7 wonders of the world, as well as a description of each of them - incredible structures that have gained glory of the past and present. The uniqueness of each building is associated with the time of construction, the loss or wealth and talent of the creator. Today there are two lists with photos - ancient wonders of the world and new ones, which were selected in 2007.

7 wonders of the world, photos and descriptions of which will not convey all the beauty of the sights, were designated by two creators. The first mention belongs to the work of Herodotus “History”, where he gives the title of miracle to 3 structures. An addition to this list was highlighted by Antipater in his own poems.

The Pyramid of Cheops

IN modern times One of the seven wonders of the world has been preserved - the Pyramid of Cheops. The date of creation is 4500 years ago. The pyramid is a pharaoh's tomb with corridors filled with traps and dead ends. It was originally covered with white limestone and topped with a gilded pyramidion (a stone often used to decorate the top of tombs).

In the 12th century, during the burning of Cairo, the pyramid was looted, the covering was removed, and the stone was lost. The structure is considered the largest in Egypt. There are three crypts inside the tomb, located one below the other. The King's and Queen's chambers have the appearance of ventilation shafts, which are of a religious nature.

Not all of the 7 wonders of the world have survived to this day. The only existing representative is the Cheops pyramid. Photo and description below.

The Egyptians believed that the soul passed through several gates before entering afterworld. Therefore, the ventilation shaft has several doors. At the end of such a “path” there is a small space with signs painted in red ocher, indicating the entrance to the afterlife itself.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

One of the most mysterious miracles is the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which were built by King Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife. The creation of this miracle is associated with romantic story. In the fight against the Assyrians, the kings of Media and Babylon entered into an alliance, strengthened by a marriage between Nebuchadnezzar (king of Babylon) and the daughter of the Median king.

The girl yearned for her native flourishing country, and to make her smile, Nebuchadnezzar ordered the construction of hanging gardens.

But the daughter of the Median king was not called Semiramis. This name belonged to the queen who ruled in Assyria 200 years before. It is mistakenly believed that Semiramis had at least some contact with Nebuchadnezzar. In 126 BC, the miracle was destroyed during strife with the Persians, without even standing for a century.

Temple of Artemis of Ephesus

According to legends, Artemis is the goddess of fertility and prosperity. Thanks to her there was a rich harvest and healthy children. The predecessors of the future wonder of the world were three sanctuaries. After which, at this place, the inhabitants of Ephesus decided to honor the goddess by erecting an incredibly beautiful temple. The architect of the project was Chersifon, and funds for construction were provided by Croesus.

A statue made of ivory and gold was erected in the building itself. For some time, the temple served as a meeting hall for solving important economic and political issues of Ephesus. There is an opinion that in the 4th century BC two grandiose events took place in one night - Herostratus burned the temple, desiring glory, and at the same moment Alexander the Great was born.

It was the king of Macedon who subsequently restored the miracle, making it several feet taller. But 600 years later the temple was plundered by the Goths.

Zeus statue in Olympia

The Olympic Games were originally dedicated to the god Zeus to demonstrate the willpower and body of a person. To further exalt the ruler of the gods, it was decided to build a statue in his honor. The role of sculptor and creator was given to the Athenian Phidias. To confirm this, archaeologists found a bowl that stood in front of the statue with the inscription “Belongs to Phidias.”

According to legend, Zeus was created from 200 kg of gold, a mountain of precious stones and wood using a special technique.

During Christian times, all pagan temples were banned, and internal property was sold for the benefit of the city. There are two versions of the disappearance of the statue of Zeus - during transportation to Constantinople, a fire occurred that destroyed the sculpture. Or it was simply sold due to lack of funds.

mausoleum in Halicarnassus

The Halicarnassus Mausoleum is a monument in honor of the ruler Mausolus, which was supposed to have posthumous significance. However, its construction was started by Mavsol’s wife before her husband’s death. The peculiarity of this building is its unusual style for that time. The mausoleum was made in a square rather than rectangular shape, and also had at least 330 statues.

Also unusual was the base of the structure, which was significantly superior to analogues of that time. The miracle stood for almost 2000 years, after which it was damaged during a strong earthquake. Parts of the rubble were used to build the fortress of St. Peter.

Alexandrian lighthouse

The 7 Wonders of the World are largely associated with Alexander the Great. On the way to the Alexandria Bay there were a large number of reefs, which is why ships often crashed, and Faros lighthouse was of strategic importance. According to the description, construction was supposed to take 20 years, but everything was completed in 12 years. Today you can only see photos of reproductions of that structure.

The structure became huge, as for that time, which is why it was included in the list of seven wonders of the world. Soldiers lived in the lower part of the lighthouse. There was a fire burning in the top cylindrical one.

The wonder of the world was doomed to destruction during the destruction of the Alexandria Bay. The ships did not enter the port, which is why the need for the lighthouse disappeared, and it was empty. About 200 years later, a strong earthquake occurred, which finally destroyed the lighthouse.

The Colossus of Rhodes

The statue of the Colossus of Rhodes was erected in honor of the sun god Helios, who, according to legend, helped win the battle of Rhodes against Demetrius Poliorcetes. Despite all the military might of the Macedonian king, the city withstood the siege and forced the king to retreat. The inhabitants of Rhodes believed that the island itself was born by Helios, so he subsequently defended it.

The sculptor Hares was hired to immortalize the god in the form of a giant statue. According to legend, he was first ordered a figure 10 times the height of a person, but then they doubled the size, paying the same amount. However, more materials were required, so the sculptor had to complete the construction at his own expense.

To date, no reliable image of the statue has survived, since it stood for only 50 years. It was destroyed due to a strong earthquake and was not restored, since the oracle predicted God's wrath to the one who touched the fallen figure of Helios.

New 7 wonders of the world with photos and descriptions

The 7 Wonders of the World (photos and descriptions can be seen later in the article) according to the new version were proclaimed during a 2007 project sponsored by the New Open World Corporation. Elections took place among candidates for the most amazing structures through simple voting through SMS messages and calls. The result was announced in July 2007 in the capital of Portugal.

The winners were:

  • Amphitheater Colosseum.
  • Protective structure The great Wall of China.
  • Machu Picchu.
  • Lost City Petra (Jordan).
  • Taj Mahal Mosque.
  • Modern statue of Christ the Redeemer.
  • Ruins of ancient civilizations of the city of Chichen Itza.

Another 14 finalists competed for a place among the wonders of the world. The Pyramid of Cheops was among them, but did not participate in the voting, since it is the last surviving wonder of the ancient world.

the great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China was built as a symbol of the unity and power of the country. It was not built from scratch. The kingdoms of Qin, Zhao, Yan and Wei erected borders to protect against attacks by nomads. In the third century BC, Emperor Qin Shihuang issued a decree on the need to build a defensive wall, which would be called the Great Wall of China.

The design included all parts of pre-existing kingdoms, which were strengthened and complemented to form a whole image.

Managed the ten-year construction of Meng Tian. The construction was difficult due to the lack of roads and food supplies. The number of people involved in the construction is not known exactly - from 300 thousand to a million.

Most of them died while working. The following ruling dynasties completed the construction of the Great Wall of China. Most of its surviving part was built during the Ming Dynasty.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer

The history of the Brazilian Statue of Christ the Redeemer is connected with the then approaching centenary of the state's independence (1922). In honor of this, a fundraiser was announced for the construction of the statue. As a result of the action, almost 3 million in local currency was collected, including a significant part of the church’s funds. Construction lasted 9 years.

The details of the figure were made in France, as its dimensions were too large. The idea for the sketch of outstretched arms was in association with the cross. By 1931, the entire statue was being transported by railway and collected them into a single figure. It was consecrated only 34 years later.

Over time, Christ the Redeemer was repaired and restored, and in last years added night lighting. The first service was held only after the statue was elected as a New Wonder of the World.

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum that was built in honor of Shah Jahan's wife who died in childbirth. Subsequently, the padishah himself was buried there. Inside the mosque itself are the tombs of the ruler and his wife, but the remains themselves are located on an underground level, hidden from the eyes of visitors.

It is considered a pearl of Muslim culture due to the combination of several movements of architecture: Indian, Persian and Arabic.

Coliseum

Colosseum is translated from Latin as huge or colossal. Made on the principle of an open amphitheater. In the 1st century, Emperor Nero ruled, who adhered to a despotic policy. After his death and a period of civil wars, Vespasian came to power. He wanted to perpetuate his own name, erasing the memory of his unsuccessful predecessor.

Nero's palace at that time had huge size and a lake in the very center of Rome. Vespasian himself remodeled the palace for own needs, and ordered the reservoir to be filled up and an amphitheater to be built in its place to entertain the people. During the time of Christianity, the Colosseum lost its urgent need, and with the invasion of barbarians in the same century it began to collapse.

The biggest changes came with an earthquake in 1349. After this, the broken parts began to be used to build new buildings. Subsequently, the stones that did not fall off during the earthquake began to be taken away.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is called the city among the clouds, as it is located high in the mountains. It is considered the site of the existence of the Inca civilization until the arrival of the Spanish conquerors. Was the imperial residence, the third largest for the glorification of the name.

However, Machu Picchu could not be called a major city at that time. There are no more than 200 buildings within its boundaries. For a long time the city was lost. It was discovered 400 years after the conquest.

Petra

Petra is the oldest city of the Nabateans, which was carved into the city. It was located at a strategically important intersection of trade routes. This is what brought Petra a lot of income for a long time. After Rome opened the eastern sea route, the intersection of routes disappeared, as a result of which the city itself gradually became impoverished and ruined.

It has not yet been fully explored, since an incorrect movement could lead to the destruction of the entire wonder of the world. Today it is a center of pilgrimage.

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza is the center ancient civilization Maya in the first part and Taltecs in the second. In the 11th century, the city became the capital of the Taltec state. During the wars of one people with another, it was destroyed to ruins. By the time of the Spanish invasions, the city was completely deserted, having lost any influence on neighboring regions.

Some settlements of local residents were located near Chichen Itza, but no one lived in the area itself. The Indians considered this city to be the center of pilgrimage journeys. It has not been fully explored, as it has a huge number of underground labyrinths and traps.

