How many wonders of the world are in the world and what. Wonders of the world: how many there were and how many survived

Surely you all heard about the seven greatest natural attractions on our planet, but today another item has been added to them in the form of the eighth miracle.

There are quite a lot of beautiful structures and ancient structures of unknown origin on Earth; therefore, in different sources, you can find completely different data even about these seven famous wonders of the world. And about the eighth, many scientists and historians are still debating, each of which offers several of its own options.

Let's take a look at each of these eight world assets of all mankind.

1. Egyptian pyramids.

The name of the seven wonders of the world comes from the Egyptians in the 2nd century BC. This was the name of the 7 ancient Egyptian pyramids during the reign of the pharaohs of the fourth dynasty. It is these seven majestic pyramids that have survived to this day intact and are the main attraction not only of Egypt, but of the entire planet as a whole. These mysterious structures, which came to us from the distant past, still haunt the most famous scientists and archaeologists who are trying to unravel the mysteries of the Egyptian sands.

This is a legendary building located in the ruins of ancient Babylon, where in the distant 7th century BC there was a magnificent royal palace, and next to it was the hanging gardens of Queen Semiramis. For a long time this miracle was considered only a legend and a fiction of the beautiful life of the ancient kings, but today some semblance of a former luxury and a fabulous kingdom of exuberant life of vegetation among the desert territories of Assyria has remained from this stunning place. The garden consisted of artificial terraces, folded in the form of a pyramid of four tiers, standing on high columns. The entire structure of this amazing structure was covered with fertile soil with seeds of beautiful flowers, which covered the gardens of Semiramis with a green dome. Among the hot climate and sandy hills, the Hanging Gardens were truly a wonder of the world and a valuable oasis of Babylon.

This wonder of the world was located on the territory of modern Turkey in the Greek city of Ephesus. You can still see the ruins of this temple with your own eyes and enjoy the most beautiful views of ancient architecture. Scientists have found that in the center of the temple there was a huge statue of Artemis, built of gold and ivory, which, unfortunately, could not survive to our time. The remains of numerous sculptures, statues and ancient paintings that adorned the interior of the temple were also found. The goddess Artemis was revered by all the Greeks and their neighbors, thanks to whom the construction of a stunning temple, standing on 127 snow-white columns, was crowned with success.

Zeus is the Greek god of thunder and lightning, who commands all people and is the main one among the other gods of ancient Greece. He was also the most revered deity by the people, who was given temples, palaces and statues with his image. One of the greatest works of ancient art is the Statue of Zeus in the small town of Olympia, built of pink ivory and adorned with robes of solid gold. The statue was installed in the temple of the same name, made of marble with 34 columns, 10 meters high. The legendary creator of this wonder of the world was the great painter, sculptor and architect Phidias of Athens. The strongest earthquake in the 2nd century AD seriously damaged the famous statue and temple, after which the beautiful structure was empty and gradually collapsed. To protect the statue of Zeus from looting, it was taken to Constantinople, where it was destroyed by a strong fire. Today, the last proof and memory of the greatest temple with a sculpture of the main god of the ancient Greeks can be seen only in the found workshop where this grandiose work of art was created.

This is the greatest historical architectural monument, built in the city of Halicarnassus, which belongs to modern Turkey. A mausoleum was founded at the top of the hill, where the tomb of the Carian king Mavsol was located. The mausoleum was a tall square structure with a conical roof, which was decorated with a huge chariot. In front of the entrance to the mausoleum, two columns with stone warriors were also installed, guarding the sleep of the deceased king. The entire temple was adorned with numerous sculptures and animal figures, parts of which are still in the British Museum in Halicarnassus Hall.

It is a bronze statue in the shape of the sun god Helios, built on the eponymous island of Rhodes in the third century BC. It is this landmark that has glorified the current resort of Greece throughout the world. In 222 BC, the statue fell due to a strong earthquake, which the Roman scientist Pliny warned about in his writings. But even then, such a majestic statue made a strong impression on the inhabitants of the city. The last mention of the statue was in 997, when the Arabs sold its fragments to an unknown merchant, who took it away on his camels.

It is an ancient tower built on Pharos Island in the Egyptian city of Alexandria. The tower served as a beacon for incoming ships to the local harbor. The height of this structure reached 140 meters and for a long time retained the image of the tallest building in the world, which was the main reason for its inclusion in the list of 7 wonders of the world. The entire structure consisted of three towers of different sizes. And this structure could not survive due to several earthquakes, which left only ruins in this place.

And the eighth wonder of the world, which was included in this list quite recently, is a snow-white marble palace made in the Mogul architectural style in India. The luxurious palace amazes with its grandeur and grace, which attracts huge crowds of tourists from all over the world. The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum founded by Emperor Shah Jahan in honor of his deceased wife during childbirth. This new wonder of the world is equated with the symbol of eternal love and is the most beautiful and romantic building in India. The outer luxury of the palace does not end beyond the threshold of its doors, but the interior amazes with its decoration and precious decorations.

Among the possible options for the eighth wonder of the world, such great structures were proposed, such as:

• the Chichen Itza pyramid in Mexico;
• Leaning Tower of Pisa;
• the city of Petra in Jordan;
• the statue of Christ the Savior in Rio de Janeiro;
• The great Wall of China;
• Machu Picchu in Peru;
• Colosseum in Rome.

