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Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

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Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, also known as the Seven Wonders of the World or simply the Seven Wonders, is a list of seven notable structures present during classical antiquity, first established in the 1572 publication Octo Mundi Miracula using a combination of historical sources. The seven traditional wonders established by the Octo Mundi Miracula are the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Temple of Artemis, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Using modern-day countries, two of the wonders were located in Greece, two in Turkey, two in Egypt, and one in Iraq. Of the seven wonders, only the Pyramid of Giza, which is also by far the oldest of the wonders, remains standing, while the others have been destroyed over the centuries. Remains exist from the Lighthouse, Temple of Artemis and the Mausoleum – either in situ or in museums. There is scholarly debate over the exact nature of the Hanging Gardens, and there is doubt as to whether they existed at all. All known ancient and classical lists of wonders differ from the Octo Mundi Miracula version. The first known list of seven wonders dates back to the 2nd–1st century BC; at least 8 full lists and 10 partial lists are known. Three other wonders appear more than twice across these lists: the Walls of Babylon, the Palace of Cyrus the Great, and the Pergamon Altar.

Tables

· Known lists
Antipater
Antipater
Col 1
Antipater
Complete
Hyginus
Complete
Madrid(a)
Complete
Heraclitus(a)
Complete
Gregory
Complete
Anthol.VIII
Complete
Anthol.IX
Complete
Ampelius
Complete
Diodorus
Incomplete
Strabo
Incomplete
Eustathius
Incomplete
Valerius
Incomplete
Plutarch
Incomplete
Pausanias
Incomplete
Lucian
Incomplete
Heraclitus(b)
Incomplete
Philo
Incomplete
Madrid(b)
