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 for the sake of justice, this erroneous approach should be corrected - the wonders of the world include specific objects created by people in distant antiquity.
The earliest information about the seven wonders of the world was found in the works of the ancient philosopher and scientist Herodotus. Five thousand years BC, Herodotus tried to classify these wonderful and mysterious objects. The work of Herodotus, in which he described in detail the unique architectural masterpieces of the ancient world, burned down in a fire in the Library of Alexandria, like many other unique manuscripts. Only individual records in the surviving manuscripts and fragments of structures related to the seven wonders of the world that have been found as a result of archaeological excavations have survived to this day.
In a small work of Philo of Byzantine, which has the title "On the Seven Wonders of the World", seven objects of antiquity are described on twelve pages. But the author wrote his work on the basis of the stories he heard of others, but he himself never saw them.
In Europe, they learned about the seven wonders of the world after the publication of the book "Outline on the history of architecture" In it, the author, Fischer von Erlach, meticulously described seven unique objects of antiquity.
In Russia, the very first mention of the seven wonders of the world was found in the works of Simeon of Polotsk, who in his records refers to a certain Byzantine source.
The list of the most famous monuments of the ancient world includes: the Egyptian pyramid at El-Giza, the statue of Olympian Zeus, the Pharos lighthouse, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes and the Temple of Artemis of Ephesus.
Today, of all the seven wonders of the ancient world listed above, only the Great Pyramid of Cheops, located in El Giza, has survived.
For about four thousand years, the Cheops pyramid was the tallest structure. It was designed and built as the tomb of the most famous pharaoh - Khufu (Cheops). The construction of the pyramid was completed in 2580 BC. Then, more pyramids were built here for the grandson and son of Cheops, as well as pyramids for the queens. But the great pyramid of Cheops is the largest of them. Archaeologists assume that the construction of this pyramid took about 20 years and at least one hundred thousand people participated in its construction. The construction required 2 million stone blocks, each weighing at least 2.5 tons. Workers used levers, blocks, and ramps to stack and fit each block without mortar. In its completed form, the pyramid was a stepped structure. Then the steps were covered with polished snow-white limestone blocks. The blocks fit so tightly together that you can't even stick a knife blade between them. The Great Pyramid has risen 147 meters high! The length of one side of the base of the Cheops pyramid is 230 meters. The pyramid covers an area larger than nine football fields. The ancient Egyptians believed that if the body of the pharaoh was preserved, then his spirit would live after death, so they mummified the body of the pharaoh Khufu and placed it in a burial chamber located in the center of the pyramid.so they mummified the body of Pharaoh Khufu and placed him in a burial chamber in the center of the pyramid.so they mummified the body of Pharaoh Khufu and placed him in a burial chamber in the center of the pyramid.
Promotional video:
In the sixth century BC. The New Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II ordered to build marvelous gardens for his wife Amitis. As a Median princess, she missed her homeland in dusty and noisy Babylon, which was famous for the scents of numerous gardens and green flowering hills. The king wanted not only to please Amitis, but also to create a masterpiece that could glorify him.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are considered the second wonder of the world. There are chronicles that describe the gardens of the Babylonian king in great detail. According to the records found, the gardens were built around 600 BC. Ancient Babylon was located on the banks of the Euphrates River, south of modern Baghdad. Despite the fact that the idea of creating blooming gardens and green hills among the arid Babylonian plains was considered a pipe fantasy, Nebuchadnezzar II's project came true.
The hanging gardens of Babylon were a four-tiered pyramid, the tiers of which were both terraces and balconies. The tiers were supported by powerful columns. Each of them was planted with unique plants (flowers, trees, grass and shrubs). Seeds and seedlings for gardens were brought from all over the world. Outwardly, the pyramid resembled a constantly blooming hill. A unique irrigation system was designed for the gardens. Around the clock, several hundred slaves turned bucket wheels to supply the plants with water.