The pyramids of Giza were built during the reign of the 4th dynasty of the pharaohs (about 2550 BC), presumably as tombs for kings and queens. The architecture of Ancient Egypt is represented by 90 pyramids, the main of which is the Pyramids of Giza, which are located on the edge of the capital of Cairo. The largest in the world - the Cheops Pyramid, towering over the plateau, is one of the most ancient and untouched by time historical and cultural monument. For 4300 years, the Pyramid of Cheops was the tallest building on Earth. In 1889, the Eiffel Tower in Paris took its place.

The pyramid is built entirely of limestone. Scientists have not yet been able to find out by what mechanisms this grandiose pyramidal complex was built. During its construction, 1,300,000 stone blocks weighing from 2.5 to 15 tons were used. Its base is 230 meters long. The four sides of the Cheops Pyramid look at the four cardinal directions at an angle of 52 degrees. The original height of the Pyramid was 146.5 m, but today it is only 137 meters. The pyramid lost 9 meters in height due to the fact that the limestone covering and facing stones that were on the top were removed from the pyramid and used by the Turks in power in Egypt and used in the construction of houses and mosques in Cairo. The Cheops pyramid has two exits. Both of them are located in its northern part: one main and the second 17 meters above ground level.

In the XI century. NS. the treasure hunter, Caliph El-Mamun, suggested that there were untold treasures inside the pyramid and sent masons to open the entrance to it. They have carved a tunnel in the pyramid, which deviates from the original entrance and connects with it after 35 meters. They found nothing inside the pyramid: the tombs of the pharaohs were plundered in ancient times.

A long narrow corridor with a low ceiling leads from the main entrance to the Pyramid to the place where the sarcophagus was located. It descends to a depth of over 100 meters and leads to a chamber located approximately 24 meters below ground level.

There is another tunnel 20 meters from the descending corridor, which leads to the very heart of the pyramid. It ends at the largest part of the pyramid - the Great Gallery. And it is a rectangular room 49 square meters long and 15 meters high. From the Great Gallery, a long tunnel leads into the chamber of the second chamber, which is known as the Tomb of the Queens.

Climbing from the Great Gallery, you can find the entrance to the third chamber, here is a sarcophagus, which was made of a single block of granite stone. The premise of this chamber is an amazing archaeological find: it was built from granite blocks that were brought from the southern city of Egypt, Aswan, located 1000 km from the Giza plateau! The roof of the chamber consists of 9 granite slabs, each weighing approximately 50 tons. The burial chamber has small rectangular exits from the pyramid. Scientists suggest that these indentations in the pyramid served to provide ventilation, or, according to the beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, provided contact between the pharaoh and the stars.

The Great Pyramid in Egypt belonged to the Egyptian king Khufu. The name "Cheops" was given to him by the Greeks. Both names are common. The same applies to the Pyramid of Khafre (in Greek "Khafre") and the Pyramid of Menkaur (in Greek "Mikerina") located nearby on the Giza plateau.

Pyramid of Khafre, the second in order and largest pyramid on the Giza plateau of Egypt. The main difference of this pyramid is the layer of facing white stone remaining at the top. When examining the Pyramids of Giza, one gets the impression that it is the largest. In fact, this is just an optical illusion, since it stands on a hill. The height of the Pyramid of Khafre is only 136 m, the width of the base is 214.5 m. Initially, the Pyramid of Khafre was 143.5 m in height.

No corridors leading to its center and burial chambers have been found in the pyramid. The pyramid has a single entrance 15 meters above the ground, and a descent along a narrow corridor at an angle of 25 degrees into a burial chamber with an area of ​​14.2 by 6.9 m. This chamber contains a large black sarcophagus.

The smallest of the three pyramids on the Giza plateau was built for Khefren's son, Mikerin: 65.5 m in height (currently 62 m), with a base of 105 m and at an angle of 51.3 degrees. This pyramid, like the other two on the Giza plateau, has a northern entrance. In addition to its size, the Pyramid of Mikerin differed from the other two in that its facing was made of pink granite, which was brought from Aswan. The King of Egypt, Muhammad Ali Pasha, used it to build a residence in Alexandria.

The history of the ancient world is interesting and beautiful. She attracts many of our contemporaries. Even after many years, people are interested in the way of life of their ancestors. And, of course, the most famous monuments of the ancient world - the Seven Wonders of the World - arouse curiosity.

Wealth of antiquity

You cannot tell about the ancient world with the help of a couple of words. This is a huge layer of time, which begins in those distant times, when man only appeared, and goes right up to the Middle Ages. During this time, people managed to create a lot. It was then that inventions appeared, which are considered to be the most ingenious to this day.

Much of what was created before our era and in the first centuries after the birth of Christ is beneficial to this day. Any lawyer can talk about the enormous importance of Roman law, and philologists will talk about the role played by the ancient languages ​​that are now considered dead.

It was then that the world's religions were born. Then they worshiped Zeus and Artemis, then Jesus was born. The wonders of the ancient world are countless. But among them there are seven main ones.

Seven wonders of the world

The history of the ancient world will be incomplete if you do not tell about the Seven Wonders of the World. Their list has changed over the centuries. But the number remained unchanged. There were always seven of them. The world was built around religious beliefs. Therefore, this number was not chosen by chance. Seven is a number He was considered the most beautiful of all the gods. He was a patron of the arts. And his number was a symbol of completeness and perfection.

