Difference between revisions of "Seven Wonders of the World" - New World Encyclopedia

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{{otheruses|Wonders of the World (disambiguation)}}
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[[Image:SevenWondersOfTheWorld.png|thumb|300px|The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (from left to right, top to bottom): [[Great Pyramid of Giza]], [[Hanging Gardens of Babylon]], [[Temple of Artemis]], [[Statue of Zeus at Olympia]], [[Mausoleum of Maussollos]], [[Colossus of Rhodes]], and the [[Lighthouse of Alexandria]] as depicted by sixteenth-century Dutch artist [[Maarten van Heemskerck]].]]
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[[Image:SevenWondersOfTheWorld.png|thumb|270px|The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (from left to right, top to bottom): [[Great Pyramid of Giza]], [[Hanging Gardens of Babylon]], [[Temple of Artemis]], [[Statue of Zeus at Olympia]], [[Mausoleum of Maussollos]], [[Colossus of Rhodes]] and the [[Lighthouse of Alexandria]] as depicted by 16th-century Dutch artist [[Maarten van Heemskerck]]]]
+
The '''Seven Wonders of the World''' (or the '''Seven Wonders of the Ancient World''') is a widely known list of seven remarkable constructions of [[antiquity]]. It was based on guide-books popular among [[Ancient Greece|Hellenic]] sightseers and includes only works located around the [[Mediterranean]] rim. Later lists include those for the medieval world and the modern world.
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The '''Seven Wonders of the World''' (or the '''Seven Wonders of the Ancient World''') is a widely-known list of seven remarkable constructions of [[classical antiquity]]. It was based on guide-books popular among [[Ancient Greece|Hellenic]] sight-seers and only includes works located around the [[Mediterranean]] rim. Later lists include those for the Medieval World and the Modern World.
+
 
 +
The original Seven Wonders of the World consists of: The [[Great Pyramid of Giza]] (the most ancient as well as the only surviving structure), the [[Hanging Gardens of Babylon]], the [[Temple of Artemis]] at Ephesus, the [[Statue of Zeus at Olympia]], the [[Mausoleum of Maussollos]] at Halicarnassus, the [[Colossus of Rhodes]], and the [[Lighthouse of Alexandria]].
 +
{{toc}}
 +
The notion of "Seven Wonders" can be traced to a Hellenistic recognition of trans-cultural human achievement that found expression throughout the Hellenistic world. For thousands of years, the Seven Wonders of the World have inspired humankind as representative works symbolic of the great civilizations of antiquity. In terms of innovative design, elaborate construction, technological mastery, and symbolic meaning, the Seven Wonders have not only showcased the high points of diverse civilizations, but tied humankind together in the common pursuit of intellectual excellence and self-expression.
  
 
==Seven Wonders of the Ancient World==
 
==Seven Wonders of the Ancient World==
−
The historian [[Herodotus]] and the scholar [[Callimachus]] of [[Cyrene]] (ca [[305 B.C.E..|305]]–240 B.C.E.) at the Museum of [[Alexandria, Egypt|Alexandria]], made early lists of "seven wonders" but their writings have not survived, except as references. The earliest extant version of a list of seven wonders was compiled by [[Antipater of Sidon]], who described the structures in a poem around 140 B.C.E.:
+
The historian [[Herodotus]] and the scholar [[Callimachus]] of [[Cyrene]] (c. 305 – 240 B.C.E.) made early lists of "seven wonders," but these writings have not survived, except as references. The earliest extant version of a list of seven wonders was compiled by [[Antipater of Sidon]], who described the structures in a poem around 140 B.C.E.:
  
−
{{Quotation|I have set eyes on the wall of lofty Babylon on which is a road for chariots, and the statue of Zeus by the Alpheus, and the hanging gardens, and the Colossus of the Sun, and the huge labour of the high pyramids, and the vast tomb of Mausolus; but when I saw the house of Artemis that mounted to the clouds, those other marvels lost their brilliancy, and I said, 'Lo, apart from Olympus, the Sun never looked on aught so grand.'|Antipater, ''Greek Anthology'' IX.58}}
+
<blockquote>I have set eyes on the wall of lofty Babylon on which is a road for chariots, and the statue of Zeus by the Alpheus, and the hanging gardens, and the Colossus of the Sun, and the huge labor of the high pyramids, and the vast tomb of Mausolus; but when I saw the house of Artemis that mounted to the clouds, those other marvels lost their brilliancy, and I said, "Lo, apart from Olympus, the Sun never looked on aught so grand"<ref> Paul Trebilco, ''The Early Christians in Ephesus from Paul to Ignatius'' (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2007, ISBN 0802807690).</ref></blockquote>
  
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A later list, under various titles like ''De septem orbis spactaculis'' and traditionally misattributed to the engineer [[Philo of Byzantium]], may date as late as the fifth century AD, though the author writes as if the Colossus of Rhodes were still standing.
+
A later list, under various titles such as ''De septem orbis spactaculis'' and traditionally, though incorrectly, attributed to the engineer [[Philo of Byzantium]], may date as late as the fifth century C.E., although the author writes as if the [[Colossus of Rhodes]], destroyed by an [[earthquake]] in 224 B.C.E., were still standing.
  
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These are given in the table below:
+
The basic characteristics of each of the Seven Wonders are given in the table below:
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
 
|-
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|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
 
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
 
| [[Great Pyramid of Giza]]
 
| [[Great Pyramid of Giza]]
−
| 2650-2500 B.C.E.
+
| 2650 &ndash; 2500 B.C.E.
 
| [[Ancient Egypt|Egyptians]]
 
| [[Ancient Egypt|Egyptians]]
 
| Built as the tomb of [[Fourth dynasty of Egypt|Fourth dynasty]] [[ancient Egypt|Egyptian]] pharaoh [[Khufu (pharaoh)|Khufu]].  
 
| Built as the tomb of [[Fourth dynasty of Egypt|Fourth dynasty]] [[ancient Egypt|Egyptian]] pharaoh [[Khufu (pharaoh)|Khufu]].  
 
| Still standing
 
| Still standing
−
| -                
+
| -        
 
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
 
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
 
| [[Hanging Gardens of Babylon]]
 
| [[Hanging Gardens of Babylon]]
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| [[Babylonia]]ns
 
| [[Babylonia]]ns
 
| [[Herodotus]] claimed the outer walls were 56 miles in length, 80 feet thick and 320 feet high (although some archaeological findings suggest otherwise).
 
| [[Herodotus]] claimed the outer walls were 56 miles in length, 80 feet thick and 320 feet high (although some archaeological findings suggest otherwise).
−
| After 1st century B.C.E.
+
| After first century B.C.E.
 