The Babylonian Gardens were truly an oasis in hot and sultry Babylon. For some unknown reason, Queen Amitis began to be called by the name of the Assyrian queen - Semiramis, therefore the amazing gardens of Babylon were also called the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
In the 9th century BC, Alexander the Great was so conquered by the splendor of the gardens of Babylon that he placed his residence in a palace. He loved to relax in the shade of the gardens and remember his native Macedonia. When the city fell into decay, there was no one to supply water to the gardens, all the plants died, and numerous earthquakes finally destroyed the palace. Babylon disappeared along with one of the most beautiful objects of antiquity - the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was created at the initiative and funding of Alexander the Great. The interior decoration of the temple was magnificent: beautiful statues and stunning paintings created by the best artists and architects of that time. But the history of this temple began long before that. In 560 BC. King Croesus of Lydia (considered the richest ruler of that time) built a majestic temple in the city of Ephesus in honor of the moon goddess Artemis, who was considered the patroness of young girls and animals. The temple was built from local building materials - marble and limestone quarried in the nearby mountains. The main feature of the temple was the giant marble columns in the amount of 120 pieces. In the center of the temple stood a statue of the goddess Artemis. This temple was larger than the then famous Athenian temple of the Parthenon. It stood for two hundred years and in 356 BC. the temple was completely burned down. According to history, Herostat set it on fire, thus dreaming of becoming famous for centuries. An interesting coincidence - the temple was burned on the day Alexander the Great was born. Years passed. Alexander the Great visited Ephesus and ordered the restoration of the temple. The temple, built by Alexander, existed until the 3rd century AD. The city perished, the bay of Ephesus was covered with silt. The temple was plundered by the Goths, flooded with numerous floods. Today, on the site of the temple, you can see only a few blocks and one restored column. Alexander the Great visited Ephesus and ordered the restoration of the temple. The temple, built by Alexander, existed until the 3rd century AD. The city perished, the bay of Ephesus was covered with silt. The temple was plundered by the Goths, flooded with numerous floods. Today, on the site of the temple, you can see only a few blocks and one restored column. Alexander the Great visited Ephesus and ordered the restoration of the temple. The temple, built by Alexander, existed until the 3rd century AD. The city perished, the bay of Ephesus was covered with silt. The temple was plundered by the Goths, flooded with numerous floods. Today, on the site of the temple, you can see only a few blocks and one restored column.
Mavsol, the ruler of Caria, was able to achieve power and acquire significant wealth. Caria was then part of the Persian Empire, and the city of Halicarnassus became its capital. He decided to build a tomb for himself and his queen. But, as he dreamed, the tomb should be unusual - it should become a monument to his wealth and power. Mavsol himself did not live to see the completion of this magnificent facility, but his widow continued to lead the construction. The tomb was completed in 350 BC. and named it after the king's name - the Mausoleum. Later this name began to be given to the majestic and imposing tombs.
The mausoleum in Halicarnassus was a rectangle 75x66 meters in size, 46 meters high. The ashes of the reigning couple were kept in golden urns placed in the tomb of the Mausoleum. Several stone lions guarded this room. Above the tomb itself, a majestic temple towered, surrounded by statues and columns. A stepped pyramid was erected on top of the building. And the whole complex was crowned with a sculptural image of a chariot ruled by a reigning couple. After 18 centuries, a powerful earthquake destroyed the Mausoleum to its foundations. In 1489, the remains of the majestic tomb were used by Christian knights to build their castle. The tomb itself was mercilessly plundered by looters. Currently, parts of the foundation of the Mausoleum, reliefs and statues that were found during excavations are in the British Museum in London.
The fifth wonder of the ancient world is the statue of the Colossus of Rhodes. A giant statue stood in a port city on the island of Rhodes. The people of Rhodes considered themselves independent traders and tried not to interfere in other people's military conflicts, but they could not avoid the fact that they themselves were repeatedly conquered. In the IV century, the people of Rhodes managed to defend their city from the invasion of warlike Greeks. To commemorate this victory, they decided to build a statue of the sun god Helios. The exact location and type of the statue remained unknown to us, from the chronicles it follows only that it was made of bronze and reached a height of thirty-three meters. To make it stable, the hollow shell was filled with stones during construction. It was built for 12 years! In 280 BC. The colossus stood in full height over the bay of Rhodes. After 50 years, there was a strong earthquake, and the Colossus collapsed, breaking at the knee level. The local oracle demanded not to restore the statue. For 900 years, every visitor to Rhodes could look at the statue of the defeated god. In 654 A. D. the Syrian prince, who seized the island, removed all the bronze plates from the statue and took them to Syria.