Among the ruins of this city, the remains of a skull with trepanation were found - a complex modern surgical operation, which indicates a high medical level of civilizations.

7 natural wonders of the world from CNN

7 Wonders of the World (photos and descriptions compiled according to CNN) are associated with natural phenomena:


7 new wonders of nature with photos and descriptions

The 7 wonders of the world (photos and descriptions of each can be seen in the article) in natural terms have existed for a long time.

Therefore, a project about new miracles was put together:


The eighth wonder of the world

07/07/07 (July 7, 2007) 7 new wonders of the world were selected, but the Pyramids of Giza were not included. This happened because they are already on the list of 7 ancient wonders of the world, but the people of Egypt believe that their Pyramids do not need any voting and are a miracle in themselves.

The Pyramids of Giza are a complex of several ancient monuments, namely the Pyramids of Cheops, Menkaouar and Khafre.

They are located in the suburbs of Cairo and were created around the XXVI - XXIII centuries. BC. They are the unrecognized eighth wonder of the world.

Other wonders of the world

During the determination of the modern wonders of the world, 20 applicants were selected, of which 7 were selected:

Wonder of the world Description
Eiffel Tower One of the most recognizable buildings in the world, located in the city of love - Paris, its height is 324 meters. The tower was designed in 1887 by Gustave Eiffel. The total weight of the structure is 10 thousand tons.
Angkor Previously, it was a city in the Khemer Empire, and has survived to this day in the form of numerous ruins. Recognized as a World Heritage Site.
Athens Acropolis The Acropolis is located on a hill approximately 160 meters high and is a complex of buildings and temples. It was built before the classical era of Athens.
Sydney Opera House

Perhaps one of the most recognizable musical theaters in the world, it is also a symbol of Australia. It was recognized as an outstanding architectural structure.
Statue of Liberty One of the most famous and recognizable buildings in the world, a symbol of US freedom, is located in New York. Its height is 93 meters. The statue is made of 3 components - copper, steel and concrete. The total weight of the entire structure is approximately 27,156 tons, including the base.
Neuschwanstein A romantic castle located in Germany. For its construction, the rock was undermined by order of Ludwig II.
Timbuktu The whole city, located in Mali. The population of this city is 33 thousand people and there are 3 of the oldest mosques in West Africa.
Kremlin The fortified city is located in Moscow. The main socio-political complex of modern Russia. The height of the walls ranges from 5 to 20 meters, and the width is approximately 4.5 meters.
Moai Huge stone statues, weighing up to 80 tons, are located on Easter Island. There is still debate about exactly how they were delivered and for what purpose.
Alhambra Architectural park ensemble, located in Granada, Spain. Many consider the Alhambra to be the most beautiful building of Moorish art. Now it is a museum.
Hagia Sophia Hagia Sophia, which for thousands of years was one of the largest in the world. It is a symbol of the golden age in Byzantium. The building was both a cathedral and a mosque, however, at the moment it is a museum.
Kiyomizu-dera One of the most famous Buddhist temples in Japan, located in Kyoto. There is a waterfall on its territory, and it itself is surrounded by green forest.
Stonehenge A World Heritage whose purpose has not yet been revealed. It is made of large stone blocks set in a circle.

The 7 Wonders of the World are known for their distinctiveness and uniqueness. The buildings brought something new to culture or religion, this made it possible to learn the historical description of that time. The photos very clearly convey the majesty of each of them.

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List of all seven wonders of the world and their features:

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Description: This material will be useful for teachers. It is intended for students in grades 5 and 6. The material provides useful and interesting information, which can be used in history lessons and in extracurricular activities.
Seven Wonders of the World- These are the oldest architectural monuments, 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 a list of the most famous cultural figures - poets, philosophers, kings, generals, etc., or outstanding architectural monuments.
The first mentions of the Wonders of the World are found precisely in this era, when the victorious troops of Alexander the Great had already marched across Europe. The wide dissemination of Greek culture in the territories that were part of the states that the great commander conquered ensured the great popularity of individual monuments and architectural structures. But it should be noted that the “selection” of miracles occurred gradually. Some names replaced others, and today the list of the most majestic works of art and architecture includes:
1. Pyramids of Giza
2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon
3. Olympian statue of Zeus
4. Temple of Artemis in Ephesus
5. Halicarnassus Mausoleum
6. The Colossus of Rhodes
7. Alexandria Lighthouse

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

The Pyramid of Cheops
The largest of the Gisean complex, the Pyramid of Cheops is the largest building structure in the world. Its base is a square with a side of as much as 227.5 meters. The original height of the structure is believed to have been 146 meters, but several of the top stones were destroyed, and today the pyramid is 9 meters lower.
Engineering studies have shown that the largest Gisea architectural monument consists of 2.3 million stone blocks, each of which weighs at least 2.5 tons. The total volume of the structure is 2.34 million cubic meters. The sides of the pyramid are turned to the cardinal directions, with the entrance to the inside being from the north.
A distinctive feature of the structure is that every single building block fits together so well that even now, after several thousand years, it is impossible to insert even the thinnest blade between them. In addition, the researchers discovered that the mortar used to hold the structural elements together was stronger than any modern material.
Purpose of the pyramids
There are no inscriptions, drawings or decorations in the Cheops pyramid. 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. Many years of research 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, we will leave to historians and archaeologists questions about the origin and purpose of the construction of such an amazing complex of buildings, the entrance to which is protected by the Great Sphinx - the largest monolithic sculpture on the planet. For you and me, the Pyramids of Giza, with which many legends are associated, remain one of the most striking and unusual examples of the heights of engineering.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are the second most important Wonder of the World. Unfortunately, this amazing architectural structure has not survived to this day, but the memory of it is still preserved.
The attraction is located not far from Baghdad, and today its stone ruins can only impress an ordinary tourist with its scale. However, history shows that the structure was one of the most beautiful creations of mankind.


Amazing gift for wife
The gardens were discovered by Robert Koldewey, who carried out excavations near Al Hill in 1989. During archaeological research, an extensive network of trenches was discovered, and in their sections the scientist immediately recognized the legendary architectural monument.
Evidence suggests that the Hanging Gardens were built at the behest of Nebuchadnezzar II, whose reign dates back to the 6th century BC. The best engineers, mathematicians and inventors of Mesopotamia worked day and night to satisfy the king's request to create a gift for his wife Amytis.
The latter was of Median origin, and those lands, as you know, were filled with the aromas of flowering gardens and green hills. The queen had a hard time in stuffy Babylon; she became homesick for her native land. That is why the ruler decided to lay out an unusual park that would at least slightly remind his wife of her home.
Controversy surrounding the Babylonian Miracle
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were 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 through Mesopotamia somewhere 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 studied chronicles at the end of the 4th century BC. very clearly and clearly outlined the building in his works. There is even an opinion that all historians, including modern scientists, relied precisely on his descriptions, and they are too much embellished with the author’s conjectures and judgments.
Some even believe that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were 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 at Olympia is the third most important Wonder of the World, the history of which began long before its creation - in 776 BC. Then, for the first time, participants of the next Olympic Games arrived at the temple, which was built in honor of the father of the gods.
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 a total of 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 on the list of Wonders of the World.
The creation of the statue dates back to approximately 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 find 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 discovery 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 transported 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 research 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 saw a period of unprecedented prosperity. Founded in the 12th century BC, the city was largest center trade and radiated wealth and prosperity. Artemis patronized him. She is known to be the goddess of fertility and the patroness of animals, the guardian of women in labor and hunters. Piously revering her, the townspeople decided to build a majestic temple in honor of Artemis, which, moreover, was supposed to significantly increase the income of the city.


Construction of the shrine
In the 6th century BC. Harsifron, a famous architect, arrived in Ephesus. It was he who came up with the idea of ​​​​building a building made of marble. According to his plan, the temple should have been surrounded by two rows of impressive columns. Moreover, the master, apparently, had an extraordinary 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 capable of satisfying the project’s appetites had not yet been found. But soon, thanks to chance, a sufficient amount of stone was found, and the temple was successfully built. Monolithic marble columns deserve a special place in the building’s design. They were transported here straight from quarries located tens of kilometers from the construction site. The foundation of the temple represents the aerobatics of engineering.
The building was built on a swampy area, since the sad memory of the earthquakes that struck Hellas was still alive. A huge pit was dug at the site of the future building, which the builders filled with charcoal and wool. This, plus the very unorthodox foundation of the Temple, should have been a guarantee that the building would withstand earthquakes of any magnitude.
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 it was often inlaid 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.
Fate of the Temple
It should be noted that Kharsifron did not have time to complete the construction. But the business was continued by his son, and then by the architects Peonit and Demetrius. And then around 450 BC. the world saw the unsurpassed Temple of Artemis. They say that if it had survived to this day, it could have eclipsed 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, started a fire in the building.
The building was almost completely destroyed, of course, with the exception of those structural elements that were made of marble. After this, the Temple of Artemis was revived several times and ceased to exist again. But in 263 BC. it was last sacked by the Goths. The “marble” health of the building was finally broken by the 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
The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus is the same age as the second Temple of Artemis. The same people who restored the shrine after the fire started 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 powerful and cruel ruler of Caria – Mausolus.


Start of construction
Despite the fact that already in the 4th 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 raised, he managed to remain on the throne. During the reign of the energetic and ambitious king, Helicarnassus became the capital of Caria.
Moreover, the construction of the tomb, which was later included in the list of the seven most famous sights of the ancient world, began long before the death of the ruler - approximately 353 BC. The Mausoleum project was developed by Greek architects - Satyr and Pytheas. The sculptors Timofey, Leochares, Scopas 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.
R magnificent tomb for the king
The tomb was an impressive architectural complex with its own courtyard. A stone platform was installed in the center of the latter. A wide staircase, guarded by stone lions, led to the top. The inside of the building was decorated with bas-reliefs depicting scenes from ancient greek legends and legends. The outer walls of the Mausoleum were covered with statues of gods and goddesses, and in the corners of the structure huge guardian warriors carved from stone carried out their service.
The ziggurat was crowned by a marble chariot driven by four massive horses. The statues of charioteers 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 in 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 and completely 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 of the Mausoleum.
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 furnishings and construction, the appearance of the Mausoleum was restored. His project served as the basis for the construction of the 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 tasty morsel 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.


