The Ancient World
I’ve always been fascinated by what our ancient ancestors were capable of. It amazes me how primitive man was able to make fire, or how they came up with the idea of sewing animal skins for clothing. I’ll be honest, if you stick me naked in the woods for three days, I’d never survive. I would starve to death, eat a poison berry accidentally, or freeze. They were much smarter than me.
Here are the seven ancient wonders of the world that prove just how innovative people were before the industrial revolution and all our modern technology. You’ll be amazed.
#1 The Lighthouse of Alexandria
The Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt was created around 280 B.C. and stood between 390 and 450 feet tall. It was the largest man made structure on our planet for many, many years. It had fires lit at night to warn sailors, and mirrors that reflected the sun during the day. The lighthouse was eventually destroyed by earthquakes, but was inspiration for numerous others.
#2 Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are actually a speculative wonder of the ancient world. This structure has not been proven to actually exist (although it exists in many ancient writings). It is said, however, that King Nebuchadnezzar created the gardens for his wife Queen Amytis because she missed her homeland so much. It’s definitely one of the most romantic wonders.
#3 Statue of Zeus at Olympia
This giant statue of the God Zeus was made in 435 B.C. According to ancient texts, the statue was intricately detailed with ebony, precious stones, gold, and ivory. Sadly, the statue was eventually destroyed, but not before its beauty astounded the entire world, making it one of the seven ancient wonders.
#4 Colossus of Rhodes
Another one of the Ancient Greeks fantastic structures, the Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of Helios that stood almost one hundred feet high impressively showing off the city’s victory over the ruler of Cypress. The statue didn’t last long, however. An earthquake destroyed the statue in 226 B.C., less than fifty five years after its construction.
#5 Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
This temple originally erected in 356 B.C., dedicated to the Greek Goddess Artemis, was certainly one of the most beautiful of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It took over a decade to build, was destroyed on more than one occasion, and rebuilt, until it was finally destroyed by arson and plundering in the 200’s AD.
#6 Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
This above ground burial site was built by Queen Artemisia for herself and her husband to be placed at their death. This was the first Mausoleum (from the name of her husband Mausolus) ever erected and one of the most beautiful structures in the ancient world. It was built in 351 B.C., but eventually destroyed in the Middle Ages by earthquakes.
#7 Great Pyramid of Giza
Probably the most well-known of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Great Pyramid of Giza is also the only one still standing. Originally built as a tomb for Khufu, the Great Pyramid was built in 2560 B.C. and was the largest building on earth for almost four thousand years. Talk about innovation.
The Modern World
Our ancestors weren’t the only ones to make wonders of the world, there are modern wonders as well that are certainly just as fascinating.
#1 Chichen Itza
This location was one of the largest Mayan cities in Mexico and not only had one of the most beautiful ziggurats but also some of the most fascinating history. El Castillo, the Temple of Warriors, the Temple of the Warriors, and Cenote Sagrado are all part of this ancient modern wonder.
#2 The Roman Colosseum
The Colosseum in Rome is certainly one of the modern wonders of the world. It was built around 80 A.D. and could hold about eighty thousand people. Most people know the Colosseum for its gladiator fights, however, it was also a place of to perform classical plays and mock arena battles.
#3 The Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal in India is one of the most beautiful modern wonders in the world. This amazing structure, which was built in the early 1600’s, is actually a tomb. The emperor Shah Jahan built this structure for his third wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth. It is intricately designed with Islamic, Turkish, Indian and Persian décor, and is one of the most beautiful and most romantic structures in the world.
#4 The Great Wall of China
They say you can see the Great Wall of China from space. This immense structure was begun in the 7th century B.C. and continued over many centuries. It is a little over thirteen thousand miles long and has been used for border control as well as military strategy over the course of time. It is definitely one of the most impressive modern wonders of the world.
#5 Petra
Petra, the rose colored city, was built around 309 B.C. and is carved in the mountains of Jordan. This beautiful limestone structure was used for caravan trading and as a fortress and is one of the most visited places in the Middle East. Stunningly beautiful it is also fascinating to look at Petra and imagine how much time and dedication it took to carve.
#6 Christ Redeemer Statue
In Rio de Janeiro, a large, beautiful statue of Christ overlooks the city. This statue known as Christ the Redeemer is one of the most amazing works of art and certainly one of the most visited wonders of the modern world. The statue is almost one hundred feet high, and the arm-span of Christ is also almost one hundred feet wide. Finally completed in 1931, this statue is visited by thousands of people per year and is protected by the government of Brazil.
#7 Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is one of the most amazing wonders of the modern world. This Incan location in Peru was established in the 1400’s and was lost to the modern world until the early 20th century. Although scholars still debate over the use of this location, many believe it was used for religious purposes because of its significant placement.
Although people continue to build monuments and buildings, few have stood up to the test of time like the seven wonders of the ancient world and the seven wonders of the modern world. Which wonder would you like to visit?
Loved it!