10 amazing facts about the Seven Wonders

increase your seven wonder savvy

No one knows today
what six of the ancient
Seven Wonders looked like

All the paintings and drawings we see today stem from the imaginations of artists who lived long after those six wonders perished. The ones I use on my web pages for the seven individual wonders are perhaps the best. Lowell Thomas, whom I knew and admired, personally gave them to me in the form of literature promoting his 1956 "Seven Wonders of the World" Cinerama movie.

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No one knows for certain
who created the ancient
Seven Wonder list that
we accept today as
the "official" version

Various scholars have nominated different creators. Some experts speculate that it was occasionally bastardized - perhaps as recently as the Middle Ages.

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Striking
anachronism

The oldest known reference to a 7 wonder listing was written in the 5th century BC by Herodotus, the famous Greek historian. This was two centuries before the Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of Alexandria were built.

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Julius Caesar and
the Library of Alexandria

Likely some lists were kept in the Library of Alexandria, the world's greatest repository of important ancient manuscripts. Sadly, in 48 BC, a devastating fire in Alexandria caused by Julius Caesar inadvertently spread to the library, and destroyed it. The library's nearly half million irreplaceable scrolls documenting ancient history were lost to mankind forever.

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Related
functions

Two of the ancient Seven Wonders are royal tombs (Pyramid of Khufu and Mausoleum at Halicarnassus). Two involve Greek temples (Temple of Artemis and the Statue of Zeus, which was the focal point of the Temple of Zeus). Two relate to Mediterranean harbors (Colossus of Rhodes and Lighthouse of Alexandria). The Hanging Gardens of Babylon stand alone.

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Practical
public function

Only the Lighthouse of Alexandria served a practical public function. It guided mariners safely into the harbor.

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Chronological list
of the Seven Wonders

All were built over a period spanning 23 centuries. Chronological list (creation dates are italicized):

1. Pyramids of Khufu
26th century BC

2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon
6th century BC

3. Temple of Artemis
6th century BC

4. Statue of Zeus
5th century BC

5. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
4th century BC

6. Colossus of Rhodes
3rd century BC

7. Lighthouse of Alexandria
3rd century BC

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Lifespans of
the Seven Wonders

The Pyramid of Khufu has lasted nearly 100 times as long as did the Colossus of Rhodes. And, it has survived almost as many centuries (46) as the other six combined (52).  Below are the longevity rankings (known and estimated life spans are italicized):

1. Pyramids of Khufu
46 centuries (and counting)

2. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
17 centuries

3. Lighthouse of Alexandria
16 centuries

4. Statue of Zeus
9 centuries

5. Temple of Artemis
8 centuries

6. Hanging Gardens of Babylon
1 century

7. Colossus of Rhodes
½ century

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Earthquake
damage

Earthquakes helped destroy the majority of the ancient Seven Wonders. The four victims are the Colossus of Rhodes, Lighthouse of Alexandria, Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and Temple of Artemis. The three exceptions are the Statue of  Zeus (by fire), Hanging Gardens of Babylon (by water damage and brick deterioration) and Pyramid of Khufu (still going strong).

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Suppose all of the seven
wonders were around today
in their prime conditions.
Which would you as a traveler
like to see most? 

Here's the consensus rankings based on my interviews with seasoned world travelers who are well-versed on the ancient 7 wonders:

1. Pyramid of Khufu
2. Temple of Artemis
3. Colossus of Rhodes
4. Lighthouse of Alexandria
5. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
6. Statue of Zeus
7. Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Chances are you will not agree with the above wish-to-see rankings. That's expected. Mathematically, there are 5,040 different ways to arrange the list of 7 wonders and each permutation has its own thoughtful adherents. I would enjoy reading your personal rankings (and the reasons behind them). Click the "email me your opinion" link in the left column.

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