I. Babylon walls
I. Babylon walls
Col 1
I. Babylon walls
Number
10
II. Pyramids
II. Pyramids
Col 1
II. Pyramids
Number
10
III. Mausoleum
III. Mausoleum
Col 1
III. Mausoleum
Number
9
IV. Colossus
IV. Colossus
Col 1
IV. Colossus
Number
11
V. Artemis tem.
V. Artemis tem.
Col 1
V. Artemis tem.
Number
8
VI. Zeus sta.
VI. Zeus sta.
Col 1
VI. Zeus sta.
Number
6
VII. Cyrus' palace
VII. Cyrus' palace
Col 1
VII. Cyrus' palace
Number
4
VIII. Thebes (Eg)
VIII. Thebes (Eg)
Col 1
VIII. Thebes (Eg)
Number
2
IX. Cyzicus temple
IX. Cyzicus temple
Col 1
IX. Cyzicus temple
Number
2
X. Heraclea theatre
X. Heraclea theatre
Col 1
X. Heraclea theatre
Number
1
XI. Delos
XI. Delos
Col 1
XI. Delos
Number
2
XII. Thebes (Gr)
XII. Thebes (Gr)
Col 1
XII. Thebes (Gr)
Number
2
XIII. Hanging Gdns.
XIII. Hanging Gdns.
Col 1
XIII. Hanging Gdns.
Number
5
XIV. Capitoline
XIV. Capitoline
Col 1
XIV. Capitoline
Number
2
XV. Pergamon altar
XV. Pergamon altar
Col 1
XV. Pergamon altar
Number
3
XVI. Lighthouse
XVI. Lighthouse
Col 1
XVI. Lighthouse
Number
3
XVII. Chalke gate
XVII. Chalke gate
Col 1
XVII. Chalke gate
Number
1
XVIII. Zeus tem.
XVIII. Zeus tem.
Col 1
XVIII. Zeus tem.
Number
1
XIX. Myra thea.
XIX. Myra thea.
Col 1
XIX. Myra thea.
Number
1
XX. Asclepius San.
XX. Asclepius San.
Col 1
XX. Asclepius San.
Number
1
XXI. Parion altar
XXI. Parion altar
Col 1
XXI. Parion altar
Number
1
XXII. Athena statue
XXII. Athena statue
Col 1
XXII. Athena statue
Number
1
Number
Number
Col 1
Number
Complete
7
Complete
7
Complete
7
Complete
7
Complete
7
Complete
7
Complete
7
Complete
7
Incomplete
2
Incomplete
3
Incomplete
4
Incomplete
1
Incomplete
1
Incomplete
2
Incomplete
2
Incomplete
5
Incomplete
5
Incomplete
5
Complete
Incomplete
Number
Antipater
Hyginus
Madrid(a)
Heraclitus(a)
Gregory
Anthol.VIII
Anthol.IX
Ampelius
Diodorus
Strabo
Eustathius
Valerius
Plutarch
Pausanias
Lucian
Heraclitus(b)
Philo
Madrid(b)
I. Babylon walls
10
II. Pyramids
10
III. Mausoleum
9
IV. Colossus
11
V. Artemis tem.
8
VI. Zeus sta.
6
VII. Cyrus' palace
4
VIII. Thebes (Eg)
2
IX. Cyzicus temple
2
X. Heraclea theatre
1
XI. Delos
2
XII. Thebes (Gr)
2
XIII. Hanging Gdns.
5
XIV. Capitoline
2
XV. Pergamon altar
3
XVI. Lighthouse
3
XVII. Chalke gate
1
XVIII. Zeus tem.
1
XIX. Myra thea.
1
XX. Asclepius San.
1
XXI. Parion altar
1
XXII. Athena statue
1
Number
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
2
3
4
1
1
2
2
5
5
5
Canonical Seven Wonders of the Ancient World · Canonical seven wonders
Great Pyramid of Giza
Great Pyramid of Giza
Name
Great Pyramid of Giza
Date of construction
2584–2561 BC
Builders
Egyptians
Date of destruction
Still in existence, majority of façade gone
Cause of destruction
Giza Necropolis, Egypt .mw- .mw- 29°58′45.03″N 31°08′03.69″E / 29.9791750°N 31.1343583°E / 29.9791750; 31.1343583 (Great Pyramid of Giza)
Modern location
Standing
Modern status
Hanging Gardens of Babylon(existence unresolved)
Hanging Gardens of Babylon(existence unresolved)
Name
Hanging Gardens of Babylon(existence unresolved)
Date of construction
c. 600 BC (evident)
Builders
Babylonians or Assyrians
Date of destruction
After 1st century AD
Cause of destruction
Unknown
Modern location
Hillah or Nineveh, Iraq32°32′08″N 44°25′39″E / 32.5355°N 44.4275°E / 32.5355; 44.4275 (Hanging Gardens of Babylon)
Modern status
No trace
Statue of Zeus at Olympia
Statue of Zeus at Olympia
Name
Statue of Zeus at Olympia
Date of construction
466–456 BC (temple)435 BC (statue)
Builders
Greeks(Phidias)
Date of destruction
5th–6th centuries AD
Cause of destruction
Disassembled and reassembled at Constantinople; later destroyed by fire
Modern location
Olympia, Greece37°38′16.3″N 21°37′48″E / 37.637861°N 21.63000°E / 37.637861; 21.63000 (Statue of Zeus at Olympia)
Modern status
No trace of statue; remains of the Temple of Zeus
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
Name
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
Date of construction
c. 550 BC; and again in 323 BC
Builders
Greeks, Lydians
Date of destruction
356 BC (by Herostratus) AD 262 (by the Goths)
Cause of destruction
Arson by Herostratus, plundering
Modern location
Near Selçuk, Turkey37°56′59″N 27°21′50″E / 37.94972°N 27.36389°E / 37.94972; 27.36389 (Temple of Artemis at Ephesus)
Modern status
Remains of the temple
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Name
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Date of construction
351 BC
Builders
Greeks, Persians, Carians(Satyros and Pythius of Priene)
