The Pyramids of Giza were built during the 4th Dynasty of Pharaohs (around 2550 BC) presumably as tombs for kings and queens. The architecture of Ancient Egypt is represented by 90 pyramids, the main of which are the Pyramids of Giza, which are located on the edge of the capital Cairo. The largest in the world, the Pyramid of Cheops, towering above the plateau, is one of the most ancient historical and cultural monuments untouched by time. For 4,300 years, the Pyramid of Cheops was the most tall building on Earth. In 1889 her place was taken by Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The pyramid is built entirely of limestone. Scientists have still not been able to find out by what mechanisms this grandiose pyramidal complex was built. During its construction, 1,300,000 stone blocks weighing from 2.5 to 15 tons were used. The length of its base is 230 meters. The four sides of the Cheops Pyramid face the four cardinal directions at an angle of 52 degrees. The original height of the Pyramid was 146.5 m, but today it is only 137 meters. The pyramid lost 9 meters in height due to the fact that the limestone covering and facing stones that were on the top were removed from the pyramid and used by the Turks in power in Egypt and used in the construction of houses and mosques in Cairo. The Cheops pyramid has two exits. Both of them are located in its northern part: one is the main one and the second is 17 meters above ground level.
In the 11th century e. The treasure seeker Caliph el-Mamun suggested that there were countless treasures inside the pyramid and sent masons to open the entrance to it. They dug a tunnel into the pyramid, which deviates from the original entrance and connects with it after 35 meters. They found nothing inside the pyramid: the tombs of the pharaohs had been plundered in ancient times.
From the main entrance to the Pyramid, a long narrow corridor with a low ceiling leads to the place where the sarcophagus was located. It descends to a depth of more than 100 meters and leads to a chamber located approximately 24 meters below ground level.
20 meters from the descending corridor there is another tunnel that leads to the very heart of the pyramid. It ends at the largest part of the pyramid - the Great Gallery. And it is a rectangular hall 49 square meters in length and 15 meters in height. From the Grand Gallery, a long tunnel leads to the second chamber, which is known as the Tomb of the Queens.
Rising from the Great Gallery, you can find the entrance to the third chamber; a sarcophagus is installed here, which was made from a single block of granite stone. The premises of this chamber are an amazing archaeological find: it was built from granite blocks that were brought from the southern Egyptian city of Aswan, located 1000 km from the Giza plateau! The roof of the chamber consists of 9 granite slabs, the weight of each of which is estimated at approximately 50 tons. The burial chamber has small rectangular exits from the pyramid. Scientists suggest that these depressions in the pyramid served to provide ventilation, or, according to the beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, they ensured the contact of the pharaoh with the stars.
The Great Pyramid in Egypt belonged to the Egyptian king Khufu. The name "Cheops" was given to it by the Greeks. Both names are common. The same applies to the nearby Pyramid of Khafre (in Greek "Khefre") and the Pyramid of Menkaure (in Greek "Mykerina") located on the Giza plateau.
Pyramid of Khafre, the second in order and largest pyramid on the Giza Plateau of Egypt. The main difference between this pyramid is the layer of facing remaining on the top. white stone. When viewing the Pyramids of Giza, it seems that it is the largest. Actually it's simple optical illusion because it is located on a hill. The height of the Pyramid of Khafre is only 136 m, the width of the base is 214.5 m. Initially, the Pyramid of Khafre was 143.5 m in height.
No corridors leading to its center or burial chambers underground were found in the pyramid. The pyramid has a single entrance 15 meters above the ground, and a descent along a narrow corridor at an angle of 25 degrees into a burial chamber with an area of 14.2 by 6.9 m. This chamber contains a large black sarcophagus.
The smallest of the three pyramids on the Giza plateau was built for Khafre's son, Mikerinus: 65.5 m high (currently 62 m), with a base of 105 m and an angle of 51.3 degrees. This pyramid, like the other two on the Giza plateau, has a northern entrance. Besides its size, the Pyramid of Mikerin differed from the other two in that its cladding was made of pink granite, which was brought from Aswan. King Muhammad Ali Pasha of Egypt used it to build a residence in Alexandria.
The beautiful creations of nature and humanity in different centuries were considered the most amazing. But another era has come and today “I and the World” will show you the wonders of the world of our time.
At the beginning of the 21st century, they decided to update the list of the Seven Wonders of the World. To achieve this, almost 100 million people around the world voted for the beautiful creations of the planet. And in 2007, the results of a survey were announced, where the modern beauties of the Earth were presented.
How many and what curiosities have survived to this day? Let's start in order.
Colosseum (Italy)
Of all the buildings of that time, the Colosseum is the most grandiose and almost preserved to this day. Here, hundreds of slave gladiators, as well as many exotic animals, fought and died for the amusement of the citizens of Rome.
The amphitheater is 57 meters high and 527 meters in circumference. A huge canopy was attached at the top, and everything inside was covered with marble. 36 elevators were raised manually by slaves, each with 10 people.
Eight years later, when the amphitheater was completed, a festival was held that lasted for 100 days, and thousands of animals and hundreds of gladiators were killed in the arena. Entrance was free, so everyone could watch the bloody spectacles, especially many women. The battles always began at dawn and ended when the last rays of the sun touched the horizon. And on holidays everything lasted for several days.
Great Wall (China)
The wall stretches across northern China for 8,851.9 km. Construction began in the 3rd century BC. e., where more than 1,000,000 people took part. Construction lasted 10 years, but there were too many problems: there were no roads, not enough water and food for the builders, and epidemics were raging. As a result, the local population rebelled against further construction and the ruling dynasty.
The next government that came to power continued construction. But this drained the people and the treasury, and the wall itself did not provide the protection that the authorities hoped for. Enemies could easily penetrate through weakly fortified places, or simply bribe the guards.
