2. Introduction
There were many different ancient artefacts which were
magnificent at the time but these seven outstanding pieces of
art were the seven wonders of the ancient world according to
the leading archaeologists and historians. These seven
wonders were chosen because the wonder, in some way, was
something made at the forefront of engineering.
The seven ancient wonders are The Great Pyramid of Giza,
Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Temple of Airtimes, Temple of
Zeus at Olympia, Colossus of Rhodes, Lighthouse of
Alexandria and Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. The only
standing wonder out of all of these is the Great Pyramid of
Giza.
4. The Great Pyramid of
Giza
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the tallest and the biggest out of the 3 pyramids in
Giza. It’s proper name is The Pyramid of Khufu and The Pyramid of Cheops. The
pyramid was estimated to be around 280 Egyptian cubits tall (480.6 ft.), but with
erosion and the absence of the Pyramidion (the tip of the pyramid) it is now 455.4
ft.. It is also estimated that the pyramid is made from 2.3 million limestone blocks.
The other reason why this is one of the seven wonders of the world is because:
It is the tallest of the three pyramids of Egypt
Until the 19th Century it was the tallest building in the world
It is 4500 years old and it sill is upright
The only Wonder out of the 7Ancient Wonders that still stands
It took twenty years for a force of 100,000 slaves to build the pyramid
The 2.3 million stones were lifted into position by the use of immense machines
which was the state of art technology at the time.
Therefore this was one of the ancient wonders of the world simply because of the
scale of the structure, the use of the immense structures and the amount of planning
and hard work that had gone into making this building.
6. Hanging Gardens of
Babylon
The hanging gardens of Babylon is considered to be the most poetic wonder in the world.
Although this wonder’s existence is up for dispute. It is said to be built under the reign of King
Nebuchadnezzar II around early seventh century BC, which he dedicated to his wife Amytis, of
Media. As Amytis came from the mountains and greenery, she missed her homeland. However,
there is an other story claiming that the hanging gardens were constructed by an
Assyrian Queen Semiramis during her five year reign, which is less reliable according to the
historical sources. Thus, they are sometimes called the Hanging Gardens of Semiramis.
Here are reasons for it to be a part of the 7 ancient wonders of the world:
The hanging gardens were built in the city-state of Babylon, whose ancient ruins lie about
50 miles to the south-west of Bagdad, in Iraq. The current location is Al Hillah, Babil.
It did not really “hang” as being suspended. The name comes from an inexact translation
of the Greek word kremastos or the Latin word pensilis, which mean not just “hanging”,
but “overhanging” as in the case of a terrace or balcony.
The huge variety of the plants from all over the world were planted alongside each other
and managed to survive due to the amazing garden irrigation with the use of chain pump
which was the latest kind of technology at that time.
So, the hanging gardens became a wonder due to its magnificent design, the technology used
(the pump) and the huge variety of plants that were once put on display.
8. Temple of Artemis
at Ephesus
By 600 B.C., the city of Ephesus had become a major port of trade and an architect named
Chersiphron was engaged to build a new large temple with high stone columns.
The Greek Artemis is the goddess of the hunt. The shrine of goddess was first built in 800 B.C.
but then it was destroyed and rebuilt several times over the next few hundred years. Then in 550
B.C. King Croesus of Lydia conquered Ephesus and the other Greek cities of Asia Minor. During
the fighting, the temple was destroyed.
Theodorus built it again. Features were:
About 300 feet in length and 150 feet wide with and area four times the size of the temple
before using more than one hundred stone columns supported a massive roof. The new
temple soon became the pride of Ephesus until 356 B.C. It was Herostratus, young
Ephesian, burnt the temple to the ground.
Again, it was rebuild by Scopas of Paros, one of the most famous sculptors of his days.
Ephesus was one of the prominent cities in Asia Minor, so no expense was spared in the
construction. Well-known historians all over the world worshiped the construction and
called it “wonderful monument of Grecian magnificence, and one that merits our genuine
admiration.” The cause of astonishment was not only the temple itself but the four bronze
statues of Amazon women.
So the Temple of Artemis was a wonder because of its great heights lengths, the number of
columns and the amazing way that the city has improved the temple every time it has been
destroyed.
