THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT

WORLD
Although most people know that a list exists of the Seven World Wonders, only few can name
them.
The list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was originally compiled around the second
century BC. The first reference to the idea is found in History of Herodotus as long ago as the 5 th
century BC. Decades later, Greek historians wrote about the greatest monuments at the time.
The final list of the Seven Wonders was compiled during the Middle Ages. The list comprised the
seven most impressive monuments of the Ancient World, some of which barely survived to the
Middle Ages.

The Great Pyramid of Giza

It is the one and only Wonder which does not require a

description by early historians and poets. It is the oldest,
yet it is the only surviving of the Seven Ancient Wonders.
It is the Great Pyramid of Giza.
The monument was built by the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu
of the Fourth Dynasty around the year 2560 BC to serve
as a tomb when he dies. The great pyramid is believed
to have been built over a 20 year period.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Fruits and flowers... Waterfalls... Gardens hanging

from the palace terraces... Exotic animals... This is the
picture of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in most
people's minds. It may be surprising to know that they
might have never existed except in the minds of Greek
poets and historians!

Zeus statue at Olympia

This is the statue of the god in whose honor the Ancient Olympic
games were held. It was located on the land that gave its very
name to the Olympics. At the time of the games, wars stopped, and
athletes came from Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, and Sicily to celebrate
the Olympics and to worship their king of gods: Zeus.
The magnificent temple of Zeus was designed by the architect
Libon and was built around 450 BC. Under the growing power of
ancient Greece, the simple Doric-style temple seemed too
mundane, and modifications were needed. The solution: A majestic statue. The Athenian sculptor
Pheidias was assigned for the "sacred" task.

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesos

The temple was built around 550 BC. Referred to as the great marble temple, it was sponsored by
the Lydian king Croesus and was designed by the Greek architect Chersiphron. It was decorated
with bronze statues sculpted by the most skilled artists of their time as Pheidias. The temple
served as both a marketplace and a religious institution. For years, the sanctuary was visited by
merchants, tourists, artisans, and kings who paid homage to the goddess by sharing their profits
with her.

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

When the Persians expanded their ancient kingdom to include

Mesopotamia, Northern India, Syria, Egypt, and Asia Minor, the
king could not control his vast empire without the help of local
governors or rulers -- the Satraps. Like many other provinces,
the kingdom of Caria in the western part of Asia Minor (Turkey)
was so far from the Persian capital that it was practically
autonomous. From 377 to 353 BC, king Mausollos of Caria
reigned and moved his capital to Halicarnassus. Nothing is exciting about Maussollos life except
the construction of his tomb. In the early fifteenth century, the Knights of St John of Malta invaded
the region and built a massive crusader castle. When they decided to fortify it in 1494, they used
the stones of the Mausoleum. By 1522, almost every block of the Mausoleum had been
disassembled and used for construction.

The Colossus at Rhodes

From its building to its destruction lies a time span of merely 56

years. Yet the colossus earned a place in the famous list of
Wonders. "But even lying on the ground, it is a marvel", said Pliny
the Elder. The Colossus of Rhodes was not only a gigantic statue. It
was rather a symbol of unity of the people who inhabited that
beautiful Mediterranean island -- Rhodes.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria

Of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, only

one had a practical use in addition to its
architectural elegance: The Lighthouse of
Alexandria. For sailors, it ensured a safe return to
the Great Harbor. For architects, it meant even
more: it was the tallest building on Earth. And for
scientists, it was the mysterious mirror that
fascinated them most... The mirror which reflection
could be seen more than 50 km (35 miles) off-shore.

Answer true (T), false (F) or we don’t know ( ?)

1. The Pyramid of Giza was built quickly.

2. This monument can still be visited.
3. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon didn’t exist.
 4. The Greecs liked to visit the Hanging Gardens.
5. The Zeus statue was buit to honor the Olympic games.
6. An important sculptor from Athen made the statue.
7. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesos served also for business.
8. The Mausoleum at Harnicanassus was destructed to build a castle.
9. A satrap was a local administrator for the Persian king.
10. The Colossus at Rhodes can be seen from far away.
11. The Lighhouse of Alexandria saved many ships.

The modern Wonders of the World

In 2000 a Swiss foundation launched a campaign to determine the New Seven Wonders of the
World. Given that the original Seven Wonders list was compiled in the 2nd century BCE—and that
only one entrant is still standing, it seemed time for an update. And people around the world
apparently agreed, as more than 100 million votes were cast on the Internet. 
Here is one of the New Wonders : Taj Mahal: A Shrine of Love

Write a description.These words and the fact file can help you.

Adjectives: fantastic, marvellous, beloved, great, incomparable, ornamental, imposing, perfect

Verbs: locate, build, construct, surround, decorate,

Who built it: Mughal Emperor Shahjahan

Why it was built: memorial to his wife, Mumtaz
Mahal.
When work started: in 1634
How long the construction lasts: 22 years
Location: in the city of Agra
Style: Islamic architecture
Material: white marble
Buildings: two mosques, the tomb, and a gateway
The tomb: sculptures with gems
Around: a garden, fountains, trees