The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is an example of the exceptional popularity of inventions and structures. This is the best monument in history dedicated to the creative thought of the rulers, the unbridled imagination of architects and the craft of builders. The imagination of people over the millennia helps to recreate the missing elements of the cultural heritage, which received the common title of "Seven Wonders of the World". Legends of the creations of human hands that have disappeared from the face of the earth continue to excite the minds of new adventurers.
The Seven Ancient Wonders of the World
It is easier to understand the significance of the list of outstanding monuments for the ancient world if we draw analogies with modern ratings of the most popular sights and phenomena. The list of the seven wonders of the world can be considered the first and most famous travel booklet in history. But the meaning of this small list of the greatest monuments is much deeper. Unfortunately, the grandiose buildings have not been preserved. Time, catastrophes, natural disasters and wars did not spare the seven wonders of the world, or rather, 6 out of 7.
The history of one of the most famous lists of attractions begins in the distant past of world civilization. Perhaps the idea of traveling and visiting monuments on the land of North Africa, Persia, Babylon and Ancient Greece came from the great Alexander the Great, who conquered in the 4th century BC. e. much of the known world at the time. The grandiosity of the plan followed by the Cheops pyramid in Egypt did not escape the attention of the wise commander. By the joint efforts of travelers, conquerors, scientists, writers of antiquity and the Middle Ages, descriptions of the greatest monuments of antiquity were compiled. It is generally accepted that the historian of antiquity Herodotus worked on one of the first lists of world wonders 450 years before the onset of a new era. Peru, the outstanding scientist and poet of ancient Greece - Philo of Byzantium - owns the manuscript "On the Seven Wonders of the World", which appeared around 300 BC. e.
In ancient Greece, the number 7 was considered magical, so the number of attractions in the list remained unchanged for many centuries. The canonical seven wonders of the world - a list that has come down to modern times in a poem by the ancient Greek writer Antipater from Sidon. He wrote about the luxury of tombs, beautiful temple complexes, colossal monuments and hanging gardens.
Great Pyramids
By the Middle Ages, when the classic list of the Seven Wonders of the World, known in our time, was formed,the Egyptian pyramids erected on the western bank of the Nile were preserved on the planet and were available for inspection. The oldest monuments date back to the period from 2700 to 2550 BC. e. Of the ten pyramids at Giza, three are particularly striking in their size and grandeur of the construction work carried out.
Worthy of admiration is the good preservation of structures that have been experiencing for several millennia the withering heat of the day and the ringing cold of the night, when, in the words of the locals, “stones are crying” in the desert. Remarkable in engineering design and simple in form, the structures appeared thanks to the most accurate measurements, which were unheard of difficult for their time. In addition to complex calculations, for the construction it was necessary to deliver extremely heavy stone blocks from afar, to raise them to a great height.
Pyramid of Giza
The Great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt is considered the most famous wonder of the world. Pharaoh Khufu, who ruled from 2584-2561 BC. e., brought to life a grandiose plan to build his necropolis on the Giza plateau. 13 hectares of land were allotted to create a pyramid and a fence around the structure. The construction of the Great Pyramid is one of the earliest and most striking examples of the combination of human enthusiasm, fantasy and engineering. The construction of the necropolis can be called the most time-consuming historical project, given the lack of all the necessary tools and construction equipment in ancient Egypt.
The Pyramid of Cheops is distinguished by its massiveness, an abundance of internal halls, galleries, and chambers. In addition to this, for 3800 years shetopped the list of the highest artificial structures in the world (146.7 m per year of construction). There are many interpretations and explanations related to the shape and purpose of the great pyramid. When the rays of the all-consuming tropical sun glide along the edges of the structure, the thought of the ancient ruler of Egypt, who, like these rays, wanted to go to the divine luminary after his death, becomes clear.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon in Iraq
The beautiful gardens in the ancient city-state of Babylon were built by the great king Nebuchadnezzar II around 605 BC. e. Researchers of ancient manuscripts claim that the ancient ruler approved the magnificent landscape project at the request of one of his beloved wives, who longed for the trees and herbs of his native country. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon is the most mysterious of the wonders on the list. They are surrounded by myths and legends, the exact location of the structure has not been established, the remains of the buildings have not been found.
Some researchers of the ancient world doubt the existence of such a luxurious ancient park on a hill located south of modern Baghdad. Maybe the gardens are born from the fantasy of storytellers? Historians find very little accurate information, facts, documentary evidence in the annals of Babylon. But the ancient Greek poets claimed that the priests prepared the design of the hanging gardens and supervised their creation. Diodorus Siculus described multi-level gardens 22 m high, equipped with machines to raise water from the nearby river Euphrates.
Greek historian Strabo mentioned beautiful quadrangular gardens with arched vaults and stairs to lift people and water to the very top. Slaves planted trees and flowers on the 400 m2 slopes reinforced with bricks2, and a wonderful garden was protected from above by a roof. One can understand why contemporaries admired the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. In Iraq, in the arid land of ancient Mesopotamia, it is very difficult to create large, well-manicured green spaces. In historical chronicles, gardens are depicted as beautiful and luxurious. It was not easy to achieve such perfection, since this territory has received little rainfall since ancient times. The gardens were destroyed by several earthquakes two centuries after Nebuchadnezzar's reign.
