Modern seven wonders of the world. Seven Wonders of the World

Everyone has definitely heard about the legendary 7 wonders of the world - the greatest creations of mankind - in childhood, even if not everyone can remember them in order. And although most of the monuments from the history textbook will no longer be able to be seen, people have managed to create many other, alternative ones to the delight of tourists. Together with a service for selecting cheap air tickets, we have prepared for you a list of outstanding attractions that have survived to this day.

The list of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World includes the most famous art monuments of the Ancient World. For their beauty, uniqueness and technical complexity they received the “title” of miracles. The list has changed over time, but the number of miracles included in it has remained unchanged.

The Pyramid of Cheops- the most ancient, the first wonder of the world and the only one that has survived to this day. Part of the pyramid complex in Giza - the main attraction of Egypt. The Pyramid of Cheops is the largest pyramid in Egypt. Previously, its height was about 146 meters, and today it is approximately 138 meters. The date of construction begins is somewhere around 2600 BC, although this is imprecise and disputed by many scholars. You can get inside the artificial mountain through a natural entrance, located at an altitude of about 15 meters, or through an artificial one, which was made in 820.

The legendary Babylonian Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the second wonder of the world, supposedly existed from the end of the 7th century BC to the 1st century BC. Unfortunately, this amazing architectural structure has not survived to this day, but the memory of it is still preserved. According to legend, the unique Hanging Gardens were a beautiful declaration of the feelings of King Nebuchadnezzar II to his wife Amytis. The attraction is located not far from Baghdad, and today its stone ruins can only impress an ordinary tourist with its scale. However, history shows that the structure was one of the most beautiful creations of mankind.

Temple statue of Zeus at Olympia, reaching a height of about 12-17 meters together with the pedestal, was made of ivory, ebony and gold, stood for about nine centuries: from 432 BC to the 5th century, and, unfortunately, burned down in a fire. The statue of Zeus at Olympia was created by the Greek sculptor Phidias in what is now Greece. This place was not chosen by chance - it was in Olympia, in the Temple of Zeus, that the Olympic Games were held annually.

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was built in the Greek city of Ephesus in what is now Turkey in the 5th century BC. A distinctive feature of the temple from other ancient wonders of the world is that it was partially preserved - the ruins of the temple still stand to this day. According to ancient Greek belief, Artemis was the goddess of hunting and fertility, the patroness of all life on earth.

The fifth wonder of the world is mausoleum in Halicarnassus. If you want to visit this historical area, go to the Turkish resort town of Bodrum. It was there that scientists discovered the ruins of the wonder of the world - the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. The building was a ziggurat, that is, at the same time a tomb, a sanctuary, and a monument. It should be noted that the name “mausoleum” comes from the name of the powerful and cruel ruler of Caria - Mausolus. The mausoleum was destroyed by an earthquake and then partially dismantled for building materials.

Earthquakes caused the death of two more ancient wonders: the bronze statue of the Colossus on the island of Rhodes (lasted only 65 years, destroyed in the same 3rd century BC) and the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt (the seventh wonder of the world, collapsed in the 14th century).

New seven wonders of the world
The list of new wonders of the world was specially created by the non-profit foundation The New 7 Wonders of the world based on international voting. The selection of the new seven wonders of the world from famous architectural structures of the world took place via SMS, telephone or Internet. In total, more than 100 million people around the world took part in the selection of new wonders of the world. The result was announced on July 7, 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal.

The great Wall of China. The largest architectural monument, passing through China for 8851.8 kilometers. In terms of the grandeur of its structure, the Great Wall of China has no equal in the history of world architecture. From its highest points you can admire the breathtaking panorama. For a long time there was a myth that the Great Wall is the only structure that can be seen from space. However, this turned out to be just a delusion. When American astronauts said they could not detect it from space, many in China attributed this to the fact that the astronauts were foreigners. But later, both the first Chinese astronaut Yang Liwei and other Chinese astronauts confirmed the disappointing observations of the Americans.

The most popular sections of the wall are located in relative proximity to Beijing. You can get to them directly from Beijing airport - take the subway and go to Dongzhimen station. From there, on weekends at 07.00 and 08.30, bus No. 867 leaves for the wall. It spends 2-2.5 hours on the road and leaves back to Beijing at 14.00 and 16.00. In addition, bus No. 877 to Badaling departs from the capital's Deshengmen Bus Station at 06.00 am. You can also get here by taking the Beijing Tourist Hub tourist bus, which runs from the southern part of Tiananmen Square. A ticket costs 100 yuan, which is approximately 5,343 tenge, children under 120 centimeters tall travel for free.

As with all attractions in Rome, the queue for the Colosseum often exceeds even your wildest expectations. However, there are a few tricks here that will help you avoid it. A guaranteed trick is to buy a single entrance ticket to the Colosseum + Palatine + Roman Forum for 12 euros, which is valid for 2 days. Every half hour there are organized tours of the Colosseum in major European languages. Cost - 6 euros per person. The guides are all with historical and archaeological education, and you can learn a lot of interesting things.

The Colosseum opens at 09.00 and closes, depending on the season, an hour before sunset. From March 30 to August 31, the Colosseum closes at 19.15, from September 1 to 30 - at 19.00, from October 1 to 30 - at 18.30, from October 31 to February 15 - at 16.30, from February 16 to March 15 - at 17.00.

One of the most famous statues in the world and definitely the most recognizable in Brazil is. Installed on Mount Corcovado at an altitude of more than 700 meters, she looks at the huge city below her with outstretched arms in a gesture of blessing. The Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro, due to its fame, attracts millions of tourists to Mount Corcovado. From its height there is a beautiful view of the city of ten million with its bays, beaches, and the Maracana stadium.

