The primacy of compiling a list of the 7 seven wonders of the world of the Ancient World is attributed to Antipater of Sidon, who sang them for centuries in his poem:

I saw your walls, Babylon, on which it is spacious

And chariots; I saw Zeus at Olympia,

The Miracle of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Colossus of Helios

And the pyramids are the work of many and hard works;

I know Mausolus a huge tomb. But I just saw

I am the chamber of Artemis, who raised the roof to the clouds,

Everything else faded before him; outside of Olympus

The sun sees no beauty equal to it anywhere.

At different times, with the construction of new buildings, they tried to change the list of 7 wonders of the world of antiquity, but in the final version, only the Lighthouse of Alexandria appeared from the new ones, which overshadowed the grandeur of the walls of Babylon.

Some include here all the pyramids of Egypt, some of the great pyramids of Giza, but for the most part, only the largest of them, the pyramid of Cheops, is perceived as a miracle. The pyramid is also considered the oldest miracle on the list - its construction is estimated at about 2000 BC. Despite its old age, this is the only building of the 7 old wonders of the world that has survived to this day.

Created by order of the king of the desert Babylon Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife, these gardens were supposed to console and remind her of her distant homeland. The name of Semiramis, the Assyrian queen, appeared here by mistake, but, nevertheless, was firmly entrenched in history.

The statue was created for the temple in the large religious center of Ancient Greece - Olympia. The giant Zeus by the sculptor Phidias impressed the locals so much that they decided that Zeus himself personally posed for the master.

In the ancient large port city of Ephesus, the goddess of fertility Artemis was especially revered. In honor of her, a huge and majestic temple was created here, which was included in the list of 7 ancient wonders of the world.

The rich king Mausolus wished to erect a mausoleum-temple in Halicarnassus, incomparable to anything in beauty. The best masters of that time worked on the construction. The work was completed only after the death of Mausolus, but this did not prevent him from going down in history forever.

In honor of the great victory, the inhabitants of Rhodes decided to build a huge statue of the god Helios. The plan was carried out, but this miracle did not last long, and was soon destroyed by an earthquake.

To navigate ships near the large port of Alexandria, it was decided to build the largest lighthouse at that time. The building immediately overshadowed the walls of Babylon and took its place in the list of the seven wonders of the world of antiquity.

Daria Nessel| Dec 15, 2016

The Pyramid of Cheops

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

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

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

From 270 to 220 BC on the coast of the island of Rhodes stood, amazing in its size, the monument of the sun god Helios in the form of a young man with a torch in his raised hand. Delightful from the outside, in fact, mainly consisted of a construction mixture, its power was only a mirage, which was soon dispelled.

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

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

Alexandrian lighthouse

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

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

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

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

In 2015, the Egyptian authorities decided to restore the lighthouse of Alexandria.

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

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

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

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

Maybe that's why so many colors of the rainbow, notes, days in the week are known. From there come expressions: behind seven seals, seven circles of hell, in the seventh heaven ...

In those distant times, the Greeks annually determined the list of curiosities, making a kind of lottery out of this, because there was plenty to choose from. So far, the ancient Greek poet Antipater of Sidon, in his famous poem about the 7 wonders of the world, did not name the objects that he considered worthy of this title.

I'm an Image Caption ready-to-use.

Later it became fashionable and ancient historians, poets and writers began to repeat it. Seven ancient wonders of the world were erected within 2500 years before the birth of Christ. The geography of their location is the Mediterranean region: the territory of modern Egypt, Greece, Iraq, Turkey. This unprecedented surge of creative energy and talent took place here, leaving a bright mark on world culture.

The Pyramid of Cheops

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

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

More than 5 million tons - this is the weight. For twenty years, 4,000 builders laid out in a geometrically correct form during a period when the wheel was not known in Egypt.

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

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

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

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

The name of Semiramis, a legendary woman who lived several centuries earlier, was connected by human rumor with this unique creation, forming beautiful fairy tales. Amitis, for whose sake birds sang and streams murmured, is forever forgotten by history.