| [[Earthquake]]
 
| [[Earthquake]]
 
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
 
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
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| 550 B.C.E.
 
| 550 B.C.E.
 
| [[Lydia]]ns, [[Achaemenid Empire|Persians]], [[ancient Greece|Greeks]]
 
| [[Lydia]]ns, [[Achaemenid Empire|Persians]], [[ancient Greece|Greeks]]
−
| Dedicated to the [[Greek mythology|Greek]] [[goddess]] [[Artemis]], it took 120 years to build. [[Herostratus]] burned it down in an attempt to achieve lasting fame.
+
| Dedicated to the [[Greek mythology|Greek]] [[goddess]] [[Artemis]], the temple was begun by [[Croesus]] of Lydia and took 120 years to build. It was destroyed by arson in 356 B.C.E., rebuilt and destroyed during a raid by the [[Goths]] in 262, rebuilt again and finally demolished by a mob allegedly led by [[John Chrysostom]].<ref>John Freely, ''The Western Shores of Turkey: Discovering the Aegean and Mediterranean Coast'' (Tauris Parke Paperbacks, 2004, ISBN 978-1850436188).</ref>
−
| 356 B.C.E.
+
| 356 B.C.E. and 401 C.E.  
−
| [[Arson]]
+
| [[Arson]] and later demolition
 
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
 
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
 
| [[Statue of Zeus at Olympia]]
 
| [[Statue of Zeus at Olympia]]
 
| 435 B.C.E.
 
| 435 B.C.E.
 
| [[ancient Greece|Greeks]]
 
| [[ancient Greece|Greeks]]
−
| Occupied the whole width of the aisle of the temple that was built to house it, and was 40 feet (12 meters) tall.
+
| Occupied the whole width of the aisle of the temple that was built to house it, and was 40 feet tall.
−
| 5th-6th centuries AD
+
| fifth and sixth centuries C.E.
 
| [[Fire]]
 
| [[Fire]]
 
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
 
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
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| 351 B.C.E.
 
| 351 B.C.E.
 
| [[Seleucid Empire|Persians]], [[ancient Greece|Greeks]]
 
| [[Seleucid Empire|Persians]], [[ancient Greece|Greeks]]
−
| Stood approximately 45 meters (135 feet) tall with each of the four sides adorned with sculptural reliefs. Origin of the word ''mausoleum''.
+
| Stood approximately 135 feet tall with each of the four sides adorned with sculptural reliefs. Origin of the word ''mausoleum''.
−
| by AD 1494
+
| by 1494 C.E.
 
| [[Earthquake]]
 
| [[Earthquake]]
 
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
 
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
 
| [[Colossus of Rhodes]]
 
| [[Colossus of Rhodes]]
−
| 292-280 B.C.E.
+
| 292 &ndash; 280 B.C.E.
 
| [[Hellenistic Greece]]
 
| [[Hellenistic Greece]]
 
| A giant [[statue]] of the [[Greek mythology|Greek]] [[God (male deity)|god]] [[Helios]] roughly the same size as today's [[Statue of Liberty]] in [[New York City|New York]].
 
| A giant [[statue]] of the [[Greek mythology|Greek]] [[God (male deity)|god]] [[Helios]] roughly the same size as today's [[Statue of Liberty]] in [[New York City|New York]].
Line 65: Line 68:
 
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
 
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
 
| [[Lighthouse of Alexandria]]
 
| [[Lighthouse of Alexandria]]
−
| 3rd century B.C.E.
+
| Third century B.C.E.
 
| [[Ptolemaic Egypt|Hellenistic Egypt]]
 
| [[Ptolemaic Egypt|Hellenistic Egypt]]
−
| Between 115 and 135 metres (383 - 440 ft) tall it was among the tallest man-made structures on Earth for many centuries.
+
| Between 383 feet to 440 feet tall it was among the tallest man-made structures on Earth for many centuries.
−
| AD 1303-1480
+
| 1303 &ndash; 1480 C.E.
 
| [[Earthquake]]
 
| [[Earthquake]]
 
|}
 
|}
 +
{{readout||right|250px|Instead of the Seven "Wonders" the ancient Greeks spoke of "theamata" or "sights," "things worth seeing"}}
 +
The Greek category to describe what people call "wonders" today was "''theamata''," which translates as "something worth seeing" or "must-sees." Since the list came mostly from [[ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] writings, only sites that would have been known and visited by the ancient Greeks were included. Sites from eastern [[Asia]], the Americas, [[Africa]], and northern [[Europe]] were thus omitted. Five of the seven entries are a celebration of Greek accomplishments in the arts and architecture (the exceptions being the Pyramids of Giza and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon). Antipater's earlier list replaced the [[Lighthouse of Alexandria]] with the [[Babylon]]'s famous [[Ishtar Gate]].
  
−
The Greek category was not "Wonders" but "''theamata''," which translates closer to "must-sees." The list that we know today was compiled in the [[Middle Ages]]—by which time many of the sites were no longer in existence. Since the list came mostly from ancient Greek writings, only sites that would have been known and visited by the ancient Greeks were included. Even as early as 1600 B.C.E., tourist [[graffiti]] was scrawled on monuments in the Egyptian [[Valley of the Kings]].
+
It was not until the sixth century C.E. that the list above was used. Of these wonders, the only one that has survived to the present day is the [[Great Pyramid of Giza]]. One of wonders, the [[Temple of Artemis]], was destroyed intentionally, first by [[arson]] and finally by a mob allegedly led by the [[Christian]] bishop St. [[John Chrysostom]]. The [[Statue of Zeus]] was destroyed by fire. Four of the wonders were destroyed by [[earthquake]]s&mdash;the Hanging Gardens, the [[Lighthouse of Alexandria]], the [[Colossus of Rhodes]], and the [[Mausoleum of Maussollos]]. (The existence of the Hanging Gardens, however, has not been definitively proven.) There are sculptures from the Mausoleum of Maussollos and the Temple of Artemis in the [[British Museum]] in [[London]].
−
 
 
−
Antipater's original list replaced the Lighthouse of Alexandria with the [[Ishtar Gate]]. It wasn't until the 6th century AD that the list above was used. Of these wonders, the only one that has survived to the present day is the Great Pyramid of Giza. The existence of the Hanging Gardens has not been definitively proven. Records show that the other five wonders were destroyed by natural disasters. The Temple of Artemis and the Statue of Zeus were destroyed by fire, while the Lighthouse of Alexandria, Colossus, and Mausoleum of Maussollos were destroyed by earthquakes. There are sculptures from the Mausoleum of Maussollos and the Temple of Artemis in the [[British Museum]] in [[London]].
 
