7 WONDERS OF THE
WORLD
TABLE OF CONTENT
Page
The Colossus of Rhodes........................................................................... 1
The Great Pyramid of Giza...................................................................... 4
The Hanging Garden of Babylon............................................................ 7
The Lighthouse of Alexandria................................................................. 9
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus............................................................. 11
The Statue of Zeus at Olympia................................................................ 14
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus......................................................... 17
1 The Colossus of Rhodes
The Colossus of Rhodes
earned its place among
the original 7 Wonders of
the World for representing
the pinnacle of ancient
Greek sculptural engineering
during its brief existence.
Standing at the height of 98.4
feet, this grand metallic effigy
of the sun god Helios towered
over ships entering and leaving
Mandraki Harbor in Rhodes.
The masterpiece, designed by
Chares of Lindos and
completed in 280 B.C.,
commemorated Rhodes’s
successful repelling of a
massive invasion from Cyprus
led by Demetrius I. Its legacy
includes references by
Shakespeare, allusions in a
poem by Sylvia Plath, and the
design sensibilities applied to
the Statue of Liberty.
1
1 The Colossus of Rhodes
How the Colossus of
Rhodes Was Constructed
The Rhodians needed a source
of quality metals and stone as
well as substantial funding to
finish the Colossus of Rhodes,
and they found these
necessities in the spoils of the
abandoned Cypriot war fleet.
Demetrius’s siege engines were
sold for 300 talents,
according to Pliny the Elder’s research. Smelted and
reforged combat equipment accounted for much of the raw
materials, and at least one siege tower was likely repurposed
as scaffolding. While their description of the processes
involved isn’t unanimous, ancient writings generally state
that the Colossus was assembled with a skeleton of iron tie
bars, which the builders then covered with thin, riveted
plates of brass, creating Helios’ outer skin.
As construction progressed, stone blocks were cast into
the statue’s interior to provide stabilizing weight. The
builders likely reached the upper levels of the statue, both
by piling enormous soil mounds that were removed upon
completion and climbing the abandoned siege towers to
reach the highest points. The finished product stood
upon a 50-foot-tall marble pedestal with a diameter of at
least 60 feet.
2
1 The Colossus of Rhodes
How It Disappeared
People even came to Rhodes Unfortunately, time has been
just to see its broken pieces unkind to the original wonders,
with only the Great
Pyramid remaining intact as the
other six fell to ruin over time.
The completed Colossus of
Rhodes was the shortest-lived
wonder of all, only standing
tall for 54 years before a
devastating earthquake in 226
B.C. broke its knees and sent it
crashing to the earth.
Convinced by the Oracle of
Delphi that Helios was
offended at their depiction of
him, the Rhodians declined to
rebuild it out of fear of
inviting further disasters.
The Colossus’s remains lay on the ground where they fell for over
eight centuries after the statue’s collapse, and Pliny the
Elder indicated in his writings that the massive pieces drew many
visitors to Rhodes. In A.D. 653, an invading Arab army conquered
Rhodes and took the fragments of the Colossus as spoils. The army
sold the pieces to a Jewish merchant who either hailed from either
Edessa, Mesopotamia, or Emesa, Syria, depending on the account.
Regardless, the merchant had the pieces broken down and carted
back to his home, supposedly requiring 900 camels to finish the job.
3
2 The Great Pyramid of Giza
Believe it or not, there were tourist guide books in ancient days, just
like there are now. Thousands of years ago, someone got the great
idea of naming the 7 wonders of the world for Hellenic tourists.
They were fortunate enough to be able to travel and visit exotic and
mysterious locales around the Mediterranean Sea, just like the Great
Pyramid of Giza.
Six of the original seven wonders of the world have disappeared or
significantly been damaged due to the toll that time has taken.
However, the most ancient of them remain mostly intact and stands
as a testimony to the power and capabilities of an ancient
civilization.
History of the Great Pyramid of Giza
Located in Egypt, scholars believe that the Great Pyramid of Giza,
as well as two others located nearby, were completed in 2560 BC.
They are believed to be constructed as a memorial for the Egyptian
pharaoh Khufu of the Fourth Dynasty, although not much is known
about his reign.
4
2 The Great Pyramid of Giza
The Greek historian
Heraclitus accused
the pharaoh of being
a tyrant and of
enslaving his people
to build the
monumental
structure. Modern
scholars see his reign
differently.