Statue of Olympian Zeus

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

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

For almost a millennium, the Olympians brought gifts to, until Emperor Theodosius II ordered the temple of the supreme pagan god to be burned to strengthen the formation of the Christian religion.

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

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

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

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

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The wonders of the Ancient World are studied at school in history lessons. It included those structures that were created before our era. None of them have survived to this day, except for the pyramids of Cheops in. These include:

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

Pyramid of Cheops and Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

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

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

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

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

supreme greek god reached the height of a five-story building, to work on it, the architect Phidias demanded the creation of a workshop that repeats the temple in which the statue was installed. At the same time, Zeus, sitting on the throne, seemed to “not fit” into the temple, if the statue could stand up, it would break the vault. Thus, the greatness of God was emphasized.

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

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

The Colossus of Rhodes

The colossus with feet of clay collapsed seventy years after its construction, but it rightfully occupies a place among the wonders of the world. There are disputes about its height, indicate sizes from forty to sixty meters. There is a legend that ships easily sailed between his legs, although this theory is now controversial. According to the descriptions found, the colossus could not be in the port, but on land, in the city of Rhodes. It was erected as a gratitude to the god Helios for the fact that he defended the city from enemy troops who left after a year of siege. Interestingly, the chief sculptor of the colossus committed suicide, as he borrowed a huge amount to complete his creation, which he was unable to return.

Alexandrian lighthouse

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

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

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

Wonders of the world of our time

Since all the wonders of the world, with the exception of one, have not survived to this day, in 2007 six new wonders were chosen by voting, which hit no less ancient structures. The new list contains the following items:

• in Rome. It is difficult to find a person who would not recognize the famous Colosseum. An integral symbol of Rome, the largest amphitheater of antiquity, it rightfully takes the place of one of the seven wonders of the world. It was created on the site of the former possessions of the tyrannical emperor Nero in order to secure the position of the new emperor - Vespasian. The land of the Colosseum was handed over to the people, in the huge amphitheater gladiator fights, horse races and even battles on the water, which came through special channels, were regularly held. To this day, the Colosseum has survived, albeit damaged from time to time, but almost intact.
• the great Wall of China. One of the main symbols of the Middle Kingdom and the largest architectural structure in the world, the Great Wall of China has a length of more than 8850 kilometers. Initially, it was designed to protect the country from the invasions of nomads, and lay on the northern borders. Today it is the most popular attraction, with thousands of tourists visiting it every year to see this incredible structure.
• and Chichen Itza.Both of these structures are located on the territory of South America and belong to the cultures of the ancient peoples inhabiting it. Machu Picchu is located in Peru and is the legacy of the Incas. This imperial residence, located high in the mountains and considered sacred, was called the "city among the clouds." This monument is truly amazing - an ancient city in the skies, almost completely preserved. Chichen Itza, located in Mexico on the Yucatan Peninsula, was the capital of the Mayan state, and not only political. The temples erected here are often called the "sources of power" of the entire culture of the ancient civilization.
• Petra. On the territory of Jordan is a city completely carved out of stone. Its name is Petra, which means "rock". Indeed, this city is located among sheer cliffs, its gates are rocks, and he himself is also carved from them. This city is as beautiful as it is shrouded in mysteries and mysteries. Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world come to the Jordanian Siq Canyon to see this miracle with their own eyes.
• . A symbol of great and eternal love, the mausoleum of the wife of Emperor Shah Jahan, the Taj Mahal is considered one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture. It is especially interesting that it is not only magnificent as an architectural creation, but also interesting as a building with its own history, which is similar to an oriental fairy tale. There is an opinion that its construction has not been completed, on the opposite bank the tomb of the emperor himself should have been located, which would be connected to the tomb of his wife by means of a bridge. In any case, the Taj Mahal is a beautiful piece of art that is visited by thousands of tourists.
• . The newest wonder of the world is in Rio de Janeiro. The statue was founded in the first half of the twentieth century, and is a symbol of Brazil, although it was made in France. A railway leads to the top, along which a small train runs. Almost two million tourists visit the statue of Christ the Redeemer every year.
• surviving pyramids at Giza, which include the pyramid of Cheops.

