Wonders of the world: how many were and how many survived. Seven wonders of the world: who created the masterpieces of antiquity Seven ancient wonders

The history of the ancient world is interesting and beautiful. It attracts many of our contemporaries. Even after many years, people are interested in the way of life of their ancestors. And, of course, the most famous monuments of the ancient world, the Seven Wonders of the World, arouse curiosity.

The wealth of antiquity

It is impossible to tell about the ancient world with the help of a couple of words. This is a huge layer of time, which begins in those distant times, when man first appeared, and goes right up to the Middle Ages. During this time, people managed to create a lot. It was then that inventions appeared that are considered to be the most brilliant to this day.

Much of what was created before our era and in the first centuries after the birth of Christ, is of benefit to this day. Any lawyer can talk about the great importance of Roman law, and philologists will talk about the role played by the ancient languages, which are now considered dead.

It was then that world religions were born. Then they worshiped Zeus and Artemis, then Jesus was born. The wonders of the ancient world are countless. But among them there are seven main ones.

Seven Wonders of the World

The history of the ancient world would be incomplete without talking about the Seven Wonders of the World. The list has changed over the centuries. But the number remained unchanged. There were always seven of them. The world was built around religious beliefs. Therefore, this number was not chosen by chance. Seven is the number He was considered the most beautiful of all the gods. He was a patron of the arts. And his number was a symbol of completeness and perfection.

The very first list of the Seven Wonders of the World was created in the III century before the birth of Jesus. It included the most significant architectural monuments that were only created at that time by people. Many miracles of that time have not reached ours.

Pyramids of Giza

The Great Pyramids are an important part that the history of the ancient world cannot do without. The most famous of them was She is recognized as the largest. Therefore, it is difficult to imagine the hellish torments that the slaves experienced during the construction of this wonder of the world. During the construction of the pyramid, a mortar was used, which is still stronger and stronger.

No one can say for sure why these grandiose structures were erected. Previously, it was believed that these were the tombs of the rulers of Egypt - the pharaohs, as well as their spouses. But the researchers were never able to find the remains of the bodies of these important Egyptians. Until now, this wonder of the world gives rise to many questions and mysteries. And the silent Sphinx continues to guard them.

Semiramis

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon is that wonder of the world of the ancient world that has not survived to our times. Gardens were once the grandest building in Babylon. Now, not far from Baghdad, you can find what is left of them. But some scientists are willing to argue that those ruins are not a reminder of the second largest wonder of the world.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon is one of the most romantic gifts not only in the history of the ancient world, but in general in human history. The Babylonian ruler noticed that his beloved wife Amitis was missing her native land. Dusty Babylon did not have those beautiful gardens that they used to enjoy in childhood. And then, so that his wife would not miss, he ordered to erect this structure.

Some believe that this is just a beautiful legend. In the writings of Herodotus there was not a word about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. But on the other hand, they are described in detail by Berossus. The history of the ancient world holds many mysteries. And this is one of them.

Zeus statue in Olympia

The names of the gods of the ancient world remained known after many centuries. Even now, people can talk about the powerful god Zeus. And before our era, a new wonder of the world was created, dedicated to this patron of the ancient Greeks.

The appearance of the statue and the temple in which it was located is closely connected with the Olympic Games. When they gained fame and began to attract a wide variety of people, it was decided to build a temple dedicated to the father of all gods.

In order to create a statue of Zeus, the famous master Phidias was invited to Athens. From ivory and precious metals, he created a new wonder of the world, the glory of which quickly spread throughout different lands.

The statue of Zeus from Olympia did not survive to our times. Her troubles began when a Christian, who disliked paganism, took the throne. For a long time it was believed that the statue did not survive the looting of the temple. Centuries later, the remains of a temple and a statue were found. Thanks to these findings, scientists were able to see for themselves and show others this wonder of the world of the ancient world.

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

Artemis is one of the most famous goddesses of antiquity. She helped women in labor endure pain, was the patroness of hunters. And the inhabitants considered her their protector. To the glory of their goddess, the townspeople decided to erect a temple, which will not be equal. They wanted not only to glorify their city, but also to earn the favor of Artemis.

The temple was built for a very long time. The first architect, Harsiphron, did not have time to see his offspring. His work was continued by his son, and after him by other architects. In the center of the temple was a statue of Artemis. But only what took so long to build was destroyed in a short period of time. Herostratus, who madly wanted to become famous, but did not know how to do it, set fire to the temple. If now this miracle of architecture were intact, then it would surpass everything that has only been built by mankind.

Mausoleum of Halicarnassus

The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus is one of the most luxurious tombs that has only been invented by man. The mausoleum was named so in honor of the formidable and cruel ruler Mausolus, who was able to ensure that his lands became rich and strong.

The mausoleum was built for a long time. He began to build during the life of Mausolus, but when the ruler died, his tomb was not yet ready. After the death of Mausolus, the mausoleum was supplemented with statues of the gods, who guarded the body of the king and did not allow him to be disturbed. In addition to the gods, in the tomb one could see the statues of Mausolus himself and his beautiful wife Artemisia.

The mausoleum added to the list of miracles that have not survived to this day. He survived many wars. But over time, it was dismantled in order to build Christian churches.

The Colossus of Rhodes

Rhodes is one of the richest cities that went down in history as the birthplace of the sixth wonder of the world. The colossus was the largest structure. He was a tall, strong youth holding a torch over his head. It is in his image and likeness that, centuries later, will be created

The Colossus of Rhodes is also on the list of wonders of the world that our generation will not see. The young man's legs could not bear his weight. Therefore, during the earthquake, the statue fell into the water. She lay on the coast for about ten centuries. And only then it was decided to melt the Colossus.

Alexandrian lighthouse

The seven wonders of the world of the ancient world amazed their contemporaries. And people of our time are surprised when they learn about those magnificent creations of the human mind. The lighthouse of Alexandria occupies a worthy place in the list.

It was built in a city named after Alexander the Great. For centuries, this lighthouse has lit the way for many travelers and merchants. But even this grandiose structure could not survive to our century. It was destroyed by nature itself. The lighthouse did not survive the strongest tremors. Only at the end of the last century, scientists were able to show what that wonder of the world looked like.

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is something that will always attract people's attention. Until now, these human creations are surrounded by mysteries. And it is unlikely that all questions will ever be answered.

About the history of the seven ancient wonders of the world.

The oldest references to the seven wonders of the world are found in the writings of the ancient scientist and philosopher Herodotus. As early as 5000 BC, Herodotus described and tried to classify these wonderful objects. But, unfortunately, the work of Herodotus, in which he described in detail the unusual architectural masterpieces of the ancient world, burned down in a fire in the Library of Alexandria, like many other unique manuscripts. Only separate records in the surviving manuscripts and fragments of structures related to the 7 wonders of the world, which were found as a result of archaeological excavations, have come down to us. You can also read about them in a short work by Philo of Byzantium, which is called "On the Seven Wonders of the World." On twelve pages the author described 7 objects of antiquity. But this work is based on information from heard stories of others, but the author himself has never seen them. In Europe, they learned about the 7 wonders of the world from the book Sketches for the History of Architecture. In it, the author, Fischer von Erlach, described in detail seven amazing objects of antiquity. And in Russia, Simeon of Polotsk told about the seven wonders of the world in his writings. In his notes, he points to some Byzantine source. The list of 7 wonders of the world of the ancient world includes: the Egyptian pyramid of Cheops in El Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, the statue of Zeus in Olympia, the Mausoleum in Halicarnassus, the Pharos lighthouse, the Colossus of Rhodes.

1. Pyramid of Pharaoh Cheops

The Egyptian pyramid of Cheops (Khufu) ranks first among the seven wonders of the world, and is the only one that has survived to this day. This still existing geographical feature is sometimes called the Great Pyramid of Giza. It serves as the tomb of the Egyptian ruler Cheops (Khufu). The pyramid was built near Giza, a suburb of Cairo. It took the combined efforts of 100,000 people to create this miracle. According to the calculations of archaeologists, the work lasted about twenty years. The Pyramid of Cheops is the largest pyramid in Egypt. Previously, its height was about 146 meters, and today it is approximately 138 m. The date of construction begins somewhere around 2600 BC, although this is inaccurate and disputed by many scientists. The construction of the pyramid of Cheops took more than two million blocks of limestone, each of which weighed about 2.5 tons. Initially, the height of the monument reached 147 meters (approximately like 5 nine-story buildings, installed one on top of the other). The pyramid was partially covered with sand, so its height decreased to 137 meters. Nevertheless, it can rightfully be considered the most grandiose monument to human vanity. The construction of the pyramid was completed in 2580 BC. Then more pyramids were built here for the grandson and son of Cheops, as well as pyramids for queens. But the Great Pyramid of Cheops is the largest of them. Today, this amazing building surprises with its size and incredible accuracy of engineering calculations. It seems that the ancient Egyptians perfectly knew the principle of the golden ratio, owned the secret of the number Pi and other scientific knowledge that were discovered much later. There is an assumption that these stone giants are space observatories. After all, the shape of the location of the pyramids exactly repeats the contours of the constellation "Orion". Others believe that earlier these buildings played the role of the most powerful energy generators. They were originally covered in limestone and shone in the sun like supernatural beacons. Inside the first wonder of the world - the pyramid of Cheops, you will find three chambers: underground, "Queen's Chamber" and "Pharaoh's Chamber". You can get inside the artificial mountain through a natural entrance, located at a height of about 15 meters (somewhere like a 5-story house) or through an artificial one, which was broken in 820.