It should be noted that the long siege did not bring success, 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 money raised, it was decided to build a statue of Helios, the patron saint of Rhodes, in order to praise the sun god for ridding the city of invaders.
Construction of the statue began around 304 BC. The creation of the Colossus was entrusted to Chares, a student of the famous ancient sculptor Lysippos. It was proposed to depict Helios standing, and in his left hand he was supposed to hold a blanket flowing down to the ground, and with his right hand to cover his eyes from the sun. Despite the fact that such a pose did not correspond to some canons of sculpture of that time, the master understood that the huge statue would not stay on its feet if the Colossus pointed his hand into the distance.
Three massive stone pillars served as the basis for a 36-meter statue. They were fastened with iron beams at the level of the Colossus's shoulders, which was supposed to provide him with stability. Construction continued for 12 years, after which the world saw the greatest statue, whose head was adorned with a radiant crown.
Death of the Colossus
Literally half a century later, the island was shaken by strong earthquakes, and the legs of the Colossus of Rhodes were broken. The statue of the god fell into the sea and lay off the coast for about 1000 years. The defeated giant became surrounded by legends, but in 977 AD. They decided to disassemble it, melt it down and sell it. The chronicles preserve 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 - in New York Harbor there was a statue of a woman holding a huge torch in her hands. 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 its foundation in 332 BC. Alexandria, a city that was named after the great Roman commander Alexander the Great. It should be noted that throughout 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 in honor 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 to the south, near the marshy Lake Mareotis. Alexandria was supposed to have two large harbors - one for merchant ships coming from the Mediterranean Sea, and the second for ships traveling 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 became a prosperous Trading port. In 290 BC. Ptolemy ordered the construction of a huge lighthouse on the island of Pharos, which would illuminate the path for ships sailing in the city’s harbor in the dark and in bad weather.
Construction of a lighthouse on the island of Faros
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 considered to be Sostratus, a resident of Cnidia. The work lasted a little over 20 years, and as a result, the Alexandria Lighthouse became the first building of this type in the world and the most tall building the ancient world, not counting, of course, the Gisean pyramids.
The height of the Alexandria Lighthouse was approximately 450-600 feet. Moreover, the structure was absolutely unlike any other architectural monument available at that time. The building was a three-tiered tower, the walls of which were made of marble slabs held together with lead mortar. The most Full description The Lighthouse of Alexandria was composed by Abu el-Andalussi - the famous Arab traveler- in 1166. He noted that the lighthouse, in addition to performing purely practical functions, served as a very noticeable landmark.
The fate of the great Lighthouse
The Faros lighthouse illuminated the way for seafarers for more than 1,500 years. But strong tremors in 365, 956 and 1303 AD. severely damaged the building, and a powerful earthquake in 1326 finally destroyed one of the greatest architectural structures in the world. In 1994, the remains of the Alexandria Lighthouse were discovered by archaeologists, and subsequently the image of the structure was more or less successfully restored using computer modeling.

New 7 wonders of the world

The classic list of 7 wonders of the world appeared in the 3rd century BC. It included the greatest architectural, historical and cultural monuments of the ancient world. But the years passed, and more and more new wonders appeared in the world, which today can also rightfully be considered Wonders of the World, that is, the most outstanding creations of man.
And so 2001 marked the beginning of the New Open World Corporation project. Its main purpose was to choose modern miracles light, worthy of going down in history forever. So, the winners of the competition on July 7, 2007 were:
1. The Great Wall of China
2. Taj Mahal
3. Colosseum
4. Machu Picchu
5. Petra
6. Chichen Itza
7. Christ the Redeemer Statue

The great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is one of the oldest structures that has survived to this day, which in its grandeur and grandeur has no analogues even in the modern world. Its history goes back to the 5th century BC, a time that was marked by the collapse of the Zhou state.
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 “warring kingdoms” that the first pits were dug and earthen ramparts were erected in order to strengthen the borders from aggressive neighbors.


Start of construction
And so in 221 BC. The ruler of one of the kingdoms - Qin - the great Shi Huangdi managed to pacify many years of 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 government and justice. It was he who came up with the idea of ​​connecting 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 construction technologies. To protect the still unfinished fortifications in the area of ​​the construction site, numerous garrisons were vigilantly serving.
Continuers of Shi Huangdi's work
After the death of Shi Huangdi, the work was continued by his successors - the emperors of the Han dynasty, who not only ensured the maintenance of the structure in proper order, but also worked on lengthening the wall. The last important stage in the construction of the Great Wall of China occurred during the reign of the imperial Ming dynasty, 1368-1644.
From the middle of the 17th century, the need for the building disappeared, and time and natural factors immediately took hold of its stone sides. But, fortunately, most of the Wall has survived to this day. Moreover, the Chinese government once invested huge sums in its reconstruction.
New Wonder of the World
Already during the reign of the Ming dynasty, fortifications stretched from the Shanhaiguan fortress, located on the shores of the Bohaiwan Strait, all the way to Jiayuguan in the north-west of Gansu province. Today, the length of the wall is a total of 8,851.8 kilometers, which is an absolute and most likely invincible record in construction.
In 1962, the Great Wall of China took pride of place on 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 was included in the list of New Wonders of the World, as one of the most impressive structures in the history of mankind.

Taj Mahal Mausoleum
It's not called the Taj Mahal for nothing architectural gem India. You will not find a more majestic and magnificent building in the whole country. This mausoleum represents the memory of the tender love of the Muslim ruler Shah Jahan for his wife, a fabulously beautiful woman named Mumtaz Mahal. The future king of the Great Mughals was still a young prince when, at the beginning of the 17th century, he took a nineteen-year-old beauty as his wife. The newlyweds loved each other dearly and, despite the fact that the king had huge harem, he simply did not pay attention to other women.


Background of construction
His 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 was gone. The king's grief was so great that he wanted 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, dancing, music and fun.
"Indian Pearl"
Somewhat later, a grandiose mausoleum was erected in the capital of the Mughal Empire - Agra. Construction of the Taj Mahal took more than 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 structure 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 place 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 adjacent to the building is an amazingly beautiful garden with an abundance of fountains and a swimming 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.
The greatest monument architecture
The great mausoleum has survived to this day. It is one of the most majestic and beautiful structures on the planet. Every day it is visited by tens of thousands of tourists, thanks to whom the “Indian pearl” replenishes the state treasury with considerable funds. Throughout the year, the Taj Mahal receives about 5 million visitors. In order to preserve the architectural monument, road traffic in the Taj Mahal area was prohibited.
Not long ago, cracks were discovered in the walls of the Taj Mahal. Scientists believe that the destruction of the building is associated with the shallowing of the Jumna, a river flowing in close proximity to it. But, nevertheless, the Taj Mahal remains one of the most unusual and majestic structures in the world. It was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and in July 2007 it took pride of place among the New Wonders of the World.

Coliseum
The Colosseum is one of the most majestic amphitheaters ever built by man. This famous ancient Roman monument still stands in the middle of modern buildings 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, yearning for one thing - bright and exciting spectacles. It was here that gladiator fights and animal persecution, sports competitions and naumachia took place.


The beginning of the history of the Flavian Amphitheater
The Colosseum is located on the Caelian, Palatine and Esquiline hills, that is, where the pond of the Golden House of Nero used to be. Initially, the structure was called the Flavian Amphitheater (in honor of its founders) of the famous imperial dynasty. Construction continued for 8 years, and around 80 AD. the world saw one of the most capacious arenas.
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 have a length of 187.7 and 155.64 m, 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 largest arena in the world, not counting modern stadiums that can accommodate over 100 thousand people.
The fate of the world's greatest arena
The Colosseum was rightly considered a symbol of Roman greatness. Philosophers said that as long as he stands, he will stand and Great empire. Back in 264, during the reign of Decius, the millennium of Rome was celebrated in the amphitheater. History records 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, gladiatorial combat was banned by Emperor Honorius, and the Colosseum withdrew its laurels as the greatest arena in the world.
Towards the end of the 13th century, the Roman amphitheater was turned into a quarry. At the same time, 23 estates for aristocratic families were built from it. In the 14th-15th centuries, the Italians built 6 churches from dismantled parts of the Colosseum, and at the end of the 15th century, the office of the Pope was built from the material of the Colosseum. In the mid-16th century, the architectural elements of the amphitheater served as the basis for some Roman bridges. In 1744, the Colosseum was illuminated in honor of the early Christian martyrs, and a cross was installed in the center of the arena.
In July 2007, the amphitheater was included in the list of New Wonders of the World. Today it is the most famous historical and architectural monument of Rome, annually attracting tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world.

City of Machu Picchu
On the territory of modern Peru there is one old Mountain peak, which the Indians called Machu Picchu. It is located at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level, offering amazingly beautiful views of the Urumamba River valley. It is here, at the foot of Mount Machu Picchu, that one of the ancient cities, which is often called “the city among the clouds.”


Origin of the "city in the sky"
Archaeologists believe that this lost Inca city was created as the winter residence of the ruler of this ancient people - Pachacutec - literally a century before the Spaniards arrived here. In 1532, when the brave conquistadors and gold-lusted adventurers invaded the Inca Empire, every single inhabitant of the city mysteriously disappeared.
Machu Picchu was one of the three houses of Pachacutec and at the same time served as a shrine. The city had a very modest size and contained about 200 buildings. The city buildings were built from high-quality stone blocks, fitted together 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 discovered, leading through the Urumamba Valley straight to the city.
Attractions of the residence of the Inca ruler
The highlight of the ancient city are the extensive terraces on which the Incas practiced agriculture. The "decorated room" found near 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 impressive stone blocks with three-dimensional hewn tops.
The Temple of Three Windows is the most mysterious structure of Machu Picchu. According to Bingham's hypothesis, the trapezoidal windows facing east were symbols of the Pachacutec ancestral home. But since the architectural style of the city dates back to the late Inca period, the reliability of this assumption raises certain doubts among archaeologists.
New Wonder of the World Machu Picchu received status World Heritage UNESCO, after which it turned into a bustling center of mass tourism. About 2,000 travelers visited the city every day. But in order to preserve the city, UNESCO demanded that the number of visitors be reduced to 800 people per day. On July 7, 2007, Machu Picchu was selected to the list of New Wonders of the World, and since February 2012 it has been excluded from the list of World Heritage Sites in danger of destruction.