Date of destruction
12th–15th century AD
Cause of destruction
Earthquakes
Modern location
Bodrum, Turkey37°02′16″N 27°25′27″E / 37.0379°N 27.4241°E / 37.0379; 27.4241 (Mausoleum at Halicarnassus)
Modern status
Remains of the Mausoleum, including at the British Museum
Colossus of Rhodes
Colossus of Rhodes
Name
Colossus of Rhodes
Date of construction
292–280 BC
Builders
Greeks(Chares of Lindos)
Date of destruction
226 BC
Cause of destruction
Destroyed by earthquake
Modern location
Rhodes, Greece36°27′04″N 28°13′40″E / 36.45111°N 28.22778°E / 36.45111; 28.22778 (Colossus of Rhodes)
Modern status
No trace
Lighthouse of Alexandria
Lighthouse of Alexandria
Name
Lighthouse of Alexandria
Date of construction
c. 280 BC
Builders
Greeks, Ptolemaic Egyptians
Date of destruction
AD 1303–1480
Cause of destruction
Destroyed by earthquake
Modern location
Alexandria, Egypt31°12′50″N 29°53′08″E / 31.21389°N 29.88556°E / 31.21389; 29.88556 (Lighthouse of Alexandria)
Modern status
Remains found underwater in 1994
Name
Date of construction
Builders
Date of destruction
Cause of destruction
Modern location
Modern status
Image
Great Pyramid of Giza
2584–2561 BC
Egyptians
Still in existence, majority of façade gone
Giza Necropolis, Egypt .mw- 29°58′45.03″N 31°08′03.69″E / 29.9791750°N 31.1343583°E / 29.9791750; 31.1343583 (Great Pyramid of Giza)
Standing
Hanging Gardens of Babylon(existence unresolved)
c. 600 BC (evident)
Babylonians or Assyrians
After 1st century AD
Unknown
Hillah or Nineveh, Iraq32°32′08″N 44°25′39″E / 32.5355°N 44.4275°E / 32.5355; 44.4275 (Hanging Gardens of Babylon)
No trace
Statue of Zeus at Olympia
466–456 BC (temple)435 BC (statue)
Greeks(Phidias)
5th–6th centuries AD
Disassembled and reassembled at Constantinople; later destroyed by fire
Olympia, Greece37°38′16.3″N 21°37′48″E / 37.637861°N 21.63000°E / 37.637861; 21.63000 (Statue of Zeus at Olympia)
No trace of statue; remains of the Temple of Zeus
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
c. 550 BC; and again in 323 BC
Greeks, Lydians
356 BC (by Herostratus) AD 262 (by the Goths)
Arson by Herostratus, plundering
Near Selçuk, Turkey37°56′59″N 27°21′50″E / 37.94972°N 27.36389°E / 37.94972; 27.36389 (Temple of Artemis at Ephesus)
Remains of the temple
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
351 BC
Greeks, Persians, Carians(Satyros and Pythius of Priene)
12th–15th century AD
Earthquakes
Bodrum, Turkey37°02′16″N 27°25′27″E / 37.0379°N 27.4241°E / 37.0379; 27.4241 (Mausoleum at Halicarnassus)
Remains of the Mausoleum, including at the British Museum
Colossus of Rhodes
292–280 BC
Greeks(Chares of Lindos)
226 BC
Destroyed by earthquake
Rhodes, Greece36°27′04″N 28°13′40″E / 36.45111°N 28.22778°E / 36.45111; 28.22778 (Colossus of Rhodes)
No trace
Lighthouse of Alexandria
c. 280 BC
Greeks, Ptolemaic Egyptians
AD 1303–1480
Destroyed by earthquake
Alexandria, Egypt31°12′50″N 29°53′08″E / 31.21389°N 29.88556°E / 31.21389; 29.88556 (Lighthouse of Alexandria)
Remains found underwater in 1994

References

  1. Clayton & Price 2013, p. 5: "It is perhaps only with the execution of these drawings that the list became fixed for all
  2. Tobin 2011, p. 6: "The 'canonical' list of the Seven Wonders that we use today was actually drawn up in the sixteenth ce
  3. "The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World"
    http://www.amazeingart.com/seven-wonders/7-wonders.html
  4. "History of the Past: World History"
    http://worldhistory.byethost8.com/
  5. "The Seven Wonders"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20091013125703/http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/198003/the.seven.wonders.htm
  6. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
    https://books.google.com/books?id=n9QOAAAAQAAJ&q=theamata+seven+wonders&pg=PA4
  7. Bibliotheca Historica, Books I-V
    https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Diod.+2.11.5&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2008.01.0540
  8. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
    https://books.google.com/books?id=Df-AAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA158
  9. Greek Anthology, Volume III
    https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2008.01.0474%3Abook%3D9%3Achapter%3D58
  10. Biographical Dictionary Volume III
    https://books.google.com/books?id=9w1FAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA48
