Almost everyone has heard about the seven wonders of the world. It includes architectural sights that were created at different times and really amazed the world. Few of these amazing structures have survived to our time. And although all seven wonders of the world are widely known, there are many little-known facts associated with them.

1. List of "miracles"

The "wonders" list was originally designed to showcase the most impressive sights and structures in the world. Although there have been many such lists over the years, the original one was known as the "Seven Wonders of ancient world". These seven wonders were based on guidebooks used by Greek travelers.

2. Geographic restrictions

All seven wonders were located around mediterranean sea and Mesopotamia (due to the limited distances people could travel at that time). These include the Colossus of Rhodes, the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, and the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.

3. Sun, Moon and five planets

Probably the number "seven" was chosen because the Greeks thought it represented perfection. However, some scientists have suggested that the number seven also reflects the fact that there were 5 known planets at the time, and if you add the Sun and Moon to them, you get seven.

4. Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The existence of one of the seven ancient wonders is in question. Since the Hanging Gardens in Babylon would have been very difficult to irrigate, and there are no direct references to them in ancient literature, many modern scholars consider the stories about this beautiful place to be mere fiction.

5. Great Pyramid of Giza

The only ancient miracle that still exists is great pyramid Giza. It is also known as the Pyramid of Cheops.

6. Taj Mahal

The second most famous list of miracles includes those created in the Middle Ages. Unlike ancient wonders, today there is no consensus on what to include in this list. The most common medieval wonders are the catacombs of Kom el Shuqafa, the Colosseum, the Great Wall of China, Hagia Sophia, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Porcelain Tower in Nanjing and Stonehenge. Also sometimes they include the Cairo Citadel, the Abbey of Cluny, the Cathedral of Ili and the Taj Mahal.

7. Originally from the 19th century

However, it is unlikely that these lists actually originated in the Middle Ages, since the notion of the "medieval world" only appeared during the Enlightenment, and the concept of the Middle Ages did not become popular until the 16th century. It is assumed that most of the "medieval" lists were created by writers in the 19th and 20th centuries.

8. "7 Wonders" by ASCE

Modern lists of "miracles" also exist. One of the most popular of these was compiled by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1994. It included "the greatest civil engineering achievements of the 20th century" such as the Eurotunnel, the CN Tower, the Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Itaipu Dam, the Delta and Zuiderzee Projects, and the Panama channel.

9. CNN's 7 Wonders

To make things even more confusing, CNN's list of the "Seven Natural Wonders of the World" is as follows: aurora, grand canyon, Great Barrier Reef, Rio de Janeiro Harbor, Mount Everest, Paricutin Volcano and Victoria Falls.

10. New7Wonders of Nature Global Survey

New7Wonders of Nature is a 2007-2011 project to compile a list of the 7 wonders of nature from a global survey. Those who want to see them all need to head to all of the following locations: Iguazu Falls, Hạlong Bay, Jeju Islands, Puerto Princesa Underground River, Table Mountain, Komodo Island, and the Amazon Rainforest.

11. "7 Wonders" from CEDAM International

In 1989, the diving organization CEDAM International published its list of the Seven Wonders of the Underwater World. It included the Palau reefs, the Belize Barrier Reef, the Great Barrier Reef, deep sea rifts, Galapagos Islands, Lake Baikal, Red Sea.

12. 7 Wonders by Deborah Cadbury

The Seven Wonders of the Industrial World is a popular book by British author Deborah Cadbury. The list became the standard for engineering achievements in the 19th and 20th centuries. It includes the steamship Great Eastern, the Bell Rock lighthouse, the Brooklyn Bridge, the London sewer system, the First Transcontinental Railway, Panama Canal and Hoover Dam.

13. "7 Wonders" from the magazine "Astronomy"

In 1999, the magazine Astronomy decided that it was not necessary to be limited only to the Earth and presented a list of "Seven Wonders of the Solar System". The list included Saturn's moon Enceladus, Jupiter's Great Red Spot, the asteroid belt, the Sun's surface, Earth's oceans, Saturn's rings, and Mount Olympus on Mars.

14. The eighth wonder of the world

Interestingly, miracles can even be people. Wrestler Andre the Giant has often been touted as the eighth wonder of the world due to his huge growth 224 cm and weight 240 kg.

15. "7 Wonders" from Uncle Scrooge

As you can see, the list of miracles can be quite controversial. Some lists even have people or concepts. Even fictional characters such as King Kong were advertised to "come see the eighth wonder of the world."

It is quite possible to call wonders of the world and.

One of the most ancient and, nevertheless, the brightest Wonders of the World are the Great Pyramids located in Giza (Egypt). The complex of Gisaean buildings is the greatest architectural monument ever created by man. In total, more than a hundred pyramidal structures were found on the territory of Egypt, but most of them did not stand the test of time.

Pyramids of Giza

The Pyramid of Cheops

The largest of the Giza complex, the Cheops pyramid is the largest building structure in the world. Its base is a square with a side of as much as 227.5 meters. It is assumed that the original height of the structure was 146 meters, but several of the upper stones were destroyed, and today the pyramid is 9 meters lower.