In our time, it is customary to call the wonder of the world unique artistic and technical creations, which, with their level of performance, arouse the admiration of most specialists. But in fairness, this erroneous approach should be corrected - the wonders of the world include specific objects created by people in ancient times.

Below is a list of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World...

1. Pyramids of Cheops (Giza)

Pyramid of Pharaoh Khufu (in the Greek version of Cheops), or the Great Pyramid - the greatest of the Egyptian pyramids, the oldest of the seven wonders of the world of antiquity and the only one of them that has come down to our time. For over four thousand years, the pyramid was the largest building in the world.

The pyramid of Cheops is located in the far suburbs of Cairo Giza. Nearby are two more pyramids of the pharaohs Khafre and Menkaur (Khafren and Mikerin), according to ancient historians, the sons and successors of Khufu. These are the three largest pyramids in Egypt.

Following the ancient authors, most modern historians consider the pyramids to be the burial structures of the ancient Egyptian monarchs. Some scientists believe that these were astronomical observatories. There is no direct evidence that pharaohs were buried in the pyramids, but other versions of their purpose are less convincing.

Based on the ancient "royal lists", it is established that Cheops ruled around 2585-2566. BC. The construction of the "Sacred Height" lasted 20 years and ended after the death of Khufu, around 2560 BC.

Other versions of construction dates based on astronomical methods give dates from 2720 to 2577. BC. The radiocarbon method shows a spread of 170 years, from 2850 to 2680. BC.

There are also exotic opinions expressed by supporters of theories of visiting the Earth by aliens, the existence of ancient pra-civilizations, or adherents of occult currents. They determine the age of the pyramid of Cheops from 6-7 to tens of thousands of years.

2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon (Babylon)

The existence of one of the wonders of the world - many scientists question and argue that this is nothing more than a figment of the imagination of an ancient chronicler, the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich was picked up by his colleagues and began to diligently rewrite from chronicle to chronicle. They justify their statement by the fact that those who most carefully describe the gardens of Babylon are precisely those who have not seen them in their eyes, while historians who have visited ancient Babylon are silent about the miracle erected there.

Archaeological excavations have shown that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon still existed.

Naturally, they did not hang on ropes, but were a four-story building built in the shape of a pyramid with a huge amount of vegetation, and were part of the palace building. This unique structure got its name due to a mistranslation of the Greek word “kremastos”, which actually means “hanging” (for example, from a terrace).

The unique gardens were erected by order of the Babylonian ruler Nebuchadnezzar II, who lived in the 7th century BC. BC. He built them specifically for his wife Amitis, daughter of Cyaxares, king of Media (it was with him that the Babylonian ruler made an alliance against a common enemy, Assyria, and won a final victory over this state).

Amitis, which grew up among the mountains of green and fertile Media, did not like dusty and noisy Babylon, located on a sandy plain. The Babylonian ruler was faced with a choice - to move the capital closer to his wife's homeland, or to make her stay in Babylon more comfortable. They decided to build hanging gardens that would remind the queen of her homeland. Where exactly they are, history is silent, and therefore there are several hypotheses:

• The main version says that this wonder of the world is located near the modern city of Hilla, which is located on the Efrat River in the center of Iraq.
• An alternative version, based on the re-deciphering of cuneiform tablets, claims that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are located in Nineveh, the capital of Assyria (located in the north of modern Iraq), which, after its fall, went to the Babylonian state.

The very idea of ​​​​creating hanging gardens in the middle of a dry plain looked like fantastic at that time. This task turned out to be within the power of local architects and engineers of the ancient world - and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which were later included in the list of seven wonders of the world, were built, became part of the palace and were located on its northeast side.