Ancient city in Peru
Machu Picchu is an old “lost city of the Incas” built high in the mountains. This city, one of the world's wonders, was built in the 15th century at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level. The architecture of the stone buildings harmoniously fits into the beauty of the mountain landscapes.
In the city, astronomical structures were invented that made it possible to observe the celestial bodies - this is a water mirror 0.92 by 0.62 m, a gnomon monolith and a temple resembling an observatory.
Fruits and vegetables, medicinal plants, and coca (cocaine) were grown here. And higher in the mountains there were pastures for domestic animals and useful metals were mined here.
During the entire existence of the city, the Spaniards and other conquerors never managed to reach it. After the collapse of the Inca Empire, the inhabitants left the city and it was abandoned for 400 years.
Nabataean city
Ruins ancient Petra were at the intersection of the Red and Red trade routes Mediterranean seas. In the city you could admire more than 800 attractions. The structure was considered an artificial oasis, built among rocks and sand, and consists almost entirely of stone buildings.
At one time, Petra was conquered by the Roman Empire, but after the fall of Rome, the city was forgotten for almost 2,000 years. And only at the beginning of the 19th century it was discovered by a Swiss traveler.
Tomb in India
One of the most beautiful wonders of the world is. The architecture seamlessly intertwines Persian, Islamic and Indian styles. Construction lasted 21 years, day and night. The temple was built in honor of the emperor's beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth.
To build the tomb, they brought to India building material from all over Asia, and the temple was built by more than 20,000 workers. The building rises 74 meters. At one time, British soldiers and officials plundered the Taj Mahal, picking out gems from the walls of the temple. At the end of the 19th century, the tomb was reconstructed and modified, and the garden was given English view.
The beautiful snow-white mausoleum with five domes and four minarets seems to hover over an artificial reservoir, reflected on the water surface.
Statue of Christ (Brazil)
The famous 38-meter statue of Christ the Redeemer. It is regularly struck by lightning and therefore there are always stones nearby for restoration.
Every year, almost 2,000,000 tourists visit the huge monument to see not only it, but also a picturesque picture, opening at the foot of the statue. You can get to the top by motorway or railway with a miniature train. Funds were collected “from the whole world” for the construction of the statue and the work lasted about 9 years.
In the initial version, the pedestal was supposed to have the shape of a globe of the earth, but then they settled on a statue of Christ with outstretched arms in the form of a cross.
Holy Mayan City (Mexico)
Chichen Itza is the sacred city of the Mayans. People came to these places in the 4th century, and in the 10th century it was captured by the Toltecs and turned into the most powerful city of that time. In the 12th century the city began to decline and gradually collapse. But it is still unknown why the inhabitants left the great city.
Beautiful buildings have survived to this day: the Kukulkan pyramid, dedicated to the God of winds and rains, the “Temple of Time”, grounds for ball games (it is believed that the losing team was beheaded), the Temple of Warriors, the observatory, the Sacred Cenote for sacrifices.
The wonderful creations of mankind still amaze us with their beauty and uniqueness. Maybe in many years there will be a new list of the seven wonders of the world, but for now we are admiring the photos and reading the descriptions of these beautiful structures.
See also video:
Last week, I went to visit my mother, and found my old children’s encyclopedia “7 Wonders of the World” from her, flipped through it with nostalgia, and finally decided to make a post about the wonders of the world, because today there are many more than 7 wonders of the world.
To begin with, I propose to recall these “7 wonders” of antiquity.
The only miracle that has survived to this day. Construction, which lasted twenty years, began around 2560 BC. e. Excavation data from January 2010 confirm the theory that the pyramids were built by civilian workers. Up to 10 thousand people were simultaneously employed at the construction site, with workers working in shifts of three months. It is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids of the necropolis of the city of Giza.
Initially, the Cheops pyramid rose to 147 meters, but due to the advance of sands, its height decreased to 137 meters.
The Cheops Pyramid consists of 2,300,000 cubic blocks of limestone with smoothly polished sides. Each block weighs on average 2.5 tons, and the heaviest is 15 tons, the total weight of the pyramid is 5.7 million tons.
Confirmation of the inexplicably high knowledge of the Egyptians in the field of astronomy and civil engineering is the location of the Cheops pyramid in relation to the cardinal points: the pyramid almost unmistakably points to the true north. As a result of precise measurements carried out in 1925, it was established incredible fact: the error in its position is only 3 minutes 6 seconds.
The base area of the pyramid is comparable to the area of 10 football fields.
We can talk for a long time about the pyramids shrouded in myths and legends, their labyrinths and traps, mummies and treasures, but let’s leave that to Egyptologists. For us, the Cheops Pyramid is one of the greatest structures of mankind throughout its existence and, of course, the only First Wonder of the World that has survived to this day from the depths of centuries.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon (Babylon)
The city has long ceased to exist, but even today the ruins testify to its grandeur. In the 7th century BC. Babylon was the largest and richest city of the Ancient East. There were many amazing structures in Babylon, but most striking were the hanging gardens of the royal palace - gardens that became a legend.
the famous “Hanging Gardens” were created not by Semiramis and not even during her reign, but later, in honor of another - non-legendary - woman. They were built by order of King Nebuchadnezzar for his beloved wife Amytis, a Median princess who, in dusty Babylon, yearned for the green hills of Media.
This king, who destroyed city after city and even entire states, built a lot in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar turned the capital into an impregnable stronghold and surrounded himself with luxury unparalleled even in those times.
The design of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon was a pyramid with a base (43x35 meters), which consisted of four tiers mounted on twenty-five-meter columns. The surface of each tier was covered with a layer of reeds (reeds), stone blocks held together with gypsum and lead plates, on which a thick layer of fertile soil was poured. All these measures helped to preserve water for plants for as long as possible, of which there was very little in Babylon.