Engineering studies have shown that the largest architectural monument of Giza consists of 2.3 million stone blocks, each of which weighs at least 2.5 tons. The total volume of the building is 2.34 million cubic meters. The faces of the pyramid are deployed to the cardinal points, and the entrance inside is from the north.

A distinctive feature of the structure is that every single building block is so well fitted to each other that even now, after several thousand years, it is impossible to insert even the thinnest blade between them. In addition, the researchers found that the mortar with which the structural elements were fastened was superior in strength to any modern material.

The purpose of the pyramids

There are no inscriptions, drawings and decorations in the pyramid of Cheops. Inside the building there are three chambers, in the center of one of which there is a granite sarcophagus. At first it was assumed that the structure was a tomb. Long-term studies have either confirmed or refuted this assumption.

But neither the remains of the pharaoh, nor any utensils or things that, according to the tradition of that time, were buried with the deceased, were found. True, there is Great chance that the pyramid was simply plundered. However, some details in the hypothesis about the purpose of the structure do not agree with the version about the tomb.

However, let's leave historians and archaeologists questions about the origin and purpose of building such an amazing complex of buildings, the entrance to which is protected by the Great Sphinx - the largest monolithic sculpture on the planet. For us, the Pyramids of Giza, with which many legends are associated, remain one of the most striking and unusual examples of the height of engineering.

Introduction

There were seven miracles: the Great Pyramid at Giza, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Their number was determined by the magic of the number seven, handicapped human memory, the limits of the ancient world and, most importantly, the stability of traditions. When, around the third century BC, someone proclaimed this particular seven-color as the standard of miracles, part of humanity living around the Mediterranean Sea submitted to authority, and only a few local patriots, without challenging the principle itself, tried to amend in particular.

A thousand years after the fall of Rome, when again people revived their interest in what was happening outside their little world, the wonders of the world were remembered, and the power of ancient authority was such that the seven miracles mentioned were already perceived as an unshakable whole.

Only one of the miracles has survived to this day, paradoxically, the most ancient is the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Great Pyramid of Giza

This grandiose Egyptian pyramid is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of antiquity. In addition, this is the only one of the miracles that has survived to this day. At the time of its creation, the Great Pyramid was the tallest building in the world. And she held this record, apparently, for almost 4000 years.

Royal tomb

The Great Pyramid was built as the tomb of Khufu, known to the Greeks as Cheops. He was one of pharaohs or kings ancient egypt, and his tomb was completed in 2580 BC. Later, two more pyramids were built at Giza, for the son and grandson of Khufu, as well as smaller pyramids for their queens. The Pyramid of Khufu, the furthest in the picture, is the largest. The pyramid of his son is in the middle and looks higher because it stands on a higher place.

pyramid building

The pyramids stand on the ancient cemetery in Giza, on the opposite bank of the Nile River from Cairo, the capital of modern Egypt. Some archaeologists believe that it may have taken 20 years for 100,000 people to build the Great Pyramid. It was created from over 2 million stone blocks, each of which weighed at least 2.5 tons. Workers dragged them into place using ramps, pulleys and levers and then pushed them together without mortar.

shiny limestone

When the main building was completed, it looked like a series of steps. They were then covered with blocks of white limestone with a polished, shiny surface. The blocks were so tightly fitted to each other that even the blade of a knife could not be inserted between them from the outside. Upon completion of the work, the Great Pyramid rose 147 meters. Now its top has collapsed, in addition, at present only the pyramid of the son of Khufu has retained limestone lining at its very top. The base side of the Great Pyramid reaches 230 meters. It occupies more area than nine football fields.

Pharaoh's funeral

The ancient Egyptians believed that in the event of a person's death, his body should be preserved so that the spirit could continue to live after death. They removed the internal organs, filled the body with salts and wrapped it in linen sheets. So the body turned into a mummy. The mummy was then buried along with clothing, food, jewelry, and other things useful for the afterlife. The mummified body of Khufu was placed in a burial chamber at the very heart of his pyramid.

From WikiSyktSU

7 Wonders of the World - this is ancient monuments architecture, which are rightfully considered the greatest creations of human hands. The number 7 was chosen for a reason. It belonged to Apollo and was a symbol of completeness, completeness and perfection. At the same time, the traditional genre of Hellenistic poetry was the glorification of the list of the most famous cultural figures - poets, philosophers, kings, generals, etc., or outstanding architectural monuments.

Pyramids of Giza

One of the most ancient and, nevertheless, the brightest Wonders of the World are the Great Pyramids located in Giza (Egypt). The complex of Gisaean buildings is the greatest architectural monument ever created by man. In total, more than a hundred pyramidal structures were found on the territory of Egypt, but most of them did not stand the test of time. The Pyramid of Cheops

The largest of the Giza complex, the Cheops pyramid is the largest building structure in the world. Its base is a square with a side of as much as 227.5 meters. It is assumed that the original height of the structure was 146 meters, but several of the upper stones were destroyed, and today the pyramid is 9 meters lower.

Engineering studies have shown that the largest architectural monument of Giza consists of 2.3 million stone blocks, each of which weighs at least 2.5 tons. The total volume of the building is 2.34 million cubic meters. The faces of the pyramid are deployed to the cardinal points, and the entrance inside is from the north.

