User:Mairyn.tsoutouras/Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

***This IS the final submission page for my assignment***

****NOTE: The lead and the chart were copied and pasted in with changes added, the description section was not copied and pasted and was added in entirely by myself.***

The Seven Wonders of the World or the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is a list of seven remarkably large constructions of classical antiquity given by various authors in guidebooks or poems; first described as themata, the greek word for a "Must see" attraction. Although the list, in its current form, did not stabilize until the Renaissance, the first such lists of seven wonders date from the 2nd-1st century BC. The original list inspired innumerable versions through the ages, often listing seven entries. Of the original Seven Wonders, only one—the Great Pyramid of Giza (also called the Pyramid of Khufu, after the pharaoh who built it) and its two sibling pyramids, the oldest of the ancient wonders—remains relatively intact. The Colossus of Rhodes, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Temple of Artemis and the Statue of Zeus were all destroyed. The location and ultimate fate of the Hanging Gardens are unknown, and there is speculation that they may not have existed at all. Many of these constructions induce a sense of mystery or a sense of awe at the accomplishments of early human architects and inspire creativity.

Wonders

Name	Date of construction	Builders	Date of destruction	Cause of destruction	Modern location
Great Pyramid of Giza	2584–2561 BC	Egyptians	Still in existence, majority of façade gone		Giza Necropolis, Egypt 29°58′45.03″N 31°08′03.69″E
Hanging Gardens of Babylon(existence unresolved)	c. 600 BC (evident)	Babylonians or Assyrians	After 1st century AD	Unknown	Babylon or Nineveh, Iraq 32.5355°N 44.4275°E
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus	c. 550 BC; and again at 323 BC	Greeks, Lydians	356 BC (by Herostratus) AD 262 (by the Goths)	Arson by Herostratus, plundering	Near Selçuk, Turkey 37°56′59″N 27°21′50″E
Statue of Zeus at Olympia	466–456 BC (temple) 435 BC (statue)	Greeks	5th–6th centuries AD	Disassembled and reassembled at Constantinople; later destroyed by fire	Olympia, Greece 37°38′16.3″N 21°37′48″E
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus	351 BC	Greeks, Persians, Carians	12th–15th century AD	Earthquakes	Bodrum, Turkey 37.0379°N 27.4241°E
Colossus of Rhodes	292–280 BC	Greeks	226 BC	226 BC Rhodes earthquake	Rhodes, Greece 36°27′04″N 28°13′40″E
Lighthouse of Alexandria	c. 280 BC	Greeks, Ptolemaic Egyptians	AD 1303–1480	1303 Crete earthquake	Alexandria, Egypt 31°12′50″N 29°53′08″E

Descriptions

Great Pyramids Of Giza

Oldest of the ancient wonders, these three pyramids have been standing for millennium. The tallest and greatest pyramid named Khufu, standing at 147 meters tall with a square base of 230 meters for each side covering 52500^2 Km. The second pyramid, built by the pharaoh named Khafre, was slightly smaller than Khufu but boasted the famous Sphinx. The third and smallest pyramid of Giza was the pyramid of Menkaure, standing at 66 meters tall.

Sketch of what the Garden of Babylon was thought to look like.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

One of the great mysteries of the ancient world, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon was gifted to Amyitis from her husband king of Babylon who wanted to please her and cure her homesickness. Much is not known about the Gardens, other than when they could have existed. There have been many attempts to find and uncover the great garden but none have been successful due to many different reasons. One theory even claims that the Hanging Garden of Babylon could not have existed by how it was described.

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

After its construction the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was used at a place of worship, a place of refuge, civic center, and a bank. Sitting at 33.5 meters tall, 50 meters wide, and 104 meters long. It had 127 columns in rows of two, each column 2 meters wide at its widest points. Little remains of the original building after its destruction's. Its namesake, Artemis, represented the goddess of the hunt, wilderness, animals, chastity, and the Moon.

Statue of Zeus at Olympia

The ruins of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus in Caria.

The statue of Zeus at Olympia stood at 13.5 meters tall and was decorated and framed with gold and ivory, symbolizing Zeus's regality as King of the Gods. His statue was home of military offerings and prayers for good luck and strong athleticism. Zeus represented the King of the Gods, the sky, thunder, lightning, law, order, and justice.

Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

3D animation of Lighthouse of Alexandria.

The Mausoleum was constructed on the orders of its namesakes wife, Artemisia. Mausolus, who was the local ruler of Halicarnassus. The Mausoleum served as a great tomb for Mausolus until its destruction. In 1522 the Knights of St. John discovered and used the Mausoleum as a camp ground and military base. This was also the etymological beginning for the use of the word Mausoleum representing a large building for a tomb.

Colossus of Rhodes

This statue stood at over 30 meters tall and was made up of bronze. The statue depicted the god Helios, the guardian of the Island of Rhodes. It was constructed to celebrate the victory of the people of Rhodes over there ruler Cyprus. After its destruction the colossus fell and laid on the ground for nearly 900 years before it was taken apart and sold by the Saracens. The god Helios represents the personification of the Sun.

Lighthouse of Alexandria

The Lighthouse of Alexandria stood at 115 meters tall and had a base of 55 meters for each of its four sides. The Lighthouse withstood two earthquakes, both of with slightly damaged the top of the tower, before finally collapsing after the third one. Its creator was the successor to Alexander the Great, Ptolemy II Philadelphus. The lighthouse was used for centuries as a beacon of light guiding ships to the shore for a safe return and because of this it was very highly respected and loved.