The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Elizabeth Kibler
Modern architectural feats built with the help of modern technology may baffle the minds of observers. While humans living in the ancient world had fewer technologies, they too created ostentatious and lavish structures. People have grouped together seven of the most amazing of these structures as "The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World." Workers completed them thousands of years ago, and most of them no longer exist; however, these wonder span millennia to capture the imaginations of humans today.
The Pyramids of Egypt
The Pyramids of Egypt, which are the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, are the only one of the seven spectacles still intact. Most people recognize the iconic Pyramids of Giza. The ancient Egyptians erected these ten behemoths from about 2700 to 2500 B.C. These ancient structures still stand as a sign of the Egyptians' engineering ingenuity and designing prowess.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
While some historians disagree, many accept that King Nebuchadnezzar built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon to please his wife, who longed for lush, verdant mountains instead of the bland plains of Babylon. While some historians debate their existence, others cite remnants of walls they claim were part of the prodigious structure.
The Statue of Zeus at Olympia
The Greeks held the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C. These ancient quadrennial games took place at a shrine to Zeus located in western Greece. The Temple of Zeus was completed in 456 B.C. The temple entrance had thirteen large columns that supported twelve sculptures. Inside, a stolid and pensive figure of Zeus sat for visitors to admire.
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
Artemis, also known as Diana, was celebrated by the ancients as goddess of the hunt. In about 356 B.C., believers erected a temple in honor of Artemis in the ancient city Ephesus, located in what is now the country of Turkey. Over many hundreds of years, disasters such as fire destroyed the temple. Archeologists believe that the immense building was about 342 feet tall and 164 feet wide. Goth invaders destroyed the temple in 262 A.D.
The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus
King Halicarnassus and Queen Artemisia ruled part of what is now southwestern Turkey. After Halicarnassus's death, the queen wanted a fitting monument for her husband. She decided to have a great tomb built in his honor. The result was the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. An impressive sculptor of the age designed the tomb using marble and stone. The grand structure was most likely destroyed in an earthquake.
The Colossus of Rhodes
The Colossus of Rhodes towered aloft the harbor of the Greek island of Rhodes. Rhodes was a valuable harbor that enjoyed much traffic from around the globe. The sculptor of the Colossus wanted to create a work that honored the Greek sun god Helios. The gigantic statue, which was erected in about 180 B.C., guarded the busy port until an earthquake destroyed the wonder in 224 B.C. The statue was roughly the same size as the modern Statue of Liberty, which adorns a harbor in New York City.
The Pharos of Alexandria
Alexander the Great formed the city of Alexandria in 332 B.C. The city was an immense harbor that served as a port to the rest of the world. The island of Pharos sits in the Harbor of Alexandria, Egypt. This island used to be site of the seventh wonder of the ancient world. The structure was a lighthouse that stood over 400 feet high. A fire and a mirror at the top of the edifice shone light into the distance, guiding approaching ships into the harbor. A number of natural occurrences such as earthquakes wreaked damage upon the structure, which eventually collapsed.
Question
John has been assigned a research paper on the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Which strategy would BEST help him to organize and record his information?
Responses
A John should watch a DVD on ancient Egypt.John should watch a DVD on ancient Egypt.
B John should consult an annotated bibliography on the Seven Wonders.John should consult an annotated bibliography on the Seven Wonders.
C John should choose one of the Seven Wonders and record his impressions of it.John should choose one of the Seven Wonders and record his impressions of it.
D John should go online to find images of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.