There are two lists containing seven wonders, one of them of the ancient world and the other of the modern world. It is a common misconception to default to listing the Seven Wonders of the New World when asked. However, those of the ancient world are just as significant. Unfortunately, only one of the ancient wonders remains to this day while all the others are long gone.
Great Pyramid of Giza
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest of The Seven Wonders of The Ancient World and, unexpectedly, it is the only one that has remained largely intact to this day. Today, it is situated in the capital of Egypt, Cairo. It is believed that this pyramid was built for Pharaoh Khufu as a monumental tomb and that its construction took about 20 years. For approximately 3800 years, until the beginning of the 20th century, it was accepted as the largest man-made artificial structure in terms of volume and mass. Additionally, its height record wasn’t broken for four thousand years. It is the oldest wonder visitable and, surprisingly, the entrance fee isn’t over the top as expected. You have to pay 240 EGP to enter the area of the pyramids as in 240 TL or 7 USD. 440 EGP (411 TL - 24 USD) for the pyramid of Khufu and 100 EGP (93 TL - 3 USD) to enter the pyramid of Khafre. It may not be suitable for all but, in my personal opinion, it’s definitely one of the top places to visit in the world.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
All we have left of the gardens of Babylon are the myths and the portrayals. In my opinion, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon have the most enchanting and fascinating design out of all the other wonders. They have been described as having remarkable engineering with a series of gardens containing a wide variety of trees, bushes, and vines, resembling a great green mountain that is built of mud bricks. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon is the only wonder of the ancient world whose location was not precisely determined, although it is said to have been built in the ancient city of Babylon near Hille in Iraq’s Babil province.
Statue of Zeus at Olympia
The Statue of Zeus was a huge statue built on Mount Olympus for the Temple of Zeus, made by Phidias in 456 BC. It’s a magnificent work of art that is 13 meters tall and depicts Zeus sitting. It was manufactured of gold and ivory, and the valuable stones attracted attention to the statue more than the statue itself did. The statue describes Zeus as carrying the goddess of Victory, Nike, on his right hand while holding an ornate and luxurious staff, again made of precious stones.
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
The Temple of Artemis, also known as the Temple of Diana, was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Its construction ended in 550 BC in Ephesus and was solely made of marble. On the night when Alexander the Great was said to have been born, the temple was intentionally burned down by Herostratus who hoped to immortalize his name by setting fire to the wooden frame of the roof. Today, only a few pieces remain and the ancient city is located in İzmir. The temple is the outcome of a 120-year-old project, initiated by the Lydian King Croesus.
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, also known as the Tomb of Mausolus, was a tomb built between 353 and 350 BC by the wife and sister of Mausolus for him. Mausolus was a former ruler of Caria which is a region of western Anatolia also being the home of Halicarnassus, an ancient Greek city. Mausolus enjoyed having the statue of a king through the virtue of the powerful position created by his father, Hecatomnus. Both Mausolus and Hecatomnus were not only rulers but also cruel satraps. His father Hecatomnus started was the one who authorized having a group of people in higher demand. The tomb was situated in Halicarnassus and if the structure had remained to this day, it would be in the Bodrum district of Muğla.
Colossus of Rhodes
The Colossus of Rhodes resembles the Greek God of Sun Helios. It was established between 300 and 400 BC and is thought to have risen to 32 meters. It was created by Khares who was one of the most famous sculptors of the period. Due to an earthquake, the statue was destroyed and the ruins left of it are on display at a museum in Rhode Island.
Lighthouse of Alexandria
The Lighthouse of Alexandria was constructed between 285 and 245 BC on Phoras Island, whose location is directly opposite the Port of Alexandria in Egypt. It’s recorded as the tallest lighthouse at 135 meters. This enthralling structure with a unique architectural character consists of three parts; lower, middle, and upper sections. At the upper part of the lighthouse is a massive mirror that you can see from even 70 kilometers away. Because of an earthquake that took place in the 14th century, the Lighthouse of Alexandria which was exclusively made of white marble was demolished.
Works Cited:
Wikipedia, Dünyanın Harikaları, Accessed 5 Dec. 2023
Etstur, Antik Dünyanın 7 Harikası, Accessed 6 Dec. 2023
Wikipedia, Mausolus, Accessed 11 Dec. 2023