Statue of Zeus at Olympia
Built around 430 BC, it did not last long. e. the temple for which the statue of Zeus was created by the sculptor Phidias. In Olympia, in Greece, a religious building dedicated to the supreme god was built for 10 years with donations from the population. The sanctuary was built of marble, reinforced with a massive colonnade of local shell rock. The outer surfaces of the walls were decorated with bas-reliefs, on which the sculptors recreated the myths about the 12 labors of Hercules - the mythical hero, the son of the supreme deity. The temple could be entered through huge bronze doors.
A significant part of the cult premises was occupied by a statue of Zeus. In Olympia, in Greece, the ancient Olympic Games were dedicated to this deity. The sculpture was not created simultaneously with the construction of the temple, but over time became the most grandioseand the most magnificent part of the temple complex. The statue of Zeus by Phidias rested on a wide pedestal, its height together with the base was approximately 15 m. The supreme god of Olympus sat on the throne, his cape was gilded, ivory was used in the decoration.
Fear for the safety of the statue forced the Greeks to move it to Constantinople, but the fire destroyed the wonderful creation. Although the monument has not been preserved, it remains on the list of the Seven Wonders of the World. The statue of Zeus is depicted in the paintings, there are models of it that accurately convey the depth of the sculptor's intention, glorifying the ancient deity. In our time, one can only imagine the true greatness of this monument, the attitude of the Greeks to God, whom they tirelessly extolled in their temples and dwellings.
Wonder of the World in Ephesus
The construction of the temple, dedicated to the Greek goddess of hunting and wildlife, was completed by 550 BC. e. The Ephesian miracle is often referred to as one of the most famous “long-term construction projects”: it took about 120 years to build it. Contemporaries might not have known that the religious building will be included in the list of "Seven Wonders of the World". The Temple of Artemis (Diana) at Ephesus was a beautiful marble building. The builders decorated it with slender columns, covered it with a wooden roof, on which they laid tiles. In this amazing building, contemporaries were struck by the harmonious combination of interior decoration with the exterior design of the entire building.
Temple built from magnificentmarble, was a favorite building from the list of miracles for Antipater of Sidon - the compiler of this famous list. Herostratus - a young Greek - burned the temple of Artemis at Ephesus (in Turkey). This event took place in the summer of 356 BC. e. The barbaric act was caused by a great desire to become famous through the ages, to achieve fame. The outraged townspeople sentenced Herostratus to death and forbade the mention of his name. The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus began to be gradually restored already under the Turkish rulers, but the ancient shrine was again destroyed, now by the Goths. The newly restored building was finally demolished in 401 by an angry mob of religious fanatics led by the Archbishop of Constantinople.
Colossus of Rhodes
One of the most recognizable ancient wonders is the Colossus of Rhodes in Greece. This grandiose monument owed its appearance to the ancient city-states that existed 2 centuries before the beginning of the new era. The population and rulers of Rhodes decided to perpetuate the memory of the victorious struggle against the One-Eyed Antigone, to celebrate the lifting of the siege. Fighting vehicles were melted down into a giant statue of the patron of Rhodes - the god Helios - 30 m high.
It is not exactly known when construction began, ancient authors give different dates in the sources. The historian of ancient times, Pliny, wrote several centuries later that the Colossus was built for 12 years. The task of casting a bronze statue of Helios - the god of the Sun - was received by Greek sculptors. The giant monument was erected on a cape, fortified with a system of stone blocks and ironrods.
The list of "Seven Wonders of the World" lost one attraction after a strong earthquake in Greece. The colossus could not resist the power of tremors and was destroyed just 56 years after its triumphant appearance in the bay of Rhodes. The fall of the statue was immediately commented on by the Delphic oracle. An ancient psychic said that the inhabitants of Rhodes angered the god Helios. The ruler of Egypt offered his help in restoring the monument, but he was refused.
The magnificent tomb at Halicarnassus
Giant white tomb was erected for the repose of the governor of one of the provinces of Persia - Mausolus - by order of his wife, who lived in Halicarnassus. This is the territory of the modern resort of Bodrum on the Aegean coast. The mausoleum at Halicarnassus in Turkey was built by Greek sculptors. The structure was tall and richly decorated inside and out. The tomb was crowned with a pyramid of 36 columns. Mavsol's wife spared no expense for the construction of the above-ground grave, her ashes also had to be in the magnificent mausoleum.
In the ancient world, the luxury of the tomb in Halicarnassus was appreciated. The architectural grandeur of the building and its aesthetic merits amazed not only Greek scientists and poets, but also the commander Antipater. There is a mention in historical chronicles that it was he who proposed to consider the building one of the wonders of the world. In the XV century, the tomb in Halicarnassus collapsed after another earthquake, and the stones were used for buildings in Bodrum. Now, when it comes to the colossal costs of burial, they recallKing Mausolus, who became a model of ostentatious we alth and luxury.
