Information about the 7 wonders of the world. Seven wonders of the world. Ancient world. Temple. Gardens of Babylon. Rhodes. Lighthouse. "Hanging Gardens" of Babylon in Iraq
About the legendary 7 wonders of the world - the greatest creations of mankind - everyone definitely heard in childhood, even if not everyone can remember them in order. And although most of the monuments from the history textbook can no longer be seen, people managed to compile many other, alternative, lists of outstanding sights that have survived to this day, to the delight of tourists.
ancient wonders of the world
The first attempts to single out the exceptional achievements of mankind in the list of wonders of the world took shape in the written heritage of ancient Greek authors, starting from the Hellenistic era. The "selection" of the main monuments of all times took place gradually.
So, one of the first historical list of "miracles" was Herodotus: in his "History" we are talking about three grandiose structures on the island of Samos - a mountain tunnel, a dam and a temple of Hera.
Soon, other thinkers added to the list up to seven sights: the seven in ancient Greece was considered a holy figure, was an indispensable attribute of the solar gods and myths about them.
The classic "7 Wonders of the World" of the Ancient World, familiar to many from the school curriculum, is historically associated with the empire of Alexander the Great - the second half of the 4th century BC. e. Of these, two sights were ancient Egyptian, four were located in the territories of Ancient Greece and one in Mesopotamia (more precisely, in Babylon).
The Pyramid of Cheops is the oldest, the first wonder of the world and the only one that has survived to this day. It is part of the Giza Pyramid Complex, the main attraction of Egypt.
The legendary Babylonian Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the second wonder of the world, supposedly existed from the end of the 7th century BC. e. until the 1st century BC e., destroyed by floods.
The temple statue of Zeus at Olympia, reaching about 12-17 meters along with the pedestal, was made of ivory, ebony and gold, stood for about nine centuries: from 435 BC. e. before the 5th century, it burned down in a fire.
The ruins of the fourth wonder of the world, Artemis in Ephesus (from the 6th to the 4th or 3rd century BC), are now part of the Turkish city of Selçuk (near Izmir).
Of the lost sights, the most persistent was the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. Non-standard for the middle of the IV century BC. e. the architectural monument existed for 19 centuries: destroyed by an earthquake, then partially dismantled for building materials. The ruins of the mausoleum can be seen in Bodrum, Turkey - this is the name of the city with the historical location of the fifth wonder of the world.
Earthquakes caused the death of two more ancient wonders: the bronze statue of the Colossus on the island of Rhodes (it stood for only 65 years, destroyed in the same III century BC) and the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt (the seventh wonder of the world, collapsed in the XIV century).
Panorama Google Maps "At the foot of the pyramid of Cheops (Khufu)"
New seven wonders of the world
The list of new wonders of the world, each of which continues to amaze tourists, was compiled in the first decade of the 21st century, in 2001-2007. Currently, these are the most famous of these ratings and therefore, along with the UNESCO World Heritage List, the main must-see landmark for tourists actively traveling around the world. It was compiled by a specially created non-profit foundation The New 7 Wonders of the world based on international voting using the Internet and other means of communication. About 100 million votes were accepted as part of the selection of attractions, but since the conditions allowed for multiple votes, this list became questionable almost immediately after publication.
One of the undisputed leaders of the list is the Great Wall of China. It stretched across the north of the country for almost 9 thousand kilometers, and taking into account the ruins - more than 20 thousand kilometers. The most famous landmark of China is organically inscribed in the landscape and is a truly impressive sight. Several sites are open for tourists. The most popular is Badaling, connected by transport to Beijing.
The ancient Colosseum is an iconic landmark of Rome, its signature silhouette. This amphitheater, a masterpiece of architectural thought of the 1st century AD, almost immediately after its creation was proclaimed a wonder of the world in the list of the Roman poet Martial, his contemporary.
The symbol of Rio de Janeiro - the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Mount Corcovado - blesses the city, stretching out his hands over it from a height. At night, the illuminated figure of Christ is clearly visible from almost any part of the city, but the best view of it appears from the Pan de Azucar mountain. In the list of the new 7 wonders of the world, the statue, erected in honor of the century of independence of Brazil, is the youngest attraction, its age is less than a hundred years.
