7 Wonders of the World

There have been multiple lists of “Seven Wonders of the World” throughout history. The most famous and well-known list is the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which were selected by the Greeks as the most impressive architectural and engineering feats of their time. These Seven Wonders were:

1. The Great Pyramid of Giza: Located in Egypt, this massive structure is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex, and is the only one of the Seven Wonders still standing today.
2. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon: According to legend, these gardens were built by King Nebuchadnezzar II in the 6th century BC to please his wife. They were said to be a series of terraced gardens filled with exotic plants and water features.
3. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus: This temple was dedicated to the Greek goddess Artemis and was located in what is now modern-day Turkey. It was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times before finally being destroyed in 401 AD.
4. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia: Created by the Greek sculptor Phidias in the 5th century BC, this statue was housed in the temple of Zeus in Olympia, Greece. It was destroyed in a fire in the 5th century AD.
5. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus: This tomb was built for Mausolus, the governor of the Persian Empire’s province of Caria, in the 4th century BC. It was destroyed by earthquakes in the 12th and 15th centuries.
6. The Colossus of Rhodes: This statue was a giant bronze statue of the Greek god Helios that stood at the entrance to the harbor of Rhodes. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC.
7. The Lighthouse of Alexandria: Built in the 3rd century BC on the island of Pharos in Egypt, this lighthouse was one of the tallest structures of its time. It was destroyed by earthquakes in the 14th century.

More Popular Destinations

In addition to the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, there have been other lists of Seven Wonders throughout history. The most recent is the New Seven Wonders of the World, which were selected in a global online poll in 2007. The winners were:

1. The Great Wall of China: This wall, built over 2,000 years ago, stretches over 13,000 miles and was built to protect China from invading armies.
2. Petra: This ancient city, located in modern-day Jordan, was carved into the cliffs by the Nabataeans over 2,000 years ago.
3. The Christ the Redeemer statue: Located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this massive statue of Jesus Christ stands over 100 feet tall and was completed in 1931.
4. Machu Picchu: This ancient Incan city is located in the Andes Mountains of Peru and was built in the 15th century.
5. The Chichen Itza pyramid: This Mayan pyramid, located in Mexico, was built in the 11th century and is known for its intricate carvings.
6. The Colosseum: This ancient Roman amphitheater was completed in 80 AD and was used for gladiator games and other public events.
7. The Taj Mahal: This white marble mausoleum, located in Agra, India, was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal in the 17th century.