Rock City Petra
The ancient city of Petra is one of the most amazing architectural monuments. It is carved from solid rock, and a huge number of secrets and omissions hover around its origin. It is believed that the city was founded by the Nabataeans - nomadic tribes who, in the 6th-4th centuries BC. managed to subjugate the vast territory in which Jordan, Syria and Israel are located today.


Great city in the desert
Thanks to its advantageous 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 4th century BC. for reasons still unknown, it was abandoned. Perhaps the inhabitants were driven out of the cool stone shade by 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 out of red sandstone rock. Externally, the architectural elements that have survived to this day resemble Roman architecture. On the territory of the city, archaeologists were able to discover 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.
IN different time Petra was owned by the Edomites, Nabataeans, Romans, Byzantines and Arabs, and in the 12th century BC. The city was captured by the crusaders. After the 6th century AD construction stopped, and gradually one of the most amazing settlements on the planet became empty. The first European to visit famous city, is the Swiss traveler Johann Burckhardt. It was thanks to him that a detailed description of the structure of Petra, as well as sketches of some of its attractions, was preserved.
Main attractions
The main city attraction is the Treasury - a huge building with a solid facade carved out of rock. The majestic colonnade with an amphitheater crowning the kilometer-long Siq canyon also evoke admiration. They are the legacy of Roman culture in the history of Petra. Also noteworthy 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 temple. While excavating the monastery, archaeologists discovered the tomb of the Nabatean king here. You can climb to it via a staircase carved into stone, consisting of 800 steps.
Center of Mass Tourism and New Wonder of the World
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.

City of Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza - the sacred Mayan city - is located 75 miles in east direction from Merida - the capital of Yucatan. Archaeologists believe ancient settlement, covering an area of ​​about 6 square miles, is one of the world's greatest architectural monuments. Previously, there were several hundred buildings 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.


Ancient center of culture and religion
Archaeologists conditionally divide the remains of the city into two parts - the first contains buildings erected by the Mayans approximately in the 6th-7th centuries AD, while the second is a monument to the culture of the Toltecs, who lived in Yucotan in the 10th-11th centuries. Apparently, the population of Chichen Itza experienced a fairly 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 flowering of science and art, that the city acquired the high status of a cultural and religious center. A clear confirmation of this are the buildings erected during this period - the House of the Deer, the monastery and church, Akab Dzib, the House of Pali, the Temple with three lintels and the Red House. After the Mayan civilization fell into decline, the reasons for which are still shrouded in a dense shadow of mysteries and secrets, cities like Chichen Itza were used for burials and certain rituals.
City symbols
One of the most famous structures remaining at Chichen Itza is the Pyramid of Kukulcan, often called El Castillo by locals. 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 careful examination, it becomes clear that the figure created by the sun's rays most closely resembles a huge snake crawling towards its head. And to see this breathtaking spectacle, thousands of tourists gather here every year on March 20 and September 21.
Another attraction - Huego de Pelota - is the largest playground, ever created by the Mayans. It should be noted that there are eight other such structures in the city, but the “Great Ball Field” is significantly larger than them in size - its length is 135 m. Particular attention is drawn to the paintings carved on the walls that enclose Huego de Pelota. They depict very brutal scenes, and scholars believe that they are directly related either to the practice of sacrifice, or to the illustration of a game that serves as a substitute for bloody war.
Fate of the city
After 1194, Chichen Itza was completely deserted, and there are numerous rumors and legends surrounding what caused the city’s inhabitants to leave. It should be noted that the harsh policy of the Spaniards, who ruled America in the 11th century, involved the execution of Mayan priests, as well as the destruction of ancient books and manuscripts. Therefore, no more or less plausible information about mysterious story this ancient civilization.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer
The statue of Christ the Redeemer is installed on the top of Mount Corcovado 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.


Construction of the monument
The history of the monument dates back to the 16th century, when Portuguese navigators dubbed Corcovado Peak “the mountain of temptation.” In 1921 (a year before the anniversary of Brazil's independence), the famous publication O Cruzeiro announced a fundraiser for the construction of the monument, as a result of which over 2 million reis were collected.
The design of the statue of Christ the Redeemer was developed by Carlos Oswald. In 1927, the first models of the monument were constructed, and all the necessary calculations were carried out by Costa Hissses. Pedro Viana and Heitor Levi took part in the construction of the monument, as well as the sculptor Paul Landowski, who modeled and made the plaster head and hands of the statue.
An entire 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.
Construction lasted about 9 years, and in 1931 the world saw the majestic statue of Christ the Redeemer, which for a long time had no equal in scale in the whole world. The height of the monument is 38 meters, and the weight of the entire structure, including the base, exceeds 1100 tons. The reach of the statue's arms is approximately 23 meters, and the head and arms of Christ the Redeemer weigh about 54 tons.
The Majestic History of the Christ the Redeemer Statue
In 1965, the monument was consecrated by Pope Paul VI, and in 1981, on the 50th anniversary of the monument, John Paul II was present at the solemn celebration. 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 was spared by a severe storm in July 2008, which destroyed several nearby neighborhoods in Rio. The monument was saved by the same soapstone, which acted as a dielectric and extinguished lightning discharges on the surface of the statue. Today the monument is in excellent condition.
The statue of Christ the Redeemer took pride of place on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and on July 7, 2007, at the initiative of the New Open World Corporation, it was included in the list of New Wonders of the World.

7 wonders of Russia: the greatness and beauty of the country

Everyone knows the Seven Wonders of the World. Their history is studied by scientists all over the planet, many scientific works have been written about them, presentations, messages, reports, chapters in textbooks are devoted to them. Each of the unusual world heritage sites of Russia and UNESCO is associated with secrets and legends; there are many facts and unconfirmed information. On June 12, 2008, the world learned that the 7 Wonders of Russia had been published - choose these objects from a huge number of ancient, mysterious, mystical and simply very beautiful places, which abound in corners of the country, was quite difficult. The project, aimed at identifying the most beautiful places in Russia, was initiated by the Izvestia newspaper in collaboration with the Mayak radio station and the Rossiya TV channel in 2007. In 2008, as a result of a popular vote, the most iconic and amazing sights of the country were chosen - the 7 Wonders of Russia.
The list of 7 wonders of Russia includes: 1. Man-Pupu-ner weathering pillars in the Komi Republic. 2. Elbrus peak in Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria. 3. Lake Baikal in Buryatia. 4. Valley of Geysers on the Kamchatka Peninsula. 5. Mamayev Kurgan, “Motherland” monument. 6. Monument of palace and park art "Peterhof", St. Petersburg. 7. St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow.
Of the seven wonders of the world in Russia, 4 belong to the class of natural objects, three – to architectural monuments and park art.

Lake Baikal, Buryatia
In Buryatia, where Lake Baikal is located, it is called Baigal Dalai or Baigal Nuur. The most deep lake of tectonic origin and is a UNESCO protected site. Baikal, one of the 7 Wonders of Russia, is often called the sea - its dimensions are truly impressive: width from 24 to 80 km, length 632 km. The very shape of the majestic and very beautiful reservoir is also interesting - in the form of a crescent.


Interesting to know. The crystal purity of the waters of “Father Baikal”, a member of the Great Seven Wonders of Russia, is also unique - it is possible to see every pebble at a depth of 40 meters, and the minimum amount of mineral salts allows you to use Baikal water as distilled water.
The object of the 7 Wonders of Russia received the name “Father Baikal” because of an ancient legend. Baikal had 336 sons and only one daughter - Angara. The sons constantly replenished Baikal with their waters, and Angara gave her waters to the Yenisei, which she fell in love with. Angry Baikal cursed its daughter Angara by throwing the Shaman-stone rock into its source.

Valley of Geysers, Kamchatka Territory
The Valley of Geysers is hidden in one of the volcanic gorges of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, and can only be reached by helicopter. 250 kilometers on the road over the tundra, ridges, hills, taiga gorges and acidic lakes - and a person finds himself in another world, filled with fountains of swirling vapors, light smells of sulfur and rain splashes, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow. Walking along a pedestrian path with wooden decks, you can observe 30 large geysers and many small springs, throwing jets of boiling water (+95 °C) tens of meters into the air. Hot mud pots have also been preserved. Due to the well-warmed soil, the slopes of the valley are overgrown with lush green herbs and trees. The Geysernaya River flows along the bottom of the gorge, which never freezes.

Mamayev Kurgan and Motherland, Volgograd region


During the Great Patriotic War, Mamayev Kurgan became the scene of bloody battles. The fight for Mamayev Kurgan, indicated on military topographic maps as “Height 102.0,” lasted 135 days out of 200 days of the Battle of Stalingrad. In 1959 - 1967, a memorial Complex- “To the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad.” On the hill, in a mass grave, 34,505 soldiers found eternal peace. 200 granite steps lead from the foot to the top of the mound (according to the number of days of the battle). There is a statue “The Motherland Calls!” installed here. It represents the figure of a woman 87 meters high with a raised sword in her hands. This is one of the tallest monuments in the world. (For comparison: the height of the Statue of Liberty in the USA reaches only 46 meters). The figure of a woman-mother is an allegorical symbol of the Motherland, calling on her sons to fight the enemy.

Peterhof, St. Petersburg

Founded in the 1710s by Emperor Peter I, Peterhof became a luxurious royal residence and a kind of triumphal monument, symbolizing Russia’s successful access to Baltic Sea. A single ensemble combines palaces, alleys, elegant sculptures and greenhouses with strange plants. But the main pride of Peterhof is its fountains. 176 fountains and 4 cascades operate without a single pump. Hydraulic engineer V. Tuvolkov created a unique fountain conduit: 20 km from here there are springs from which water, due to the difference in height, flows through canals and sluices into pools, and from there through underground pipes it rushes to the fountains and cascades of Peterhof.