In the III century BC. a lighthouse was built on the island of Foros, off the coast of the Bay of Alexandria, to help ships passing the reefs on their way to the port of Alexandria. The lighthouse was 117 meters high and consisted of three massive marble towers. At the top of one of the towers stood a statue of Zeus. At night, the lighthouse reflected flames, and during the day a column of smoke rose above it. The lighthouse required a large amount of fuel to operate. The tree was brought to the lighthouse by numerous mules and horses. Instead of mirrors directing light into the sea, bronze plates were used. The Foros lighthouse stood for 1500 years and was destroyed by an earthquake. The Muslims built their military fort on the wreckage of the lighthouse. This military facility still stands on the site of the Pharos lighthouse.
Three thousand years ago Olympia was the religious center of Greece. At that time, the most revered Greek deity was the king of the gods - Zeus. Festivities were held regularly, including sporting events. The first Olympic Games are believed to have been held in 776 BC. After that, for 1,100 years, competitions were held every four years. During the games, all wars were stopped to allow the participants to arrive at the competition site. The citizens of Olympia decided to build a magnificent temple in the city dedicated to Zeus. It took ten years to build it. The temple was supposed to contain a statue of Zeus. The sculptor Phidias and his assistants first created a wooden frame of the sculpture, then covered it with ivory plates, while the god's clothes were made of gold sheets. Despite the huge amount of detail,of which the sculpture consisted, it looked like a monolithic figure. Zeus sat majestically on a throne adorned with precious stones and inlaid with ebony. The statue reached a height of 13 meters, reaching the ceiling of the temple. For 800 years after its creation, the statue of Zeus at Olympia was the seventh wonder of the world. The Roman emperor Caligula wanted the statue to be moved to Rome. According to legend, when the workers sent by the emperor arrived, the statue burst into loud laughter, and the workers fled in fright. In 391 A. D. the Romans banned the Olympic Games and closed all Greek temples. A few years later, the statue of Zeus was transported to Constantinople. In 462 A. D. the palace where the statue was located burned down. The Temple at Olympia was destroyed by an earthquake. Humanity has lost one of its wonders - the statue of Zeus at Olympia.she looked like a monolithic figure. Zeus sat majestically on a throne adorned with precious stones and inlaid with ebony. The statue reached a height of 13 meters, reaching the ceiling of the temple. For 800 years after its creation, the statue of Zeus at Olympia was the seventh wonder of the world. The Roman emperor Caligula wanted the statue to be moved to Rome. According to legend, when the workers sent by the emperor arrived, the statue burst into loud laughter, and the workers fled in fright. In 391 A. D. the Romans banned the Olympic Games and closed all Greek temples. A few years later, the statue of Zeus was transported to Constantinople. In 462 A. D. the palace where the statue was located burned down. The Temple at Olympia was destroyed by an earthquake. Humanity has lost one of its wonders - the statue of Zeus at Olympia.she looked like a monolithic figure. Zeus sat majestically on a throne adorned with precious stones and inlaid with ebony. The statue reached a height of 13 meters, reaching the ceiling of the temple. For 800 years after its creation, the statue of Zeus at Olympia was the seventh wonder of the world. The Roman emperor Caligula wanted the statue to be moved to Rome. According to legend, when the workers sent by the emperor arrived, the statue burst into loud laughter, and the workers fled in fright. In 391 A. D. the Romans banned the Olympic Games and closed all Greek temples. A few years later, the statue of Zeus was transported to Constantinople. In 462 A. D. the palace where the statue was located burned down. The Temple at Olympia was destroyed by an earthquake. Humanity has lost one of its wonders - the statue of Zeus at Olympia. Zeus sat majestically on a throne adorned with precious stones and inlaid with ebony. The statue reached a height of 13 meters, reaching the ceiling of the