1. THE WONDERS
OF THE WORLD
By Haslinda Midy

2. The Colossus of Rhodes
A gigantic bronze statue that once stood 32 meters (110 feet) high on a marble
plinth, the Colossus of Rhodes was built by its citizens to revere the Sun God
Helios who supposedly helped Rhodes to ward off Demetrius of Macedonia.
Constructed by the engineer Chares of Lindos, the Colossus of Rhodes was
completed after ten years of meticulous work so that the legs would sustain the
enormous weight of the giant statue. Unfortunately, in 227 B.C., an earthquake
caused the Colossus to crack at the knee and set it in motion so that it collapsed
into pieces. Even so, the statue was so admired that it was left lying in huge
fragments for over 900 years until its valuable parts were brought to Syria.

3. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
A magnificent garden paradise said to have been built in 7th century B.C. in the middle
of the arid Mesopotamian desert, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were testimony to
one man’s ability to, against all the laws of nature, create a botanical oasis of beauty
amid a bleak desert landscape.
King Nebuchadnezzar created the gardens as a sign of esteem for his wife Semiramis,
who, legend has it, longed for the forests and roses of her homeland. The gardens were
terraced and surrounded by the city walls with a moat to repel invading armies. There
remains doubt, however, amongst historians and archaeologists as to whether this lost
paradise ever existed, given that excavations at Babylon have left no definitive trace of
this mythical oasis.

4. The Lighthouse of Alexandria
Built to guide ships through the labyrinth of sandbars that created havoc for merchants
attempting to reach the port of Alexandria in Egypt, the Lighthouse or Pharos of
Alexandria was the only ancient wonder to have served a practical purpose. Built
between 299 and 79 B.C., the lighthouse stood some 166 meters, or around 500 feet,
above the city’s western harbor and was financed by the Greek merchant Sostratus who
wanted to help ensure the safety of shipping traffic.
Polished bronze mirrors were specially devised to reflect sunlight out to sea during
daytime, and fires were lit at night to serve as a beacon for lost ships at night. The tower
stood relatively intact until a series of earthquakes and gradual deterioration from natural
elements caused the structure to collapse and eventually be dismantled for its stones.

5. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Built between 370 and 351 B.C., this monumental tomb was dedicated to King Mausolus
of Caria by his grieving wife, Queen Artemisia, as a memorial to their great love.
According to Plinius the Mausoleum once stood 45 metres (135 feet) high and was
surrounded by 36 columns, standing atop a marble pedestal at the intersection of the
two main streets of Halicarnassus. The Mausoleum stood relatively intact until 1522
A.D., when it was ordered destroyed as an example of Pagan art.

6. The Pyramids of Egypt
The only surviving wonder of the ancient world, the Pyramids of Egypt (Giza), were the
phenomenal achievement of Egyptian construction and engineering. Built between 2600
and 2500 B.C., the three pyramids at Giza encompass more than 5 million limestone
blocks which were painstakingly transported via timber sleds and by being rolled over
the top of logs.
As cranes were as yet unheard of, each block had to be dragged via ramps up to its
designated place. According to Herodot, the largest of the three pyramids, known as the
Great Pyramid, (about 146 meters high) took 20 years to complete and served as the
tomb for the Egyptian Pharoah Khufu. The pyramids represented the link between
heaven and earth and were a signal to Horus, God of the World.

7. The Statue of Zeus
This gold and bejeweled statue was commissioned in 438 B.C. by the Council of
Olympia in reverence for Zeus, the ruler and most powerful of the Olympian gods. The
great statue was the work of the Athenian sculptor Phidias and was constructed inside
the Parthenon, the great temple overlooking the city.
According to Philo of Byzantium, this was the most inspiring of all the seven wonders of
the ancient world: ‘Whereas we greatly admire the other six wonders, we kneel in front
of this one in reverence…’. The statue of Zeus was later destroyed along with its temple
after an earthquake in 170 B.C.