−
 
 
−
==Seven Wonders lists about the Middle Ages==
 
−
Seven Wonders lists about the [[Middle Ages]] are existing historical lists for which there is no unanimity of opinion about origin, content or name.<ref name=carrington>[[Hereward Carrington]] (1880-1958), "The Seven Wonders of the World: ancient, medieval and modern," reprinted in the ''Carington Collection'' (2003) ISBN 0-7661-4378-3, [http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0766143783&id=ZkPdBa1g_78C&pg=PA14&lpg=PA14&dq=%22seven+wonders+of+the+middle+ages%22&sig=GTtwOV0OsaL-2jdD0o-qCquTofU page 14].</ref> These historical lists go by names such as "Wonders of the Middle Ages" (implying no specific limitation to seven), "Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages," "Medieval Mind" and "Architectural Wonders of the Middle Ages." The lists are more properly seen as a continuing type or [[genre]] in the Seven Wonders tradition than a specific list.
 
  
−
It is unlikely the lists originated in the Middle Ages. Brewer's calls them "later list[s]"<ref name=brewers/> suggesting the lists were created after the Middle Ages. This is supported because the word [[medieval]] was not even invented until the  [[Enlightenment]]-era, and the concept of a "Middle Age" did not become popular until the [[16th century]]. Further, the [[Romanticism]] movement glorified all things related to the Middle Ages, or more specifically anything pre-Enlightenment era, suggesting such lists would have found a popular audience in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Some items found on some of the lists are not technically from the Middle Ages (according to modern historical standards), but we know the lists were not created by modern medieval historians, so such standards did not apply.
+
==Later lists==
 +
[[Image:Stonehenge Total.jpg|thumb|400px|Stonehenge]]
 +
[[Image:Colosseum at night.jpg|thumb|400px|The Colosseum]]
 +
Many lists of "wonders of the world" are said to have existed during the [[Middle Ages]], although it is unlikely that these lists originated at that time. These lists go by names such as "Wonders of the Middle Ages" (implying no specific limitation to seven), "Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages," "Medieval Mind," and "Architectural Wonders of the Middle Ages." Many of the structures on these lists were built much earlier than the Medieval Ages, but were well known. The lists are more properly seen as a continuing type or [[genre]] in the Seven Wonders tradition than a specific list.  
  
−
Typically representative of the seven:<ref name=carrington/><ref name=latham>[[Edward Latham]]. ''A Dictionary of Names, Nicknames and Surnames, of Persons, Places and Things'' (1904), [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC01038938&id=XnuUd4dm2PkC&pg=PA280&lpg=PA280&dq=%22seven+wonders+of+the+middle+ages%22 page 280].</ref><ref name=miller>[[Francis Trevelyan Miller]], [[Woodrow Wilson]], [[William Howard Taft]], [[Theodore Roosevelt]]. ''America, the Land We Love'' (1915), [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC00334597&id=UAMqLz88aXAC&pg=PA201&lpg=PA201&dq=%22seven+wonders+of+the+middle+ages%22 page 201].</ref><ref name=brewers>I H Evans (reviser), ''Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable'' (Centenary edition Fourth impression (corrected); London: Cassell, 1975), page 1163</ref>
+
The following is a typical representative of such lists:
  
−
<!--DO NOT MODIFY LIST—>
+
*[[Stonehenge]]
−
<!--ONE. STONEHENGE—>*[[Stonehenge]]
+
*[[Colosseum]]
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<!--TWO. COLOSSEUM—>*[[Colosseum]]
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*[[Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa]]
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<!--THREE. CATACOMBS—>*[[Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa]]
+
*[[Great Wall of China]]
−
<!--FOUR. GREAT WALL—>*[[Great Wall of China]]
+
*[[Porcelain Tower of Nanjing]]
−
<!--FIVE. NANJING—>*[[Porcelain Tower of Nanjing]]
+
*[[Hagia Sophia]]
−
<!--SIX. HAGIA SOPHIA—>*[[Hagia Sophia]]
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*[[Leaning Tower of Pisa]]
−
<!--SEVEN. PISA—>*[[Leaning Tower of Pisa]]
 
−
<!--DO NOT MODIFY LIST—>
 
  
 
Other sites that have been mentioned include:
 
Other sites that have been mentioned include:
−
<!--NOTE: Sources must be included—>
 
−
*[[Cairo Citadel]]<ref>''The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Crusades'' (2001, page 153))</ref>
 
−
*[[Ely Cathedral]]<ref>''The Rough Guide To England'' (1994, page 596))</ref>
 
−
*[[Taj Mahal]]<ref>''Palpa, as You Like it'', [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC20565402&id=edcLAAAAIAAJ&q=%22seven+wonders+of+the+medieval+world%22&dq=%22seven+wonders+of+the+medieval+world%22&pgis=1 page 67])</ref>
 
−
*[[Cluny Abbey]]<ref>''[[The Catholic Encyclopedia]]'', v.16 (1913), [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC06974688&id=2GcQAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA74&lpg=PA74&dq=%22wonders+of+the+middle+ages%22&ie=ISO-8859-1 page 74]</ref>
 
  
−
==Modern lists==
+
*[[Cairo Citadel]]
−
In the tradition of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, many other lists of wonders have been proposed, including both human feats of engineering and wonders of Nature.  However, these lists are rather informal, and there is no consensus on any particular list.
+
*[[Ely Cathedral]]
 +
*[[Taj Mahal]]
 +
*[[Cluny Abbey]]
  
−
=== Modern wonders ===
+
== Modern lists ==
−
The [[American Society of Civil Engineers]] compiled another list of wonders of the modern world:<ref>[http://www.asce.org/history/seven_wonders.cfm American Society of Civil Engineers Seven Wonders]</ref>
+
Many lists have been made of the greatest structures built during modern times or of the greatest wonders existing today. Some of the most notable lists are presented below.
 +
=== American Society of Civil Engineers ===
 +
The [[American Society of Civil Engineers]] compiled a list of wonders of the modern world:<ref>[https://7wonders.org/civil-engineering-wonders/ Civil Engineering Wonders] ''7wonders.org''. Retrieved April 8, 2022.</ref>
  
−
<!-- THE SEVEN WONDERS AS COMPILED BY THE "American Society of Civil Engineers"—>
 