The height of the structure was almost thirty meters! Trees, flowers, soil - all this was brought in carts drawn by oxen. Water was supplied through pipes from the Euphrates River. To do this, hundreds of slaves turned a huge wheel installed in one of the towers around the clock.
Statue of Zeus at Olympia
The statue of Olympian Zeus is the work of Phidias. An outstanding work of ancient sculpture, one of the seven wonders of the world. It was located in the temple of Olympian Zeus, in Olympia - a city in the region of Elis. Construction of the temple took about 10 years. But the statue of Zeus did not appear in it right away. The Greeks decided to invite the famous Athenian sculptor Phidias to create a statue of Zeus.
Ancient Roman sculpture "Seated Zeus", Phidias type. Hermitage Gold covered the cape that covered part of Zeus’s body, the scepter with an eagle, which he held in his left hand, and the statue of the goddess of victory - Nike, which he held in right hand and a wreath of olive branches on Zeus's head. Zeus's feet rested on a stool supported by two lions. The reliefs of the throne glorified, first of all, Zeus himself. Four dancing Nikes were depicted on the legs of the throne. Centaurs, lapiths, the exploits of Theseus and Hercules, and frescoes depicting the battle of the Greeks with the Amazons were also depicted. The base of the statue was 6 meters wide and 1 meter high. The height of the entire statue together with the pedestal was, according to various sources, from 12 to 17 meters. Zeus's eyes were the size of an adult's fist.
Temple of Artemis of Ephesus (Ephesus)
Several hundred years BC, when Ephesus was at the zenith of its glory, the inhabitants decided to build a large temple. By that time, the city was already about 600 years old, it was rich and powerful, growing and prospering under the patronage of the goddess Artemis, sister of Apollo and daughter of Zeus - known in Roman mythology as Diana the Huntress. Artemis was also considered the goddess of the moon and helped women during childbirth.
The place for the new, majestic and grandiose temple in the part of the goddess was chosen as sacred - even in ancient times, religious rituals took place there. The townspeople decided not to spare either money or time, and also attracted wealthy construction sponsors from other regions of the country.
The finished temple was magnificent, and was constantly decorated with new decorative elements - after all, Ephesus was a very rich city. Historical data is contradictory, but it is mentioned that the temple had many bronze statues, the interior was decorated with gold and silver, the statue of the goddess herself was made of ivory and gold, and trimmed with ebony.
It is noteworthy that in those days the temple was not only a religious building, but also a financial and business center. Prospered and souvenir business: not far from the temple, original souvenirs – smaller copies of it – were successfully sold. Scientists still have not figured out which temple was considered a wonder of the world - rebuilt or burned by Herostratus
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
The Mausoleum in Halicarnassus is a wonderful monument of ancient Greek architectural art that has gone down in history. ancient culture as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Our contemporaries generally believe that the mausoleum is the tomb of great leaders.
The builders placed the tomb in the peripterus - a building framed by a colonnade of 11-meter columns. To support the roof of the mausoleum, 36 columns were needed. The spaces between the columns were filled with various statues of mythological figures, and the roof looked like a step pyramid with 24 steps. Its crown was a marble quadriga, that is, an ancient chariot with four horses harnessed to it. Huge statues of Mausolus and Artemisia were placed in the chariot, playing the role of charioteers. This magnificent sculpture reached a height of 6 m. In the tomb room there were marble sarcophagi intended for the royal couple. The foot of the mausoleum was decorated with sculptures of horsemen and marble lions.
In general, the history of the Halicarnassus mausoleum is eventful. At one time, he survived the conquest of the city by Alexander the Great, and even withstood the attack of pirates who set their sights on Halicarnassus at the beginning of the 1st century. However, after the Maltese attacked the mausoleum and took away stone and marble slabs from it, only the foundation remained of the majestic structure.
Colossus of Rhodes (Rhodes)
The colossus was the name given to a giant statue that stood in the port city of Rhodes, an island in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of modern Turkey. In ancient times, the people of Rhodes wanted to be independent traders.
The colossus grew on the shore of the harbor on an artificial hill lined with white marble. For twelve years no one saw the statue, because as soon as the next belt of bronze sheets was attached to the frame, the embankment surrounding the colossus was added to make it more convenient for the craftsmen to climb up. And only when the mound was removed, the Rhodians saw their patron god, whose head was adorned with a radiant crown.
The sparkling god was visible many kilometers from Rhodes, and soon rumors about him spread throughout the ancient world. But half a century later, a strong earthquake that destroyed Rhodes knocked the colossus to the ground; the most vulnerable point of the statue was the knees. This is where the expression “colossus with feet of clay” comes from.
So the colossus lay on the shore of the bay - the main tourist attraction of the island. The defeated giant was seen by Pliny the Elder, who came there in the first century AD. What struck Pliny most was that only a few people could wrap their arms around thumb statues.
The colossus lying on the ground was overgrown with cobwebs and legends. In eyewitness accounts, he seemed much larger than he actually was. Legends appeared in Roman literature that it originally towered over the entrance to the harbor and was so large that ships passed between its legs to the city.
Alexandria Lighthouse (Pharos)
The Lighthouse of Alexandria (Faros Lighthouse) is one of the seven ancient wonders of the world, built in the 3rd century BC. e. on the small island of Pharos off the coast of the Egyptian city of Alexandria. It was a busy port founded by Alexander the Great during his visit to Egypt in 332 BC. e.
The Alexandria Lighthouse was the world's first lighthouse and the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World that served a practical purpose, helping ships safely pass the reefs on their way to Alexandria Bay. The lighthouse, according to various estimates, rose to a height of 120 to 140 meters, and the light it emitted could be visible at a distance of up to 60 km.