8. The Temple of Artemis
The greatest temple of the ancient world, the Temple of Artemis once stood as the most
magnificent accomplishment of Greek civilization and Hellenistic culture, built as a
tribute to Artemis – the Greek goddess of the hunt, mistress of Nature, protector of wild
beasts and the sister of Apollo. The Temple of Artemis was located in Ephesus (in
modern-day Turkey), which was to become the richest seaport in Asia Minor.
It once consisted of 127 marble columns each standing 20 meters (60 feet) tall. First
built in the 6th century B.C., the temple was destroyed by fire 200 years later and then
rebuilt under the supervision of Alexander the Great. The great temple was eventually
destroyed successively by invading Gothic hordes, earthquakes, and plunderers. Today,
only a solitary column remains of this once-glorious structure.

9. The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá (before 800
A.D.) Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Chichén Itzá, the most famous Mayan temple city, served as the political and economic
center of the Mayan civilization. Its various structures – the pyramid of Kukulkan, the
Temple of Chac Mool, the Hall of the Thousand Pillars, and the Playing Field of the
Prisoners – can still be seen today and are demonstrative of an extraordinary
commitment to architectural space and composition. The pyramid itself was the last, and
arguably the greatest, of all Mayan temples.

10. Christ Redeemer (1931)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
This statue of Jesus stands some 38 meters tall, atop the Corcovado mountain
overlooking Rio de Janeiro. Designed by Brazilian Heitor da Silva Costa and created by
French sculptor Paul Landowski, it is one of the world’s best-known monuments. The
statue took five years to construct and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931. It has
become a symbol of the city and of the warmth of the Brazilian people, who receive
visitors with open arms.

11. Machu Picchu (1460-1470), Peru
In the 15th century, the Incan Emperor Pachacútec built a city in the clouds on the
mountain known as Machu Picchu (“old mountain”). This extraordinary settlement lies
halfway up the Andes Plateau, deep in the Amazon jungle and above the Urubamba
River. It was probably abandoned by the Incas because of a smallpox outbreak and,
after the Spanish defeated the Incan Empire, the city remained ‘lost’ for over three
centuries. It was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911.

12. The Roman Colosseum (70 – 82 A.D.)
Rome, Italy
This great amphitheater in the centre of Rome was built to give favors to successful
legionnaires and to celebrate the glory of the Roman Empire. Its design concept still
stands to this very day, and virtually every modern sports stadium some 2,000 years
later still bears the irresistible imprint of the Colosseum’s original design. Today, through
films and history books, we are even more aware of the cruel fights and games that took
place in this arena, all for the joy of the spectators.

13. The Great Wall of China (220 B.C and
1368 – 1644 A.D.) China
The Great Wall of China was built to link existing fortifications into a united defense
system and better keep invading Mongol tribes out of China. It is the largest man-made
monument ever to have been built and it is disputed that it is the only one visible from
space. Many thousands of people must have given their lives to build this colossal
construction.

14. The Taj Mahal (1630 A.D.) Agra, India
This immense mausoleum was built on the orders of Shah Jahan, the fifth Muslim Mogul
emperor, to honor the memory of his beloved late wife. Built out of white marble and
standing in formally laid-out walled gardens, the Taj Mahal is regarded as the most
perfect jewel of Muslim art in India. The emperor was consequently jailed and, it is said,
could then only see the Taj Mahal out of his small cell window.

15. Petra (9 B.C. – 40 A.D.), Jordan
On the edge of the Arabian Desert, Petra was the glittering capital of the Nabataean
empire of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to 40 A.D.). Masters of water technology, the
Nabataeans provided their city with great tunnel constructions and water chambers. A
theater, modelled on Greek-Roman prototypes, had space for an audience of 4,000.
Today, the Palace Tombs of Petra, with the 42-meter-high Hellenistic temple facade on
the El-Deir Monastery, are impressive examples of Middle Eastern culture.

16. Angkor (12th century) Cambodia
Angkor is the most important monument of the south-east Asian Khmer Empire and the
world’s largest sacred temple. Built during the reign of King Suryavaman, at the
beginning of the 12th century, Angkor is noted for its intricate ornamentation and striking
beauty. With its water moats, concentric walls and magnificent temple mountain in the
center, Angkor Wat symbolizes the Hindu cosmos, with its oceans at the periphery and
the Meru mountain at the center of its universe.