They say that the statue of Zeus at Olympia turned out to be so majestic that when Phidias, having created it, asked his creation: “Are you satisfied, Zeus?” thunder boomed, and the black marble floor at the god's feet cracked. The Thunderer was pleased.

Despite the fact that only memories of one of the most majestic statues of this magnitude have come down to us, the mere description of the monument, which was in its way a real jewelry masterpiece, cannot but stagger the imagination. Both before and after the creation of the statue of Olympian Zeus, people did not create a monument of this magnitude - and it is not a fact that they will ever be created: this wonder of the world turned out to be too expensive in cost and huge in scale.

The uniqueness of this monument also lies in the fact that the statue of Olympian Zeus, the only one of all the wonders of the ancient world, was located on the territory of continental Europe, in the Greek city of Olympia, which is located on the Balkan Peninsula.

The statue of Zeus in Olympia was created for a long time: Phidias spent about ten years on it. When she appeared before the inhabitants and guests of Olympia in 435 BC, she was a real wonder of the world.

The exact dimensions of the statue have not yet been determined, but apparently, its height was from 12 to 17 meters. Zeus, naked to the waist, sat on a throne, his feet were on a bench, which was supported by two lions. The pedestal on which the throne was located was quite huge: its dimensions were 9.5 by 6.5 m. Ebony, gold, ivory and jewelry were used for its manufacture.

The throne itself was decorated with images of scenes from the life of the Greek celestials, the goddesses of victory danced on its legs, and the battles of the Greeks with the Amazons were depicted on the crossbars and, of course, the Olympic Games were not without (Panen was engaged in painting). The Thunderer was made of ebony, while his entire body was covered with plates of ivory of the highest quality. The master selected the materials for his statue extremely meticulously.

There was a wreath on the head of the supreme god, and in one hand he held the golden Nike, the goddess of Victory, in the other - a scepter decorated with an eagle, symbolizing supreme power. The god's clothes were made of gold sheets (in total, about two hundred kilograms of gold were used to make the sculpture). The cloak of the Thunderer was decorated with images of representatives of the animal and plant world.

Nowadays, a marble copy of one of the wonders of the world can be seen in the Hermitage, where it was brought from Italy in 1861. Apparently, this statue of Zeus was created by a Roman author in the first century BC, and it was found during archaeological excavations in the vicinity of Rome at the end of the 18th century. It is notable for the fact that today it is one of the largest ancient sculptures that are in the museums of the world - the height of the monument is 3.5 meters and weighs 16 tons.

The sculpture was acquired at the beginning of the 19th century by one of the Italian collectors, Marquis D. Campana.

She did not stay with him for long, because after a while he went bankrupt, his property was confiscated and sold at auction. Before the auction, the director of the Hermitage managed to persuade the Italian authorities to give him the opportunity to purchase some items before the sale, so the best exhibits from the collection of the ruined marquis, including the statue of the Thunderer, ended up in the Hermitage.

4. Temple of Artemis of Ephesus (Ephesus)

According to the ancient Greek belief, Artemis was the goddess of hunting and fertility, the patroness of all life on earth. She looked after the animals in the forest, herds of domestic animals, plants. Artemis ensured a happy marriage and assisted in childbirth.

In honor of Artemis in Ephesus, a temple was built on the site of the former sanctuary of the Carian goddess, also responsible for fertility. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was so large that it immediately entered the list of the seven wonders of the world of the ancient world. The financing of the construction was covered by the Lydian king Croesus, the construction work was led by the architect from Knossos Harsiphron. Under him, they managed to erect walls and columns. After his death, the post of chief architect was taken over by his son Metagen. The last stage of construction was led by Paeonite and Demetrius.

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was completed in 550 BC. A delightful spectacle opened before the locals, the like of which has never been built here. And although at present it is impossible to recreate the former decoration of the temple, one can be sure that the best masters of their time, employed here at work, could not blunder. The very statue of the culprit of the construction was made of ivory and gold.