Lost in the middle of the desert in Jordan, Petra, the capital of the ancient kingdoms of Idumea and Nabatea, was opened to Europeans only in the 19th century. The main attractions of Petra, the “stone city”, are the crypts carved into the rocks of red sandstone and the rock temple of El Deir.
The pearl of Muslim architectural art in India is the mausoleum-mosque Taj Mahal in Agra, built in the 17th century at the behest of the king Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. It is not surprising that today the Taj Mahal is considered not only an outstanding architectural and spiritual monument, but also a symbol of love. Every year the marble complex becomes a place of pilgrimage for millions of people from all over the world.
The Lost Inca City of Machu Picchu is located in what is now Peru. This sixth new wonder of the world was created as a sacred mountain retreat during the Inca rule of Pachacutec in the middle of the 15th century. However, the mountainous city remained inhabited for less than a century - until the invasion of the Spaniards, who, however, never reached it. The worldwide discovery of the Inca "city among the clouds" took place only in 1911. Many mysteries of Machu Picchu have remained unsolved, and they still haunt researchers.
Completes the list modern wonders light legacy of the Maya - another lost civilization of America. The sacred city of Chichen Itza in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula was founded around the 7th century AD, later the Toltecs who captured it contributed to the architecture of the complex. It is not known exactly why such a developed city was deserted at the end of the 12th century. The complex of surviving monuments of Chichen Itza includes pyramid temples, gaming "stadiums", ruins of colonnades, a well of sacrifices and an observatory.
The only one of the 7 wonders of the world of the Ancient World that has survived to this day is the Great Pyramid of Giza - the Pyramid of Cheops. In the suburbs of the capital of Egypt, Cairo, this ancient monument was designed and built as the tomb of the most famous pharaoh Cheops (Khufu) and is recognized as the tallest building of its time. It's hard to believe, but the height of this miracle of art is almost 147 meters (imagine five nine-story buildings stacked on top of each other). Initially, the pyramid occupied an area larger than seven football fields, and the length of one of the sides of its base was over 230 meters.
Source: version. infoConstruction Great Pyramid, according to the official version of Egyptologists, ended in 2540 BC. It took the combined efforts of 100,000 people to create this truly extraordinary miracle. According to the calculations of archaeologists, the work lasted about 20 years.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
It is generally accepted that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which, according to one of the many versions, were built around 600 BC by order of the Neo-Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife, the Median princess Amitis. In the future, the daughter of King Cyaxares began to be called the name of the Assyrian queen.
Source: wikipedia.org
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon was a four-story building resembling a pyramid in shape, the tiers of which, held by powerful columns, were both balconies and terraces. Hanging unique plants, combined with fountains and ponds, turned the Babylonian structure into a real oasis.
To supply the gardens with water, a special irrigation system was designed: hundreds of slaves turned wheels with buckets for days on end. When Babylon fell into decay, there was no one to irrigate, the unique flora of the hanging gardens perished. Finished the job - finally destroyed the palace - frequent earthquakes. Babylon disappeared from the face of the earth, and with it the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the most beautiful monuments of antiquity, disappeared into oblivion.
Zeus statue in Olympia
In the 5th century BC, the sports and religious center of ancient Greece was Olympia, where the god Zeus was most revered. It was to him, the head of the ancient Greek Pantheon, that the Olympians unanimously decided to build a majestic temple. To implement the plan, the Athenian sculptor Phidias, known for his sculptures, was invited to Olympia. The task before the master was not easy: to create a structure that surpasses all his previous creations in its monumentality. Phidias gave the go-ahead. Work has begun.
It took ten years for the sculptor and his apprentices to Ancient world saw this wonder of the world. The temple was entirely made of marble. Columns made of limestone were installed along its perimeter. On the walls of the temple there were picturesque bas-reliefs depicting Zeus and the twelve labors of Hercules.
Source: pinterest. ca
The thunder god himself, called "the embodiment of male beauty", was made of ivory and reached a height of 13 meters. He sat majestically on a throne carved from ebony and covered with chased gold plates, and almost touched the ceiling of the temple.
The masterpiece of Phidias did not go unnoticed. For many years, writers and philosophers admired him, referring the statue of Olympian Zeus to the best creations of mankind. But in 476 there was a fire during which this wonder of the world was lost.
