Shocking: See the seven wonders of the world

The original Seven Wonders of the World were a collection of remarkable man-made structures from the classical era. 

They are:

 The Great Pyramid of Giza 

 The oldest and largest of the three pyramids in Giza, Egypt, built over 4,500 years ago.

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid and the tomb of Fourth Dynasty pharaoh Khufu. Built in the early 26th century BC during a period of around 27 years,the pyramid is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact. It is the most famous monument of the Giza pyramid complex, in the Pyramid Fields of the Memphis and its Necropolis UNESCO World Heritage Site,in Giza, Egypt. It is at the most Northern end of the line of the 3 Pyramids of Giza. 

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon 

 

 An elaborate terraced garden complex built in Babylon, Iraq, in the 6th century BC.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World listed by Hellenic culture. They were described as a remarkable feat of engineering with an ascending series of tiered gardens containing a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and vines, resembling a large green mountain constructed of mud bricks. It was said to have been built in the ancient city of Babylon, near present-day Hillah, Babil province, in Iraq. The Hanging Gardens' name is derived from the Greek word κρεμαστός (kremastós, lit. 'overhanging'), which has a broader meaning than the modern English word "hanging" and refers to trees being planted on a raised structure such as a terrace . 

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus 

 A massive Greek temple in Ephesus, Turkey, built in the 6th century BC.

The Temple of Artemis was a grandiose ancient Greek temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis, located in the city of Ephesus (now modern-day Turkey). It was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and was considered to be the largest temple ever built in the ancient world.

The original temple was constructed around 800 BCE, but it was destroyed and rebuilt several times throughout history. The most famous reconstruction was commissioned by the Lydian king Croesus in the 6th century BCE, and it was designed by the Greek architect Chersiphron.

The Temple of Artemis was an impressive architectural achievement, with over 100 marble columns that stood 60 feet tall, each weighing an estimated 50 tons. The temple was also adorned with stunning sculptures and artwork, including the famous statue of Artemis, which was covered in gold and gems.

The temple served as a religious center and was also a popular destination for pilgrims and tourists. It was eventually destroyed by a fire in the 5th century CE, and its remains were used to build other structures in the city.

Today, only a few fragments of the temple remain, and the site is an important archaeological and historical landmark. 

The Statue of Zeus 

The Statue of Zeus was a giant statue of the Greek god Zeus, created by the sculptor Phidias in the 5th century BCE. It was located in the temple of Zeus at Olympia, Greece, and was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The statue was approximately 40 feet tall and was made of ivory and gold. Zeus was depicted sitting on a throne, holding a scepter in one hand and a figure of Nike, the goddess of victory, in the other. The statue was said to be so large that its head nearly touched the ceiling of the temple.

The statue was created in the midst of the Golden Age of Greece, a period of great artistic and cultural achievement. It was commissioned by the ruler of Elis, and it took Phidias nearly 10 years to complete.

The statue was revered by the ancient Greeks and was considered a symbol of their faith and devotion to the gods. It remained in the temple for several centuries, until it was likely destroyed or damaged during a fire in the 5th or 6th century CE.

Today, no traces of the statue remain, but its legacy lives on as a symbol of the artistic and cultural achievements of ancient Greece.

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus 

An ornate tomb in Bodrum, Turkey, built in the 4th century BC.

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was a monumental tomb located in the ancient city of Halicarnassus, which is now modern-day Bodrum, Turkey. It was built in the mid-4th century BC for Mausolus, a satrap of the Persian Empire who ruled over Caria, a region in southwestern Anatolia.

Mausolus's wife and sister, Artemisia II, commissioned the construction of the Mausoleum after his death in 353 BC. It was designed by Greek architects Satyros and Pythius and was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The Mausoleum was a massive structure that stood over 45 meters tall and was decorated with intricate sculptures and reliefs depicting scenes from Mausolus's life and the mythology of the ancient Greeks. The building was constructed using white marble and was adorned with friezes, columns, and a stepped pyramid roof.

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was damaged by earthquakes in the 12th and 15th centuries and was eventually dismantled and used as building materials for other structures in the area. Today, only a few fragments of the Mausoleum's sculptures and reliefs remain, but its design has influenced many monumental tombs throughout history.  

The Colossus of Rhodes 

A massive statue of the Greek god Helios in Rhodes, Greece, built in the 3rd century BC. 

The Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of the Greek god Helios that was erected on the Greek island of Rhodes in the third century BC. The statue was approximately 33 meters (110 feet) tall and was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The Colossus of Rhodes was commissioned by the people of Rhodes to celebrate their victory over the invading forces of Cyprus in 305 BC. The statue was designed by the sculptor Chares of Lindos, who is believed to have spent 12 years working on it.

The statue was made of bronze and stood on a marble pedestal. It was said to have been so large that ships could sail between its legs. The statue stood for only 56 years before it was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC.

The Colossus of Rhodes was not rebuilt, but its ruins remained on the island for centuries. Today, there are few traces of the statue left, but it remains an important symbol of ancient Greek culture and engineering.

The lighthouse of Alexandria  

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was a tall tower located on the eastern edge of the Pharos Island in Alexandria, Egypt. It was commissioned by Ptolemy I Soter, a general of Alexander the Great, in the 3rd century BC, and completed during the reign of his son, Ptolemy II Philadelphus.

The lighthouse was approximately 130 meters (430 feet) tall and was constructed of white marble blocks. It was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and served as a guiding light for ships entering the harbor of Alexandria.

The lighthouse was equipped with a large mirror that reflected sunlight during the day and a fire at night, creating a bright beam of light that could be seen from up to 50 kilometers (30 miles) away. The mirror was made of polished bronze and was designed to focus the sunlight onto a single point.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria stood for over 1,500 years before it was destroyed by a series of earthquakes in the 14th century. Today, only a few ruins remain of the structure, but it remains an important symbol of ancient Greek and Egyptian engineering and a reminder of the cultural and scientific achievements of the ancient world.

It's worth noting that of these Seven Wonders of the World, only the Great Pyramid of Giza still stands today. The others were destroyed by natural disasters or human intervention over the centuries. In modern times, various lists of "new" Seven Wonders of the World have been compiled, based on different criteria and including both natural and man-made wonders.