The very first list of the Seven Wonders of the World was created in the 3rd century before the birth of Jesus. It includes the most significant architectural monuments that were only created at that time by people. Many miracles of that time have not reached ours.

Pyramids of Giza

The Great Pyramids are an important part that the history of the ancient world cannot do without. The most famous of them became She is recognized as the largest. Therefore, it is difficult to imagine those hellish torments that the slaves experienced during the construction of this wonder of the world. During the construction of the pyramid, a solution was used, which is still not stronger and stronger.

No one can say for sure why these grandiose structures were erected. Previously it was believed that these are the tombs of the rulers of Egypt - the pharaohs, as well as their spouses. But researchers have never been able to find the remains of the bodies of these important Egyptians. Until now, this wonder of the world gives rise to many questions and mysteries. And the silent Sphinx continues to guard them.

Semiramis

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are that wonder of the ancient world that has not survived to our times. The gardens were once the grandest structure in Babylon. Now, not far from Baghdad, you can find what is left of them. But some scholars are willing to argue that those ruins are not a reminder of the second most important wonder of the world.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the most romantic gifts not only in the history of the ancient world, but in human history in general. The Babylonian ruler noticed that his beloved wife Amitis was missing her native land. Dusty Babylon did not have those beautiful gardens that they used to enjoy as children. And then, so that his wife would not grieve, he ordered to erect this structure.

Some believe that this is just a beautiful legend. In the writings of Herodotus there was not a word about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. But they are described in detail by Berossus. The history of the ancient world contains many mysteries. And this is one of them.

Zeus statue in Olympia

The names of the gods of the ancient world remained known after many centuries. Even now, people can tell about the powerful god Zeus. And before our era, a new wonder of the world was created, dedicated to this patron saint of the ancient Greeks.

The appearance of the statue and the temple in which it was located is closely related to the Olympic Games. When they gained fame and began to attract a wide variety of people, it was decided to build a temple dedicated to the father of all gods.

In order to create a statue of Zeus, the famous master Phidias was invited to Athens. From ivory and precious metals, he created a new wonder of the world, whose fame quickly spread throughout different lands.

The statue of Zeus from Olympia has not survived to our times. Her troubles began when a Christian who disliked paganism took the throne. For a long time it was believed that the statue did not survive the looting of the temple. Centuries later, the remains of a temple and a statue were found. Thanks to these findings, scientists were able to see for themselves and show others this wonder of the ancient world.

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

Artemis is one of the most famous goddesses of antiquity. She helped women in labor to endure pain, was the patroness of hunters. And the inhabitants considered her to be their protector. To the glory of their goddess, the townspeople decided to erect a temple, which will have no equal. They wanted not only to glorify their city, but also to earn the favor of Artemis.

The temple was built for a very long time. The first architect, Harsifron, did not have time to see his brainchild. His work was continued by his son, and after him - by other architects. In the center of the temple was a statue of Artemis. But the only thing that took so long to build was destroyed in a short period of time. Herostratus, who madly wanted to become famous, but did not know how to do it, set fire to the temple. If now this miracle of architecture were intact, then it would surpass everything that has only been built by mankind.

Halicarnassus mausoleum

The Halicarnassus Mausoleum is one of the most luxurious tombs ever invented by man. The mausoleum was named in honor of the formidable and cruel ruler Mavsol, who was able to ensure that his lands became rich and powerful.

It took a long time to build the mausoleum. It began to be built during the life of Mavsol, but when the ruler died, his tomb was not yet ready. After the death of Mavsol, the mausoleum was supplemented with statues of the gods who guarded the body of the king and did not allow him to be disturbed. In addition to the gods, in the tomb one could see statues of Mausolus himself and his beautiful wife Artemisia.

The mausoleum added to the list of miracles that have not survived to this day. He has survived many wars. But over time, it was dismantled in order to build Christian churches.

The Colossus of Rhodes

Rhodes is one of the richest cities, which went down in history as the birthplace of the sixth wonder of the world. The colossus was the largest building. He was a tall, strong youth, holding a torch above his head. It is in his image and likeness that centuries later will be created

The Colossus of Rhodes is also on the list of wonders of the world that our generation will not see. The youth's legs could not support his weight. Therefore, during an earthquake, the statue fell into the water. She lay on the coast for about ten centuries. And only then it was decided to melt the Colossus.

Alexandrian lighthouse

The seven wonders of the ancient world amazed their contemporaries. And people of our time are surprised when they learn about those magnificent brainchildren of the human mind. The Alexandria lighthouse occupies a worthy place in the list.

It was built in a city named after Alexander the Great. For centuries, this lighthouse has illuminated the way for many travelers and merchants. But this grandiose structure could not survive to our century. It was destroyed by nature itself. The lighthouse did not survive the strongest tremors. Only at the end of the last century, scientists were able to show what that wonder of the world looked like.

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World are something that will always grab people's attention. Until now, these creations of man are surrounded by mysteries. And it is unlikely that all the questions will ever be answered.

The beautiful creations of nature and mankind in different centuries were considered the most amazing. But another era has come and today "I and the World" will show you the wonders of the world of our time.

At the beginning of the 21st century, they decided to update the list of the seven wonders of the world. For this, almost 100 million people around the world voted for the wonderful creations of the planet. And in 2007, the results of a survey were announced, where the modern beauties of the Earth were presented.

How many and what wonders have survived to this day? Let's start in order.