Lost in the desert in Jordan Petra - the capital of the ancient kingdoms of Idumea and Nabatea - opened to Europeans only in the 19th century. The main attractions of Petra, the “city of stone”, are the crypts carved into the red sandstone rocks and the rock temple of El Deir.

By Bus: Jett operates daily bus services from Amman to Petra from Abdali Bus Station. Departure is at 06.30, travel time is about 3.5 hours, ticket price is 11 dinars, which is approximately 5,705 tenge one way. The return bus from Petra leaves at 17.00.

By minibus: a minibus ride from Wadi Rum will take about 1.5 hours and cost 7 dinars (3,000 tenge). The minibus usually leaves at 08.30, but the schedule can be changed at any day. Therefore, you need to agree in advance. Minibus taxis from Amman depart from the Wihdat bus station. The journey takes about 3 hours, the ticket price is 5 dinars (2,751 tenge). In some cases, the driver may ask to pay separately for luggage.

By taxi: taxis, although more expensive, are much more comfortable. A trip from Amman to Petra and back will cost approximately 75-85 dinars (40,000-45,000 tenge), including waiting for the driver. Travel from Aqaba - 55 dinars one way, approximately 28,631 tenge. On the road from Petra to Aqaba, you can visit the Wadi Rum desert to enjoy unique landscapes that are not similar to anywhere else on the planet.

Important! You should always agree on the cost of the trip in advance; if you want, you can save a lot of money by haggling with the driver or finding travel companions and sharing all the costs with them.

The pearl of Muslim architectural art in India - mausoleum-mosque of the Taj Mahal in Agra, built in the 17th century by the will of the padishah Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. It is not surprising that today the Taj Mahal is considered not just an outstanding architectural and spiritual monument, but also a symbol of love. Every year, the marble complex becomes a place of pilgrimage for millions of people from all over the world.

The Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra (200 kilometers from Delhi). You can get there by any train that goes to Kolkata, Mumbai and Gwalior (all of them go through Agra), the travel time is 2-3 hours. From Agra to the mausoleum - by rickshaw or taxi.

Opening hours: the mausoleum is open daily, except Sunday, during daylight hours.

Entrance: for foreigners - 1,000 rupees (4,952 tenge) for Indian citizens - 650 rupees (3,301 tenge).

The Lost City of the Incas Machu Picchu located in modern Peru. This sixth new wonder of the world was created as a sacred mountain refuge when the Incas ruled Pachacutec - in the mid-15th century. However, the high mountain city remained inhabited for less than a century - until the invasion of the Spaniards, who, however, never reached it. The worldwide discovery of the Incan “city among the clouds” occurred only in 1911. Many mysteries of Machu Picchu remain unsolved; they still haunt researchers.

by Daria Nessel | Dec 15, 2016

The Pyramid of Cheops

Neither he nor his wife lived to see the completion of construction. The architects and sculptors completed the work they started on their own initiative so that people could admire this masterpiece of architecture.

The crypt of Mausolus stood in Halicarnassus for 1700 years, until an earthquake destroyed the three-tiered 50-meter walls, decorated with bas-reliefs and sculptures.

Four marble horses at a gallop, with the royal couple, crowned this tombstone, called the mausoleum. Since then, all such structures are called mausoleums.

From 270 to 220 BC on the shore of the island of Rhodes stood, amazing in its size, a monument to the sun god Helios in the form of a young man with a torch in his raised hand. Delightful on the outside, in reality it consisted mainly of mortar, its power was only a mirage that soon dissipated.

The statue of the radiant handsome man collapsed, unable to withstand the vibrations of the earth's surface, and lay there for 900 years, until the iron and bronze were sent for smelting, leaving no mention of the place where it was located.

The 32 m clay-filled giant is the progenitor of the colossi that appeared later, such as, for example, the Statue of Liberty in the USA. There is a project for a virtual embodiment of the Colossus of Rhodes.

Alexandrian lighthouse

The signal tower on the island of Pharos at the entrance to the harbor was erected in 280 BC. in five years and served for almost 1000 years, showing the right path to sailors and reliably protecting the capital of Egypt from attack from the sea.

The design proposed by the architect Sostratus was implemented so successfully that in the future all coastal lighthouses decided to build according to its model.

The giant fire, which burned day and night on the third level, was visible at sea almost 100 km away, thanks to mirror reflectors made of polished bronze plates, first used here.

Strong seismic shocks destroyed the building, leaving only the ruins on which another fortress was built.

In 2015, the Egyptian authorities decided to restore the Alexandria Lighthouse.

Some of the disappeared ancient wonders of the world have been reconstructed as mini-copies in the miniature park in Istanbul: the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, the Halicarnak Mausoleum.

It is better to see in reality once than to hear (read) a million times in order to understand and appreciate these beautiful works of art.

The 7 wonders of the ancient world are the results of human genius, covered with a veil of mystery and legend, created many centuries ago and almost all of them sank into the abyss without a trace.

Why exactly 7 wonders of the world? Were there really so few of them? In fact, this list should be much longer, but seven has been revered since ancient times as a magical, divine number in which providence manifests its will.

Maybe that’s why so many colors of the rainbow, notes, and days of the week are known. This is where the expressions come from: behind seven seals, seven circles of hell, in seventh heaven...

In those distant times, the Greeks annually determined a list of wonders, making it a kind of lottery, because there was so much to choose from. Until the ancient Greek poet Antipater of Sidon, in his famous poem about the 7 wonders of the world, named the objects that he considered worthy of this title.