17. The Statue of Liberty (1886) New York
City, U.S.A.
The Statue of Liberty was a gift of the French government to the United States to honor
the ideals of freedom and independence. It was a very early gesture of national
generosity. This huge statue became a symbol of hope and freedom for many hundreds
of millions of people who immigrated to the United States during the 20th century to find
a new life of peace and prosperity. It is also the one New7Wonders candidate that most
closely resembles one of the Ancient 7 Wonders – The Colossus of Rhodes.

18. Statues of Easter Island (10th – 16th
Century) Easter Island, Chile
Discovered on Easter Sunday, 1722 by Dutch explorer Jakob Roggeveen, this collection
of 25 meter-high stone sculptures still puzzles historians and archaeologists as to its
origins. It is believed that a society of Polynesian origin settled here in the 4th century
and established a unique tradition of monumental sculpture. Between the 10th and 16th
centuries, they erected the enormous stone figures, known as the Moai, which have long
fascinated the entire world and endowed this island with a mythical atmosphere.

19. Stonehenge (3000 B.C. – 1600 B.C.)
Amesbury, United Kingdom
Construction of Stonehenge took place between ca. 3000 and 1600 B.C. With each
stone weighing around 50 tons, it is regarded as a truly amazing feat of engineering.
Although it is not clear who built the monument, nor for what purpose, it has been
speculated that it was either a temple dedicated to the worship of ancient earth deities,
an astronomical observatory or a sacred burial site.

20. The Hagia Sophia (532 – 537 A.D.)
Istanbul, Turkey
The Hagia Sophia was erected during the reign of Emperor Justinian (532 – 537 A.D.),
when the Byzantine Empire was at the height of its power and influence. The massive
dome, which is the prominent architectural feature, has since often been used as a
model for the design of Islamic mosques. Indeed, after the fall of Byzantium, the Hagia
Sophia was converted into an Ottoman mosque. Today, the monument is a museum
serving both Christians and Muslims.

21. Kiyomizu Temple (749 – 1855)
Kyoto, Japan
Laid out in 794 A.D., the palaces and temples of Kyoto were the residences of Japan’s
emperors and shoguns for more than 1,000 years. The Japanese Emperor is enthroned
at the Kyoto Gosho (Imperial Palace). Among other significant works are the Higashi
Honganji and Nishi Honganji temple complexes, the Kinkakuji Temple with its ‘Golden
Pavilion’ and the Kiyomizu Temple, the temple of “clear waters.” The Kyoto sites have
been destroyed and rebuilt many times throughout history and are today among Asia’s
greatest cultural heritage sites.

22. Neuschwanstein Castle (1869 -1884)
Schwangau, Germany
Neuschwanstein Castle was built in a time when castles and fortresses were no longer
strategically necessary. Instead, it was born of pure fantasy – a beautiful, romantic
composition of towers and walls in the perfect setting of mountains and lakes. The
combination of various architectural styles and intrinsic craftwork has inspired
generations of adults and children alike.

23. Forbidden City – Beijing, China
The Forbidden City was the Chinese Imperial palace from the mid-Ming
Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing,
China. It now houses the Palace Museum. The complex consists of 800
buildings with 8,886 rooms. It covers 720,000 square metres. The Forbidden
City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987 as the "Imperial Palace of the
Ming and Qing Dynasties", and is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of
preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.

24. Bagan - Myanmar
Bagan, formerly Pagan, formally titled Arimaddanapura (the City of the
Enemy Crusher) and also known as Tambadipa (the Land of Copper) or
Tassadessa (the Parched Land), was the ancient capital of several ancient
kingdoms in Myanmar. It is located in the dry central plains of the country, on
the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwady River, 145 kilometres (90 miles)
southwest of Mandalay.

