Time is fleeting. Civilizations are changing, leaving behind a grandiose architectural heritage. Unfortunately, everything is subject to destruction, especially what was built by human hands. That is why the ancient seven wonders of the world, the description of which is known to everyone culturally, for the most part, have not survived to our time. They were replaced by others that still exist. The seven wonders of the world of our time were chosen long enough and scrupulously. The result of this work was seven grandiose architectural structures, famous throughout the world.

Concept definition

What are the wonders of the world, and why did they get such a proud name? Why were they singled out among all the monumental works of the ancient world and modernity? And they are named so due to the fact that they are above the category of time. These monuments of architectural thought are admired now in the same way as they were admired in antiquity. There are legends about them.

Until recently, there were the ancient seven wonders of the world. The Pyramid of Cheops is the only one that has survived to this day. Others, such as hanging gardens or the Lighthouse of Alexandria, did not survive. They are known only from manuscripts, essays by contemporaries and paintings recreated from descriptions.

How the new list was chosen

Thus, it was necessary to elect new seven wonders of the world. Architectural monuments withstood a real competition (it was held by an independent organization "New Open World Corporation"). All modern means were involved, including the votes received both on the Internet and via SMS messages. 90 million people around the world voted for the monument that they considered the most worthy to bear such an honorary title. Thus, among several dozen applicants in 2007, seven wonders of the world of our time were chosen. We will describe each of them in more detail below. In the meantime, I would like to list those who were only a step away from the highest award. So, Red Square in Moscow, the Stonehenge building, the Eiffel Tower and the Acropolis in Greek Athens participated in the final.

It is noteworthy that the pyramids of Giza were also finalists in the competition, but the Egyptian authorities refused to participate in it. Most likely, they do not consider it possible for these architectural monuments to be included in the new seven wonders of the world, because they already appear in the ancient ones.

the great Wall of China

There are many legends and beliefs about how they built it. So, until now, many are sure that the people who worked on its construction are buried right inside the structure - this is not so. Although the fact that more than a million people died during construction is true.

So, the construction of the Great Wall of China originates in the III century BC. The emperors conceived its construction. The construction pursued many goals, the main of which were:

• protection of lands from nomadic tribes;
• the inadmissibility of the assimilation of foreigners with the Chinese nation;

Thus began the construction, which dragged on for centuries. The rulers changed: some treated the construction with disdain (the Manchu Qing dynasty), while others, on the contrary, carefully watched the construction.

It should be said that a significant part of the wall collapsed because it was not properly monitored. Only the site near Beijing was lucky - for a long time it served as a kind of gateway to the capital. Nevertheless, in the late eighties of the XX century, large-scale restoration work began, and in 1997 the Wall entered the seven wonders of the world of our time.

Why did she receive such an honorary title? This is the longest architectural structure in the world: the total length is 8851.8 kilometers. How was the Great Wall of China built, that they were able to reach such an unprecedented size? The process went on for millennia, systematically. However, it is worth saying that this is not a solid structure. There are gaps along the Wall. This is what allowed the great Genghis Khan to conquer China and rule it for 12 years. Every year, tens of millions of tourists visit this wonder of the world of our time.

Rio: Christ statue

Completely on the other side of the planet, in Rio de Janeiro stands famous statue Christ the Redeemer. He rises above the city, spreading his arms, as if embracing all the inhabitants and guests of the city of many millions.

The monument was built in honor of the centenary of the independence of Brazil. Truly chosen for its construction beautiful place: Mount Corcovado, from which, at a glance, you can see the whole of Rio, with its Sugar Loaf peak, famous beaches.

The whole country was collected for the construction: the magazine "O Cruzeiro" announced a subscription, the funds from which went to the construction of the monument. The project was entrusted to Silva Coste, although other options were proposed before him: for example, the arms of Christ, spread out like a crucifix, were proposed by K. Oswald, the artist.

Brazil at that time was a poor, non-industrial country, so it was impossible to implement such a large-scale project. France came to the rescue - it was there that the statue of Christ the Redeemer was made in detail. And then it was already transported to Brazil. The parts were delivered to the construction site by a small railway which is still in operation. Millions of tourists annually climb one of the most famous buildings modernity.