St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow


St. Basil's Cathedral is the same symbol of Russia and Moscow as the Eiffel Tower is for Paris and France, the Statue of Liberty for the USA and New York, or the Taj Mahal for India and Agra. St. Basil's Cathedral was built by Ivan the Terrible in 1555 - 1561 as a sign of victory over the Kazan Khanate. In plan, the temple is an eight-pointed star: 8 churches symbolize 8 days falling on the days of the decisive battles for Kazan. They are grouped around the 9th, central church, which personifies the tsar’s state idea of ​​united lands. The name of the cathedral was given by a chapel built in 1588 and consecrated in honor of St. Basil the Blessed.

Weathering pillars, Komi


The top of Mount Man-Pupu-ner is crowned with the remains of bizarre shapes. These giant pillars, 30 to 42 meters high, were created over 200 million years by the influence of water and wind. According to legend, the pillars were giants who wanted to destroy the local people - the Mansi. But as soon as their leader-shaman saw sacred mountain- Man-Pupu-ner, then in horror he threw his tambourine, and his companions turned into stone idols.

Elbrus, Caucasus


On the border of the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia there is the double-headed Elbrus, the highest point in Russia. The height of the western peak of Elbrus is 5642 m, and the eastern peak is 5621 m. The mountain is famous for its glaciers that feed mountain rivers, mineral springs located at the foot, and stunning views. Few mountains of volcanic origin exceed Elbrus in height: for example, highest peak Africa - the Kilimanjaro volcano - is only 253 meters higher than the “Russian miracle”.
Summary of a Russian history lesson in 8th grade. Domestic policy of Alexander I

Last week, I went to visit my mother, and found my old children’s encyclopedia “7 Wonders of the World” from her, flipped through it with nostalgia, and finally decided to make a post about the wonders of the world, because today there are many more than 7 wonders of the world.

To begin with, I propose to recall these “7 wonders” of antiquity.

The only miracle that has survived to this day. Construction, which lasted twenty years, began around 2560 BC. e. Excavation data from January 2010 confirm the theory that the pyramids were built by civilian workers. Up to 10 thousand people were simultaneously employed at the construction site, with workers working in shifts of three months. It is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids of the necropolis of the city of Giza.

Initially, the Cheops pyramid rose to 147 meters, but due to the advance of sands, its height decreased to 137 meters.

The Cheops Pyramid consists of 2,300,000 cubic blocks of limestone with smoothly polished sides. Each block weighs on average 2.5 tons, and the heaviest is 15 tons, the total weight of the pyramid is 5.7 million tons.

Confirmation of the inexplicably high knowledge of the Egyptians in the field of astronomy and civil engineering is the location of the Cheops pyramid in relation to the cardinal points: the pyramid almost unmistakably points to the true north. As a result of precise measurements carried out in 1925, it was established incredible fact: the error in its position is only 3 minutes 6 seconds.

The base area of ​​the pyramid is comparable to the area of ​​10 football fields.

We can talk for a long time about the pyramids shrouded in myths and legends, their labyrinths and traps, mummies and treasures, but we’ll leave that to Egyptologists. For us, the Cheops Pyramid is one of the greatest structures of mankind throughout its existence and, of course, the only First Wonder of the World that has survived to this day from the depths of centuries.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon (Babylon)

The city has long ceased to exist, but even today the ruins testify to its grandeur. In the 7th century BC. Babylon was the largest and richest city of the Ancient East. There were many amazing structures in Babylon, but the most striking were the Hanging Gardens royal palace- gardens that have become a legend.

the famous “Hanging Gardens” were not created by Semiramis and not even during her reign, but later, in honor of another - non-legendary - woman. They were built by order of King Nebuchadnezzar for his beloved wife Amytis, a Median princess who, in dusty Babylon, yearned for the green hills of Media.

This king, who destroyed city after city and even entire states, built a lot in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar turned the capital into an impregnable stronghold and surrounded himself with luxury unparalleled even in those times.

The design of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon was a pyramid with a base (43x35 meters), which consisted of four tiers mounted on twenty-five-meter columns. The surface of each tier was covered with a layer of reeds (reeds), stone blocks held together with gypsum and lead plates, on which a thick layer of fertile soil was poured. All these measures helped to preserve water for plants for as long as possible, of which there was very little in Babylon.

The height of the structure was almost thirty meters! Trees, flowers, soil - all this was brought in carts drawn by oxen. Water was supplied through pipes from the Euphrates River. To do this, hundreds of slaves turned a huge wheel installed in one of the towers around the clock.

Zeus statue in Olympia

The statue of Olympian Zeus is the work of Phidias. An outstanding work of ancient sculpture, one of the seven wonders of the world. It was located in the temple of Olympian Zeus, in Olympia - a city in the region of Elis. Construction of the temple took about 10 years. But the statue of Zeus did not appear in it right away. The Greeks decided to invite the famous Athenian sculptor Phidias to create a statue of Zeus.

Ancient Roman sculpture "Seated Zeus", Phidias type. Hermitage Gold covered the cape that covered part of Zeus’s body, the scepter with an eagle, which he held in his left hand, the 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's feet rested on a stool supported by two lions. The reliefs of the throne glorified, first of all, Zeus himself. Four dancing Nikes were depicted on the legs of the throne. Centaurs, lapiths, the exploits of Theseus and Hercules, and frescoes depicting the battle of the Greeks with the Amazons were also depicted. 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. Zeus's eyes were the size of an adult's fist.

Temple of Artemis of Ephesus (Ephesus)

Several hundred years BC, when Ephesus was at the zenith of its glory, the inhabitants decided to build a large temple. By that time, the city was already about 600 years old, it was rich and powerful, growing and prospering under the patronage of the goddess Artemis, sister of Apollo and daughter of Zeus - known in Roman mythology as Diana the Huntress. Artemis was also considered the goddess of the moon and helped women during childbirth.

The place for the new, majestic and grandiose temple in the part of the goddess was chosen as sacred - even in ancient times, religious rituals took place there. The townspeople decided not to spare either money or time, and also attracted wealthy construction sponsors from other regions of the country.

The finished temple was magnificent, and was constantly decorated with new decorative elements - after all, Ephesus was a very rich city. Historical data is contradictory, but it is mentioned that the temple had many bronze statues, the interior was decorated with gold and silver, the statue of the goddess herself was made of ivory and gold, and trimmed with ebony.

It is noteworthy that in those days the temple was not only a religious building, but also a financial and business center. The souvenir business also flourished: not far from the temple, original souvenirs - its smaller copies - were successfully sold. Scientists still have not figured out which temple was considered a wonder of the world - rebuilt or burned by Herostratus

mausoleum in Halicarnassus

The Mausoleum in Halicarnassus is a wonderful monument of ancient Greek architectural art, which went down in the history of ancient culture as one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World. Our contemporaries generally believe that the mausoleum is the tomb of great leaders.

The builders placed the tomb in the peripterus - a building framed by a colonnade of 11-meter columns. To support the roof of the mausoleum, 36 columns were needed. The spaces between the columns were filled with various statues of mythological figures, and the roof looked like a step pyramid with 24 steps. Its crown was a marble quadriga, that is, an antique chariot with four horses harnessed to it. Huge statues of Mausolus and Artemisia were placed in the chariot, playing the role of charioteers. This magnificent sculpture reached a height of 6 m. In the tomb room there were marble sarcophagi intended for the royal couple. The foot of the mausoleum was decorated with sculptures of horsemen and marble lions.

In general, the history of the Halicarnassus mausoleum is eventful. At one time, he survived the conquest of the city by Alexander the Great, and even withstood the attack of pirates who set their sights on Halicarnassus at the beginning of the 1st century. However, after the Maltese attacked the mausoleum and took away stone and marble slabs from it, only the foundation remained of the majestic structure.

Colossus of Rhodes (Rhodes)

It was called a colossus giant statue, which stood in the port city of Rhodes, an island in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of modern Turkey. In ancient times, the people of Rhodes wanted to be independent traders.

The colossus grew on the shore of the harbor on an artificial hill lined with white marble. For twelve years no one saw the statue, because as soon as the next belt of bronze sheets was attached to the frame, the embankment surrounding the colossus was added to make it more convenient for the craftsmen to climb up. And only when the embankment was removed, the Rhodians saw their patron god, whose head was adorned with a radiant crown.

The sparkling god was visible many kilometers from Rhodes, and soon rumors about him spread throughout the ancient world. But half a century later, a strong earthquake that destroyed Rhodes knocked the colossus to the ground; the most vulnerable point of the statue was the knees. This is where the expression “colossus with feet of clay” comes from.

So the colossus lay on the shore of the bay - the main tourist attraction of the island. The defeated giant was seen by Pliny the Elder, who came there in the first century AD. What struck Pliny most was that only a few people could wrap their hands around the thumb of the statue.

The colossus lying on the ground was overgrown with cobwebs and legends. In eyewitness accounts, he seemed much larger than he actually was. Legends appeared in Roman literature that it originally towered over the entrance to the harbor and was so large that ships passed between its legs to the city.

Alexandria Lighthouse (Pharos)

The Lighthouse of Alexandria (Faros Lighthouse) is one of the seven ancient wonders of the world, built in the 3rd century BC. e. on small island Pharos near the shores of the Egyptian city of Alexandria. It was a busy port founded by Alexander the Great during his visit to Egypt in 332 BC. e.

The Alexandria Lighthouse was the world's first lighthouse and the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World that served a practical purpose, helping ships safely pass the reefs on their way to Alexandria Bay. The lighthouse, according to various estimates, rose to a height of 120 to 140 meters, and the light it emitted could be visible at a distance of up to 60 km.

The lighthouse stood for almost a thousand years, but by the 12th century AD. e., the Alexandria Bay became so silted that ships could no longer use it and the lighthouse fell into disrepair. Abandoned, it stood for some time, until in 796 AD. e. it was not destroyed by an earthquake. At the end of the 15th century. Sultan Qait Bey erected a fortress from the rubble on the site of the lighthouse, which was subsequently rebuilt more than once.

These are the miracles that were described in my book. The same ones: 7 wonders. But time does not stand still, and now there are many more such miracles. It seems to me that they are also worthy of our attention...