The lighthouse stood for almost a thousand years, but XII century n. e., the Alexandria Bay became so silted that ships could no longer use it and the lighthouse fell into disrepair. Abandoned, it stood for some time, until in 796 AD. e. it was not destroyed by an earthquake. At the end of the 15th century. Sultan Qait Bey erected a fortress from the rubble on the site of the lighthouse, which was subsequently rebuilt more than once.
These are the miracles that were described in my book. The same ones: 7 wonders. But time does not stand still, and now there are many more such miracles. It seems to me that they are also worthy of our attention...
New 7 wonders of the world
Great Wall of China (China)
The Great Wall of China is one of the oldest architectural monuments in China and a symbol of the power of Chinese civilization. There is probably not one in the world civilized man who would not have heard of the Great Wall of China. It stretches from the Liaodong Gulf northeast of Beijing through Northern China to the Gobi Desert.
Construction took 10 years and faced numerous difficulties. The main problem There was a lack of appropriate infrastructure for construction: there were no roads, there was no adequate water and food for those involved in the work, while their number reached 300 thousand people, and the total number of builders involved under Qin reached, according to some estimates, 2 million. Slaves, soldiers, and peasants were involved in the construction. As a result of epidemics and overwork, at least tens of thousands of people died. Outrage against the mobilization for the construction of the wall caused popular uprisings and served as one of the reasons for the fall of the Qin dynasty.
Probably, no creation of human hands amazes the imagination as much as the Great Wall of China - the most grandiose and longest architectural and fortification structure on the planet. The wall is not just impressive - it is stunning. First of all, the titanic labor invested in it and its prohibitive size. Truly, only the Chinese, organized and hardworking like ants, could endure this. In China they say that a good half of their history lies in the Great Wall of China - it was built by different generations and dynasties over more than two thousand years, and all the country’s wars are connected with it in one way or another.
Christ the Redeemer Statue (Rio de Janeiro)
One of the most famous statues in the world and certainly the most recognizable in Brazil is the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Installed on Mount Corcovado at an altitude of more than 700 meters, she looks at the huge city below her with outstretched arms in a gesture of blessing. The Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro, due to its fame, attracts millions of tourists to Mount Corcovado. From its height there is a beautiful view of the city of ten million with its bays, beaches, and the Maracana stadium.
The height of the statue is 38 m, including the pedestal - 8 m; arm span - 28 m. Weight - 1145 tons. Being the highest point in the area, the statue regularly (on average four times a year) becomes the target of lightning. The Catholic diocese specifically keeps a supply of the stone from which the statue was built to restore parts of the statue damaged by lightning
The statue of Christ the Redeemer is without a doubt one of the main symbols not only of Rio de Janeiro, but of all of Brazil. Many tourists visit the statue every year. Mount Corcovado experiences a particularly large influx of visitors during the traditional annual carnival, which is held in Rio de Janeiro. Definitely, this grandiose monument is one of the greatest works of sculpture in the world.
Colosseum (Rome)
amphitheatre, listed building Ancient Rome, the most famous and one of the most grandiose buildings ancient world that have survived to this day. Located in Rome, in the hollow between the Esquiline, Palatine and Caelian hills.
The construction of the largest amphitheater in the entire ancient world, with a capacity of over 50 thousand people, took place over eight years as a collective construction of the emperors of the Flavian dynasty. It began to be built in 72 AD. under Emperor Vespasian, and in 80 AD. The amphitheater was consecrated by Emperor Titus. The amphitheater was located on the site where there was a pond that belonged to the Golden House of Nero.
For a long time, the Colosseum was for the residents of Rome and visitors the main place for entertainment spectacles, such as gladiator fights, animal persecution, and naval battles.
The opening of the Colosseum was marked by 100 days of entertainment. During this time, several thousand warriors and 5 thousand wild animals brought from Africa died in gladiatorial tournaments. The theater's arena had a sliding floor that raised and lowered, and with the help of a water supply connected to the Colosseum, the stage was filled with water and naval battles were staged. Up to 3,000 gladiators could fight in the arena at the same time, and 50 thousand spectators, frantically demanding “bread and circuses,” tensely watched the bloody battles, chariot races and theatrical performances. The scale of the celebrations dedicated to the opening of the Colosseum could only be matched by the bloody celebration of the 1000th anniversary of Rome in 248, when dozens of lions, tigers, leopards, elephants, giraffes, horses, donkeys and hyenas were killed in just 3 days. 1000th anniversary " eternal city"became the last day of life for 2000 gladiators.
Machu Picchu (Peru)
City ancient America, located in the territory of modern Peru. Machu Picchu is also often called “the city in the sky” or “the city among the clouds”, sometimes called the “lost city of the Incas”. This city was created as a sacred mountain retreat by the great Inca ruler Pachacutec a century before the conquest of his empire, around 1440, and functioned until 1532, when the Spanish invaded the Inca Empire. In 1532, all its inhabitants mysteriously disappeared.
Due to its modest size, Machu Picchu cannot claim to be large city- there are no more than 200 structures in it. These are mainly temples, residences, warehouses and other premises for public needs. For the most part they are made of well-processed stone, slabs tightly fitted to each other. It is believed that up to 1,200 people lived in and around it, who worshiped the sun god Inti there and cultivated crops on the terraces. For more than 400 years, this city was forgotten and was in desolation.
Machu Picchu, especially after receiving the status World Heritage UNESCO, has become a center of mass tourism. In 2011, it was decided to limit the number of visitors. According to new rules, only 2,500 tourists per day can visit Machu Picchu, of which no more than 400 people can climb Mount Wayna Picchu, which is part of the archaeological complex. In order to preserve the monument, UNESCO requires that the number of tourists per day be reduced to 800. Machu Picchu is located in a remote region.