Taj Mahal

In Agra, India, on the banks of the Jamna, the greatest palace-mausoleum of the Taj Mahal is located. This is the tomb of the wife of the great descendant of Tamerlane, Shah Jahan. The woman's name was Mumtaz Mahal, she died in childbirth.

Taj Mahal in India - the pinnacle of the Mughal architectural style. It included a synthesis of the art of the Indians, Persians and Arabs. The most famous element of the structure is a huge snow-white dome. The mausoleum itself is made of white marble. It is a five-domed palace, which contains the tombs of both the Shah himself and his wife. It is noteworthy that the four minarets located at the edges are slightly inclined - this protects the tombs from destruction in case of earthquakes, which are not uncommon in India. A park with picturesque fountains and a lake adjoins the mausoleum itself. The Taj Mahal was built in 1653. 20 thousand builders managed such a large-scale project in 22 years.

The mausoleum itself, thanks to numerous visitors, brings considerable funds to the treasury of India.

Chichen Itza

The legendary Mayan city is located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. This is not an ordinary city - it served as the capital, political and religious center. Chichen Itza was built in the 7th century AD. Most of the buildings belong to the Mayan culture, some of them were erected by the Toltecs. At the end of the 12th century, there were no inhabitants left in Chichen Itza at all. This is one of the mysteries that has not yet been explained: either the Spaniards, who destroyed the Maya during the invasion of Mexico, were responsible for everything, or everything happened naturally due to the decline economic situation capital Cities.

Several architectural structures were found on the territory of the ancient city at different times. However, the most remarkable of them is the Chichen Itza pyramid. This is a kind of focus of the legendary knowledge of the Maya, their religious beliefs, the center of the cult. The 24-meter one has four sides, on which 9 steps are made. The stairs located on each side of the pyramid have 91 steps. If you add up their number, you get 364 plus one, leading to a small temple crowning the pyramid. It turns out 365 - the number of days in a year.

The balustrade along the edges of the stairs represents the body of a snake, whose head is at the base of the pyramid. It gives the impression that the snake is moving. And in the fall down, and in the spring up.

Ritual temples are located at the top of the pyramid and inside it. They were probably used for sacrifices.

Coliseum

The new seven wonders of the world of our time include European monuments. This is the famous Roman Colosseum. Its appearance is partly connected with the despotic rule of Nero. He, having committed suicide, left behind a grandiose palace with a lake in the very center of Rome. Vespasian, who came to power, decided to forever erase the cruel Nero from the memory of the people. It was decided to give the chic palace to imperial institutions, and to build a huge amphitheater on the site of the lake. And so the Colosseum was born. Initially, after the construction in 80, it was called the Flavian Amphitheater. Modern name the building received only in the VIII century, most likely because of its impressive size.

Initially, it was used to amuse the people with gladiator fights, baiting animals, etc. It even celebrated the 1000th anniversary of Rome. However, in the Middle Ages, due to the invasion of barbarian tribes, the Colosseum was partially destroyed; a powerful earthquake of the 14th century played an important role in this process. After the grandiose structure is taken away brick by brick for construction needs.

Only in the 18th century, Pope Benedict XIV began to protect the Colosseum as an important architectural object. Now it is a symbol of Rome, which is visited by a great many tourists from all over the world.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu - unique city South America, located at an altitude of almost 2500 thousand meters above sea level. The Spanish conquerors could not reach it, which is why the architecture of the ancient city remained untouched.

Machu Picchu was discovered only at the very beginning of the 20th century by a professor at Yale University. It is noteworthy that very little is known about the city, they do not know anything about the population, or about the purpose of construction, and so on. One thing is clear: Machu Picchu has a very clear structure and layout.

AT this moment is under protection. UNESCO has limited the number of daily visitors to 2,500.

Petra - the pearl of Jordan

City in the rock - this is how you can characterize another wonder of the world modern world, Jordanian Petra. The path to the city lies through natural gorges, which are the city walls. In ancient times, Petra was of great importance - it lay on the trade route between Damascus and the Red Sea region, as well as Gaza and Persian Gulf. Trade city and lived.

The inhabitants of Petra were able not only to skillfully process stone, but also to collect water. In fact, the city has become an artificial oasis in the middle of the desert.