I’m an Image Caption ready-to-use.

Later it became fashionable and ancient historians, poets and writers began to repeat it. The Seven Ancient Wonders of the World were built within 2,500 years before Christ. The geography of their location is the Mediterranean region: the territory of modern Egypt, Greece, Iraq, Turkey. This unprecedented surge of creative energy and talent took place here, leaving a bright mark on world culture.

The Pyramid of Cheops

The largest of all existing pyramids in the Giza Valley, dating from 2540–2560 BC, 146 m high (currently 138 m), with a base of just over five hectares. This is the memorial complex of Pharaoh Cheops and the only one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world that has survived to this day.

A stone monolith, completely filled with heavy, weighing more than 2 tons, blocks of cut limestone with three granite burial chambers inside. Today you can hear many hypotheses about the purpose of rooms, and new ones are constantly being put forward.

More than 5 million tons - this is the weight. Over the course of twenty years, 4 thousand builders laid them out in a geometrically correct form during a period when wheels were unknown in Egypt.

Looted in ancient times, the tomb of Khufu keeps the secret of its creation, continuing to attract the attention of scientists and archaeologists.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Babylonian miracle, built by order of Nebuchadnezzar 3000 BC. for his wife, the daughter of the Median king, so that she could dispel longing for her native land.

Four platforms, placed in tiers on powerful supports, were like a mountain hill, planted with rare trees and bushes. It was an oasis of peace and coolness in the sultry and noisy Babylon.

The name of Semiramis, a legendary woman who lived several centuries earlier, was connected by people's rumors with this unique creation, creating beautiful fairy tales. Amytis, for whose sake the birds sang and the streams gurgled, is forever forgotten by history.

Statue of Olympian Zeus

In Olympia from the 7th century BC. popular athletic competitions were held. The patron of athletes participating in competitions and citizens of the polis was the formidable head of Olympus. He was feared and respected, so a palace was built for him, suitable for such a powerful protector.

The marble temple was the largest ever dedicated to deities. An impressive ivory and gold statue of the thunder god, created by the sculptor Phidias, sat on a throne in the center of the building.
The optical effect, thanks to which the figure of the Thunderer seemed to shine in the twilight of the room, amazed those present.

For almost a millennium, the Olympians brought gifts to, until Emperor Theodosius the Second ordered the burning of the temple of the supreme pagan god in order to strengthen the formation of the Christian religion.

The Temple of Zeus at Olympia is reproduced in the Archaeological Museum of Olympia.

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

Residents of Ephesus in the 5th century BC. In honor of their patroness, Artemis, the always young goddess of the hunt, they erected a magnificent temple. They worked for almost a hundred years, experiencing serious difficulties with the foundation, located on shaky, swampy soil.

A lover of glory, Herostratus fifteen years later burned the pride of the Ephesians, thus wanting to become famous. Since then, his name has become a proverb, so he managed to achieve his goal.

The first man appeared on planet Earth 2 million years ago; archaeological excavations in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania help to draw such conclusions. During its existence, humanity has evolved, leaving behind bright traces of its existence.
What can so clearly demonstrate to us the level of development, religion, power in various periods of human habitation on earth, if not the work of human hands? Architectural monuments are a real treasure trove of history. This is what helps us remember our majestic past, our former power, recreate lost historical information, be proud of our ancestors and believe in the strength of modern society.
7 Wonders of the World– this is the most striking demonstration of the majesty of past years. Why 7? Let's start with the fact that the 7 wonders of the world were identified back in ancient times. The number “7” was considered sacred, the number of the great god Apollo; it was a symbol of completeness and impeccability.
There are stories about these delightful historical monuments back in the Hellenistic era - this is the period of time that ends with the death of Alexander the Great, more precisely in 323 BC. The ancient papyri that have reached us indicate that the wonders of the world were the subject of study in school.
The first to describe the 7 wonders of the world known today was Herodotus. True, the ancient Greek historian in his work “History” displayed only three monuments. And in the 3rd century AD, the world was presented with a complete list of “7 Wonders of the World”, which has survived to this day.
Over time, the list changed several times, old things were removed, new things were added. However, we will now look at the wonders of the world that were on the very first ancient list that has survived to this day.
The 7 Wonders of the World include: the Pyramid of Cheops and the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt, the Statue of Zeus in mainland Greece, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in Babylon, the Temple of Artemis and the Mausoleum in Halicarnassus in modern Turkey, and the Colossus of Rhodes on the island of Rhodes.
Of all these majestic historical monuments, only one has survived to this day; the rest of the architectural masterpieces, unfortunately, were destroyed.
The Pyramid of Cheops. This is the only wonder of the world that has survived to this day. The largest pyramid at Giza was built around 2000 BC. The base of the building is square, its height reaches 147 meters, but due to the fact that sandstorms and strong winds occurred around the pyramid for several millennia, one of the 7 wonders of the world went a little underground, significantly reducing its height.
According to scientists, the construction of this tomb lasted for thirty years. But the body of the pharaoh inside the walls of the tomb was never found - this fact remains a mystery to this day.
Looking at this historical monument will take your breath away. The Pyramid of Cheops amazes with its beauty and grandeur. Were ancient Egyptian slaves able to build such a masterpiece without modern tools? How did they do it?