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
The initiator and "sponsor" of the latest version of Artemision, the temple of Artemis of Ephesus, was. The construction of this wonder of the world, which began in 323 BC, from limestone and marble, continued for many years. The "highlight" of the temple, its main distinguishing feature, was 127 giant columns installed in nine rows. The interior decoration of Artemision was fascinating. Everything was here: marvelous statues made by the best architects of that time, and beautiful paintings by famous artists. And in the center of this splendor stood a statue of the goddess Artemis - the patroness of love relationships and the family hearth.
Source: journal. tapigo.ru
Artemision, rebuilt by Alexander, lasted six centuries. It was robbed and destroyed by the Goths, flooded by numerous floods. Today, the existence of this wonder of the world is evidenced by only one single column, restored from the wreckage.
mausoleum in Halicarnassus
Ancient Halicarnassus, in which the "father of history" Herodotus was born, was known for its architectural beauties. White marble temples built in honor of Ares and Aphrodite, Salmakin's fountain, theaters and palaces attracted foreign guests to the city. But the real "pearl" of Halicarnassus, a wonder of the world, was the tomb of the despotic king, which he began to build during his lifetime.
Pytheas and Satyros, the best architects of that time, worked on the tomb, which consisted of three tiers and reached a height of 46 meters. Decorating the building - creating marble figures of gods, animals and horsemen - was entrusted to Leohar and Skopas.
The New Seven Wonders of the World is a project aimed at finding the modern seven wonders of the world. The selection of new seven "Wonders of the World" from the famous architectural structures of the world took place via SMS, telephone or the Internet. In total, 90 million people around the world took part in the selection of new wonders of the world. The result was announced on July 7, 2007 in Lisbon. The results of this vote caused indignation, because many equally beautiful and famous sights did not make it to the final. Nevertheless, here it is the seven in the form in which it was determined by the voters. We admire and appreciate, as well as share our impressions in the comments. Many of the miracles on LifeGlobe have detailed stories, with many interesting facts and photographs. To get there, just follow the links in the article.
Competition "7 new wonders of the world" Organized by the non-profit organization New Open World Corporation (NOWC) on the initiative of the Swiss Bernard Werber. July 7, 2007, on the day of the "three sevens", in the capital of Portugal, Lisbon, the new seven wonders of the world were named. They were the Great Wall of China, the Roman Colosseum, the Taj Mahal, the city of Petra in Jordan, the Statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro, the Indian City of Machu Picchu in Peru and the Mayan Pyramid in the city of Chichen Itza (Mexico). Let's talk about each of the Wonders of the World in more detail.
the great Wall of China
The largest monument of architecture, passing through China for 8851.8 km. This building is rightfully considered the greatest achievement of world civilization. The Great Wall of China is truly unique and surrounded by many mysteries. The grandiose construction of the Great Wall of China has no equal in the history of world architecture. From its highest points you can admire a breathtaking panorama.
There has long been a myth that the Great Wall is the only structure that can be seen from space. However, this turned out to be just a delusion. The myth that the Great Wall of China is the only man-made structure that can be seen from space has long been very popular in China. When American astronauts said they couldn't detect it from space, many in China chalked it up to the fact that the astronauts were foreigners. But later, the first Chinese cosmonaut Yang Liwei and, finally, the second pair of Chinese "taikonauts" confirmed the disappointing observations of the Americans.
Coliseum
Representatives of UNESCO also do not recognize the results of this vote. Such a decision in this organization was justified by the fact that not all the inhabitants of the earth had the opportunity to take part in the vote. In many regions of the world, mobile phones and the Internet are still unavailable.
The Vatican also expressed its note of protest, accusing the organizers of the Internet voting for the seven new wonders of the world of deliberately ignoring Christian monuments. Although the short list of contenders includes the monumental statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro and Moscow's St. Basil's Cathedral, Rome is convinced that these works of art made it to the list of finalists only thanks to the political pressure of these two countries, the London newspaper The Times notes.
February 3, 2013 | Categories: Places , History , Topper , Architecture
Rating: +33 Article author: Koller Views: 338106Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - a list of famous ancient monuments compiled by ancient historians and travelers, including the "father of history" Herodotus.
The list was repeatedly edited, and its classical version was formed 2.2 thousand years ago thanks to the efforts of Philo of Byzantium. The list of "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World" includes: the pyramid of Cheops, the "hanging gardens" of Babylon, the statue of Olympian Zeus, the temple of Artemis in Ephesus, the mausoleum in Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes and the lighthouse on about. Pharos in Alexandria.
