The Seven New Wonders Of The World

In 2001, the Swiss-based New7Wonders Foundation conducted an international poll to update the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. After more than 100 million votes and international campaigns, the finalists were announced on July 7th, 2007. From Mexico to India, the new wonders represented the magnificent man-made marvels of the modern day.

Chichen Itza, Mexico

With a name meaning “At the mouth of the well of Itza”, Chichen Itza is the ruins of a Mayan civilization, dating back to about 600 AD. It served as a political and economic center and housed magnificent buildings including, temples (including Temple of Warriors and Temple of Chac Mool), the Hall of the Thousand Pillars and the last Mayan temple, the pyramid of Kulkulkan. The site fell into disrepair over the centuries through various invasions, looting and abandonment.

Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

The iconic statue of Jesus Christ, standing atop Corcovado Mountain that overlooks Rio de Janeiro, is the symbol of peace, warmth and welcoming nature of the Brazilian people. It was designed by Heitor da Silva Costa, sculpted by French artist Paul Landowski and completed in 1931 after five years of construction.

The Colosseum, Italy

The mother of all sports stadiums, the Colosseum in Rome was built between 70 and 82 AD. At its height, the amphitheater could seat up to 50,000 spectators, who enjoyed various public spectacles including the infamous gladiator fights, animal hunts, executions and dramas. The site was partially ruined after an earthquake, but still stands today as a testament to the prowess of Imperial Rome.

Great Wall of China, China

The 4,000 mile brick wall was erected to fortify the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against Mongol invasion. Construction first began in 8th century BC and the majority was completed during the Ming Dynasty between 1368 and 1644 AD.

Machu Picchu, Peru

One of the lost cities of the world, Machu Picchu is an awe-inspiring ruin of the Inca civilization. Check out our previous post on panaromic views from the top of Machu Picchu.

Petra, Jordan

Another lost city of the world, Petra dates back to the 6th century BC, when it was the capital city of the Nabataens, the masters of water technology. The stone-cut architecture, which survived centuries, makes it one of the most fascinating and beautiful sites in the world.

Taj Mahal, India

The majestic Taj Mahal in Agra is the most epic display of love in history. Emperor Shah Jahan built the marble mausoleum in 1630 AD to honor the memory of his deceased wife. After its construction, legends insist the architect responsible for the design had his hands cut off so that he couldn’t create anything similar ever again. The Taj Mahal is considered the best representation of Muslim art in India.

New Seven Wonders of the World

In 2001, the Swiss-based New7Wonders Foundation conducted an international poll to update the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. After more than 100 million votes and international campaigns, the finalists were announced on July 7th, 2007. From Mexico to India, the new wonders represented the magnificent man-made marvels of the modern day.

Chichen Itza, Mexico

With a name meaning “At the mouth of the well of Itza”, Chichen Itza is the ruins of a Mayan civilization, dating back to about 600 AD. It served as a political and economic center and housed magnificent buildings including, temples (including Temple of Warriors and Temple of Chac Mool), the Hall of the Thousand Pillars and the last Mayan temple, the pyramid of Kulkulkan. The site fell into disrepair over the centuries through various invasions, looting and abandonment.

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Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

The iconic statue of Jesus Christ, standing atop Corcovado Mountain that overlooks Rio de Janeiro, is the symbol of peace, warmth and welcoming nature of the Brazilian people. It was designed by Heitor da Silva Costa, sculpted by French artist Paul Landowski and completed in 1931 after five years of construction.

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The Colosseum, Italy

The mother of all sports stadiums, the Colosseum in Rome was built between 70 and 82 AD. At its height, the amphitheater could seat up to 50,000 spectators, who enjoyed various public spectacles including the infamous gladiator fights, animal hunts, executions and dramas. The site was partially ruined after an earthquake, but still stands today as a testament to the prowess of Imperial Rome.

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Great Wall of China, China

The 4,000 mile brick wall was erected to fortify the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against Mongol invasion. Construction first began in 8th century BC and the majority was completed during the Ming Dynasty between 1368 and 1644 AD.

---

Machu Picchu, Peru

One of the lost cities of the world, Machu Picchu is an awe-inspiring ruin of the Inca civilization. Check out our previous post on panaromic views from the top of Machu Picchu

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Petra, Jordan

Another lost city of the world, Petra dates back to the 6th century BC, when it was the capital city of the Nabataens, the masters of water technology. The stone-cut architecture, which survived centuries, makes it one of the most fascinating and beautiful sites in the world.

---

Taj Mahal, India

The majestic Taj Mahal in Agra is the most epic display of love in history. Emperor Shah Jahan built the marble mausoleum in 1630 AD to honor the memory of his deceased wife. After its construction, legends insist the architect responsible for the design had his hands cut off so that he couldn’t create anything similar ever again. The Taj Mahal is considered the best representation of Muslim art in India.

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Mamta is a writer living in Sydney, Australia who loves trawling the web for the bizarre, beautiful and obscure everything. Sometimes she finds inspiration on her Tumblr.