New 7 wonders of the world

Great Wall of China (China)

The Great Wall of China is one of the oldest architectural monuments in China and a symbol of the power of Chinese civilization. There is probably not a single civilized person in the world who has not heard of the Great Wall of China. It stretches from the Liaodong Gulf northeast of Beijing through Northern China to the Gobi Desert.

Construction took 10 years and faced numerous difficulties. The main problem was the lack of appropriate infrastructure for construction: there were no roads, there was no adequate water and food for those involved in the work, while their number reached 300 thousand people, and the total number of builders involved under Qin reached, according to some estimates, 2 million. Slaves, soldiers, and peasants were involved in the construction. As a result of epidemics and overwork, at least tens of thousands of people died. Outrage against the mobilization for the construction of the wall caused popular uprisings and served as one of the reasons for the fall of the Qin dynasty.

Probably, no creation of human hands amazes the imagination as much as the Great Wall of China - the most grandiose and longest architectural and fortification structure on the planet. The wall is not just impressive - it is stunning. First of all, the titanic labor invested in it and its prohibitive size. Truly, only the Chinese, organized and hardworking like ants, could endure this. In China they say that a good half of their history lies in the Great Wall of China - it was built by different generations and dynasties over more than two thousand years, and all the country’s wars are connected with it in one way or another.

Christ the Redeemer Statue (Rio de Janeiro)

One of the most famous statues in the world and definitely the most recognizable in Brazil - the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Installed on Mount Corcovado at an altitude of more than 700 meters, she looks at the large city, located under it. The Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro, due to its fame, attracts millions of tourists to Mount Corcovado. From its height there is a beautiful view of the city of ten million with its bays, beaches, and the Maracana stadium.

The height of the statue is 38 m, including the pedestal - 8 m; arm span - 28 m. Weight - 1145 tons. Being the highest point in the area, the statue regularly (on average four times a year) becomes the target of lightning. The Catholic diocese specially keeps a supply of the stone from which the statue was built to restore parts of the statue damaged by lightning

The statue of Christ the Redeemer is without a doubt one of the main symbols not only of Rio de Janeiro, but of all of Brazil. Many tourists visit the statue every year. Mount Corcovado experiences a particularly large influx of visitors during the traditional annual carnival, which is held in Rio de Janeiro. Definitely, this grandiose monument is one of the greatest works of sculpture in the world.

Colosseum (Rome)

amphitheater, an architectural monument of Ancient Rome, the most famous and one of the most grandiose buildings ancient world that have survived to this day. Located in Rome, in the hollow between the Esquiline, Palatine and Caelian hills.

The construction of the largest amphitheater in the entire ancient world, with a capacity of over 50 thousand people, took place over eight years as a collective construction of the emperors of the Flavian dynasty. It began to be built in 72 AD. under Emperor Vespasian, and in 80 AD. The amphitheater was consecrated by Emperor Titus. The amphitheater was located on the site where there was a pond that belonged to the Golden House of Nero.

For a long time, the Colosseum was for the residents of Rome and visitors the main place for entertainment spectacles, such as gladiator fights, animal persecution, and naval battles.

The opening of the Colosseum was marked by 100 days of entertainment. During this time, several thousand warriors and 5 thousand wild animals brought from Africa died in gladiatorial tournaments. The theater's arena had a sliding floor that raised and lowered, and with the help of a water supply connected to the Colosseum, the stage was filled with water and naval battles were staged. Up to 3,000 gladiators could fight in the arena at the same time, and 50 thousand spectators, frantically demanding “bread and circuses,” tensely watched the bloody battles, chariot races and theatrical performances. The scale of the celebrations dedicated to the opening of the Colosseum could only be matched by the bloody celebration of the 1000th anniversary of Rome in 248, when dozens of lions, tigers, leopards, elephants, giraffes, horses, donkeys and hyenas were killed in just 3 days. 1000th anniversary " eternal city"became the last day of life for 2000 gladiators.

Machu Picchu (Peru)

City ancient America, located in the territory of modern Peru. Machu Picchu is also often called “the city in the sky” or “the city among the clouds”, sometimes called the “lost city of the Incas”. This city was created as a sacred mountain retreat by the great Inca ruler Pachacutec a century before the conquest of his empire, around 1440, and functioned until 1532, when the Spanish invaded the Inca Empire. In 1532, all its inhabitants mysteriously disappeared.

Due to its modest size, Machu Picchu cannot claim to be large city- there are no more than 200 structures in it. These are mainly temples, residences, warehouses and other premises for public needs. For the most part they are made of well-processed stone, slabs tightly fitted to each other. It is believed that up to 1,200 people lived in and around it, who worshiped the sun god Inti there and cultivated crops on the terraces. For more than 400 years, this city was forgotten and was in desolation.

Machu Picchu, especially after receiving UNESCO World Heritage status, has become a center of mass tourism. In 2011, it was decided to limit the number of visitors. According to the new rules, only 2,500 tourists per day can visit Machu Picchu, of which no more than 400 people can climb Mount Wayna Picchu, which is part of archaeological complex. In order to preserve the monument, UNESCO requires that the number of tourists per day be reduced to 800. Machu Picchu is located in a remote region.

City of Petra (Jordan)

The city of Petra in Jordan is located in the heart of the desert. This place is a heritage ancient culture. Built more than two thousand years ago, it is of great value for admirers of ancient architecture and art. This ancient miracle city stretches along a winding valley formed among the rocks, in a place that in ancient times was a river bed. Steps carved into the rocks lead to an innumerable number of structures - monuments, necropolises, reservoirs, altars. More than eight hundred monuments of Petra have survived to this day.

Petra's surviving structures include rock-cut temples, dwellings, tombs, reservoirs, aqueducts and altars. If you approach the city along the es-Siq gorge, the first large monument that opens up to your gaze is el-Khazneh - a temple located in a solid rock with a two-tiered façade approx. 20 m.

A mysterious people who have reached unattainable architectural heights are the Nabateans. Without exaggeration, we can say that the best reminder that they left about themselves to their descendants and which speaks about them better than any chronicles is a windswept pink rock masterpiece, hidden by them among the inaccessible mountains.

Pyramid of Kukulcan (Mexico)

25 meters high with nine levels, located in the center large area. The base of the pyramid is a square with sides of 55.5 meters. On each side of the pyramid there are four wide staircases, each with 91 steps. And these stairs lead to the upper platform on which the temple is located.

The northern staircase of the pyramid ends with snake heads - a symbol of Kukulkan, because translated from the Mayan language, Kukulkan is a feathered serpent.

Exactly at 17:15, the light show begins - the sun's rays, when going around the ledges of the pyramid on the days of the equinox, through the play of light and shadows, depict the image of a revived ancient god. This effect lasts for 3 hours and 22 minutes. The sun goes lower and the image becomes clearer. Soon the seven curves of the body of the Solar Serpent appear - they are formed by the shadows of the seven ledges of the pyramid. The sun goes down - and the snake also slides, lower and lower. And below, at the foot of the pyramid, the head of the image coincides with the real stone sculptured head of the serpent, which ends the northern staircase of the pyramid.

The ancient builders of the Mayan tribe were simply brilliant, being able to calculate the parameters so accurately at that time and placing the walls of the pyramid strictly along the cardinal points. The Kukulcan Pyramid has some astronomical significance. Each of its staircases has 91 steps, and the total number of steps is 364, plus the upper platform step at the base of the temple, for a total of 365 - a number corresponding to the number of days in a year. And the side parts of the structure are divided in accordance with the number of months in the Mayan calendar - into eighteen sections.

Taj Mahal (India)

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum-mosque located in Agra, India, on the banks of the Jamna River (the architects were probably Ustad-Isa and others). Built by order of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth (Shah Jahan himself was later buried here). Although the white marble dome of the mausoleum is the most famous component, the Taj Mahal is a structurally integrated complex. The building began to be built around 1632 and was completed in 1653, employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The management of the construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a Council of Architects under imperial control, including Abd ul-Karim Mamur Khan, Makramat Khan and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Lakhauri is usually considered the main designer.

Majestic, divine, shining, and, despite its 74-meter height, so light and airy that it is like a fairy-tale dream, the Taj Mahal mausoleum rises in the valley of the Yamuna River - the most beautiful architectural creation of India, and, perhaps, of the whole earth... White marble domes soar high into the sky - one large and four small ones, in the chaste outlines of which one can guess the female form. Reflected in the motionless surface of an artificial canal, the Taj Mahal seems to float in front of us, representing an example of extraterrestrial beauty and perfect harmony... But it is not only architectural perfection that attracts millions of travelers from all over the world to the Taj Mahal. The story of its origin makes no less impression on the hearts of people... A story more like an oriental fairy tale or legend that any poet would envy...

Seven wonders of the world. From left to right, top to bottom: Pyramid of Cheops Hanging Gardens of Babylon Temple of Artemis at Ephesus Statue of Zeus at Olympia Mausoleum ... Wikipedia

The New Seven Wonders of the World is a project whose goal was to search for the modern seven wonders of the world. Organized by the non-profit organization New Open World Corporation (NOWC) on the initiative of the Swiss Bernard Weber. Election of the new seven “wonders of the world” from ... ... Wikipedia

Seven Wonders of the World- (lat. septem miracula mundi) seven works of ancient architecture and sculpture, which, according to contemporaries, had no equal in grandeur, beauty and originality: Egyptian pyramids, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus... Ancient world. Dictionary-reference book.