2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon

In the list of seven wonders of the world, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are considered the second miracle in a row. This truly legendary building was created in 605 BC. However, already in 562 BC. this architectural masterpiece was destroyed by a flood. Despite the well-established connection of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon with the name of the Assyrian queen - Semiramis, who lived around 800 BC, scientists consider this a delusion. In fact, the official version of the origin of this wonder of the world is as follows. Nebuchadnezzar II, fought against Assyria. In order to strengthen the army, an alliance was concluded with the Median king. After the destruction of the enemy, Nebuchadnezzar II decided to marry the daughter of the Median sovereign. But the dusty city of Babylon, standing, in fact, in the desert, could not be compared with the green and blooming Mussel. It is for this reason that the ambitious ruler decided to build the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. By the way, the name of the queen was Amitis, so it would be more correct to call the second of the seven wonders of the world by this name. But the unforgettable Semiramis was entrenched in history, who was also an outstanding personality, although she lived two centuries earlier. But the king wanted not only to please Amitis, but also to create such a masterpiece that could glorify him. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were a four-tiered pyramid, the tiers of which were both terraces and balconies. The tiers were held by powerful columns. Each of them was planted with unique plants (flowers, trees, grass and shrubs). Seeds and seedlings for gardens were brought from all over the world. Outwardly, the pyramid resembled a constantly flowering hill. A unique irrigation system was designed for the gardens. Around the clock, several hundred slaves turned wheels with buckets to supply plants with water. Surprisingly, but the unique building, included in the seven wonders of the world, was not a novelty at that time. It's just that Nebuchadnezzar II, under whom many architectural masterpieces were built, managed in an unusual way to realize the supply of water to his hanging gardens. This building consisted of four levels. Each of them had many cool rooms where the royal family walked during the heat of the day. The vaults of the building were supported by 25-meter columns at each level. The fortified terraces were covered with earth, the thickness of which was sufficient for trees to grow there. To prevent liquid from seeping into the lower floors, the platforms of each tier, consisting of huge slabs, were covered with lead leaves and covered with asphalt. Water was pumped up by a specially designed mechanism that pumped it from the Euphrates River. The hundred-meter walls of Babylon and the crowns of trees towering above them instilled in everyone who saw this miracle of the world the idea of ​​​​the power and strength of the kingdom. And the proud Amitis, to whom, in fact, this grandiose building was dedicated, enjoyed the greenery of flowering plants stretching for many kilometers around. After the death of the ruler Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon for some time became the residence of Alexander the Great. After the death of the great commander, the city began to gradually fall into disrepair, the gardens of Babylon were also left without proper care. After some time, a nearby river overflowed its banks, which led to the erosion of the foundation of the building. By the way, if the Hanging Gardens of Babylon still existed then, in order to look at them, we would have to go to Iraq, since it was in this state that the ruins of the ancient city of Mesopotamia - Babylon were found.

3.Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

The Temple of Artemis of Ephesus is the third wonder of the world. The name itself hides the origin of the famous temple - this is the ancient Greek city of Ephesus. If it existed to this day, then you would have to go to Turkey, to the city of Selcuk, Izmir province, to see it with your own eyes. But we can only be content with photographs of reconstructions and engineering models of the temple of Artemis of Ephesus. And only the ruins of this ancient building, erected in the fifth century BC, can be seen personally. The temple was built in honor of the patroness of love relationships and the family hearth - the goddess Artemis. The money for the construction of the religious building was provided by the Lydian king Croesus, whose name became a symbol of wealth. The Temple of Artemis was destroyed in a fire set by Herostratus. This citizen of Ephesus wanted to become famous in this way. The impudent madman was sentenced to death, and his name should have been forgotten. However, we know the story of Herostratus, thanks to the writings of the ancient Greek historian Theopompus. On the site of the architectural structure, where one of the seven wonders of the world appeared, there were two temples. In the VI century BC. e., a unique cult center was built there. The temple was built from local building materials - marble and limestone, quarried in the nearby mountains. The dimensions of the third wonder of the world - the temple of Artemis of Ephesus, were as follows. Width - 52 meters, length - 105 meters, and height - 18 meters. The roof lay on 127 columns. There is information that at the opening of the temple of Artemis, the townspeople were indescribably delighted. This is not surprising, because the best sculptors, artists and masters of the ancient world worked on the decoration of this wonder of the world. The statue of Artemis of Ephesus consisted of gold and ivory. It seems that this object had an exclusively religious purpose. In fact, the temple was the largest economic, business and cultural Greek center in Ephesus. The interior of the temple was magnificent: beautiful statues and stunning paintings created by the best artists and architects of that time. By the beginning of the III century BC. At the behest of Alexander the Great, the Temple of Artemis was restored to its original appearance. But, unfortunately, the architectural masterpiece was not destined to survive to this day. In 263, the temple complex was partially plundered by the Goths, and later it was closed due to the persecution that absolutely all pagan cultures began to undergo. It is unlikely that we would have known anything about the place of former Greek glory if it were not for the titanic work of the English archaeologist John Wood . In 1869, he managed to find traces of one of the seven wonders of the world - the Temple of Artemis of Ephesus. Despite many problems, and the swampy terrain at the excavation site, Wood managed to find the remains of the once majestic building. Unfortunately, little has been preserved, and today you can see a single, restored column proudly standing on the site of the Temple of Artemis.

4.Statue of Zeus at Olympia

The Olympic Games, to which the Greeks paid so much attention, were usually held in honor of the pagan god Zeus. However, the temple of this mythical character did not exist! Only in 466-465 a unique building was built in Olympia, in which a grandiose statue of Zeus appeared after a while. A truly monumental structure was erected in honor of the God of Thunder. The temple of Zeus was built entirely of marble, including even the roof. Around the perimeter of the sanctuary there were 34 columns made of limestone. The walls of the temple were covered with picturesque bas-reliefs depicting the ancient Greek god, as well as the exploits of Hercules. But the list of 7 wonders of the world included not a temple complex, but a statue of Zeus. The ancient Greek sculptor Phidias worked on the realization of this masterpiece. The body of the god was created from ivory, a great variety of rare gems and about 200 kg of gold without the slightest admixture of ligature also took to decorate the statue. The eyes of the Thunderer seemed to be throwing lightning, and the head and shoulders shimmered with an unearthly light. The statue reached a height of 13 meters, reaching the ceiling of the temple. For 800 years after its creation, the statue of Zeus at Olympia was included in the list of 7 wonders of the world. It took ten years to build it. According to legend, lightning struck the center of the marble floor of the temple. This was regarded as an expression of approval from Zeus. An altar of copper was erected at the site of the blow. At the base of the statue was a slab, 6 meters wide and 1 m high, respectively. In general, according to various sources, the height of the monument was close to 17 meters, which is approximately equal to a 5-storey building. The ratio of the Olympic wonder of the world - the statue of Zeus and the building itself, in which it was installed, produced an amazing effect. It seemed that if the Thunderer wanted to get up, he would destroy the roof! In 391 AD The Romans banned the Olympic Games and closed all Greek temples. A few years later, the statue of Zeus was moved to Constantinople. In 462 AD the palace where the statue was located burned down. The temple at Olympia was destroyed by an earthquake. Mankind has lost one of its wonders - the statue of Zeus at Olympia. Despite this, she entered the seven wonders of the world, as an example of the extraordinary engineering, artistic and sculptural achievements of antiquity.

5.Mausoleum in Halicarnassus

The fifth wonder of the world is the mausoleum at Halicarnassus. If you want to visit this historical area, go to the Turkish resort city of Bodrum. It was there that scientists discovered the ruins of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. In the 4th century BC, King Mausolus, together with his wife, Queen Artemisia, decided to perpetuate their memory following the example of the Egyptian pharaohs. For these purposes, a grandiose structure was erected, which became a wonder of the world. The ancient building was named after the ruler of Caria - Mausolus, as it was his tombstone. Actually, it was from that time that mausoleums became so widespread in ancient Rome. What became known for this architectural masterpiece? The ancient city of Halicarnassus was famous for its residences of nobles, theaters and green gardens. But the list of 7 wonders of the world did not include these architectural beauties, but the tomb of the cruel ruler Mausolus. To start building the mausoleum in Halicarnassus, the best specialists of that time were invited: Satyr and Pythius, architects who arrived from great Greece, as well as outstanding sculptors named Timothy and Briaxides, Leochar and Skopas. By the way, the works of the last two also decorated the Temple of Artemis of Ephesus, also included in the seven wonders of the world. Work on the construction of the mausoleum began before the ruler of Caria died, that is, in 359 BC. In fairness, it must be said that Queen Artemisia was responsible for the grandiose work. Already in 350 BC. The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus was presented to the people. The description of the construction by Pliny the Elder, as well as Vitruvius, has been preserved. In general, the building consisted of three tiers. The first played the role of a powerful plinth, built of brick with marble facing. Along the perimeter it was surrounded by statues with representatives of the Greek epic. The base was three-level, which made the mausoleum a symbol of power and durability. The second tier had the significance of a temple. It was surrounded by 36 columns that supported the upper part of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus - the pyramid. The pyramid itself consisted of 24 steps that led to the top. It was there that the main statue was placed: a chariot with King Mausolus and Queen Artemisia. The original idea was as follows: in the lower part of the mausoleum there was a direct tomb of the ruler of Kariya and his wife, while in the middle there was a temple with a sculpture of Mausolus to worship the deceased king. Surprisingly, both statues of Mausolus and Artemisia have survived quite well to this day. The same goes for the chariot that was once on top of the fifth wonder of the world mausoleum at Halicarnassus. All these historical artifacts are kept in the British Museum. The total height of the building was 46 meters. This man-made masterpiece mixed several architectural trends. Traditional columns, as well as statues of horsemen and lions were used as decoration of the mausoleum. At the very top was a sculpture of King Mausolus, proudly seated in a horse-drawn chariot. The mausoleum stood for about 19 centuries, the reason for its destruction was a strong earthquake. And some fragments of the mausoleum went to the construction of the fortress of St. Peter.