A distinctive feature of the structure is that every single building block is so well fitted to each other that even now, after several thousand years, it is impossible to insert even the thinnest blade between them. In addition, the researchers found that the mortar with which the structural elements were fastened was superior in strength to any modern material. The purpose of the pyramids

There are no inscriptions, drawings and decorations in the pyramid of Cheops. Inside the building there are three chambers, in the center of one of which there is a granite sarcophagus. At first it was assumed that the structure was a tomb. Long-term studies have either confirmed or refuted this assumption.

But neither the remains of the pharaoh, nor any utensils or things that, according to the tradition of that time, were buried with the deceased, were found. True, there is a high probability that the pyramid was simply plundered. However, some details in the hypothesis about the purpose of the structure do not agree with the version about the tomb.

However, let's leave historians and archaeologists questions about the origin and purpose of building such an amazing complex of buildings, the entrance to which is protected by the Great Sphinx - the largest monolithic sculpture on the planet. For us, the Pyramids of Giza, with which many legends are associated, remain one of the most striking and unusual examples of the height of engineering.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are the second largest Wonder of the World. Unfortunately, this amazing architectural structure did not survive to this day, but the memory of it still survived.

The attraction is located not far from Baghdad, and today its stone ruins can impress a simple tourist except for their scale. However, history testifies that the structure was one of the most beautiful creations of mankind.

Amazing gift for wife

The gardens were discovered by Robert Koldewey, who in 1989 was excavating near Al Hill. In the course of archaeological research, an extensive network of trenches was discovered, and in their cuts the scientist immediately recognized the legendary architectural monument.

The facts show that the Hanging Gardens were built at the behest of Nebuchadnezzar II, whose reign falls on the 6th century BC. The best engineers, mathematicians and inventors of Mesopotamia worked day and night to satisfy the request of the king to create a gift for his wife Amitis.

The latter was of Median origin, and those lands, as you know, were filled with the aromas of flowering gardens and green hills. In stuffy Babylon, the queen had a hard time, she yearned for her native land. That is why the ruler decided to break unusual park, which would at least slightly remind his wife of his home. Controversy over the Babylonian Miracle

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon have been described by many ancient historians. But there are still some doubts about the reality of this piece of engineering art. For example, Herodotus, who traveled around Mesopotamia sometime in the 5th century BC, did not say a word about this structure. Although, apparently, it was the most majestic and beautiful in Babylon.

Even the chronicles of the city itself do not mention the Gardens. However, Berossus, a Chaldean priest who worked on chronicles at the end of the 4th century BC. very clearly and clearly marked the building in his works. There is even an opinion that all historians, including modern scientists, relied on his descriptions, and they are too much embellished with the author's conjectures and judgments.

Some even think that Hanging Gardens Semiramis was confused with similar parks that were created in Nineveh, located on east coast Tiber. But the basis of the irrigation system of this monument was the design of Archimedean screws, which was invented in the 2nd century BC, while the construction of the Gardens dates back to the 6th century.

However, perhaps the Babylonians already had an idea about the special thread of such a screw, although they called the device differently. And be that as it may, the mystery of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon still excites the minds of scientists, archaeologists and historians.

Zeus statue in Olympia

The statue of Zeus in Olympia is the third wonder of the world, whose history began long before its creation - in 776 BC. Then for the first time in the temple, which was built in honor of the father of the gods, the participants of the next Olympic Games arrived.

Representatives of Asia Minor, Syria and Sicily, Egypt and, of course, Great Hellas were present at the opening of the greatest event in history. The first sanctuary of Zeus was built 150 km from Athens. But over time, the Games gained more and more political weight, so the rulers of Greece decided to build a new Temple. Temple of Zeus

Construction lasted over 15 years, and in 456 BC. the world saw one of the most monumental and beautiful Houses of Zeus. The project was developed by the famous ancient architect - Lebon, whose creation had all the features of the famous Greek sanctuaries, but surpassed them in scope.

The Temple building was erected on a high rectangular platform. The roof was supported by 13 majestic columns about 10 m high and at least 2 m in diameter, and there were as many as 34 of them. Creation of Phidias

The government of Hellas invited Phidias, a famous sculptor, to Athens, who managed to create something excellent - a statue of Zeus. The news of this work of art instantly spread throughout the ancient world, and the masterpiece took its place in the list of Wonders of the World.

The creation of the statue dates back to around 440 BC. The sculpture of the father of the gods was created mainly from the finest ivory. According to the description of eyewitnesses who managed to catch the statue in "good health", it had a very impressive size.

Its height was at least 15 m, the structure contained about 200 kg of gold, the modern monetary equivalent of which exceeds 8 million dollars. The opening of the statue of Olympian Zeus falls on 435 BC. The fate of the statue of Zeus

Historical sources claim that in the second half of the 4th century AD. The temple of Zeus was closed by the Roman emperor Theodosius, who was a Christian and disliked the pagan beliefs of the Greeks.

In 363 the statue was moved to Constantinople. Although some facts indicate that this architectural monument did not survive the looting and destruction of the Temple, which took place at the end of the 5th century.

In 1875, the remains of the Temple of Zeus were found, and in 1950, archaeologists discovered the workshop of Phidias. Careful studies of the place where the architectural monument was found made it possible to recreate both the Temple itself and the statue of Olympian Zeus.

