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The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, also known as the Seven Wonders of the World or simply the Seven Wonders, is a list of seven notable structures present during classical antiquity. The first known list of seven wonders dates back to the 2nd–1st century BC.
- Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt. The Great Pyramid, located at Giza on the west bank of the Nile River north of Cairo in Egypt, is the only wonder of the ancient world that has survived to the present day.
- Hanging Gardens of Babylon. According to ancient Greek poets, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were built near the Euphrates River in modern-day Iraq by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II around 600 B.C.
- Statue of Zeus at Olympia. The famed statue of Zeus, the king of the gods in Greek Mythology, was crafted by the Athenian sculptor Phidias and completed and placed in the temple of Zeus at Olympia, site of the ancient Olympics, around the mid-fifth century B.C.
- Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. There was actually more than one Temple of Artemis: A series of several altars and temples was destroyed and then restored on the same site in Ephesus, a Greek port city on the west coast of modern-day Turkey.
- Great Pyramid of Giza. The Great Pyramid, the only Wonder that still exists, stood as the world’s tallest human-made structure for nearly 4,000 years. Erectedaround 2560 B.C.E.
- Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Despite being named one of the Seven Ancient Wonders, there is not much firsthand evidence that the gardens actually existed.
- Statue of Zeus. It took the most renowned sculptor of the ancient era, Phidias, to create a statue worthy of celebrating the fabledgod Zeus. Housed in the Temple of Zeus at Olympia in western Greece, the statue showed Zeus seated on a throne crusted in gold, precious gems, ivory, and ebony.
- Temple of Artemis. In Ephesus (an ancient city in what is now western Turkey), a temple was constructed that was reportedly so magnificent it caused Philo of Byzantium to say
- Great Pyramid of Giza. The Great Pyramid of Giza in Ancient Egypt is the only one of the Seven Wonders to have passed the test of time. The pyramid is a monumental tomb (146,5 meters tall) built around 2500 BCE for Pharaoh Khufu and is still standing, even after 4500 years.
- Hanging Gardens of Babylon. According to ancient sources, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were built by King Nebuchadnezzar II around 605 and 652 BCE. There was also an ancient legend that the Gardens were built by the mythical queen Semiramis.
- Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. The temple of Artemis or Artemiseion at Ephesus was a temple devoted to the cult of the Goddess Artemis or Diana, and should not be confused with the temple of Artemis in Corfu.
- Statue of Zeus at Olympia. Phidias, one of antiquity’s greatest sculptors, created the statue of Zeus at Olympia in the 5th century BCE. The statue was made of gold and ivory.
Jul 25, 2023 · Learn about the legendary structures that once amazed the ancient world, from the Hanging Gardens of Babylon to the Great Pyramid of Giza. Discover their history, architecture, and fate, as well as the modern-day wonders that replaced them.
- Cory Price
Main article: Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Great Pyramid of Giza, the only wonder of the ancient world still in existence. The Greek historian Herodotus(484 – c. 425 BC) and the scholar Callimachusof Cyrene(c. 305–240 BC), at the Museum of Alexandria, made early lists of seven wonders.
Learn about the seven wonders of the world, both ancient and modern, and their history, location, and features. From the Great Wall of China to the Taj Mahal, discover the stunning constructions that inspire awe and wonder.
