A group of three pyramids, Khufu, Khafra,
and Menkaura at Giza, outside modern Cairo, is
often called the first wonder of the world. The largest
Pyramid, built by Khufu (Cheops), a king of the fourth
Dynasty, had an original estimated height of 147 metres (now approximately 137 metres). The base has sides 230 metres long. It contains
2,300,000 blocks; the average weight of each is 2.5 tons.
Estimated date of construction is 2800 B.C. Of all the
Seven Wonders, the pyramids alone survive.
Often listed as the second wonder, these gardens were
supposedly built by Nebuchadnezzar about 600 B.C. to
please the queen, Amuhia. They are also associated with
the mythical Assyrian Queen, Semiramis. Archeologists
surmise that the gardens were laid out atop a vaulted
building, with provisions for raising water. The terraces
were said to rise from 23 to 91
metres.
The Walls of Babylon, also built by Nebuchadnezzar, are
sometimes referred to as the second (or the seventh)
wonder instead of the Hanging Gardens.
The work of Phidias (5th century) B.C., this colossal
figure in gold and ivory was reputedly 12 metres high. All trace of it is
lost, except for reproductions of coins.
A beautiful structure, begun about 350 B.C. in honor
of a non-Hellenic goddess who later became identified
with the Greek goddess of the same name. The temple, with
Ionic columns 18 metres high,
was destroyed by invading Goths in A.D. 262.
This famous monument was erected by Queen Artemisia
in memory of her husband, King Mausolus of Caria in Asia
Minor, who died in 343 B.C. Some remains of the structure
are in the British Museum. This shrine is the source of
the modern word "mausoleum".
This bronze statue of Helios (Apollo), about 32 metres high, was the work of
the sculptor Chares, who reputedly laborated for 12 years
before completing it in 280 B.C. It was destroyed during
earthquake in 224 B.C.
The seventh wonder was the Pharos (lighthouse) of Alexandria, reaching
a height of more than 120 metres,
built by Sostratus of Cnidus during the 3rd century B.C.
on the island of Pharos off the coast of Egypt. It was
destroyed by an earthquake in the 13th century.
The Seven
Wonders of the World
A group of three pyramids, Khufu, Khafra,
and Menkaura at Giza, outside modern Cairo, is
often called the first wonder of the world. The largest
Pyramid, built by Khufu (Cheops), a king of the fourth
Dynasty, had an original estimated height of 147 metres (now approximately 137 metres). The base has sides 230 metres long. It contains
2,300,000 blocks; the average weight of each is 2.5 tons.
Estimated date of construction is 2800 B.C. Of all the
Seven Wonders, the pyramids alone survive.
Often listed as the second wonder, these gardens were
supposedly built by Nebuchadnezzar about 600 B.C. to
please the queen, Amuhia. They are also associated with
the mythical Assyrian Queen, Semiramis. Archeologists
surmise that the gardens were laid out atop a vaulted
building, with provisions for raising water. The terraces
were said to rise from 23 to 91
metres.
The work of Phidias (5th century) B.C., this colossal
figure in gold and ivory was reputedly 12 metres high. All trace of it is
lost, except for reproductions of coins.
The seventh wonder was the Pharos (lighthouse) of Alexandria, reaching
a height of more than 120 metres,
built by Sostratus of Cnidus during the 3rd century B.C.
on the island of Pharos off the coast of Egypt. It was
destroyed by an earthquake in the 13th century.
