose, or ... to emphasize the extraordinary curiosity of some phenomenon or incident.
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7 wonders of the world - list
So what is included in the list:
- - the age is about 4.5 thousand years, daily crowds of tourists visit this sights of Egypt.
- - an amazing and unusual gift made by a husband for his beloved wife. Amid dusty Babylon, beautiful green gardens full of exotic plants, birds and animals have sprung up.
- Zeus statue in Olympia- only this miracle was on the territory of the continent of Europe. For 300 years, the Olympic Games were held, and only then the construction of the majestic and main temple began.
- Temple of Artemis of Ephesus- a wonderful building, burned for the sake of "glorifying" the name.
- mausoleum in Halicarnassus- stood in its place for a long time - nineteen centuries.
- The Colossus of Rhodes- a huge statue of the sun god, who was worshiped by the people.
- Alexandrian lighthouse- not just a lighthouse, but a fortress city, on the top of which a fire burned day and night. Firewood was delivered by mullahs along a winding road inside the building.
Detailed description of the seven wonders
The Pyramid of Cheops
The first wonder of the world is the Cheops pyramid. The ancient heritage of Egypt is located in the northwestern part of Cairo. The location points to the 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. For its construction, the labor of about a million slaves was used, whose work continued 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 to the tomb of the pharaoh only through one entrance, which is located above the ground at a level of 15.5 m.
Its useful to note: Caliph Abdullah Al-Mamun decided to disturb the chambers of the pharaoh, who led a tunnel into the pyramid with the intention of profit, 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 represent a gorgeous gift from Nebuchadnezzar - the Babylonian ruler for his beloved wife. Subsequently, the wealth and splendor of the city was destroyed by a flood. The structures and buildings where the gardens grew are eroded and broken under the influence of a powerful water flow.
The attraction misleads 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. The wonders of the world, described in Wikipedia, say that the author has been creating his creation for about 10 years. Until now, the size of the statue has not been precisely determined, it is believed that the approximate height was 12-18 m.
The throne pedestal was impressive in size, decorated with fragments from the Olympic Games and the life of the gods. On it sat a thunderer naked to the waist, supported at the feet of two lions. On the body - a gold cloak with images of animals and plants. On his head is a wreath, the thunderer is holding 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 pilgrim center is located in Turkey. It was erected by the forces of the Amazons, who were considered the founders of the city. The city was soon burnt down by Herostratus. In the 6th century, a new construction project under the leadership of Khersifron included white marble columns.
Its construction lasted 120 years and was carried out according to the same project, with a preliminary collection of money and valuables from the townspeople.
Good to know: on the day of the church fire, Alexander III the Great was born, and the phrase "glory of Herostratus" became a symbol of a bad deed.
mausoleum in Halicarnassus
The fifth wonder of the world is the mausoleum at Halicarnassus. The ruler Mavsol built his tomb under his personal supervision. The three-level mausoleum was 46 meters high. The lower level was faced with marble. It housed the tomb of the king. The next level was a colonnade supporting the roof, creating a pyramidal shape.
The top was personified by the figures of King Mavsol and Artemisia, who are 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 their victory with the invaders. The monument is the personification of the freedom and independence of the inhabitants of the island. The construction of the statue has been going on for 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 blazing fire of Helios.
The height of the statue reached 36 m. The supporting pillars of the structure of the structure turned out to be unreliable and after only 65 years they collapsed as a result of an earthquake. The statue of the Colossus of Rhodes is a wonder of the world that lasted the least of all.
Its useful to note: 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 Faros. The lighthouse fulfilled its direct role, lighting up the path of ships lost to the shore with flames at night. The designer of the gigantic structure of 140 meters was Sostrat of Cnidus.
Consisting of several tiers, the lighthouse served as housing for sailors and port workers. At the top of the octagonal tower was a light source - a large bonfire. The unique creation served 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 original founder of the work "On the Seven Wonders of the World" was Philo of Byzantium. His short essay on 12 pages consists of eyewitness accounts of unique buildings.
Philo of Byzantine 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, Sequestre, Cassiodorus, etc. However, they did not have a single idea and in their own way defined unique monuments.
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
The famous wonders of the world that have entered our lives are the wonders of the ancient world. Why are the wonders of the world not five or six ... namely 7?
"7" is a number associated with the sacred god Apollo, signifies completeness and perfection in the mind of the ancient civilization.
Compiles a list of venerable rulers of the ancient age. Based on their significance, grandiose monuments of that time were created.
Each monument from the list is an embodiment of architectural art. From the beginning of the Hellenic era, writings on unique monuments were circulated on papyri by Greek authors. They were widely studied at school and were a teaching aid.
How many wonders of the world have survived to this day
Only one pyramid of Cheops has been completely preserved to our time. The Egyptian miracle of antiquity still keeps the secrets of great ancestors. At the moment, it is the largest architectural structure made of stone, reaching 137 m.During its existence, it has 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 in part or in the form of a copy:
- The lighthouse of Alexandria collapsed due to the earthquake and could not be restored. By now only the fortress has survived.
- A copy of Zeus is on display in the Hermitage. This is the tallest antique sculpture of our time, 3.5 m high.
- 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 Semiramis over 18 years of excavation. Found buildings of Ancient Babylon and structures that surrounded the gardens.
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 was included in the list, which was called the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
the great Wall of China
The construction of the greatest defensive structure began in the 3rd century BC, and now it still harbors many legends. During the construction, the main goals were pursued: the protection of the territory from the Mongol invasion and the creation of a guarantee for the protection of one state from another. Inadequate attention to the great structure gradually destroyed it in some places. A large-scale restoration of architecture began at the end of the twentieth century.
1997 was marked by the entry into the status of a miracle of the modern world. The architectural structure stretches for almost 9 thousand km, has a height of 6 to 10 meters.
Do you know that: the erection of the wall resulted in tens of thousands of deaths due to hard work and epidemics.
Statue of Christ the Redeemer
The famous symbol of the Brazilian people is located at the very top of the Corcovado mountain. 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, from afar, he warmly welcomes guests.
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. 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 Jamna. Construction was underway for two decades, 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 at the edges of the palace helps to protect the tombs from tremors and destruction.
Coliseum
The largest amphitheater of the ancient era can accommodate more than 50 thousand people. The beginning of construction during the Flavian dynasty lasted 8 years. In the VIII 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 being plundered by barbarians and an earthquake in the 14th century, the Colosseum was literally pulled apart brick by brick. Only from the 18th century the building was taken under protection 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 urban architecture did not suffer from the attacks of the Spanish conquerors.
The clear structure of the city delights with its architectural design. However, little is known about the urban population and the city.
Petra
Jordanian Petra is a city in a 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.
Remaining ruins of houses built using the traditional stone method stretch for kilometers. Ad-Deir is a 45-meter monastery carved into the rock. The main attraction - the mausoleum of Al-Khazneh - still keeps the legend of untold treasures. Previously, the city served as a trade route connecting Damascus and the Red Sea regions.
Note: Indiana Jones' adventure film filmed in Petra.
Chichen Itza
Mexico is famous for the legendary city called, which resembles the consonance of legumes, loved by the locals, among other things. Chichen Itza, a Mayan civilization, has a 24-meter pyramid called the Temple of Kukulkan, which has 365 steps.
There are as many steps as there are days in a year. The located natural well is the Sacred Cenote. Its depth is "deadly" - 50 m. Earlier it served for the rite of sacrifices. 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 are in the world and which ones - can now be answered definitely. The appearance of new miracles is evidence that there are still many mysterious places in the world for study and recognition of their significance for all mankind.