Colosseum (Italy)

Of all the buildings of that time, the Colosseum is the most grandiose and almost preserved to this day. Here, for the amusement of the citizens of Rome, hundreds of gladiator slaves, as well as many exotic animals, fought and died.

The amphitheater is 57 meters high and 527 meters in circumference. A huge canopy was attached at the top, and everything was covered with marble inside. 36 elevators were manually lifted up by slaves, 10 people each.

Eight years later, when the amphitheater was completed, a celebration was held that lasted for 100 days, and thousands of animals and hundreds of gladiators were killed in the arena. The entrance was free, so everyone could watch the bloody spectacles, especially there were many women. The battles always began at dawn and ended when the last rays of the sun touched the horizon. And on holidays everything went on for several days.

Great Wall (China)

The wall stretches along the north of China for 8851.9 km. Construction began as early as the 3rd century BC. e., where more than 1,000,000 people took part. The construction lasted 10 years, but there were too many problems: there were no roads, enough water and food for the builders, epidemics raged. As a result, the local population revolted against further construction and the ruling dynasty.

The next government that came to power continued construction. But this exhausted the people and the treasury, and the wall itself did not provide the protection that the authorities hoped for. Enemies could easily penetrate weakly fortified places, or simply bribe the guards.

Ancient city in Peru

Machu Picchu is an old "lost city of the Incas", built high in the mountains. This city - one of the world's wonders was built in the 15th century at an altitude of 2,450 meters above sea level. The architecture of stone buildings harmoniously blended with the beauty of mountain landscapes.

Astronomical structures were invented in the city, allowing you to observe the celestial bodies - this is a 0.92 by 0.62 m water mirror, a gnomon monolith and a temple resembling an observatory.

Fruits and vegetables, medicinal plants, coca (cocaine) were grown here. And higher up in the mountains there were pastures of domestic animals and here useful metals were mined.

During the entire existence of the city, the Spaniards and other conquerors did not manage to get to it. After the collapse of the Inca empire, the inhabitants left the city and for 400 years it was desolate.

Nabataean city

The ruins of ancient Petra were located at the intersection of the trade routes of the Red and Mediterranean Seas. More than 800 sights could be admired in the city. The structure was considered an artificial oasis, built among rocks and sand, and almost entirely consists of stone buildings.

At one time, Petra was conquered by the Roman Empire, but after the fall of Rome, the city was forgotten for almost 2,000 years. And only at the beginning of the 19th century it was discovered by a Swiss traveler.

Tomb in India

One of the most beautiful wonders of the world -. The architecture smoothly intertwines Persian, Islamic and Indian styles. Construction lasted 21 years, day and night. The temple was built in honor of the beloved wife of the emperor Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth.

To build the tomb, building materials were brought to India from all over Asia, and more than 20,000 workers built the temple. The building rises 74 meters up. At one time, British soldiers and officials plundered the Taj Mahal, picking out precious stones from the walls of the temple. At the end of the 19th century, the tomb was reconstructed and altered, and the garden was given an English look.

A beautiful snow-white mausoleum with five domes and four minarets seems to float above an artificial reservoir, reflecting on the water surface.

Christ statue (Brazil)

The famous 38-meter statue of Christ the Redeemer. Lightning strikes her regularly, and therefore there are always stones nearby for restoration.

Every year, almost 2,000,000 tourists visit the huge monument to see not only it, but also the picturesque picture that opens at the foot of the statue. You can get to the top by motorway or railway with a miniature train. For the construction of the statue, funds were collected "by the whole world" and the work lasted for about 9 years.

In the initial version, the pedestal was supposed to have the shape of a ball of earth, but then they settled on the statue of Christ with outstretched arms in the form of a cross.

Mayan sacred city (Mexico)

Chichen Itza is the sacred city of the Mayan peoples. People came to these places in the 4th century, and in the 10th century it was captured by the Toltecs and turned into the most powerful city of that time. In the 12th century, the city began to decline and gradually collapse. But it is still unknown why the inhabitants left the great city.

Beautiful structures have survived to this day: the pyramid of Kukulkan, dedicated to the God of winds and rains, the "Temple of Time", playgrounds for ball games (it is believed that the losing team was beheaded), the Temple of Warriors, an observatory, the Sacred Cenote for sacrifices.

The wonderful creations of mankind still delight in their beauty and originality. Maybe in many years there will be a new list of the seven wonders of the world, but for now we admire the photos and read the description of these beautiful structures.

See also the video:

Seven Wonders of the World (or Seven Wonders of the Ancient World)- the famous list of the most famous sights of ancient culture. The very choice of the number was sanctified by the most ancient ideas about its completeness, completeness and perfection, the number 7 was considered the sacred number of the god Apollo (Seven against Thebes, Seven wise men, etc.). Like collections of sayings of famous sages, collections of anecdotes and stories about curiosities, works on the Seven Wonders of the World were popular in ancient times and included descriptions of the most grandiose, most magnificent, or in a technical sense, the most amazing buildings and monuments of art. That is why they were called miracles, while many genuine masterpieces of ancient architecture and art are missing from the list - the Acropolis in Athens with the creation of Phidias - the statue of Athena Parthenos, the illustrious statue of Aphrodite of Cnidus by Praxiteles, etc.

