Since antiquity, the most outstanding structures built by man have been called wonders of the world. There were exactly seven of them, since seven was considered a sacred number, and the number of miracles had to correspond to it. The list of specific miracles changed over time, different ancient authors offered their options, starting with the “father of history” Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BC. Finally, this list was formed only in the time of Alexander the Great, that is, more than a century later.
The Pyramid of Cheops
Unfortunately, only one of the wonders of the world has survived to our time. This is the pyramid of Cheops, the largest of all the pyramids of Giza. The original height of this giant tomb was 146 meters. The average weight of the stone blocks from which the pyramid is built is 2.5 tons, but some large blocks weigh 80 tons. Cement was not used during the construction, the stone blocks were simply stacked on top of each other. The surface of the pyramid was lined with slabs of polished white limestone. This cladding has not been preserved. The Pyramid of Cheops is also the most ancient of the wonders of the world. Its builder, Pharaoh Cheops, lived in the XXVI century BC.
Gardens of Semiramis
The second wonder of the world was the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, also called the Gardens of Semiramis. Semiramis was considered the legendary founder of Babylon, but the gardens in it were built much later, in the VI century BC. They were created by King Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife Amitis. She was the daughter of King Kiaxar of Media and missed the garden-covered mountainsides of her homeland. Such a legend is cited by the Roman historian Josephus, in turn referring to the texts of the Babylonian scientist Berosus, who lived in the III century BC. These gardens were a four-storey structure, the height of each floor reached 25 m, and water for watering plants was delivered to the top by a system of water wheels.
Zeus on the throne
The third wonder of the world is a huge statue of Zeus by Phidias. In the Greek city of Olympia there was a marble temple, inside which Zeus, the king of the gods, sat on a throne. The ancient Greek writer of the II century BC Pausanias left a description of this wonder of the world: “The god sits on a golden throne, his figure is made of gold and ivory, on his head he has a wreath made of olive branches, on his right hand he holds the goddess of victory, also made of ivory and gold. She has a headband and a wreath on her head. In the left hand of the god is a scepter decorated with all kinds of metals. The bird sitting on the scepter is an eagle. God’s shoes and outerwear are also made of gold, and on the clothes there are images of various animals and lilies of the field.” The height of the seated Zeus reached 17 m. Visitors to the sanctuary had the impression that if he got up from the throne, he would break through the roof of the temple with his head.
Temple of Artemis
The fourth wonder of the world is the temple of Artemis of Ephesus. The customer of this temple was the legendary King Croesus, who hired the Knossos architect Harsifron. The height of the temple reached 18 meters, and the roof was supported by 127 columns. According to legend, 127 kings lived in Greece at that time, one for each policy. And each of them paid for the construction of a column in his honor. The temple was decorated with gilding and ivory and was striking in its beauty. In 356 BC, the temple of Artemis burned Herostratus to become famous. But soon it was restored and it stood until the IV century AD.
Mausoleum of Halicarnassus
The fifth wonder of the world was the Mausoleum in Halicarnassus. It was so named in honor of the ruler of Caria (Asia Minor), Mausolus. His wife Artemisia, after the death of Mausolus, built this huge building to preserve the memory of him. The Mausoleum had three tiers. The lowest one had a simple rectangular shape. The second one was a temple with columns. The entire structure was crowned by a pyramid of 24 steps, and at its top there was a sculpture of a chariot with a Mausoleum and Artemisia. The total height of the Mausoleum reached 45 meters.
The Colossus of Rhodes
The sixth miracle is the Colossus of Rhodes. This giant statue of Helios was located at the entrance to the port of Rhodes, located on the island of the same name. At first, the townspeople ordered a statue 10 times taller than a man, its height was supposed to reach 18 meters. But then it was decided that this was not enough, and the height of the statue was doubled. The statue was supported on an iron frame coated with clay. It was covered with bronze on top, glistening in the sun. The head of the statue of the Sun god was crowned with a crown of rays. There is evidence that at least 8 tons of iron were used for the frame, and another 13 tons of bronze for the cladding.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria
The last seventh wonder of the world was the Lighthouse of Alexandria. It was located on the island of Pharos near the Egyptian city of Alexandria. This lighthouse consisted of three levels. The lowest one was a technical one, where the maintenance staff and the lighthouse guards lived. The second level was an octagonal tower. There was a ramp inside it, along which fuel for the lighthouse was supplied to the top. The lighthouse itself was located on the third level. It was a playground with a brazier and a system of mirrors. Thanks to these mirrors, the lighthouse light was visible at night from a great distance. The total height of the entire structure, according to travelers, exceeded 160 meters, that is, it was higher than all other wonders of the world.