The main attraction that attracts tourists is Al-Khazneh. According to scientists, this is a temple-mausoleum. There are many legends associated with the building. According to some, this is the place where the pharaoh hid his wealth during the time of Moses, according to others, this is the repository of the loot looted by robbers.

To tourists all over the world, Petra and her main temple Known for the Indiana Jones Adventures movie.

A lot is subject to modern man: people conquer outer space, reveal more and more new mysteries of nature - it’s impossible to list everything. It is becoming more and more difficult to strike the imagination of modern man, because before his eyes the most daring dreams ever created by uncontrollable human imagination come true.

However, what today seems to be an extraordinary miracle and the pinnacle of creative thought, after a few decades will become as ordinary and familiar as, for example, television is for us now. Nevertheless, there are things that are able to surprise regardless of time, which through many generations will be looked at with admiration and, probably, awe, as they are today. You probably guessed what I'm talking about "wonders of the world".

As you know, there were seven wonders of the world, which are now commonly called "wonders of the world of the ancient world." Only one of them has survived to this day - the legendary pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Therefore, at the initiative of the Swiss Bernard Werber, a project was organized to determine which of the existing structures and attractions are worthy of being called "wonders of the world."

The non-profit organization "New Open World Corporation" held a worldwide vote, which was attended by more than 90 million people around the world. Winners were chosen from several dozen applicants for the title of one of the seven wonders of the world, and the results of the competition were announced in Lisbon on July 7, 2007, on the “day of three sevens”.

So, we invite you to see photos of the new seven wonders of the world, as well as read their brief descriptions:

Location: China

This is the largest architectural structure in the world, the length of the wall is 8851.8 kilometers. was built to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire from nomadic raids. Today, the wall is rightfully considered one of the the greatest structures ever built by man. This is the most visited attraction in the world - more than 40 million tourists a year come to the country to see the Great Wall of China with their own eyes. By the way, one of the sections of the wall passes near the capital of China - Beijing.

Location: Italy, Rome

This is the largest of the ancient Roman amphitheaters, a full-fledged symbol of the Eternal City, perhaps the most recognizable architectural monument in the world. Its second name - the Flavian Amphitheater - was received in honor of the Flavian dynasty, which then ruled in Ancient Rome and organized the construction of the amphitheater. For a long time, gladiator fights and other entertainment spectacles for guests and residents of Rome were held in the Colosseum.

Location: Peru

The legendary ancient city of the Incas, located on the territory of modern Peru. Machu Picchu is nicknamed "the city among the clouds" due to its location - it is located on top of one of the mountain ranges, at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level. The city was built by the Inca ruler Pachacutec as an imperial residence - a "sacred mountain shelter".

Location: Jordan

The famous stone-hewn city of Petra, located on the territory of modern Jordan. The city is located in the Arava Valley, in the Siq Canyon, surrounded on all sides by sheer cliffs. You can enter the valley only through narrow gorges, which are a kind of city gates. Most of the city's buildings are carved into the red sandstone rocks - even the name of the city "Petra" is translated as "rock". More than half a million tourists a year come to see the mysterious city of stone. By the way, the final scenes of Steven Spielberg's famous film "Indiana Jones and the Last crusade were filmed right here in Petra.

Location: India

The mausoleum-mosque of the Taj Mahal, made of white marble, is located in the city of Agra in India, on the banks of the Jumna River. This is a real pearl of the Muslim world, the best example of architecture of Indian, Persian and Islamic styles. The magnificent mausoleum was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in honor of his wife who died in childbirth.

According to one of the legends, an absolutely identical building made of black marble was to be built on the opposite bank of the river, and a gray marble bridge was to connect them. Today, the Taj Mahal is visited by millions of tourists a year, it certainly deservedly took its place in the list of the new seven wonders of the world.

Location: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro

The next wonder of the world is the magnificent statue of Christ the Redeemer at the top of Mount Corcovado in Brazilian Rio de Janeiro. The statue is considered a symbol of Rio and all of Brazil, one of the highest sculptures in the world. The height of the statue is 38 meters, the arm span is 30 meters, the weight of the statue is 1145 tons.

Location: Mexico, Yucatan

Ancient city Chichen Itza - political and Cultural Center Mayan state located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. According to archaeologists, Chichen Itza was one of the religious centers, the so-called "places of power" of the Mayan culture.

