Seven Ancient Wonders of the World

The Seven Wonders of the World were first designated by Antipater of Sidon in the second century AD. Not all classical writers list the same items as the Seven Wonders but most of them agree on the following:

1. The Pyramids of Egypt are a group of three pyramids, Khufu, Khafra and Menkaura at Giza (near Cairo) to a southern limit 96 km distant are often called the first wonder of the world. The oldest is that of Zoser, at Saggara, built about 2,700 BC. The Great Pyramid of Cheops covers more than 12 acres and was originally 146.61 metres (481 ft) in height and 230.43 x 230.43 metres (756 x 756 ft) at the base. Of all the Seven Wonders, the Pyramids alone survive.

2. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon: Adjoining Nebuchadnezzar's palace, 96 km south of Baghdad,'the Gardens were built in the 6th century B.C. Terraced gardens, ranging from 23 to 91 metres (75 to 300 ft) above ground level, watered from storage tank on the highest terrace.

3. The Tomb of Mausolus: At Halicarnassus in Asia Minor. Built by the widowed Queen Artemisia about 350 BC. The memorial originated the term 'mausoleum'.

4. The Temple of Diana at Ephesus: Ionic temple erected about 350 BC in honour of a non-Helleonic goddess who later became identified with the Greek goddess of the same name. The temple, with Ionic columns 18 metres high, was destroyed by invading Goth in 262 AD.

5. The Colossus of Rhodes: A bronze statue of Apollo, set up about 280 BC. According to legend it stood at the harbour entrance of sea-port of Rhodes. It was destroyed during an earthquake in 224 BC.

6. The Statue of Jupiter Olympus: At Olympia in the plain of Ellis was constructed of marble inlaid with ivory and gold by the sculptor Phidias, about 430 BC. All trace of it is lost, except for reproduction of coins.

7. The Pharos of Alexandria: A marble watch tower and lighthouse on the island of Pharos in the harbour of Alexandria, built by Sostratus of Cnidus during the 3rd century BC It was destroyed by an earthquake in the 13th century.