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

Ancient Greek Ephesus knew a period of unprecedented prosperity. Founded in the XII century BC, the city was the largest center of trade and radiated wealth and prosperity. Artemis patronized him. She, as is known, was the goddess of fertility and the patroness of animals, the protector of women in childbirth and hunters. Honoring her sacredly, the townspeople decided to build a majestic temple in honor of Artemis, which, moreover, was to significantly increase the income of the city. Building a shrine

In the VI century BC. Harsiphron, the most famous architect, arrived in Ephesus. It was he who came up with the idea of ​​building a building of marble. According to his plan, the temple should have been encircled by two rows of impressive columns. At the same time, the master, apparently, had an outstanding engineering mind, since the project is the most complex and at the same time original of all that were being developed at that time. Since the city was rich and could afford the construction of such a large and expensive building.

But there was one obstacle - a deposit has not yet been found that can satisfy the appetites of the project. But soon, due to chance, a sufficient amount of stone was found, and the temple was successfully built. Monolithic marble columns deserve a special place in the construction of the building. They were transported here straight from the quarries located ten kilometers from the construction site. The foundation of the temple is the highest aerobatics of engineering.

The building was built on a swampy area, since the sad memory of the earthquakes that hit Hellas was still alive. A huge pit was dug on the site of the future building, which the builders filled with charcoal and wool. This, plus the rather unorthodox foundation of the Temple, should have been a guarantee that the building would withstand tremors of any power.

In the main hall of the Temple, an amazingly beautiful statue of the goddess Artemis was installed, the height of which was about 15 meters. It was very expensive, because quite often it was inlaid with precious stones and gold. Outstanding Greek artists and sculptors took part in the decoration of the building. Rumors about the beautiful shrine quickly spread throughout the ancient world, and subsequently the Temple of Artemis became one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Fate of the Temple

It should be noted that Harsiphron did not have time to complete the construction. But the work was continued by his son, and after that by the architects Peonit and Demetrius. And so, around 450 BC. the world saw the unsurpassed Temple of Artemis. They say that if it survived to this day, it could outshine any of the currently existing masterpieces of architectural art. But, unfortunately, in 356 BC. Herostratus, obsessed with the idea of ​​becoming famous at any cost, set the building on fire.

The building was almost completely destroyed, of course, with the exception of those structural elements that were made of marble. After that, the Temple of Artemis was revived several times and again ceased to exist. But in 263 B.C. it was last sacked by the Goths. Finally, the “marble” health of the building was broken by swampy soil, as well as the Kaistra River flowing nearby. And it took scientists from all over the world several decades to restore the original appearance of the building.

mausoleum in Halicarnassus

Halicarnassus Mausoleum is the same age as the second Temple of Artemis. The same people who restored the shrine after the fire set by Herostratus took part in its construction. The building is a ziggurat, that is, at the same time a tomb, a sanctuary, and a monument. It should be noted that the name "mausoleum" comes from the name of the imperious and cruel ruler of Caria - Mausolus. Start of construction

Despite the fact that already in the IV century BC. the state was a colony of the Persian Empire, Mausolus ruled imperiously and stubbornly, trying not to bend under imperial pressure. His position was so strong, and his connections so wide, that even after the suppression of the uprisings he had raised, he managed to remain on the throne. During the reign of the energetic and ambitious king, Helicarnassus became the capital of Caria.

At the same time, the construction of the tomb, which later entered the list of the seven most famous sights of the ancient world, was started long before the death of the ruler - approximately in 353 BC. The project of the Mausoleum was developed by Greek architects - Satyr and Pytheas. The sculptors Timothy, Leohar, Skopas and Briaxides were hired to decorate the building. In total, hundreds of talented craftsmen took part in the construction, whose names, unfortunately, have not been preserved in history. Luxurious tomb for the king

The tomb was an imposing architectural complex with its own courtyard. A stone platform was installed in the center of the latter. A wide staircase led to the top, guarded by stone lions. Inside the building was decorated with bas-reliefs depicting scenes from ancient Greek legends and tales. The outer walls of the Mausoleum were covered with statues of gods and goddesses, and in the corners of the structure, huge guards-warriors carved from stone served.

The ziggurat was crowned with a marble chariot driven by four massive horses. The statues of the drivers depicted Mausolus himself and his sister-wife Artemisia. The height of this sculpture was about 6 meters, and the pyramidal roof of the tomb was supported by 36 7-meter monolithic columns. The fate of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

When the ruler of Caria died, the construction of the Mausoleum had not yet been completed, and the decoration of the premises was completed only in 350 BC. The tomb survived both the conquest of Halicarnassus by the Macedonian and the attack of pirates at the beginning of the 1st millennium. But at the beginning of the 15th century, the Maltese visited Asia Minor, who finally destroyed the building, taking marble and stone slabs for the construction of the fortress of St. Peter, which was located on the very spot where the palace of Mausolus and Artemisia stood. By the end of the 16th century, only one foundation remained from the Mausoleum.

The excavations of the tomb of Mausolus, led by Christian Jeppesen, were completed only in 1966-1977. Based on the found bas-reliefs, statues and other elements of the furnishings and construction, the appearance of the Mausoleum was restored. His project served as the basis for the construction of City Hall in Los Angeles, the Indiana Warriors Memorial, St. George's Church in London and many other architectural monuments of our time.