Pharos Lighthouse
The Lighthouse of Alexandria on the island of Pharos was one of the tallest among the ancient structures, and its base reached almost 400 m in length. It was the first lighthouse in history, during the construction of which many innovative technologies known at that time were used. The Greek architect Sostratus created the project by order of the ruler Ptolemy II in 304 BC. e. The warning system about the danger of entering the bay of Alexandria past the island of Pharos in the Mediterranean Sea was created in stages over more than 20 years. The lighthouse was supposed to warn about the underwater reefs of Pharos on which it was built.
The construction consisted of three oblong marble towers, their total height could be from 120 to 140 m. The last part was a cylinder, on its top a fire was burning. The inventors came up with a way to obtain directional solar reflection using mirrors that gave a signal during the day. At night, the lighthouse attendants traditionally made a fire. If there was no sun during the day, then the sailors were warned by a column of smoke. For several centuries, the structure was considered the tallest man-made structure.
Several earthquakes severely damaged the wonderful Lighthouse of Alexandria on Pharos. Sailors, soldiers, merchants and travelers needed it to be restored. The Arabs, having invaded Egypt, began to repair and brought the height of the structure to 30 m. At this, the construction work was completed, and in 1480 at the same place,The fort was built from the same building materials. The lighthouse on Pharos stood at sea for nearly 1,000 years.
List of wonders - heritage of world history and culture
Scientists believe that more complete and accurate lists of the wonders of the world could be stored in the Library of Alexandria - the world's most important collection of ancient manuscripts. The vault was badly damaged during the fire caused by the invasion of Alexandria by Julius Caesar. Nearly 500,000 books and scrolls were destroyed by the tongues of fire. A huge layer of cultural heritage, on which the paths that world history followed, has disappeared.
Seven wonders of the world - valuable monuments of ancient art and architecture. These are not only beautiful sights, but also complex construction and technical solutions. Each of the creations was unique, outstanding for its time. Ancient buildings and monuments were elevated to the rank of miracles by the most prominent scientists, creators, and rulers of the ancient world. There is little mention in various sources that some changes were made to the list, but its essence and name remained unchanged. The list necessarily included seven miracles, as has been customary since the time of Herodotus and Philo of Byzantium.
Of the amazing structures of the ancient world, only the pyramid of Cheops has survived to this day, the rest fell under the onslaught of barbarians or became victims of natural disasters. No one knows exactly what the six wonders of the world looked like. All images are the fruit of historical research, reconstructions, the imagination of historians and artists. Every generationbrings something of its own to the understanding of the cultural phenomenon called "seven wonders of the world." Each of these artifacts has its own website on the Internet. Solid scientific works are devoted to the study of man-made miracles.
The role of mythology in maintaining interest in the seven wonders of the world
For 2, 5 millennia, the ancient list of the main attractions of the Old World excites the minds of researchers, travelers, and ordinary people. All past centuries, the attitude to the seven wonders of the world was almost mystical. It is surprising that the ancient authors did not show much desire to expand the "top 7", to replace the retired sights in the list with new monuments.
Researchers of the ancient world claim that the attitude towards miracles from the famous list has always been respectful. It was believed that seven ancient architectural structures and monuments deservedly included in a short but capacious list. Each participant in this historical "hit parade" has become a national shrine, an object of worship and reverence.
The magic of the number 7 in ancient times was considered divine, irrational. The mythology and life of many peoples of the planet are associated with this number of elements in different spheres of life. For example, there are 7 days in a week. The explanation can be the structure of the solar system, or rather, how the celestial sphere was represented in ancient Greece. The Sun, Moon and five planets were visible to the naked eye. The ancient gods had the same names (Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus, Mercury).
Wonders of the World: New Version
What seven wonders of the world could compete with the wonderful structures that have disappeared from the face of the planet? Based on online voting, a list of other wonders of the world was created, which have been preserved, and you can admire them with your own eyes. The action was organized and held on the threshold of the third millennium by a non-profit organization. The initiators of this grandiose action put forward several good reasons that prompted them to start compiling various lists and codes of world attractions of the highest level:
- traditional ancient wonders were located only in that part of the Old World that was familiar and submissive to Hellenic culture;
- grand structures in a large part of Asia, in the New World and in other regions were not included in the list;
- selection for the list was made according to criteria depending on the ideas of the ancient Greeks about miraculous monuments;
- "Overboard" were natural phenomena, which sometimes surpass man-made miracles in their grandeur.
It was decided to determine the winners of the entire project separately among architectural and natural monuments. The results were also summed up twice: in 2007 and 2011. Residents of two hundred states took part in an online survey. Based on its results, “favorites” were selected - sights that are known to most of the inhabitants of the planet. We are talking about the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal in India, the construction of Machu Picchu in Peru in South America and other phenomena. But the UNESCO Committee reacted to this actiondeclaring that popular vote is not the method to be used to find miracles that can replace artifacts of world history and culture that have disappeared in antiquity.