City of Petra (Jordan)
The city of Petra in Jordan is located in the heart of the desert. This place is a heritage ancient culture. Built more than two thousand years ago, it is of great value to admirers of ancient architecture and art. This ancient miracle city stretches along a winding valley formed among the rocks, on a site that was a river bed in ancient times. Steps carved into the rocks lead to an innumerable number of structures - monuments, necropolises, reservoirs, altars. More than eight hundred monuments of Petra have survived to this day.
Petra's surviving structures include rock-cut temples, dwellings, tombs, reservoirs, aqueducts and altars. If you approach the city along the es-Siq gorge, the first large monument that opens up to your gaze is el-Khazneh - a temple located in a solid rock with a two-tiered façade approx. 20 m.
A mysterious people who have reached unattainable architectural heights are the Nabateans. Without exaggeration, we can say that the best reminder that they left about themselves to their descendants and which speaks about them better than any chronicles is a windswept pink rock masterpiece, hidden by them among the inaccessible mountains.
Pyramid of Kukulcan (Mexico)
25 meters high with nine levels, located in the center of a large square. The base of the pyramid is a square with sides of 55.5 meters. On each side of the pyramid there are four wide staircases, each with 91 steps. And these stairs lead to the upper platform on which the temple is located.
The northern staircase of the pyramid ends with snake heads - a symbol of Kukulkan, because translated from the Mayan language, Kukulkan is a feathered serpent.
Exactly at 17:15, the light show begins - the sun's rays, when going around the ledges of the pyramid on the days of the equinox, through the play of light and shadows, depict the image of a living creature. ancient god. This effect lasts for 3 hours and 22 minutes. The sun goes lower and the image becomes clearer. Soon the seven curves of the body of the Solar Serpent become visible - they are formed by the shadows of the seven ledges of the pyramid. The sun goes down - and the snake also slides, lower and lower. And below, at the foot of the pyramid, the head of the image coincides with the real, stone sculptured head of the serpent, which ends the northern staircase of the pyramid.
The ancient builders of the Mayan tribe were simply brilliant, being able to calculate the parameters so accurately at that time and positioning the walls of the pyramid strictly in the cardinal directions. The Kukulcan Pyramid has some astronomical significance. Each of its staircases has 91 steps, and total number There are 364 steps, plus the upper platform step at the base of the temple, the total is 365 - a number corresponding to the number of days in a year. And the side parts of the structure are divided in accordance with the number of months in the Mayan calendar - into eighteen sections.
Taj Mahal (India)
The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum-mosque located in Agra, India, on the banks of the Jamna River (the architects were probably Ustad-Isa and others). Built by order of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth (Shah Jahan himself was later buried here). Although the white marble dome of the mausoleum is the most famous component, the Taj Mahal is a structurally integrated complex. The building began to be built around 1632 and was completed in 1653, employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The management of the construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a Council of Architects under imperial control, including Abd ul-Karim Mamur Khan, Makramat Khan and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Lakhauri is usually considered the main designer.
Majestic, divine, radiant, and, despite its 74-meter height, so light and airy that it is like a fairy-tale dream, the Taj Mahal mausoleum rises in the valley of the Yamuna River - the most beautiful architectural creation of India, and, perhaps, of the whole earth... White marble domes soar high into the sky - one large and four small ones, in the chaste outlines of which one can guess the female form. Reflected in the motionless surface of an artificial canal, the Taj Mahal seems to float in front of us, representing an example of extraterrestrial beauty and perfect harmony... But it is not only architectural perfection that attracts millions of travelers from all over the world to the Taj Mahal. The story of its origin makes no less impression on the hearts of people... A story more like oriental fairy tale or a legend that any poet would envy...
In all centuries, people were proud and carefully protected the achievements of their civilizations. The memory of these achievements has survived to this day, becoming a worldwide property. The Seven Wonders of the World is a classic list of outstanding human creations.
An interesting fact is that it was well known even before our era. In ancient schools, children were taught various sciences, and knowledge of the 7 wonders of the world was mandatory.
In this article we will provide you not only with a list of 7 wonders of the world, but also make brief description each of them.
List of 7 wonders of the world
Well, now photos and descriptions of the masterpieces of antiquity, which we call nothing less than seven wonders of the world.
1 wonder of the world - Pyramid of Cheops
The exact date of construction of this grandiose structure is unknown. However, scientists suggest that it is around 2600 BC.
The original height of the Cheops pyramid was 146 meters (that's like 5 nine-story buildings), while now it is approximately 138 m. The inclination angle of the walls is from 51° to 53°. The average weight of the blocks from which the pyramid is built is 2.5 tons, although some blocks reach 80 tons.
No cement or other binding substance was used in construction. The stone blocks of the first wonder of the world are simply stacked on top of each other. The surface of the pyramid was lined with limestone slabs. Today the coating is almost completely destroyed.
There are three chambers inside the pyramid: the underground, the Queen's Chamber and the Pharaoh's Chamber. There was only one entrance to this structure, and it was located at a height of 15 meters from the ground. But in 820 another, artificial entrance was made to the Cheops pyramid.
The purpose of this stunning building is still unknown. It was previously believed that the pyramids played the role of tombs for the pharaohs. However, such a simplified view of such a majestic and complex structure has not been taken seriously for a long time.
There are also suggestions that the Cheops pyramid was an ancient space observatory, or was a powerful energy generator.
2 wonder of the world - Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are considered the 2nd wonder of the world. This amazing structure was built in 605 BC, but already in 562 BC. it was destroyed due to flooding.
Despite the fact that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are named after the Assyrian queen Semiramis (800 BC), Nebuchadnezzar II built them in honor of his wife Amytis.
