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Pyramid
of Khufu
Egypt
Why this ancient Seven Wonders pyramid is special?
The pyramid of Khufu (Cheops in Greek) is the largest, oldest and only true surviving member of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was built in the 26th century BC.
Hanging Gardens
of Babylon
Iraq
Why these ancient Seven Wonders gardens were special?
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are the most controversial of all the Seven Wonders because some archeologists doubt they ever existed. After exploring the ruins firsthand and reading extensively, I believe they did exist, but on a less grand scale than widely thought.
Why were the Hanging Gardens of Babylon built?
The most popular account is that King Nebuchadnezzar II (of biblical fame) constructed this wonder in the 6th century BC to please his wife. Babylon's flat desert-like landscape made her homesick for the verdant mountains of Media where she was reared. So, the king built an artificial, terraced hill lushly cultivated with trees and flowering plants.
Others say that a powerful Assyrian queen built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon for her own pleasure. Others believe it was conceived much earlier by an Assyrian king. Yet other experts go so far as to think that the Hanging Gardens existed in Nineveh, not Babylon.
Temple of Artemis
at Ephesus
Turkey
Why this ancient Seven Wonders temple was special?
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was one of the most elegant buildings of ancient times. It boasted over 100 graceful marble columns, each measuring more than 15 meters (50 feet) in height. The structure covered an area several times larger than does the Acropolis in Athens.
History in brief
The Temple of Artemis literally had its ups and downs over the centuries. It was erected around 600 BC and burned down in about 550 AD. It was then rebuilt into a bigger and more magnificent version.
The Temple of Artemis was destroyed again in 336 BC, this time by an arsonist named Herostratus who wanted to immortalize his name (2300 years later it appears he succeeded).The temple was again rebuilt, even bigger and better than before. Except for its lumber-supported roof covered with glazed terra cotta tiles, the new Temple of Artemis was made almost exclusively of marble (a first in its day). Inside, the temple was richly decorated with sculptures and other artworks created by leading artists. It more or less survived intact until the invading Goths severely damaged it in 262 AD. Sadly, the Temple of Artemis was never rebuilt again. What remained slowly disintegrated with the help of earthquakes. By the 5th Century AD, most of the marble had been salvaged for local building needs.
When I explored the Temple of Artemis site 15 centuries later, all that remained was one reconstructed column (of uncertain origin) and a marshy field strewn with large chunks of marble (that or may not have belonged to the Temple of Artemis.
Statue of Zeus
at Olympia
Greece
Why this ancient Seven Wonders statue was special?
The statue of the Greek god Zeus at Olympia was one of the world's greatest statues. It was created in about 450 BC by the renowned Greek sculptor Phidias, the same artist who created the famed statue of the goddess Athena for the Parthenon in Athens.Zeus's seated figure (see picture) was 12 meters (50 feet) high. His body was ivory and his robe, hair and beard, gold. The throne was cedar inlaid with precious jewels. Zeus's outstretched right hand held a small statue of Nike, the goddess of victory.The statue's head nearly scraped the ceiling of the Temple of Zeus. Phidias wanted to emphasize Zeus's mightiness.
Mausoleum
at Halicarnassus
Turkey
Why this ancient Seven Wonders tomb was special?
The 4th century BC Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was not only imposing, it was ornately decorated (see picture) with columns and statues. Its step-pyramid roof was crowned with a large dramatic sculpture of four horses pulling a chariot carrying the King Mausolus and his Queen Artemisia. The marble tomb was as high as a modern 14 story building and, from its strategic hillside location, overlooked Halicarnassus and its bay. Queen Artemisia commissioned the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus in 353 BC for her husband. In tribute to her husband, she spared little expense in hiring some of the best craftsman and sculptors of her day.
Colossus
of Rhodes
Greece
Why this ancient Seven Wonders statue was special?
The Colossus of Rhodes statue with its pedestal was as tall as a modern 15-story building. This was an amazing architectural feat when this structure was built on the island of Rhodes around 280 BC.
Lighthouse
of Alexandria
Egypt
Why this ancient Seven Wonders structure was special?
The Lighthouse of Alexandria is one of the greatest architectural feats of antiquity. It was at least as tall as a 40 story modern building and stood for over 16 centuries
of Khufu
Egypt
Why this ancient Seven Wonders pyramid is special?