6. Lighthouse of Alexandria

The sixth wonder of the world is the Lighthouse of Alexandria (aka Faros Lighthouse). It was built in the 3rd century BC on the Mediterranean Sea. In Egypt, on the small island of Pharos, not far from Alexandria, there was a bay of great importance for merchant ships. It was for this reason that the need arose for the construction of the Faros Lighthouse. This object was supposed to help sea vessels safely overcome coastal reefs and avoid shipwreck. At night, flames reflected by the water surface were visible at a distance of more than 60 kilometers, allowing ships to safely pass the reefs. During the day, instead of light, a column of smoke was used, which was also visible extremely far away. The lighthouse of Alexandria towered 120 meters above sea level, its signals could be seen at a distance of up to 48 km. The upper part of the structure was decorated with a statue of Isis-Faria, who was revered as the patroness of navigators. To make the light flow as efficient as possible, the builders used an original system of curved mirrors. The Pharos lighthouse, like many other objects from the list of 7 wonders of the world, was destroyed in a rather trivial way. It was destroyed by a powerful earthquake that occurred in the middle of the 14th century. Some fragments of the Lighthouse of Alexandria were discovered by scientists at the bottom of the sea during research in 1996. During the reign of Ptolemy II in Egypt, it was decided to build the famous lighthouse. According to the plan, the implementation of the idea was supposed to take 20 years, but all residents saw the masterpiece much earlier. The main architect and builder of this structure is Sostratus of Cnidus. On the marble wall of the lighthouse, he carved his name, and then, applying thin plaster, wrote words glorifying Ptolemy. Naturally, after a short period of time, the plaster crumbled, and the name of an outstanding master entered the centuries. So, Sostratus completed the construction of the Pharos Lighthouse in 5 years, which, by the standards of antiquity, was generally an instant! The lighthouse of Alexandria consisted of three towers. The first, lowest, rectangular part of the monument served technical purposes. Workers and soldiers lived there, as well as tools and equipment necessary for maintaining the lighthouse. A second, octagonal tower rose above the first part. A ramp wound around it to carry fuel for the fire. The third tier was a majestic cylindrical building, equipped with a complex system of mirrors. It was here that a vital fire burned, spreading its light for many kilometers around. The height of the seventh wonder of the world, the Pharos lighthouse, ranged from 120 to 140 meters. At the very top was a statue of the god of the seas, Poseidon. Some travelers, describing the miracle that struck them, mentioned unusually arranged statues. The first pointed to the sun with her hand, throughout the day, and when the sun went down, the hand fell. The second statue sounded every hour day and night. The third constantly indicated the direction of the wind, playing the role of a weather vane. In the 12th century AD, ships stopped using the Alexandrian bay due to the fact that it had become extremely silty. This is what caused the outstanding building to fall into complete decline. Even later, in the XIV century, due to an earthquake, the wonder of the world of Alexandria Lighthouse was completely destroyed. A fortress was erected in its place, which changed its appearance more than once. Now the base of the Egyptian fleet is located on this historical site and, despite various proposals, the authorities are not considering the idea of ​​restoring the lighthouse. Having stood for almost 1000 years, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was seriously damaged by an earthquake that occurred in 796 AD. When the Arabs came to Egypt (XIV century), they decided to restore the grandiose building, reaching only 30 meters from its original height. However, the reconstruction was not destined to be completed, and by the end of the 15th century, Kait-bey, a famous sultan, founded a fortress on the foundation of the lighthouse. By the way, it still exists.

7. Colossus of Rhodes

In Greece, on the shores of the Aegean Sea, is the ancient island of Rhodes. It was there, in 280 BC, that the seventh wonder of the world, the Colossus of Rhodes, was built. It all started with the fact that after the collapse of the empire of Alexander the Great, Demetrius I attacked Rhodes. With him were about forty thousand warriors. Having surrounded the main port city, he kept the siege for more than a year. Then, despite the fact that much effort had been expended in establishing siege engines, Demetrius decided to retreat, abandoning all buildings. The inhabitants of Rhodes, shocked by this turn of events, sold all the things left by the invaders, deciding to erect a monument to the sun god Helios with the proceeds. According to legend, it was Helios who was the creator of the island. It was assumed that the height of the figure would be 18 meters, but later it was decided to make it 36 ​​meters. The statue in the form of a god-youth was cast in bronze; it is located on a marble pedestal. Construction was carried out on a hill created artificially. Stones were placed inside the figure, which was done to increase the stability of the structure. After 12 years of titanic work, the 36-meter wonder of the world, the Colossus of Rhodes, appeared before the eyes of the inhabitants of the city. The giant was made of clay and bronze, based on a metal frame. He stood right at the entrance to the harbor and was visible from the nearest islands. For the construction of this wonder of the world, about 13 tons of bronze and 8 tons of iron were spent. We can say with confidence that it was this Colossus that became the founder of a kind of fashion. By the end of the 2nd century BC. over a hundred giant monuments flaunted on the island of Rhodes. The fate of the Colossus of Rhodes was ruthless. Just 65 years later, around 225 B.C. There was an earthquake that destroyed it. The statue broke near its knees and fell to the ground. By the way, it was after this that the expression “Colossus on clay feet. The local oracle demanded not to restore the statue. For 900 years, every visitor to Rhodes could look at the statue of the defeated god. In 654 AD the Syrian prince, who captured the island, removed all the bronze plates from the statue and took them to Syria. To take out parts of the sculpture, it was necessary to equip a caravan consisting of 900 camels.

We can only hope that someday world technology will reach such a high level that they will be able to recreate the seven wonders of the world of the ancient world. And it will be truly a tribute to the memory of generations of talented architects of antiquity, who created unique masterpieces of architecture, which have no equal in the modern world.

But have you ever wondered why there are only seven wonders of the world? In this case, we recommend that you read the article "magic number 7" - and you will discover the secret meaning of this "lucky" number!

Album "From Wonders of the World to Wonders of Russia"

Description: This material will be useful for teachers. It is intended for students in grades 5 and 6. The material presents useful and interesting information that can be used in history lessons and in extracurricular activities.
Seven Wonders of the World- these are the oldest architectural monuments, which are rightfully considered the greatest creations of human hands. The number 7 was chosen for a reason. It belonged to Apollo and was a symbol of completeness, completeness and perfection. At the same time, the traditional genre of Hellenistic poetry was the glorification of the list of the most famous cultural figures - poets, philosophers, kings, generals, etc., or outstanding architectural monuments.
The first mention of the Wonders of the World occurs precisely in this era, when the victorious troops of Alexander the Great had already passed through Europe. The wide distribution of Greek culture in the territories that are part of the states that the great commander conquered ensured loud fame for individual monuments and architectural structures. But it should be noted that the "selection" of miracles occurred gradually. Some names have been replaced by others, and today the list of the most magnificent works of art and architecture includes:
1. Pyramids of Giza
2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon
3. Olympian statue of Zeus
4. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
5. Mausoleum of Halicarnassus
6. Colossus of Rhodes
7. Lighthouse of Alexandria

Pyramids of Giza
One of the most ancient and, nevertheless, the brightest Wonders of the World are the Great Pyramids located in Giza (Egypt). The complex of Gisaean buildings is the greatest architectural monument ever created by man. In total, more than a hundred pyramidal structures were found on the territory of Egypt, but most of them did not stand the test of time.