  11. Clayton & Price 2013, p. 10.
  12. Loeb Classical Library
    https://www.loebclassics.com/view/greek_anthology_9/1917/pb_LCL084.31.xml
  13. Roger Pearse
    https://www.roger-pearse.com/weblog/2019/08/23/philo-of-byzantium-on-the-seven-wonders-of-the-world-an-english-translation-and-some-notes/comment-page-1/
  14. Clayton, Peter and Price, Martin: The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (Routledge, 1988), pp. 162–163.
  15. Roscher 1906: Roscher’s list of Complete lists and Roscher’s list of Incomplete lists. Note that the Lighthouse (Φάρος),
  16. Roscher 1906, p. 187, 191: "Suchen wir uns jetzt einen Überblick über die hierfür in Betracht kommenden Zeugnisse der Sc
  17. Palatine Anthology, IX 58: “I have set eyes on the wall of lofty Babylon on which is a road for chariots, and the statue
    https://www.attalus.org/poetry/antipater2.html
  18. Fabulae 223: “SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD: The temple of Diana at Ephesus which the Amazon Otrera, wife of Mars, made. Th
    https://topostext.org/work/206
  19. Thebana paradoxa: sex libris
    https://books.google.com/books?id=r2Z-Sp5rlYEC&pg=PA38
  20. Peri Apiston: graeci 3:2, section 321, page 88-89: "II. Τὰ ἑπτὰ θεάματα. α’ ὁ ἐν Ὀλυμπίᾳ Ζεὺς πήχεων λς’. β’ ὁ τῆς Ἐφεσί
    https://archive.org/details/mythographigrae01festgoog/page/n148/mode/1upMythographi
  21. Oration XX, p. 359.
  22. Palatine Anthology, Book VIII Epigram 177: “ These are the seven wonders of the world: a wall, a statue, gardens, pyrami
    https://anthologiagraeca.org/passages/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg7000.tlg001.ag:8.177/
  23. Palatine Anthology, Book IX Epigram 656: “I surpass the celebrated wonders of the Italian land. Beauty of the Capitolian
    https://topostext.org/work/534#8.177
  24. s:translation:Liber Memorialis#8. Wonders of the World. Wonders which are on Earth Liber Memorialis, ch. 8.
    https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/translation:Liber_Memorialis#8._Wonders_of_the_World._Wonders_which_are_on_Earth
  25. Bibliotheca Historica 1.63; 2.11; 18.4.
  26. Geographica, pp. 652, 656, 738.
  27. Commentary on the Odyssey, pp. 1623, 10: “(Vers. 190.) βαθέϊ ἔτετυκτο πέλωμον, εἰλήφασιν οἱ μεθ’ Ὅμηρον φαίνεσθαι τινα ἐ
    https://archive.org/details/commentariiadhom01eust/page/332/mode/1up
  28. Factorum et dictorum memorabilium IX 4.6; in Pliny, Natural History 36.30.
  29. Moralia, De sollertia animalium 35.
  30. Description of Greece 4.31.5 “Round Messene is a wall, the whole circuit of which is built of stone, with towers and bat
  31. Icaromenippus 12.
  32. On the Seven Wonders (De septem miraculis).
  33. 1 Βαβυλῶνος τεῖχος (Babylonos teichos).