Hanging Pyramids of Babylon. In fact, hanging gardens should have been called "hanging" gardens. During archaeological excavations, historians came across a palace complex, which was made in the form of a pyramid. The entire pyramid was covered with a lot of vegetation, which seemed to hang from the tiers of the structure.
One of the Seven Wonders of the World was built in the 7th century BC, by order of King Nebuchadnezzar II, who at that time ruled Babylon the Great.
Nebuchadnezzar entered into an alliance with the ruler of Media, Cyaxares, which was reinforced by the marriage of the Babylonian king and the daughter of Cyaxares, Amytis. Amytis from Media, a country with rich nature, filled with greenery and fresh air, was forced to move to Babylon, a city built on arid terrain, dusty and sandy. Watching his wife suffer, the caring husband decided to give his wife a gift - to create a kind of oasis where Amitis would feel at home. Nebuchadnezzar did just that, thereby giving birth to one of the 7 wonders of the world - the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Why the Gardens of Babylon? The answer to this question is very simple: this is a mistake of ancient historians. They prescribed the gardens to the Assyrian queen Semiramis, who lived two centuries earlier.
Where exactly the Hanging Gardens were located still remains a mystery. Historians have several hypotheses about this.


Zeus statue in Olympia. According to Greek mythology, Zeus is the main god. He is worshiped by thunder and lightning, the sky and the air, and the other gods fear him.
The statue of Zeus, which amazed the minds of mankind, was erected in the 5th century BC in the Temple of Zeus at Olympia. The temple was made of marble and amazed with its majesty and beauty. One of the most famous and talented architects of Greece, Phidias, was invited to make the statue of the Thunderer.
In 435 the statue was unveiled. At this moment, all of Greece froze in amazement. No wonders of the world could compare with the power, strength, and beauty of the statue of the great god Zeus. Zeus was made of gold and ivory. She sat on a golden throne, in her hands was a golden scepter, a golden eagle sat proudly at her feet, and a wreath adorned her head.
It is known that in the 5th century AD the statue still existed. But after the Greeks adopted Christianity, all temples were closed. Theodosius I ordered the statue to be dismantled into parts. After which the great work of art burned down, either in Constantinople or in Greece itself.


Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. The Temple of Artemis was built in the 6th century BC. But before this architectural structure acquired the form in which it became one of the wonders of the world, it was built many times and destroyed many times.
The inhabitants of the ancient world, namely Greece, worshiped the great goddess of fertility Artemis. At a certain point, having chosen a place where sacrifices were mainly made for the goddess, the inhabitants of Ephesus began construction. Wooden buildings could not withstand natural destruction, so the temple was built several times.
Finally, the famous and talented sculptor Chersifon built a better temple in 450 BC, but a hundred years later it was burned. Then the sculptor’s followers decided to make the temple out of marble. It was the greatest masterpiece of art, and it became one of the 7 wonders of the world. The majestic structure was of enormous proportions: length – 105 meters, width – 51 meters.
Unfortunately, already in 263 the temple was plundered by the Goths. In the 4th century AD, a single religion, Christianity, was proclaimed, which demanded the destruction of all pagan cultural monuments.


Mausoleum in Halicarnassus. When exactly the construction of the mausoleum began remains unknown. Construction is considered to have begun around the 4th century BC. The time when Kariya was still a colony of the Persian Empire.
The ruler of Caria, Mavsol, began construction during his lifetime. It was finished by Mavsol's wife.
By the way, the name “mausoleum” comes from the name of the ruler – Mavsol.
The finished structure was amazing, it was so beautiful. The mausoleum in Halicarnassus was a large architectural structure, inside of which there was its own courtyard. Thin and at the same time very powerful carved images decorated the decoration of the building.
It is not known exactly how the mausoleum was destroyed. The historical monument was finally destroyed by a Maltese raid in the 15th century, or an earthquake.
The remains of the mausoleum were found in 1977 as a result of archaeological excavations by Christian Jeppez.


The Colossus of Rhodes. The Colossus of Rhodes is the penultimate one on the ancient list of 7 wonders of the world.
Unfortunately, if you now want to admire one of the most powerful monuments of ancient architecture - the 36-meter high Greek god of the sun - Helios, then you will not be able to. Since the greatest historical monument was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC. That work of art, which was created by the greatest ancient sculptors over the course of 12 years, stood for only 60 years.
The decision to create such a sculpture of impressive size was prompted by the gratitude of the inhabitants of Rhodes, for the fact that the supposedly great Helios contributed to the fact that Demetrius the Great was able to protect the city from the conquerors.
Now they are trying to restore one of the 7 wonders of the world. According to the plan of modern architects, the statue will be increased in size by another 30 meters, and there will be an entertainment complex inside it.


Alexandrian lighthouse. The list of “Wonders of the World” ends with a work of art that was located near Alexandria.
Alexandria was a port city, and the shore of the Mediterranean Sea was too shallow and the bottom was rocky. Therefore, in 285, a grandiose construction began on the island of Pharos, near Alexandria.
As a result of lengthy work, a 120-meter statue consisting of three sections appeared to the world. In the upper compartment of which a huge fire was burning. Stone and marble are the main components of the structure, which was supposed to be built to last. But, unfortunately, fate was not destined for such a long existence for the magnificent tower. After standing for almost 1000 years, the masterpiece of ancient art collapsed as a result of an earthquake.


Wonders of the world, how many mysteries and secrets do they contain? There is so much we still don’t know and will never know. One thing becomes clear: it is necessary to carefully protect our cultural values ​​so that our descendants can admire the amazing historical monuments with their own eyes.

Last week, I went to visit my mother, and found my old children’s encyclopedia “7 Wonders of the World” from her, flipped through it with nostalgia, and finally decided to make a post about the wonders of the world, because today there are many more than 7 wonders of the world.

To begin with, I propose to recall these “7 wonders” of antiquity.

