Seven Wonders Of the Ancient World

By Suparna Chakaraborthy

Friday, February 25, 2011, 10:18

The list of seven wonders of the world, has always been a great amusement for all of us, as it was an insight of all the unusual and unique natural and man made structures around the world. This list had been changed and a set of new seven wonders of the world was declared but was this kind of list also present in the ancient times? Research has proved that infact it did, in the ancient Greek.

A new research has now found out the list of 'The Seven Wonders Of The Ancient World'. Reportedly, the Greek took great marvel in rating any structure which was made. As the number seven has religious connotation in Greek culture that number was taken to rank the best creation. Thus, the 'Seven Wonders Of The Ancient World' was not listed at the same time. The creations were listed as and when they were created. There was actually no one list of the wonders. Their were different lists compiled by any Greek writers out of which Antipater of Sidon, and Philon of Byzantium, made the best list. The list which has been recognized was created in the 2nd century BC by Antipater of Sidon.

Lets look at The Seven Wonders Of the Ancient World -

1.Great Pyramid Of Giza – The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only surviving monument in the list of Seven Wonders Of the Ancient World. It is believed to be build by the Fourth dynasty Egyptian King Khufu. The Great Pyramid of Giza was constructed for over 20 years and for over 3,800 years remained the tallest man-made structure.

2.The Hanging Gardens Of Babylon – The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, believed to be build in the 600 BC was a marvelous creation build under the regime of King Nebuchadnezzar II. The Hanging Garden of Babylon, was not hanging in the sense of being suspended on nuts and bolts but was a garden created on something like a roof top. According to legends, the king has it build to entertain his wife Amyitis. The Hinging Garden of Babylon is believd to have been destroyed by an Earthquake and today nothing of it is left.

3.The Temple Of Arthemis – This temple was also known as the Temple of Diana and was build in 120 years under the supervision of Croesus of Lydia. The Antipater of Sidon, describes it as, " when I saw the house of Artemis that mounted to the clouds, those other marvels lost their brilliancy, and I said, 'Lo, apart from Olympus, the Sun never looked on aught (anything) so grand." (Antipater, Greek Anthology [IX.58]). The temple was destroyed by fire and today nothing of the original exists.

4.The Statue Of Zeus – The Statue Of Zeus in Olympis is taken to be one of the greatest wonders of the Ancient Greek. The Statue of Zeus was a 40 feet tall statue carved by classical sculptor Phidias. The statue was carved in ivory, covered in gold and seated on a cedar wood throne, with ivory, gold, ebony and other precious stones. On the right hand of the statue was the stature of Nike, The Goddess of Voctiry and on the left was a perched eagle. The towering statue was a wonder in itself. Some say that the stature has burned down and others believe that it was diminished with the temple itself.

5.The Mausoleun Of Maussollos – This was a tomb build by the king Mausolus between 353-350 BC at Halicarnassus. In the tomb lived the King along with his wife and sister. The tomb was designed by Greek classical architects Satyrus and Pythius. The tomb was 45 meters tall and the four side of the tomb was designed by the four classical sculptors of the time. The tomb was build to meet the kings aim of building a capital whose beauty and land will be the most difficult to capture. The beauty and galore of the fortress made it the definition of the word 'tomb'.

6.Colossus Of Rodes – The Cocossus of Rodes was build by Demetrius, the son of one of the potential successor of Nepolean, Antigonus I Monophthalmus. After he invaded Rodes with 40,000 soldiers and finally achieved victory after many attempts, Demetrius as a sign of victory created the Colossus Of Rodes. It is a 60 foot high sature of Zeus standing on a white marble pedestal near the Mandraki harbour. The structure was made in iron and bronze. It took 12 years to complete the statue and was destroyed in an Earthqake within 56 years.

7.Lighthouse Of Alexzandria – The Lighthouse of Alexzandria was build in the 3rd century BC and was the first lighthouse to be build for the purpose of port landmark. It was 115-35 meters tall and remained the tallest man-made building till several centuries. The was listed as the Seven Wonder Of The Ancient World, for the technology used in the construction. A mirror was placed in the apex of the structure to reflect sunlight ans at night fire was burnt.The roman coins stuck on the four side of the structure defined the impression of a statue of a Triton. It was destroyed by two Earthquakes in the 14th century.

The Seven Wonders Of The Ancient World, remain wonderous to the present generation as well, as they had been created at a time with minimum technology, availability to material and communication. Each of the structures mentioned above was a sign of spectacular expertise.