The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Recently, there has been a global stir as the new Seven Wonders were voted on and selected. But before the original list fades into obscurity, let's revisit the complete Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The oldest surviving record of this list comes from Antipater of Sidon around 140 BC. What kind of list would this be without the iconic original?

7. Great Pyramid of Giza

Constructed: 2650-2500 BC By: The Egyptians

The Great Pyramid is the Pyramid of Khufu (also known as Cheops), built as his tomb. Originally, it stood at 145.75 meters (481 feet) tall. Over time, it lost 10 meters (30 feet) from its peak. For more than 43 centuries, it was the tallest structure on Earth, only being surpassed in height in the 19th century AD. The pyramid was covered with a smooth stone casing, some of which can still be seen near the top of Khefre’s pyramid. The pyramid’s sloping sides form an angle of 51 degrees and 51 minutes. Each side aligns precisely with one of the four cardinal directions—north, south, east, and west. The horizontal cross section of the pyramid is square at every level, each side measuring 229 meters (751 feet). Remarkably, the maximum difference between side lengths is less than 0.1%.

Unfortunately, this is the only one of the Seven Wonders that still exists today.

6. Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Constructed: 600 BC By: The Babylonians Destroyed: After 1st Century BC Cause: Earthquake

The Hanging Gardens were situated in what is now Iraq, and it is believed that Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562 BC) was responsible for their construction. According to legend, he built the Gardens for his wife or concubine, who had been raised in Media and longed for the mountainous environment.

Strabo and Philo of Byzantium, who visited the gardens, described them as follows:

"The Garden is rectangular, with each side measuring four plethra in length. It features arched vaults resting on cube-like foundations. Access to the uppermost terrace-roofs is via a stairway..."

"The Hanging Gardens have plants growing above ground, with the roots of the trees planted in an upper terrace rather than the earth. The entire structure is supported by stone columns. Water flows from elevated sources down sloping channels to irrigate the garden, nourishing the plants and keeping the area moist. As a result, the grass remains lush and the tree branches grow strong and supple. This is a masterpiece of royal luxury, with the most striking feature being that the cultivation labor is suspended above the onlookers' heads."

5. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

Constructed: 550 BC By: The Lydians, Persians, and Greeks Destroyed: 356 BC Cause: Arson

The Temple of Artemis was located in the ancient city of Ephesus, near the modern-day town of Selcuk, approximately 50 km south of Izmir (Smyrna) in Turkey. Those who witnessed it regarded it as the most beautiful structure on Earth. The creator of the original list of the Seven Wonders described it as follows: "But when I saw the sacred house of Artemis that rises to the clouds, the [other Wonders] were overshadowed, for the Sun himself has never gazed upon its equal outside Olympus."

The temple’s foundation was rectangular, typical of temples of the time. However, it stood apart from others as it was constructed entirely of marble, with a beautifully adorned façade facing a vast courtyard. Surrounding marble steps led up to the elevated terrace, which measured roughly 80 meters (260 feet) by 130 meters (430 feet). The temple's columns, each 20 meters (60 feet) tall, featured Ionic capitals and intricately carved circular shafts. In total, there were 127 columns, arranged in a grid pattern across the entire platform, except for the central cella, the house of the goddess.

The temple was home to numerous masterpieces, including four ancient bronze statues of Amazons, crafted by the most skilled artists of the era. When St. Paul visited the city, the temple was embellished with golden pillars and silver statues, and its walls were adorned with paintings. While there is no concrete evidence that a statue of the goddess herself stood in the center of the sanctuary, there is no reason to doubt that it did.

On the night of July 21, 356 BC, a man named Herostratus set the temple on fire, hoping to ensure his name would be remembered, which he certainly achieved. Coincidentally, Alexander the Great was born on that very same night.

4. Statue of Zeus at Olympia

Constructed: 435 BC By: The Greeks Destroyed: 5th-6th Centuries AD Cause: Unknown

This statue depicted the god in whose honor the ancient Olympic Games were held. It stood in the land that gave its name to the Olympics. During the games, wars ceased, and athletes from Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, and Sicily gathered to celebrate the Olympics and worship their king of gods: Zeus.

