7 Wonders of the Ancient World

What is an ancient Wonder of the World? ancient Greeks compiled lists of marvelous structures in their world ancient Greeks compiled lists of marvelous structures in their world number of Greek writes compiled lists number of Greek writes compiled lists Antipater of Sidon, Philon of Byzantium, and Callimachus of Cyrene Antipater of Sidon, Philon of Byzantium, and Callimachus of Cyrene 1 st list compiled in 2 nd century B.C. 1 st list compiled in 2 nd century B.C. many lists agreed on 6 of 7 of the wonders many lists agreed on 6 of 7 of the wonders

What is an ancient Wonder of the World?- cont. Walls of the city of Babylon Walls of the city of Babylon Palace of Cyrus, king of Persia Palace of Cyrus, king of Persia Pharos of Alexandria locked up 7 th spot in the 6 th century A.D. Pharos of Alexandria locked up 7 th spot in the 6 th century A.D. Greeks did not know about Great Wall of China or Stonehenge Greeks did not know about Great Wall of China or Stonehenge not all the 7 Wonders existed at the same time not all the 7 Wonders existed at the same time

The Great Pyramid of Giza also known as Pyramid of Khufu (or Cheops) also known as Pyramid of Khufu (or Cheops) Egypt Egypt 2560 B.C B.C. oldest of 7 Ancient Wonders oldest of 7 Ancient Wonders only Ancient Wonder still standing only Ancient Wonder still standing Royal tomb of Egyptian pharaoh Khufu who lived about 2560 B.C. Royal tomb of Egyptian pharaoh Khufu who lived about 2560 B.C.

The Great Pyramid of Giza- cont. originally stood 480 feet tall originally stood 480 feet tall 2.3 million blocks (some weighing up to 9 tons) 2.3 million blocks (some weighing up to 9 tons)

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon destroyed long ago destroyed long ago B.C B.C. never noted by Babylonian historians, so some people think myth never noted by Babylonian historians, so some people think myth Noted by Greek historians (Greeks came after Babylonians) Noted by Greek historians (Greeks came after Babylonians) King Nebuchadnezzar’s palace King Nebuchadnezzar’s palace

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon- cont. built for king’s wife b/c she was homesick for her native Media (northwest Iran) built for king’s wife b/c she was homesick for her native Media (northwest Iran) current archeologists divided over location of palace current archeologists divided over location of palace

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus enormous rectangular structure enormous rectangular structure made of shining white marble made of shining white marble Ephesus Ephesus 550 B.C. 550 B.C. honored Artemis (Apollo’s twin sister), goddess of hunting honored Artemis (Apollo’s twin sister), goddess of hunting 127 columns 127 columns Large open courtyard served as marketplace for artisans and magicians Large open courtyard served as marketplace for artisans and magicians

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus- cont. Courtyard also used as religious site by priests and priestesses Courtyard also used as religious site by priests and priestesses Destroyed and rebuilt several times Destroyed and rebuilt several times Burned to the ground by fire in 356 B.C. Burned to the ground by fire in 356 B.C. Destroyed in 262 A.D. Destroyed in 262 A.D. Torn down in 401 A.D. Torn down in 401 A.D. Recent attempts to rebuild temple resulted in a few column erected Recent attempts to rebuild temple resulted in a few column erected

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus- cont.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia enormous statue of Zeus enormous statue of Zeus ancient Olympic games held in honor of Zeus ancient Olympic games held in honor of Zeus 440 B.C. 440 B.C. at Olympia in Greece at Olympia in Greece Created by great sculptor Pheidias Created by great sculptor Pheidias 43 foot statue 43 foot statue thin plate of ivory over wooden framework used to create Zeus’ flesh thin plate of ivory over wooden framework used to create Zeus’ flesh Moved by Greeks to palace at Constantinople Moved by Greeks to palace at Constantinople

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia- cont. destroyed by fire in 462 A.D. in Constantinople destroyed by fire in 462 A.D. in Constantinople some copies of statues were made some copies of statues were made most famous copy was at Cyrene in Libya most famous copy was at Cyrene in Libya no copies survive no copies survive visual representation of statue come from ancient Greek coins bearing the likeness of the statue visual representation of statue come from ancient Greek coins bearing the likeness of the statue

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia- cont.

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus tomb of king Maussollos tomb of king Maussollos Maussollos- ruler of Caria from B.C. Maussollos- ruler of Caria from B.C. 350 B.C. 350 B.C. adorned with statues and carvings of people and animals, including horses, lions, and a leopard adorned with statues and carvings of people and animals, including horses, lions, and a leopard battle scenes depicted battle scenes depicted build by King’s wife and sister Artemisia build by King’s wife and sister Artemisia

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus- cont. so enormous that it amazed everyone who saw it so enormous that it amazed everyone who saw it mausoleum refers to any large tomb mausoleum refers to any large tomb tombs blocks used to fortify nearby Bodrum Castle tombs blocks used to fortify nearby Bodrum Castle completely disassembled by 1522 completely disassembled by 1522

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus- cont.

The Colossus of Rhodes least understood of all the ancient Wonders least understood of all the ancient Wonders B.C B.C. only stood erect for 56 years only stood erect for 56 years no one knows exactly where it stood or what it looked like no one knows exactly where it stood or what it looked like enormous bronze statue- 110 feet high enormous bronze statue- 110 feet high sun god, Helios sun god, Helios built overlooking the harbor of Rhodes built overlooking the harbor of Rhodes

The Colossus of Rhodes- cont. 226 B.C.- earthquake broke statue at its knee 226 B.C.- earthquake broke statue at its knee never re-erected never re-erected fragments transported to Syria on the backs of 900 camels by a Jew fragments transported to Syria on the backs of 900 camels by a Jew Jew bought fragments from Arabs who pillaged the region Jew bought fragments from Arabs who pillaged the region

The Colossus of Rhodes- cont.

The Pharos of Alexandria youngest of 7 Wonders youngest of 7 Wonders erected off Pharos Island during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus ( B.C.) erected off Pharos Island during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus ( B.C.) called the Pharos, which, because of its fame, came to mean lighthouse all over the Greek world called the Pharos, which, because of its fame, came to mean lighthouse all over the Greek world decimated by earthquakes decimated by earthquakes fort build where lighthouse once stood fort build where lighthouse once stood

The Pharos of Alexandria- cont.