The Pyramid of Cheops
The largest of the Giza complex, the Cheops pyramid is the largest building structure in the world. Its base is a square with a side of as much as 227.5 meters. It is assumed that the original height of the structure was 146 meters, but several of the upper stones were destroyed, and today the pyramid is 9 meters lower.
Engineering studies have shown that the largest architectural monument of Giza consists of 2.3 million stone blocks, each of which weighs at least 2.5 tons. The total volume of the building is 2.34 million cubic meters. The faces of the pyramid are deployed to the cardinal points, and the entrance inside is from the north.
A distinctive feature of the structure is that every single building block is so well fitted to each other that even now, after several thousand years, it is impossible to insert even the thinnest blade between them. In addition, the researchers found that the mortar, which held the structural elements together, is superior in strength to any modern material.
The purpose of the pyramids
There are no inscriptions, drawings and decorations in the pyramid of Cheops. Inside the building there are three chambers, in the center of one of which there is a granite sarcophagus. At first it was assumed that the structure was a tomb. Long-term studies have either confirmed or refuted this assumption.
But neither the remains of the pharaoh, nor any utensils or things that, according to the tradition of that time, were buried with the deceased, were found. True, there is a high probability that the pyramid was simply plundered. However, some details in the hypothesis about the purpose of the structure do not agree with the version about the tomb.
However, let's leave historians and archaeologists questions about the origin and purpose of building such an amazing complex of buildings, the entrance to which is protected by the Great Sphinx - the largest monolithic sculpture on the planet. For us, the Pyramids of Giza, with which many legends are associated, remain one of the most striking and unusual examples of the height of engineering.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are the second largest Wonder of the World. Unfortunately, this amazing architectural structure did not survive to this day, but the memory of it still survived.
The attraction is located not far from Baghdad, and today its stone ruins can impress a simple tourist except for their scale. However, history testifies that the structure was one of the most beautiful creations of mankind.

Amazing gift for wife
The gardens were discovered by Robert Koldewey, who in 1989 was excavating near Al Hill. In the course of archaeological research, an extensive network of trenches was discovered, and in their cuts the scientist immediately recognized the legendary architectural monument.
The facts show that the Hanging Gardens were built at the behest of Nebuchadnezzar II, whose reign falls on the 6th century BC. The best engineers, mathematicians and inventors of Mesopotamia worked day and night to satisfy the request of the king to create a gift for his wife Amitis.
The latter was of Median origin, and those lands, as you know, were filled with the aromas of flowering gardens and green hills. In stuffy Babylon, the queen had a hard time, she yearned for her native land. That is why the ruler decided to lay out an unusual park that would at least slightly remind his wife of his home.
Controversy over the Babylonian Miracle
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon have been described by many ancient historians. But there are still some doubts about the reality of this piece of engineering art. For example, Herodotus, who traveled around Mesopotamia sometime in the 5th century BC, did not say a word about this structure. Although, apparently, it was the most majestic and beautiful in Babylon.
Even the chronicles of the city itself do not mention the Gardens. However, Berossus, a Chaldean priest who worked on chronicles at the end of the 4th century BC. very clearly and clearly marked the building in his works. There is even an opinion that all historians, including modern scientists, relied on his descriptions, and they are too much embellished with the author's conjectures and judgments.
Some even believe that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon have been confused with similar parks that were created in Nineveh, located on the east coast of the Tiber. But the basis of the irrigation system of this monument was the design of Archimedean screws, which was invented in the 2nd century BC, while the construction of the Gardens dates back to the 6th century.
However, perhaps the Babylonians already had an idea about the special thread of such a screw, although they called the device differently. And be that as it may, the mystery of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon still excites the minds of scientists, archaeologists and historians.

Zeus statue in Olympia
The statue of Zeus in Olympia is the third wonder of the world, whose history began long before its creation - in 776 BC. Then for the first time in the temple, which was built in honor of the father of the gods, the participants of the next Olympic Games arrived.
Representatives of Asia Minor, Syria and Sicily, Egypt and, of course, Great Hellas were present at the opening of the greatest event in history. The first sanctuary of Zeus was built 150 km from Athens. But over time, the Games gained more and more political weight, so the rulers of Greece decided to build a new Temple.

Temple of Zeus
Construction lasted over 15 years, and in 456 BC. the world saw one of the most monumental and beautiful Houses of Zeus. The project was developed by the famous ancient architect - Lebon, whose creation had all the features of the famous Greek sanctuaries, but surpassed them in scope.
The Temple building was erected on a high rectangular platform. The roof was supported by 13 majestic columns about 10 m high and at least 2 m in diameter, and there were as many as 34 of them.
Creation of Phidias
The government of Hellas invited Phidias, a famous sculptor, to Athens, who managed to create something excellent - a statue of Zeus. The news of this work of art instantly spread throughout the ancient world, and the masterpiece took its place in the list of Wonders of the World.
The creation of the statue dates back to around 440 BC. The sculpture of the father of the gods was created mainly from the finest ivory. According to the description of eyewitnesses who managed to catch the statue in "good health", it had a very impressive size.
Its height was at least 15 m, the structure contained about 200 kg of gold, the modern monetary equivalent of which exceeds 8 million dollars. The opening of the statue of Olympian Zeus falls on 435 BC.
The fate of the statue of Zeus
Historical sources claim that in the second half of the 4th century AD. The temple of Zeus was closed by the Roman emperor Theodosius, who was a Christian and disliked the pagan beliefs of the Greeks.
In 363 the statue was moved to Constantinople. Although some facts indicate that this architectural monument did not survive the looting and destruction of the Temple, which took place at the end of the 5th century.
In 1875, the remains of the Temple of Zeus were found, and in 1950, archaeologists discovered the workshop of Phidias. Careful studies of the place where the architectural monument was found made it possible to recreate both the Temple itself and the statue of Olympian Zeus.

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
Ancient Greek Ephesus knew a period of unprecedented prosperity. Founded in the XII century BC, the city was the largest center of trade and radiated wealth and prosperity. Artemis patronized him. She, as is known, was the goddess of fertility and the patroness of animals, the protector of women in childbirth and hunters. Honoring her sacredly, the townspeople decided to build a majestic temple in honor of Artemis, which, moreover, was to significantly increase the income of the city.

Building a shrine
In the VI century BC. Harsiphron, the most famous architect, arrived in Ephesus. It was he who came up with the idea of ​​building a building of marble. According to his plan, the temple should have been encircled by two rows of impressive columns. At the same time, the master, apparently, had an outstanding engineering mind, since the project is the most complex and at the same time original of all that were being developed at that time. Since the city was rich and could afford the construction of such a large and expensive building.
But there was one obstacle - a deposit has not yet been found that can satisfy the appetites of the project. But soon, due to chance, a sufficient amount of stone was found, and the temple was successfully built. Monolithic marble columns deserve a special place in the construction of the building. They were transported here straight from the quarries located ten kilometers from the construction site. The foundation of the temple is the highest aerobatics of engineering.
The building was built on a swampy area, since the sad memory of the earthquakes that hit Hellas was still alive. A huge pit was dug on the site of the future building, which the builders filled with charcoal and wool. This, plus the rather unorthodox foundation of the Temple, should have been a guarantee that the building would withstand tremors of any power.
In the main hall of the Temple, an amazingly beautiful statue of the goddess Artemis was installed, the height of which was about 15 meters. It was very expensive, because quite often it was inlaid with precious stones and gold. Outstanding Greek artists and sculptors took part in the decoration of the building. Rumors about the beautiful shrine quickly spread throughout the ancient world, and subsequently the Temple of Artemis became one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
The Fate of the Temple
It should be noted that Harsiphron did not have time to complete the construction. But the work was continued by his son, and after that by the architects Peonit and Demetrius. And so, around 450 BC. the world saw the unsurpassed Temple of Artemis. They say that if it survived to this day, it could outshine any of the currently existing masterpieces of architectural art. But, unfortunately, in 356 BC. Herostratus, obsessed with the idea of ​​becoming famous at any cost, set the building on fire.
The building was almost completely destroyed, of course, with the exception of those structural elements that were made of marble. After that, the Temple of Artemis was revived several times and again ceased to exist. But in 263 B.C. it was last sacked by the Goths. Finally, the “marble” health of the building was broken by swampy soil, as well as the Kaistra River flowing nearby. And it took scientists from all over the world several decades to restore the original appearance of the building.

mausoleum in Halicarnassus
Halicarnassus Mausoleum is the same age as the second Temple of Artemis. The same people who restored the shrine after the fire set by Herostratus took part in its construction. The building is 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 imperious and cruel ruler of Caria - Mausolus.

Start of construction
Despite the fact that already in the IV century BC. the state was a colony of the Persian Empire, Mausolus ruled imperiously and stubbornly, trying not to bend under imperial pressure. His position was so strong, and his connections so wide, that even after the suppression of the uprisings he had raised, he managed to remain on the throne. During the reign of the energetic and ambitious king, Helicarnassus became the capital of Caria.
At the same time, the construction of the tomb, which later entered the list of the seven most famous sights of the ancient world, was started long before the death of the ruler - approximately in 353 BC. The project of the Mausoleum was developed by Greek architects - Satyr and Pytheas. The sculptors Timothy, Leohar, Skopas and Briaxides were hired to decorate the building. In total, hundreds of talented craftsmen took part in the construction, whose names, unfortunately, have not been preserved in history.
R luxurious tomb for the king
The tomb was an impressive architectural complex with its own courtyard. A stone platform was installed in the center of the latter. A wide staircase led to the top, guarded by stone lions. Inside the building was decorated with bas-reliefs depicting scenes from ancient Greek legends and tales. The outer walls of the Mausoleum were covered with statues of gods and goddesses, and in the corners of the structure, huge guards-warriors carved from stone served.
The ziggurat was crowned with a marble chariot driven by four massive horses. The statues of the drivers depicted Mausolus himself and his sister-wife Artemisia. The height of this sculpture was about 6 meters, and the pyramidal roof of the tomb was supported by 36 7-meter monolithic columns.
The fate of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
When the ruler of Caria died, the construction of the Mausoleum had not yet been completed, and the decoration of the premises was completed only in 350 BC. The tomb survived both the conquest of Halicarnassus by the Macedonian and the attack of pirates at the beginning of the 1st millennium. But at the beginning of the 15th century, the Maltese visited Asia Minor, who finally destroyed the building, taking marble and stone slabs for the construction of the fortress of St. Peter, which was located on the very spot where the palace of Mausolus and Artemisia stood. By the end of the 16th century, only one foundation remained from the Mausoleum.
The excavations of the tomb of Mausolus, led by Christian Jeppesen, were completed only in 1966-1977. Based on the found bas-reliefs, statues and other elements of the furnishings and construction, the appearance of the Mausoleum was restored. His design served as the basis for the construction of City Hall in Los Angeles, the Indiana Warriors Memorial, St. George's Church in London and many other architectural monuments of our time.