temple. For 800 years after its creation, the statue of Zeus at Olympia was the seventh wonder of the world. The Roman emperor Caligula wanted the statue to be moved to Rome. According to legend, when the workers sent by the emperor arrived, the statue burst into loud laughter, and the workers fled in fright. In 391 A. D. the Romans banned the Olympic Games and closed all Greek temples. A few years later, the statue of Zeus was transported to Constantinople. In 462 A. D. the palace where the statue was located burned down. The Temple at Olympia was destroyed by an earthquake. Humanity has lost one of its wonders - the statue of Zeus at Olympia. Zeus sat majestically on a throne adorned with precious stones and inlaid with ebony. The statue reached a height of 13 meters, reaching the ceiling of the temple. For 800 years after its creation, the statue of Zeus at Olympia was the seventh wonder of the world. The Roman emperor Caligula wanted the statue to be moved to Rome. According to legend, when the workers sent by the emperor arrived, the statue burst into loud laughter, and the workers fled in fright. In 391 A. D. the Romans banned the Olympic Games and closed all Greek temples. A few years later, the statue of Zeus was transported to Constantinople. In 462 A. D. the palace where the statue was located burned down. The Temple at Olympia was destroyed by an earthquake. Humanity has lost one of its wonders - the statue of Zeus at Olympia. The statue reached a height of 13 meters, reaching the ceiling of the temple. For 800 years after its creation, the statue of Zeus at Olympia was the seventh wonder of the world. The Roman emperor Caligula wanted the statue to be moved to Rome. According to legend, when the workers sent by the emperor arrived, the statue burst into loud laughter, and the workers fled in fright. In 391 A. D. the Romans banned the Olympic Games and closed all Greek temples. A few years later, the statue of Zeus was transported to Constantinople. In 462 A. D. the palace where the statue was located burned down. The Temple at Olympia was destroyed by an earthquake. Humanity has lost one of its wonders - the statue of Zeus at Olympia. The statue reached a height of 13 meters, reaching the ceiling of the temple. For 800 years after its creation, the statue of Zeus at Olympia was the seventh wonder of the world. The Roman emperor Caligula wanted the statue to be moved to Rome. According to legend, when the workers sent by the emperor arrived, the statue burst into loud laughter, and the workers fled in fright. In 391 A. D. the Romans banned the Olympic Games and closed all Greek temples. A few years later, the statue of Zeus was transported to Constantinople. In 462 A. D. the palace where the statue was located burned down. The Temple at Olympia was destroyed by an earthquake. Humanity has lost one of its wonders - the statue of Zeus at Olympia.to move the statue to Rome. According to legend, when the workers sent by the emperor arrived, the statue burst into loud laughter, and the workers fled in fright. In 391 A. D. the Romans banned the Olympic Games and closed all Greek temples. A few years later, the statue of Zeus was transported to Constantinople. In 462 A. D. the palace where the statue was located burned down. The Temple at Olympia was destroyed by an earthquake. Humanity has lost one of its wonders - the statue of Zeus at Olympia.to move the statue to Rome. According to legend, when the workers sent by the emperor arrived, the statue burst into loud laughter, and the workers fled in fright. In 391 A. D. the Romans banned the Olympic Games and closed all Greek temples. A few years later, the statue of Zeus was transported to Constantinople. In 462 A. D. the palace where the statue was located burned down. The Temple at Olympia was destroyed by an earthquake. Humanity has lost one of its wonders - the statue of Zeus at Olympia. Humanity has lost one of its wonders - the statue of Zeus at Olympia. Humanity has lost one of its wonders - the statue of Zeus at Olympia.
It remains to be hoped that someday world technologies will reach such a level that they will be able to recreate the seven wonders of the ancient world. And this will truly be a tribute to the memory of generations of talented architects of antiquity, who created masterpieces of architecture that have no equal in the modern world.