The Colossus of Rhodes

Rhodes was a major economic center of the ancient world. located on southwest coast In Asia Minor, he often acted as a tidbit for the rulers of neighboring powers. So, in 357 BC. the famous king Mavlos became the new ruler of the city, and after 17 years the city fell into the possession of the Persian Empire. In 322 BC. Rhodes was conquered by Alexander the Great, but after his death civil strife began between the heirs of the great commander, and one of them - Antigonus - sent his son Demetrius to capture and destroy the rebellious city.

Construction idea

It should be noted that the long siege was not successful, and the commander was forced to retreat. On the shore of the island, his warriors abandoned a huge siege tower, which was a real engineering miracle of that time, and the enterprising people immediately decided to sell it. With the proceeds, it was decided to build a statue of Helios, the patron saint of Rhodes, in order to praise the sun god for having saved the city from the invaders.

The construction of the statue began around 304 BC. The creation of the Colossus was entrusted to Chares, a student of the famous ancient sculptor Lysippus. It was proposed to portray Helios standing, and in his left hand he had to hold a veil falling to the very ground, and with his right to cover his eyes from the sun. Despite the fact that such a pose did not correspond to some of the canons of sculpture of that time, the master understood that the huge statue would not stay on its feet if the Colossus pointed into the distance with his hand.

Three massive stone pillar served as the basis for a 36-meter statue. They were fastened with iron beams at the level of the shoulders of the Colossus, which was supposed to provide him with stability. Construction continued for 12 years, after which the world saw the greatest statue, whose head was decorated with a radiant crown. Death of the Colossus

Literally half a century later, the strongest earthquakes shook the island, and the legs of the Colossus of Rhodes broke. The statue of the god fell into the sea and lay off the coast for about 1000 years. The defeated giant was overgrown with legends, but in 977 AD. they decided to dismantle it, melt it down and sell it. The chronicles preserved data that it took 900 camels to transport the bronze with which the statue was decorated. Modern interpretations of the great statue

The Colossus of Rhodes was included in the list of the Seven Wonders of the World. Currently, even some measures are being taken to restore the huge statue. According to some reports, the cost of a modern sculpture of Helios will be about 200 million euros. However, the idea of ​​creating monumental sculptures following the example of the Colossus of Rhodes was used much earlier - a statue of a woman holding a huge torch was installed in New York Bay. This monument is better known to the world as the Statue of Liberty, but its creation was based on the image of the Rhodes masterpiece.

Alexandrian lighthouse

The history of the seventh Wonder of the World - the Lighthouse of Alexandria - is associated with the foundation in 332 BC. Alexandria, a city that was named after the great Roman general Alexander the Great. It should be noted that during his career the conqueror founded about 17 cities with similar names, but only the Egyptian project managed to survive to this day. Foundation of the city to the glory of the great commander

Macedonian selected the site for the founding of Egyptian Alexandria very carefully. He did not like the idea of ​​a location in the Nile Delta, and so the decision was made to set up the first construction sites 20 miles south, near the swampy Lake Mareotis. Alexandria was supposed to have two large harbors - one intended for merchant ships coming from the Mediterranean Sea, and the second for ships sailing along the Nile.

After the death of Alexander the Great in 332 BC. the city came under the rule of Ptolemy I Soter, the new ruler of Egypt. During this period, Alexandria developed into a thriving trading port. In 290 BC. Ptolemy ordered the construction of a huge lighthouse on the island of Pharos, which would light the way for ships going to the harbor of the city at night and in bad weather. Construction of a lighthouse on the island of Pharos

The construction of the Lighthouse of Alexandria dates back to the 4th century BC, but the system of signal lights itself appeared only in the 1st century BC. The creator of this masterpiece of engineering and architectural art is Sostratus, a resident of Cnidia. The work continued for a little over 20 years, and as a result, the Lighthouse of Alexandria became the world's first building of this type and the tallest building in the ancient world, not counting, of course, the Giza pyramids.

The height of the Lighthouse of Alexandria was approximately 450-600 feet. At the same time, the building was absolutely unlike any of the architectural monuments available at that time. The building was a three-tiered tower, the walls of which were made of marble slabs fastened with lead mortar. Most Full description The Lighthouse of Alexandria was compiled by Abu el-Andalussi - the famous Arab traveler - in 1166. He noted that in addition to performing purely practical functions, the lighthouse served as a very noticeable attraction. The fate of the great lighthouse

The Pharos Lighthouse has been illuminating the way for sailors for over 1500 years. But strong tremors in 365, 956 and 1303 A.D. the building was badly damaged, and the most powerful earthquake of 1326 finally destroyed one of the greatest architectural structures in the world. In 1994, the remains of the Lighthouse of Alexandria were discovered by archaeologists, and subsequently the image of the structure was more or less successfully restored using computer modeling.

New List of Wonders - and now 2001 was marked by the beginning of the New Open World Corporation project. Its main purpose was to select modern Wonders of the World, worthy of forever going down in history. So, the winners of the competition on July 7, 2007 were:

The great Wall of China

It is the largest architectural monument in the world. The construction of the wall began in the 3rd century BC. and continued for about a thousand years. The construction is breathtaking in its scale - the length of the wall is a little less than 9 thousand kilometers.