The Colossus of Rhodes
Rhodes was a major economic center of the ancient world. Located on the southwestern coast of Asia Minor, it often acted as a tasty morsel for the rulers of neighboring powers. So, in 357 BC. the famous king Mavlos became the new ruler of the city, and after 17 years the city fell into the possession of the Persian Empire. In 322 BC. Rhodes was conquered by Alexander the Great, but after his death civil strife began between the heirs of the great commander, and one of them - Antigonus - sent his son Demetrius to capture and destroy the rebellious city.

It should be noted that the long siege was not successful, and the commander was forced to retreat. On the shore of the island, his warriors abandoned a huge siege tower, which was a real engineering miracle of that time, and the enterprising people immediately decided to sell it. With the proceeds, it was decided to build a statue of Helios, the patron saint of Rhodes, in order to praise the sun god for having saved the city from the invaders.
The construction of the statue began around 304 BC. The creation of the Colossus was entrusted to Chares, a student of the famous ancient sculptor Lysippus. It was proposed to portray Helios standing, and in his left hand he had to hold a veil falling to the very ground, and with his right to cover his eyes from the sun. Despite the fact that such a pose did not correspond to some of the canons of sculpture of that time, the master understood that the huge statue would not stay on its feet if the Colossus pointed into the distance with his hand.
Three massive stone pillars served as the basis for a 36-meter statue. They were fastened with iron beams at the level of the shoulders of the Colossus, which was supposed to provide him with stability. Construction continued for 12 years, after which the world saw the greatest statue, the head of which was decorated with a radiant crown.
Death of the Colossus
Literally half a century later, the strongest earthquakes shook the island, and the legs of the Colossus of Rhodes broke. The statue of the god fell into the sea and lay off the coast for about 1000 years. The defeated giant was overgrown with legends, but in 977 AD. they decided to dismantle it, melt it down and sell it. The chronicles preserved data that it took 900 camels to transport the bronze with which the statue was decorated.
Modern interpretations of the great statue
The Colossus of Rhodes was included in the list of the Seven Wonders of the World. Currently, even some measures are being taken to restore the huge statue. According to some reports, the cost of a modern sculpture of Helios will be about 200 million euros. However, the idea of ​​creating monumental sculptures following the example of the Colossus of Rhodes was used much earlier - a statue of a woman holding a huge torch was installed in New York Bay. This monument is better known to the world as the Statue of Liberty, but its creation was based on the image of the Rhodes masterpiece.

Alexandrian lighthouse
The history of the seventh Wonder of the World - the Lighthouse of Alexandria - is associated with the foundation in 332 BC. Alexandria, a city that was named after the great Roman general Alexander the Great. It should be noted that during his career the conqueror founded about 17 cities with similar names, but only the Egyptian project managed to survive to this day.

Foundation of the city to the glory of the great commander
Macedonian selected the site for the founding of Egyptian Alexandria very carefully. He did not like the idea of ​​a location in the Nile Delta, and so the decision was made to set up the first construction sites 20 miles south, near the swampy Lake Mareotis. Alexandria was supposed to have two large harbors - one intended for merchant ships coming from the Mediterranean Sea, and the second for ships sailing along the Nile.
After the death of Alexander the Great in 332 BC. the city came under the rule of Ptolemy I Soter, the new ruler of Egypt. During this period, Alexandria developed into a thriving trading port. In 290 BC. Ptolemy ordered the construction of a huge lighthouse on the island of Pharos, which would light the way for ships going to the harbor of the city at night and in bad weather.
Construction of a lighthouse on the island of Pharos
The construction of the Lighthouse of Alexandria dates back to the 4th century BC, but the system of signal lights itself appeared only in the 1st century BC. The creator of this masterpiece of engineering and architectural art is Sostratus, a resident of Cnidia. The work continued for a little over 20 years, and as a result, the Lighthouse of Alexandria became the world's first building of this type and the tallest building in the ancient world, not counting, of course, the Giza pyramids.
The height of the Lighthouse of Alexandria was approximately 450-600 feet. At the same time, the building was absolutely unlike any of the architectural monuments available at that time. The building was a three-tiered tower, the walls of which were made of marble slabs fastened with lead mortar. The most complete description of the Lighthouse of Alexandria was compiled by Abu el-Andalussi - the famous Arab traveler - in 1166. He noted that in addition to performing purely practical functions, the lighthouse served as a very noticeable attraction.
The fate of the great lighthouse
The Pharos Lighthouse has been illuminating the way for sailors for over 1500 years. But strong tremors in 365, 956 and 1303 A.D. the building was badly damaged, and the most powerful earthquake of 1326 finally destroyed one of the greatest architectural structures in the world. In 1994, the remains of the Lighthouse of Alexandria were discovered by archaeologists, and subsequently the image of the structure was more or less successfully restored using computer modeling.

New 7 wonders of the world

The classic list of 7 wonders of the world appeared in the 3rd century BC. It included the greatest architectural, historical and cultural monuments of the ancient world. But the years passed, and more and more curiosities appeared in the world, which today can also be considered with all rights as the Wonders of the World, that is, the most outstanding creations of man.
And so 2001 was marked by the beginning of the New Open World Corporation project. Its main purpose was to select modern Wonders of the World, worthy of forever going down in history. So, the winners of the competition on July 7, 2007 were:
1. Great Wall of China
2. Taj Mahal
3. Colosseum
4. Machu Picchu
5. Petra
6. Chichen Itza
7. Statue of Christ the Redeemer

The great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is one of the oldest structures that has survived to this day, which, in its grandeur and grandeur, has no analogues even in the modern world. Its history goes back to the 5th century BC, a time that was marked by the collapse of the Zhou state.
In its place, many small kingdoms were formed, which immediately began a bloody internecine struggle with each other for the legacy of a great empire. It was during this period of the "warring kingdoms" that the first foundation pits were dug and earthen ramparts were erected in order to strengthen the borders from aggressive neighbors.

Start of construction
And in 221 BC. the ruler of one of the kingdoms - Qin - the great Shi Huangdi managed to pacify the long-term blood feud. He was proclaimed the first Chinese emperor and during the 11 years of his reign he created a state with an effective system of administration and justice. It was he who came up with the idea to connect the defensive structures that already existed in the north of the empire with a single wall.
And by order of the ruler, his army, consisting of 300,000 soldiers, as well as about a million prisoners and slaves, began to build fortress walls. The Great Wall of China was built using a wide variety of building technologies. To protect the still unfinished fortifications in the area of ​​​​the construction site, numerous garrisons vigilantly served.
Followers of Shi Huangdi
After the death of Shi Huangdi, the work was continued by his successors - the emperors of the Han dynasty, who not only monitored the maintenance of the structure in proper order, but also lengthened the wall. The last important stage in the construction of the Great Wall of China falls on the reign of the imperial Ming dynasty, in 1368-1644.
From the middle of the 17th century, the need for a building disappeared, and time and natural factors immediately took up its stone sides. But, fortunately, most of the Wall has survived to this day. Moreover, the Chinese government once invested huge sums in its reconstruction.
New Wonder of the World
Already during the reign of the Ming Dynasty, fortifications stretched from the Shanhaiguan fortress, located on the shores of the Bohaiwan Strait, to Jiayuguan itself in the northwest of Gansu Province. Today, the length of the wall is 8,851.8 kilometers in total, which is an absolute and most likely unbeatable record in construction.
In 1962, the Great Wall of China took pride of place in the list of national monuments of China, and in 1987 it was accepted into the general UNESCO World Heritage List. It should be noted that this is the only structure that can be seen from Earth orbit without the use of any optical instruments. And in July 2007, the Wall entered the list of New Wonders of the World, as one of the most impressive buildings in the history of mankind.

Mausoleum Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal is not in vain called the architectural gem of India. You will not find a more majestic and magnificent building in the whole country. This mausoleum embodies the memory of the tender love of the Muslim ruler Shah Jahan for his wife, a fabulously beautiful woman named Mumtaz Mahal. The future king of the Great Moghuls was still a young prince, when at the beginning of the 17th century he married a nineteen-year-old beauty. The newlyweds dearly loved each other and, despite the fact that the king had a huge harem, he simply did not pay attention to other women.