It was possible to recreate the image of the former majestic temple of the goddess Artemis in Ephesus only after archaeological excavations were carried out. The temple measured 105 by 51 meters. The roof of the building was supported by 127 columns, each 18 meters high. According to legend, each column was donated by one of the 127 Greek rulers.

In addition to religious services, financial and business life was in full swing in the temple. It was the center of Ephesus, independent of the authorities, subordinate to the local college of priests.

In 356 BC, when the famous Alexander the Great was born, the temple of Artemis was burned down by the Ephesian resident Herostratus. The motive of this feat is to remain in history in the memory of posterity. The arsonist after the capture was waiting for the death penalty. In addition to it, it was also decided to eradicate the name of this person from history. But what is forbidden sits even more firmly in the memory of people, and the name of Herostratus is now a household name.

By the 3rd century BC, the wonder of the world, the temple of Artemis in Greece, was restored at the initiative of the aforementioned Alexander the Great, but with the advent of the Goths, it is again destroyed. Later, with the ban on pagan cults, the Byzantine authorities closed the temple. Then they begin to gradually disassemble into building materials, as a result of which the temple goes into oblivion. A Christian church was erected in its place, but it also faced the fate of destruction.

On October 31, 1869, the English archaeologist Wood manages to find the location of the former temple of Artemis in Turkey, and excavations begin. Now in its place stands one column restored from the wreckage. Despite this, the place still attracts thousands of tourists.

5. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Fast forward to the ancient city of Halicarnassus. It was the capital of Caria and, as is due to the capital of the state, was famous for its beauty and grandeur. Temples, theaters, palaces, gardens, fountains, a living harbor guaranteed honor and respect for the city. But special attention here was occupied by the tomb of King Mausolus, one of the seven wonders of the world in the ancient world. So, the wonder of the world mausoleum in Halicarnassus.

King Mausolus ruling Caria in the 4th century BC (377-353 years), according to the experience of the Egyptian pharaohs, he began the construction of his tomb during his lifetime. It was supposed to be a unique building. Located in the center of the city, among palaces and temples, it symbolizes the power and wealth of the king. And to worship the late king, it must combine both the tomb and the temple. The best architects and sculptors were allocated for the construction - Pythius, Satyr, Leohar, Skopas, Briaxides, Timothy. After the death of the king, his wife, Queen Artemisia, approached the construction of an eternal monument to the great husband even more intensively.

The building was completed in 350 BC. Its appearance combined several architectural styles of that time at once. There were three levels in the mausoleum with a total height of 46 meters. The first tier was a massive plinth made of bricks lined with marble. Further on it towered a temple with 36 columns. The columns supported the roof in the form of a pyramid with 24 steps. At the top of the roof was a sculpture of King Mausolus and Artemisia in a chariot drawn by 4 horses. Around the building were statues of horsemen and lions. The beauty of the structure was fascinating, it is no coincidence that the mausoleum in Halicarnassus quickly entered the seven wonders of the world of the ancient world.

The tomb of Mausolus and his wife was located in the lower tier. To worship the king, an upper room was built with columns and a statue of Mausolus. The statue has survived to this day, and fully reflects the image of the despot king. The sculptor in the facial features subtly conveyed the character of Mausolus - evil, cruel, capable of getting everything he needs. No wonder he was a very rich man. Next to the statue of Mausolus was a statue of Queen Artemisia. The sculptor embellished her, filed in a stately, soft image. The famous sculptor of that time Skopas worked on it. Both of these statues are now considered among the finest in Greek culture from the 4th century BC. Separately, it is worth mentioning the upper part of the base of the mausoleum. The sculptors decorated it with scenes from the Greek epic - the battle with the Amazons, hunting, the battle of the Lapiths with the centaurs.

Mausoleum - a word that came from the name of King Mausolus, is now a household word among all peoples.

After 18 centuries, the mausoleum was destroyed by an earthquake. Later, its ruins were used to build the castle of St. Peter by the Knights of St. John. When the Turks arrived, the castle became the fortress of Budrun, currently called Bodrum. Excavations here were carried out in 1857. Relief slabs, statues of Mausolus and Artemisia, a statue of a chariot were found. They are currently on display in the British Museum.