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
 
|-
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|December 1, 1987
 
|December 1, 1987
 
|May 6, 1994
 
|May 6, 1994
−
|[[Strait of Dover]], between England and France
+
|[[Strait of Dover]], between the [[United Kingdom]] and [[France]]
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
|[[CN Tower]]  
 
|[[CN Tower]]  
 
|February 6, 1973
 
|February 6, 1973
−
|June 26, 1976<!--Tower construction completed in 75 and opened to the public in 76—>
+
|June 26, 1976, tallest land structure in the world until September 12, 2007. Surpassed by [[Burj Dubai]]<!--Tower construction completed in 75 and opened to the public in 76—>
 
|[[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]
 
|[[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]
 
|-
 
|-
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|January 22, 1930
 
|January 22, 1930
 
|May 1, 1931
 
|May 1, 1931
−
|[[New York City|New York]], [[New York State|New York]], [[USA]]
+
|[[New York City|New York]], [[New York|NY]], [[United States|U.S.]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Golden Gate Bridge]]  
 
|[[Golden Gate Bridge]]  
 
|January 5, 1933
 
|January 5, 1933
 
|May 27, 1937
 
|May 27, 1937
−
|[[Golden Gate Strait]], north of [[San Francisco, California]], [[USA]]
+
|[[Golden Gate Strait]], north of [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]], [[California]], [[United States|U.S.]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Itaipu|Itaipu Dam]]  
 
|[[Itaipu|Itaipu Dam]]  
 
|January 1970
 
|January 1970
 
|May 5, 1984
 
|May 5, 1984
−
|[[Paraná River]], South America
+
|[[Paraná River]], between [[Brazil]] and [[Paraguay]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Delta Works]]  
 
|[[Delta Works]]  
−
|1953
+
|1950
 
|May 10, 1997
 
|May 10, 1997
−
|[[Netherlands]], Europe
+
|[[Netherlands]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Panama Canal]]  
 
|[[Panama Canal]]  
 
|January 1, 1880
 
|January 1, 1880
 
|January 7, 1914
 
|January 7, 1914
−
|[[Isthmus of Panama]], [[Central America]]
+
|[[Isthmus of Panama]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
===Tourist travel wonders===
+
=== New7Wonders Foundation's seven wonders of the world ===
−
The following list of the top seven tourist travel wonders (not including pilgrimages) was compiled by Hillman Wonders:<ref>[http://www.hillmanwonders.com/ Hillman Wonders]</ref>
+
{{Main|New Seven Wonders of the World}}
 +
[[File:GreatWall6.jpg|thumb|400px|Great Wall of China]]
 +
[[Image:Taj1.jpg|thumb|400px|The Taj Mahal]]
 +
[[File:Peru Machu Picchu Sunrise.jpg|thumb|300px|Machu Pichu]]
 +
[[Image:Canyon midday.jpg|thumb|400px|The Grand Canyon]]
 +
In 2001, an initiative was started by the Swiss corporation New7Wonders Foundation to choose the [[New Seven Wonders of the World]] from a selection of 200 existing monuments for profit.<ref> [https://www.new7wonders.com/?id=3&L=0 New Seven Wonders] ''New 7 Wonders''. Retrieved April 8, 2022</ref> Twenty-one finalists were announced on January 1, 2006.<ref>[https://www.new7wonders.com/?id=3&L=0 Finalist Page] ''New 7 Wonders''. Retrieved April 8, 2022.</ref> [[Egypt]] was not happy with the fact that the only original wonder would have to compete with the likes of the [[Statue of Liberty]], the [[Sydney Opera House]], and other landmarks; and called the project absurd. To solve this, [[Great Pyramid of Giza|Giza]] was named an honorary Candidate. The results were announced on July 7, 2007 in [[Benfica]]'s stadium in a big ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal:<ref> [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-07-08/opera-house-snubbed-as-new-wonders-unveiled/92898 Opera House snubbed as new Wonders unveiled] ''ABC News'', July 7, 2008. Retrieved April 8, 2022.</ref>  
  
−
<!-- THE SEVEN WONDERS AS COMPILED BY THE "Hillman Wonders"-->
+
{| class="wikitable"
−
<!— ONE—>*[[Great Pyramids of Giza]]
+
|-
−
<!-- TWO—>*[[Great Wall of China]]
+
! Wonder
−
<!-- THREE—>*[[Taj Mahal]]
+
! Date of construction
−
<!— FOUR—>*[[Serengeti|Serengeti Migration]]
+
! Location
−
<!-- FIVE—>*[[Galapagos]]
+
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
−
<!— SIX—>*[[Grand Canyon]]
+
| [[Great Wall of China]]
−
<!-- SEVEN—>*[[Machu Picchu]]
+
| Fifth century B.C.E. – sixteenth century CE
−
<!-- NO EIGHTH WONDER—>
+
| [[China]]
−
 
+
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
−
=== Natural wonders ===
+
| [[Petra]]
−
Similar to the other lists of wonders, there is no consensus on a list of seven natural wonders of the world, as there has been debate over how large the list should be. One of the many lists was compiled by [[CNN]]:<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/9711/natural.wonders/ CNN Natural Wonders]</ref>
+
| Sixth century B.C.E.
−
<!—THE SEVEN WONDERS AS COMPILED BY "CNN"—>
+
| [[Jordan]]
−
<!-- ONE—>*[[Grand Canyon]]
+
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
−
<!-- TWO—>*[[Great Barrier Reef]]
+
| [[Christ the Redeemer (statue)|Christ the Redeemer]]
−
<!— THREE—>*Harbor of [[Rio de Janeiro]]
+
| Opened October 12, 1931
−
<!-- FOUR—>*[[Mount Everest]]
+
| [[Brazil]]
−
<!-- FIVE—>*[[Aurora (astronomy)|Polar Aurora]]
+
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
−
<!-- SIX—>*[[Parícutin]] volcano
+
| [[Machu Picchu]]
−
<!— SEVEN—>*[[Victoria Falls]]
+
| ''c.'' 1450
−
<!-- NO EIGHTH WONDER—>
+
| [[Peru]]
−
 
+
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
−
===Underwater wonders===
+
| [[Chichen Itza]]
−
This list of underwater wonders is of unknown origin but has been repeated sufficiently often to acquire a degree of notability:<ref>[http://www.unixl.com/dir/humanities/history/wonders_of_the_world/underwater_wonders_of_the_world/ Underwater Wonders of the World]</ref> <ref>[http://www.amiguitosdefrontera.org/underwater_wonders_of_the_world.htmlA 2nd list of Underwater Wonder]</ref>
+
| ''c.'' 600
−
<!—THE SEVEN WONDERS AS COMPILED BY "consensus" (see notes)—>
+
| [[Mexico]]
−
<!-- ONE—>*[[Palau]]
+
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
−
<!-- TWO—>*[[Belize|Belize Barrier Reef]]
+
| [[Roman Colosseum]]
−
<!— THREE—>*[[Great Barrier Reef]]
+
| Completed 80 C.E.
−
<!-- FOUR—>*[[Hydrothermal vent|Deep-Sea Vents]]
+
| [[Italy]]
−
<!-- FIVE—>*[[Galapagos Islands]]
+
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
−
<!-- SIX—>*[[Lake Baikal]]
+
| [[Taj Mahal]]
−
<!-- SEVEN—>*[[Red Sea|Northern Red Sea]]
+
| Completed ''c.'' 1648
−
<!-- NO EIGHTH WONDER—>
+
| [[India]]  
−
 