  34. 6 Murus in Babylonia (Semiramidis).
  35. 2 Βαβυλῶνος τεῖχη (Babylonos teiche).
  36. 6 Βαβυλῶνος τεῖχη (Babylonos teiche).
  37. 3 τεῖχη Βαβυλῶνος (teiche Babylonos).
  38. 1 τεῖχος (Schol. τὸ ἐν Βαβέλ.) (teichos [to en Babel]).
  39. 6 Murus Babyloniae, Memnon aedific.
  40. ὀβελίσκος ἐν Βαβυλ. (obelisk in Babylon)
  41. τὰ Βαβυλ. τεῖχη (ta Babyl. teiche).
  42. Mauern v. Babylon.
  43. 5 πυραμίδες (pyramidēs).
  44. 7 Pyramides.
  45. 1 πυραμίδες (pyramidēs).
  46. 5 πυραμίδες (pyramidēs).
  47. 4 πυραμίδες (pyramidēs).
  48. 4 πυραμίδες (pyramidēs).
  49. 7 Pyramides.
  50. πυραμίδες (pyramidēs).
  51. αἱ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ πυραμίδες (hai en Aigyptō pyramidēs).
  52. Pyramiden.
  53. 6 μνῆμα Μαυσωλεῖου (mnēma Mausōleiou).
  54. 2 Monumentum Mausoli.
  55. 4 Μαυσωλείου τάφος (Mausōleiou taphos).
  56. 4 τὸ Μαυσωλεῖον (to Mausōleion).
  57. 4 Μαυσωλείου τάφος (Mausōleiou taphos).
  58. 7 τάφος (Schol. ὁ Μαυσωλεῖος) (taphos [ho Mausōleios]).
  59. ὁ Μαυσωλείου τάφος (ho Mausōleiou taphos).
  60. ὁ Μαυσωλείου τάφος (ho Mausōleiou taphos).
  61. Mausoli sepulcrum.
  62. 4 Ἡλίου κολοσσός (Hēliou kolossos).
  63. 3 Rhodi signum Solis.
  64. 5 Κολοσσὸς ἐν Ῥόδῳ (Kolossos en Rhodō).
  65. 7 ὁ ἐν Ῥόδῳ κολοσσός (ho en Rhodō kolossos).
  66. 5 Κολοσσὸς χαλκός (Kolossos chalkos).
  67. 2 ἄγαλμα (Schol. ὁ ἐν Ῥόδῳ κολοσσός) (agalma [ho en Rhodō kolossos]).
  68. 5 Κολοσσὸς (Kolossos).
  69. 4 Rhodi colossic. signum Solis.
  70. ὁ τοῦ Ἡλίου κολοσσός (ho tou Hēliou kolossos).
  71. ὁ Ῥοδίων κολοσσός (ho Rhodiōn kolossos).
  72. Koloss v. Rhodos.
  73. 7 Ἐφεσίης δόμος (Ephesies domos).
  74. 1 Ephesi Dianae Templum, quod fec. Amazon.
  75. 2 δ’ Ἐφεσίαις Ἄρτε. ναός (d’ Ephesiais Arte. naos).
  76. 6 Ναὸν Ἀρτέμιδος (Naon Artemis).
  77. 5 ναός (Schol. ἡ ἐν Ἐφέσῳ) (naos [hē en Ephesō]).
  78. 3 Aedis Dianae Epheso, quam const. Amason (vgl. § 12).
  79. ὁ ἐν Ἐφέσῳ ναὸς τῆς Ἀρτέμιδος (ho en Ephesō naos tēs Artemis).
  80. Artemision v. Ephesos.
  81. 2 τὸν ἐν Ὀλυμπίᾳ Δία (ton en Olympiā Dia).
  82. 4 Signum Iovis Olympii.
  83. 1 ὁ ἐν Ὀλυμπίᾳ Ζεύς (ho en Olympiā Zeus).