Location: Egypt

Formally, the Pyramids of Giza are not among the seven new wonders of the world, but are present here as an out-of-competition, honorary candidate. Egyptian pyramids- the only one of the seven wonders of the world of the ancient world that has survived to this day. Excursions to the pyramids are regularly held from the capital of Egypt and are very popular with tourists.

Seven Wonders ancient world- a list of famous ancient monuments, compiled by ancient historians and travelers, including the "father of history" Herodotus.

The list was repeatedly edited, and its classical version was formed 2.2 thousand years ago thanks to the efforts of Philo of Byzantium. The list of "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World" includes: the pyramid of Cheops, the "hanging gardens" of Babylon, the statue of Olympian Zeus, the temple of Artemis in Ephesus, the mausoleum in Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes and the lighthouse on about. Pharos in Alexandria.

Pyramid of Cheops, Egypt

Pyramid of Cheops, or Great Pyramid is the only one of the 7 wonders of the world that has survived to this day. The age of the building is 4500 years. 120 thousand Egyptians for 20 years in the sweat of their faces erected a grandiose pharaoh's tomb. The pyramid of Cheops is made up of 2.5 million blocks weighing 2.5 tons each. Without the use of cement and other fasteners, the blocks are so closely fitted to each other that the gap between them does not exceed 0.5 mm. Initially, the pyramid had a height of 147 meters, but even today, when its top is destroyed, and the most high point is located at around 138 meters, the tomb of Cheops still makes a majestic impression. For almost 4000 years, until the XIV century AD, the Pyramid of Cheops bore the title of the highest building in the world.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Asia

Around 600 BC on the territory of modern Iraq, ancient Babylon was noisy. The city reached its peak under King Nebuchadnezzar II, who entered into a military alliance with his main enemy, Assyria, and became related to the Median king Cyaxares by marrying his daughter Amitis (Semiramide). For his wife, the king ordered to build the famous "hanging gardens". The gardens were located on a four-tiered platform, reminiscent of an ever-blooming green hill. The base of the terraces was built of stone blocks covered with a layer of reeds and filled with asphalt. Then there was a double layer of brick, even higher - lead plates to prevent seepage of irrigation water. A fertile layer of soil was laid on top of this structure, on which trees, palm trees, and flowers were grown. Magnificent gardens elevated on great height, seemed to be a real wonder of the world in sultry, dusty Babylonia.

Statue of Zeus, Olympia, Greece

In 435 BC. e. in Olympia - one of the sanctuaries of Ancient Greece - a majestic temple was built in honor of the ruler of the gods - Zeus. Inside the temple was placed a huge 20-meter statue of the Olympian god, seated on a throne. The sculpture was made of wood, on top of which ivory plates were glued, imitating the upper naked part of the body of Zeus. God's clothes and shoes are covered with gold. In his left hand, Zeus held a scepter with an eagle, and in his right hand, a statue of the goddess of victory.

Temple of Artemis, Ephesus, Turkey

The Temple of Artemis was built in 560 BC. King Croesus of Lydia in the city of Ephesus on the coast of Asia Minor. The huge white marble temple was framed by 127 columns 18 meters high. Inside was a statue of Artemis, the goddess of fertility, made of gold and ivory. In 356 BC. one conceited inhabitant of Ephesus, Herostratus, set fire to the temple, thus deciding to become famous and perpetuate his name. The Sanctuary of Artemis was rebuilt, but in 263 it was destroyed and plundered by the Goths.

Mausoleum in Halicarnassus, Turkey

The ruler of Caria, Mausolus, was still alive in 353 BC. began the construction of his own tomb in Halicarnassus (modern Bodrum, Turkey). grandiose funerary structure 46 meters high, surrounded by 36 columns and crowned with a statue of a chariot, made such a strong impression on contemporaries that since then all monumental tombs have been called mausoleums after King Mausolus.

Colossus of Rhodes, Greece

A giant statue of the ancient Greek sun god Helios was installed at the entrance to the port of Rhodes in 292-280. BC e .. A slender youth-god, sculpted in full growth, held a torch in his hand. Ships sailed between the legs of the statue. For only 65 years, the Colossus of Rhodes stood in its place: in 222 BC. it was destroyed by an earthquake. Fragments of the sculpture were transported on 900 camels.