+
|- style="vertical-align: middle;"
−
===New Seven Wonders===
+
| [[Great Pyramid]] (Honorary Candidate)
−
Two "New Seven Wonders" lists have been promoted since 2000.
+
| Completed ''c.'' 2560 B.C.E.
 +
| [[Egypt]]  
 +
|}
  
−
In 2001 an initiative was started by Swiss organization New Open World Corporation (NOWC) to choose the [[New Seven Wonders of the World]] from a selection of 200 existing monuments (ongoing).<ref>[http://www.new7wonders.com/index.php?id=3&L=0 New Seven Wonders]</ref> [[New Seven Wonders of the World#New Seven Wonders contenders|Twenty-one finalists]] were announced January 1, 2006.<ref>[http://www.new7wonders.com/index.php?id=306 Finalist Page]</ref> The results will be announced on 7 July 2007.
+
{{anchor|New Seven Wonders}}
  
−
In November 2006 the American national newspaper ''[[USA Today]]'' in conjunction with the American television show ''[[Good Morning America]]'' revealed a list of "New Seven Wonders" as chosen by six judges.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2006-10-26-seven-wonders-experts_x.htm New Seven Wonders panel]</ref>  The wonders were announced one per day over a week on ''Good Morning America''. An eighth wonder was chosen on November 24 from viewer feedback.<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/7Wonders/ ABC Good Morning America "7 New Wonders" Page]</ref>
+
=== ''USA Today'''s New Seven Wonders ===
 +
In November 2006, the American national newspaper, ''[[USA Today]],'' in cooperation with the American television show, ''[[Good Morning America]],'' revealed a list of New Seven Wonders as chosen by six judges. The wonders were announced one per day over a week on ''Good Morning America''. An eighth wonder was chosen on November 24 from viewer feedback.<ref> What Are The USA Today 7 Wonders Of The World? ''Listerious'', December 15, 2020. </ref>
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
Line 202: Line 209:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2
 
| 2
−
| [[Old City of Jerusalem]]
+
| [[Old City (Jerusalem)|Old City of Jerusalem]]
−
| [[Israel]]
+
| [[Jerusalem]], [[Israel]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 3
 
| 3
Line 210: Line 217:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 4
 
| 4
−
| [[Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument]]
+
| [[Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument]]
 
| [[Hawaii]], [[United States]]
 
| [[Hawaii]], [[United States]]
 
|-
 
|-
Line 218: Line 225:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 6
 
| 6
−
| [[Maya civilization|Mayan]] [[Maya architecture|ruins]]
+
| [[Maya civilization|Maya]] [[Maya architecture|ruins]]
−
| [[Yucatán Peninsula]], [[Mesoamerica]]
+
| [[Yucatán Peninsula]], [[México]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 7
 
| 7
Line 230: Line 237:
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
== See also ==
+
=== Seven Natural Wonders of the World ===
−
* [[Eighth Wonder of the World]]
+
{{see also|Natural 7 Wonders}}
−
* [[Seven Blunders of the World]] — a list by [[Mahatma Gandhi]]
+
 
−
* [[New Seven Wonders of the World]]
+
Similar to the other lists of wonders, there is no consensus on a list of seven natural wonders of the world, as there has been debate over how large the list should be. One of the many lists was compiled by [[CNN]]:<ref> [https://web.archive.org/web/20060721011803/http://www.cnn.com/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/9711/natural.wonders/ The Seven Natural Wonders of the World] ''CNN'', 1997. Retrieved April 8, 2022.</ref>
 +
 
 +
*[[Grand Canyon]]
 +
*[[Great Barrier Reef]]
 +
*Harbour of [[Rio de Janeiro]]
 +
*[[Mount Everest]]
 +
*[[Aurora (astronomy)|Aurora]]
 +
*[[Parícutin]] volcano
 +
*[[Victoria Falls]]
 +
 
 +
==== Seven wonders of the underwater world ====
 +
[[Image:Part of Great Barrier Reef from Helecopter.JPG|thumb|right|400px|An aerial photograph of the [[Great Barrier Reef]]]]
 +
The Seven Underwater Wonders of the World was a list drawn up by [[CEDAM International]], an American-based non-profit group for divers, dedicated to ocean preservation and research. In 1989, CEDAM brought together a panel of marine scientists, including Dr. Eugenie Clark, to pick underwater areas which they considered to be worthy of protection. The results were announced at The National Aquarium in Washington DC by actor [[Lloyd Bridges]], who played in a TV show titled ''[[Sea Hunt]]'':<ref> [https://web.archive.org/web/20170613234745/http://wonderclub.com/WorldWonders/UnderWaterWonders.html The Seven Underwater Wonders of the World] Retrieved April 8, 2022.</ref>
 +
 
 +
*[[Palau]]
 +
*[[Belize Barrier Reef]]
 +
*[[Great Barrier Reef]]
 +
*[[Hydrothermal vent|Deep-Sea Vents]]
 +
*[[Galápagos Islands]]
 +
*[[Lake Baikal]]
 +
*[[Red Sea|Northern Red Sea]]
 +
 
 +
=== Seven Wonders of the Industrial World ===
 +
[[File:Panama Canal Map EN.png|thumb|350px|Schematic of the [[Panama Canal]], illustrating the sequence of locks and passages]]
 +
British author [[Deborah Cadbury]] wrote ''[[Seven Wonders of the Industrial World]],'' a book telling the stories of seven great feats of engineering of the [[nineteenth century|nineteenth]] and early [[twentieth century|twentieth]] centuries. In 2003 the [[BBC]] made a seven-part [[television documentary|documentary]] series on the book, with each episode dramatising the construction one of the wonders. The seven industrial wonders are:
 +
 
 +
*[[SS Great Eastern|SS ''Great Eastern'']]
 +
*[[Bell Rock Lighthouse]]
 +
*[[Brooklyn Bridge]]
 +
*[[London sewerage system]]
 +
*[[First Transcontinental Railroad]]
 +
*[[Panama Canal]]
 +
*[[Hoover Dam]]
 +
 