Mentions of the Seven Wonders appear in the writings of Greek authors beginning in the Hellenistic era. It was necessary to know them already at school, scientists and poets wrote about them. In the text of one Egyptian papyrus, which was a kind of study guide, the names of famous legislators, painters, sculptors, architects, inventors, obligatory for memorization, are mentioned, then the largest islands, mountains and rivers and, finally, the seven wonders of the world. The "selection" of miracles took place gradually, and some miracles replaced others.
The first list of wonders of the world is attributed to Herodotus - V century BC. e .. All three wonders were on the island of Samos: the aqueduct in the form of a tunnel, the dam in the port on the island, the Temple of the goddess Hera.
Later, the list expanded to seven wonders. In the 4th century BC. Philo of Alexandria - Jewish philosopher, mathematician, mechanic, surveyor, in his work "Seven Wonders of the World" described the seven most important creations of mankind in architecture. Philo's work is just his personal opinion. He lived in Byzantium, and his view of the world was shrinking to the limits of the Roman Empire. Therefore, all the objects listed by him are located in this territory. In the III century BC. NS. a new list of miracles has appeared. Historians believe its source is a small poem by Antipater of Sidon (there is also a version that it was written by Antipater of Thessalonica). The first mention of the Seven Wonders in Russia is found in Simeon of Polotsk, who is familiar with their description from some Byzantine source. In modern Europe, they became widely known after the publication of the book by Fischer von Erlach (1656-1723) "Sketches on the History of Architecture".
Miracle Time of creation Place Creators Destruction Cause Purpose of the structure

1. Pyramid of Cheops created 2550 BC BC, place: Giza (), created: Egyptians, the only one of the "miracles" that has survived to this day, the purpose of the structure: Tomb of Pharaoh Cheops
2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon created 600 BC NS. , place: Babylon (), created: Babylonians, cause of destruction: After the 1st century BC. NS. earthquake, Were created for the wife of King Nebuchadnezzar II.
3. Statue of Zeus at Olympia created 435 BC e., sculptor Phidias, place: Olympia (), created: Greeks, cause of destruction: V-VI centuries. burned down in Constantinople during a fire at the Hippodrome in the 5th century. temple statue in the temple of Zeus at Olympia
4. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus created 550 BC NS. , place: Ephesus (Turkey), created: Lydians, Greeks, Persians, cause of destruction: 370 BC. NS. or 356 BC NS. (Herostratus) or AD 262 NS. (Goths), cause of destruction: the fire was built in honor of the goddess Artemis
5. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus created 351 BC NS. , place: Halicarnassus (in the southeast of Turkey), created by: Carians, Persians, Greeks, cause of destruction: 1494 earthquake; preserved: foundations, architectural fragments; in the British Museum in London - statues of Mavsol and his wife Artemisia, reliefs, statues of lions were erected as a tombstone of the Carian ruler Mausol by his wife, Queen Artemisia
6. Colossus of Rhodes created between 292 and 280 BC NS. , place: Rhodes (Greece), created: Greeks, cause of destruction: 224 (or 226) BC. NS. the bronze case was dismantled in 654 AD. NS. the earthquake was installed by the sculptor Hares to perpetuate the memory of the victory of Rhodes over Demetrius Poliorketus (304 BC).
7. Alexandria lighthouse created III century BC NS. , place: Alexandria (Egypt), created: Ptolemaic dynasty, cause of destruction: 303 BC. NS. - 1480 AD NS. (stood for 1500 years) earthquake light of this lighthouse was very useful for navigation.

1. Alexandria Lighthouse (Φ? Ρος της Αλεξ? Νδρειας, Egypt, 31 ° 12′51 ″ N 29 ° 53′06 ″ E)

In the III century BC. NS. a lighthouse was built so that ships could safely pass the reefs on their way to the bay of Alexandria. At night, they were helped in this by the reflection of the flames, and during the day - by a column of smoke. It was the world's first lighthouse, and it stood for 1500 years.
Built with the participation of many inhabitants of Museion on the island. Pharos at the entrance to the harbor by the architect Sostratus of Crete erected in 280 BC Alexandria (Farosky) lighthouse - a three-tiered marble tower-ear of 115-135 meters high (it is not known exactly, according to other sources 117m) under King Ptolemy Philadelphus. The collected light was reflected using bronze mirrors and was visible at a distance of 56 km (according to other sources, 100 km).
The lower part was a 60-meter-high four-sided prism with a square base, the side of which was 30 m long. Various inventory was kept in the interior, and the flat roof, decorated at the corners with huge statues of Triton, served as the basis for the middle part. It was a 40-meter octagonal prism-tower faced with white marble. The upper (third) part of the lighthouse was built in the form of a cylindrical colonnade - 8 columns carried a dome crowned with a 7-meter bronze figure of the ruler of the seas Poseidon (or the statue of Zeus the Savior). A large amount of fuel was required to maintain the flame. The tree was brought along a spiral ramp on carts pulled by horses or mules. Bronze plates stood behind the flames, directing the light out into the sea.
The lighthouse was partially destroyed on July 21, 365. By the 12th century, the bay of Alexandria was so filled with silt that ships could no longer use it. The lighthouse fell into disrepair. Bronze plates that served as mirrors were probably melted down into coins. The lighthouse was completely destroyed by the 1375 earthquake. A few years later, the Muslims used the wreckage to build the military fortress of Qayt Bay. The fortress was subsequently rebuilt more than once and still stands on the site of the world's first lighthouse. Currently, only the base of the lighthouse is completely built into the medieval fortress. Now it is the base of the Egyptian fleet.