Evidence suggests that he was interested in trade and helped his
country develop the technology to work copper and other metals.
Fragments have been found that indicate he traded these metal
products for lumber from the Biblically mentioned Great Cedars of
Lebanon. It is thought that trees were used during the construction
of the Great Pyramid.
Construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza
The Great Pyramid of Giza won its title as one of the greatest
wonders of the ancient world for a good reason. It was the tallest
human-made construction of its time. Not only that, but it
remained the tallest building ever built for more than 3800 years!
No one really understands how the pyramid was built. More than
2 million blocks were used when it was built, and each one of
those blocks weighed an average of 2.5 to 15 tons apiece. To get
an idea of how big those blocks were, think about how much the
average elephant weighs. An adult male elephant clock in around
six tons apiece. This means that workers somehow were able to
raise blocks that could weigh more than two full-grown African
elephants.
5
2 The Great Pyramid of Giza
There are three
burial chambers in
the Great Pyramid.
The king’s chamber
was protected by an
enormously heavy
sliding granite door.
Shafts were built that
reached from the
chamber to the upper
reaches of the pyramid. It is thought that these shafts provided a
portal to let the Pharaoh’s soul exit the chamber and rise up to the
stars.
Most of the blocks were made of limestone. They came from a
limestone quarry located on the banks of a river that was nearby
the construction site. However, those enormous sliding granite
doors have a very different history. Weighing between 25 and 80
tons, they were transported 500 miles to Giza. Without the
power of steam, coal, or gas-powered engines, no one has any
idea how the ancient Egyptians accomplished this feat.
The size of the crew that built was thought to number in the
100,000. Workers were divided into groups of 20,000 and
labored under the direction of very skilled workers. Feeding and
housing that many people took a great deal of organization.The
sheer size of its construction overpowers most people who visit
the Great Pyramid of Giza. In photographs, we can see how
small people look when they stand next to it. While we may
never understand much about , it still stands as an incredible
accomplishment today.
6
The Hanging Garden of
3
Babylon
Much mystery still
surrounds many of
these ancient
wonders, but perhaps
none more so than
the Hanging Gardens
of Babylon.
From the beginning
of time, there have
been people, places,
and things that could not be explained and inspired awe in the hearts
and minds of many. These wonders of the world as they are called,
have continued to captivate even in today’s highly evolved world.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Facts
Located in the ancient city of
Babylon, which is today’s modern
Iraq, the Hanging Gardens were
constructed around 600 B.C. to
serve as the royal gardens. The
name Hanging Gardens is a bit
misleading because it is believed by
most experts the gardens did not
literally hang over the city. Instead,
they were arranged on a structure
built to resemble a mountain that
was estimated to be 80 feet high.
7
The Hanging Garden of
3
Babylon
Known as one of the original King Nebuchadnezzar
seven wonders of the world, they
were thought to be built by King
Nebuchadnezzar as a gift to his
wife Amyitis. His wife, who was
from Medes, was supposedly
homesick for the beautiful
mountains and lush greenery that
was part of her homeland. Finding
herself depressed with the flat
land and desert-like conditions of
her new home, her husband
decided to re-create her homeland
through the Hanging Gardens.
Along with an array of temples, palaces, walls and streets the
Hanging Gardens were at the time considered an engineering feat
unlike any previously seen. However, rather than literally hanging
the Gardens were built to resemble terraces or balconies, with one
level raised above another. Geographers of that time described
pillars big enough to allow the biggest trees in the world to be
planted in them, along with a variety of vegetation and flowers the
likes of which had never been seen before. The mountain itself,
constructed of baked brick and asphalt and waterproofed with lead,
had vast staircases ascending to its top. At every level were workers,
whose only purpose was to continually raise water from the
Euphrates River and use it to keep the Gardens alive.
8
4 The Lighthouse of Alexandria
In 48 BC, Julius Caesar wrote: “Now because of the narrowness
of the strait there can be no access by ship to the harbor without
the consent of those who hold the Pharos.” This tiny limestone
island in the harbor of Alexandria was the site of the Great
Pharos (lighthouse), the final wonder included by Antipater on his
list of the original 7 wonders of the world — the Lighthouse of
Alexandria.