History of construction
Beloved wife gave birth to Shah Jahan six daughters and eight sons, but numerous births broke the woman's health, so when the fourteenth child was born, she died. The grief of the king was so great that he wished to take his own life. But responsibility for the state and other reasons kept the ruler in this world. Literally before the eyes of his retinue, he turned gray, and soon a two-year mourning was declared throughout the state, during which there was no place for holidays, dances, music and fun.
"Indian gem"
Somewhat later, a grandiose mausoleum was erected in the capital of the Mughal Empire - Agra. The construction of the Taj Mahal lasted over 20 years. More than 20 thousand people worked at the construction site, including the best Persian, Turkish, Samarkand and, of course, Indian architects and architects. The project was completed in 1653, and since then this amazing building has attracted millions of explorers and travelers.
Inside the Taj Mahal there are two tombs - the shah and his wife. But in fact, the burial is underground. The mausoleum is a five-domed building 74 meters high. It is located on a platform with 4 minarets, which are tilted away from the tomb, and adjoins the amazingly beautiful garden with an abundance of fountains and a pool. The walls of the Taj Mahal were made of translucent polished marble, which was brought to the construction site from a unique deposit 300 km from Agra.
The greatest monument of architecture
The great mausoleum has survived to this day. It is one of the most majestic and beautiful buildings on the planet. Every day it is visited by tens of thousands of tourists, due to which the “Indian pearl” replenishes the state treasury with considerable funds. Throughout the year, the Taj Mahal receives about 5 million visitors. In order to preserve the architectural monument, traffic in the Taj Mahal area was prohibited.
Not so long ago, cracks were discovered in the walls of the Taj Mahal. Scientists believe that the destruction of the building is associated with the shallowing of the Jumna, a river flowing in its immediate vicinity. But, nevertheless, the Taj Mahal remains one of the most unusual and majestic structures in the world. It was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and in July 2007 took pride of place among the New Wonders of the World.

Coliseum
The Colosseum is one of the most majestic amphitheaters ever built by man. This famous ancient Roman monument still stands among the modern buildings of the Italian capital to this day. For a very long time, the Colosseum played a very important cultural role in the lives of the citizens and guests of Rome. A huge number of people gathered in its stands, who longed for one thing - bright and exciting spectacles. It was here that gladiator fights and animal persecution, sports competitions and naumachia took place.

The beginning of the history of the Flavian Amphitheater
The Colosseum is located on the Caelius, Palatine and Esquiline hills, that is, where the pond of the Golden House of Nero used to be. Initially, the building was called the Flavian Amphitheater (in honor of its founders) of the famous imperial dynasty. Construction continued for 8 years, and around 80 AD. the world saw one of the most capacious arenas.
Like any other Roman building of this type, the Colosseum has the shape of an ellipse, in the center of which is the arena, and its stands are arranged in the form of concentric rings. The perimeter of the outer ellipse of the Roman arena is 524 m, the major and minor axes are 187.7 and 155.64 m long, and the height of the walls of the amphitheater approaches 50 m. The results of simple calculations show that the Colosseum could easily accommodate about 50 thousand people. spectators. It is the most grandiose arena in the world, not counting modern stadiums that can accommodate over 100 thousand people.
The fate of the world's greatest arena
The Colosseum was deservedly considered a symbol of Roman greatness. Philosophers said that while it stands, the Great Empire will stand. Back in 264, during the reign of Decius, the millennium of Rome was celebrated in the amphitheater. History testifies that during this era, about 40 wild horses, more than 30 elephants, 60 lions and many other wild animals were killed in the arena. In 405, gladiator fights were banned by Emperor Honorius, and the Colosseum removed the laurels of the greatest arena in the world.
Toward the end of the 13th century, the Roman amphitheater was turned into a quarry. At the same time, 23 estates for aristocratic families were built from it. In the XIV-XV centuries, the Italians built 6 churches from the dismantled parts of the Colosseum, and at the end of the XV century, the office of the Pope was built from the material of the Colosseum. In the middle of the 16th century, the architectural elements of the amphitheater served as the basis for some Roman bridges. In 1744, the Colosseum was lit up in honor of the early Christian martyrs, and a cross was installed in the center of the arena.
In July 2007, the amphitheater was accepted into the list of New Wonders of the World. Today it is the most famous historical and architectural monument of Rome, annually attracting tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world.

City of Machu Picchu
On the territory of modern Peru there is one old mountain peak, which the Indians called Machu Picchu. It is located at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level, offering amazingly beautiful views of the valley of the Urumamba River. It is here, at the foot of Mount Machu Picchu, that one of the oldest cities is located, which is often called the "city among the clouds."

The origin of the "city in the sky"
Archaeologists believe that this lost city of the Incas was created as the winter residence of the ruler of this ancient people - Pachacutec - literally a century before the Spaniards came here. In 1532, when brave conquistadors and adventurers obsessed with a thirst for gold invaded the Inca empire, every single one of the inhabitants of the city mysteriously disappeared.
Machu Picchu was one of the three houses of Pachacutec and along the way served as a shrine. The city had a very modest size and contained about 200 buildings. City buildings were built from high-quality processed stone blocks, fitted to each other so tightly that most of the buildings of Machu Picchu have survived to this day. The abandoned settlement was accidentally discovered only at the beginning of the 20th century by the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham. A few decades later, the legendary Inca trail was found leading through the Urumamba Valley straight to the city.
Attractions of the residence of the ruler of the Incas
The highlight of the ancient city are the vast terraces on which the Incas were engaged in agriculture. The "decorated room" found against the western wall of the main temple is a clear indication of how skilled these people were. The foundation of the room is made of two imposing stone blocks with carved three-dimensional peaks.
The Temple of the Three Windows is the most mysterious structure of Machu Picchu. According to Bingham's hypothesis, trapezoidal windows facing east were symbols of Pachacutec's ancestral home. But since the architectural style of the city belongs to the late Inca period, the reliability of this assumption raises certain doubts among archaeologists.
The new Wonder of the World Machu Picchu received UNESCO World Heritage status, after which it turned into a bustling center of mass tourism. About 2,000 travelers visited the city daily. But in order to preserve the city, UNESCO demanded that the number of visitors be reduced to 800 people a day. On July 7, 2007, Machu Picchu was selected as a New Wonder of the World, and since February 2012, it has been excluded from the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger.

Rock City Petra
The ancient city of Petra is one of the most amazing monuments of architecture. It is carved in solid rock, and a huge number of secrets and omissions hovers around its origin. It is believed that the city was founded by the Nabataeans - nomadic tribes, who in the VI-IV centuries BC. managed to subdue the vast territory on which Jordan, Syria and Israel are located today.

Great city in the desert
Due to its favorable location at the crossroads of wide trade routes, Petra prospered and grew rich over the years. For many years it was a real salvation for merchants and travelers from the scorching sun. However, in the IV century BC. abandoned for reasons still unknown. Perhaps the inhabitants were driven out of the cool stone shade by the lack of water. But most likely the city was abandoned due to the loss of significance of its location in the very depths of the rocky Jordanian desert.
The city of Petra is carved into the red sandstone rock. Outwardly, the architectural elements that have survived to this day resemble Roman architecture. On the territory of the city, archaeologists managed to find many temples, palaces, tombs and even an ancient theater. The buildings of Petra were built over many centuries, so there is an incredible interweaving of echoes of the culture of different eras.
At various times, Edomites, Nabataeans, Romans, Byzantines and Arabs owned Petra, and in the 12th century BC. The city was taken over by the crusaders. After the VI century AD. construction stopped, and gradually one of the most amazing settlements on the planet was empty. The first European who visited the famous city is the Swiss traveler Johann Burckhardt. It is thanks to him that a detailed description of the structure of Petra, as well as sketches of some of its attractions, has been preserved.
Main Attractions
The main city attraction is the Treasury - a huge building with a solid facade carved from the rock. The majestic colonnade with an amphitheater, crowning the kilometer-long canyon of the Siq, also arouses admiration. They are the legacy of Roman culture in the history of Petra. Also of note is the aqueduct that supplied water to the city. It was a complex system of terracotta pipes that collected moisture from all sources located within a radius of 25 km from the city.
Ed-Dair deserves special attention - a huge monastery carved right into the rock at the top of the highest cliff in the canyon. For some time it even served as a Christian church. While excavating the monastery, archaeologists discovered here the tomb of the Nabataean king. You can climb to it along a staircase carved in stone, consisting of 800 steps.
Center for mass tourism and the New Wonder of the World
Today, Petra is one of the busiest tourism centers in the world. Every year, about half a million people come here to see this amazing creation of human hands with their own eyes. In July 2007, Petra, a little earlier included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, became one of the New Wonders of the World.

City of Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza, the sacred Mayan city, is located 75 miles east of Merida, the capital of the Yucatan. Archaeologists consider the ancient settlement, covering an area of ​​about 6 square miles, one of the world's greatest architectural monuments. Previously, several hundred structures were located here, but most of them have not survived to this day. The surviving buildings, of which there are about 30, are of great interest to archaeologists, scientists and researchers.