SEVEN WONDERS OF THE LIGHT Dictionary-reference book on Ancient Greece and Rome, on mythology

SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD- Egyptian pyramids near Memphis, the Halicarnassian mausoleum, the Babylonian “Hanging Gardens”, the Ephesian Temple of Artemis, the statue of Zeus in Olympia by Phidias, the Colossus of Rhodes and the Alexandrian lighthouse (a huge Pharos fortress with a lighthouse, where, according to... ... List of Ancient Greek names

This article is being prepared as an alternative and more verified version of the Holy Fire article. Unlike the previous article, the emphasis is shifted from the miraculous component to the Holy Light ceremony itself. The previous article Holy Fire, you can... ... Wikipedia

Seven wonders of the world. From left to right, top to bottom: Pyramid of Cheops Hanging Gardens of Babylon Temple of Artemis at Ephesus Statue of Zeus at Olympia Mausoleum at Halicarnassus Colossus of Rhodes Lighthouse of Alexandria Walls of Babylon Seven Wonders of the World (or Seven Wonders of the World... ... Wikipedia

PULL OUT FROM THIS WORLD

PULL OUT FROM THIS WORLD- who brings whom back to life, saves. It is implied that who l. is in a critical condition (between life and death) and has an extremely low chance of survival. This means that one person (Y) prevented another person or group of persons (X) from dying. speech... Phraseological Dictionary of the Russian Language

Books

  • Wonders of the World, Maria Zamyatina. Chips - Age 7+ - Hypotheses about the past and future planets - Unique photographs from the most inaccessible cornersBook of Wonders of the World. My first school project is an exciting...
  • Wonders of the World, Ash Russell. The Seven Ancient Wonders of the World have attracted people's attention for many centuries. Egyptian pyramids, the hanging gardens of Babylon, the statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Colossus of Rhodes,…

Nowadays, it is customary to call unique artistic and technical creations a wonder of the world, which, due to their level of performance, evoke the admiration of most specialists. But in fairness, this erroneous approach should be corrected - the wonders of the world include specific objects created by people in ancient times.

Below is a list of 7 wonders of the ancient world...

1. Pyramids of Cheops (Giza)

Pyramid of Pharaoh Khufu (in the Greek version Cheops), or Great Pyramid- the greatest of Egyptian pyramids, the oldest of the seven wonders of the world of antiquity and the only one of them that has survived to our time. For over four thousand years, the pyramid was the largest building in the world.

The Pyramid of Cheops is located in the far suburb of Cairo, Giza. Nearby there are two more pyramids of the pharaohs Khafre and Menkaure (Khefre and Mikerin), according to ancient historians, the sons and successors of Khufu. These are the three most great pyramids Egypt.

Following ancient authors, most modern historians consider the pyramids to be funerary structures of ancient Egyptian monarchs. Some scientists believe that these were astronomical observatories. There is no direct evidence that pharaohs were buried in the pyramids, but other versions of their purpose are less convincing.

Based on ancient “royal lists”, it has been established that Cheops reigned around 2585-2566. BC. Construction of the "Sacred Height" lasted 20 years and ended after the death of Khufu, around 2560 BC.

Other versions of the construction dates, based on astronomical methods, give dates from 2720 to 2577. BC. Radiocarbon dating shows a scatter of 170 years, from 2850 to 2680. BC.

There are also exotic opinions expressed by supporters of theories of aliens visiting the Earth, the existence of ancient civilizations, or adherents of occult movements. They determine the age of the Cheops pyramid from 6-7 to tens of thousands of years.

2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon (Babylon)

The existence of one of the wonders of the world, many scientists question and argue that it is nothing more than a figment of the imagination of an ancient chronicler, whose idea was picked up by his colleagues and began to be carefully copied from chronicle to chronicle. They justify their assertion by the fact that the Gardens of Babylon are most carefully described by those who have never seen them, while historians who have visited ancient Babylon are silent about the miracle erected there.

Archaeological excavations have shown that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon still existed.

Naturally, they did not hang on ropes, but were a four-story building, built in the shape of a pyramid with a huge amount of vegetation, and were part of the palace building. This unique structure received its name due to an incorrect translation of the Greek word “kremastos”, which actually means “hanging” (for example, from a terrace).

The unique gardens were erected by order of the Babylonian ruler Nebuchadnezzar II, who lived in the 7th century. BC. He built them especially for his wife Amytis, daughter of Cyaxares, king of Media (it was with him that the Babylonian ruler entered into an alliance against the common enemy, Assyria, and won the final victory over this state).

Amitis, who grew up among the mountains of green and fertile Media, did not like dusty and noisy Babylon, located on a sandy plain. The Babylonian ruler was faced with a choice - to move the capital closer to his wife’s homeland or to make her stay in Babylon more comfortable. They decided to build hanging gardens that would remind the queen of her homeland. Where exactly they are located, history is silent, and therefore there are several hypotheses:

  • The main version says that this wonder of the world is located near modern city Hilla, which is located on the Efrat River in the center of Iraq.
  • An alternative version, based on re-decipherment of cuneiform tablets, states that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are located in Nineveh, the capital of Assyria (located in the north of modern Iraq), which after its fall was transferred to the Babylonian state.

The very idea of ​​​​creating hanging gardens in the middle of a dry plain seemed simply fantastic at that time. The local architects and engineers of the ancient world were able to accomplish this task - and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which were later included in the list of the Seven Wonders of the World, were built, became part of the palace and were located on its north-eastern side.

They say that the statue of Zeus at Olympia turned out to be so majestic that when Phidias, having created it, asked his creation: “Are you satisfied, Zeus?” - thunder struck, and the black marble floor at the god’s feet cracked. The Thunderer was pleased.

Despite the fact that only memories of one of the most majestic statues of this scale have reached us, the mere description of the monument, which was in its own way a real masterpiece of jewelry, cannot but shake the imagination. Both before and after the creation of the statue of Olympian Zeus, people have not created a monument of such a scale - and it is not a fact that they ever will: this wonder of the world turned out to be too expensive in cost and huge in scale.

The uniqueness of this monument also lies in the fact that the statue of Olympian Zeus, the only one of all the wonders of the ancient world, was located on the territory of continental Europe, in the Greek city of Olympia, which is located on the Balkan Peninsula.

The statue of Zeus in Olympia took quite a long time to create: Phidias spent about ten years on it. When she appeared before the residents and guests of Olympia in 435 BC, she was a real wonder of the world.

The exact dimensions of the statue have not yet been determined, but apparently its height ranged from 12 to 17 meters. Zeus, naked to the waist, sat on a throne, his feet were on a bench supported by two lions. The pedestal on which the throne was located was quite huge: its dimensions were 9.5 by 6.5 m. Ebony, gold, ivory and jewelry were used to make it.

The throne itself was decorated with images of scenes from the life of the Greek celestials, the goddesses of victory danced on its legs, and the battles of the Greeks with the Amazons were depicted on the crossbars and, naturally, the Olympic Games were not absent (Panen did the painting). The Thunderer was made from ebony wood, and his entire body was covered with ivory plates highest quality. The master selected materials for his statue extremely meticulously.

On the head of the supreme god there was a wreath, and in one hand he held the golden Nike, the goddess of Victory, in the other - a scepter decorated with an eagle, symbolizing supreme power. The god's clothes were made of gold sheets (in total, about two hundred kilograms of gold were needed to make the sculpture). The Thunderer's cloak was decorated with images of representatives of the animal and plant world.

Nowadays, a marble copy of one of the wonders of the world can be seen in the Hermitage, where it was brought from Italy in 1861. Apparently, this statue of Zeus was created by a Roman author in the first century BC, and it was found during archaeological excavations in the vicinity of Rome at the end of the 18th century. It is notable for the fact that today it is one of the largest antique sculptures that are in museums in the world - the height of the monument is 3.5 meters and weighs 16 tons.

The sculpture was acquired at the beginning of the 19th century by one of the Italian collectors, Marquis D. Campana.

He did not have it for long, because after some time he went bankrupt, his property was confiscated and sold at auction. Before the auction, the director of the Hermitage managed to persuade the Italian authorities to give him the opportunity to purchase some things before the sale, thus, the best exhibits from the collection of the bankrupt marquis, including the statue of the Thunderer, ended up in the Hermitage.

4. Temple of Artemis of Ephesus (Ephesus)

According to ancient Greek belief, Artemis was the goddess of hunting and fertility, the patroness of all life on earth. She looked after the animals in the forest, herds of domestic animals, and plants. Artemis provided a happy marriage and assistance during childbirth.

In honor of Artemis, a temple was built in Ephesus on the site of the former sanctuary of the Carian goddess, also responsible for fertility. The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus was so large that it was immediately included in the list of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The construction was financed by the Lydian king Croesus, and the construction work was led by the architect from Knossos, Kharsifron. During his time they managed to erect walls and columns. After his death, his son Metagenes took over the post of chief architect. The last stage of construction was led by Peonitus and Demetrius.

The Temple of Artemis of Ephesus was completed in 550 BC. Before local residents A delightful spectacle opened up, the likes of which had never been built here. And although it is currently impossible to recreate the former decoration of the temple, you can be sure that the best craftsmen of their time, working here, could not have made a mistake. The statue of the culprit of the construction itself was made of ivory and gold.

It was possible to recreate the image of the former majestic temple of the goddess Artemis in Ephesus only after archaeological excavations. The temple measured 105 by 51 meters. The roof of the structure was supported by 127 columns, each 18 meters high. According to legend, each column was donated by one of the 127 Greek rulers.

In addition to religious services, the temple was in full swing with financial and business life. It was the center of Ephesus, independent from the authorities, subordinate to the local college of priests.

In 356 BC, when the famous Alexander the Great was born, the temple of Artemis was burned by the Ephesian resident Herostratus. The motive of this feat is to remain in history in memory of posterity. After being caught, the arsonist faced capital punishment. In addition to this, it was also decided to eradicate the name of this person from history. But what is forbidden sits even more firmly in people’s memories, and the name of Herostratus is now a household name.

By the 3rd century BC, the wonder of the world, the Temple of Artemis in Greece, was restored on the initiative of the aforementioned Alexander the Great, but with the arrival of the Goths, it was again destroyed. Later, with the ban on pagan cults, the Byzantine authorities closed the temple. Then they begin to gradually disassemble into Construction Materials, as a result of which the temple goes into oblivion. A Christian church was built in its place, but it also faced the fate of destruction.

On October 31, 1869, the English archaeologist Wood manages to find the location of the former Temple of Artemis in Turkey, and excavations begin. Now in its place stands one column restored from the rubble. Despite this, the place still attracts thousands of tourists.

5. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Fast forward to ancient city Halicarnassus. It was the capital of Caria and, as befits the capital of a state, it was famous for its beauty and grandeur. Temples, theaters, palaces, gardens, fountains, and a living harbor guaranteed the city honor and respect. But the tomb of King Mausolus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, occupied special attention here. So, the miracle of the world is the mausoleum in Halicarnassus.