We bring to your attention an interesting film about the seven wonders of the ancient world:
Album "From Wonders of the World to Wonders of Russia"
Description: this material will be useful for teachers. It is intended for students in grades 5 and 6. The material provides useful and interesting information that can be used in history lessons and in extracurricular activities.Seven wonders of the world- these are the most ancient monuments of architecture, which are rightfully considered the greatest creations of human hands. The number 7 was chosen for a reason. It belonged to Apollo and was a symbol of completeness, completeness and perfection. At the same time, the traditional genre of Hellenistic poetry was the glorification of the list of the most famous cultural figures - poets, philosophers, kings, military leaders, etc., or outstanding architectural monuments.
The first mentions of the Wonders of the World are found precisely in this era, when the victorious troops of Alexander the Great had already passed through Europe. The wide spread of Greek culture in the territories that are part of the states that the great commander conquered, provided loud fame for individual monuments and architectural structures. But it should be noted that the "selection" of miracles took place gradually. Some names have been replaced by others, and today the list of the most magnificent works of art and architecture includes:
1. Pyramids of Giza
2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon
3. Olympic statue of Zeus
4. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
5. Halicarnassus mausoleum
6. Colossus of Rhodes
7. Alexandria lighthouse
Pyramids of Giza
One of the most ancient and, nevertheless, the brightest Wonders of the World is the Great Pyramids, located in Giza (Egypt). The complex of Gisea buildings is the greatest architectural monument ever created by man. In total, more than a hundred pyramidal structures were found on the territory of Egypt, but most of them did not stand the test of time.
The Pyramid of Cheops
The largest of the Gizei complex, the Cheops pyramid is the largest building structure in the world. Its base is a square with a side of as much as 227.5 meters. The original height of the structure is believed to have been 146 meters, but several of the upper stones were destroyed, and today the pyramid is 9 meters lower.
Engineering studies have shown that the largest Gisea architectural monument consists of 2.3 million stone blocks, each of which weighs at least 2.5 tons. The total volume of the building is 2.34 million cubic meters. The faces of the pyramid are deployed to the cardinal points, and the entrance to the inside is from the north.
A distinctive feature of the structure is that every single building blocks are so well fitted to each other that even now, after several thousand years, even the thinnest blade cannot be inserted between them. In addition, the researchers found that the mortar used to hold the structural elements together is superior in strength to any modern material.
Purpose of the pyramids
There are no inscriptions, drawings and decorations in the Cheops pyramid. There are three chambers inside the building, in the center of one of which there is a granite sarcophagus. Initially, it was assumed that the structure is a tomb. Long-term studies have either confirmed or refuted this assumption.
But neither the remains of the pharaoh, nor any utensils or things that, according to the tradition of that time, were buried with the deceased, were not found. True, there is a high probability that the pyramid was simply looted. However, some details in the hypothesis about the purpose of the structure do not agree with the version of the tomb.
However, let us leave to historians and archaeologists questions about the origin and purpose of the construction of such an amazing complex of buildings, the entrance to which is protected by the Great Sphinx - the largest monolithic sculpture on the planet. For you and me, the Pyramids of Giza, with which many legends are associated, remain one of the most striking and unusual examples of the height of the flight of engineering.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are the second most important Wonder of the World. Unfortunately, this amazing architectural structure has not survived to this day, but the memory of it has survived.
The attraction is located not far from Baghdad, and today its stone ruins can impress a simple tourist only with its scale. However, history shows that the structure was one of the most beautiful creations of mankind.
Amazing gift for spouse
The gardens were discovered by Robert Koldewey, who excavated near Al Hill in 1989. In the course of archaeological research, an extensive network of trenches was discovered, and in their sections the scientist immediately recognized the legendary architectural monument.
Facts indicate that the Hanging Gardens were built at the behest of Nebuchadnezzar II, whose reign falls on the 6th century BC. The best engineers, mathematicians and inventors of Mesopotamia worked day and night to satisfy the king's request to create a gift for his wife Amitis.
The latter was of Median origin, and those lands, as you know, were filled with the aromas of flowering gardens and green hills. In stuffy Babylon, the queen had a hard time, she yearned for her native land. That is why the ruler decided to lay out an unusual park, which would at least a little remind his wife's home.
Controversy surrounding the Babylonian Miracle
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon have been described by many ancient historians. But there are still some doubts about the reality of this piece of engineering art. For example, Herodotus, who traveled around Mesopotamia somewhere in the 5th century BC, did not say a word about this structure. Although, apparently, it was the most majestic and beautiful in Babylon.
Even the annals of the city itself do not mention the Gardens. However, Berossus, a Chaldean priest who studied the annals at the end of the 4th century BC. very brightly and clearly marked the building in his works. There is even an opinion that all historians, including modern scientists, relied precisely on his descriptions, and they are too much embellished with the author's conjectures and judgments.
Some even believe that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were confused with similar parks that were created in Nineveh, located on the east coast of the Tiber. But the basis of the irrigation system of this monument was the construction of Archimedes screws, which was invented in the II century BC, while the construction of the Gardens dates back to the VI century.
However, maybe the Babylonians already had an idea of the special thread of such a screw, although they called the device differently. And be that as it may, the mystery of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon still excites the minds of scientists, archaeologists and historians.
Zeus statue in Olympia
The statue of Zeus in Olympia is the third most important Wonder of the World, the history of which began long before its creation - in 776 BC. Then, for the first time, participants in the next Olympic Games arrived at the temple, which was built in honor of the father of the gods.
Representatives of Asia Minor, Syria and Sicily, Egypt and, of course, Great Hellas attended the opening of the greatest event in history. The first sanctuary of Zeus was built 150 km from Athens. But over time, the Games gained more and more political weight, so the rulers of Greece decided to build a new Temple.
Temple of Zeus
Construction lasted over 15 years, and in 456 BC. the world saw one of the most monumental and beautiful Houses of Zeus. The project was developed by the famous ancient architect - Le Bon, whose creation had all the features of the famous Greek sanctuaries, but surpassed them in scope.
The Temple building was erected on a high rectangular platform. The roof was supported by 13 majestic columns about 10 m high and at least 2 m in diameter, and there were as many as 34 of them.
The creation of Phidias
The government of Hellas invited Phidias to Athens, a famous sculptor who managed to create something excellent - a statue of Zeus. The news of this work of art instantly spread throughout the ancient world, and the masterpiece took its place in the list of Wonders of the World.
The creation of the statue dates back to around 440 BC. The sculpture of the father of the gods was created mainly from the finest ivory. According to the description of eyewitnesses who managed to find the statue in "good health", it had a very impressive size.
Its height was at least 15 m, the structure contained about 200 kg of gold, the modern monetary equivalent of which exceeds $ 8 million. The discovery of the statue of Olympian Zeus falls on 435 BC.
The fate of the statue of Zeus
Historical sources claim that in the second half of the 4th century AD. The Temple of Zeus was closed by the Roman emperor Theodosius, who was a Christian and disliked the pagan beliefs of the Greeks.
In 363, the statue was transported to Constantinople. Although some facts indicate that this architectural monument did not survive the looting and destruction of the Temple, which took place at the end of the 5th century.
In 1875, the remains of the Temple of Zeus were found, and in 1950, archaeologists discovered the workshop of Phidias. Thorough studies of the place where the architectural monument was found made it possible to recreate both the Temple itself and the statue of Olympian Zeus.
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
Ancient Greek Ephesus experienced a period of unprecedented prosperity. Founded in the 12th century BC, the city was the largest trade center and radiated wealth and prosperity. Artemis patronized him. She, as you know, was the goddess of fertility and the patroness of animals, the guardian of women in labor and hunters. Respecting her sacredly, the townspeople decided to build a magnificent temple in honor of Artemis, which, moreover, was supposed to significantly increase the city's income.