Ancient center of culture and religion
Archaeologists conditionally divide the remains of the city into two parts - the first contains buildings erected by the Maya around the 6th-7th centuries AD, while the second is a monument of the culture of the Toltecs who lived in Yukotan in the 10th-11th centuries. Apparently, the population of Chichen Itza experienced a rather acute lack of water. This is evidenced by numerous cenotes - wells with steep smooth walls.
It was during the Mayan period, which is associated with an unprecedented flourishing of science and art, that the city acquired a high status of a cultural and religious center. A striking confirmation of this are the buildings erected in this period - the Deer House, the monastery and the church, Akab Dzib, the Pali House, the Temple with three lintels and the Red House. After the Mayan civilization declined, the reasons for which are still shrouded in a dense shadow of mysteries and mysteries, cities like Chichen Itza were used for burials and some rituals.
City symbols
One of the most famous buildings preserved in Chichen Itza is the Pyramid of Kukulkan, which the locals often call El Castillo. The height of the structure is 23 m. On the day of the spring and autumn equinoxes in the afternoon, the sun illuminates the western balustrade of the main staircase so that an image of 7 isosceles triangles is formed, placed in a special order. Upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the figure created by the sun's rays most of all looks like a huge snake crawling towards its head. And to see this breathtaking sight, every year on March 20 and September 21, thousands of tourists gather here.
Another attraction - Huego de Pelota - is the largest playground ever created by the Maya. It should be noted that there are eight more such structures in the city, but the "Large Ball Game" is much larger than them - its length is 135 m. Particular attention is drawn to the paintings carved on the walls that enclose Huego de Pelota. They depict very cruel scenes, and scientists believe that they are directly related either to the practice of sacrifice, or to the illustration of the game, which serves as a substitute for bloody war.
The fate of the city
After 1194, Chichen Itza was completely empty, and there are numerous rumors and legends around what caused the departure of the inhabitants of the city. It should be noted that the tough policy of the Spaniards, who ruled America in the 11th century, involved the execution of Mayan clergy, as well as the destruction of ancient books and manuscripts. Therefore, no more or less plausible information about the mysterious history of this ancient civilization has come down to our days.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer
The statue of Christ the Redeemer is installed on top of the Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro. The monument is a symbol of the city and Brazil. Every year, millions of travelers and tourists come here to see with their own eyes the majestic statue of Christ, as if taking the whole modern world into his arms.

Monument construction
The history of the monument goes back to the 16th century, when the Portuguese navigators dubbed Corcovado Peak "Mountain of Temptation". In 1921 (a year before the anniversary of Brazil's independence), the well-known publication "O Cruzeiro" announced the collection of funds for the construction of the monument, as a result of which over 2 million flights were collected.
The Christ the Redeemer statue was designed by Carlos Oswald. In 1927, the first models of the monument were constructed, and Costa Hisses performed all the necessary calculations. Pedro Viana and Heitor Levy took part in the construction of the monument, as well as the sculptor Paul Landowski, who modeled and made the plaster head and arms of the statue.
A whole army of engineers and technicians worked on the creation of the sculpture. It was decided to replace the steel frame of the monument with reinforced concrete, and the outer layer of the monument was made of soapstone, specially imported to Rio de Janeiro from the Swedish Lymhamn deposit.
The construction lasted about 9 years, and in 1931 the world saw the majestic statue of Christ the Redeemer, which for a long time was not equal in scale all over the world. The height of the monument is 38 meters, and the weight of the entire structure, taking into account the base, exceeds 1100 tons. The arm span of the statue is approximately 23 meters, and the head and arms of Christ the Redeemer weigh about 54 tons.
The Majestic History of Christ the Redeemer Statue
In 1965, the monument was consecrated by Pope Paul VI, and in 1981, on the day of the 50th anniversary of the monument, John Paul II was present at the solemn feast. The statue of Christ the Redeemer was restored three times - in 1980, 1990 and 2010. In 1932 and 2000, the night lighting system of the statue was modernized, and today it stands out in a special way against the background of the starry sky at night.
It should be noted that the statue of Christ the Redeemer passed the strongest storm in July 2008, which destroyed several nearby neighborhoods of Rio. The monument was saved by the same soapstone, which acted as a dielectric and extinguished lightning discharges on the surface of the statue. To date, the monument is in excellent condition.
The statue of Christ the Redeemer took pride of place in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and on July 7, 2007, at the initiative of the New Open World Corporation, it was included in the list of New Wonders of the World.

7 wonders of Russia: the greatness and beauty of the country

Everyone knows the Seven Wonders of the World. Their history is studied by scientists all over the planet, many scientific works have been written about them, presentations, messages, reports, chapters in textbooks are devoted to them. Secrets and legends are associated with each of the unusual world heritage sites of Russia and UNESCO, there are many facts and unconfirmed information. On June 12, 2008, the world learned that the 7 Wonders of Russia were published - it was quite difficult to choose these objects from a huge number of ancient, mysterious, mystical and simply very beautiful places that abound in the corners of the country. The project, aimed at identifying the most beautiful places in Russia, was initiated by the Izvestia newspaper in collaboration with the Mayak radio station and the Rossiya TV channel in 2007. In 2008, as a result of a popular vote, the most iconic and amazing sights of the country were chosen - 7 Wonders of Russia.
The list of 7 wonders of Russia includes: 1. Pillars of weathering Man-Pupu-ner in the Komi Republic. 2. Elbrus peak in Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria. 3. Lake Baikal in Buryatia. 4. Valley of Geysers on the Kamchatka Peninsula. 5. Mamaev Kurgan, the monument "Motherland". 6. Monument of palace and park art "Peterhof", St. Petersburg. 7. St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow.
Of the seven wonders of the world in Russia, 4 belong to the class of natural objects, three - to architectural monuments and park art.

Lake Baikal, Buryatia
In Buryatia, where Lake Baikal is located, it is called Baigal Dalai or Baigal Nuur. The deepest lake in the world is of tectonic origin and is a UNESCO protected site. Included in the 7 Wonders of Russia, Baikal is often called the sea - its dimensions are really impressive: the width is from 24 to 80 km, the length is 632 km. The very shape of the majestic and very beautiful reservoir is also interesting - in the form of a crescent.

Interesting to know. The crystal clear waters of the "father of Baikal", a member of the Great Seven Wonders of Russia, are also unique - you can see every pebble at a depth of 40 meters, and the minimum amount of mineral salts makes it possible to use Baikal water as distilled water.
The name “Father Baikal” was given to the object of the 7 Wonders of Russia because of an ancient legend. Baikal had 336 sons and only one daughter, Angara. The sons constantly replenished Baikal with their waters, and the Angara gave its waters to the Yenisei, whom she fell in love with. Angered by Baikal, he cursed his daughter Angara by throwing the rock Shaman-stone at its source.

Valley of Geysers, Kamchatka Territory
The Valley of Geysers is hidden in one of the volcanic gorges of the Kronotsky Reserve, it can only be reached by helicopter. 250 kilometers on the way over the tundra, ridges, hills, taiga ravines and acid lakes - and a person finds himself in a different world filled with fountains of swirling vapors, light smells of sulfur and rain splashes, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow. Walking along a walking path with wooden decks, you can observe 30 large geysers and many small springs, throwing jets of boiling water (+95 °C) up to tens of meters. Hot mud pots have also been preserved. Due to the well-heated soil, the slopes of the valley are overgrown with lush greenery of grasses and trees. The Geysernaya River flows along the bottom of the gorge, which never freezes.

Mamaev Kurgan and Motherland, Volgograd Region

During the Great Patriotic War, Mamaev Kurgan became the scene of bloody battles. The struggle for Mamaev Kurgan, marked on military topographic maps as "Height-102.0", lasted 135 days out of 200 days of the Battle of Stalingrad. In 1959 - 1967, a memorial complex was erected on this site - "To the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad". On the hill, in a mass grave, 34,505 soldiers found eternal rest. 200 granite steps lead from the foot to the top of the mound (according to the number of days of the battle). The statue "Motherland is calling!" is installed here. It is a figure of a woman 87 meters high with a raised sword in her hands. This is one of the tallest monuments in the world. (For comparison: the height of the Statue of Liberty in the United States reaches only 46 meters). The figure of a woman-mother is an allegorical symbol of the Motherland, calling her sons to fight against the enemy.

Peterhof, St. Petersburg

Founded in the 1710s by Emperor Peter I, Peterhof became a luxurious royal residence and a kind of triumphal monument, symbolizing Russia's successful access to the Baltic Sea. Palaces, alleys, graceful sculptures and greenhouses with outlandish plants are united in a single ensemble. But the main pride of Peterhof is its fountains. 176 fountains and 4 cascades operate without a single pump. Hydraulic engineer V. Tuvolkov created a unique fountain conduit: 20 km from here springs flow from which water flows down channels and locks into pools due to the difference in heights, and from there it rushes through underground pipes to the fountains and cascades of Peterhof.