Its history goes back to the 5th century BC, a time that was marked by the collapse of the state of Zhou. In its place, many small kingdoms were formed, which immediately began a bloody internecine struggle with each other for the legacy of the great empire. It was during this period of the "warring kingdoms" that the first foundation pits were dug and earthen ramparts were erected in order to strengthen the borders from aggressive neighbors. In 221 BC. the ruler of one of the kingdoms - Qin - the great Shi Huangdi managed to pacify the long-term blood feud. He was proclaimed the first Chinese emperor and during the 11 years of his reign he created a state with an effective system of administration and justice. It was he who came up with the idea to connect the defensive structures that already existed in the north of the empire with a single wall.

And by order of the ruler, his army, consisting of 300,000 soldiers, as well as about a million prisoners and slaves, began to build fortress walls. The Great Wall of China was built using a wide variety of building technologies. To protect the still unfinished fortifications in the area of ​​​​the construction site, numerous garrisons vigilantly served.

After the death of Shi Huangdi, the work was continued by his successors - the emperors of the Han dynasty, who not only monitored the maintenance of the structure in proper order, but also lengthened the wall. The last important stage in the construction of the Great Wall of China falls on the reign of the imperial Ming dynasty, in 1368-1644.

Today, the length of the wall is 8,851.8 kilometers in total, which is an absolute and most likely unbeatable record in construction.

In 1962, the Great Wall of China took pride of place in the list of national monuments of China, and in 1987 it was accepted into the general UNESCO World Heritage List. It should be noted that this is the only structure that can be seen from Earth orbit without the use of any optical instruments. And in July 2007, the Wall entered the list of New Wonders of the World, as one of the most impressive buildings in the history of mankind.

Roman Coliseum

One of the most majestic amphitheaters ever built by man. This famous ancient Roman monument still stands among modern buildings to this day. the Italian capital. For a very long time, the Colosseum played a very important cultural role in the lives of the citizens and guests of Rome. A huge number of people gathered in its stands, who longed for one thing - bright and exciting spectacles. It was here that gladiator fights and animal persecution, sports competitions and naumachia took place. The Colosseum is also a full-fledged Wonder of the World.

The construction of the amphitheater was carried out for about ten years. And the idea of ​​creating such grand structure belonged to the Roman imperial Flavian dynasty. The Colosseum differs from all similar buildings in its size - the height of its walls is 48-50 m, while the stands of the amphitheater could accommodate more than 50 thousand people.

Like any other Roman building of this type, the Colosseum has the shape of an ellipse, in the center of which is the arena, and its stands are arranged in the form of concentric rings. The perimeter of the outer ellipse of the Roman arena is 524 m, the major and minor axes are 187.7 and 155.64 m long, and the height of the walls of the amphitheater approaches 50 m. The results of simple calculations show that the Colosseum could easily accommodate about 50 thousand people. spectators. It is the most grandiose arena in the world, not counting modern stadiums that can accommodate over 100 thousand people.

The Colosseum was deservedly considered a symbol of Roman greatness. Philosophers said that while it stands, the Great Empire will stand. Back in 264, during the reign of Decius, the millennium of Rome was celebrated in the amphitheater. History testifies that during this era, about 40 wild horses, more than 30 elephants, 60 lions and many other wild animals were killed in the arena. In 405, gladiator fights were banned by Emperor Honorius, and the Colosseum removed the laurels of the greatest arena in the world.

Taj Mahal

The world's largest Muslim mausoleum-mosque, built in Agra by order of the descendant of the great Tamerlane - Emperor Shah Jahan - in memory of his prematurely deceased wife. The construction of the shrine began in 1632 and was completed in 1653.

This mausoleum embodies the memory of the tender love of the Muslim ruler Shah Jahan for his wife - fabulous beauty a woman named Mumtaz Mahal. The future king of the Great Moghuls was still a young prince, when at the beginning of the 17th century he married a nineteen-year-old beauty. The newlyweds dearly loved each other and, despite the fact that the king had a huge harem, he simply did not pay attention to other women.

Beloved wife gave birth to Shah Jahan six daughters and eight sons, but numerous births broke the woman's health, so when the fourteenth child was born, she died. The grief of the king was so great that he wished to take his own life. But responsibility for the state and other reasons kept the ruler in this world. Literally before the eyes of his retinue, he turned gray, and soon a two-year mourning was declared throughout the state, during which there was no place for holidays, dances, music and fun.

Somewhat later, a grandiose mausoleum was erected in the capital of the Mughal Empire - Agra. The construction of the Taj Mahal lasted over 20 years. More than 20 thousand people worked at the construction site, including the best Persian, Turkish, Samarkand and, of course, Indian architects and architects. The project was completed in 1653, and since then this amazing building has attracted millions of explorers and travelers.

Inside the Taj Mahal there are two tombs - the shah and his wife. But in fact, the burial is underground. The mausoleum is a five-domed building 74 meters high. It is located on a platform with 4 minarets, which are tilted away from the tomb, and adjoins the amazingly beautiful garden with an abundance of fountains and a pool. The walls of the Taj Mahal were made of translucent polished marble, which was brought to the construction site from a unique deposit 300 km from Agra.