The only miracle that has survived to this day. Construction, which lasted twenty years, began around 2560 BC. e. Excavation data from January 2010 confirm the theory that the pyramids were built by civilian workers. Up to 10 thousand people were simultaneously employed at the construction site, with workers working in shifts of three months. It is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids of the necropolis of the city of Giza.

Initially, the Cheops pyramid rose to 147 meters, but due to the advance of sands, its height decreased to 137 meters.

The Cheops Pyramid consists of 2,300,000 cubic blocks of limestone with smoothly polished sides. Each block weighs on average 2.5 tons, and the heaviest is 15 tons, the total weight of the pyramid is 5.7 million tons.

Confirmation of the inexplicably high knowledge of the Egyptians in the field of astronomy and civil engineering is the location of the Cheops pyramid in relation to the cardinal points: the pyramid almost unmistakably points to the true north. As a result of precise measurements carried out in 1925, an incredible fact was established: the error in its position was only 3 minutes 6 seconds.

The base area of ​​the pyramid is comparable to the area of ​​10 football fields.

We can talk for a long time about the pyramids shrouded in myths and legends, their labyrinths and traps, mummies and treasures, but let’s leave that to Egyptologists. For us, the Cheops Pyramid is one of the greatest structures of mankind throughout its existence and, of course, the only First Wonder of the World that has survived to this day from the depths of centuries.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon (Babylon)

The city has long ceased to exist, but even today the ruins testify to its grandeur. In the 7th century BC. Babylon was the largest and richest city of the Ancient East. There were many amazing structures in Babylon, but most striking were the hanging gardens of the royal palace - gardens that became a legend.

the famous “Hanging Gardens” were created not by Semiramis and not even during her reign, but later, in honor of another - non-legendary - woman. They were built by order of King Nebuchadnezzar for his beloved wife Amytis, a Median princess who, in dusty Babylon, yearned for the green hills of Media.

This king, who destroyed city after city and even entire states, built a lot in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar turned the capital into an impregnable stronghold and surrounded himself with luxury unparalleled even in those times.

The design of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon was a pyramid with a base (43x35 meters), which consisted of four tiers mounted on twenty-five-meter columns. The surface of each tier was covered with a layer of reeds (reeds), stone blocks held together with gypsum and lead plates, on which a thick layer of fertile soil was poured. All these measures helped to preserve water for plants for as long as possible, of which there was very little in Babylon.

The height of the structure was almost thirty meters! Trees, flowers, soil - all this was brought in carts drawn by oxen. Water was supplied through pipes from the Euphrates River. To do this, hundreds of slaves turned a huge wheel installed in one of the towers around the clock.

Zeus statue in Olympia

The statue of Olympian Zeus is the work of Phidias. An outstanding work of ancient sculpture, one of the seven wonders of the world. It was located in the temple of Olympian Zeus, in Olympia - a city in the region of Elis. Construction of the temple took about 10 years. But the statue of Zeus did not appear in it right away. The Greeks decided to invite the famous Athenian sculptor Phidias to create a statue of Zeus.

Ancient Roman sculpture "Seated Zeus", Phidias type. Hermitage Gold covered the cape that covered part of Zeus’s body, the scepter with an eagle, which he held in his left hand, the statue of the goddess of victory - Nike, which he held in his right hand, and a wreath of olive branches on Zeus’s head. Zeus's feet rested on a stool supported by two lions. The reliefs of the throne glorified, first of all, Zeus himself. Four dancing Nikes were depicted on the legs of the throne. Centaurs, lapiths, the exploits of Theseus and Hercules, and frescoes depicting the battle of the Greeks with the Amazons were also depicted. The base of the statue was 6 meters wide and 1 meter high. The height of the entire statue together with the pedestal was, according to various sources, from 12 to 17 meters. Zeus's eyes were the size of an adult's fist.

Temple of Artemis of Ephesus (Ephesus)

Several hundred years BC, when Ephesus was at the zenith of its glory, the inhabitants decided to build a large temple. By that time, the city was already about 600 years old, it was rich and powerful, growing and prospering under the patronage of the goddess Artemis, sister of Apollo and daughter of Zeus - known in Roman mythology as Diana the Huntress. Artemis was also considered the goddess of the moon and helped women during childbirth.

The place for the new, majestic and grandiose temple in the part of the goddess was chosen as sacred - even in ancient times, religious rituals took place there. The townspeople decided not to spare either money or time, and also attracted wealthy construction sponsors from other regions of the country.

The finished temple was magnificent, and was constantly decorated with new decorative elements - after all, Ephesus was a very rich city. Historical data is contradictory, but it is mentioned that the temple had many bronze statues, the interior was decorated with gold and silver, the statue of the goddess herself was made of ivory and gold, and trimmed with ebony.

It is noteworthy that in those days the temple was not only a religious building, but also a financial and business center. The souvenir business also flourished: not far from the temple, original souvenirs - its smaller copies - were successfully sold. Scientists still have not figured out which temple was considered a wonder of the world - rebuilt or burned by Herostratus

mausoleum in Halicarnassus

The Mausoleum in Halicarnassus is a wonderful monument of ancient Greek architectural art, which went down in the history of ancient culture as one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World. Our contemporaries generally believe that the mausoleum is the tomb of great leaders.

The builders placed the tomb in the peripterus - a building framed by a colonnade of 11-meter columns. To support the roof of the mausoleum, 36 columns were needed. The spaces between the columns were filled with various statues of mythological figures, and the roof looked like a step pyramid with 24 steps. Its crown was a marble quadriga, that is, an antique chariot with four horses harnessed to it. Huge statues of Mausolus and Artemisia were placed in the chariot, playing the role of charioteers. This magnificent sculpture reached a height of 6 m. In the tomb room there were marble sarcophagi intended for the royal couple. The foot of the mausoleum was decorated with sculptures of horsemen and marble lions.

