#Seven wonders of the world series#

Prior to this, historian Diodorus Siculus also wrote his list of sites not to be missed, and along the way, many writers contributed their thoughts. The list we now know as the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World didn't come from just one writer, but is the compilation of several different lists over time.įor instance, in 225 BCE the mathematician Philo of Byzantium wrote a book titled The Seven Sights of the World. This shouldn't come as a surprise, given the Greek Empire's expansion into areas that allowed them to mingle with Egyptian, Persian, and Babylonian cultures. In total, the entire temple features 365 steps, one for each day of the year.Yes, that's right, people were traveling in Ancient Greece. It is a huge step pyramid in the center of the city which was built as a devotional temple to the god Kukulkan. The most celebrated is El Castillo, also known as the Temple of Kukulcan.

#Seven wonders of the world series#

Constructed by the pre-Columbian Mayan tribe Itzá, the city includes a series of monuments and temples. Chichén Itzá, Mexico Chichen Itza, image courtesy of Air Franceĭeep in the Mexican state of Yucatán lies Chichen Itza, a historic Mayan city built between the 9th and 12th centuries. Because of this remarkable preservation, it is recognized today as one of the seven wonders.Ħ. The Incas abandoned the site a century later and it remained hidden for millennia, before being brought to public attention by American historian Hiram Bingham in 1911.

Archaeologists believe the citadel was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti in around 1450 in polished drystone walls. Astonishingly, it is one of the only pre-Columbian ruins found nearly intact, featuring evidence of former plazas, temples, agricultural terraces and homes. Machu Picchu is a lost treasure of the 15th century, a rare citadel discovered high in the Andes mountains above the Peruvian Sacred Valley. Machu Picchu, Peru Machu Picchu, image courtesy of Business Insider Australia Built just after the end of the First World War, the sculpture was an overpowering symbol of Christianity and hope when the world had been brought to its knees, so its no surprise that this monument made the list for today’s seven wonders.ĥ. Made from reinforced concrete clad in over 6 million soapstone tiles, Christ the Redeemer is the largest Art Deco sculpture in the world. This huge public artwork was designed by the Polish-French sculptor Paul Landowski in the 1920s and completed by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, and French engineer Albert Caquot in 1931. The totemic statue of Christ the Redeemer stands more than 30 meters tall over Rio de Janeiro from the top of Mount Corcovado, an iconic emblem of Brazil. Christ the Redeemer, Brazil Christ the Redeemer, image courtesy of Conde Nast Magazine The Taj Mahal, India The Taj Mahal, image courtesy of Architectural DigestĤ. Today the wall is recognized as one of the seven wonders, which, including all its branches, measures a whopping 13,171 miles.ģ.

In 220 BCE, China’s first Emperor Qin Shi Huang masterminded the unification of all China’s walls into one almighty barrier, strengthening and extending the wall to keep out northern invaders. Created over millennia, the wall began its life as a series of smaller walls dating back to the 7th century BCE, built as protective barriers against nomadic raids.

The Great Wall of China is a huge barrier that spans thousands of miles along China’s historic northern border. The Great Wall of China The Great Wall of China, image courtesy of Hung Chung Chih/National Geographic Partially damaged by earthquakes and stone robbers over the centuries, the Colosseum is still an iconic memento of Roman history, visited by thousands of tourists every year, so it stands to reason it would make the list of today’s seven wonders of the world.Ģ. Some say water was even pumped into the arena to enact mock sea battles. Dramatic and sometimes horrifying events took place here, not just gladiatorial games, but also Classical plays, animal hunts and executions. The colossal structure could hold 80,000 spectators, arranged in a circular ring around the central stage. The largest amphitheater ever built, it was constructed from sand and stone over eight years, from AD72 to AD80. The Colosseum is the great oval amphitheater in the center of Rome where gladiators once fought for their life. The Colosseum, Rome, Italy The Colosseum, in Rome, Italy, image courtesy of National Geographic