Seven wonders of the world: the pyramid of Cheops, the Hanging Gardens of Semiramis, the statue of Zeus in Olympia, the temple of Artemis, the mausoleum in Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Alexandria lighthouse

The seven wonders of the ancient world are an example of the extraordinary popularity of inventions and structures. This is the best monument in history, dedicated to the creative thought of rulers, the rampant imagination of architects and craft builders. The imagination of people for thousands of years helps to recreate the missing elements of 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 stir the minds of new adventurers.

Seven ancient wonders of the world

To understand the importance for the ancient world of the list of outstanding monuments is easier, if we draw analogies with modern ratings of the most popular sights and phenomena. The list of seven wonders of the world can be considered the first and most famous in the history of the tourist booklet. But the significance of this small list of the greatest monuments is much deeper. Unfortunately, the grandiose buildings were not preserved. Time, catastrophes, natural elements 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 the world civilization. Perhaps the idea of traveling and exploring monuments on the land of North Africa, Persia, Babylon and Ancient Greece arose from the great Alexander of Macedon, conquered in the IV century BC. E. A significant part of the then known world. From the attention of a wise general did not escape the grandiosity of the plan, which follows the pyramid of Cheops in Egypt. Together, travelers, conquerors, scientists, writers of antiquity and the Middle Ages compiled descriptions of the greatest monuments of antiquity. It is considered that one of the first lists of world miracles worked historian of antiquity Herodot 450 years before the onset of the 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 about 300 BC. E.

In ancient Greece, the number 7 was considered magical, so the number of places on the list remained unchanged for many centuries. The canonical seven wonders of the world is a list that reached the modern era in the poem of the ancient Greek writer Antipater of 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 "Seven Wonders of the World" classic list was formed, the Egyptian pyramids built on the west 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 in Giza, three are particularly struck by their size and grandeur of the construction work.

It is worthy of admiration for the good safety of structures that have been drying up for several millennia with the heat of the day and the ringing night chill, when in the desert, according to the expression of the locals, "the stones are crying". Wonderful in terms of engineering design and simple in form design appeared due to the most accurate measurements, which were unheard of for their time. In addition to complex calculations, for construction it was necessary to deliver extremely heavy stone blocks from a distance, raise them to a high altitude.

The pyramid in Giza

The Great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt is considered the most famous miracle of the world. Pharaoh Khufu, who ruled in 2584-2561 BC. E., Implemented a grandiose plan for the construction of his necropolis on the Giza plateau. To create a pyramid and a fence around the structure, 13 hectares of land were allotted. The construction of the Great Pyramid is one of the earliest and vivid examples of a combination of human enthusiasm, fantasy and engineering calculation. The erection of the necropolis can also be called the most laborious historical project, given the lack of all the necessary tools and construction equipment in ancient Egypt.

The pyramid of Cheops is massive, full of inner halls, galleries, chambers. In addition to this, for 3800 years she headed 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 form and purpose of the great pyramid. When the rays of the all-absorbing tropical sun slip along the facets of the building, the thought of the ancient ruler of Egypt, like the rays, to go to the divine light after his death, becomes understandable.

The Hanging Gardens of Semiramis in Iraq

Beautiful gardens in the ancient city-state of Babylon were built by the great king Nebuchadnezzar II about the year 605 BC. E. Researchers of ancient manuscripts claim that the ancient ruler approved a magnificent landscape project at the request of one of his favorite wives, yearning for the trees and grass of his native country. Hanging gardens of the Semiramis are the most mysterious of the miracles in the list. They are surrounded by myths and legends, the exact location of the structure is not established, the remains of the buildings have not been found.

Some researchers of the ancient world doubt the existence of such a magnificent ancient park on an elevation, located south of modern Baghdad. Maybe the gardens are created by the fantasy of storytellers? Historians find very little accurate information, facts, documentary confirmation in the chronicles of Babylon. But the ancient Greek poets claimed that the priests prepared a draft of hanging gardens, directed their creation. Diodorus of Sicily described multilevel gardens 22 meters high, equipped with machines for lifting water from the nearest river Euphrates.

The Greek historian Strabo mentioned beautiful quadrangular gardens with arched vaults and stairs to lift people and water to the very top. On slabs fortified by brick with an area of 400 m ² slaves planted trees and flowers, from above a wonderful garden was protected by a roof. One can understand why contemporaries were admired by the Hanging Gardens of Semiramis. In Iraq, in the arid land of ancient Mesopotamia, it is very difficult to create large, well-groomed green spaces around the area. In historical chronicles, the gardens are beautiful and luxurious. It was not easy to achieve such perfection, this territory has received little rainfall since ancient times. The gardens were destroyed as a result of several earthquakes that occurred two centuries after the reign of Nebuchadnezzar.