The Seven Wonders Of The Ancient World

The list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was compiled by the Greek writer Antipater of Sidon in a poem in 140 BC. He, along with Philo of Byzantium, Strabo, Herodotus and Diodoros of Sicily, are responsible for providing the descriptions of these sites. Though only one of the seven wonders remains intact, records insist these gardens, statues and tombs were the crème de le crème of ancient times.

Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt

The Great Pyramid of Giza was built as a tomb in 2560 BC by the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu and is the only ancient wonder that still stands today in all its enigmatic and breathtaking glory. The 481 foot monument, which lost 30 feet off its top throughout the centuries, was built over a 20 year period with two million blocks of stone, each weighing more than two tons. The interior has three chambers – the King’s chamber, the Queen’s chamber, and the lowest chamber – and ascending and descending passages. Apart from its sheer epic nature, the Great Pyramid of Giza is a wonder because of the immense thought and building process that went into it, which confirms the advanced knowledge and engineering skills of the ancient Egyptians.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Iraq

The Hanging Gardens were built in the ancient city-state of Babylon, located south of modern-day Baghdad. The gardens were built in 600 BC by King Nebuchadnezzar II as a gift to his wife, Amytis of Media, who missed the plants of her homeland. Though the gardens were destroyed by earthquakes after the 2nd century BC, their beauty was documented extensively by Greek historians, including Strabo, who said:

“The Garden is quadrangular, and each side is four plethra long. It consists of arched vaults which are located on checkered cube-like foundations… The ascent of the uppermost terrace-roofs is made by a stairway…”

Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Greece

The Statue of Zeus was built by Greek sculptor Phidias around 432 BC and was erected in the Temple of Zeus in the city of Olympia. The statue was sanctioned to commemorate the Olympic Games, reflect the power of Zeus, and to make the Temple more worthy for the King of all Gods. It took Phidias 12 years to complete the 22 by 40 foot figure of Zeus seated on an elaborate throne, constructed of gold-plate bronze, ivory and gold. The grandeur of the statue and temple, however, didn’t survive centuries of earthquakes, landslides, floods and fires.

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Turkey

The Temple of Artemis was a simple yet elegant temple dedicated to the Greek Goddess of hunting and wild nature. It was constructed in 550 BC by a Greek architect, Chersiphron, and was sanctioned by Lydian king, Croesus. Ancient descriptions inform us that the building was made of marble, had 127 columns all 60ft high, a marble staircase led to the high terrace, the inside was adorned with golden pillars, paintings and silver statuettes, and the whole temple overlooked a large courtyard.

The temple was a religious sanctuary where visitors, merchants, tourists, and kings paid homage to Artemis, and it also doubled as a marketplace. Unfortunately, the original building was burned to the ground in 356 BC by Herostratus, who hoped to immortalize his name through his arson. Despite attempts to rebuild over the centuries, the temple was repeatedly destroyed by various religious groups and cults.

Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, Turkey

Located in present-day Bodrum, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus was a tomb built between 353 and 350 BC. It was sanctioned by the Persian queen Artemisia for her husband, Mausolus of Caria, and was completed three years after his death. The tomb was built atop a hill overlooking the city, was approximately 148 feet high and enclosed by a courtyard, at the centre of which stood a stone platform where the tomb sat. The most impressive features of the tomb were the numerous life-size statues and decorations – lions, people, horses, animals, chariots – around the Mausoleum, and on its podium and roof.

The building remained in good condition for 16 centuries, until 1494 when the Knights of St John of Malta invaded the region and used the stones of the Mausoleum to build a crusader castle. By 1522, almost every block of the Mausoleum was disassembled. Today, the crusader castle still stands and the stones of the Mausoleum are visible, and some of the sculptures survived.

Colossus of Rhodes, Greece

The Colossus of Rhodes was an enormous statue erected in the Greek Island of Rhodes between 292 and 280 BC. Built in celebration of the Island’s victory over Cyprus’ ruler, Antigonus I Monophtalmus, the statue was of the Greek Titan Helios, constructed out of bronze, and stood over 107 feet high. It stood for over 56 years until an earthquake in 226 BC destroyed the epic work. Despite offers to repair the damaged statue, under advice from an oracle, the people of Rhodes left the Colossus in ruins and the remains of which were eventually sold by Arabs invaders in 654 AD. The statue inspired the design of the Statue of Liberty.

Lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt

Also known as the Pharos of Alexandria, the Lighthouse was constructed between 280 and 247 BC to guide sailors into the Alexandria harbor at night. After the death of Alexander the Great, his successor, Ptolemy Soter, commissioned the lighthouse’s construction, which was completed in 3rd century BC. It was 450 feet tall and was made of light-colored stones with the statue of a Poseidon at its peak.

The inclusion of the lighthouse into the list of seven wonders is due to its architectural brilliance (it was the tallest building at the time), and the light that could apparently be seen 35 miles off-shore. The building was destroyed in three separate earthquakes in 956, 1303 and 1323 AD, so the description of the lighthouse, in writings by Arab, Roman and Greek travelers, are the only records that remain.