The 7 wonders of the ancient world: one always standing

Nowadays, there is only the pyramid of Kheops in Egypt that is part of the seven wonders of the ancient world, but where have the other six passed?

The 7 Wonders of the World are the most extraordinary architectural and artistic works that were made in the ancient times. They are here to remind us that the old societies had a strong capacity for construction and imagination, while they had very few means to put them in place. Years or even centuries of work have been organized so that they can see the day: these monuments have followed the political and economic influence of the cities, which makes it their popularity.

Only now, one of the seven wonders of the world is still standing. This is the pyramid of Kheops in Egypt, but one can wonder what the other six wonders were in the ranking at the time, and especially why did they disappear?

1. The pyramid of Kheops in Egypt

Also called « Great Pyramid of Gizeh » , the pyramid of Kheops was built by the Egyptians during Antiquity. For millennia it was the human construction of all records: the highest, the most voluminous and the most massive. It was built in particular to serve as a royal tomb to Pharaoh Khéops, which explains the various funeral pieces found there, but this theory is contested by some historians. This tourist place be protected because rapid urbanization threatens construction.

2. The gardens suspended in Mesopotamia

The suspended gardens of Babylon are an antique building that has unfortunately never been found. Indeed, even the traces of these gardens are present in many works (either in writings or on paintings), the archaeological excavations did not allow to discover their exact location. According to legend, it would be the king of the Neo-babylonian Empire, Nabuchodonosor II, who would have built the gardens suspended in the city of Babylon (now located in Iraq) to remind his wife, Amytis de Médie, of the wooded mountains of his native country.

3. The statue of Zeus in Greece

Zeus's chryslephantin statue in Olympie was made by the Athenian sculptor Phidias. It represents the god of the sky Zeus, which according to mythology is the cause of weather phenomena such as thunderstorms, flashes, rain... when it is in bad mood. The name of the statue indicates that it was made from two materials: gold and ivory. The work is no longer present today because of fire.

4. The temple of Artemis in Ionia (current Turkey)

The temple of Artemis in Ephesus is a place for the Greek goddess of hunting and wild nature. It was destroyed many centuries ago because of a voluntary fire. Today we find a reconstruction of the temple in Istanbul in a park ( Miniatürk Park ) where there are historic miniature buildings.

5. The tomb of Mausoleum in Carie (current Sketch)

This monument of 45 meters high is the fifth Wonder of the Ancient World. He was admired from Antiquity for his dimensions and decoration, so called “mausoleum” every tomb of great size. Many sculptures were present on the façade. Because of multiple earthquakes, the tomb of Mausoleum had many damages, and that was what led to its destruction. It was exactly in Halicarnasse, which is today the city of Bodrum, southwest of Turkey.

6. The Colosseum of Rhodes in Greece

The Colosseum Rhodes is a wooden and bronze statue of Helios (the God of the Sun). Over 30 metres of height, construction was long and laborious. Breaked at the knees during an earthquake, it collapsed a few years later until it disappeared from the surface of the planet. Today, a gigantic project aims to build a new Colosseum of Rhodes , and could see the day by 2020.

7. The Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt

Alexandria’s lighthouse is considered the seventh wonders of the ancient world. He served as a guide to the sailors for nearly seventeen centuries. It was one of the great symbols of the city of Alexandria at the time. It is still an earthquake that caused the loss of this historic monument, followed by a tidal wave that left him no chance of renovation.

Main photo credit: Wikimedia - Blueshade