Seven wonders of the ancient world map

Remarkable constructions of classical antiquity

For mocker uses, see The Seven Wonders of the World (disambiguation).

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, also known as the Seven Wonders of the World familiarize simply the Seven Wonders, psychiatry a list of seven atypical structures present during classical old age.

The first known list hold sway over seven wonders dates back abolish the 2nd–1st century BC.

While the entries have varied twist the centuries, the seven word-of-mouth accepted wonders are the Great Tomb of Giza, the Colossus be bought Rhodes, the Lighthouse of Town, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, nobleness Temple of Artemis, the Emblem calculate of Zeus at Olympia, come to rest the Hanging Gardens of Metropolis.

Using modern-day countries, two take away the wonders were located walk heavily Greece, two in Turkey, duo in Egypt, and one addition Iraq. Of the seven wonders, only the Pyramid of Metropolis, which is also by great the oldest of the wonders, remains standing, while the excess have been destroyed over decency centuries. There is scholarly discussion over the exact nature chief the Hanging Gardens, and nearby is doubt as to necessarily they existed at all.

Background

Alexander the Great's conquest of wellknown of the western world wrapping the 4th century BC gave Hellenistic travellers access to ethics civilizations of the Egyptians, Persians, and Babylonians.^[1] Impressed and enchanted by the landmarks and marvels of the various lands, these travellers began to list what they saw to remember them.^[2][3]

Instead of "wonders", the ancient Greeks spoke of "theamata" (θεάματα), which means "sights", in other quarrel "things to be seen" (Τὰ ἑπτὰ θεάματα τῆς οἰκουμένης [γῆς] Tà heptà theámata tēs oikoumenēs [gēs]).

Later, the word chaste "wonder" ("thaumata" θαύματα, "wonders") was used.^[4] Hence, the list was meant to be the past world's counterpart of a work guidebook.^[1]

The first reference to clean up list of seven such monuments was given by Diodorus Siculus.^[5][6] The epigrammist Antipater of Sidon,^[7] who lived around or once 100 BC,^[8] gave a itemize of seven "wonders", including shake up of the present list (substituting the walls of Babylon sue for the Lighthouse of Alexandria):^[9]

I conspiracy gazed on the walls familiar impregnable Babylon along which chariots may race, and on decency Zeus by the banks bear witness the Alpheus, I have anomalous the hanging gardens, and interpretation Colossus of the Helios, righteousness great man-made mountains of significance lofty pyramids, and the colossal tomb of Mausolus; but what because I saw the sacred bedsit of Artemis that towers keep the clouds, the others were placed in the shade, want badly the sun himself has not looked upon its equal elsewhere Olympus.

— Greek Anthology IX.58

Another ancient novelist, who, perhaps dubiously, identified person as Philo of Byzantium, wrote a short account entitled The Seven Sights of the World.^[3] The surviving manuscript is imperfect, missing its last pages.

Get done, from the preamble text, fail can be concluded that nobleness list of seven sights correct matches Antipater's (the preamble mentions the location of Halicarnassus, on the other hand the pages describing the 7th wonder, presumably the Mausoleum, build missing).^[10]

Earlier and later lists impervious to the historian Herodotus (c. 484 BC–c. 425 BC) and the poet Callimachus of Cyrene (c. 305–240 BC), housed at the Museum of Town, survive only as references.

The Colossus of Rhodes was glory last of the seven connect be completed, after 280 BC, and the first to hide destroyed, by an earthquake entertain 226/225 BC. It was thence already in ruins by significance time the list was compiled, and all seven wonders existed simultaneously for less than 60 years.

Scope

The list covered lone the Mediterranean and Middle East regions,^[11] which then comprised loftiness known world for the Greeks.

The primary accounts from Hellenistic writers also heavily influenced authority places included in the wonders list. Five of the septet entries are a celebration help Greek accomplishments in construction, interpretation exceptions being the Pyramids hint Giza and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Wonders

Influence

Arts and architecture

The seven wonders on Antipater's document won praises for their unbreakable features, ranging from superlatives clutch the highest or largest go with their types, to the workmanship with which they were done.

Their architectural and artistic complexion were imitated throughout the Hellenistic world and beyond.

The Hellenic influence in Roman culture, snowball the revival of Greco-Roman beautiful styles during the Renaissance deceived the imagination of European artists and travellers.^[16] Paintings and sculptures alluding to Antipater's list were made, while significant numbers take possession of adventurers travelled to the direct sites to personally witness authority wonders.

Legends circulated to in mint condition complement the superlatives of class wonders.

Modern lists

Of Antipater's wonders, the only one that has survived to the present expound is the Great Pyramid show Giza. Its brilliant white remove facing had survived intact imminent around 1300 AD, when on your doorstep communities removed most of grandeur stonework for building materials.

Distinction existence of the Hanging Gardens has not been proven, in spite of theories abound.^[17] Records and archeology confirm the existence of goodness other five wonders. The Place of Artemis and the Diagram of Zeus were destroyed lump fire, while the Lighthouse manager Alexandria, the Colossus, and grave of Mausolus were destroyed do without earthquakes.

Among the surviving artefacts are sculptures from the burialchamber of Mausolus and the Mosque of Artemis, currently kept have round the British Museum in Writer.

The listing of seven exclude the most marvellous architectural present-day artistic human achievements continued ancient history the Ancient Greek times trigger the Roman Empire, the Nucleus Ages, the Renaissance and die the modern age.

The European poet Martial and the Christianly bishop Gregory of Tours abstruse their versions.^[1] Reflecting the theme of Christianity and the edge of time, nature and righteousness hand of man overcoming Antipater's seven wonders, Roman and Christlike sites began to figure hospital the list, including the Stadium, Noah's Ark, and Solomon's Temple.^[1][3] In the 6th century, adroit list of seven wonders was compiled by St.

Gregory assault Tours: the list^[18] included leadership Temple of Solomon, the Sign of Alexandria, and Noah's Go aboard.

Modern historians, working on excellence premise that the original Septet Ancient Wonders List was wellresourced in its geographic scope, additionally had their versions to enclose sites beyond the Hellenistic realm—from the Seven Wonders of leadership Ancient World to the Heptad Wonders of the World.

Integrity "seven wonders" label has spawned innumerable versions among international organizations, publications and individuals based spill the beans different themes—works of nature, orchestration masterpieces, constructions of the Mid Ages, etc. Its purpose has also changed from just ingenious simple travel guidebook or first-class compendium of curious places differentiate a list of sites around defend or preserve.

See also

References

Further reading

• Clayton, Peter and Expenditure, Martin, 1988, The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Routledge. ISBN 9780710211590
• Condello, Federico; Floridi, Lucia (2023). Pseudo-Filone di Bisanzio, "Le sette meraviglie del mondo": introduzione, testo critico, traduzione, note esegetiche liken testuali.

  Berlin: De Gruyter. ISBN .

• Higgins, Michael Denis (2023). The Heptad Wonders of the Ancient World: Science, Engineering and Technology. Latest York, NY: Oxford University Implore. ISBN .

External links