King Mausolus, ruling Caria in the 4th century BC. (377-353), according to the experience of the Egyptian pharaohs, began the construction of his tomb during his lifetime. It was supposed to be a unique structure. Located in the center of the city, among palaces and temples, it symbolizes the power and wealth of the king. And to worship the late king, it must combine both a tomb and a temple. The best architects and sculptors were allocated for the construction - Pythias, Satyr, Leochares, Scopas, Briaxides, Timothy. After the death of the king, his wife, Queen Artemisia, approached the construction of an eternal monument to her great husband even more intensively.

The construction was completed in 350 BC. Its appearance combined several architectural styles of that time. The mausoleum had three levels overall height at 46 meters. The first tier was a massive base made of brick, lined with marble. Next on it stood a temple with 36 columns. The columns supported the roof in the form of a pyramid with 24 steps. At the top of the roof there was a sculpture of King Mausolus and Artemisia in a chariot drawn by 4 horses. Around the building there were statues of horsemen and lions. The beauty of the structure was mesmerizing; it is no coincidence that the mausoleum in Halicarnassus quickly became one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

The tomb of Mausolus and his wife itself was located in the lower tier. An upper room with columns and a statue of Mausolus was built to worship the king. The statue has survived to this day, and fully reflects the image of the despot king. The sculptor subtly conveyed the character of Mavsol in his facial features - evil, cruel, capable of getting everything he needs. It is no coincidence that he was a very rich man. Next to the statue of Mausolus there was a statue of Queen Artemisia. The sculptor embellished it, presented it in a stately, soft image. The famous sculptor of that time, Skopas, worked on it. Both of these statues are now considered among the finest in Greek culture from the 4th century BC. Separately, it is worth mentioning the upper part of the mausoleum’s base. The sculptors decorated it with scenes from the Greek epic - the battle with the Amazons, hunting, the battle of the Lapiths with the centaurs.

Mausoleum - a word derived from the name of King Mavsol, is currently a common noun among all peoples.

After 18 centuries, the mausoleum was destroyed by an earthquake. Later, its ruins were used to build St. Peter's Castle by the Knights of St. John. When the Turks arrived, the castle became the Budrun Fortress, currently called Bodrum. Excavations here were carried out in 1857. Relief slabs, statues of Mausolus and Artemisia, and a statue of a chariot were found. They are currently on display in the British Museum.

6. Colossus of Rhodes (Rhodes)

The Colossus of Rhodes is a huge statue that has become one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The grateful inhabitants of the island of Rhodes decided to build it in honor of the sun god Helios, who helped them survive the unequal struggle with the invaders. Siege beautiful island lasted almost a year and the likelihood of victory was negligible, but the patron helped the islanders win. For this, Helios was immortalized in the guise of a huge statue. For the people of Rhodes, the statue represented independence and freedom, just like the Statue of Liberty in New York for the Americans.

The island of Rhodes had a profitable geographical position, its residents traded freely with many countries, which ensured the wealth of the city as a whole and each citizen individually. From its foundation until the 3rd century. BC. Rhodes was ruled in turn by the famous king Mausolus, the Persian rulers and Alexander the Great. None of them oppressed the city or prevented it from developing. However, after the death of Alexander the Great, his heirs began to divide the inherited lands in a bloody struggle.

The island of Rhodes went to Ptolemy, but the other heir (Antigonus) considered this unfair and sent his son to destroy the city. This would help to equalize the power of Ptolemy. Demetrius, the son of Antigonus, assembled a huge army that outnumbered the islanders. Only impregnable walls prevented the soldiers from immediately entering the capital and destroying it. The enemies used siege towers - huge wooden catapults that were installed on ships. The inhabitants of Rhodes managed to delay their enemies until the arrival of Ptolemy's army and defend their homeland.

Having sold the siege engines and the surviving ships of the invaders, the inhabitants of Rhodes decided to erect a huge statue of the god Helios, their patron. Until then, any statues were called colossi, but after the Colossus of Rhodes, only the largest of them began to be called that.

Construction of the Colossus began in 302 BC. and finished only after 12 years (according to other sources after 20 years). They installed the statue on an artificial embankment that blocked the entrance to the harbor. Behind this hill, for a long time, individual parts of the sculpture were hidden from prying eyes. The mound with the statue turned into a kind of gateway to the city. Some poets described the Colossus as standing on two hills. The ships had to sail between Helios' legs. However, this version is considered doubtful. The stability of such a sculpture would be too low, and big ships would not be able to land at the port.

The statue has not survived to this day, but numerous descriptions from contemporaries indicate that the Colossus stood on one of the banks, and not at all in the form of an arch, as artists depict it. In the giant's hand was a bowl of blazing fire. At the base there were three pillars that served as support. The builders inlaid two of them with bronze parts to disguise Helios at the feet. The third pillar was in the place where the cloak or part of the sheet of the majestic Colossus fell.

Residents wanted the statue to point its hand into the distance, but the sculptor understood that this would reduce the stability of the structure, so the statue seemed to be covering its eyes from the sun with its palm. The torso and main elements were made of sheets of iron and bronze. They were secured to support posts. The space inside was filled with large stones and clay to increase stability. The free space was covered with earth so that workers could move freely along the surface and secure the following parts. In total, the production of the Colossus required 8 tons of iron and 13 tons of bronze. The resulting statue reached a height of 34 m.

The statue of the Colossus of Rhodes was so huge that it could be seen from ships sailing in the distance. According to the descriptions of contemporaries, she was a tall young man with a radiant crown on her head. One hand of the young man covered his eyes, and the other caught his falling robe.

Another poet, Philo, described the Colossus differently. He claimed that the statue was on a marble pedestal and was striking in the size of its feet. Each of them was the size of a small statue itself. There was a working torch at arm's length. It was lit at night to illuminate the way for sailors.

Scientists are still trying to discover where the Colossus of Rhodes is located or where exactly it was installed. At the end of the 20th century, huge boulders were discovered off the coast of the island of Rhodes, which resembled the fragments of a statue in shape. However, the theory that these are elements of an ancient sculpture was not confirmed. But researcher Ursula Vedder suggested that the Colossus did not stand near the shore at all, but on Monte Smith Hill. The ruins of the Temple of Helios remain here, and its foundations have a suitable platform on which the Colossus could have stood.

7. Lighthouse of Alexandria (Pharos)

Only one of the seven wonders of the ancient world had a practical purpose - the Lighthouse of Alexandria. It performed several functions at once: it allowed ships to approach the harbor without any problems, and the observation post located at the top of the unique structure made it possible to monitor the expanses of water and notice the enemy in time.

Locals claimed that the light Alexandria lighthouse burned enemy ships even before they approached the shore, and if they managed to approach the coast, the statue of Poseidon, located on the dome of an amazing design, uttered a piercing warning cry.

The height of the ancient lighthouse was 140 meters - much higher than the surrounding buildings. In ancient times, the buildings did not exceed three floors, and against their background the Faros Lighthouse seemed huge. Moreover, at the time of completion of construction it turned out to be the tallest building of the ancient world and remained so for an extremely long time.

The Alexandria lighthouse was built on the eastern coast of the small island of Pharos, located near Alexandria - the main seaport Egypt, built by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. It is also known in history as the Faros Lighthouse.

The great commander chose the location for the construction of the city extremely carefully: he initially planned to build a port in this region, which would be an important trading center.

It was extremely important that it be located at the intersection of both water and land routes of three parts of the world - Africa, Europe and Asia. For the same reason, it was necessary to build at least two harbors here: one for ships arriving from the Mediterranean Sea, and the other for those sailing along the Nile.

Therefore, Alexandria was not built in the Nile Delta, but a little to the side, twenty miles to the south. When choosing a location for the city, Alexander took into account the location of future harbors, paying special attention to their strengthening and protection: it was very important to do everything to ensure that the waters of the Nile did not clog them with sand and silt (a dam was subsequently built specifically for this purpose, connecting the continent with an island).

After the death of Alexander the Great (who, according to legend, was born on the day of the destruction of the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus), after some time the city came under the rule of Ptolemy I Soter - and as a result of skillful management it turned into a successful and prosperous port city, and the construction of one of the seven wonders of the world was significant increased his wealth.

The Alexandria lighthouse made it possible for ships to sail into the port without any problems, successfully avoiding underwater rocks, shoals and other obstacles in the bay. Thanks to this, after the construction of one of the seven wonders, the volume of light trade increased sharply.

The lighthouse also served as an additional reference point for sailors: the landscape of the Egyptian coast is quite diverse - mostly just lowlands and plains. Therefore, signal lights before entering the harbor were very useful.

A lower structure could have successfully performed this role, so the engineers assigned another important function to the Lighthouse of Alexandria - the role of an observation post: enemies usually attacked from the sea, since the country was well defended on the land side by the desert.

It was also necessary to install such an observation post at the lighthouse because there were no natural hills near the city where this could be done.

The lighthouse of Alexandria has served since 283 BC. until the 15th century, when a fortress was erected instead. Thus, he experienced more than one dynasty of Egyptian rulers and saw Roman legionnaires. This did not particularly affect its fate: no matter who ruled Alexandria, everyone made sure that the unique structure stood for as long as possible - they restored parts of the building that had been destroyed due to frequent earthquakes, and updated the facade, which was negatively affected by wind and salty sea water.

Time has done its work: the lighthouse stopped working in 365, when one of the strongest earthquakes in the Mediterranean Sea caused a tsunami that flooded part of the city, and the number of dead Egyptians, according to chroniclers, exceeded 50 thousand inhabitants.

After this event, the lighthouse significantly decreased in size, but stood for quite a long time - until the 14th century, until another strong earthquake wiped it off the face of the earth (a hundred years later, Sultan Qait Bey built a fortress on its foundation, which can be seen Nowadays). After this, the pyramids at Giza remained the only ancient wonder of the world that has survived to this day.

In the mid-90s. the remains of the Alexandria lighthouse were discovered at the bottom of the bay with the help of a satellite, and after some time, scientists, using computer modeling, were able to more or less restore the image of the unique structure.