Statue of Zeus at Olympia

Not long existed erected around 430-ies BC. E. A temple for which the statue of Zeus was created by the sculptor Fidium. 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 erected from marble, reinforced with a massive colonnade of local coquina. The exterior surfaces of the walls were decorated with bas-reliefs, on which the sculptors reconstructed the myths about the 12 exploits of Hercules - the mythical hero, the son of the supreme deity. The temple could be reached by passing through the huge bronze doors.

A significant part of the cult room was occupied by a statue of Zeus. In Olympia, in Greece, this deity was dedicated to the ancient Olympic Games. The sculpture was created not simultaneously with the construction of the temple, but eventually became the most grandiose and most magnificent part of the temple complex. The statue of Zeus's work of Phidias rested on a wide pedestal, its height along with the base was about 15 m. The supreme god of Olympus sat on the throne, his cloak was gilded, and ivory was used in the decoration.

Fear for the safety of the statue forced the Greeks to transport it to Constantinople, but the fire destroyed a wonderful creation. Although the monument is not preserved, it remains on the list of "Seven Wonders of the World". The statue of Zeus is depicted in the pictures, there are her models that accurately convey the depth of the sculptor's intention, glorifying the ancient deity. In our time, one can only imagine the true grandeur of this monument, the attitude of the Greeks towards God, which they relentlessly extolled in their temples and dwellings.

Miracle of Light in Ephesus

The construction of the temple, dedicated to the Greek goddess of hunting and wildlife, was completed by 550 BC. E. Ephesian miracle is often attributed to one of the most famous "long-term": it took about 120 years to erect it. Contemporaries might not even know that the cult building will be included in the list of "Seven Wonders of the World". The Temple of Artemis (Diana) in Ephesus was a beautiful marble building. The builders decorated it with slender columns, covered with a wooden roof, on which tiles were laid. In this amazing construction of contemporaries, a harmonious combination of the interior decoration with the exterior decoration of the whole building was striking.

The temple, built of magnificent marble, was a favorite building from the list of wonders for Antipater from Sidon - the compiler of this famous list. Herostratus - a young Greek - burned the temple of Artemis in Ephesus (in Turkey). There was this event in the summer of 356 BC. E. The barbarous act was caused by a great desire to become famous in the centuries, to achieve fame. Outrageous townspeople sentenced Herostratus to death and banned the mention of his name. The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus began to be restored gradually under the Turkish rulers, but the ancient shrine was again destroyed, now by the Goths. The newly restored structure was completely demolished in 401 by an angry mob of religious fanatics led by the Archbishop of Constantinople.

Rhodes Colossus

One of the most recognizable ancient wonders is the Colossus of Rhodes in Greece. By its appearance this grand monument was due to the ancient city-states that existed for 2 centuries before the beginning of a new era. The population and rulers of Rhodes decided to perpetuate the memory of the victorious fight with One-Eyed Antigone, to celebrate the lifting of the siege. The fighting vehicles were melted into a giant statue of the patron saint of Rhodes, the god of Helios, 30 meters high.

It is not known exactly when construction began, in ancient sources the authors give different dates. The historian of ancient times Pliny several centuries later wrote that the Colossus was built for 12 years. The task to cast a bronze statue of Helios - the sun god - was given to the Greek sculptors. A giant monument was erected on the cape, reinforced by a system of stone blocks and iron rods.

The list of "Seven Wonders of the World" lost one sight after a strong earthquake in Greece. The Colossus could not resist the power of the tremors and was destroyed only 56 years after its triumphant appearance in the Bay of Rhodes. The fall of the statue was immediately commented on by the Delphic oracle. Ancient psychic said that the inhabitants of Rhodes anger the god Helios. The ruler of Egypt offered his help in the restoration of the monument, but he was refused.

Magnificent tomb in Halicarnassus

The giant white tomb was erected for the repose of the governor of one of the provinces of Persia - Mavsola - on the orders of his wife, who lived in Halicarnassus. This is the territory of the modern resort of Bodrum on the Aegean coast. The mausoleum in Halicarnassus in Turkey was erected by Greek sculptors. The design was high and richly decorated inside and outside. The pyramid of 36 columns crowned the tomb. The wife of Mavsol did not spare money for the construction of the above-ground grave, her ashes should also be in a magnificent mausoleum.