Pyramid of Cheops, Egypt
Pyramid of Cheops, or Great Pyramid is the only one of the 7 wonders of the world that has survived to this day. The age of the building is 4500 years. 120 thousand Egyptians for 20 years in the sweat of their faces erected a grandiose pharaoh's tomb. The pyramid of Cheops is made up of 2.5 million blocks weighing 2.5 tons each. Without the use of cement and other fasteners, the blocks are so tightly fitted to each other that the gap between them does not exceed 0.5 mm.
Initially, the pyramid had a height of 147 meters, but even today, when its top is destroyed, and the highest point is at around 138 meters, the tomb of Cheops still makes a majestic impression. For almost 4000 years, until the XIV century AD, the Pyramid of Cheops bore the title of the highest building in the world.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Asia
Around 600 BC on the territory of modern Iraq, ancient Babylon was noisy. The city reached its peak under King Nebuchadnezzar II, who entered into a military alliance with his main enemy - Assyria and intermarried with the Median king Cyaxares, marrying his daughter Amitis (Semiramide). For his wife, the king ordered to build the famous "hanging gardens". The gardens were located on a four-tiered platform, reminiscent of an ever-blooming green hill. The base of the terraces was built of stone blocks covered with a layer of reeds and filled with asphalt. Then there was a double layer of brick, even higher - lead plates to prevent seepage of irrigation water. A fertile layer of soil was laid on top of this structure, on which trees, palm trees, and flowers were grown. Magnificent gardens elevated on great height, seemed to be a real wonder of the world in sultry, dusty Babylonia.
Statue of Zeus, Olympia, Greece
In 435 BC. e. in Olympia - one of the sanctuaries of Ancient Greece - a majestic temple was built in honor of the ruler of the gods - Zeus. Inside the temple was placed a huge 20-meter statue of the Olympian god, seated on a throne. The sculpture was made of wood, on top of which ivory plates were glued, imitating the upper naked part of the body of Zeus. God's clothes and shoes are covered with gold. In his left hand, Zeus held a scepter with an eagle, and in his right hand, a statue of the goddess of victory.
Temple of Artemis, Ephesus, Turkey
The Temple of Artemis was built in 560 BC. King Croesus of Lydia in the city of Ephesus on the coast of Asia Minor. The huge white marble temple was framed by 127 columns 18 meters high. Inside was a statue of Artemis, the goddess of fertility, made of gold and ivory. In 356 BC. one conceited inhabitant of Ephesus, Herostratus, set fire to the temple, thus deciding to become famous and perpetuate his name. The Sanctuary of Artemis was rebuilt, but in 263 it was destroyed and plundered by the Goths.
Mausoleum in Halicarnassus, Turkey
The ruler of Caria, Mausolus, was still alive in 353 BC. began the construction of his own tomb in Halicarnassus (modern Bodrum, Turkey). The grandiose burial structure 46 meters high, girded with 36 columns and crowned with a statue of a chariot, made such a strong impression on contemporaries that since then all monumental tombs have been called mausoleums after King Mausolus.
Colossus of Rhodes, Greece
A giant statue of the ancient Greek sun god Helios was installed at the entrance to the port of Rhodes in 292-280. BC e .. A slender youth-god, sculpted in full growth, held a torch in his hand. Ships sailed between the legs of the statue. For only 65 years, the Colossus of Rhodes stood in its place: in 222 BC. it was destroyed by an earthquake. Fragments of the sculpture were transported on 900 camels.
Lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt
Last week, I went to visit my mother, and found my old children's encyclopedia "7 Wonders of the World" with her, leafed through with nostalgia, and eventually decided to make a post about the wonders of the world, because today there are much more than 7 wonders of the world.
To begin with, I propose to recall these "7 wonders" of antiquity.
The only miracle that has survived to this day. Construction, which lasted twenty years, began around 2560 BC. e. Excavation data from January 2010 support the theory that the pyramids were built by civilian workers. Up to 10 thousand people were employed at the construction site at the same time, while the workers worked in shifts of three months. It is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids of the Giza necropolis.
Initially, the pyramid of Cheops rose to 147 meters, but due to the advance of the sands, its height decreased to 137 meters.
