The Seven Wonders of the World...

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THE PHAROS OF ALEXANDRIA

The Pharos of Alexandria was the first large lighthouse ever to be built. It was constructed in three stories just outside the harbour of Alexandria. The fire at the top of the lighthouse was kept burning 24 hours a day. The light could be seen almost as far as 35 miles out to sea. Solidly built of white marble, it stood for over a thousand years before being destroyed by an earthquake in 769 A.D.

THE COLOSSUS OF RHODES

The Colossus of Rhodes was an enourmous statue of the sun-god Helios which was built in 304 B.C. in Lindos, the main harbour of the Island of Rhodes, by the people as a thank you to their god for protecting them against invasion. In 370 B.C, a massive earthquake sent the colossus tumbling to the sea and it was seemingly lost forever. And even today the search goes on in the harbour for traces of the giant statue.

THE PYRAMIDS OF EGYPT

The Pyramids of Egypt were built by the ancient Egyptians 5,000 years ago, near the banks of the river Nile and are the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the World. Built as tombs for the kings of ancient Egypt, who believed in life after death, the kings were buried with many personal treasures to take with them into their next life. The Pyramids of Egypt are the only ancient wonder that remain standing to this present day.

THE HANGING GARDENS OF BABYLON

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were built by Semiramus in the 9th century B.C. as a cool haven from the burning heat of the desert for Emethes, the wife of King Nebuchadnezzar. Watered from the nearby Euphrates river, exotic flowers would have cascaded over the terraces, with palm trees providing a welcome shade, the air heavy from the perfume of aromatic plants. In 539 B.C the Persians took control of Babylon and by the year 200 A.D. it was in ruins.

THE TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS

The Temple of Artemis was built in 550 B.C by King Croesus of Lydia, in the Greek city of Ephesus, in honor of the goddess Artemis. 200 years later the temple was set on fire and virtually destroyed by a madman named Herostratus, but after Alexander The Great conquered Ephesus some years later, he vowed to restore it to its former glory and although his dream was fullfilled, he sadly died before its completion and never saw it restored to its original splendor.

THE STATUE OF ZEUS

The Statue of Zeus, king of the greek gods, was completed in 433 B.C at Olympia by the greek sculptor Pheidias and took up the entire width of the temple's aisle in which it was housed. Carved from ivory and gold and encrusted with precious stones and jewels, the statue survived for many centuries, until Roman times, during which the shrine was badly neglected and the statue taken to Constantinople where it was eventually destroyed by fire.

THE MAUSOLEUM AT HALICARNASSUS

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was the most magnificent tomb ever constructed, in the 4th century B.C. Built by the ambitious King Mausollos as a monument to his power. The Mausoleum survived for many centuries before eventually falling into ruin in 1581. With the stones from the remains being used to build a fortress.

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