2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BC) to fight against the main enemy - Assyria, whose troops twice destroyed the capital of the state of Babylon, entered into a military alliance with Cyaxar, king of Media. Having won the victory, they divided the territory of Assyria among themselves. Their military alliance was confirmed by the marriage of Nebuchadnezzar II to the daughter of the Medes king Amitis. Dusty and noisy Babylon, located on a bare sandy plain, did not please the queen who grew up in the mountainous and green Media. To comfort her, Nebuchadnezzar ordered the hanging gardens to be erected. In 331 BC. the troops of Alexander the great captured Babylon.
The renowned commander made the city the capital of his vast empire. It was here, in the shade of the "Hanging Gardens", that he died. After Alexander's death, Babylon gradually fell into decay. A message from 50 BC speaks of brick walls 112 meters long and 7 meters thick, above which rose stone columns in the form of pyramids, carrying wooden platforms with strange plants growing on them. In architectural terms, the Hanging Gardens were a pyramid that consisted of four tiers of platforms. They were supported by columns up to 25 meters high. The lower tier had the shape of an irregular quadrangle, the largest side of which was 42 m, the smallest - 34 m.
Gardens To prevent irrigation water from seeping through, the surface of each platform was first covered with a layer of reed mixed with asphalt, then two layers of plaster-mortar bricks were laid on top of lead slabs. On them a thick carpet lay fertile soil, where seeds of various grasses, flowers, shrubs and trees were planted.
The pyramid resembled an ever-blooming green hill. In the cavity of one of the columns, pipes were placed, through which water from the Euphrates was constantly pumped to the upper tier of the gardens, from where it, flowing down streams and small waterfalls, irrigated the plants of the lower tiers. Powerful floods destroyed the brick foundations of the columns, and platforms collapsed to the ground. This is how one of the wonders of the world perished.
mausoleum in Halicarnassus

3. Mausoleum in Halicarnassus (Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, Tomb of Mausolus)- the tombstone of the Carian ruler Mavsol (Μα? σωλος), built in the middle of the 4th century BC. NS. by order of his wife Artemisia II in Halicarnassus (modern Bodrum, Turkey). The construction of the mausoleum began even before the death of Mavsol in 353 BC. and, according to the reports of ancient authors, was ruled by his wife Artemisia. To design the Mausoleum, she invited the Greek architects Satyr and Pytheas, and the most famous sculptors of that time - Leochares, Skopas (whose works also decorated the second temple of Artemis of Ephesus), Briaxis and Timothy.

From the south and north it is 63 feet long, from the front and back sides it is narrower, the total length is 440 feet, it reaches 25 cubits in height, and is surrounded by 36 columns. This coverage was called pteron. From the east, reliefs were made by Skopas, from the north - Briaxides, from the south - Timofey, from the west - Leohar. Even before they finished their work, the queen died. ... a pyramid rises above the pteron, equal in height to the lower part, narrowing in twenty-four steps to the point of the meta. At the top is a marble quadriga created by Pytheas. Together with her, the entire structure reaches a height of 140 feet - Pliny the Elder
The testimony of Vitruvius has been preserved about the location of the Mausoleum and the material (brick faced with Proconnes marble). The architecture of the Mausoleum is unusual for the Greek architecture of that time: if the classical Hellenic temples are rectangular in plan and their height does not exceed the length of the facade, then the Mausoleum is almost square in plan, and its height significantly exceeded the side of the base.
The mausoleum was destroyed in the 13th century by several earthquakes. In 1522 the remains of the Mausoleum were dismantled by the knights-johannites for the construction of the fortress of St. Peter. In 1846, the ruins were explored by the British Museum expedition led by Charles Thomas Newton. Based on the results of the research, several versions of the reconstruction of the original appearance were drawn up, one of which was the basis for the Grant mausoleum in Manhattan. By the name of Tsar Mavsol, such tombs began to be called mausoleums.

4. Colossus of Rhodes (Rhodes Island, Greece)

Colossus of Rhodes - A huge bronze statue of the sun god Helios, which stood in the port city of Rhodes, an island in the Aegean Sea, Greece.
After the collapse of the state of Alexander the Great, Ptolemy I Soter was entrenched in Rhodes. After his establishment in Egypt, he entered into an alliance with Rhodes, which controls trade in the eastern Mediterranean. In 305 BC. NS. the son of another diadochus Antigonus I One-eyed Demetrius I of Macedon landed on Rhodes with 40,000 troops. Having kept the main city of the island under siege for a whole year, despite the construction of many siege weapons, he was forced to retreat because of the approaching Rhodes fleet of Ptolemy. The people of Rhodes decided to sell their abandoned siege weapons and build a statue of their revered Sun god Helios to thank him for his intercession. Helios was not just a particularly revered deity on the island - according to legend, he was its creator: without a place dedicated to him, the sun god carried the island in his arms from the depths of the sea. The sculptor Hares, a student of Lysippos, worked for twelve years to create an almost 36-meter bronze giant. When work on the statue was completed in 278 BC. e., a tall and slender youth-god with a radiant crown on his head appeared to the eyes of the stricken Rhodians. He stood on a white marble plinth, leaning back slightly, and peered intently into the distance. The statue of the god towered right at the entrance to the harbor of Rhodes and was visible from the nearby islands. The statue was made of clay, it was based on a metal frame, and on top it was covered with bronze sheets. To make the grandiose monument, it took 500 talents of bronze and 300 talents of iron (about 13 and about 8 tons, respectively).
To work on the image of the god directly at the place of its installation, Hareth used an original technique: with a gradual rise of the sculpture, an earthen mound rose around it; the hill was subsequently torn down, and the complete statue was revealed to the astonished inhabitants of the island.
However, the Colossus itself did not last long - only fifty-six years. In 222 BC. NS. the statue was destroyed by an earthquake. As Strabo writes, "the statue was lying on the ground, overthrown by an earthquake and broken at the knees." But even then, the Colossus was surprising for its size. Pliny the Elder mentions that only a few could grasp the thumb of the statue with both hands. The wreckage of the Colossus lay on the ground until it was finally sold by the Arabs, who captured Rhodes in 977, to a merchant who, according to one of the chronicles, loaded them with 900 camels.