Shrine construction
In the VI century BC. Harsifron, the most famous architect, arrived in Ephesus. It was he who came up with the idea of building a building from marble. According to his plan, the temple should have been encircled by two rows of imposing columns. At the same time, the master, apparently, had an outstanding engineering mind, since the project is the most complex and at the same time original of all that were developed at that time. Since the city was rich and could afford to build such a large and expensive building.
But there was one obstacle - no deposit had yet been found that could satisfy the project's appetites. But soon, thanks to chance, a sufficient amount of stone was found, and the temple was successfully built. Monolithic marble columns deserve a special place in the structure of the building. They were transported here straight from the quarries located ten kilometers from the construction site. The foundation of the temple is aerobatics of engineering thought.
The building was built on a swampy area, since the sad memory of the earthquakes that hit Hellas was still alive. A huge pit was dug at the site of the future structure, which the builders filled with charcoal and wool. This, plus the very unorthodox foundation of the Temple, was supposed to be a guarantee that the building would withstand tremors of any strength.
In the main hall of the Temple, an amazingly beautiful statue of the goddess Artemis was installed, the height of which was about 15 meters. She was very expensive, because she was often inlaid with precious stones and gold. Prominent Greek painters and sculptors took part in the decoration of the building. Rumors of a beautiful shrine quickly spread throughout the ancient world, and subsequently the Temple of Artemis became one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
The fate of the Temple
It should be noted that Harsifron did not manage to complete the construction. But the business was continued by his son, and after - the architects Peonit and Demetrius. And so in about 450 BC. the world saw the unsurpassed Temple of Artemis. They say that if it survived to this day, it could overshadow any of the existing masterpieces of architectural art. But, unfortunately, in 356 BC. Herostratus, obsessed with the idea of becoming famous at any cost, started a fire in the building.
The building was almost completely destroyed, of course, with the exception of those structural elements that were made of marble. After that, the Temple of Artemis was revived several times and again ceased to exist. But in 263 BC. it was last plundered by the Goths. Finally, the "marble" health of the building was broken by the swampy soil, as well as the nearby Kaistra River. And it took scientists from all over the world several decades to restore the original appearance of the building.
mausoleum in Halicarnassus
The Halicarnassus Mausoleum is the same age as the second Temple of Artemis. The same persons took part in its construction, who restored the shrine after the fire started by Herostratus. The building is a ziggurat, that is, both a tomb, a sanctuary and a monument. It should be noted that the name "mausoleum" comes from the name of the imperious and cruel ruler of Caria - Mavsol.
Start of construction
Despite the fact that already in the IV century BC. the state was a colony of the Persian Empire, Mavsol ruled imperiously and stubbornly, trying not to bend under imperial pressure. His position was so strong, and his connections so wide, that even after the suppression of the uprisings he had raised, he managed to remain on the throne. During the reign of the energetic and ambitious king, Helikarnassus became the capital of Caria.
At the same time, the construction of the tomb, which later entered the list of the seven most famous sights of the ancient world, began long before the death of the ruler - approximately in 353 BC. The Mausoleum project was developed by Greek architects - Satyr and Pytheas. The sculptors Timofey, Leohar, Skopas and Briaxides were hired to decorate the building. In total, hundreds of the most talented craftsmen took part in the construction, whose names, unfortunately, have not been preserved in history.
R luxurious tomb for the king
The tomb was an imposing architectural complex with its own courtyard. A stone platform was installed in the center of the latter. A wide staircase led to the top, guarded by stone lions. Inside, the building was decorated with bas-reliefs depicting scenes from ancient Greek legends and tales. The outer walls of the Mausoleum were covered with statues of gods and goddesses, and in the corners of the structure huge guard-warriors, carved out of stone, carried their service.
The ziggurat was crowned with a marble chariot driven by four massive horses. The statues of the charioteers depicted Mavsol himself and his sister-wife Artemisia. The height of this sculpture was about 6 meters, and the pyramidal roof of the tomb was supported by 36 7-meter monolithic columns.
The fate of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
When the ruler of Caria died, the construction of the Mausoleum had not yet been completed, and the finishing of the premises was completed only in 350 BC. The tomb survived both the conquest of Halicarnassus by Macedon and the attack of pirates at the beginning of the 1st millennium. But at the beginning of the 15th century, the Maltese visited Asia Minor, who finally destroyed the building, taking marble and stone slabs for the construction of the fortress of St. Peter, which was located on the very spot where the palace of Mavsol and Artemisia stood. By the end of the 16th century, only one foundation remained from the Mausoleum.
Excavations of the tomb of Mavsol, led by Christian Jeppesen, were completed only in 1966-1977. Based on the found bas-reliefs, statues and other elements of the furnishings and construction, the appearance of the Mausoleum was restored. His project served as the basis for the construction of the City Hall in Los Angeles, the Warriors Memorial in Indiana, St. George's Church in London and many other architectural monuments of our time.
The Colossus of Rhodes
Rhodes was a major economic center of the ancient world. Located on the southwestern coast of Asia Minor, it often served as a tidbit for the rulers of neighboring powers. So, in 357 BC. the famous king Mavlos became the new ruler of the city, and after 17 years the city fell into the possession of the Persian Empire. In 322 BC. Rhodes was conquered by Alexander the Great, but after his death, civil strife broke out between the heirs of the great commander, and one of them - Antigonus - sent his son Demetrius to capture and destroy the rebellious city.
It should be noted that the long siege did not bring success, and the commander was forced to retreat. On the coast of the island, his soldiers threw a huge siege tower, which was a real engineering miracle of that time, and the enterprising ones immediately decided to sell it. With the money raised, it was decided to build a statue of Helios, the patron saint of Rhodes, in order to praise the sun god for ridding the city of invaders.
Construction of the statue began around 304 BC. The creation of the Colossus was entrusted to Hares, a student of the famous ancient sculptor Lysippos. It was proposed to portray Helios standing, and in his left hand he had to hold a veil falling to the ground, and with his right, he had to cover his eyes from the sun. Despite the fact that such a pose did not correspond to some of the canons of sculpture of that time, the master understood that the huge statue would not stay on its feet if the Colossus pointed with his hand into the distance.
Three massive stone pillars formed the basis of the 36-meter statue. They were held together by iron beams at the height of the Colossus's shoulders, which should have provided him with stability. Construction lasted for 12 years, after which the world saw the greatest statue, whose head was adorned with a radiant crown.
Death of the Colossus
Literally half a century later, the island was shaken by the strongest earthquakes, and the legs of the Colossus of Rhodes broke. The statue of the god fell into the sea and lay off the coast for about 1000 years. The defeated giant was overgrown with legends, but in 977 A.D. they decided to disassemble it, melt it down and sell it. In the annals, data have been preserved that 900 camels were needed to transport the bronze, which was used to decorate the statue.
Modern interpretations of the great statue
The Colossus of Rhodes was included in the list of the Seven Wonders of the World. Currently, even some measures are being taken to restore the huge statue. According to some data, the cost of a modern sculpture of Helios will be about 200 million euros. However, the idea of creating monumental sculptures following the example of the Colossus of Rhodes was used much earlier - in the New York Bay there is a statue of a woman holding a huge torch. This monument is better known to the world as the Statue of Liberty, but its creation was based on the image of the Rhodes masterpiece.
Alexandrian lighthouse
The history of the seventh Wonder of the World - the Lighthouse of Alexandria - is connected with the foundation in 332 BC. Alexandria, a city that was named after the great Roman commander Alexander the Great. It should be noted that over the course of his career, the conqueror founded about 17 cities with similar names, but only the Egyptian project managed to survive to this day.