In general, the history of the Halicarnassus mausoleum is eventful. At one time, he survived the conquest of the city by Alexander the Great, and even withstood the attack of pirates who set their sights on Halicarnassus at the beginning of the 1st century. However, after the Maltese attacked the mausoleum and took away stone and marble slabs from it, only the foundation remained of the majestic structure.

Colossus of Rhodes (Rhodes)

The colossus was the name given to a giant statue that stood in the port city of Rhodes, an island in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of modern Turkey. In ancient times, the people of Rhodes wanted to be independent traders.

The colossus grew on the shore of the harbor on an artificial hill lined with white marble. For twelve years no one saw the statue, because as soon as the next belt of bronze sheets was attached to the frame, the embankment surrounding the colossus was added to make it more convenient for the craftsmen to climb up. And only when the embankment was removed, the Rhodians saw their patron god, whose head was adorned with a radiant crown.

The sparkling god was visible many kilometers from Rhodes, and soon rumors about him spread throughout the ancient world. But half a century later, a strong earthquake that destroyed Rhodes knocked the colossus to the ground; the most vulnerable point of the statue was the knees. This is where the expression “colossus with feet of clay” comes from.

So the colossus lay on the shore of the bay - the main tourist attraction of the island. The defeated giant was seen by Pliny the Elder, who came there in the first century AD. What struck Pliny most was that only a few people could wrap their hands around the thumb of the statue.

The colossus lying on the ground was overgrown with cobwebs and legends. In eyewitness accounts, he seemed much larger than he actually was. Legends appeared in Roman literature that it originally towered over the entrance to the harbor and was so large that ships passed between its legs to the city.

Alexandria Lighthouse (Pharos)

The Lighthouse of Alexandria (Faros Lighthouse) is one of the seven ancient wonders of the world, built in the 3rd century BC. e. on the small island of Pharos off the coast of the Egyptian city of Alexandria. It was a busy port founded by Alexander the Great during his visit to Egypt in 332 BC. e.

The Alexandria Lighthouse was the world's first lighthouse and the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World that served a practical purpose, helping ships safely pass the reefs on their way to Alexandria Bay. The lighthouse, according to various estimates, rose to a height of 120 to 140 meters, and the light it emitted could be visible at a distance of up to 60 km.

The lighthouse stood for almost a thousand years, but by the 12th century AD. e., the Alexandria Bay became so silted that ships could no longer use it and the lighthouse fell into disrepair. Abandoned, it stood for some time, until in 796 AD. e. it was not destroyed by an earthquake. At the end of the 15th century. Sultan Qait Bey erected a fortress from the rubble on the site of the lighthouse, which was subsequently rebuilt more than once.

These are the miracles that were described in my book. The same ones: 7 wonders. But time does not stand still, and now there are many more such miracles. It seems to me that they are also worthy of our attention...

New 7 wonders of the world

Great Wall of China (China)

The Great Wall of China is one of the oldest architectural monuments in China and a symbol of the power of Chinese civilization. There is probably not a single civilized person in the world who has not heard of the Great Wall of China. It stretches from the Liaodong Gulf northeast of Beijing through Northern China to the Gobi Desert.

Construction took 10 years and faced numerous difficulties. The main problem was the lack of appropriate infrastructure for construction: there were no roads, there was no adequate water and food for those involved in the work, while their number reached 300 thousand people, and the total number of builders involved under Qin reached, according to some estimates, 2 million. Slaves, soldiers, and peasants were involved in the construction. As a result of epidemics and overwork, at least tens of thousands of people died. Outrage against the mobilization for the construction of the wall caused popular uprisings and served as one of the reasons for the fall of the Qin dynasty.

Probably, no creation of human hands amazes the imagination as much as the Great Wall of China - the most grandiose and longest architectural and fortification structure on the planet. The wall is not just impressive - it is stunning. First of all, the titanic labor invested in it and its prohibitive size. Truly, only the Chinese, organized and hardworking like ants, could endure this. In China they say that a good half of their history lies in the Great Wall of China - it was built by different generations and dynasties over more than two thousand years, and all the country’s wars are connected with it in one way or another.

Christ the Redeemer Statue (Rio de Janeiro)

One of the most famous statues in the world and certainly the most recognizable in Brazil is the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Installed on Mount Corcovado at an altitude of more than 700 meters, she looks at the huge city below her with outstretched arms in a gesture of blessing. The Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro, due to its fame, attracts millions of tourists to Mount Corcovado. From its height there is a beautiful view of the city of ten million with its bays, beaches, and the Maracana stadium.

The height of the statue is 38 m, including the pedestal - 8 m; arm span - 28 m. Weight - 1145 tons. Being the highest point in the area, the statue regularly (on average four times a year) becomes the target of lightning. The Catholic diocese specially keeps a supply of the stone from which the statue was built to restore parts of the statue damaged by lightning

The statue of Christ the Redeemer is without a doubt one of the main symbols not only of Rio de Janeiro, but of all of Brazil. Many tourists visit the statue every year. Mount Corcovado experiences a particularly large influx of visitors during the traditional annual carnival, which is held in Rio de Janeiro. Definitely, this grandiose monument is one of the greatest works of sculpture in the world.