 +
=== Travel wonders of the world ===
 +
Travel writer [[Howard Hillman]] is one of many such writers who has compiled lists of the top man-made<ref>Howard Hillman, [http://www.hillmanwonders.com/top_10_man_made_wonders/top_10_man_made_wonders.htm World's top 10 man-made travel wonders] ''Hillman's Top 10 Lists for Travelers''. Retrieved April 8 2022.</ref>
 +
and natural<ref>Howard Hillman, [http://www.hillmanwonders.com/top_10_natural_wonders/top_10_natural_wonders.htm World's top 10 natural travel wonders,] ''Hillman's Top 10 Lists for Travelers''. Retrieved April 8 2022.</ref> tourist travel wonders of the world.
 +
 
 +
==== Man-made travel wonders ====
 +
[[File:Forbidden city 07.jpg|thumb|400px|[[Forbidden City]] located in the center of [[Beijing]], [[China]]]]
 +
# [[Giza pyramid complex]]
 +
# [[Great Wall of China]]
 +
# [[Taj Mahal]]
 +
# [[Machu Picchu]]
 +
# [[Bali]]
 +
# [[Angkor Wat]]
 +
# [[Forbidden City]]
 +
# [[Bagan#Cultural sites|Bagan Temples & Pagodas]]
 +
# [[Karnak Temple]]
 +
# [[Teotihuacán]]
 +
 
 +
==== Natural travel wonders ====
 +
[[Image:Victoria Falls2003.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Victoria Falls]], seen from the [[Zambia]]n side.]]
 +
# [[Serengeti|Serengeti Migration]]
 +
# [[Galápagos Islands]]
 +
# [[Grand Canyon]]
 +
# [[Iguazu Falls]]
 +
# [[Amazon Rainforest]]
 +
# [[Ngorongoro Crater]]
 +
# [[Great Barrier Reef]]
 +
# [[Victoria Falls]]
 +
# [[Bora Bora]]
 +
# [[Cappadocia]]
 +
 
 +
== Notes ==
 +
<references/>
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
−
<div class="references-small"><references/></div>
+
* Cox, Reg, and Neil Morris. ''The Seven Wonders of the Modern World''. Chelsea House Publications, 2000. ISBN 0791060489.
−
 
+
* Cox, Reg, Neil Morris, and James Field. ''The Seven Wonders of the Medieval World''. Chelsea House Publications, 2000. ISBN 0791060470.
−
== Further reading ==
+
* D'Epiro, Peter, and Mary Desmond Pinkowish. ''What Are the Seven Wonders of the World? and 100 Other Great Cultural Lists''. Anchor, 1998. ISBN 0385490623.
−
* Cox, Reg, and Neil Morris, "''The Seven Wonders of the Modern World''."  Chelsea House Publications: Library. October 2000. ISBN 0-7910-6048-9
+
* Freely, John. ''The Western Shores of Turkey: Discovering the Aegean and Mediterranean Coast''. Tauris Parke Paperbacks, 2004. ISBN 978-1850436188
−
* Cox, Reg, Neil Morris, and James Field, "''The Seven Wonders of the Medieval World''."  Chelsea House Publications: Library. October 2000. ISBN 0-7910-6047-0
+
* Morris, Neil. ''The Seven Wonders of the Natural World''. Chrysalis Books, 2002. ISBN 184138495X.
−
* D'Epiro, Peter, and Mary Desmond Pinkowish, "''What Are the Seven Wonders of the World? and 100 Other Great Cultural Lists''." Anchor. December 1, 1998. ISBN 0-385-49062-3
+
* Trebilco, Paul. ''The Early Christians in Ephesus from Paul to Ignatius''. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2007. ISBN 0802807690
−
* Morris, Neil, "''The Seven Wonders of the Natural World''." Chrysalis Books. December 30, 2002. ISBN 1-84138-495-X
 
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
 +
All links retrieved January 26, 2023.
 
=== Seven Ancient Wonders ===
 
=== Seven Ancient Wonders ===
−
* [http://ce.eng.usf.edu/pharos/wonders/index.html The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World] &mdash; an in-depth look from a professor of [[civil engineering]] at the [[University of South Florida]]
+
*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2030611,00.html "Eternal wonder of humanity's first great achievements" by Jonathan Glancey], ''The Guardian''.  
−
* [http://ce.eng.usf.edu/pharos/wonders/map.html Image of the Seven Wonder locations]
+
* Parkin, Tim, ed. [http://web.archive.org/web/20041011114644/http://www.clas.canterbury.ac.nz/wonders.html ''Researching Ancient Wonders: A Research Guide'' (U. of Canterbury, New Zealand)]
−
* Parkin, Tim, [http://web.archive.org/web/20041011114644/http://www.clas.canterbury.ac.nz/wonders.html ''Researching Ancient Wonders: A Research Guide''], from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. - a collection of books and Internet resources with in-depth information on seven ancient wonders.
+
* [https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/seven-wonders-of-the-ancient-world
−
* [http://coolmaps.7wonders.googlepages.com/ancientwonders.html Google Maps 7 Ancient Wonders of the World]
+
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World] ''History.com''
−
*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2030611,00.html "Eternal wonder of humanity's first great achievements"], by Jonathan Glancey in ''[[The Guardian]]'', March 10, 2007
 
  
 
=== Other wonders ===
 
=== Other wonders ===
−
* [http://www.hillmanwonders.com/ The World's Top 100 Wonders] - a list of architectural, engineering and natural wonders by Howard Hillman, a renowned travel writer.
+
* [http://www.wonderclub.com/AllWorldWonders.html Complete Listing of World Wonders] ''Wonder Club''
−
* [http://www.wonderclub.com/AllWorldWonders.html WonderClub.com] - a "list of lists," with information about most wonders.
+
* [http://www.hillmanwonders.com/ Hillman Wonders of the World] Howard Hillman's Top 100 Wonders
−
* [http://www.asce.org/history/seven_wonders.cfm Seven Wonders of the Modern World] - a list of modern wonders compiled by the [[American Society of Civil Engineers]]
+
* [https://theplanetd.com/wonders-of-the-world/ 7 Wonders of the World – The New, the Natural, and the Ancient] ''The Planet D''
−
*[http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-chicagowonders-specialpackage,1,2933603.special?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true Seven Wonders of Chicago] - A list compiled by the Chicago Tribune and voted on by readers.
 