Foundation of the city in honor of the great commander
The Macedonian chose the site for the founding of Egyptian Alexandria very carefully. He did not like the idea of a location in the Nile Delta, and so the decision was made to set up the first construction sites 20 miles south, near the marshy Lake Mareotis. Alexandria was supposed to have two large harbors - one for merchant ships coming from the Mediterranean Sea, and the other for ships sailing along the Nile.
After the death of Alexander the Great in 332 BC. the city came under the rule of Ptolemy I Soter - the new ruler of Egypt. During this period, Alexandria developed into a thriving commercial port. In 290 BC. Ptolemy ordered the construction of a huge lighthouse on the island of Pharos, which would illuminate the path of ships sailing in the harbor of the city at night and in bad weather.
Construction of a lighthouse on the island of Pharos
The construction of the Lighthouse of Alexandria dates back to the 4th century BC, but the system of signal lights itself appeared only in the 1st century BC. The creator of this masterpiece of engineering and architectural art is Sostratus, a resident of Cnidia. The work lasted a little over 20 years, and as a result, the Lighthouse of Alexandria became the first structure of this type in the world and the tallest building in the ancient world, not counting, of course, the Gisea pyramids.
The height of the Lighthouse of Alexandria was approximately 450-600 feet. At the same time, the building was absolutely unlike any of the architectural monuments available at that time. The building was a three-tiered tower, the walls of which were made of marble slabs, fastened with lead mortar. The most complete description of the Lighthouse of Alexandria was compiled by Abu el-Andalussi - the famous Arab traveler - in 1166. He noted that in addition to performing purely practical functions, the lighthouse served as a very noticeable attraction.
The fate of the great lighthouse
The Pharos Lighthouse has illuminated the way for mariners for over 1,500 years. But strong tremors in 365, 956 and 1303 AD. severely damaged the building, and the most powerful earthquake in 1326 finally destroyed one of the greatest architectural structures in the world. In 1994, the remains of the Alexandria Lighthouse were discovered by archaeologists, and later the image of the structure was more or less successfully restored using computer modeling.
New 7 wonders of the world
The classic list of 7 wonders of the world appeared in the 3rd century BC. It included the greatest architectural, historical and cultural monuments of the ancient world. But the years passed, and more and more curiosities appeared in the world, which today can also be considered Wonders of the World, that is, the most outstanding creations of man.
And now 2001 was marked by the beginning of the New Open World Corporation project. Its main purpose was to select modern Wonders of the World, worthy of going down in history forever. So, the winners of the competition on July 7, 2007 were:
1. Great Wall of China
2. Taj Mahal
3. Colosseum
4. Machu Picchu
5. Petra
6. Chichen Itza
7. Statue of Christ the Redeemer
The great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is one of the oldest structures preserved to this day, which in its grandeur and grandeur has no analogues even in the modern world. Its history goes back to the 5th century BC, a time that was marked by the collapse of the Zhou state.
In its place, many small kingdoms were formed, which immediately began a bloody internecine struggle with each other for the legacy of the great empire. It was during this period of "warring kingdoms" that the first pits were dug and earthen ramparts were erected in order to strengthen the borders from aggressive neighbors.
Start of construction
And so in 221 BC. the ruler of one of the kingdoms - Qin - the great Shi Huandi managed to pacify the long-term blood feud. He was proclaimed the first Chinese emperor and in 11 years of his reign created a state with an effective system of government and justice. It was he who came up with the idea to connect the defensive structures that already existed in the north of the empire with a single wall.
And by order of the sovereign, his army, consisting of 300,000 soldiers, as well as about a million prisoners and slaves, began to build the fortress walls. The Great Wall of China was built using a wide variety of building technologies. Numerous garrisons were vigilantly serving to protect the still unfinished fortifications in the area of the construction site.
Successors of the case of Shi Huangdi
After the death of Shi Huangdi, the work was continued by his successors - the emperors of the Han dynasty, who not only monitored the maintenance of the structure in proper order, but also lengthened the wall. The last important stage in the construction of the Great Wall of China falls on the era of the imperial Ming dynasty, in 1368-1644.
Since the middle of the 17th century, the need for the building has disappeared, and time and natural factors immediately took up its stone sides. But, fortunately, most of the Wall has survived to this day. Moreover, the Chinese government at one time invested huge sums in its reconstruction.
New Wonder of the World
Already during the reign of the Ming dynasty, fortifications stretched from the Shanhaiguan fortress, located on the shores of the Bohaiwan Strait, to Jiayuguan itself in the northwest of Gansu province. Today the length of the wall is a total of 8,851.8 kilometers, which is an absolute and most likely unbeatable record in construction.
In 1962, the Great Wall of China took an honorable place in the list of national monuments of China, and in 1987 it was admitted to the general list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It should be noted that this is the only structure that can be seen from near-earth orbit without the use of any optical instruments. And in July 2007, the Wall entered the list of New Wonders of the World, as one of the most impressive buildings in the history of mankind.
Mausoleum Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal is not for nothing called the architectural pearl of India. You will not find a more majestic and magnificent building in the whole country. This mausoleum embodies the memory of the tender love of the Muslim ruler Shah Jahan for his wife, a fabulously beautiful woman named Mumtaz Mahal. The future king of the Great Mughals was still a young prince, when at the beginning of the 17th century he married a nineteen-year-old beauty. The newlyweds loved each other dearly and, despite the fact that the king had a huge harem, he simply did not pay attention to other women.
Construction background
The beloved wife gave birth to six daughters and eight sons to Shah Jahan, but numerous childbirth broke the woman's health, therefore, when the fourteenth child was born, she was gone. The king's grief was so great that he wanted to commit suicide. But responsibility for the state and other reasons kept the ruler in this world. Literally in front of his retinue, he turned gray, and soon a two-year mourning was declared throughout the state, during which there was no place for holidays, dancing, music and fun.
"Indian pearl"
A little later, a grandiose mausoleum was erected in the capital of the Mughal Empire - Agra. Construction of the Taj Mahal took over 20 years. More than 20 thousand people worked on the construction site, including the best Persian, Turkish, Samarkand and, of course, Indian architects and architects. The project was completed in 1653 and since then this amazing structure has attracted millions of researchers and travelers.
Inside the Taj Mahal there are two tombs - the shah and his wife. But in reality, the burial is underground. The mausoleum is a five-domed building 74 meters high. It is located on a platform with 4 minarets, which are tilted away from the tomb, and adjoins the construction of an amazingly beautiful garden with an abundance of fountains and a swimming pool. The walls of the Taj Mahal were lined with translucent polished marble, which was brought to the construction site from a unique deposit 300 km from Agra.
The greatest monument of architecture
The great mausoleum has survived to this day. It is one of the most magnificent and beautiful structures on the planet. Every day it is visited by tens of thousands of tourists, due to which the "Indian pearl" replenishes the state treasury with considerable funds. Throughout the year, the Taj Mahal receives about 5 million visitors. In order to preserve the architectural monument, traffic in the Taj Mahal area was prohibited.
Cracks were recently discovered in the walls of the Taj Mahal. Scientists believe that the destruction of the building is associated with the shallowing of the Jamna - the river flowing in the immediate vicinity of it. But, nevertheless, the Taj Mahal remains one of the most unusual and magnificent structures in the world. It was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and in July 2007 it took pride of place among the New Wonders of the World.
Coliseum
The Colosseum is one of the most magnificent amphitheaters ever built by man. This famous ancient Roman monument to this day rises in the middle of the modern buildings of the Italian capital. For a very long time, the Colosseum played a very important cultural role in the life of the townspeople and guests of Rome. A huge number of people gathered in its stands, who longed for one thing - bright and exciting spectacles. It was here that gladiatorial fights and animal persecution, sports competitions and nahumachies took place.
