There are many mysteries in the world that remain unsolved. Most people have heard of the Seven Wonders, but few people actually know what they are. Some believe that the Nazca lines of Peru, Crop Circles, and the Bermuda Triangle are among the Seven Wonders. Some people even believe that the starfish is one of them. In reality, the Seven Wonders of the ancient world were seven amazing architectural feats such as buildings or statues built during a period spanning from 323 to 31 BC. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World include: the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Mausoleum of Mausollos at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Of these Seven Wonders, only the Great Pyramid of Giza is still standing.
The Seven Wonders of the World: Pictures
1. The Great Pyramid of Giza.
2. The Colosseum.
3. Leaning Tower of Pisa.
4. Stonehenge.
5. Great Wall of China.
6. Hagia Sophia. (The Basilica of St. Sophia)
7. The Lighthouse (Pharos) of Alexandria.
The Great Pyramid of Giza, sometimes called Khufu's Pyramid or the Pyramid of Khufu, was built in Egypt around 2550 B.C. The pyramid was constructed using huge stones; each stone weighed nearly 3 tons. Since the Egyptians did not have horses at that time, humans had to do all the work. At least 100,000 slaves were needed to lift and move the stones using rollers and pulleys. The stone cutting was extremely precise, and the stones fit together so well that not even a single sheet of paper could fit between the stones. Working day and night, it took over 20 years to build.
There are many mysteries about this pyramid. How were the stones cut? How were the stones moved? Many people wonder, is the Great Pyramid of Giza really King Khufu' s pyramid? King Khufu' s mummy was never discovered at the Great Pyramid and there were never any stories written in ancient literature that mentioned King Khufu and the pyramid together. Despite the mysteries surrounding the Great Pyramid, we can still appreciate this Wonder of the ancient world which has survived for over 4800 years.
Another member of the Seven Wonders is the Pharos of Alexandria. It was built on Pharos island, off the coast of Alexandria, an ancient Egyptian city. It was a tall stone structure with a reflective mirror on the top. The structure was used to guide ships safely into the harbor. There are many legends about the Pharos; according to one legend, in the 7th century A.D., the Arabians who were conquering Egypt said that the Pharos of Alexandria could start a fire on a boat if its mirror focused the sun's rays on the ship. The story of the Great Lighthouse's destruction is very surprising. When Byzantium was at war with Egypt, one day the crafty Byzantine imperial governor sent a messenger to the Egyptians. When the messenger reached the Egyptian Caliph's palace, he started a rumor that there was a treasure hidden under the Pharos. The high officials told the rumor to the Caliph. The Caliph hesitated but ended up ordering the removal of the Pharos. By the time the Caliph realized his mistake, it was too late. No one knew the techniques needed to rebuild the Pharos. The Pharos was further damaged by an earthquake in the 14th century.
In addition to the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, there are many other wonders. There are natural wonders like the Grand Canyon, Victoria Falls, and Mount Everest. There are modern wonders like the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, and the Empire State Building. The Colosseum of Rome, another modern wonder, was a great amphitheater symbolizing Rome's tremendous power and influence in history. The name, "Colosseum" has two possible origins. Some believe that the name is derived from the word "Colossale," which means "huge." Others believe that the statue was named after a huge 30 meter statue named Colosso that the Roman Emperor Nero built near the Colosseum.
The Colosseum was completed around 80 A.D when Titus become Emperor. To celebrate its completion, death matches and other games were held for 100 days. During this time, 5,000 ferocious beasts were butchered. Gladiators fought other gladiators; some gladiators fought wild ferocious beasts. The Colosseum was even filled with water and sea combat was simulated. In the early years, many Christians were persecuted for their religious beliefs and were forced to fight wild beasts in the Colosseum. For 300 years, death matches were held at the Colosseum. In 399 BC, Emperor Honorius stopped the gladiator games, putting an end to their grim history. In the 5th century, stones were taken from the outer wall of the Colosseum and used to build other structures during the Middle Ages. Over time, the Colosseum was further damaged by earthquakes and natural wind erosion. However, a large portion of the Colosseum still remains and can still be seen even today.
Still many mysteries remain undiscovered. Even though a great deal of history has been lost due to wars, natural disasters, and neglect, many wonders still exist in the world. If you make an effort to explore the past you might be surprised by what you find.
By Hong Yu-jin