10. Statue of Zeus at
Olympia
The Statue of Zeus is one and only creation from the other six worlds’ ancient wonders
which was located on the Europe Continent. It was built by the famous Greek sculptor
Phidias, approximately 432 BC. It was staged in honour of Zeus.
Reasons why this was chosen to be a ancient wonder:
It was considered to be the most famous artistic work in all of Greece.
The philosophers, ancient travellers, writers were certainly astounded when they
witnessed the beauty of this statue.
Its said that, “If a man, with a heavy heart from grief and sorrow in life, will stand
in front of the statue, he will forget all these.”
The base of the statue was approximately 6.5 metres by 10 metres. It was probably
over a metre high.
The statue was 13 metres high
The statue was not made of stone, it was made of gold and ivory.
The reason why this was an ancient wonder is because it was so big and grand, Zeus
was sculpted in an amazing way according to the descriptions and the fact that people
who visited the temple said that if you had a heavy heart and stood in front of the statue
all this would go away.
12. Colossus of
Rhodes
The island of Rhodes was an important economic centre in the ancient world. The
Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of the Greek Titan Helios, made in the city of
Rhodes on the Greek island of Rhodes by Chares of Lindos between 292 and 280
BC. It was constructed to celebrate Rhodes’ victory over the ruler of Cyprus,
Antigonus I Monophthalmus, who unsuccessfully besieged Rhodes in 305 BC.
The statue was destroyed by an earthquake. Before its destruction, the Colossus of
Rhodes stood over 30 meters (107 ft.) high, making it one of the tallest statues of the
ancient world.
Facts about the Colossus:
It was 60m high.
A giant human figure constructed of bronze plates placed under a framework
of iron.
According to Plini, a historian, the construction time was 12 Years.
The Reason why the Colossus of Rhodes was an ancient wonder was just because of
the height of the statue and the different types of techniques and the state of the art
technology that would have been used at that time.
14. Light house of
Alexandria
The Lighthouse of Alexandria was one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. It
was situated on the small offshore island of Pharos, lighting the way for many sailors
navigating the tricky harbour. After Alexander the Great’s death, in 323 B.C., Photemy
Soter ruled over the Egypt made the city even more prosperous and famous for its
wealth. This meant that the city harbour was very busy Photemy saw a need of a symbol,
as a result he authorized the building of the Pharos in 290 B.C. and the building was
completed after twenty years.
Reasons for why The Light house was a wonder:
When it was finished it was the first light house in the world
It was the tallest building in the world about 140 m with the exception of the Great
Pyramid of Giza
It took 800 talents ( around 3 billion pounds)
This showed the impressive construction techniques used in Egypt, as Egypt had 2
wonders. (The Great Pyramid of Giza and The Light house).
The reason why this was an ancient wonder is because it was very high, one of the first
light houses, a great symbol for Alexandria. One of the most amazing features of this
light house was a mirror positioned inside it that could reproduce a light effect in excess
of 35 miles, which was used to destroy and burn the enemy ships marching towards this
place.
16. Mausoleum of
Halicarnassus
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was a tomb built between 353 and 350 BC
at Halicarnassus. By that time the city of Halicarnassus was a capital of small
kingdom along the Mediterranean coast of Asia Minor.
In 353 BC Artemisia, the wife of Mausoleus build this most splendid tomb
in his memory to immortalize his name for centuries.
Its stucture became so famous that Mausolus’s name is now associated
with all grand tombs through our modern word mausoleum.
The structure as an oblong with 36 (Ionic) columns and a pyramid on top
with a perimeter of about 440 feet.
The sepulchral monument was built and adorned by the greatest architects
and sculptors of the time with statues, marble lions, and a frieze.
Famed sculptors such as Bryaxis, Leochares and Timotheusjoined him
together with other craftsmen.
The reason why it became one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was
the beauty of the building being unique rather than its size.
17. My 7 Wonders of the
World
The theme that I have set my seven modern wonders of
the world is Man Made Islands. It is quite interesting
that how humans have made such amazing little
islands not just to live on but also to expand the
architectural knowledge.
The Seven Man Made Islands I believe to be my 7
wonders of the world are: The World Islands, The
Pearl-Qatar Island, The Venetian Islands, The Reef
Island, The Palm Island, The Dubai Water Front and
The Eden Island.