But the Hanging Gardens were included in the list of 7 wonders of the world with the name of Semiramis.
The structure consisted of four floors. All of them were equipped with cool rooms for royal walks. Columns 25 m high supported each tier.
The terraces were covered with special lead leaves and filled with asphalt to prevent water for watering the plants from leaking out. On top of all this was sprinkled with earth of such thickness that trees could grow there freely. One can only imagine how much weight the columns of the lower tier could bear.
Water for irrigation was pumped up from the Euphrates River using a cunning system. The slaves constantly turned the wheel to supply water, since the majestic building with stunning gardens required a lot of moisture.
To see the place where the 2nd wonder of the world was located - the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, you will have to go to Iraq, since the ruins ancient Babylon were found there.
3rd wonder of the world - Statue of Zeus at Olympia
Based on the name of the 3rd wonder of the world - the statue of Zeus, it is not difficult to guess to whom this architectural masterpiece was dedicated. The fact is that the Greeks built a temple to the pagan god Zeus in 465 BC, but the statue of Zeus, which is considered one of the 7 wonders of the world, appeared there only 30 years later.
The statue of Zeus itself was made of ivory and reached a height of 17 meters (like a five-story building). At the base of the monument there was a square slab, 6 m wide and 1 m high.
The effect produced on the Greeks by the third of the wonders of the world was stunning. The fact is that the ratio of the sizes of the temple itself and the statue of Zeus inside it was such that it seemed as if Zeus would now rise and break through the roof of the temple, since otherwise he would simply not be able to straighten up.
The statue of Zeus stood in Olympia for about 800 years. At the beginning of the 5th century AD, the temple was destroyed, and the statue was transported to Constantinople in order to preserve cultural heritage. In 425 she died in a fire.
4th wonder of the world - Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
In the ancient Greek city of Ephesus in 560 BC. The Temple of Artemis of Ephesus was built, which later became one of the 7 wonders of the world.
The height of the temple was 18 m, width – 52 m, length – 105 m. The roof was supported by 127 columns.
Some of the best people worked on the creation of this architectural masterpiece: the best masters antiquity. The statue of Artemis itself was made of gold and ivory.
The temple had not just religious significance, but was also a cultural and economic center.
Who burned the Temple of Artemis of Ephesus?
In the summer of 356 BC. e. The Temple of Artemis, one of the 7 wonders of the world, was burned by a resident of the city of Ephesus. The name of the temple arsonist is Herostratus.
You may ask why Herostratus needed to destroy such a unique architectural monument?
By his own admission, he did this in order to go down in history and perpetuate his name forever. Despite the fact that he was executed for this crime, the name of Herostratus has indeed survived to this day.
However, the great commander Alexander the Great restored the temple of Artemis of Ephesus to its previous form, allocating colossal funds for this matter.
In 263, the fourth wonder of the world was plundered and destroyed by the Goths.
The remains of the Temple of Artemis from Ephesus can be found in Turkey, in the city of Selcuk, Izmir province.
5th wonder of the world - Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, included in the list of 7 wonders of the world, appeared in 351 BC. The author of the idea is the king of Caria named Mausolus together with his wife, Queen Artemisia.
Thus, they decided to perpetuate their name following the example of the Egyptian pharaohs. It must be said that his idea was successful, since the fifth wonder of the world is still associated with his name.
The mausoleum building was three-tiered.
The first tier was a massive base, surrounded around the perimeter by statues of ancient Greek heroes. Inside, after the death of Mausolus and his wife, their tombs were to be placed.
The second floor was used as a temple to serve pagan cults. There were 36 columns on it that supported the upper, main part of the Halicarnassus mausoleum.
The third tier looked like a pyramid consisting of 24 steps. At the very top, the main value of the mausoleum was installed: a majestic statue representing a chariot with King Mausolus and his wife Artemisia.
It seems incredible, but in the British Museum you can see statues of both royal spouses, well preserved to this day.
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, which became one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was destroyed in the 13th century due to a large-scale earthquake.
In the Turkish resort town of Bodrum you can find the site where the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus once stood.
6th wonder of the world - Colossus of Rhodes
The Colossus of Rhodes entered the classic list of the Seven Wonders of the World almost immediately after its creation in 280 BC.
But first, let's tell the background story of the appearance of the sixth wonder of the world. Almost immediately after the death of Alexander the Great, Demetrius I attacked Rhodes, one of the largest port cities.
Holding the siege of the city more than a year, for unknown reasons, he abandoned everything he had there and left with his army.
As a token of gratitude, the residents of Rhodes decided to sell the huge property that was in their hands and use the proceeds to build a monument to Helios, the sun god.
The main architect and sculptor of this masterpiece was Jerez. The original idea of the inhabitants of Rhodes was to build a statue that would be 10 times higher than the average height of a person, that is, 18 meters.
But then they decided to double the height, for which they allocated more to Jerez a large amount money. But they were not enough to continue construction. However, Jerez could no longer stop.
He borrowed enormous amounts of money from wealthy friends and relatives and continued to work tirelessly to create a monument that would later join the Seven Wonders of the World.
Ultimately, after 12 years of titanic work, the world saw the 36-meter Colossus of Rhodes. It consisted of an iron frame, finished with clay, and was lined with bronze. The Colossus was located right at the entrance to the harbor, and was visible from all the nearby islands.
It is interesting to note that the fate of the sculptor Jerez himself was tragic. After completing his masterpiece, he was persecuted by creditors. Ultimately, he committed suicide.
In total, 13 tons of bronze and 8 tons of iron were used to build the Colossus of Rhodes. However, 65 years after its appearance, around 225 BC. The Colossus of Rhodes fell into the sea, breaking at the knees. By the way, the expression “colossus with feet of clay” appeared precisely after this.