Seven wonders of the world, photos and descriptions of unique architectural structures show the greatness of ancient history.

The ancient era, with its greatest cultural and historical monuments, laid the foundation for the outstanding creations of mankind, which continue the legacy with new discoveries and genuine miracles.

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7 wonders of the world - list

So what's on the list:

1. - the age is about 4.5 thousand years, daily crowds of tourists visit this sight of Egypt.
2. - an amazing and unusual gift made by a mudem for his beloved wife. Beautiful, green gardens full of exotic plants, birds and animals have grown up among dusty Babylon.
3. Zeus statue in Olympia- only this miracle was located on the territory of mainland Europe. The Olympic Games have already been held for 300 years, and only then the construction of the majestic and main temple began.
4. Temple of Artemis of Ephesus- a beautiful building, burned for the sake of "glorification" of the name.
5. mausoleum in Halicarnassus- has stood in its place for a long time - nineteen centuries.
6. The Colossus of Rhodes- a huge statue of the sun god worshiped by the people.
7. Alexandrian lighthouse- not just a lighthouse, but a fortress city, on top of which a fire burned day and night. They brought firewood on mullahs along a winding road inside the building.

Detailed Description of the Seven Wonders

The Pyramid of Cheops

The ancient heritage of Egypt is located in the northwestern part of Cairo. The location points to 4 parts of the world and shows the unique accuracy of the structure. The greatest Egyptian wonder of the world was erected for 20 years. About a million slaves were used for its construction, the work of which continued even after the death of Pharaoh Cheops.

The area of ​​the base of the pyramid reaches 53,000 square meters. m, and the height at the end of construction reached 147 m. You can get inside to the tomb of the pharaoh only through one entrance, which is located above the ground at a level of 15.5 m.

Its useful to note: Caliph Abdullah Al-Mamun decided to disturb the chambers of the pharaoh, who made a tunnel into the pyramid with the intention of profit, and as a result did not find any treasures.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

They present a chic gift from Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian ruler, for his beloved wife. Subsequently, the wealth and splendor of the city was destroyed by a flood. Structures and buildings where gardens grew are washed out and broken under the influence of a powerful water flow.

Landmark misleads contemporaries about its location. Many archaeologists have made repeated attempts to find traces of the most ancient phenomenon.

Zeus statue in Olympia

Majestic Zeus was a masterpiece of jewelers. The author is the great master of that time - Phidias. The wonders of the world described on Wikipedia say that the author spent about 10 years creating his creation. Until now, the dimensions of the statue have not been precisely determined, it is believed that the approximate height was 12-18 m.

The pedestal for the throne was impressive in size; fragments from the Olympic Games and the life of the gods served as its decoration. On it sat a thunderer naked to the waist, supported at his feet by two lions. On the body is a golden cloak with images of animals and plants. There is a wreath on his head, the Thunderer holds a scepter in one hand, and a golden statue of the goddess of Victory in the other.

Temple of Artemis of Ephesus

The ancient pilgrimage center is located in Turkey. It was built by the Amazons, who were considered the founders of the city. Soon the city was burned by Herostratus. In the 6th century, the project of new construction under the leadership of Khersifron provided for white marble columns.

Its construction lasted 120 years and took place according to the same project, with a preliminary collection Money and jewels of the townspeople.

Good to know: on the day of the temple fire, Alexander III the Great was born, and the phrase "Gerostrat's glory" turned into a symbol of a bad deed.

mausoleum in Halicarnassus

The ruler Mausolus built his tomb under personal supervision. The three-level mausoleum towered 46 meters. The lower level was lined with marble. It contained the tomb of the king. The next level featured a colonnade supporting the roof, creating a pyramidal shape.

The top was personified by the figures of King Mausolus with Artemisia, who are in a chariot with 4 horses.

The Colossus of Rhodes

The islanders of Rhodes erected a monument to their patron Helios in gratitude for the victory against the invaders. The monument is the personification of freedom and independence of the inhabitants of the island. The statue has been under construction for 12 years. According to numerous descriptions of contemporaries, the Colossus was located on an embankment, which was a kind of gate to the city. In one hand the young man held the blazing fire of Helios.

The height of the statue reached 36 m. The retaining pillars of the structure's structure proved to be unreliable and after only 65 years collapsed as a result of an earthquake.