18. The World Islands
The World is the latest complete island
paradise, with the last stone on the
breakwater added on 10 January this year.
It is the best way to add land mass to a city.
Dubai developer, Nakheel, has added more
than 1,500 km of beach front to the Dubai
coastline.
Location: Off the Dubai
There are 300 different islands in the shape
city coast line, United
of the continents, on which the developers
Arab Emirates (UAE) in
can choose, to build estates on.
the eastern Arabian
All islands are accessible only by marine or Peninsula.
air transport, with world-class marinas to
berth boats, yachts and cruise liners.
19. The Palm Jumeirah
The Palm Islands are made of 3 different types
of Palm Islands; Palm Jumeirah, Palm Deira and
Palm Jabel Ali.
Facts:
A surrounding crescent island that forms an
11 km-long breakwater.
It created 4,000 residences
50 hotels, 1,400 villas on 11 of the fronds of
the island and 2,500 shoreline apartments in
20 buildings on the east side of the trunk. Location: Off the Coast
Covers an area of 7 million square meters of Dubai.
This is so grand that you can see it from
space and Google Maps.
The reason why I chose this as a wonder was
because the hear work and planning that has
gone into the this project was immense and the
scale was just amazing.
20. The Palm Jabel Ali
The Palm Jabel Ali is the second Palim islands
in the Palm trilogy.
Facts:
50% larger than the Palm Jumeirah
Includes six marinas, a water theme park,
'Sea Village', homes built on stilts above the
water
The circle (fronds) around the palm spell out Location: Off the Coast
a poem in Arabic. of Dubai.
It houses more than 250,000 people
I chose this to be a wonder because of the
immense effort and planning that has gone into
making the islands also the thought of making
islands to expand the Dubai’s coast line.
21. The Palm Deira
The final one of the Palm islands in the Palm trilogy
is the Palm Deira it is the biggest of the three and the
grandest.
Facts:
5 times larger than Palm Jabel Ali and 8 times
larger than Palm Jumeirah.
It is so big that they can be seen from space.
It is intended to house 1 million people
It consists of 24 islets Location: Off the Coast
It covers 80 square km of Dubai.
The reason why I thought that this was one of my
wonders is because of the scale of the build, the
design of a palm tree and then came the amount of
different houses and buildings on these islands.
22. The Dubai Waterfronts
The Dubai Waterfront looks like a giant C
attached to the edge of Dubai. It is right next
to the Palm Jabel Ali.
Facts:
A population of 1.5 million people
This produces a shelter around the Palm
Jebel Ali.
This resembles the most widely recognized Location: Off the
symbol of Islam, the star and crescent. western shores of Dubai
The reason why this is one of my wonders is
because of the amount of work gone into the
making of this and the clever use of the star
and the Crescent.
23. The Pearl-Qatar Island
The Pearl-Qatar is a multi-billion dollar
artificial island created almost 20 miles of
new coastline.
It provides 985 acres
Fronted by more than 12 miles of pristine
beaches
Over 40,000 residents in more than 15,000
dwellings within 12 zones.
It offers freehold and residential rights to
international investors.
Shaped like an exotic string of pearls, the Location: one mile off he
Pearl-Qatar will allow room for 800 guests
among its 40,000 residents to enjoy three Doha coastline of Qatar
marinas, three 5 star hotels, plus almost half
a million square feet of retail, dining and
entertainment space.
24. The Eden Island
A private island, with secluded beaches, a world-class
commercial precinct, international marina capable of
handling super-yachts as well as a range of activities and
leisure facilities for your exclusive use.
It is a 99-acre residential marina development.
Mild tropical weather all year round
Luxury apartments, maisons & villas
Uniquely Seychelles vernacular architectural style
Swimming, diving, water skiing, sailing, fishing,
windsurfing, hiking, cycling, boating, sunbathing Location: Off the coast of
Breath taking views over mountains, ocean, forests the main island of Mahé in
and nearby islands like Cerf and Ste. Anne. the Seychelles archipelago
Easily accessible via the International Airport nation in the Indian Ocean,
This man made island is my wonder because it is 93 miles east of mainland
designed within the principles of organic island living. Africa, northeast of the
Eden Island is absolute Paradise - built in Paradise. island of Madagascar.