Lighthouse of Alexandria Facts
Pharos was linked to the mainland by the Heptastadion, a great
stone mole (pier) built for Alexander the Great. In 305 BC, Ptolemy
Soter declared himself king after Alexander the Great’s unexpected
death. Soter commissioned the construction of the lighthouse,
which was completed sometime between 280 and 247 BC during
the reign of his son, Ptolemy Philadelphos.
9
4 The Lighthouse of Alexandria
the tower cost 800
talents and required
significant slave
labor. It stood
between 393 and 450
feet (120-140 meters)
and was formed of
white marble and
limestone
the giant interlocking blocks were sealed with molten lead to
withstand the crashing waves of the Mediterranean. An
architectural marvel, the Lighthouse of Alexandria consisted of
three unique stages. The lower level was a massive square; a great
spiral ramp provided accessibility. The middle level was a tall,
eight-sided tower. Finally, the top level was an open, cylinder-
shaped “house” for light. Coins from the Alexandrian mint show
a statue of Poseidon or Zeus atop the lighthouse.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria’s Impact
Today
One of the wonders of the world, the Giza
Pyramid, remains. Of the lost world wonders,
the Great Pharos was last to be built and last
to fall. The Lighthouse of Alexandria was the
prototype for all present-day lighthouses.
“Pharos” became the etymological origin of
“lighthouse” in Greek.
In 1994, French archaeologists found remains
of the Great Lighthouse on the seafloor of
Alexandria’s harbor.
10
The Mausoleum at
Halicarnassus
King Mausolus ruled Halicarnassus,
an ancient city along the Mediterra-
nean, from 377 B.C. until his death
in 353 B.C. King Mausolus’ wife
Artemisia had a tomb built for him
on a hill overlooking the city. The
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus sat in
the center of a courtyard on a stone
platform and contained many large and elaborate sculptures. Artemisia
died two years later, and both were buried in the tomb, though it had
yet to be completed.
One of the most memorable monuments to lost love is also one of the
7 Wonders of the World. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus once stood
in the modern-day city of Bodrum, Turkey. This white marble monu-
ment stood 140 feet tall, overlooking what was once a glorious empire.
The Mausoleum at Halicar- ing. Around 350 BC, Artemisia an-
nassus Facts nounced plans to create a beautiful
In the year 377 BC, Halicarnas- tomb for her husband. It was to be
sus was the capital of a large the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.
empire. When Mausolus inherit- The location Artemisia chose for
ed the kingdom from his father, her husband’s tomb was on top of
he was quick to extend the terri-
tory. He ruled alongside his wife,
Artemisia, who was also his sis-
ter. This was a common practice
during his time. They two were
wed for 24 years, and when the
king died, his queen was heart-
broken. Artemisia continued to
rule the kingdom after his pass-
11
The Mausoleum at
Halicarnassus
a hill. She wanted the monument to look over the kingdom her husband
had fought so hard to conquer. The queen recruited Greek architects
and artists, including Satyros, Pythius, Bryaxis, and Timotheus. The
burial site was enclosed with large walls and included a regal courtyard
with an opulent staircase made of stone. Stone lions, gods, and god-
desses adorn the outer wall, while the tomb itself is made out of mar-
ble.
At the time the tomb was built, this type of ornamentation was not
typical. Locals had never seen such an expression of love before. The
large stone lions guarded the stairs leading up to the tomb, providing an
ominous and intimidating atmosphere. The builders used 36 columns to
hold up the immense roof of the structure.
Of the many decorations adorning the mausoleum, one stood out
among the rest. One of the artists included a statue of Artemisia and
Mausolus riding in a chariot, carried by four horses. It was a special
dedication to the couple. Unfortunately, these decorations no longer
exist today. They have been destroyed, lost forever.
Artemisia died just two years after her husband did, leaving behind a
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ished at the time of her passing. Fortunately, the builders and artists she
hired continued to work on it in her absence. Her remains were placed
in an urn, and she was buried next to her husband.
12
The Mausoleum at
Halicarnassus
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus Meets its Demise
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus met its unfortunate demise in 1522
AD. It survived an earthquake, Alexander the Great’s overtaking, and
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saders also took the remains of both Mausolus and Artemisia.
Some suggest that perhaps Mausolus began working on this temple be-
fore he died hoping it would be a wonderful tribute. There is no real
evidence suggesting that this is the case, though many historians believe
it is a possibility.