Its useful to note: fragile structures later became known as the term "Colossus with feet of clay."

Alexandrian lighthouse

The tower takes its name from city ​​of the same name located near the island of Pharos. The lighthouse performed its immediate role, illuminating the path of ships that got lost to the shore at night. The designer of the gigantic structure of 140 meters was Sostratus of Knidos.

Consisting of several tiers, the lighthouse served as housing for sailors and port workers. At the top of the octagonal tower was a source of light - a large fire. The unique creation served until the 15th century, when an earthquake completely destroyed it.

Note: the second name of the lighthouse is Zeus the Savior.

Who first described the 7 wonders of the world

The founder of the work "On the Seven Wonders of the World" was Philo of Byzantium. His short essay on 12 pages consists of eyewitness accounts of unique buildings.

Philo of Byzantium did not see any of the miracles described with his own eyes, and wrote about them according to the stories of others.

Information about the life and work of the great engineer and poet consists of small facts that are famous for their great discoveries. The wonders of the world were described by many talented authors: Herodotus, Strabo, Pausanias, Sequester, Cassiodorus and others. However, they did not have a single idea and uniquely defined unique monuments.

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

The well-known wonders of the world that have entered our lives are the wonders of the ancient world.

"7" is a number associated with the sacred god Apollo, signifying completeness and perfection in the view of the ancient civilization.

Compiles a list of venerable rulers of the ancient age. Based on their significance, grandiose monuments of that time were created.

Each monument from the list is the embodiment of architectural art. From the beginning of the Hellenic era, writings about unique monuments were distributed on papyri by Greek authors. They were widely studied at school and were a teaching aid.

How many wonders of the world have survived to this day

Only one pyramid of Cheops has been completely preserved to our time. The Egyptian miracle of antiquity still keeps the secrets of the great ancestors. At the moment, this is the largest architectural construction of stone, reaching 137 m. During its existence, it has decreased by almost 10 m.

Architectural sights that are of interest to many researchers in the world and make up the wonders of the world of the ancient world, have been partially preserved or in the form of a copy:

• The lighthouse of Alexandria was destroyed by an earthquake and could not be restored. To date, only the fortress has survived.
• A copy of Zeus is exhibited in the Hermitage. This is the tallest antique sculpture of our time with a height of 3.5 m.
• Having existed for 19 centuries, the mausoleum in Halicarnassus was destroyed by an earthquake. The tombs of Artemisia and Mausolus are in the British Museum.
• During 18 years of excavations, only the German historian Robert Koldewey managed to discover the gardens of Babylon. Buildings of Ancient Babylon and structures surrounding gardens have been found.

Seven wonders of the world of our time

On July 7, 2007, a list of 7 wonders of the world of our time was compiled. We will give a description and present a photo of each object.

the great Wall of China

The construction of the greatest defensive structure began in the 3rd century BC, and now it still harbors many legends. During the construction, the main goals were pursued: protecting the territory from the Mongol invasion and creating a guarantee for the protection of one state from another. Inappropriate attention to the great structure gradually destroyed it in some places. Since the end of the twentieth century, a large-scale restoration of architecture began.

1997 was marked by the entry into the status of a miracle of the modern world. architectural structure stretches for almost 9 thousand km, has a height of 6 to 10 meters.

Do you know that: the construction of the wall resulted in tens of thousands of deaths due to hard labor and epidemics.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer

The famous symbol of the Brazilian people is located at the very top of Mount Corcovado. Towering over the city with outstretched arms, Christ the Redeemer, with his 38-meter height, seems to embrace all the inhabitants of the metropolis, and at the same time greets guests from afar.

The construction of the monument is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of independence. Funds for the construction were collected by all the inhabitants of the country. The detailed production of the statue took place in France.

Taj Mahal

The pinnacle of the Mongolian architectural style is the snow-white palace of the Taj Mahal, located on the banks of the Jamna. Construction was carried out for two decades, it was built by the middle of the 17th century.

The mausoleum contains the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan, a descendant of Tamerlane. The presence of four minarets along the edges of the palace helps protect the tombs from tremors and destruction.

Coliseum

The largest amphitheater of the ancient era can accommodate more than 50 thousand people. The beginning of construction during the Flavian dynasty lasted 8 years. In the 8th century, due to its impressive size, it began to be called.

