THINKING BIG : The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

1. The Pyramids of Egypt

Location: Giza, Egypt

Date: 2800 BC Builder: Khufu, the king of the 4th Dynasty.

Description and dimensions: There are three pyramids (Khufu, Khafre and Menkure, all named for their builders), the largest of which, Khufu, stands 450 feet tall with a base measuring 755 feet on each side. The pyramids contain 2.3 million limestone blocks, each of which weigh 2.5 tons. Khufu is also the oldest and, with the exception of the galleries and burial chamber, is almost a solid mass of limestone bricks.

2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon

600 BC

These gardens were laid out on top of a vaulted building, with terraces that rose between 75 and 300 feet. The gardens are said to have been built by Nebuchadnezzar as a gift to Queen Amuhia.

3. Statue of Zeus at Olympia

5th century BC

This statue of Zeus was created by Phidias, and stood 40 feet high. Although the statue is now destroyed, archeologists believe it was constructed of gold and ivory.

4. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

350 BC (estimate)

This structure was destroyed by Goths in AD 262. It contained Ionic colums estimated at nearly 60 feet tall.

5. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

353 BC (estimate)

The word “mausoleum” came into modern language because of this structure. The mausoleum was Commissioned by Queen Artemisia upon the death of her husbend King Mausolus of Caria. Remnants of the structure can be found in the British Museum.

6. Colossus at Rhodes

280 BC

It is said that it took 12 years for the sculptor Chares to complete this 105-foot bronze statue of Apollo. It was destroyed in an earthquake in 224 BC

7. Pharos of Alexandria 3rd century BC

The Pharos of Alexandria is actually a lighthouse located on the island of Pharos off the coast of Egypt. The Pharos was built by Sostratus of Cnidus and was destroyed by a 13th