The main reason this mausoleum was selected as one of the original
Wonders of the World WAS because of its aesthetics. At the time it was
built, no other monument was so ornate or grand.
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus remains one of the original 7 Won-
ders of the World. Although it no longer stands on that majestic hill, it
certainly carries a legacy. It is the source of the word ‘mausoleum,’ now
used to talk about any above-ground tomb.
13
The Statue of Zeus at
Olympia
The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was erected in the Temple of Zeus at
the sanctuary of Olympia in 435 B.C. It was created by Greek sculptor
Phidias and represented the god Zeus (god of the sky and weather) sit-
ting on a throne. Standing nearly 43 feet tall, the statue was adorned with
a sculpted crown of olive sprays, a golden robe, and gold sandals. It car-
ried a statue of Nike (the goddess of victory) in one hand and a scepter
in the other. The throne was decorated in gold, precious stones, ebony,
and ivory.
In ancient Greece, every large community had at least one temple ded-
icated to the worship and veneration of Zeus, but few ancient temples
were as grand and elaborate as the Statue of Zeus located at Olympia,
the birthplace of the original Olympic Games. The Greeks were well-
known for their penchant for creating large architectural masterpieces,
many of which are still in existence today, and the temple to Zeus at
Olympia was one of the most noteworthy examples of Greek monu-
mental architecture.
The statue that is now considered one of the original 7 wonders of the
world was housed within a perfectly proportioned Greek temple that in-
cluded 72 Doric columns bordering the structure. Visitors to the temple
passed through a set of grand bronze doors into the inner chamber that
14
The Statue of Zeus at
Olympia
housed the statue. The statue stone or cast from metal, the statue
alone reportedly took approxi- of Zeus contained in the temple at
mately 12 years to complete and Olympia was constructed of ivory
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B.C. The temple and statue were It is believed that the ivory was
part of a larger complex of tem- formed into the proper shapes us-
ples at Olympia, a major religious ing a combination of moisture and
and cultural center of the ancient heat. The statue and likely the entire
world that included shrines ded- temple complex were accented with
icated to many other gods and copious amounts of gold leaf and
goddesses. trim. Phidias took special care when
Phidias, a sculptor with a history fashioning the statue’s facial expres-
of creating monumental statues, sion. People who visited frequently
was commissioned to produce reported that it seemed Zeus’ eyes
a statue of Zeus for the temple. penetrated into the very soul of the
He depicted the mythical god observer.
seated on a large throne with Historical descriptions of the tem-
an eagle-topped staff in his left ple seem to indicate that the struc-
hand and a statue of the goddess ture was similar in appearance to
Nike in his right. The statue of the Lincoln Memorial in Washing-
Zeus is estimated to have been ton, DC, although the statue of
between 40 and 50 feet in height, Zeus was much larger than that of
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building. The remains of Phidi- al is not fully enclosed on all sides.
as’ workshop were discovered Legend has it that Phidias asked for
near the site of the temple in the Zeus’ blessing upon completing the
twentieth century and provided a statue, and the god responded by
wealth of information to arche- unleashing a bolt of lightning, the
ologists about the construction location of which was commem-
of this colossal work of art. orated with a special marker. The
Unlike many other statues of statue of Zeus remained in its orig-
the time that were carved from inal location for over 800 years. It is
15
The Statue of Zeus at
Olympia
believed that it was removed to the city of Constantinople around A.D.
450 where it was lost to history like six of the other 7 wonders of the
world.
Visiting the Statue of Zeus in
Ancient Times
From the time of its completion,
the statue was one of the ancient
world’s most popular pilgrimage
destinations and tourist attractions.
The site remained popular even
after Greece was absorbed into the
Roman Empire although visitors to
the site decreased after the Olympic
Games were outlawed by the Ro-
man Emperor in the fourth century.
Accounts of visits were recorded
by many ancient travelers, including
a host of Greek and Roman digni-
taries whose writings have survived
until modern times. Almost every
account includes a sense of awe and
wonder upon viewing such a mag-
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world’s most powerful god.
16
The Temple of Artemis
at Ephesus
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was a structure dedicated to Arte-
mis, the goddess of fertility. It was built in the city of Ephesus (in pres-
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around 600 B.C. and then by arson in 356 B.C., this temple had been
completely built three times. It was permanently destroyed by the Goths
in 262 A.D.
