SEVEN WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD

What Makes These Wonders So Wonderful?

Temple of Artemis

These Wonders of the World originate from history, before the birth of Christ, during the Greek era. (second century B.C.). These were built during a period of time that extended more than two thousand years: from the ancient kingdoms of Egypt and Babylon to the Golden Age of Classical Greece.

Mausoleum of Halicarnassus

A Greek poet named Antipater (also known as Antipatros) created a list of seven marvelous structures, later to be known as the Seven Wonders of the World. This list was created by him as a tribute to the ancient world's achievements, a summary of mankind's outstanding accomplishments in creation. Antipater, however, was not alone in compiling lists of these great works. Only one other nearly complete list of Wonders of the World has existed through the years. This was found in a book said to have been written by a famous Greek engineer and mathematician named Philon of Byzantium, yet many scholars and historians believe that Philon had not written the book - they believe that a man had written it after Philon's death and had signed it under Philon's name to gain recognition. In these two lists consistency was dominant in several of these Wonders of the World, yet an only six were originally on these lists. The final Wonder of the World - The Lighthouse of Alexandria - was added to the list in the sixth century B.C.

What about the other Wonders of the World?

The Greeks, unfortunately, were limited, like the rest of this early European Civilization, to their general region. Many Wonders of the World lay around the globe, out of site from these Mediterranean based civilizations. Actually, you may have already noticed that all of these Wonders of the World are situated around the Mediterranean exclusively.

       The Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt (near Cairo)

       The Hanging Gardens of Babylon (in present-day Iraq)

       The Statue of Zeus at Olympia (on the Pelopponese)

       The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus (near Izmir - TURKEY)

       The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus (in Bodrum - TURKEY)

       The Colossus of Rhodes

       The Lighthouse (Pharos) of Alexandria in Egypt