Perhaps everyone has heard about the seven wonders of the world. It includes architectural landmarks that were created at different times and really amazed the world. Few of these amazing structures have survived to our time. And although all seven wonders of the world are widely known, there are many little-known facts associated with them.
1. List of "miracles"
The list of "wonders" was originally designed to showcase the world's most impressive landmarks and structures. While many such lists have existed over the years, the original was known as the "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World." These seven wonders were based on the travel guides used by Greek travelers.
2. Geographic restrictions
All seven wonders were located around the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia (due to the limited distances people could travel during those times). These include the Colossus of Rhodes, the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, and the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.
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3. Sun, Moon and five planets
The number “seven” was probably chosen because the Greeks believed it to represent perfection. However, some scientists have suggested that number seven also reflects the fact that there were 5 known planets at that time, and if you add the Sun and Moon to them, you get seven.
4. Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The existence of one of the seven ancient wonders is in question. Since the Hanging Gardens in Babylon would be very difficult to irrigate, and there is no direct mention of them in ancient literature, many modern scholars consider the stories about this beautiful place to be just fiction.
5. Great Pyramid of Giza
The only ancient wonder that still exists today is the Great Pyramid of Giza. It is also known as the Cheops Pyramid.
6. Taj Mahal
The second most famous list of wonders includes those created in the Middle Ages. Unlike ancient miracles, today there is no consensus as to what to place on this list. The most common medieval wonders are the Kom el-Shukafa catacombs, the Colosseum, the Great Wall of China, Hagia Sophia, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Porcelain Tower in Nanjing, and Stonehenge. Also, sometimes they include the Cairo Citadel, Cluny Abbey, Eli Cathedral and the Taj Mahal.
7. Originally from the 19th century
However, it is unlikely that these lists actually originated in the Middle Ages, since the concept of "medieval world" only appeared during the Enlightenment, and the concept of the Middle Ages did not become popular until the 16th century. It is believed that most of the "medieval" lists were created by writers in the 19th and 20th centuries.
8. "7 Wonders" by ASCE
There are also modern lists of "miracles". One of the most popular of these was compiled by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1994. It included "the greatest civil engineering achievements of the 20th century" such as the Eurotunnel, CN Tower, Empire State Building, Golden Gate Bridge, Itaipu Dam, Delta and Zuidersee Projects, and Panama channel.
9. CNN's 7 Wonders
To make things even more confusing, CNN's list of Seven Natural Wonders of the World is as follows: Aurora Borealis, Grand Canyon, Great Barrier Reef, Rio de Janeiro Harbor, Mount Everest, Paricutin Volcano, and Victoria Falls.
10. Global survey "New7Wonders of Nature"
New7Wonders of Nature is a 2007-2011 project to compile a list of 7 natural wonders from a global survey. Those who want to see them all should go to all of the following places: Iguazu Falls, Hulong Bay, Jeju Islands, Puerto Princesa Underground River, Table Mountain, Komodo Island and the Amazon Rainforest.
11. "7 Wonders" from CEDAM International
In 1989, the diving organization CEDAM International published its list of "Seven Wonders of the Underwater World". It includes Palau reefs, Belize Barrier Reef, Great Barrier Reef, deep sea cracks, Galapagos Islands, Lake Baikal, Red Sea.
12. "7 Wonders" by Deborah Cadbury
Seven Wonders of the Industrial World is a popular book by British writer Deborah Cadbury. The list became the standard for engineering achievement in the 19th and 20th centuries. It includes the steamboat Great Eastern, Bell Rock Lighthouse, Brooklyn Bridge, London Sewer System, First Transcontinental Railroad, Panama Canal and Hoover Dam.
13. "7 Wonders" from the magazine "Astronomy"
In 1999, Astronomy magazine decided that it should not be limited only to the Earth and presented a list of "Seven Wonders of the Solar System." The list included Saturn's moon Enceladus, Jupiter's Great Red Spot, the asteroid belt, the surface of the Sun, Earth's oceans, Saturn's rings, and Mount Olympus on Mars.
14. The eighth wonder of the world
Interestingly, miracles can even be human. Wrestler Andre the Giant was often touted as the eighth wonder of the world due to his enormous height of 224 cm and a weight of 240 kg.
15. "7 Wonders" from Uncle Scrooge
As you can easily see, the list of miracles can be quite controversial. Some lists even have people or concepts. Even fictional characters such as King Kong were advertised "come see the eighth wonder of the world."