The pyramid of Khufu (Cheops in Greek) is the largest, oldest and only true surviving member of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was built in the 26th century BC.
Hanging Gardens
of Babylon
Iraq
Why these ancient Seven Wonders gardens were special?
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are the most controversial of all the Seven Wonders because some archeologists doubt they ever existed. After exploring the ruins firsthand and reading extensively, I believe they did exist, but on a less grand scale than widely thought.
Why were the Hanging Gardens of Babylon built?
The most popular account is that King Nebuchadnezzar II (of biblical fame) constructed this wonder in the 6th century BC to please his wife. Babylon's flat desert-like landscape made her homesick for the verdant mountains of Media where she was reared. So, the king built an artificial, terraced hill lushly cultivated with trees and flowering plants.
Others say that a powerful Assyrian queen built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon for her own pleasure. Others believe it was conceived much earlier by an Assyrian king. Yet other experts go so far as to think that the Hanging Gardens existed in Nineveh, not Babylon.
Temple of Artemis
at Ephesus
Turkey
Why this ancient Seven Wonders temple was special?
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was one of the most elegant buildings of ancient times. It boasted over 100 graceful marble columns, each measuring more than 15 meters (50 feet) in height. The structure covered an area several times larger than does the Acropolis in Athens.
History in brief
The Temple of Artemis literally had its ups and downs over the centuries. It was erected around 600 BC and burned down in about 550 AD. It was then rebuilt into a bigger and more magnificent version.
The Temple of Artemis was destroyed again in 336 BC, this time by an arsonist named Herostratus who wanted to immortalize his name (2300 years later it appears he succeeded).The temple was again rebuilt, even bigger and better than before. Except for its lumber-supported roof covered with glazed terra cotta tiles, the new Temple of Artemis was made almost exclusively of marble (a first in its day). Inside, the temple was richly decorated with sculptures and other artworks created by leading artists. It more or less survived intact until the invading Goths severely damaged it in 262 AD. Sadly, the Temple of Artemis was never rebuilt again. What remained slowly disintegrated with the help of earthquakes. By the 5th Century AD, most of the marble had been salvaged for local building needs.
When I explored the Temple of Artemis site 15 centuries later, all that remained was one reconstructed column (of uncertain origin) and a marshy field strewn with large chunks of marble (that or may not have belonged to the Temple of Artemis.
Statue of Zeus
at Olympia
Greece
Why this ancient Seven Wonders statue was special?
The statue of the Greek god Zeus at Olympia was one of the world's greatest statues. It was created in about 450 BC by the renowned Greek sculptor Phidias, the same artist who created the famed statue of the goddess Athena for the Parthenon in Athens.Zeus's seated figure (see picture) was 12 meters (50 feet) high. His body was ivory and his robe, hair and beard, gold. The throne was cedar inlaid with precious jewels. Zeus's outstretched right hand held a small statue of Nike, the goddess of victory.The statue's head nearly scraped the ceiling of the Temple of Zeus. Phidias wanted to emphasize Zeus's mightiness.
Mausoleum
at Halicarnassus
Turkey
Why this ancient Seven Wonders tomb was special?
The 4th century BC Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was not only imposing, it was ornately decorated (see picture) with columns and statues. Its step-pyramid roof was crowned with a large dramatic sculpture of four horses pulling a chariot carrying the King Mausolus and his Queen Artemisia. The marble tomb was as high as a modern 14 story building and, from its strategic hillside location, overlooked Halicarnassus and its bay. Queen Artemisia commissioned the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus in 353 BC for her husband. In tribute to her husband, she spared little expense in hiring some of the best craftsman and sculptors of her day.
Colossus
of Rhodes
Greece
Why this ancient Seven Wonders statue was special?
The Colossus of Rhodes statue with its pedestal was as tall as a modern 15-story building. This was an amazing architectural feat when this structure was built on the island of Rhodes around 280 BC.
Lighthouse
of Alexandria
Egypt
Why this ancient Seven Wonders structure was special?
The Lighthouse of Alexandria is one of the greatest architectural feats of antiquity. It was at least as tall as a 40 story modern building and stood for over 16 centuries
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