Ancient Asian city of Petra

The ancient city of Petra is one of the most amazing monuments of architecture. It is carved in solid rock, and a huge number of secrets and omissions hovers around its origin. It is believed that the city was founded by the Nabataeans - nomadic tribes, who in the VI-IV centuries BC. managed to subdue the vast territory on which Jordan, Syria and Israel are located today. It was built at the crossroads of the largest trade routes connecting the Red Sea, Damascus, the Persian Gulf and Gaza. Construction here almost never stopped, and various peoples ruled Petra in different eras, including the Edomites, Arabs, Romans and Byzantines.

Due to its favorable location at the crossroads of wide trade routes, Petra prospered and grew rich over the years. For many years it was a real salvation for merchants and travelers from the scorching sun. However, in the IV century BC. abandoned for reasons still unknown. Perhaps the inhabitants were driven out of the cool stone shade by the lack of water. But most likely the city was abandoned due to the loss of significance of its location in the very depths of the rocky Jordanian desert.

The city of Petra is carved into the red sandstone rock. Outwardly, the architectural elements that have survived to this day resemble Roman architecture. On the territory of the city, archaeologists managed to find many temples, palaces, tombs and even an ancient theater. The buildings of Petra were built over many centuries, so there is an incredible interweaving of echoes of the culture of different eras.

The main city attraction is the Treasury - a huge building with a solid facade carved from the rock. The majestic colonnade with an amphitheater, crowning the kilometer-long canyon of the Siq, also arouses admiration. They are the legacy of Roman culture in the history of Petra. Also of note is the aqueduct that supplied water to the city. It was a complex system of terracotta pipes that collected moisture from all sources located within a radius of 25 km from the city.

Ed-Dair deserves special attention - a huge monastery carved right into the rock at the top of the highest cliff in the canyon. For some time it even served as a Christian church. While excavating the monastery, archaeologists discovered here the tomb of the Nabataean king. You can climb to it along a staircase carved in stone, consisting of 800 steps.

Today, Petra is one of the busiest tourism centers in the world. Every year, about half a million people come here to see this amazing creation of human hands with their own eyes. In July 2007, Petra, a little earlier included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, became one of the New Wonders of the World.

Machu Picchu

Archaeologists believe that this lost city The Inca was created as the winter residence of the ruler of this ancient people - Pachacutec - literally a century before the Spaniards came here. In 1532, when brave conquistadors and adventurers obsessed with a thirst for gold invaded the Inca empire, every single one of the inhabitants of the city mysteriously disappeared.

Machu Picchu was one of the three houses of Pachacutec and along the way served as a shrine. The city had a very modest size and contained about 200 buildings. City buildings were built from high-quality processed stone blocks, fitted to each other so tightly that most of the buildings of Machu Picchu have survived to this day. The abandoned settlement was accidentally discovered only at the beginning of the 20th century by the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham. A few decades later, the legendary Inca trail was found, leading through the Urumamba valley straight to the city.

The highlight of the ancient city are the vast terraces on which the Incas were engaged in agriculture. The "decorated room" found against the western wall of the main temple is a clear indication of how skilled these people were. The foundation of the room is made of two imposing stone blocks with carved three-dimensional peaks.

The Temple of the Three Windows is the most mysterious structure Machu Picchu. According to Bingham's hypothesis, trapezoidal windows facing east were symbols of Pachacutec's ancestral home. But since the architectural style of the city belongs to the late Inca period, the reliability of this assumption raises certain doubts among archaeologists.

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza - holy city Maya - located 75 miles east of Merida - the capital of Yucatan. Archaeologists consider the ancient settlement, covering an area of ​​about 6 square miles, one of the greatest in the world. architectural monuments. Previously, several hundred structures were located here, but most of them have not survived to this day. The surviving buildings, of which there are about 30, are of great interest to archaeologists, scientists and researchers.

Archaeologists conditionally divide the remains of the city into two parts - the first contains buildings erected by the Maya around the 6th-7th centuries AD, while the second is a monument of the culture of the Toltecs who lived in Yukotan in the 10th-11th centuries. Apparently, the population of Chichen Itza experienced a rather acute lack of water. This is evidenced by numerous cenotes - wells with steep smooth walls.

It was during the Mayan period, which is associated with an unprecedented flourishing of science and art, that the city acquired a high status of a cultural and religious center. A striking confirmation of this are the buildings erected in this period - the Deer House, the monastery and the church, Akab Dzib, the Pali House, the Temple with three lintels and the Red House. After the Mayan civilization declined, the reasons for which are still shrouded in a dense shadow of mysteries and secrets, cities like Chichen Itza were used for burials and some rituals.

One of the most famous buildings preserved in Chichen Itza is the Pyramid of Kukulkan, which locals often referred to as El Castillo. The height of the structure is 23 m. On the day of the spring and autumn equinoxes in the afternoon, the sun illuminates the western balustrade of the main staircase so that an image of 7 isosceles triangles is formed, placed in a special order. Upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the figure created by the sun's rays most of all looks like a huge snake crawling towards its head. And to see this breathtaking sight, every year on March 20 and September 21, thousands of tourists gather here.