6. Colossus of Rhodes (Rhodes)

The Colossus of Rhodes is a huge statue that has become one of the seven Wonders of the World. The grateful inhabitants of the island of Rhodes decided to build it in honor of the sun god Helios, who helped them withstand the unequal struggle against the invaders. The siege of the beautiful island lasted almost a year and the probability of victory was negligible, but the patron helped the islanders win. For this, Helios was immortalized in the guise of a huge statue. For the people of Rhodes, the statue represented independence and freedom, just like the Statue of Liberty in New York for Americans.

The island of Rhodes had a favorable geographical position, its inhabitants freely traded with many countries, which ensured the wealth of the city as a whole and each citizen individually. From the moment of foundation to the III century. BC. Rhodes was alternately ruled by the famous king Mausolus, the Persian rulers and Alexander the Great. None of them oppressed the city and did not prevent it from developing. However, after the death of Alexander the Great, his heirs began to divide the inherited lands in a bloody struggle.

The island of Rhodes went to Ptolemy, but another heir (Antigon) considered this unfair and sent his son to destroy the city. This would help to equal the power of Ptolemy. Demetrius, son of Antigonus, gathered a huge army that outnumbered the islanders. Only impregnable walls prevented the soldiers from immediately entering the capital and destroying it. Enemies used siege towers - huge wooden catapults that were installed on ships. The inhabitants of Rhodes managed to detain the enemies before the arrival of Ptolemy's army and defend their homeland.

Having sold the siege engines and the surviving ships of the invaders, the inhabitants of Rhodes decided to build a huge statue of the god Helios, their patron. Until now, any statues were called colossi, but after the Colossus of Rhodes, only the largest of them began to be called that way.

The construction of the Colossus began in 302 BC. and finished only after 12 years (according to other sources after 20 years). They installed a statue on an artificial embankment that blocked the entrance to the harbor. Behind this hill, for a long time, individual parts of the sculpture were hidden from prying eyes. The mound with the statue turned into a kind of gate to the city. Some poets have described the Colossus as standing on two hills. The ships were supposed to sail between the legs of Helios. However, this version is considered doubtful. The stability of such a sculpture would be too low, and large ships would not be able to moor in the port.

The statue has not survived to this day, but numerous descriptions of contemporaries testify that the Colossus stood on one of the banks, and not at all in the form of an arch, as the artists depict it. In the giant's hand was a bowl of blazing fire. At the base there were three pillars that served as a support. Two of them the builders inlaid with bronze details to disguise at the feet of Helios. The third pillar was in the place where the cloak or part of the sheet of the majestic Colossus fell.

The residents wanted the statue to point into the distance, but the sculptor understood that this would reduce the stability of the structure, so the statue seemed to cover its eyes from the sun with its palm. The torso and main elements were made from sheets of iron and bronze. They were fixed on support poles. The space inside was filled with large stones and clay to increase stability. The free space was covered with earth so that the workers could move freely on the surface and fix the following parts. In total, the manufacture of the Colossus required 8 tons of iron and 13 tons of bronze. The resulting statue reached a height of 34 m.

The statue of the Colossus of Rhodes was so huge that it could be seen from ships sailing in the distance. According to the descriptions of contemporaries, she was a tall young man with a radiant crown on his head. One hand of the young man covered his eyes, and the other picked up the falling robe.

Another poet - Philo - described the Colossus differently. He claimed that the statue was on a marble pedestal and struck by the size of the feet. Each of them was itself the size of a small statue. On the outstretched hand was a working torch. It was lit at night to light the way for sailors.

Scientists are still trying to find out where the Colossus of Rhodes is located or where exactly it was installed. At the end of the 20th century, huge boulders were discovered off the coast of the island of Rhodes, which resembled fragments of a statue in shape. However, the theory that these are elements of an ancient sculpture has not been confirmed. But the researcher Ursula Vedder suggested that the Colossus did not stand near the coast at all, but on the hill of Monte Smith. The ruins of the temple of Helios are preserved here, and its foundation has a suitable platform on which the Colossus could rise.