5. Pyramid of Cheops (Giza, Egypt, 29 ° 58′45 ″ N 31 ° 08′03 ″ E)

Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu) - called "Achete-Chufu" - "Revival of Khufu (Cheops)" - the largest of the Egyptian pyramids, the only one of the "Seven Wonders of the World" that has survived to this day. Construction, which lasted twenty years, began around 2560 BC. NS. Dozens of Egyptian pyramids are known. On the Giza plateau, the largest of them are the pyramids of Cheops, Khephren and Mikerin. The architect of the Great Pyramid is considered to be Chemiun, the vizier and nephew of Cheops. He also bore the title "Manager of all Pharaoh's construction sites." For more than three thousand years (before the construction of the Cathedral in Lincoln, England, around 1300), the pyramid was the tallest building on Earth.

* Height (initial): 146.60 m (estimated)
* Height (today): ≈ 138.75 m
* Angle (tilt): 51 ° 50 "
* Side edge length (initially): 230.33 m (estimated)
* Side edge length (now): about 225 m
* The length of the sides of the base of the pyramid: south - 230.454 m; north - 230.253 m; west - 230.357 m; east - 230.394 m.
* Base area (initially): ≈ 53,000 m² (5.3 ha)
* Pyramid area: (initially) ≈ 85,500 m²
* Perimeter: 922 m.
* Total volume of the pyramid without deduction of cavities inside the pyramid (initially): ≈ 2.58 million m³
* Total volume of the pyramid, after deducting all known cavities (initially): 2.50 million m³
* Average size of observed stone blocks: 1.0 m in width, height and depth (but most are rectangular in shape.)
* Average mass of stone blocks: 2.5 t (from limestone, basalt and granite)
* Heaviest stone block: 15 t
* Number of blocks: about 2.5 million
* Estimated total weight of the pyramid: about 6.25 million tons

It is not possible to accurately determine the initial parameters of the pyramid, since its edges and surfaces are currently mostly dismantled and destroyed. In the literature on Egyptology, scientists believed that the length of the sides could be from 230.33 to 230.37 m.Knowing the length of the side and the angle at the base, they calculated the height of the pyramid - from 146.59 to 146, 60 m.The slope of the pyramid is 51 ° 50 "(seked in 5 1/2 palms, the ancient Egyptian unit of slope measurement), which is defined as the ratio of half the base to the height. Taking into account that there are 7 palms in one cubit (qubit), it turns out that with such a selected seked, the ratio of the base to the height equals 22/7, a well-known since antiquity approximation of pi. Which, apparently, happened by chance, since other pyramids had different meanings for seked. The base of the pyramid rests on a natural rocky elevation in the center of about 9 m. was lined with white sandstone, which is harder than the main blocks. The top of the pyramid was crowned with a gilded stone - the pyramidion. The facing shone in the Sun in a peach color, like “a shining miracle, to which the Sun god Ra himself seemed about I gave all my rays. " In 1168 A.D. the Arabs plundered and burned Cairo. Residents of Cairo removed the cladding from the pyramid in order to build new houses.
The entrance to the pyramid is at a height of 15.63 meters on the north side. The entrance is formed by stone slabs laid in the form of an arch. This entrance to the pyramid was sealed with a granite plug. Today, tourists enter the pyramid through a 17 m breach, which was made in 820 by Caliph Abu Jafar al-Ma'mun. He hoped to find there the untold treasures of the pharaoh, but found there only a layer of dust half a cubit thick. Inside the Cheops pyramid there are three burial chambers, one above the other.
1. Main entrance
2. The entrance that Al-Mamun made
3. Intersection and "traffic jam"
4. Descending corridor
5. Unfinished underground chamber
6. Ascending corridor 7. Queen's chamber with outgoing "air ducts"
8. Horizontal tunnel
9. Large gallery
10. Pharaoh's chamber
11. Antechamber
12. Tunnel of Al-Mamun made "bypassing"