Eyewitnesses left information that the finger of the statue alone was so thick that two adults could barely grasp it.
The height of the colossus was approximately 60 m (like an eighteen-story building). The Rhodes statue lay in a recumbent position for almost 900 years. Then it was dismantled and sold by the Arabs, who by that time had captured Rhodes.
In the end, it should only be noted that there is no exact data about what the Colossus of Rhodes, included in the seven wonders of the world, actually looked like.
7th wonder of the world - Lighthouse of Alexandria
The last, seventh wonder of the world is the Lighthouse of Alexandria, built in the 3rd century BC. It is also called the Faros Lighthouse.
The idea of creating this lighthouse was quite practical. The fact is that not far from Alexandria there was the island of Pharos with an important bay. At that time she had great value for passing merchant ships.
Probably Sostratus of Knidos (chief architect of the lighthouse) dreamed that his brainchild would be included in the seven wonders of the world and glorify his name for centuries.
The project was implemented during the reign of the Egyptian Ptolemy II. Construction took 20 years, but Sostratus completed the work in just 5.
An interesting fact is that when Sostratus was asked to imprint the name of Ptolemy on the Alexandria lighthouse, he acted very cunningly. First, he carved his name on the stone, and on top of the plaster he laid out the name of the ruler.
A few decades later, the plaster collapsed, and the residents saw the name of the true master and author of the seventh wonder of the world.
The Alexandria Lighthouse consisted of three towers.
The lowest part was a technical floor, where workers and soldiers lived, and all equipment for maintaining the lighthouse was stored.
The second part looked like an octagonal tower, around which there was a ramp. Fuel for the fire was supplied through it.
The topmost, key tower of the lighthouse was equipped with a complex system of mirrors, thanks to which the light from the fire was visible so far.
The total height of the Faros lighthouse was about 140 meters. At the very top of the head was a statue of the god of the seas - Poseidon.
It is worth mentioning the reviews of contemporaries who saw the Alexandria Lighthouse in person. So some travelers talked about the amazing statues that were located at the lighthouse.
The first of them raised her hand at sunrise, pointed at it throughout the day, and after sunset the hand dropped.
The second one made a sound 24 times a day with the last second of each passing hour.
The third indicated the direction of the wind.
The Alexandria lighthouse illuminated at night water surface over a distance of over 60 km. During the day, a column of smoke rose from it, which also served as an important indicator for ships.
In 796, after standing for almost 1000 years, the seventh wonder of the world, the Faros lighthouse, was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake. In the 15th century, Sultan Qait Bey founded a fortress on its foundation, which still exists today.
An interesting fact is that in 2015, the Egyptian authorities approved a project to rebuild the lighthouse.
Well, here we go all seven wonders of the world. Of course this list is different times disputed by certain figures, but it is still considered a classic.
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Time is fleeting. Civilizations change, leaving behind a grandiose architectural heritage. Unfortunately, everything is subject to destruction, especially what was built by human hands. That is why the ancient seven wonders of the world, the description of which is known to everyone culturally, for the most part have not survived to our time. They were replaced by others that still existed. The seven wonders of the world of our time were chosen for a long time and scrupulously. The result of this work was seven grandiose architectural structures, famous throughout the world.
Definition of the concept
What are the wonders of the world, and why did they receive such a proud name? Why were they singled out among all? monumental works ancient world and modern times? And they are named so due to the fact that they are located above the category of time. These monuments of architectural thought are admired now in the same way as they were admired in ancient times. There are legends about them.
Until recently, there were the ancient Seven Wonders of the World. The Pyramid of Cheops is the only one of them that has survived to this day. Others, such as the Hanging Gardens or the Lighthouse of Alexandria, did not survive. They are known only from manuscripts, essays by contemporaries and paintings recreated from descriptions.
How the new list was elected
Thus, it was necessary to choose new seven wonders of the world. Architectural monuments passed a real competition (it was held by the independent organization “New Open World Corporation”). All modern means were used, including votes being received over the Internet and via SMS messages. 90 million people around the world cast their vote for the monument that they considered most worthy of bearing such an honorable title. Thus, among several dozen applicants in 2007, the seven wonders of the world of our time were chosen. We will talk about each of them in more detail below. For now, I would like to list those who were only one step away from the highest award. Thus, the finals included Red Square in Moscow, the Stonehenge building, the Eiffel Tower and the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.
It is noteworthy that the Giza Pyramids were also finalists in the competition, but the Egyptian authorities refused to participate in it. Most likely, they do not consider it possible for these architectural monuments to be included in the new seven wonders of the world, because they already appear in the ancient ones.
Great Wall of China
There are many legends and beliefs about how they built it. So, many people are still sure that the people who worked on its construction are buried right inside the structure - this is not so. Although it is true that more than a million people died during construction.
So, the construction of the Great Wall of China dates back to the 3rd century BC. Its construction was conceived by the emperors. The construction pursued many goals, the main of which were:
- protection of lands from nomadic tribes;
- the inadmissibility of assimilation of foreigners into the Chinese nation;
Thus began construction, which dragged on for centuries. Rulers changed: some treated the building with disdain (the Manchu Qing dynasty), others, on the contrary, carefully monitored the construction.
It should be said that a significant part of the wall collapsed because it was not properly maintained. Only the site near Beijing was lucky - for a long time it served as a kind of gateway to the capital. Nevertheless, in the late eighties of the 20th century, large-scale restoration work began, and in 1997 the Wall was included in the seven wonders of the world of our time.
Why was she awarded such an honorary title? This is the longest architectural structure in the world: its total length is 8851.8 kilometers. How did they build the Great Wall of China that they were able to reach such unprecedented dimensions? The process went on for millennia, systematically. However, it is worth saying that this is not a solid structure. There are gaps throughout the Wall. This is what allowed the great Genghis Khan to conquer China and rule there for 12 years. Every year tens of millions of tourists visit this modern wonder of the world.
