The Seven Wonders of the World refers to a list of seven remarkable constructions of classical antiquity, as listed by various authors in the past. The most famous list is that of Antipater of Sidon, a poet from the 2nd century BC. The seven wonders are:
- The Great Pyramid of Giza: This is the oldest and only remaining wonder of the ancient world. It is located in Giza, Egypt and was built as a tomb for the pharaoh Khufu during the 4th dynasty (2613-2494 BCE). The pyramid is 146 meters (481 feet) tall and was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years. It is made of limestone and granite, and it is estimated that it took around 20 years to build.
- The Hanging Gardens of Babylon: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were located in the ancient city of Babylon, in modern-day Iraq. They were built by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II in the 6th century BCE as a gift to his wife, who missed the greenery of her homeland. The gardens were built on top of a large stone terrace, and they were said to have been an engineering marvel with multiple levels of terraces filled with a variety of plants and trees. However, no definitive evidence of the gardens has ever been found, and some scholars believe they may have been a figment of the ancient imagination.
- The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus: The Temple of Artemis was located in the ancient city of Ephesus, in modern-day Turkey. It was built in honor of the Greek goddess Artemis, and it was one of the largest and most impressive temples of the ancient world. The temple was built around 550 BCE and was made of marble and decorated with sculptures. The temple was destroyed and rebuilt several times before finally being destroyed by a mob in 356 BCE.
- The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus: The Mausoleum was a tomb built in Halicarnassus, in modern-day Turkey, for the Persian satrap (governor) Mausolus, and his wife Artemisia. The tomb was built around 350 BCE and was designed by the famous Greek architects Satyros and Pythius. It was a large, multi-level structure that was adorned with sculptures and reliefs. The tomb was one of the most famous and visited tombs of the ancient world and the word "mausoleum" is derived from the name of the tomb's builder.
- The Colossus of Rhodes: The Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of the sun god Helios, located in the ancient city of Rhodes, in modern-day Greece. It was built around 280 BCE and was made of bronze. The statue was over 30 meters (98 feet) tall and stood at the entrance of the city's harbor. The statue was destroyed by an earthquake in 224 BCE and was never rebuilt.
- The Statue of Zeus at Olympia: The Statue of Zeus was located in the temple of Zeus in Olympia, in modern-day Greece. It was built around 435 BCE and was made of gold and ivory. The statue depicted Zeus seated on a throne and was over 12 meters (40 feet) tall. The statue was one of the most famous statues of the ancient world and was considered a masterpiece of ancient Greek art. It was destroyed in the 5th century CE.
- The Lighthouse at Alexandria: The Lighthouse at Alexandria was located in the ancient city of Alexandria, in modern-day Egypt. It was built around 280 BCE and was one of the tallest and most impressive lighthouses of the ancient world. The lighthouse was made of marble