6. Temple of Artemis of Ephesus (coast of Asia Minor, now Selcuk, Turkey)

It was built by the architect Heirokrat in 550 BC. NS. erected in the city of Ephesus in honor of the goddess of hunting and fertility. When the completed construction of a huge white marble building opened before the eyes of the townspeople, it caused surprise and admiration.Unfortunately, we do not know exactly how the temple was decorated. It is only known that the best masters of the Greek world took part in the creation of the sculptural decoration of the temple, and the statue of the goddess Artemis was made of gold and ivory.
The Temple of Artemis was used not only for religious ceremonies. It was both the financial and business center of Ephesus. The temple was completely independent from the city authorities and was ruled by a college of priests. The width of the temple of Artemis was 51 meters, the length was 105 m, the height of the columns was 18 m (if the segments are round, then the width and length = diameter, that is, the same). The roof of the temple was supported by 127 columns, installed in eight rows. According to legend, each of these columns was a gift from one of the 127 Greek kings.
According to legend, in 356 BC. NS. BC, on the night when the future Alexander the Great was born in Pella, the capital of Macedonia, a certain vain citizen of Ephesus named Herostratus set fire to the great temple, thus wishing to become famous. By the beginning of the III century. BC NS. the temple was completely restored to its original form. The money for the construction of the new Wonder of the World was allocated by Alexander the Great himself. The architect Alexandra Deinocrates, who supervised the work, kept his previous plan, only raised the building to a higher stepped base.
The inside of the temple was adorned with wonderful statues by Praxiteles and Scopas, but the paintings of this temple were even more magnificent. So, in gratitude to Alexander the Great (who sponsored the project), the Ephesians ordered his portrait for the temple to the artist Apelles, who depicted a commander with a lightning bolt in his hand, like Zeus. When the customers came to accept the canvas, they were so impressed by the perfection of the painting and the optical effect (it seemed that a hand with a lightning bolt was protruding from the canvas) that they paid the author twenty-five golden talents - perhaps, over the next three centuries, none of the artists managed to receive such a fee. for one painting.
Christian times have come. Legend claims that the Ephesians expelled the Apostle Paul and his followers from their city. And God's punishment was immediate: in 263, the sanctuary of Artemis was plundered by the Goths. When Ephesus fell under the rule of Christian Byzantium, the next stage of its death began. During the reign of Emperor Theodosius I, when in 391-392. all pagan cults were banned, the temple of Artemis in Ephesus was closed. They began to pull the marble cladding from it to various buildings, the roof was also dismantled, and the unity of the structure was broken. And when the columns began to fall, their fragments were sucked in by the swamp on which the temple stood. And after a few decades, the last traces of the best temple of Ionia were hidden under the slurry and sediments of the river. Even the place where he stood was gradually forgotten.
It took the English archaeologist Voodoo many months to find traces of the temple. On October 31, 1869, he was lucky. The complete foundation of the temple was uncovered only in the twentieth century. And under it are the traces of a temple burnt by Herostratus. Currently, on the site of the temple, there is one column restored from the wreckage.

7. Statue of Zeus (Olympia, Greece)

The statue of Olympian Zeus is the work of Phidias, an outstanding work of antique sculpture. It was located in the temple of Olympian Zeus, in Olympia - a city in the region of Elis, in the north-west of the Peloponnese peninsula, where from 776 BC. NS. to 394 AD NS. every four years, the Olympic Games were held - competitions of Greek and then Roman athletes. The Greeks considered unhappy those who did not see the statue of Zeus. The Olympic Games have been held for more than 300 years, when in 470 BC. NS. in Greece began to collect donations for the construction of this temple. The construction of the temple began in 466 BC. NS. and ended in 456 BC. NS. The construction was supervised by the architect Libon, information about which has not reached us. According to legend, the temple was magnificent. The entire temple, including the roof, was built of marble. It was surrounded by 34 massive shell rock columns. Each was 10.5 meters high and more than 2 meters thick. The area of ​​the temple was 64 × 27 m. On the outer walls of the temple there were slabs with bas-reliefs depicting the 12 labors of Hercules. Bronze doors, 10 meters high, opened the entrance to the religious premises of the temple.
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. Phidias had managed by this time to create two famous statues of Athena ("Athena Promachos" and "Athena Parthenos" - did not survive). By his order, a workshop was built 80 meters from the temple. This workshop exactly matched the size of the temple. There he, with two of his assistants, who he needed only as garbage collectors, behind a huge purple curtain, created a statue of the god of thunder in the chryso-elephantine technique. Phidias himself was very picky about the material that was delivered to him. He was especially picky about ivory, from which he created the body of a god. Then, under heavy guard, precious stones and 200 kg of pure gold were brought into the temple at the feet of the thunderer. Phidias carved the figure of the god out of wood and overlaid it with slabs of pink ivory, and therefore the body seemed alive. The Thunderer sat on a huge gilded throne. In one hand he held a symbol of power - a scepter with an eagle; in the open palm of the other hand stood a statuette of Nika, the goddess of Victory. From gold were made: 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' legs rested on a bench supported by two lions. The reliefs of the throne glorified, first of all, Zeus himself. Four dancing Nicky were depicted on the legs of the throne. Also depicted: centaurs, lapiths, 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. The impression was "that if he (Zeus) wanted to get up from the throne, he would have blown the roof off."
For seven centuries Zeus, smiling benevolently, watched the athletes, while in the II century. n. NS. there was no powerful earthquake that severely damaged the statue. But the games in Olympia continued anyway: the athletes believed that if not the temple statue, then the god himself, sitting on the top of the mountain, helped them. The end of sports was put in 394 by the Christian emperor Theodosius I, who had banned all pagan cults two years earlier. After the ban of the Olympic Games, thieves ripped off the statue of Zeus, stealing gold and ivory. All that remained of the famous sculpture of Phidias was taken from Greece to the city of Constantinople, but there the wooden sculpture burned down during a strong fire (in the fire of the temple in 425 or in a fire in Constantinople in 476). So this wonder of the world died.

based on materials: www.astro-web.ru