Another attraction - Huego de Pelota - is the largest playground ever created by the Maya. It should be noted that there are eight more such structures in the city, but the "Large Ball Game" is much larger than them - its length is 135 m. Particular attention is drawn to the paintings carved on the walls that enclose Huego de Pelota. They depict very cruel scenes, and scientists believe that they are directly related either to the practice of sacrifice, or to the illustration of the game, which serves as a substitute for bloody war.

After 1194, Chichen Itza was completely empty, and there are numerous rumors and legends around what caused the departure of the inhabitants of the city. It should be noted that the tough policy of the Spaniards, who ruled America in the 11th century, involved the execution of Mayan clergy, as well as the destruction of ancient books and manuscripts. Therefore, no more or less plausible information about the mysterious history of this ancient civilization has come down to our days.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer

The statue of Christ the Redeemer is installed on top of the Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro. The monument is a symbol of the city and Brazil. Every year, millions of travelers and tourists come here to see with their own eyes the majestic statue of Christ, as if taking the whole modern world into his arms.

The history of the monument goes back to the 16th century, when the Portuguese navigators dubbed Corcovado Peak "Mountain of Temptation". In 1921 (a year before the anniversary of Brazil's independence), the well-known publication "O Cruzeiro" announced the collection of funds for the construction of the monument, as a result of which over 2 million flights were collected.

The Christ the Redeemer statue was designed by Carlos Oswald. In 1927, the first models of the monument were constructed, and Costa Hisses performed all the necessary calculations. Pedro Viana and Heitor Levy took part in the construction of the monument, as well as the sculptor Paul Landowski, who modeled and made the plaster head and arms of the statue.

A whole army of engineers and technicians worked on the creation of the sculpture. It was decided to replace the steel frame of the monument with reinforced concrete, and the outer layer of the monument was made of soapstone, specially imported to Rio de Janeiro from the Swedish Lymhamn deposit.

The construction lasted about 9 years, and in 1931 the world saw the majestic statue of Christ the Redeemer, which for a long time was not equal in scale all over the world. The height of the monument is 38 meters, and the weight of the entire structure, taking into account the base, exceeds 1100 tons. The arm span of the statue is approximately 23 meters, and the head and arms of Christ the Redeemer weigh about 54 tons.

In 1965, the monument was consecrated by Pope Paul VI, and in 1981, on the day of the 50th anniversary of the monument, John Paul II was present at the solemn feast. The statue of Christ the Redeemer was restored three times - in 1980, 1990 and 2010. In 1932 and 2000, the night lighting system of the statue was modernized, and today it stands out in a special way against the background of the starry sky at night.

It should be noted that the statue of Christ the Redeemer passed the strongest storm in July 2008, which destroyed several nearby neighborhoods of Rio. The monument was saved by the same soapstone, which acted as a dielectric and extinguished lightning discharges on the surface of the statue. To date, the monument is in excellent condition.

--Khoroshavina Anastasia (talk) 17:37, December 1, 2015 (MSK)

--Valeria Lobashova (talk) 22:45, December 2, 2015 (MSK)

One of the seven wonders of the world, which has been able to perfectly preserve itself to our time, is the Pyramid of Cheops in Giza. It is believed that the pyramid was built as a tomb for the fourth dynasty of Pharaoh Cheops, after whom it was named. This wonder of the world was built for 20 years, and it was completely ready by 2560 BC.

The gigantic structure, which served as a tomb for the Egyptian nobility, was the most huge building in the world for four thousand years - this is an absolute record, which will be very difficult to beat. The height of this pyramid is only 146.5 meters, which with modern technologies will not be difficult to overtake, but it is unlikely to hold out in the lead for 4 millennia.

Today, there are many scientific theories and rumors about how the Cheops pyramid was built: from the intervention of alien creatures to the generally accepted ones, based on the fact that huge boulders from quarries were moved by special structures.

The interior of the pyramid of Cheops is made up of three tombs. The lower chamber is located at the base of the rock, on which the pyramid itself is located, but for some reason it has not been completely rebuilt. Directly above it are the chambers of the Queen and the Pharaoh. The greatest pyramid is the only one in Egypt that has ascending and descending corridor passages. This building is the central key of the complex in Giza, it is surrounded by other pyramids, tombs and temples, but already smaller.

According to the latest estimates, the pyramid of Cheops is approximately 2,300,000 stone bricks. The largest stones among them are slabs weighing 25-80 tons each, which were found in the tomb of the pharaoh. These blocks of the heaviest granite had to be delivered from a quarry located a thousand kilometers from the object. Thus, the construction of the pyramid of Cheops required 8,000 tons of granite and 5,500,000 tons of limestone.

There is an opinion that the geometry was perfect for the ancient Egyptians, the builders of that time were well aware of both the "Golden Section" and the complex "Pi number", which reflected the proportions of the Cheops pyramid and the angle of inclination. A similar angle of inclination is also seen at the pyramid in Meidum, but this may be a mere accident, since such an inclination has not been repeated anywhere else.

Astronomers, on the other hand, say that the Great Pyramid is nothing more than an astronomical observatory of ancient Egypt, because the ventilation ducts and corridors exactly point to the path to the stars Tuban, Alnitak and Sirius.

Today, the pyramid of Cheops is a wonder of the world and the most visited Egyptian attraction that tourists want to see again and again.