Originally compiled around the second century BC, the final list was not completed until the Middle Ages. All but one have been destroyed, and one is thought to have only existed in the realms of mythology.
The Pyramid of Giza
The oldest of the seven wonders and the only one still standing. The Great Pyramid at Giza is believed to have been build by Egyptian pharaoh Khufu in around 2560 BC as a tomb for himself. At its tallest it stood at 480 ft, but has lost 30 ft from the top. Little is known about how it was actually built, but several theories have been put forward, including the use of a complicated spiral ramp which was raised as the structure got taller.
Several modern theories abound as to the original usage of pyramids, ranging from religious worship to extra terrestrial explanations, but conventional archaeological and historical evidence points to their use as burial chambers for the Kings of Egypt.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Greek historian Strabo placed the hanging gardens on the banks of the River Euphrates, near modern Baghdad, Iraq. While archaeological excavations have uncovered the site of what some believe to have been the hanging gardens, no actual evidence has been found to prove it existed.
Ancient historians described the garden as having plants cultivated above ground level and flows of water which irrigated the roots of the trees, but they had never witnessed them. Some have argued that descriptions of the gardens were exaggerated descriptions of Babylon itself (by the soldiers of Alexander the Great).
The Temple of Artemis at Epheseus
Built to honour the Greek Goddess of hunting and nature, the temple was situated in modern Turkey. The temple is thought to have served both as a place of worship and a market place, and modern excavations have uncovered gifts left to the goddess comprising gold jewellery and ivory statuettes.
The temple was initially destroyed on 21st July 356 BC, by a man named Herostratus who burned it in an attempt to immortalize his name. The temple was slowly rebuilt over two decades and Alexander the Great aided in the restoration when he conquer Asia Minor.
The second destruction came in AD 262 at the hands of the invading Goths, while the followers of Artemis vowed to rebuild, most converted to Christianity. The temple was finally destroyed by St John Chrysostom in the Forth Century.
The Statue of Zeus at Olympus
Built around 450 BC, the magnificent statue attracted visitors from all over the ancient world. However, the structure that housed the statue (the Temple of Zeus) was closed in AD 391 when the Olympic games where banned as being a pagan practice. The statue was moved to Constantinople (now Istanbul) by wealthy Greeks after the temple suffered earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters.
The statue of Zeus was finally destroyed by fire in AD 462.
To read about the other three wonders click here
Sources:
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Peter A Clayton & Martin Price (Routledge; 1 edition,1990)
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Dr Paul Jordan (Longman, 2002)
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