Colosseum (Rome)

amphitheater, an architectural monument of Ancient Rome, the most famous and one of the most grandiose buildings of the ancient world that have survived to this day. Located in Rome, in the hollow between the Esquiline, Palatine and Caelian hills.

The construction of the largest amphitheater in the entire ancient world, with a capacity of over 50 thousand people, took place over eight years as a collective construction of the emperors of the Flavian dynasty. It began to be built in 72 AD. under Emperor Vespasian, and in 80 AD. The amphitheater was consecrated by Emperor Titus. The amphitheater was located on the site where there was a pond that belonged to the Golden House of Nero.

For a long time, the Colosseum was for the residents of Rome and visitors the main place for entertainment spectacles, such as gladiator fights, animal persecution, and naval battles.

The opening of the Colosseum was marked by 100 days of entertainment. During this time, several thousand warriors and 5 thousand wild animals brought from Africa died in gladiatorial tournaments. The theater's arena had a sliding floor that raised and lowered, and with the help of a water supply connected to the Colosseum, the stage was filled with water and naval battles were staged. Up to 3,000 gladiators could fight in the arena at the same time, and 50 thousand spectators, frantically demanding “bread and circuses,” tensely watched the bloody battles, chariot races and theatrical performances. The scale of the celebrations dedicated to the opening of the Colosseum could only be matched by the bloody celebration of the 1000th anniversary of Rome in 248, when dozens of lions, tigers, leopards, elephants, giraffes, horses, donkeys and hyenas were killed in just 3 days. The 1000th anniversary of the “eternal city” became the last day of life for 2000 gladiators.

Machu Picchu (Peru)

A city of ancient America, located on the territory of modern Peru. Machu Picchu is also often called “the city in the sky” or “the city among the clouds”, sometimes called the “lost city of the Incas”. This city was created as a sacred mountain retreat by the great Inca ruler Pachacutec a century before the conquest of his empire, around 1440, and functioned until 1532, when the Spanish invaded the Inca Empire. In 1532, all its inhabitants mysteriously disappeared.

Due to its modest size, Machu Picchu cannot claim to be a large city - it has no more than 200 buildings. These are mainly temples, residences, warehouses and other premises for public needs. For the most part they are made of well-processed stone, slabs tightly fitted to each other. It is believed that up to 1,200 people lived in and around it, who worshiped the sun god Inti there and cultivated crops on the terraces. For more than 400 years, this city was forgotten and was in desolation.

Machu Picchu, especially after receiving UNESCO World Heritage status, has become a center of mass tourism. In 2011, it was decided to limit the number of visitors. According to new rules, only 2,500 tourists per day can visit Machu Picchu, of which no more than 400 people can climb Mount Wayna Picchu, which is part of the archaeological complex. In order to preserve the monument, UNESCO requires that the number of tourists per day be reduced to 800. Machu Picchu is located in a remote region.

City of Petra (Jordan)

The city of Petra in Jordan is located in the heart of the desert. This place is the heritage of an ancient culture. Built more than two thousand years ago, it is of great value for admirers of ancient architecture and art. This ancient miracle city stretches along a winding valley formed among the rocks, on a site that was a river bed in ancient times. Steps carved into the rocks lead to an innumerable number of structures - monuments, necropolises, reservoirs, altars. More than eight hundred monuments of Petra have survived to this day.

Petra's surviving structures include rock-cut temples, dwellings, tombs, reservoirs, aqueducts and altars. If you approach the city along the es-Siq gorge, the first large monument that opens up to your gaze is el-Khazneh - a temple located in a solid rock with a two-tiered façade approx. 20 m.

A mysterious people who have reached unattainable architectural heights are the Nabateans. Without exaggeration, we can say that the best reminder that they left about themselves to their descendants and which speaks about them better than any chronicles is a windswept pink rock masterpiece, hidden by them among the inaccessible mountains.

Pyramid of Kukulcan (Mexico)

25 meters high with nine levels, located in the center of a large square. The base of the pyramid is a square with sides of 55.5 meters. On each side of the pyramid there are four wide staircases, each with 91 steps. And these stairs lead to the upper platform on which the temple is located.

The northern staircase of the pyramid ends with snake heads - a symbol of Kukulkan, because translated from the Mayan language, Kukulkan is a feathered serpent.

Exactly at 17:15, the light show begins - the sun's rays, when going around the ledges of the pyramid on the days of the equinox, through the play of light and shadows, depict the image of a revived ancient god. This effect lasts for 3 hours and 22 minutes. The sun goes lower and the image becomes clearer. Soon the seven curves of the body of the Solar Serpent appear - they are formed by the shadows of the seven ledges of the pyramid. The sun goes down - and the snake also slides, lower and lower. And below, at the foot of the pyramid, the head of the image coincides with the real stone sculptured head of the serpent, which ends the northern staircase of the pyramid.

The ancient builders of the Mayan tribe were simply brilliant, being able to calculate the parameters so accurately at that time and placing the walls of the pyramid strictly along the cardinal points. The Kukulcan Pyramid has some astronomical significance. Each of its staircases has 91 steps, and the total number of steps is 364, plus the upper platform step at the base of the temple, for a total of 365 - a number corresponding to the number of days in a year. And the side parts of the structure are divided in accordance with the number of months in the Mayan calendar - into eighteen sections.

Taj Mahal (India)

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum-mosque located in Agra, India, on the banks of the Jamna River (the architects were probably Ustad-Isa and others). Built by order of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth (Shah Jahan himself was later buried here). Although the white marble dome of the mausoleum is the most famous component, the Taj Mahal is a structurally integrated complex. The building began to be built around 1632 and was completed in 1653, employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The management of the construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a Council of Architects under imperial control, including Abd ul-Karim Mamur Khan, Makramat Khan and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Lakhauri is usually considered the main designer.