The statue was so enormous that its head nearly touched the ceiling, giving the illusion that if it stood up, it would topple the temple’s roof. Its size was so monumental that most descriptions focus more on the throne than the body or head of the god.

The Greek historian Pausanias wrote: "On his head is a sculpted wreath of olive sprays. In his right hand, he holds a figure of Victory made from ivory and gold... In his left hand, he holds a sceptre inlaid with various metals, with an eagle perched upon it. His sandals are made of gold, as is his robe. His garments are intricately carved with animals and lilies. The throne is decorated with gold, precious stones, ebony, and ivory."

3. Lighthouse of Alexandria

Constructed: 3rd Century BC By: The Hellenistic Egyptians Destroyed: 1303-1480 AD Cause: Earthquake

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was situated on the ancient island of Pharos, now part of the Alexandria coastline in Egypt. Among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it was the only one with a functional purpose in addition to its architectural beauty: it guided sailors safely back to the Great Harbor. For architects, it stood as the tallest structure on Earth. And for scientists, it was the intriguing mirror that drew their fascination. The mirror’s reflection could be seen from more than 50 km (35 miles) offshore.

Of the six Wonders that have vanished, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was the last to disappear, which means we have relatively precise knowledge of its appearance and location. Ancient writings, including those of Strabo and Pliny the Elder, offer a brief yet vivid description of the ‘tower’ and its stunning white marble surface. They also describe the mysterious mirror that reflected light across vast distances.

The internal core of the lighthouse was used as a shaft to elevate the fuel required for the fire. At the top, the mirror reflected sunlight by day, while a fire burned through the night. In ancient times, a statue of Poseidon was placed atop the structure, completing its grandeur.

Afterword

The descriptions of the Wonders presented here are based on the work of Associate Professor Alaa Ashmawy.

2. Colossus of Rhodes

Constructed: 292-280 BC By: The Hellenistic Greeks Destroyed: 224 BC Cause: Earthquake

The Colossus stood at the entrance to the harbor of the Mediterranean island of Rhodes in Greece. Contrary to popular belief, the statue did not straddle the harbor but was positioned at its side. Commissioned by the Rhodian sculptor Chares of Lindos, the statue’s outer bronze skin was cast by his workers, while the base was constructed from white marble. The feet and ankles were first secured, and the structure was built up with a combination of iron and stone to support the bronze. An earth ramp was built to reach the higher levels, but it was later removed. When finished, the Colossus stood about 33 meters (110 feet) tall. When it fell, “few people can make their arms meet round the thumb,” as described by Pliny.

Sadly, the statue stood for just 56 years. Despite its short existence, its extraordinary beauty secured its place among the Seven Wonders. Since no definitive description of the statue exists, we can only speculate on its appearance through artistic renditions.

1. Mausoleum of Maussollos at Halicarnassus

Constructed: 351 BC By: The Persians, and Greeks Destroyed: 1494 Cause: Earthquake

This monumental tomb, similar to the Great Pyramid, was located in the city of Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus) along the Aegean Sea in southwestern Turkey. The mausoleum was rectangular, covering a base area of approximately 40 meters (120 feet) by 30 meters (100 feet). Above the foundation, a stepped podium decorated with statues rose up. The burial chamber, featuring a white alabaster sarcophagus adorned with gold, was positioned atop the podium, surrounded by Ionic columns. The columns supported a pyramid-shaped roof, which itself was decorated with statues. A statue of a chariot drawn by four horses crowned the top of the tomb.

The true magnificence of the Mausoleum lies not just in its architectural design but also in the stunning decorations and statues that adorned its exterior at various levels on the podium and roof. These included dozens of life-sized and larger-than-life free-standing statues of people, lions, horses, and other creatures. The statues were crafted by four eminent Greek sculptors: Bryaxis, Leochares, Scopas, and Timotheus, each responsible for one side of the monument. The Mausoleum holds a unique place in history, as it was dedicated not to the gods of Ancient Greece but to humans and animals, which set it apart from other monumental tombs.