−
*[http://www.shekpvar.net/~dennis/Sections/History/wonders-public.html Wonders of the World] - a website with info and photographs, describing about 30 of the greatest human construction achievements.
 
  
 +
{{Credits|Seven_Wonders_of_the_World|130796789|Wonders_of_the_World|248409778}}
  
−
[[Category:nations and places]]
+
[[Category:Geography]]
−
{{Credit|130796789}}
 

Latest revision as of 19:50, 21 April 2023


The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (from left to right, top to bottom): Great Pyramid of Giza, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Temple of Artemis, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Mausoleum of Maussollos, Colossus of Rhodes, and the Lighthouse of Alexandria as depicted by sixteenth-century Dutch artist Maarten van Heemskerck.

The Seven Wonders of the World (or the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) is a widely known list of seven remarkable constructions of antiquity. It was based on guide-books popular among Hellenic sightseers and includes only works located around the Mediterranean rim. Later lists include those for the medieval world and the modern world.

The original Seven Wonders of the World consists of: The Great Pyramid of Giza (the most ancient as well as the only surviving structure), the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Mausoleum of Maussollos at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

The notion of "Seven Wonders" can be traced to a Hellenistic recognition of trans-cultural human achievement that found expression throughout the Hellenistic world. For thousands of years, the Seven Wonders of the World have inspired humankind as representative works symbolic of the great civilizations of antiquity. In terms of innovative design, elaborate construction, technological mastery, and symbolic meaning, the Seven Wonders have not only showcased the high points of diverse civilizations, but tied humankind together in the common pursuit of intellectual excellence and self-expression.

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

The historian Herodotus and the scholar Callimachus of Cyrene (c. 305 – 240 B.C.E.) made early lists of "seven wonders," but these writings have not survived, except as references. The earliest extant version of a list of seven wonders was compiled by Antipater of Sidon, who described the structures in a poem around 140 B.C.E.:

I have set eyes on the wall of lofty Babylon on which is a road for chariots, and the statue of Zeus by the Alpheus, and the hanging gardens, and the Colossus of the Sun, and the huge labor of the high pyramids, and the vast tomb of Mausolus; but when I saw the house of Artemis that mounted to the clouds, those other marvels lost their brilliancy, and I said, "Lo, apart from Olympus, the Sun never looked on aught so grand"[1]

A later list, under various titles such as De septem orbis spactaculis and traditionally, though incorrectly, attributed to the engineer Philo of Byzantium, may date as late as the fifth century C.E., although the author writes as if the Colossus of Rhodes, destroyed by an earthquake in 224 B.C.E., were still standing.

The basic characteristics of each of the Seven Wonders are given in the table below:

Wonder Date of construction Builder Notable features Date of destruction Cause of destruction
Great Pyramid of Giza 2650 – 2500 B.C.E. Egyptians Built as the tomb of Fourth dynasty Egyptian pharaoh Khufu. Still standing -
Hanging Gardens of Babylon 600 B.C.E. Babylonians Herodotus claimed the outer walls were 56 miles in length, 80 feet thick and 320 feet high (although some archaeological findings suggest otherwise). After first century B.C.E. Earthquake
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus 550 B.C.E. Lydians, Persians, Greeks Dedicated to the Greek goddess Artemis, the temple was begun by Croesus of Lydia and took 120 years to build. It was destroyed by arson in 356 B.C.E., rebuilt and destroyed during a raid by the Goths in 262, rebuilt again and finally demolished by a mob allegedly led by John Chrysostom.[2] 356 B.C.E. and 401 C.E. Arson and later demolition
Statue of Zeus at Olympia 435 B.C.E. Greeks Occupied the whole width of the aisle of the temple that was built to house it, and was 40 feet tall. fifth and sixth centuries C.E. Fire
Mausoleum of Maussollos at Halicarnassus 351 B.C.E. Persians, Greeks Stood approximately 135 feet tall with each of the four sides adorned with sculptural reliefs. Origin of the word mausoleum. by 1494 C.E. Earthquake
Colossus of Rhodes 292 – 280 B.C.E. Hellenistic Greece A giant statue of the Greek god Helios roughly the same size as today's Statue of Liberty in New York. 224 B.C.E. Earthquake
Lighthouse of Alexandria Third century B.C.E. Hellenistic Egypt Between 383 feet to 440 feet tall it was among the tallest man-made structures on Earth for many centuries. 1303 – 1480 C.E. Earthquake
Did you know?
Instead of the Seven "Wonders" the ancient Greeks spoke of "theamata" or "sights," "things worth seeing"

The Greek category to describe what people call "wonders" today was "theamata," which translates as "something worth seeing" or "must-sees." Since the list came mostly from ancient Greek writings, only sites that would have been known and visited by the ancient Greeks were included. Sites from eastern Asia, the Americas, Africa, and northern Europe were thus omitted. Five of the seven entries are a celebration of Greek accomplishments in the arts and architecture (the exceptions being the Pyramids of Giza and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon). Antipater's earlier list replaced the Lighthouse of Alexandria with the Babylon's famous Ishtar Gate.

It was not until the sixth century C.E. that the list above was used. Of these wonders, the only one that has survived to the present day is the Great Pyramid of Giza. One of wonders, the Temple of Artemis, was destroyed intentionally, first by arson and finally by a mob allegedly led by the Christian bishop St. John Chrysostom. The Statue of Zeus was destroyed by fire. Four of the wonders were destroyed by earthquakes—the Hanging Gardens, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Mausoleum of Maussollos. (The existence of the Hanging Gardens, however, has not been definitively proven.) There are sculptures from the Mausoleum of Maussollos and the Temple of Artemis in the British Museum in London.

Later lists

Stonehenge
The Colosseum

Many lists of "wonders of the world" are said to have existed during the Middle Ages, although it is unlikely that these lists originated at that time. These lists go by names such as "Wonders of the Middle Ages" (implying no specific limitation to seven), "Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages," "Medieval Mind," and "Architectural Wonders of the Middle Ages." Many of the structures on these lists were built much earlier than the Medieval Ages, but were well known. The lists are more properly seen as a continuing type or genre in the Seven Wonders tradition than a specific list.

The following is a typical representative of such lists:

Other sites that have been mentioned include:

  • Cairo Citadel
  • Ely Cathedral
  • Taj Mahal
  • Cluny Abbey

Modern lists

Many lists have been made of the greatest structures built during modern times or of the greatest wonders existing today. Some of the most notable lists are presented below.