Majestic, divine, shining, and, despite its 74-meter height, so light and airy that it is like a fairy-tale dream, the Taj Mahal mausoleum rises in the valley of the Yamuna River - the most beautiful architectural creation of India, and, perhaps, of the whole earth... White marble domes soar high into the sky - one large and four small ones, in the chaste outlines of which one can guess the female form. Reflected in the motionless surface of an artificial canal, the Taj Mahal seems to float in front of us, representing an example of extraterrestrial beauty and perfect harmony... But it is not only architectural perfection that attracts millions of travelers from all over the world to the Taj Mahal. The story of its origin makes no less impression on the hearts of people... A story more like an oriental fairy tale or legend that any poet would envy...

Everyone has heard about the wonders of the world, but there is often confusion about what exactly is considered such. Often this list includes those buildings and monuments that, of course, have enormous historical and cultural value, but are not included in the official list. In addition, in 2007, new “miracles” were chosen in Portugal, so we can say that there are already more than seven of them. All of them made a huge contribution to the culture of mankind. Wikipedia and other encyclopedias write in great detail about the seven wonders of the world. Let's look at a brief description of each.

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The wonders of the Ancient World are studied in history lessons at school. It included those structures that were created before our era. Not a single one of them has survived to this day, except for the Cheops pyramids. These include:

• Pyramid of Cheops.
• Statue of Zeus at Olympia.
• Colossus of Rhodes.
• Alexandrian lighthouse.

Pyramid of Cheops and Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Both structures belong to the legendary tombs, but the time of their construction is very different.

It is interesting that the Cheops pyramid - the most ancient wonder of the world and, at the same time, the only one that has survived to this day. It was created approximately two thousand years BC. e., and there are still debates about the mysteries of its construction and sometimes completely incredible theories are put forward. For example, the shape of the pyramids exactly repeats the location of the stars in the constellation Orion, so some consider the pyramids to be a gift from alien civilizations. Every year thousands of tourists from all over the world come to see them. Indeed, the building amazes once and for all.

This structure, like all the mausoleums built later, received the name of King Mausolus, who, after his death, ordered the erection of a monument similar to the pyramids of Egypt, glorifying the king himself and his wife. The building was not only a tomb, but also a temple. On the first tier the king rested, and on the second one it was possible to conduct divine services. In the mausoleum, both statues of gods and statues of Mausolus himself and his wife Artemisia were installed. The statues of the royal couple have survived to this day; you can find photos of them and even look at them in the British Museum.

The gardens got their name from the legendary Queen Semiramis, but, oddly enough, she has nothing to do with them. Two centuries after her death, the Babylonian king decided to marry the daughter of the king of Media - a country surrounded by gardens and greenery. Babylon stood in the desert, and in order to amaze the bride, the ruler ordered the creation of gardens of unprecedented beauty. The tubs with plants bloomed so magnificently that they almost hid the building on whose walls they were located, and seemed to hang in the air. The structure looked especially majestic in the middle of the barren desert, when the traveler saw a magical garden in the endless sands, symbolizing the greatness of Babylon and its king.

Supreme Greek god reached the height of a five-story building, to work on it, the architect Phidias demanded that a workshop be created that would replicate the temple in which the statue was installed. At the same time, Zeus, sitting on the throne, seemed to “not fit” into the temple; if the statue could have stood up, it would have broken the vault. This emphasized the greatness of God.

The materials were also selected appropriately: ivory and gold. Interesting: Phidias, in those distant times, when physics had not yet reached its peak, managed to choose the material and location of the statue in such a way that it seemed that the light falling on it was reflected, and it seemed to glow from within. After the establishment of Christianity and the closure of pagan temples, Zeus was transported to Constantinople, where, unfortunately, he burned down.

Its significance was great; the building was used not only for religious ceremonies, but also for public meetings and even trade. The best sculptors and architects worked on the structure; the building amazed with its beauty and majesty. It is also famous for the fact that it was burned by the hot-tempered young man Herostratus, who thus decided to leave his name in history. It is worth noting that he really succeeded. Fortunately, the temple was restored.

The Colossus of Rhodes

The colossus on feet of clay collapsed seventy years after its construction, but rightfully takes its place among the wonders of the world. There is some debate about its height; estimates range from forty to sixty meters. There is a legend that ships sailed easily between his legs, although this theory is now controversial. According to the descriptions found, the colossus could have been located not in the port, but on land, in the city of Rhodes. It was erected as a thank you to the god Helios for protecting the city from enemy troops who left after a year of siege. Interestingly, the main sculptor of the colossus committed suicide, because to complete his creation he borrowed a huge amount, which he was unable to return.

Alexandrian lighthouse

Alexandria Lighthouse - this structure saved the lives of more than one ship, as its light spread over sixty kilometers. Built among reefs and rocks, the one hundred and thirty-five meter high lighthouse pointed the way to a saving bay in one of the most dangerous places at sea. According to surviving descriptions, the sculptures inside the lighthouse were very interesting:

• One of them pointed to the position of the sun all day, and at night her hand dropped.
• The other was built like a clock, striking the hour every sixty minutes.
• The third always pointed with her hand in the direction where the wind was blowing, and was thus used as a weather vane.

To perpetuate his name, the sculptor, who was required to glorify the king, resorted to a trick - he carved his name on a stone, covered it with plaster and wrote the name of the king. Centuries later, the plaster crumbled, and the name of the architect came to us - Sostratus of Knidos.