7. Lighthouse of Alexandria (Pharos)

Only one of the seven wonders of the ancient world had a practical purpose - the Lighthouse of Alexandria. It performed several functions at once: it allowed the ships to approach the harbor without any problems, and the observation post, located at the top of the unique structure, made it possible to monitor the expanses of water and notice the enemy in time.

The locals claimed that the light of the Lighthouse of Alexandria burned enemy ships even before they approached the coast, and if they managed to approach the coast, the statue of Poseidon, located on the dome of an amazing design, emitted a piercing warning cry.

The height of the old lighthouse was 140 meters - much higher than the surrounding buildings. In ancient times, buildings did not exceed three floors, and against their background, the Faros lighthouse seemed huge. Moreover, at the time of completion of construction, it turned out to be the tallest building in the ancient world and was such for an extremely long time.

The lighthouse of Alexandria was built on the east coast of the small island of Pharos, located near Alexandria, the main seaport of Egypt, built by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. It is also known in history as the Pharos lighthouse.

The great commander chose the place for the construction of the city very carefully: he initially planned to build a port in this region, which would be an important trade center.

It was extremely important that it be located at the intersection of both water and land routes of three parts of the world - Africa, Europe and Asia. For the same reason, it was necessary to build at least two harbors here: one for ships arriving from the Mediterranean Sea, and the other for sailing along the Nile.

Therefore, Alexandria was not built in the Nile Delta, but a little to the side, twenty miles to the south. When choosing a place for the city, Alexander took into account the location of future harbors, paying special attention to their strengthening and protection: it was very important to do everything so that the Nile waters did not clog them with sand and silt (a dam connecting the continent was subsequently built specifically for this with an island).

After the death of Alexander the Great (who, according to legend, was born on the day of the destruction of the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus), after some time the city came under the rule of Ptolemy I Soter - and as a result of skillful management, it turned into a successful and prosperous port city, and the construction of one of the seven wonders of the world significantly increased his wealth.

The lighthouse of Alexandria made it possible for ships to sail into the port without problems, successfully bypassing pitfalls, shallows and other obstacles in the bay. Due to this, after the construction of one of the seven wonders, the volume of light trade increased dramatically.

The lighthouse also served as an additional reference point for sailors: the landscape of the Egyptian coast is quite diverse - mostly lowlands and plains alone. Therefore, signal lights in front of the entrance to the harbor were most welcome.

A lower structure would have successfully coped with this role, so the engineers assigned another important function to the Lighthouse of Alexandria - the role of an observation post: enemies usually attacked from the sea, since the desert protected the country well from the land side.

It was also necessary to install such an observation post on the lighthouse because there were no natural hills near the city where this could be done.

The lighthouse of Alexandria served from 283 BC. until the 15th century, when a fortress was erected instead. Thus, he survived more than one dynasty of Egyptian rulers, saw Roman legionnaires. This did not particularly affect his fate: no matter who ruled Alexandria, everyone made sure that the unique structure stood as long as possible - they restored the parts of the building that had collapsed due to frequent earthquakes, updated the facade, which was negatively affected by wind and salty sea water.

Time has done its job: the lighthouse stopped working in 365, when one of the strongest earthquakes in the Mediterranean Sea caused a tsunami that flooded part of the city, and the death toll of the Egyptians, according to chroniclers, exceeded 50 thousand inhabitants.

After this event, the lighthouse significantly decreased in size, but stood still for quite a long time - until the XIV century, until another strong earthquake wiped it off the face of the earth (a hundred years later, the Sultan of Kait Bey erected a fortress on its foundation, which can be seen and Nowadays). After that, the pyramids at Giza remained the only ancient wonder of the world that has survived to this day.

In the mid 90s. the remains of the Lighthouse of Alexandria were discovered at the bottom of the bay with the help of a satellite, and after some time, scientists, using computer modeling, were able to more or less restore the image of a unique structure.

