FACTS: 7 WONDERS OF ANCIENT WORLD

The Seven Wonders of Ancient World were known for their amazing works of arts and architectures to show the creativity, innovation, ingenuity and imagination of what human beings are capable of constructing. Seven was chosen by the Greek who believed it to mean perfection and completion. Among the Seven Wonders of Ancient World mostly destroyed by earthquakes, the Great Pyramid at Giza remains lately intact till date. In no particular order, the Seven Wonders of Ancient World are:

1.  The Colossus of Rhodes built in 280BC was a statue of the Greek titan god of the sun Helios stood over 98 feet (30M high). The bronze statue was erected by the sculptor Chares of Lindos on the Greek island of Rhodes between 292 and 280 BC. The statue stood for 54 years and was destroyed in 226 BC by earthquake. The Colossus was also erected as a celebration of freedom.

2.  The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was constructed by a Greek sculptor named Phidias in honour of Zeus who was considered the king of the great gods. The statue was 42 feet (13 metres) high and made of gold, ebony, ivory and precious stones which produced great feeling of awe, wonder. The Statue of Zeus erected at the temple of Zeus at Olympia the birthplace of the Olympic game represented the pinnacle of Classical sculptural design was destroyed by earthquake.

3.  The Temple of Artemis built in ancient Ephesus which today is near Selcuk, Turkey to honour Artemis, one of the daughters of Olympus. Artemis was the twin sister of Apollos and considered goddess of the moon. The temple of Artemis was rebuilt three times due to flood, fire and a mob. If you visit Ephesus today, you can only see the ruins of the foundations of this marvelous construction of the Hellenistic Age, entirely made of marble and full of sculptured columns' capitals and shafts. Remnants of the temple can be seen in the British Museum in London, England.

4.  Hanging Gardens of Babylon

There are different school of thoughts to the location of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon built around 600BC, some believed it was located in Babylon (Modern day Iraq) by King Nebuchadnezzar II to make his wife happy who was homesick for the gardens and plants of her homeland. Others believed it was located in Nineveh built by the great Assyrian ruler Sennacherib.  The gardens were built high above the ground on multi-level stone terraces. If it ever existed and not a myth the gardens were destroyed by earthquakes.

5.  The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus also known as Tomb of Mausolus was built at Halicarnassus present day Bodrum in Turkey between 353 and 350 BC for Mausolus, a satrap in the Persian Empire by his wife who was also his sister Artemisia II of Caria. The Mausoleum was approximately 148 feet (45 metres) high designed by Satyros and Pythius of Priene who were Greek architects. It was destroyed by series of earthquakes from 12^th to the 15^th century. The aesthetic and grandiose monument earned it being one of the Seven wonders of the Ancient World. The remains of the monument can be seen in the British Museum.

6.  The Lighthouse of Alexandria also known as Pharos of Alexandria built between 280 and 247 BC was the first lighthouse in the world.  It was built to help guide trade ships into its busy harbor at Alexandria, Egypt. The lighthouse was approximately 450 feet tall and was damaged by several earthquakes and eventually became an abandoned ruin.

7.  The Great Pyramid at Giza is located in Cairo, Egypt at the centre of the land mass of the earth. According to Archaeologists the structure was the tallest in the world for about 3,800 years. The structure itself with its perfect symmetry and imposing height rising at 481 feet (146 metres) was a true masterpiece, impressing ancient visitors. The Great Pyramid of Giza was built for the Fourth Dynasty Pharaoh Khufu (or Cheops), as a mortuary after the death of the king. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of Ancient World that remains largely intact.

 I hope you have learnt some free facts. Love to hear your comments and feedbacks.