The beginning of the history of the Flavian Amphitheater
The Colosseum is located on the Tselievsky, Palatinsky and Esquiline hills, that is, where the pond of the Golden House of Nero used to be. Initially, the building was called the Flavian Amphitheater (in honor of its founders) of the famous imperial dynasty. Construction lasted for 8 years, and around 80 AD. the world saw one of the most capacious arenas.
Like any other Roman building of this type, the Colosseum has the shape of an ellipse, in the center of which is an arena, and its stands are arranged in the form of concentric rings. The perimeter of the outer ellipse of the Roman arena is 524 m, the major and minor axes have a length of 187.7 and 155.64 m, and the height of the walls of the amphitheater approaches 50 m.The results of simple calculations show that the Colosseum could easily accommodate about 50 thousand square meters. spectators. It is the most grandiose arena in the world, apart from modern stadiums that can accommodate over 100 thousand people.
The fate of the world's greatest arena
The Colosseum was deservedly considered a symbol of Roman greatness. Philosophers said that as long as it stood, the Great Empire would also stand. Back in 264, during the reign of Decius, the millennium of Rome was celebrated in the amphitheater. History testifies that during this era about 40 wild horses, more than 30 elephants, 60 lions and many other wild animals were killed in the arena. In 405, gladiatorial fights were banned by Emperor Honorius, and the Colosseum removed the laurels of the greatest arena in the world.
Towards the end of the 13th century, the Roman amphitheater was turned into a quarry. At the same time, 23 estates for aristocratic families were built from it. In the 14th-15th centuries, the Italians erected 6 churches from the disassembled parts of the Colosseum, and at the end of the 15th century, the office of the Pope was built from the materials of the Colosseum. In the middle of the 16th century, the architectural elements of the amphitheater served as the basis for some of the Roman bridges. In 1744, the Colosseum was lit in honor of the early Christian martyrs, and a cross was erected in the center of the arena.
In July 2007, the amphitheater was admitted to the list of New Wonders of the World. Today it is the most famous historical and architectural monument in Rome, attracting tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world every year.
Machu Picchu city
On the territory of modern Peru there is one old mountain peak, which the Indians called Machu Picchu. It is located at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level, offering amazingly beautiful views of the valley of the Urumamba River. It is here, at the foot of the Machu Picchu mountain, that one of the most ancient cities is located, which is often called the "city among the clouds".
The origin of the "city in the sky"
Archaeologists believe that this lost city of the Incas was created as the winter residence of the ruler of this ancient people - Pachacuteca - literally a century before the Spaniards came here. In 1532, when gallant conquistadors and adventurers obsessed with a thirst for gold invaded the Inca empire, every one of the inhabitants of the city mysteriously disappeared.
Machu Picchu was one of the three houses of Pachacuteca and at the same time served as a shrine. The city had a very modest size and contained about 200 buildings. The city buildings were built of well-worked stone blocks, fitted together so tightly that most of the buildings of Machu Picchu have survived to this day. The abandoned settlement was accidentally discovered only at the beginning of the 20th century by the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham. A few decades later, the legendary Inca trail was found, leading through the valley of Urumamba straight to the city.
Attractions of the residence of the ruler of the Incas
The highlight of the ancient city is the vast terraces on which the Incas were engaged in agriculture. The "Decorated Room" found at the western wall of the main temple is a vivid testament to how skillful these people were. The foundation of the room is made of two imposing stone blocks with three-dimensional hewn tops.
The Temple of Three Windows is the most mysterious structure of Machu Picchu. According to Bingham's hypothesis, trapezoidal windows facing east were symbols of the ancestral home of Pachacuteca. But since the architectural style of the city belongs to the late Inca period, the reliability of this assumption raises certain doubts among archaeologists.
New Wonder of the World Machu Picchu received UNESCO World Heritage status, after which it turned into a vibrant center of mass tourism. About 2,000 travelers visited the city every day. But in order to preserve the city, UNESCO demanded to reduce the number of visitors to 800 people a day. On July 7, 2007, Machu Picchu was selected for the list of New Wonders of the World, and since February 2012 it has been excluded from the list of World Heritage sites in danger of destruction.
Rock City Petra
The ancient city of Petra is one of the most amazing architectural monuments. It is carved in solid rock, and there are a lot of secrets and omissions hovering around its origin. It is believed that the city was founded by the Nabateans - nomadic tribes who in the VI-IV centuries BC. managed to subjugate a huge territory on which Jordan, Syria and Israel are located today.
Great city in the desert
Thanks to its advantageous location at the crossroads of wide trade routes, Petra prospered and grew richer over the years. For many years it was a real salvation for merchants and travelers from the scorching sun. However, in the 4th century BC. for unknown reasons, it was abandoned. Perhaps the inhabitants were driven out of the cool stone shade by the lack of water. But most likely the city was abandoned due to the loss of significance of its location in the very depths of the rocky Jordanian desert.
The city of Petra is carved into a red sandstone rock. Externally, the architectural elements that have survived to our time resemble Roman architecture. On the territory of the city, archaeologists managed to find many temples, palaces, tombs and even an ancient theater. The buildings of Petra were built over many centuries, so there is an incredible interweaving of echoes of the culture of different eras.
At various times, Petra was owned by the Edomites, Nabateans, Romans, Byzantines and Arabs, and in the XII century BC. the city was captured by the crusaders. After the 6th century A.D. construction stopped, and gradually one of the most amazing settlements on the planet became empty. The first European to visit the famous city is the Swiss traveler Johann Burckhardt. It is thanks to him that a detailed description of the structure of Petra has been preserved, as well as sketches of some of its attractions.
Major attractions
The main city attraction is the Treasury - a huge building with a solid facade carved out of the rock. The magnificent colonnade with an amphitheater, crowning the kilometer-long Siq canyon, is also admirable. They are the legacy of Roman culture in the history of Petra. Also of note is the aqueduct that supplied water to the city. It was a complex system of terracotta pipes that collected moisture from all sources located within a radius of 25 km from the city.
Ad-Dair deserves special attention - a huge monastery, carved right into the rock at the top of the highest cliff in the canyon. For some time he even served as a Christian church. Excavations of the monastery, archaeologists have discovered here the tomb of the Nabatean king. You can climb to it via a staircase cut in stone, consisting of 800 steps.
Mass Tourism Center and the New Wonder of the World
Today Petra is one of the busiest tourism centers in the world. Every year, about half a million come here who want to see this amazing creation of human hands with their own eyes. In July 2007, Petra, a little earlier included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, became one of the New Wonders of the World.
Chichen Itza city
Chichen Itza, the sacred city of the Maya, is located 75 miles east of Merida, the capital of Yucatan. Archaeologists consider the ancient settlement, covering an area of about 6 square miles, one of the world's greatest architectural landmarks. Previously, there were several hundred buildings, but most of them have not survived to this day. The surviving buildings, of which there are about 30, are of great interest to archaeologists, scientists and researchers.
Ancient center of culture and religion
The remains of the city are conditionally divided by archaeologists into two parts - the first contains buildings erected by the Mayans around the 6th-7th centuries AD, the second is a cultural monument of the Toltecs who lived on Yukotan in the 10th-11th centuries. Apparently, the population of Chichen Itza experienced a rather acute shortage of water. This is evidenced by numerous cenotes - wells with steep smooth walls.
