The 7 Marvels of The Ancient World - A Never-Ending Admiration

Source: Worldatlas

Nowadays, people are thirsty to gain thrilling facts about the old era. Luckily, much of what we learn about these mystery cultures is based on written documents discovered by researchers throughout history. Pilo of Byzantium, a historic Greek author, had the foresight to record the Seven remarkable old miracles of his period aspiring that it would influence the coming generations. 

The Great Pyramid of Giza

The Great Pyramid of Giza is simultaneously the oldest and only remaining ancient marvel on this list. It must have been constructed over 4,600 years ago as a tomb for the ancient Egyptian king the "pharaoh" Khufu. It was the world's highest building until the central tower of Lincoln Abbey in Britain was finished in 1311.

The Great Pyramid was initially 481 feet (147 meters) high, but because of the destruction of a number of its rocks, it now stands 455 feet (139 meters) high. The inside of the pyramid includes a series of corridors that direct to a "majestic gallery" that ascends to a room with a vacant sarcophagus (a tomb) known as the "king's chamber."

The Babylonian Hanging Gardens

In 600 B.C,  Ancient Babylonian Ruler Nebuchadnezzar II started planting the lovely Hanging Gardens of Babylon close to the Euphrates River in modern Iraq, precisely in the city of Hillah. These gardens were planted for the king’s beloved who did miss the green space of her motherland. The watering technicians consist of carrying water from the Euphrates up to the sky.

Source: Asian Geographic Magazine

The floral marvel was noted in so many Roman and Greek works that the king's garden at Babylon was almost certain to exist.

However, there is no mention of them in Babylonian scripts to verify their existence. Like Atlantis, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were most likely a popular imaginary myth. But, recent work indicates that the gardens did exist, but it was about a hundred years later and under a different leader.

Zeus Statue at Olympia

Phidias, the terrific Greek artist known as the best sculptor of the Ancient World (5th century BCE), formed the Zeus Statue at Olympia. The monument was 40 feet (12 m) large and illustrated the divine Zeus sitting on his throne, his skin of tusks and capes of pounded precious metals.

Source: History Extra

It intended to evoke a sense of veneration in the devotees who came to Zeus's Temple at Olympia. The massive figurine, however, did not astound everybody there. Strabo notes:

Despite the fact that the monastery is enormous, the sculptor is chastised for failing to recognize proper proportions. It illustrates Zeus sitting, but with his head nearly reaching the roof, giving the appearance that if Zeus stood up, he would indeed unroof the monument. 

The Temple of Olympia was destroyed during the arrival of Christianity and the prohibition of the Olympic Games as 'occult rituals.' The statue was transported to Constantinople, where it was destroyed by an earthquake between the fifth and sixth millennia CE.

Ephesus Temple of Artemis 

This classical miracle did not make it till today. The Temple of Artemis has been rebuilt several times, only to be invaded and destroyed time after time. Croesus, the ruler of Lydia, constructed the 350-foot-by-180-foot monument in Ephesus, a Greek major port on the shoreline of modern-day western Turkey,

It was decorated with beautiful bronzes, figurines, and other well-known masterpieces of art.

The columned mansion, however, might have been too lovely for some people to endure. A man called Herostratus destroyed the renowned temple in order to become renowned in history in 356 B.C.E. (others claim this was the night Alexander the Great was born). 

Herostratus undoubtedly received what he wanted, but that didn't stop the ancient Greeks from establishing a new Temple of Artemis about six years later. Nevertheless, following the Ostrogoth invasion in 262 AD, the second one was destroyed. 

Halicarnassus Mausoleum 

The tomb at Halicarnassus has constructed in approximately 353 and 350 BC. After Mausolus passed away, Artemisia, his spouse and sister (it was common practice in the area to preserve the strength and fortune in the family), opted to construct him the most magnificent tomb. Artemisia barely lived for another 2 years. Their human remains were put in the incomplete monument in jars.

This building became so well-known that the “Mausoleum” now serves as the 

etymological root for all luxurious graves. In addition, Antipater of Sidon included the building on his first list of the seven miracles of the world because it was so stunning and distinctive.

The Colossus of Rhodes

About 280 B.C, Artisans on the island of Rhodes (Turkey), built the enormous Colossus of Rhodes, a figure of the Greek god of the sun Helios, which was destroyed in an earthquake in 226 B.C. There is nothing left of the colossus now

The statue on its own might very well have also stood on a three-tiered column that was approximately 50 feet in length (15 m) high and could have measured around 110 feet (34 m) feet in length. This portrait is architecturally unrealistic and can only be found in representations from the Middle Ages.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was the seventh and final miracle of the ancient world. This has been the most well-known light tower in ancient times.

Sostratus of Cnidus designed the structure. It was located in the Alexandrian port (Egypt). It's expected to be larger than 110 meters above sea level, according to projections. allowing it to be the second tallest building in the world after the Great Pyramid of Giza.

The Lighthouse was constructed in three phases, with a flame heading on top of each. Also, it's probable that a massive bronze sculpture of Alexander the Great, Ptolemy I Soter, or the holy Helios stood atop the structure.

This list of ancient seven marvels has changed several times over the years. Now,  The New 7 Marvels take the ancient Marvel glory, but the enchantment of these mythological structures continues to fascinate visitors from all over the world.

Written By - Fatma Ben Rhouma