The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
THE PYRAMIDS OF EGYPT
The pyramids are the most famous buildings of ancient Egypt & the only one of the wonders still in existence today, considering that these pyramids are over 3000 years old.
Sometime ago i wrote an article on the Seven Wonders of the Modern World & surprisingly the pyramids were also included. That speaks volume of what these pyramids represent. About 30 in all still in existence today.
They can all be found in the north of Egypt which used to be the capital in ancient times. They were built out of limestones & gravel using copper chisels to shape them to perfection. They were used to bury the mummies of pharoahs who they believed to live on after death.
The greatest of these pyramids being the Great Pyramids at Gizeh due to its grandness & splendour. The pyramids of King Khufu & his son king Khafre, whose smaller pyramid comes with the Great Sphinx, a statue with a man's face (supposed to be Khafre's) & the body of a lion.
The pyramids are the most famous buildings of ancient Egypt & the only one of the wonders still in existence today, considering that these pyramids are over 3000 years old.
Sometime ago i wrote an article on the Seven Wonders of the Modern World & surprisingly the pyramids were also included. That speaks volume of what these pyramids represent. About 30 in all still in existence today.
They can all be found in the north of Egypt which used to be the capital in ancient times. They were built out of limestones & gravel using copper chisels to shape them to perfection. They were used to bury the mummies of pharoahs who they believed to live on after death.
The greatest of these pyramids being the Great Pyramids at Gizeh due to its grandness & splendour. The pyramids of King Khufu & his son king Khafre, whose smaller pyramid comes with the Great Sphinx, a statue with a man's face (supposed to be Khafre's) & the body of a lion.
THE WALLS & HANGING GARDENS OF BABYLON
It was King Nebuchadnezzar who returned Babylon to its former glory after the fall of the Assyrian empire. The massive walls of Babylon are reckoned to have been over eighty feets wide in some places.
The famous hanging gardens were placed on the palace roof & rose one upon the other, supported by pillars. Built by the king for his wife, perhaps to remind her of her hillside home of Persia.
The gardens were irritated by water raised from the Euphrates by a revolving screw.
It was King Nebuchadnezzar who returned Babylon to its former glory after the fall of the Assyrian empire. The massive walls of Babylon are reckoned to have been over eighty feets wide in some places.
The famous hanging gardens were placed on the palace roof & rose one upon the other, supported by pillars. Built by the king for his wife, perhaps to remind her of her hillside home of Persia.
The gardens were irritated by water raised from the Euphrates by a revolving screw.
THE STATUE OF ZEUS AT OLYMPIA
A statue believed to be 40-feet high, of the Greek god of thunder Zeus. Carved by a famous Greek sculptor known as Phidias who is believed to be the greatest of all sculptors ancient & modern.
The sculpture shows Zeus seated & robed in gold. Unfortunately there are no remains of this great piece of art, with only stories that tell of the glamour if this great work at the temple if Zeus in Olympia which marvelled the people of ancient times.
A statue believed to be 40-feet high, of the Greek god of thunder Zeus. Carved by a famous Greek sculptor known as Phidias who is believed to be the greatest of all sculptors ancient & modern.
The sculpture shows Zeus seated & robed in gold. Unfortunately there are no remains of this great piece of art, with only stories that tell of the glamour if this great work at the temple if Zeus in Olympia which marvelled the people of ancient times.
THE MAUSOLEUM
This was a magnificent tomb erected for the body of Mausolus, a Persian ruler in Asia minor. It was put up by his wife, who was devoted to him & she employed many Greeks to design the architecture & the sculpture. The word 'Mausoleum' is now used to describe any magnificent tomb.
This was a magnificent tomb erected for the body of Mausolus, a Persian ruler in Asia minor. It was put up by his wife, who was devoted to him & she employed many Greeks to design the architecture & the sculpture. The word 'Mausoleum' is now used to describe any magnificent tomb.
TEMPLE OF DIANA AT EPHESUS
This temple designed by Greek architects was constructed during the life time of Alexander the Great. It is a good example of the role played by Alexander in spreading Greek civilisation around his empire.
Ephesus was an ancient Greek city on the coast of Ionia. What is left of it, lies on the western edge of modern day Turkey, just about five miles inland.
This temple designed by Greek architects was constructed during the life time of Alexander the Great. It is a good example of the role played by Alexander in spreading Greek civilisation around his empire.
Ephesus was an ancient Greek city on the coast of Ionia. What is left of it, lies on the western edge of modern day Turkey, just about five miles inland.
THE LIGHTHOUSE OF ALEXANDRIA
You've probably heard of Alexandria, the great conqueror of the ancient world who helped in the spreading of civilisation to a lot of barbarian tribes in Europe & Asia minor. Alexandria was one of the famous cities founded by Alexander.
Today Alexandria is the second biggest city in Egypt but as of the time of the construction of the lighthouse, Alexandria had not attained such splendour.
This became the first big lighthouse in the world's history, & was erected soon after the death of Alexander to guide mariners into the great commercial centre. It was truly a sight to behold.
You've probably heard of Alexandria, the great conqueror of the ancient world who helped in the spreading of civilisation to a lot of barbarian tribes in Europe & Asia minor. Alexandria was one of the famous cities founded by Alexander.
Today Alexandria is the second biggest city in Egypt but as of the time of the construction of the lighthouse, Alexandria had not attained such splendour.
This became the first big lighthouse in the world's history, & was erected soon after the death of Alexander to guide mariners into the great commercial centre. It was truly a sight to behold.
COLOSSUS OF RHODES
This was a huge bronze statue of Helios, or Apollo, the Sun-god erected at the entrance to the harbour of Rhodes.
Rhodes is an island in the Dodecanese, Greece. The statue which is 120-feet high & took twelve years to make, stood on one side of the entrance. It was eventually brought down by an earthquake though.
This was a huge bronze statue of Helios, or Apollo, the Sun-god erected at the entrance to the harbour of Rhodes.
Rhodes is an island in the Dodecanese, Greece. The statue which is 120-feet high & took twelve years to make, stood on one side of the entrance. It was eventually brought down by an earthquake though.