The pyramid of Cheops consists of 2,300,000 cubic limestone blocks with smoothly polished sides. Each block weighs an average of 2.5 tons, and the heaviest - 15 tons, the total weight of the pyramid is 5.7 million tons.
Confirmation of the inexplicably high knowledge of the Egyptians in the field of astronomy and civil engineering is the location of the Cheops pyramid in relation to the cardinal points: the pyramid almost unmistakably points to the true north. As a result of the most accurate measurements taken in 1925, an incredible fact was established: the error in its position is only 3 minutes 6 seconds.
The area of the base of the pyramid is comparable to the area of 10 football fields.
You can talk for a long time about the pyramids shrouded in myths and legends, their labyrinths and traps, mummies and treasures, but let's leave it to the Egyptologists. For us, the pyramid of Cheops is one of the greatest structures of mankind throughout its existence and, of course, the only First Wonder of the World that has survived from the depths of centuries.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon (Babylon)
The city ceased to exist long ago, but even today the ruins testify to its grandeur. In the 7th century BC. Babylon was the largest and richest city of the Ancient East. There were many amazing buildings in Babylon, but the hanging gardens of the royal palace were most striking - gardens that have become a legend.
the famous "hanging gardens" were created not by Semiramis and not even during her reign, but later, in honor of another - not legendary - woman. They were built by order of King Nebuchadnezzar for his beloved wife Amitis, the Median princess, who yearned for the green hills of Media in dusty Babylon.
This king, who destroyed city after city and even entire states, built a lot in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar turned the capital into an impregnable stronghold and surrounded himself with luxury, unparalleled even in those days.
The design of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon was a pyramid with a base (43x35 meters), which consisted of four tiers, mounted on twenty-five-meter columns. The surface of each tier was covered with a layer of reeds (reeds), stone blocks fastened with gypsum and lead plates, on which a thick layer of fertile soil was poured. All these measures helped to preserve water for plants for as long as possible, which was not at all plentiful in Babylon.
The height of the structure was almost thirty meters! Trees, flowers, soil - all this was brought in carts pulled by oxen. Water was supplied through pipes from the Euphrates River. For this, hundreds of slaves turned a huge wheel installed in one of the towers around the clock.
Zeus statue in Olympia
The statue of Olympian Zeus is the work of Phidias. An outstanding work of ancient sculpture, one of the seven wonders of the world. She was in the temple of Olympian Zeus, in Olympia, a city in the region of Elis. The construction of the temple took about 10 years. But the statue of Zeus did not appear in it immediately. The Greeks decided to invite the famous Athenian sculptor Phidias to create a statue of Zeus.
Ancient Roman sculpture "Seated Zeus", Phidias type. The Hermitage was covered with gold on a cape that covered part of Zeus's body, a scepter with an eagle, which he held in his left hand, a statue of the goddess of victory - Nike, which he held in his right hand, and a wreath of olive branches on Zeus's head. Zeus's feet rested on a bench supported by two lions. The reliefs of the throne glorified, first of all, Zeus himself. Four dancing Nikes were depicted on the legs of the throne. Also depicted were centaurs, lapiths, the exploits of Theseus and Hercules, frescoes depicting the battle of the Greeks with the Amazons. The base of the statue was 6 meters wide and 1 meter high. The height of the entire statue, together with the pedestal, was, according to various sources, from 12 to 17 meters. Zeus's eyes were the size of a grown man's fist.
Temple of Artemis of Ephesus (Ephesus)
A few hundred years before our era, when Ephesus was at the zenith of its glory, the inhabitants decided to build a large temple. By that time, the city was already about 600 years old, it was rich and powerful, it grew and prospered under the auspices of the goddess Artemis, the sister of Apollo and the daughter of Zeus - known in Roman mythology as Diana the huntress. Artemis was also considered the goddess of the moon and helped women in childbirth.
A place for a new, majestic and grandiose temple in the part of the goddess was chosen as a holy place - even in ancient times religious rituals took place there. The townspeople decided not to spare either money or time, and besides, they attracted wealthy construction sponsors from other regions of the country.
The finished temple was magnificent, and constantly decorated with new decorative elements - after all, Ephesus was a very rich city. Historical data are contradictory, but it is mentioned that there were many bronze statues in the temple, the interior was decorated with gold and silver, the statue of the goddess herself was made of ivory and gold, and trimmed with ebony.