  84. 7 Κίλια ἐμμετρεῖν δυνάμενον (Kilia emmetrein dunamenon).
  85. 6 ἄγαλμα (Schol. Ζεύς) (agalma [Zeus]).
  86. Zeus von Olympia.
  87. 5 Domus Cyri in Ecbatanis, q. fec. Memnon.
  88. 5 Domus Cyri regis etc.
  89. τὰ Μεμνόνεια ἐν Σούσοις τεῖχη (Memnonian walls in Susa), see Hyginus: “The palace of Cyrus the King in Ecbatana, which M
  90. 5 τὰ Κύρου βασίλεια (ta Kyrou basileia).
  91. 3 Ἑκατόμπυλον Θῆβας (Hekatompylon Thēbas).
  92. 2 Θῆβαι Αἰγύπτου (Thēbai Aigyptou).
  93. 6 Ναὸς ἐν Κέρκυρα (Naos en Kerkyra).
  94. 3 Ἄρμασμον ἐν Κερκύρᾳ ναός (Armasmon en Kerkyrā naos).
  95. 7 Θησαυρὸς Ἡρακλέους (Thēsauros Hērakleous).
  96. 3 ὁ ἐν Δήλῳ κεχρυσούς βωμός (ho en Dēlō kechrysous bōmos).
  97. ὁ κεχρυσούς βωμός (Delos) (ho kechrysous bōmos).
  98. 1 Ἑκατόμπυλον Θῆβας (Hekatompylon Thēbas).
  99. 5 Ἑκατόμπυλον Θῆβας (Hekatompylon Thēbas).
  100. 3 κήπων αἴσθημα (kēpōn aisthēma).
  101. 3 κῆποι (Schol. οἱ ἐν Κολοσσαῖς) (kēpoi [hoi en Kolossais]).
  102. ὁ κρεμαστὸς κῆπος (ho kremastos kēpos).
  103. ὁ Βαβυλώνιος κῆπος (ho Babylōnios kēpos).
  104. 3 οἱ κρεμαστοὶ κῆποι (hoi kremastoi kēpoi).
  105. 1 Καπιτωλίς στήλη (Kapitolīs stēlē).
  106. 4 Ῥώμης Καπιτώλιον (Rhōmēs Kapitōlion).
  107. 2 Ῥουφίνου ἄγαλμα (ἐν Περγάμῳ) (Rhophinou agalma [en Pergamō]).
  108. 2 Pergamo ara marmorea magna.
  109. 3 Ῥοσίνου ἄγαλμα ἐν τῇ Περγάμῳ (Rhosinou agalma en tē Pergamō).
  110. 6 Φάρος (Pharos).
  111. 1 τέχνος Φάρου (technos Pharou).
  112. 1 τέχνος Φάρου (technos Pharou).
  113. 7 Χαλκῆ (Chalkē) in Byzanz.
  114. 1 Olympiae templ. Iovis?
  115. Θέατρον Λυκίας τῶν Μύων ὃπερ κατέσκαψεν Ἰσμαὴλ γένος (The theater of the Lycians at Myra, which was destroyed by the Ish
  116. Ἐπιδαύρῳ Ἀσκληπιὸν (Epidauros Asclepion)
  117. 2 ὁ ἐν Παφίῳ βωμός (ho en Paphio bōmos).
  118. 4 ἡ ἱερὰ Ἀθήναις Ἐλαφηβολίων (hē hiera Athēnais Elaphēboliōn).
  119. The New Encyclopædia Britannica Micropædia Volume 10
  120. Stephanie Dalley (2013), The Mystery of the Hanging Garden of Babylon: an elusive World wonder traced. OUP ISBN 978-0-19
  121. "Wonders of Europe"
    http://www.7wonders.org/wonders/europe/
  122. There is some conjecture as to whether the Hanging Gardens actually existed, or were purely legendary (see Finkel, Irvin
    https://books.google.com/books?id=vGhbJzigPBwC&pg=PA38
  123. A History of Architecture
  124. Guide to Western Architecture
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