American Society of Civil Engineers

The American Society of Civil Engineers compiled a list of wonders of the modern world:[3]

Wonder Date Started Date Finished Locations
Channel Tunnel December 1, 1987 May 6, 1994 Strait of Dover, between the United Kingdom and France
CN Tower February 6, 1973 June 26, 1976, tallest land structure in the world until September 12, 2007. Surpassed by Burj Dubai Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Empire State Building January 22, 1930 May 1, 1931 New York, NY, U.S.
Golden Gate Bridge January 5, 1933 May 27, 1937 Golden Gate Strait, north of San Francisco, California, U.S.
Itaipu Dam January 1970 May 5, 1984 Paraná River, between Brazil and Paraguay
Delta Works 1950 May 10, 1997 Netherlands
Panama Canal January 1, 1880 January 7, 1914 Isthmus of Panama

New7Wonders Foundation's seven wonders of the world

Great Wall of China
The Taj Mahal
Machu Pichu
The Grand Canyon

In 2001, an initiative was started by the Swiss corporation New7Wonders Foundation to choose the New Seven Wonders of the World from a selection of 200 existing monuments for profit.[4] Twenty-one finalists were announced on January 1, 2006.[5] Egypt was not happy with the fact that the only original wonder would have to compete with the likes of the Statue of Liberty, the Sydney Opera House, and other landmarks; and called the project absurd. To solve this, Giza was named an honorary Candidate. The results were announced on July 7, 2007 in Benfica's stadium in a big ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal:[6]

Wonder Date of construction Location
Great Wall of China Fifth century B.C.E. – sixteenth century CE China
Petra Sixth century B.C.E. Jordan
Christ the Redeemer Opened October 12, 1931 Brazil
Machu Picchu c. 1450 Peru
Chichen Itza c. 600 Mexico
Roman Colosseum Completed 80 C.E. Italy
Taj Mahal Completed c. 1648 India
Great Pyramid (Honorary Candidate) Completed c. 2560 B.C.E. Egypt

USA Today's New Seven Wonders

In November 2006, the American national newspaper, USA Today, in cooperation with the American television show, Good Morning America, revealed a list of New Seven Wonders as chosen by six judges. The wonders were announced one per day over a week on Good Morning America. An eighth wonder was chosen on November 24 from viewer feedback.[7]

Number Wonder Location
1 Potala Palace Lhasa, Tibet, China
2 Old City of Jerusalem Jerusalem, Israel
3 Polar ice caps Polar regions
4 Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Hawaii, United States
5 Internet N/A
6 Maya ruins Yucatán Peninsula, México
7 Great Migration of Serengeti and Masai Mara Tanzania and Kenya
8 Grand Canyon (viewer-chosen eighth wonder) Arizona, United States

Seven Natural Wonders of the World

Similar to the other lists of wonders, there is no consensus on a list of seven natural wonders of the world, as there has been debate over how large the list should be. One of the many lists was compiled by CNN:[8]

Seven wonders of the underwater world

An aerial photograph of the Great Barrier Reef

The Seven Underwater Wonders of the World was a list drawn up by CEDAM International, an American-based non-profit group for divers, dedicated to ocean preservation and research. In 1989, CEDAM brought together a panel of marine scientists, including Dr. Eugenie Clark, to pick underwater areas which they considered to be worthy of protection. The results were announced at The National Aquarium in Washington DC by actor Lloyd Bridges, who played in a TV show titled Sea Hunt:[9]

Seven Wonders of the Industrial World

Schematic of the Panama Canal, illustrating the sequence of locks and passages

British author Deborah Cadbury wrote Seven Wonders of the Industrial World, a book telling the stories of seven great feats of engineering of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In 2003 the BBC made a seven-part documentary series on the book, with each episode dramatising the construction one of the wonders. The seven industrial wonders are:

Travel wonders of the world

Travel writer Howard Hillman is one of many such writers who has compiled lists of the top man-made[10] and natural[11] tourist travel wonders of the world.

Man-made travel wonders

Forbidden City located in the center of Beijing, China
  1. Giza pyramid complex
  2. Great Wall of China
  3. Taj Mahal
  4. Machu Picchu
  5. Bali
  6. Angkor Wat
  7. Forbidden City
  8. Bagan Temples & Pagodas
  9. Karnak Temple
  10. Teotihuacán

Natural travel wonders

Victoria Falls, seen from the Zambian side.
  1. Serengeti Migration
  2. Galápagos Islands
  3. Grand Canyon
  4. Iguazu Falls
  5. Amazon Rainforest
  6. Ngorongoro Crater
  7. Great Barrier Reef
  8. Victoria Falls
  9. Bora Bora
  10. Cappadocia

Notes

  1. ↑ Paul Trebilco, The Early Christians in Ephesus from Paul to Ignatius (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2007, ISBN 0802807690).
  2. ↑ John Freely, The Western Shores of Turkey: Discovering the Aegean and Mediterranean Coast (Tauris Parke Paperbacks, 2004, ISBN 978-1850436188).
  3. ↑ Civil Engineering Wonders 7wonders.org. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  4. ↑ New Seven Wonders New 7 Wonders. Retrieved April 8, 2022
  5. ↑ Finalist Page New 7 Wonders. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  6. ↑ Opera House snubbed as new Wonders unveiled ABC News, July 7, 2008. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  7. ↑ What Are The USA Today 7 Wonders Of The World? Listerious, December 15, 2020.
  8. ↑ The Seven Natural Wonders of the World CNN, 1997. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  9. ↑ The Seven Underwater Wonders of the World Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  10. ↑ Howard Hillman, World's top 10 man-made travel wonders Hillman's Top 10 Lists for Travelers. Retrieved April 8 2022.
  11. ↑ Howard Hillman, World's top 10 natural travel wonders, Hillman's Top 10 Lists for Travelers. Retrieved April 8 2022.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Cox, Reg, and Neil Morris. The Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Chelsea House Publications, 2000. ISBN 0791060489.
  • Cox, Reg, Neil Morris, and James Field. The Seven Wonders of the Medieval World. Chelsea House Publications, 2000. ISBN 0791060470.
  • D'Epiro, Peter, and Mary Desmond Pinkowish. What Are the Seven Wonders of the World? and 100 Other Great Cultural Lists. Anchor, 1998. ISBN 0385490623.
  • Freely, John. The Western Shores of Turkey: Discovering the Aegean and Mediterranean Coast. Tauris Parke Paperbacks, 2004. ISBN 978-1850436188
  • Morris, Neil. The Seven Wonders of the Natural World. Chrysalis Books, 2002. ISBN 184138495X.
  • Trebilco, Paul. The Early Christians in Ephesus from Paul to Ignatius. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2007. ISBN 0802807690

External links

All links retrieved January 26, 2023.

Seven Ancient Wonders

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World] History.com

Other wonders

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