Ephesus, or what is left of it, lies in
the western region of modern-day
Turkey. This is where the Temple of
Artemis was located hundreds of
years earlier. Along with the Great
Pyramid of Giza and the Hanging
Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of
Artemis was one of the original 7
wonders of the world. The temple,
in its time, was undoubtedly magnif-
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with tragedy.
The Goddess Artemis
The goddess Artemis, sometimes referred to as Diana, was the cen-
terpiece and reason for the building of the temple. She should not be
confused with the Greek goddess Diana. In Greece, Diana was the god-
dess of hunting, while in Ephesus she was worshiped as the goddess of
fertility. The statue of Artemis was often created with several breasts or
eggs along her body to represent fertility. Some scholars today surmise
that the round breast-like nodules were really supposed to represent sac-
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17
The Temple of Artemis
at Ephesus
Early History of the Temple of Artemis
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the marshy swamps alongside the River Ephesus. Around 600 B.C.,
Ephesus was a bustling city and a major port of trade. It was decided
that the architect Chersiphron was to be commissioned to build a newer,
grander temple dedicated to Artemis. Archeological evidence points to a
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Around 550 B.C., the wealthy King Croesus made sure a new temple
was built after he conquered the city. This latest temple proved larg-
er and more elaborate than those that had been built before. Worship
practices included young virgin girls bringing gifts from their childhood.
Festivals in the goddess’s honor included music, dancing, and possibly
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Ephesus. It is reported that a man named Herostratus burned the tem-
ple to the ground. After torturing Herostratus to death, even mentioning
his name was outlawed and punishable by death.
18
The Temple of Artemis
at Ephesus
Another Rebirth The Rise of Christianity
By the time the Temple of Arte- When the Apostle Paul arrived
mis was rebuilt yet again, Ephe- preaching the radical gospel of
sus was one of the greatest cities Christianity many people turned
in the world and no expense was from idol worship to follow Jesus
spared in making this temple Christ, and the business ventures of
even more spectacular than be- many were threatened. Demetrius,
fore. This time the structure was an entrepreneur in the city, led a
built entirely with marble. It is group of like-minded business pro-
estimated that it took anywhere prietors against Paul when he gave a
from 60 to 120 years until con- rousing speech promoting Artemis.
struction was complete. During This nearly caused a riot in the city.
the next several hundred years a Eventually, peace was restored and
SURÀWDEOH EXVLQHVV JUHZ DURXQG Paul was free to go to Macedonia.
the temple and the worship of The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
Artemis. Souvenirs and tiny stat- became part of an epic battle be-
ues of the goddess proved to be tween paganism and Christianity for
a thriving economical enterprise several centuries. Christianity won
for the city. out in the end when the temple was
ultimately destroyed by the Goths
in 268. A.D. It was the beginning of
19
The Temple of Artemis
at Ephesus
a slow decline for the temple and
the worship of Artemis.
The Temple’s Final Resting the great temple that was once one
Place of the 7 wonders of the world.
In 1863, John Turtle Wood was
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After several years of hardship
and even attempts on his life,
Wood’s team unearthed the for-
mer temple. The remains were
sent to a British museum where
they can be seen today. In a
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town of Selcuk, a solitary column
has been built as a reminder of
20
Original link:-
Original Seven Wonders of the World
-https://the7wondersoftheworld.com/original-seven-won-
ders-of-the-world/
The Colossus of Rhodes
-https://the7wondersoftheworld.com/the-colossus-of-rhodes/
The Great Pyramid of Giza
-https://the7wondersoftheworld.com/the-great-pyramid-of-giza/
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
-https://the7wondersoftheworld.com/the-hanging-gardens-of-baby-
lon/
The Lighthouse of Alexandria
https://the7wondersoftheworld.com/the-lighthouse-of-alexandria/
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
-https://the7wondersoftheworld.com/the-mausoleum-at-halicarnas-
sus/
The Statue of Zeus at Olympia
-https://the7wondersoftheworld.com/the-statue-of-zeus-at-olympia/
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
-https://the7wondersoftheworld.com/the-temple-of-arte-
mis-at-ephesus/
Made by:
Muhammad Aidil Faris Bin Anuar
Muhammad Hariz Bin Mohd Robi