It is noteworthy that in those days the temple was not only a religious building, but also a financial and business center. The souvenir business also flourished: not far from the temple, original souvenirs were successfully sold - its reduced copies. Scientists have not yet figured out which temple was considered a wonder of the world - rebuilt or burned by Herostratus
mausoleum in Halicarnassus
The Mausoleum in Halicarnassus is a wonderful monument of ancient Greek architectural art, which entered the history of ancient culture as one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World. Our contemporaries believe that the mausoleum is the tomb of the great leaders.
The builders placed the tomb in the periptera - a building framed by a colonnade of 11-meter columns. It took 36 columns to support the roof of the mausoleum. The gaps between the columns were filled with various statues of mythological figures, and the roof looked like a stepped pyramid with 24 steps. Its crown was a marble quadriga, that is, an ancient chariot with four horses harnessed to it. Huge statues of Mausolus and Artemisia, who played the role of drivers, were placed in the chariot. This magnificent sculpture reached a height of 6 m. In the room of the tomb there were marble sarcophagi intended for the royal couple. The foot of the mausoleum was decorated with sculptures of horsemen and marble lions.
In general, the history of the Halicarnassus mausoleum is rich in events. At one time, he survived the conquest of the city by Alexander the Great, and even withstood the attack of pirates who coveted Halicarnassus at the beginning of the 1st century. However, after the Maltese attacked the mausoleum and took stone and marble slabs from it, only the foundation remained of the majestic structure.
Colossus of Rhodes (Rhodes)
The colossus was a giant statue that stood in a port city on Rhodes, an island in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of modern Turkey. In ancient times, the people of Rhodes wanted to be independent merchants.
The colossus grew on the shore of the harbor on an artificial hill lined with white marble. For twelve years, no one saw the statue, because as soon as another belt of bronze sheets was attached to the frame, the embankment surrounding the colossus was poured in, so that it would be more convenient for the craftsmen to climb up. And only when the mound was removed, the Rhodians saw their patron god, whose head was decorated with a radiant crown.
The sparkling god was visible for many kilometers from Rhodes, and soon the rumor about him spread throughout the ancient world. But half a century later, a strong earthquake that destroyed Rhodes knocked the colossus to the ground, the knees were the most vulnerable spot of the statue. This is where the expression "colossus with feet of clay" comes from.
So it lay on the shore of the colossus bay - the main tourist attraction of the island. The defeated giant was seen by Pliny the Elder, who came there in the first century AD. Pliny was most struck by the fact that only a few people could wrap their hands around the thumb of the statue.
The colossus lying on the ground was overgrown with cobwebs and legends. In eyewitness accounts, he seemed much larger than he really was. Legends appeared in Roman literature that it originally towered over the entrance to the harbor and was so large that ships passed between its legs to the city.
Lighthouse of Alexandria (Pharos)
Lighthouse of Alexandria (Faros lighthouse) - one of the seven ancient wonders of the world, was erected in the III century BC. e. on the small island of Faros off the coast of the Egyptian city of Alexandria. It was a busy port founded by Alexander the Great during his visit to Egypt in 332 BC. e.
The lighthouse of Alexandria was the world's first lighthouse and the only one of the seven wonders of the world that served a practical purpose, helping ships safely navigate the reefs on their way to the bay of Alexandria. The lighthouse, according to various estimates, rose to a height of 120 to 140 meters, and the light that it emitted could be seen at a distance of up to 60 km.
The lighthouse stood for almost a thousand years, but by the XII century AD. e., the Alexandrian bay was so silted up that ships could no longer use it and the lighthouse fell into disrepair. Abandoned, he stood for some time, until in 796 AD. e. it was not destroyed by the earthquake. At the end of the XV century. Sultan Kait-bey erected a fortress on the site of the lighthouse from the wreckage, which was subsequently rebuilt more than once.
These are the miracles that were described in my book. The same ones: 7 wonders. But time does not stand still, and now there are many more such miracles. It seems to me that they are also worthy of our attention ...
New 7 wonders of the world
Great Wall of China (China)
The Great Wall of China is one of the oldest architectural monuments in China and a symbol of the power of Chinese civilization. Probably, there is not a single civilized person in the world who has not heard about the Great Wall of China. It stretches from the Liaodong Gulf northeast of Beijing through Northern China to the Gobi Desert.