Basil's Cathedral, Moscow

Basil's Cathedral is the same symbol of Russia and Moscow as the Eiffel Tower is for Paris and France, the Statue of Liberty is for the USA and New York, or the Taj Mahal is for India and Agra. St. Basil's Cathedral was built by Ivan the Terrible in 1555-1561 as a sign of victory over the Kazan Khanate. In plan, the temple is an eight-pointed star: 8 churches symbolize 8 days falling on the days of decisive battles for Kazan. They are grouped around the 9th, central church, personifying the king's state idea of ​​united lands. The name of the cathedral was given by a chapel built in 1588 and consecrated in honor of St. Basil the Blessed.

Weathering pillars, Komi

The top of the Man-Pupu-ner mountain is crowned with remains of bizarre shapes. These giant pillars, 30 to 42 meters high, were created over 200 million years under the influence of water and wind. According to legend, the pillars were giants who wanted to destroy the local people - the Mansi. But as soon as their leader-shaman saw the sacred mountain - Man-Pupu-ner, he threw his tambourine in horror, and his companions turned into stone idols.

Elbrus, Caucasus

On the border of the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia is the two-headed Elbrus - the highest point in Russia. The height of the western peak of Elbrus is 5642 m, and the eastern one is 5621 m. The mountain is famous for its glaciers that feed mountain rivers, mineral springs spread at the foot, and bewitching views. Few mountains of volcanic origin surpass Elbrus in height: for example, the highest peak in Africa - Mount Kilimanjaro - is only 253 meters higher than the "Russian miracle".
Synopsis of the lesson of the history of Russia in the 8th grade. Domestic policy of Alexander I

For a long time, sages and travelers made a list of 7 wonders of the world, they added the most beautiful and most majestic buildings of the whole world in their opinion.

The most majestic buildings of antiquity - the seven wonders of the world

Initially, in the 5th century BC. There were only 3 wonders of the world on the list. After that, in the 3rd century BC, thanks to the poem of Antipater from Sidon, 4 more wonders of the world were added to the list and so the list was named 7 wonders of the world. Here is the list of 7 wonders of the world:

The Pyramid of Cheops

This pyramid is the largest of all Egyptian pyramids and the most popular among the 7 wonders of the world. It was erected in 2540 BC. e.

The height of this giant is approximately 138.75 m. The heaviest stone pyramid module weighs 15 tons. Imagine! The pyramid consists of 2.5 million blocks, which weigh 2.5 tons each.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

This wonder of the world still has one name - the Hanging Gardens of Amitis, that was the name of the wife of the king of Babylon. For her, these gardens were created. The Babylonian ruler, Nebuchadnezzar II, twice giving the city to his enemy, decided to join his forces with the king of Media. Having won the war, Nebuchadnezzar II and the ruler of Media divide the territory of Assyria.

To confirm the military alliance, Nebuchadnezzar II marries the daughter of the Median king, Amitis. Amitis, who was accustomed to green gardens, was not happy with the “dusty” Babylon, and in order to comfort her wife, Nebuchadnezzar builds these hanging gardens for her.

Third of the Seven Wonders of the World - Statue of Zeus at Olympia

This statue was made in the temple of Zeus by the brilliant architect Phidias. The temple was built much earlier than the statue itself.

It took 10 years to build only the temple, only this fact allows us to put it on the list of 7 wonders of the world! The sculpture of Zeus sits on the throne, holding in his left hand a scepter with a falcon, and in his right hand - a sculpture of the goddess of victory - Nike.

Temple of Artemis of Ephesus

The temple was located in the old town of Ephesus, was built in the 6th century BC. e. In 356 BC burned by Herostratus. This temple was built for Artemis because, according to legend, she had a special gift: she could cause the growth of all vegetation, took care of animals, blessed happiness in marriage and the birth of babies.

mausoleum in Halicarnassus

This wonder of the world was built in the middle of the 4th century BC. e. by order of the wife of Mausolus - Artemisia III.

The construction of the mausoleum began even before the death of Mausolus, for whom the monument was actually built. The wife of the Carian ruler called the most notorious architects of Greece, Satyrus and Pytheas, and the most recognized architects of that time - Leohar, Skopas.

The Colossus of Rhodes

This huge statue of the ancient Greek sun god Helios was located in Rhodes. The statue was created by the majestic architect Hares. The height of the statue was 36 m., It was made entirely of bronze. 13 tons of bronze and 12 years of work by the architect Hares were spent on the statue.

The seventh wonder of the world of the seven wonders of the world is the Lighthouse of Alexandria

The lighthouse was built in the III century BC. e. in the Egyptian city of Alexandria. The Lighthouse of Alexandria was the very first lighthouse in history. This lighthouse stood for about a thousand years!

At the end of the 15th century, Sultan Kait Bey built a fortress on the site of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, which still exists today.

That's the whole list of 7 wonders of the world or just wonders of the world.

The classic list of the seven wonders of the world has been known to us since school days, when we studied ancient history. Only the pyramids of Egypt have survived to our times, which can be seen by anyone who visits this country. The Pyramid of Cheops at Giza is the only surviving wonder of the world. The rest of the wonders - the Colossus of Rhodes, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Lighthouse of Alexandria - collapsed over the centuries, some in fires and earthquakes, others due to floods.

The classic list of wonders of the world includes:

1. Pyramid of Cheops (the burial place of the pharaoh of Egypt) - created by the Egyptians in 2540 BC. e. ;
2. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon in Babylon - created by the Babylonians in 605 BC. e. ;
3. Statue of Zeus at Olympia - created by the Greeks in 435 BC. e.;
4. Temple of Artemis in Ephesus (built in honor of the goddess Artemis in Turkey) - created by the Greeks and Persians in 550 BC. e.;
5. Mausoleum in Halicarnassus - created by the Carians, Greeks and Persians in 351 BC. e.;
6. The Colossus of Rhodes was erected by the Greeks between 292 and 280 BC. BC e.;
7. Lighthouse of Alexandria - built in the IV century BC. e. lighthouse by the Greeks, and named after Alexander the Great.

All the photographs below with the wonders of the world are either models of how majestic buildings used to look, or what is left of them at the present time. It is a pity that they could not withstand natural disasters.

Some time later, cultural figures began to add additional sights, “miracles” to this list, which still surprise and inspire. So, at the end of the 1st century, the Roman poet Martial added only the rebuilt Colosseum to the list. After a while, in the VI century, the Christian theologian Gregory of Tours added the Ark and Temple of Solomon to the list of Noah.

Different sources mention different combinations of wonders of the world, for example, English and French writers and historians equated the catacombs of Alexandria, the Leaning Tower in Pisa, the porcelain tower in Nanjing, the Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul to the wonders of the world.

New List of Wonders of the World

In 2007, a UN organization organized a vote to approve a new list of modern wonders of the world. Voted by telephone, Internet and SMS messages. And here's the final list:

Colosseum in Italy;
The great Wall of China;
Machu Picchu - the ancient city of the Incas in Peru;
Taj Mahal in India - a magnificent mausoleum-mosque in India;
Petra - the ancient city, the capital of the Nabatean kingdom, is located in modern Jordan;
a statue of Christ the Redeemer flying over Rio de Janeiro in Brazil;
the pyramids of Giza in Egypt;
Chichen Itza in Mexico, the ancient city of the Mayan civilization.

All of them have been preserved since ancient times, except for the statue of Christ the Redeemer, which was finally built in 1931 of the last century and has since become a symbol of Brazil and one of its largest cities - Rio de Janeiro.

How to see them?

The new list of wonders has been officially approved by the UN, and now everyone who travels to the country can see them. Not a single excursion route will avoid visiting these sights. They are carefully preserved for future generations, but also used for modern needs.

For example, the Colosseum is known for its excellent acoustics. Famous singers and musicians from all over the world often perform there, operas are staged right in the open air.

The Taj Mahal is also open to tourists, but this is the tomb of the beloved wife of the padishah, so they only inspect it and admire the beauty of its architectural forms and internal painting.

Being in China and not visiting the Great Wall is considered simply indecent. Many excursions are led to it, but you cannot climb it: it is a huge obstacle course and it is dangerous to walk on it. Therefore, everyone is photographed at her sites in the most picturesque places.

The pyramids of Giza can be viewed from the outside and inside, and nearby you can see the grandiose statues of the ancient sphinxes.

Excursions to the ancient cities of Machu Picchu, Petra and Chichen Itza are extremely interesting, but physically difficult - you have to walk through the ruins for a long time. However, the rest of tourists in these countries is well organized, and you will not regret if you spend a day or two visiting these magnificent places.

Chichen Itza - the ancient city of the Mayan Indians

Why exactly 7 wonders of the world, and not 10 or 15?

As you have probably already noticed, people used to have a special attitude towards the magic number seven. Everyone knows that there are 7 holes on the human head - 2 eyes, 2 nostrils, 2 ears and a mouth. When a person sees seven objects at the same time, he can immediately count them with a glance, without even thinking, however, if there are more of them, he will have to count them in his mind.

Thus, because of seemingly such primitive conclusions, people began to strive to shine the amount of something to seven. For example, highlight 7 days in a week, seven colors in a rainbow, 7 tones in a sound range, and so on.

It is not at all surprising that the ancient Greeks singled out the Seven Wonders of the World, because the number 7 was the sacred number of Apollo, the god who patronized art.