Rio: Christ statue
Completely on the other side of the planet, in Rio de Janeiro stands the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer. He rises above the city, with his arms outstretched, as if hugging all the residents and guests of the multimillion-dollar city.
The monument was built in honor of the centenary of Brazil's independence. A truly picturesque place was chosen for its construction: Mount Corcovado, from which you can see the whole of Rio, with its Sugar Loaf peak and famous beaches.
The whole country raised funds for the construction: the magazine “O Cruzeiro” announced a subscription, the funds from which were used for the construction of the monument. The project was entrusted to Silva Costa, although other options had been proposed before him: for example, the outstretched arms of Christ, like a crucifix, were proposed by K. Oswald, an artist.
Brazil at that time was a poor, unindustrial country, so it was impossible to implement such a large-scale project. France came to the rescue - it was there that the statue of Christ the Redeemer was made in detail. And then it was transported to Brazil. The parts were transported to the construction site by a small railway, which is still in operation today. Millions of tourists annually climb one of the most famous structures of our time.
Taj Mahal
In Indian Agra, on the banks of the Jumna, the greatest palace-mausoleum, the Taj Mahal, is located. This is the tomb of the wife of the great descendant of Tamerlane, Shah Jahan. The woman's name was Mumtaz Mahal, she died during childbirth.
Taj Mahal in India - the pinnacle of the Mughal architectural style. It included a synthesis of the art of Indians, Persians and Arabs. The most famous element of the structure is the huge snow-white dome. The mausoleum itself is made of white marble. It is a five-domed palace containing the tombs of both the Shah himself and his wife. It is noteworthy that the four minarets located along the edges are slightly inclined - this protects the tombs from destruction in case of earthquakes, which are not uncommon in India. Adjacent to the mausoleum itself is a park with picturesque fountains and a lake. The Taj Mahal was built in 1653. 20 thousand builders completed such a large-scale project in 22 years.
The mausoleum itself, thanks to its numerous visitors, brings considerable funds into the Indian treasury.
Chichen Itza
The legendary Mayan city is located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. This is not an ordinary city - it served as the capital, political and cult center. Chichen Itza was built in the 7th century AD. Most of the buildings belong to the Mayan culture, some of them were built by the Toltecs. At the end of the 12th century, there were no inhabitants left in Chichen Itza. One of the mysteries is connected with this, which has not yet been explained: either the Spaniards, who destroyed the Mayans during the invasion of Mexico, were the culprits, or everything happened naturally due to the decline economic situation capitals.
On the territory ancient city Several architectural structures were found at different times. However, the most remarkable of them is the Chichen Itza pyramid. This is a kind of center of legendary Mayan knowledge, their religious beliefs, a cult center. The 24-meter high has four sides with 9 steps each. The stairs located on each side of the pyramid have 91 steps. If you add up their number, you get 364 plus one leading to the small temple that crowns the pyramid. It turns out 365 - the number of days in a year.
The balustrade along the edges of the stairs represents the body of a snake, the head of which is located at the base of the pyramid. B gives the impression that the snake is moving. Moreover, in the fall it goes down, and in the spring it goes up.
Ritual temples are located at the top of the pyramid and inside it. They were probably used for sacrifices.
Coliseum
The new seven wonders of the world of our time include European monuments. This is the famous Roman Colosseum. Its appearance is partly due to the oppressive rule of Nero. Having committed suicide, he left behind a grandiose palace with a lake in the very center of Rome. Vespasian, who came to power, decided to forever erase the cruel Nero from the memory of the people. It was decided to give the luxurious palace to imperial institutions, and to build a huge amphitheater on the site of the lake. This is how the Colosseum appeared. Initially, after construction in 80, it was called the Flavian Amphitheater. Modern name The building was built only in the 8th century, most likely due to its impressive size.
Initially, it was used to entertain the people with gladiator fights, baiting animals, etc. They even celebrated the 1000th anniversary of Rome there. However, in the Middle Ages, due to the invasion of barbarian tribes, the Colosseum was partially destroyed, in this process not last role played by a powerful earthquake in the 14th century. Afterwards, the grandiose structure is taken away brick by brick for construction needs.
Only in the 18th century, Pope Benedict XIV began to protect the Colosseum as an important architectural object. Now it is a symbol of Rome, which is visited by a great many tourists from all over the world.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a unique city in South America, located at an altitude of almost 2,500 thousand meters above sea level. The Spanish conquerors were unable to reach it, which is why the architecture of the ancient city remained untouched.
Machu Picchu was discovered only at the very beginning of the 20th century by a professor at Yale University. It is noteworthy that very little is known about the city; they know nothing about the size of the population, the purpose of the building, etc. One thing is clear: Machu Picchu has a very clear structure and layout.
IN at the moment is under protection. UNESCO has limited the number of daily visitors to 2,500 people.
Petra - the pearl of Jordan
City in the rock - this is how one can characterize another wonder of the world modern world, Jordanian Petra. The path to the city lies through natural gorges, which are the city walls. In ancient times, Petra was of great importance - it lay on the trade route between Damascus and the Red Sea region, as well as Gaza and the Persian Gulf. The city lived by trade.
The inhabitants of Petra knew how not only to skillfully process stone, but also to collect water. In essence, the city has become an artificial oasis in the middle of the desert.
The main attraction that attracts tourists is Al Khazneh. According to scientists, this is a temple-mausoleum. There are many legends associated with the building. According to some, this is the place where Pharaoh hid his wealth during the time of Moses, according to others, this is a repository of loot from robbers.
To tourists around the world Petra and her main temple known for the film about the adventures of Indiana Jones.