Construction lasted 10 years and faced numerous difficulties. The main problem was the lack of appropriate infrastructure for construction: there were no roads, there was no adequate water and food for those involved in the work, while their number reached 300 thousand people, and the total number of builders involved in Qin reached, according to some estimates, 2 million. Slaves, soldiers, peasants were involved in the construction. As a result of epidemics and overwork, at least tens of thousands of people died. Resentment at the mobilization to build the wall caused popular uprisings and was one of the reasons for the fall of the Qin Dynasty.
Probably, no creation of human hands strikes the imagination as much as the Great Wall of China - the most grandiose and longest architectural and fortification structure on the planet. The wall is not just impressive - it is stunning. First of all, the titanic labor invested in it and its transcendental dimensions. Truly, only the Chinese, organized and industrious as ants, could endure such a thing. In China, they say that a good half of their history falls on the Great Chinese wall- it was built by different generations and dynasties for more than two thousand years, all the wars of the country are connected with it in one way or another.
Statue of Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro)
One of the most famous statues in the world and certainly the most recognizable in Brazil is the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Installed on Mount Corcovado at an altitude of more than 700 meters, with outstretched arms in a blessing gesture, it looks at the huge city below it. The statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro, due to its fame, attracts millions of tourists to Mount Corcovado. From its height, a beautiful view of the ten-millionth city with its bays, beaches, the Maracanã stadium opens up.
The height of the statue is 38 m, including the pedestal - 8 m; arm span - 28 m. Weight - 1145 tons. Being the most high point around, the statue regularly (on average, four times a year) becomes the target of lightning. The Catholic Diocese specially stores a stock of the stone from which the statue was erected in order to restore parts of the statue damaged by lightning.
The statue of Christ the Redeemer is without a doubt one of the main symbols not only of Rio de Janeiro, but of the whole of Brazil. The statue is visited by many tourists every year. Mount Corcovado experiences a particularly large influx of visitors during the traditional annual carnival, which is held in Rio de Janeiro. Definitely, this grandiose monument is one of the greatest sculptures in the world.
Colosseum (Rome)
amphitheater, an architectural monument of Ancient Rome, the most famous and one of the most grandiose structures of the ancient world that have survived to this day. It is located in Rome, in a hollow between the Esquiline, Palatine and Caelievsky hills.
The construction of the largest amphitheater of the entire ancient world, with a capacity of over 50 thousand people, was carried out for eight years, as a collective construction of the emperors of the Flavian dynasty. It began to be built in 72 AD. under the emperor Vespasian, and in 80 AD. the amphitheater was consecrated by Emperor Titus. The amphitheater is located in the place where there was a pond that belonged to the Golden House of Nero.
For a long time, the Colosseum was for the inhabitants of Rome and visitors the main place of entertainment spectacles, such as gladiator fights, animal persecution, sea battles.
The opening of the Colosseum was marked by 100 days of entertainment events. During this time, several thousand warriors and 5 thousand predatory animals brought from Africa died in gladiatorial tournaments. The arena of the theater had a sliding floor that rose and fell, and with the help of a water pipe connected to the Colosseum, the stage was filled with water and naval battles were arranged. Up to 3,000 gladiators could fight in the arena at the same time, and 50,000 spectators, furiously demanding "bread and circuses", intensely watched the bloody battles, chariot races and theatrical performances. In terms of the scope of the celebrations dedicated to the opening of the Colosseum, only the bloodily celebrated 1000th anniversary of Rome in 248 could be compared, when dozens of lions, tigers, leopards, elephants, giraffes, horses, donkeys and hyenas were killed in just 3 days. The 1000th anniversary of the "eternal city" was the last day of life for 2000 gladiators.
Machu Picchu (Peru)
The city of ancient America, located on the territory of modern Peru. Also, Machu Picchu is often called the "city in the sky" or "the city among the clouds", sometimes called the "lost city of the Incas". This city was created as a sacred mountain haven by the great Inca ruler Pachacutec a century before the conquest of his empire, that is, approximately in 1440, and functioned until 1532, when the Spaniards invaded the territory of the Inca empire. In 1532, all its inhabitants mysteriously disappeared.
Due to its modest size, Machu Picchu cannot claim to be big city- it has no more than 200 buildings. These are mainly temples, residences, warehouses and other premises for public needs. For the most part, they are made of well-worked stone, slabs tightly fitted to each other. It is believed that up to 1200 people lived in and around it, who worshiped the sun god Inti there and cultivated crops on the terraces. For more than 400 years, this city was forgotten and abandoned.