25. Teotihuacan (Mexico)
Teotihuacán was, at its height in the first half of the 1st millennium CE, the
largest pre-Columbian city in the Americas. The name Teotihuacán is also
used to refer to the civilization or culture that this city was the center of,
which at its greatest extent included much of central Mexico. Its influence
spread throughout Mesoamerica; evidence of Teotihuacano presence, if not
outright political and economic control, can be seen at numerous sites in
Veracruz and the Maya region.

26. Acropolis of Athens (Greece)
The Acropolis of Athens is the best known acropolis (high city, The "Sacred
Rock") in the world. Although there are many other acropoleis in Greece, the
significance of the Acropolis of such that it is commonly known as The
Acropolis without qualification. The Acropolis was formally proclaimed as the
pre-eminent monument on the European Cultural Heritage list of monuments
on the 26th of March, 2007. The Acropolis is a flat-topped rock which rises
512 ft above sea level in the city of Athens.

27. Qin Terra Cotta Warriors (China)
The Terracotta Army or Terracotta Warriors and Horses is a collection of
8,099 life-size Chinese terra cotta figures of warriors and horses located near
the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor. The figures were discovered in 1974
near Xi'an, Shaanxi province, China. The Terracotta Army was buried with the
Emperor of Qin (Qin Shi Huangdi) in 210-209 BC. Their purpose was to help
rule another empire with Shi Huangdi in the afterlife.

28. The Old City of Jerusalem (Israel)
The Old City of Jerusalem is a 0.35 square mile area of the modern day city of
Jerusalem. Until the 1860s this area constituted the entire city of Jerusalem.
The Old City is home to several sites of key religious importance: the Temple
Mount and its Western Wall for Jews, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for
Christians, and the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslims.

29. Borobudur (Indonesia)
Borobudur is a ninth century Buddhist Mahayana monument in Central Java,
Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three
circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha
statues.[1] A main dome is located at the center of the top platform,
surrounded by seventy-two Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.

30. Timbuktu (12th century) Mali
In the 12th century, Timbuktu was at the crossroads of the four most
important caravan paths supplying the Arab world, which then spanned from
the Middle East all the way to Spain. The accumulation of wealth made it one
of the wealthiest places on earth at the time. This allowed one of the first
universities in the history of humankind to be established– the celebrated
Islamic university called the Koranic Sankore, where 20,000 students studied
law, medicine, rhetoric, etc.

31. The Kremlin and Red Square (1156 –
1850) Moscow, Russia
Built as a residence for Ivan I, the Kremlin was the official residence of the
Czars until the 1917 Russian Revolution. Today, it still houses the President’s
office. In front of the Kremlin is Red Square – an impressive and exuberant
plaza which, for many people, is associated with the infamous May Day
demonstrations. Rising from the square is St Basil’s Cathedral, built in the
1550s to commemorate Ivan the Terrible’s capture of the Mongol stronghold
of Kazan.

32. The Eiffel Tower (1887 – 89) Paris, France
The creation of Gustave Eiffel, this magnificent steel tower has come to serve
as a symbol of Paris, as well as of France itself. The structure is not only a
landmark that is recognized all over the world, but is perhaps the most
popular architectural achievement in the Western world. It was the tallest
man-made structure in the world until the Empire State Building was
constructed. The tower is visited by six million people every year.

33. Sydney Opera House (1954 – 73) Sydney,
Australia
When the Sydney Opera House was finished in 1973, this landmark building –
in the true sense of the expression, – put the whole continent of Australia on
the world map. This building does not imitate or reflect what we generally
imagine an opera house might look like, indeed, it is a completely abstract
interpretation. The ability to create abstract art only developed after the
invention of photography in the late 19th century, when painters first began
to experiment with an abstract, cubist interpretation of reality.

34. Alhambra (12th century) Granada, Spain
Mohammed I, the first king of the Nasriden – a Moorish dynasty in Granada –
converted a 9th-century castle into his private royal residence, and it is this
which we now know as the Alhambra. The structure, which covers an area of
13 hectares, is renowned for its stunning frescoes and interior detail. The
building is one of the finest examples of Moorish architecture in the world
and is among Europe’s most-visited tourist attractions.