In the ancient world, the luxury of the tomb in Halicarnassus was appreciated. The architectural grandeur of the structure and its aesthetic dignity amazed not only the Greek scientists and poets, but also the commander of Antipater. There is a mention in historical chronicles that it was he who suggested that the structure be considered 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 construction in Bodrum. Now, when it comes to the tremendous expense of burial, they recall King Mausol, who has become a model of ostentation wealth and luxury.

Lighthouse on Faros

The Alexandria lighthouse on the island of Pharos was one of the highest among the ancient structures, and its base reached almost 400 m in length. This was the first lighthouse in the history, during the construction of which many innovative technologies were used at that time. Greek architect Sostratus created the project by order of the ruler of Ptolemy II in 304 BC. E. The system of warning of the danger of entering Alexandria bay past the island of Faros in the Mediterranean Sea was created in stages over more than 20 years. The lighthouse was supposed to warn of the underwater reefs of Pharos, on which it was built.

The structure consisted of three oblong marble towers, their total height could be from 120 to 140 m. The last part was a cylinder, fire was on its top. Inventors came up with a way to obtain directional solar reflections with the help of mirrors that fed the signal during the day. At night, the lighthouse servants traditionally bred fire. If the sun was not in the daytime, the sailors were warned with a column of smoke. For several centuries the structure was considered to be the highest artificial building.

Several earthquakes severely damaged the wonderful Alexandria lighthouse on Faros. Seamen, soldiers, traders and travelers needed to be restored. The Arabs, invading Egypt, started repairing and brought the height of the structure to 30 m. At this construction work was completed, and in 1480 on the same spot, of the same building materials, a fort was erected. The lighthouse on Faros stood in the sea for almost 1000 years.

The list of miracles is a legacy of world history and culture

Scientists believe that more complete and accurate lists of wonders of the world could be stored in the Alexandria Library - the world's most important collection of ancient manuscripts. The store was badly damaged during the fire caused by the invasion of Alexandria by Julius Caesar. Almost 500,000 books and scrolls destroyed the tongues of fire. A huge layer of cultural heritage has disappeared, on which the ways in which world history has gone largely depended.

Seven wonders of the world are valuable monuments of ancient art and architecture. It is not only beautiful sights, but also complex construction and technical solutions. Each of the creations was unique, outstanding for its time. To the rank of miracles ancient buildings and monuments were erected by the most outstanding scientists, creators, rulers of the ancient world. Little is mentioned 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 it was customary since the days 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 were victims of natural disasters. No one knows exactly what the six wonders of the world looked like. All images are the fruit of historical search, reconstruction, fantasy of historians and artists. Each generation brings something of its own in understanding the cultural phenomenon called the "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 thousand years the ancient list of the main attractions of the Old World excites the minds of researchers, travelers, ordinary people. All the past centuries the attitude to the seven wonders of the world was almost mystical. It is surprising that the ancient authors did not show a special desire to expand the "top-7", to replace the list of attractions with new monuments in the list.

Researchers of the ancient world argue that the attitude to the wonders of the famous list has always been respectful. It was believed that seven ancient architectural structures and monuments are deservedly included in a short but capacious list. Each participant of this historic "hit parade" has become a national shrine, an object of worship and veneration.

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 various spheres of life. For example, in a week - 7 days. The explanation can be the structure of the solar system, or rather, how they represented the heavenly sphere in ancient Greece. The naked eye could see the Sun, the Moon and five planets. The same names were in the ancient gods (Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus, Mercury).

Wonders of the World: new version

What seven wonders of the world could compete with marvelous designs that disappeared from the face of the planet? On the basis of online voting, a list of other wonders of the world was created, which have been preserved and can be seen with their own eyes. The action was organized and held at the threshold of the third millennium by a non-profit organization. The initiators of this grandiose action put forward some weighty reasons, which prompted the creation of different lists and arches of world sights of the highest level:

• Traditional ancient miracles were located only in that part of the Old World, which was familiar and subjugated to Hellenic culture;
• The list did not hit grandiose buildings in a significant part of Asia, the New World and other regions;
• The selection was made according to the criteria, depending on the ideas of the ancient Greeks about the wonderful monuments;
• "Overboard" were natural phenomena, which sometimes surpass their greatness of man-made miracles.

Determination of the winners of the whole project was decided to be carried out 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 the online survey. According to its results, the "favorites" - the sights that are known to most of the world's inhabitants - were selected. We are talking about the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal in India, the Machu Picchu construction in Peru in South America and other phenomena. But the UNESCO Committee reacted to this action by saying that the popular vote is not the method that should be used to find miracles that can replace the artifacts of world history and culture that disappeared in ancient times.