It was during the Mayan period, which is associated with an unprecedented flourishing of science and art, that the city acquired a high status of a cultural and religious center. A vivid confirmation of this is the buildings erected in this period - the House of the Deer, the monastery and the church, Aqab Dzib, the Pali House, the Temple with three lintels and the Red House. After the Mayan civilization fell into decay, the reasons for which are still shrouded in a dense shadow of mysteries and secrets, cities like Chichen Itza were used for burials and some rituals.
City symbols
One of the most famous buildings that have survived in Chichen Itza is the pyramid of Kukulkan, often referred to by the locals as El Castillo. The height of the structure is 23 m. On the afternoon of the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, the sun illuminates the western balustrade of the main staircase in such a way that an image of 7 isosceles triangles placed in a special order is formed. Upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the figure created by the sun's rays most of all looks like a huge snake crawling towards its head. And to see this breathtaking sight, thousands of tourists come here annually on March 20 and September 21.
Another attraction, Huego de Pelota, is the largest Mayan playground ever. It should be noted that there are eight such structures in the city, but the Large Ball Field is much larger than them in size - its length is 135 meters. Particular attention is drawn to the paintings carved on the walls that enclose Huego de Pelota. They depict very violent scenes, and scholars believe that they are directly related either to the practice of sacrifice, or to the illustration of the game, which serves as a substitute for bloody war.
The fate of the city
After 1194, Chichen Itza was completely deserted, and numerous rumors and legends circulate around what caused the departure of the inhabitants of the city. It should be noted that the tough policy of the Spaniards, who ruled in America in the 11th century, assumed the execution of Mayan clergy, as well as the destruction of ancient books and manuscripts. Therefore, no more or less plausible information about the mysterious history of this ancient civilization has not reached our days.
Statue of Christ the Redeemer
The statue of Christ the Redeemer is installed on the top of Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro. The monument is a symbol of the city and Brazil. Every year millions of travelers and tourists come here to see with their own eyes the majestic statue of Christ, as if taking the whole modern world into his arms.
Construction of the monument
The history of the monument goes back to the 16th century, when Portuguese sailors dubbed the peak of Corcovado “the mountain of temptation”. In 1921 (a year before the anniversary of Brazil's independence), the well-known publication O Cruzeiro announced a fundraiser for the construction of the monument, resulting in more than 2 million flights.
The project of the statue of Christ the Redeemer was developed by Carlos Oswald. In 1927, the first models of the monument were constructed, and all the necessary calculations were performed by Costa Hisses. Pedro Viana and Heitor Levi took part in the construction of the monument, as well as the sculptor Paul Landowski, who modeled and made the plaster head and arms of the statue.
A whole army of engineers and technicians worked on the creation of the sculpture. It was decided to replace the steel frame of the monument with reinforced concrete, and the outer layer of the monument was made of soapstone specially imported to Rio de Janeiro from the Swedish Lymhamn mine.
Construction lasted about 9 years, and in 1931 the world saw the majestic statue of Christ the Redeemer, which for a long time had no equal in scale in the whole world. The height of the monument is 38 meters, and the weight of the entire structure, including the base, exceeds 1100 tons. The statue has a span of about 23 meters, and the head and arms of Christ the Redeemer weigh about 54 tons.
The majestic history of the statue of Christ the Redeemer
In 1965, the monument was consecrated by Pope Paul VI, and in 1981, on the 50th anniversary of the monument, John Paul II was present at the solemn holiday. The statue of Christ the Redeemer was restored three times - in 1980, 1990 and 2010. In 1932 and 2000, the statue's night lighting system was modernized, and today it stands out in a special way against the background of the starry sky at night.
It should be noted that the statue of Christ the Redeemer passed a violent storm in July 2008, which destroyed several nearby quarters of Rio. The monument was saved by the same soapstone, which acted as a dielectric and extinguished the lightning strikes on the surface of the statue. Today the monument is in excellent condition.
The statue of Christ the Redeemer took an honorable place in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and on July 7, 2007, at the initiative of the New Open World Corporation, it was included in the list of New Wonders of the World.
7 wonders of Russia: the greatness and beauty of the country
Everyone knows the Seven Wonders of the World. Scientists from all over the planet study their history, many scientific papers have been written about them, presentations, messages, reports, chapters in textbooks are devoted to them. Secrets and legends are associated with each of the unusual World Heritage sites of Russia and UNESCO, there are many facts and unconfirmed information. On June 12, 2008, the world learned that the 7 Wonders of Russia were made public - it was quite difficult to choose these objects from a huge number of ancient, mysterious, mystical and simply very beautiful places that abound in the corners of the country. The project, aimed at identifying the most beautiful places in Russia, was initiated by the Izvestia newspaper in collaboration with the Mayak radio station and the Rossiya TV channel in 2007. In 2008, as a result of a popular vote, the most iconic and amazing sights of the country were chosen - 7 Wonders of Russia.
The list of 7 wonders of Russia includes: 1. The weathering pillars of Man-Pupu-ner in the Komi Republic. 2. Peak Elbrus in Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria. 3. Lake Baikal in Buryatia. 4. Valley of Geysers on the Kamchatka Peninsula. 5. Mamaev Kurgan, Motherland monument. 6. Monument of palace and park art "Peterhof", St. Petersburg. 7. Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, Moscow.
Of the seven wonders of the world in Russia, 4 belong to the class of natural objects, three - to architectural monuments and park art.
Lake Baikal, Buryatia
In Buryatia, where Lake Baikal is located, it is called Baigal Dalai or Baigal Nuur. The deepest lake in the world is of tectonic origin and is a UNESCO protected site. Baikal, which is one of the 7 Wonders of Russia, is often called the sea - its dimensions are really impressive: the width is from 24 to 80 km, the length is 632 km. Interesting is the very form of the majestic and very beautiful reservoir - in the form of a crescent.
Interesting to know. The crystal purity of the waters of the "Father of Baikal", a member of the Great Seven of Wonders of Russia, is also unique - it is possible to see each pebble at a depth of 40 meters, and the minimum amount of mineral salts allows using Baikal water as distilled water.
The name "Father Baikal" was given to the object of the 7 Wonders of Russia because of an ancient legend. Baikal had 336 sons and only one daughter - Angara. Sons constantly replenished Baikal with their waters, and Angara gave its waters to the Yenisei, whom she fell in love with. The enraged Baikal cursed the daughter Angara, throwing the Shaman-stone rock into its source.
Valley of Geysers, Kamchatka Territory
The Valley of Geysers is hidden in one of the volcanic gorges of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve and can only be reached by helicopter. 250 kilometers on the way over the tundra, ridges, hills, taiga gullies and acid lakes - and a person finds himself in another world, filled with fountains of swirling vapors, light smells of sulfur and rain splashes, iridescent with all the colors of the rainbow. Walking along a hiking trail with wooden decks, you can observe 30 large geysers and many small springs throwing streams of boiling water tens of meters upward (+95 ° C). Hot mud pots have also survived. Due to the well-warmed soil, the slopes of the valley are overgrown with lush greenery of grasses and trees. The Geysernaya River flows along the bottom of the gorge, which never freezes.
Mamaev Kurgan and Motherland, Volgograd Region
During the Great Patriotic War, Mamayev Kurgan became the arena of bloody battles. The struggle for Mamayev Kurgan, marked on military topographic maps as "Height-102.0", lasted 135 days out of 200 days of the Battle of Stalingrad. In 1959 - 1967 a memorial complex was erected on this place - "To the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad". On a hill, in a mass grave, 34,505 soldiers found eternal peace. 200 granite steps lead from the foot to the top of the mound (according to the number of days of the battle). There is a statue "The Motherland Calls!" She is a figure of a woman 87 meters high with a raised sword in her hands. This is one of the tallest monuments in the world. (For comparison: the height of the Statue of Liberty in the United States is only 46 meters). The figure of a woman-mother is an allegorical symbol of the Motherland, calling on her sons to fight the enemy.