The Hanging Gardens were located in Babylon. Their creation in ancient times was associated with a certain Queen Semiramis. At present, it is believed that the construction of this miracle of technical thought was carried out by the king of Babylon Nebuchadnezzar II.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon: History and Legend

The modern history of the Gardens of Babylon is associated with the name of an archaeologist from Germany, Robert Koldewey. Being engaged in excavations of ancient Babylon since 1899, one day he stumbles upon a strange structure that is not typical for this area. So, for example, the vaults had a different shape, they were lined with stone instead of ordinary brick, there were underground structures, and most importantly, an interesting water supply system from three mines was found.

Obviously, a building of this type was used for some special purpose. Koldewey had to find out. He was able to understand that the whole structure was a kind of water lift for continuous water supply to the top. He was helped by the mentions of the writers of antiquity, which said that the stone in Babylon was used in only two places. One of them, at the northern wall of Qasr, the archaeologist managed to find earlier. Another place was semi-legendary, it was about the discovery of one of the 7 wonders of the world - the gardens of Babylon.

The main mentions of antiquity about the gardens of Babylon are associated with the name of the Greek Ctesias. But due to the exaggerations and fantasies noticed behind him, almost all of our information about this wonder of the world is controversial and unreliable.

In antiquity, the image of Semiramis pops up quite often. According to many legends, Semiramis was a brave warrior and builder with excellent architectural taste. According to one of the legends, she was the daughter of the mermaid Atargatis, who is the moon goddess, and an ordinary person. According to other stories, Semiramis was left by her parents from birth, and pigeons were engaged in her upbringing.

In fact, the Greeks understood the name of Semiramis as the Assyrian queen Shammuramat, who lived around 800 BC. After the death of her husband Shamshi-Adad V, she had to take power completely into her own hands, until her son came of age. But even after his accession to the royal throne, Shammuramat retained the title of queen. And it is no coincidence that the state was strengthened under her, the borders were expanded by conquering Media.

But still, the wonder of the world, the gardens of Babylon, according to modern researchers, could not be associated with Shammuramat itself. According to a more truthful version, this miracle was presented to the wife of Nebuchadnezzar II Amitis two hundred years after the reign of Semiramis. According to legend, Nebuchadnezzar for the war with Assyria made an alliance with the king of Media. After the victory, to strengthen the alliance, he married the daughter of the Median king. But life in the desert Babylon was incomparable with the mountainous and green Media. To please and comfort his wife, Nebuchadnezzar ordered these evergreen gardens to be built in the city. So the full name of this building is most likely “Amitis Hanging Gardens”.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon: a brief description and interesting facts

The Babylonian Hanging Gardens were a four-level structure with many cool rooms richly decorated with plants. For their irrigation, a water lift was used, for the functioning of which the slaves had to turn the wheel. The vaults of the building at each level were supported by 25-meter columns. The terraces were laid out with tiles, filled with asphalt and covered with a layer of earth sufficient for growing even trees.

The water supply system used in the gardens of Babylon was not new to Mesopotamia. This is also found in local ziggurats, including the legendary Tower of Babel and the Great Ziggurat at Ur. But it was in gardens that irrigation technology reached its perfection.

If we talk about the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II, then this was the time of the great construction of great buildings. During his reign, many roads of the city were built, including the famous Processional Road leading from the gates of the goddess Ishtar, a huge number of palaces and temples.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the legendary walls of Babylon, originally also included in the list of wonders of the world. According to the descriptions, their width allowed two chariots to pass freely. In two rows of walls, watchtowers were installed every 50 meters. In total, there were 360 ​​of them on the inner wall, and 250 on the outer wall.

But with the construction of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the walls of the city with the gardens of Babylon left the famous list, but the gardens themselves proudly came with it to our times. Of course, one can dispute the place of the gardens in this list for a long time, but there is no doubt that it was one of the best engineering structures of antiquity.