Machu Picchu, especially after receiving the status World Heritage UNESCO, has become a center of mass tourism. In 2011, it was decided to limit the number of visitors. According to the new rules, only 2,500 tourists per day can visit Machu Picchu, of which no more than 400 people can climb Mount Wayna Picchu, which is part of the archaeological complex. In order to preserve the monument, UNESCO demands to reduce the number of tourists per day to 800. Machu Picchu is located in a remote region.
City of Petra (Jordan)
The city of Petra in Jordan is located in the heart of the desert. This place is the heritage of ancient culture. Built over two thousand years ago, it is of great value to admirers of ancient architecture and art. This ancient miracle city stretches along a winding valley formed among the rocks, on a site that was a riverbed in ancient times. Steps carved into the rocks lead to an innumerable number of structures - monuments, necropolises, reservoirs, altars. More than eight hundred monuments of Petra have survived to this day.
The structures of Petra that have survived to this day include temples carved into the rocks, dwellings, tombs, reservoirs, aqueducts and altars. If you approach the city along the es-Sik gorge, the first large monument that opens your eyes is el-Khazneh - a temple located in a solid rock with a two-tiered facade approx. 20 m
The mysterious people who reached unattainable architectural heights are the Nabataeans. Without exaggeration, we can say that the best reminder that they left about themselves to their descendants and which speaks about them better than any annals is the pink rocky masterpiece blown by the winds, hidden by them among impregnable mountains.
Pyramid of Kukulkan (Mexico)
25 meters high with nine levels, located in the center of a large square. The base of the pyramid is a square with sides of 55.5 meters. On each side of the pyramid there are four wide staircases, each of which has 91 steps. And these stairs lead to the upper platform on which the temple is located.
The northern staircase of the pyramid ends with snake heads - the symbol of Kukulkan, because in translation from the Mayan language, kukulkan is a feathered serpent.
Exactly at 5:15 p.m., a light show begins - the sun's rays, when bypassing the ledges of the pyramid on the days of the equinox, draw the image of the revived ancient god with a play of light and shadows. This effect lasts for 3 hours and 22 minutes. The sun descends and the image becomes clearer. Soon there are seven bends of the body of the Solar Serpent - they are formed by the shadows of the seven ledges of the pyramid. The sun goes down - the kite slides down, lower and lower. And below, at the foot of the pyramid, the head of the image coincides with the real, stone sculptured head of the snake, which ends with the northern staircase of the pyramid.
The ancient builders of the Mayan tribe were simply brilliant, having managed at that time to calculate the parameters so accurately and arranging the walls of the pyramid strictly to the cardinal points. The pyramid of Kukulkan has some astronomical significance. Each of her stairs has 91 steps, and the total number of steps is 364, plus the upper step-platform at the base of the temple, the total is 365 - the number corresponding to the number of days in a year. And the side parts of the building are divided according to the number of months in the Mayan calendar - into eighteen sections.
Taj Mahal (India)
The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum-mosque located in Agra, India, on the banks of the Jamna River (probably architects Ustad-Isa and others). Built by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth (later Shah Jahan himself was buried here). Although the mausoleum's white marble dome is the most prominent component, the Taj Mahal is a structurally integrated complex. The building began to be built around 1632 and completed in 1653, thousands of artisans and craftsmen worked. The direction of the construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a Council of Architects under imperial control, including Abd ul-Karim Mamoor Khan, Makramat Khan and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Lakhauri is usually considered the chief designer.
Majestic, divine, radiant, and, despite its 74-meter height, so light and airy that it is like a fairy-tale dream, the Taj Mahal mausoleum rises in the valley of the Yamuna River - the most beautiful architectural creation of India, and, perhaps, of the whole earth ... White marble domes rush high into the sky - one large and four small, in the chaste outlines of which one can guess the female forms. Reflected in the immovable surface of the artificial canal, the Taj Mahal seems to be floating in front of us, showing an example of extraterrestrial beauty and perfect harmony… But not only the architectural perfection attracts millions of travelers from all over the world to the Taj Mahal. The history of its origin makes no less impression on the hearts of people ... A story that is more like an oriental fairy tale or legend that any poet would envy ...