Peterhof, St. Petersburg
Founded in the 1710s by Emperor Peter I, Peterhof became a luxurious royal residence and a kind of triumphal monument symbolizing Russia's successful access to the Baltic Sea. A single ensemble combines palaces, alleys, graceful sculptures and greenhouses with outlandish plants. But the main pride of Peterhof is its fountains. 176 fountains and 4 cascades operate without a single pump. Hydraulic engineer V. Tuvolkov created a unique fountain water conduit: 20 km from here there are springs, from which water, due to the elevation difference, flows through canals and sluices into the pools, and from there rushes through underground pipes to the fountains and cascades of Peterhof.
St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow
St. Basil's Cathedral is the same symbol of Russia and Moscow, as the Eiffel Tower is for Paris and France, the Statue of Liberty is for the United States and New York, or the Taj Mahal is for India and Agra. St. Basil's Cathedral was built by Ivan the Terrible in 1555-1561 as a sign of victory over the Kazan Khanate. In the plan, the temple is an eight-pointed star: 8 churches symbolize 8 days falling on the days of the decisive battles for Kazan. They are grouped around the 9th, central church, which embodies the king's state idea of a united land. The name of the cathedral was given by the chapel, added in 1588 and consecrated in honor of St. Basil the Blessed.
Weathering pillars, Komi
The top of the Man-Pupu-ner mountain is crowned with outliers of bizarre shapes. These giant pillars ranging in height from 30 to 42 meters were created over 200 million years under the influence of water and wind. According to legend, the pillars were giants who wanted to destroy the local people - the Mansi. But as soon as their leader-shaman saw the sacred mountain - Man-Pupu-ner, he threw his tambourine in horror, and his companions turned into stone idols.
Elbrus, Caucasus
On the border of the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia is the two-headed Elbrus - the highest point of Russia. The height of the western peak of Elbrus is 5642 m, and the eastern one is 5621 m. The mountain is famous for its glaciers feeding mountain rivers, mineral springs stretching at the foot, and mesmerizing views. Few mountains of volcanic origin exceed Elbrus in height: for example, the highest peak in Africa - Kilimanjaro Volcano - is only 253 meters higher than the "Russian miracle".
Synopsis of the history of Russia lesson in grade 8. Domestic policy of Alexander I
Nowadays, it is customary to call a miracle of the world unique artistic and technical creations, which by their level of performance are admired by most specialists. But in fairness, this erroneous approach should be corrected - the wonders of the world include specific objects created by people in distant antiquity.
Below is a list of 7 wonders of the ancient world ...
1. Pyramids of Cheops (Giza)
The pyramid of Pharaoh Khufu (in the Greek version of Cheops), or the Great Pyramid, is the greatest of the Egyptian pyramids, the oldest of the seven wonders of the world of antiquity and the only one that has survived 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 distant suburb of Cairo Giza. Nearby are two more pyramids of the pharaohs Khafre and Menkaur (Khafren and Mikerin), according to ancient historians, the sons and successors of Khufu. These are the three largest pyramids in Egypt.
Following ancient authors, most modern historians consider pyramids to be burial structures of ancient Egyptian monarchs. Some scientists believe that these were astronomical observatories. There is no direct evidence that the pharaohs were buried in the pyramids, but other versions of their purpose are less convincing.
On the basis of 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 the construction time, 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 the theories of aliens visiting the Earth, the existence of ancient civilizations, or adherents of occult movements. They determine the age of the Cheops pyramid 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 it is nothing more than a figment of the imagination of an ancient chronicler, whose idea was picked up by his colleagues and began to diligently rewrite from chronicle to chronicle. They argue their assertion by the fact that the most thoroughly described the gardens of Semiramis are precisely those who have not seen them in the 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 did exist.
Naturally, they did not hang on ropes, but were a four-story building, built in the form of a pyramid with a huge amount of vegetation, and were part of the palace building. This unique building got its name from an incorrect translation 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. He built them specially for his wife Amitis, daughter of Cyaxar, king of Media (it was with him that the Babylonian ruler made an alliance against the common enemy, Assyria - and won a final victory over this state).
Amitis, who grew up among the mountains of the green and fertile Mussels, did not like the dusty and noisy Babylon, located on a sandy plain. The Babylonian ruler faced a choice - to move the capital closer to his wife's homeland or to make her stay in Babylon more comfortable. He decided to build hanging gardens that would remind the queen of her homeland. Where exactly they are located, 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 Hill, which is located on the Efrat River in the center of Iraq.
- An alternative version, based on re-deciphering the 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 fantastic at the time. Local architects and engineers of the ancient world were able to do this task - and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which were later included in the list of the seven wonders of the world, were built, became part of the palace and were located on its northeastern side.
They say that the statue of Zeus in Olympia turned out to be so majestic that when Phidias, having created it, asked his creation: "Are you satisfied, Zeus?" - thunder struck, 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 amaze the imagination. Both before and after the creation of the statue of Olympian Zeus, people did not create a monument of this scale - and it is not a fact that they will ever create it: 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 took a long time to create: 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 ranged from 12 to 17 meters. Zeus, naked to the waist, sat on the throne, his legs were on a bench 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 Greek celestials, the goddesses of victory danced on its legs, and the battles of the Greeks with the Amazons were captured on the crossbars, and, naturally, the Olympic Games were not without (Panen was engaged in painting). The Thunderer was made of ebony wood, and his entire body was covered with plates of the highest quality ivory. The master selected materials for his statue very meticulously.
On the head of the supreme god was a wreath, and in one hand he held the golden Nika, the goddess of Victory, in the other - a scepter decorated with an eagle, symbolizing the supreme power. The god's clothes were made of gold sheets (in total, it took about two hundred kilograms of gold to make the sculpture). The thunderer's cloak 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 antique sculptures that are in museums in 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, the Marquis D. Campana.
It 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 things before the sale, thus, 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 animals in the forest, herds of domestic animals, plants. Artemis provided a happy marriage and childbirth assistance.
In honor of Artemis, a temple was built in Ephesus on the site of the former sanctuary of the Carian goddess, also responsible for fertility. The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus was so large that it immediately fell into the list of the seven wonders of the world of the ancient world. Financing of the construction was covered by the Lydian king Croesus, the construction business was supervised by the architect from Knossos Harsifron. Under him, they managed to erect walls and columns. After his death, his son Metagen took over as chief architect. The last phase of construction was supervised by Peonith and Demetrius.
The construction of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was completed in 550 BC. A delightful sight opened up in front of the locals, something like this had never been built here. And although at the present time it is impossible to recreate the former decoration of the temple, you can be sure that the best masters of their time, employed here at work, could not fail. The very statue of the culprit of the building was made of ivory and gold.
It was possible to recreate the image of the former majestic temple of the goddess Artemis in Ephesus only after archaeological excavations. The temple measured 105 by 51 meters. The roof of the structure was supported by 127 columns, each 18 meters high. According to legend, each column was donated by one of 127 Greek rulers.
In addition to religious services, the temple was full of financial and business life. 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 by the Ephesian resident Herostratus. The motive for this feat is to remain in history in memory of posterity. After the arsonist was caught, the capital punishment awaited. In addition to it, it was also decided to eradicate the name of this person from history. But what is forbidden is even more firmly embedded 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 arrival of the Goths, it was again destroyed. Later, with the prohibition of 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 Voodoo manages to find the location of the former temple of Artemis in Turkey, and excavations begin. Now in its place is one column restored from the wreckage. Despite this, the place still attracts thousands of tourists.
5. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Fast forward to the ancient city of Halicarnassus. It was the capital of Caria and, as the capital of the state deserves, was famous for its beauty and grandeur. Temples, theaters, palaces, gardens, fountains, a living harbor guaranteed the city honor and respect. But special attention was paid to the tomb of King Mavsol, one of the seven wonders of the world in the ancient world. So, the wonder of the world is the mausoleum at Halicarnassus.
King Mausolus, who ruled 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 structure. Located in the center of the city, among palaces and temples, it symbolizes the power and wealth of the king. And to worship the deceased king, she must combine both a tomb and a temple. The best architects and sculptors were allocated for the construction - Pythias, Satyr, Leohar, Skopas, Briaxides, Timofey. After the death of the king, his wife, Queen Artemisia, approached the construction of an eternal monument to the great husband even more intensively.
The building was completed in 350 BC. Its external appearance combined several architectural styles of that time at once. The mausoleum had three levels with a total height of 46 meters. The first tier was a massive brick plinth faced with marble. Further on it was 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 there was a sculpture of King Mavsol and Artemisia in a chariot drawn by 4 horses. Statues of horsemen and lions were located around the building. The beauty of the building was mesmerizing, it was no coincidence that the mausoleum in Halicarnassus quickly entered the seven wonders of the ancient world.
The very tomb of Mavsol and his wife was located in the premises of the lower tier. An upper room with columns and a statue of Mausolus was built to worship the king. The statue has survived to this day, and fully reflects the image of the king-despot. The sculptor's facial features subtly conveyed the character of Mavsol - evil, cruel, capable of getting everything he needs. It was no coincidence that he was a very rich man. Next to the statue of Mavsol was a statue of Queen Artemisia. The sculptor embellished it, presented it in a stately, soft manner. The famous sculptor of that time Skopas worked on it. Both of these statues are now considered some of the finest in 4th century BC Greek culture. The upper part of the base of the mausoleum is also worth mentioning. The sculptors decorated it with scenes from the Greek epic - the battle with the Amazons, the hunt, the battle of the Lapiths with the centaurs.
Mausoleum - a word derived from the name of King Mavsol, is currently a common noun among all peoples.
After 18 centuries, the mausoleum was destroyed by an earthquake. Later, its ruins were used for the construction of the castle of St. Peter by the knights-John. When the Turks arrived, the castle became the Budrun fortress, now called Bodrum. Excavations were carried out here in 1857. Relief slabs, statues of Mavsol and Artemisia, and a statue of a chariot were found. They are currently on display at 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. The siege of the beautiful island lasted almost a year and the probability of victory was negligible, but the patron helped the islanders defeat. For this, Helios was immortalized in the guise of a huge statue. For the people of Rhodes, the statue personified independence and freedom, just like the Statue of Liberty in New York for the Americans.
The island of Rhodes had an advantageous 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 ruled in turn by the famous king Mavsol, the Persian rulers and Alexander the Great. None of them oppressed the city and did not interfere with its development. However, after the death of Alexander the Great, his heirs in a bloody struggle began to divide the inherited lands.
The island of Rhodes went to Ptolemy, but another heir (Antigonus) considered it unjust and sent his son to destroy the city. This would help equalize in power with 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 until the arrival of Ptolemy's army and to defend their homeland.
Having sold the siege engines and the surviving ships of the invaders, the inhabitants of Rhodes decided to erect a huge statue of the god Helios, their patron. Until that time, any statues were called colossus, but after the Colossus of Rhodes, only the largest of them began to be called so.
Construction of the Colossus began in 302 BC. and finished only after 12 years (according to other sources, after 20 years). The statue was erected on an artificial embankment blocking the entrance to the harbor. Behind this hill, for a long time, individual parts of the sculpture were hidden from prying eyes. The embankment with the statue turned into a kind of gateway 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 dubious. The stability of such a sculpture would be too small, and large ships would not be able to dock in the port.
The statue has not survived to this day, but numerous descriptions of contemporaries indicate 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 with a blazing fire. At the base there were three pillars that served as a support. The builders inlaid two of them 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 inhabitants wanted the statue to point with its hand 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 pillars. The space inside was filled with large stones and clay to increase stability. The free space was covered with earth so that workers could move freely over the surface and secure the following parts. In total, the manufacture of the Colossus took 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 was seen from ships sailing in the distance. According to the descriptions of contemporaries, she was a tall youth with a radiant crown on her 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 was striking in the size of its feet. Each of them was itself the size of a small statue. On an 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 or exactly where it was installed. At the end of the 20th century, huge boulders were discovered off the coast of the island of Rhodes, which resembled the fragments of a statue. However, the theory that these are elements of an ancient statue was not confirmed. But the researcher Ursula Vedder suggested that the Colossus was not at all near the coast, but on the hill of Monte Smith. The ruins of the Temple of Helios have been preserved here, and its foundation has a suitable platform on which the Colossus could rise.
7. Alexandria Lighthouse (Pharos)
Only one of the seven wonders of the ancient world had a practical purpose - the Alexandria lighthouse. It performed several functions at once: it allowed ships to approach the harbor without any problems, and the observation post, located at the top of the unique structure, made it possible to follow the water expanses and notice the enemy in time.
Locals claimed that the light of the Alexandria lighthouse 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 shrill 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 Pharos lighthouse seemed huge. Moreover, at the time of the completion of construction, it turned out to be the tallest building of the ancient world and was such for an extremely long time.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria was built on the east coast of the small island of Pharos, located near Alexandria, Egypt's main seaport, 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 he was at the intersection of both water and land routes of the three parts of the world - Africa, Europe and Asia. For the same reason, at least two harbors had to be built here: one for ships arriving from the 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, while paying special attention to their strengthening and protection: it was very important to do everything so that the waters of the Nile did not clog them with sand and silt (especially for this, a dam was subsequently built connecting the continent 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 a while the city fell 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 was significant. increased his wealth.
The Alexandria lighthouse made it possible for ships to sail into the port without any problems, successfully bypassing pitfalls, shallows and other obstacles of the bay. Thanks to this, after the erection of one of the seven wonders, the volume of trade of light increased dramatically.
The lighthouse also served as an additional reference point for sailors: the landscape of the Egyptian coast is quite diverse - mostly only lowlands and plains. Therefore, the signal lights at the entrance to the harbor were very useful.
A lower structure would have successfully coped with this role, so the engineers assigned another important function to the Alexandria lighthouse - the role of an observation post: the enemies usually attacked from the sea, since the country was well defended by the desert from the land side.
It was also necessary to establish such an observation post at the lighthouse because there were no natural heights near the city where this could be done.
The Alexandria lighthouse has served since 283 BC. until the 15th century, when a fortress was erected instead. Thus, he survived more than one dynasty of Egyptian rulers, saw Roman legionaries. This did not particularly affect his fate: whoever ruled Alexandria, everyone took care that the unique structure stood as long as possible - they restored the building parts that had collapsed due to frequent earthquakes, renewed 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 caused a tsunami that flooded part of the city, and the death toll of Egyptians, according to chroniclers, exceeded 50 thousand inhabitants.
After this event, the lighthouse significantly decreased in size, but it stood for quite a long time - until the XIV century, until the next strongest earthquake wiped it off the face of the earth (a hundred years later, the Sultan Kait-bey built a fortress on its foundation, which can be seen and these days). After that, the pyramids in Giza remained the only ancient wonder of the world that has survived to this day.
In the mid-90s. The remains of the Alexandria lighthouse were discovered at the bottom of the bay using a satellite, and after a while, scientists, using computer modeling, were able to more or less restore the image of a unique structure.
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