At the beginning of its existence, gladiators practiced their art in the arena of the amphitheater. After the looting by the barbarians and the earthquake of the 14th century, the Colosseum was literally pulled apart brick by brick. Only since the 18th century, the building has been taken under protection as an important architectural mega-object.

Machu Picchu

So called the city in the sky, which is located at an altitude of about 2500 m above the sea. Previously, it was the residence of the emperor. The almost untouched ancient city architecture did not suffer from the attacks of the Spanish conquerors.

The clear structure of the city delights with its architectural design. However, little is known about the urban population and the city.

Petra

Jordanian Petra is a city in the rock, located above the sea at a level of 900 meters. The road to it is laid through a natural gorge, which acts as city walls.

The surviving ruins of houses built with the traditional stone method stretch for kilometers. Ad-Deir is a 45-meter monastery carved into the rock. The main attraction - the El-Khazneh mausoleum - still keeps the legend of countless treasures. Previously, the city served as a trade route, connecting Damascus and the Red Sea regions.

Note: adventure film by Indiana Jones filmed in Petra.

Chichen Itza

Mexico is famous for the legendary city called, reminiscent of the consonance of legumes, loved by the way. local residents. Chichen Itza - the Mayan civilization, has a 24-meter pyramid Temple of Kukulkan, which has 365 steps.

How many days in a year, so many steps. The natural well located is Sacred Cenote. Its depth is "deadly" - 50 m. Previously, it served for the ritual of sacrifice. It is known that living people were dumped into the cenote. Now tourists swim in it.

The change of civilizations leaves behind a grandiose heritage of architecture, which has partially been preserved to this day. To the question - how many wonders of the world are in the world and which ones, now you can definitely answer. The emergence of new miracles is evidence that there are still many mysterious places to study and recognize their significance for all mankind.

We bring to your attention an interesting film about the seven wonders of the world of the ancient world:

About the legendary 7 wonders of the world - the greatest creations of mankind - everyone definitely heard in childhood, even if not everyone can remember them in order. And although most of the monuments from the history textbook can no longer be seen, people managed to compile many other, alternative, lists of outstanding sights that have survived to this day, to the delight of tourists.

ancient wonders of the world

The first attempts to single out the exceptional achievements of mankind in the list of wonders of the world took shape in the written heritage of ancient Greek authors, starting from the Hellenistic era. The "selection" of the main monuments of all times took place gradually.

So, one of the first historical list of "miracles" was Herodotus: in his "History" we are talking about three grandiose structures on the island of Samos - a mountain tunnel, a dam and a temple of Hera.

Soon, other thinkers added to the list to seven attractions: seven in ancient Greece was considered a holy figure, was an indispensable attribute of the solar gods and myths about them.

The classic "7 Wonders of the World" of the Ancient World, familiar to many from the school curriculum, is historically associated with the empire of Alexander the Great - the second half of the 4th century BC. e. Of these, two sights were ancient Egyptian, four were located in the territories Ancient Greece and one in Mesopotamia (more precisely, in Babylon).

The Pyramid of Cheops is the oldest, the first wonder of the world and the only one that has survived to this day. It is part of the Giza Pyramid Complex, the main attraction of Egypt.

The legendary Babylonian Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the second wonder of the world, supposedly existed from the end of the 7th century BC. e. until the 1st century BC e., destroyed by floods.

The temple statue of Zeus at Olympia, reaching about 12-17 meters along with the pedestal, was made of ivory, ebony and gold, stood for about nine centuries: from 435 BC. e. before the 5th century, it burned down in a fire.

The ruins of the fourth wonder of the world, Artemis in Ephesus (from the 6th to the 4th or 3rd century BC), are now part of the Turkish city of Selçuk (near Izmir).

Of the lost sights, the most persistent was the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. Non-standard for the middle of the IV century BC. e. the architectural monument existed for 19 centuries: destroyed by an earthquake, then partially dismantled for building materials. The ruins of the mausoleum can be seen in Bodrum, Turkey - this is the name of the city with the historical location of the fifth wonder of the world.

Earthquakes caused the death of two more ancient miracles: the bronze statue of the Colossus on the island of Rhodes (it stood for only 65 years, destroyed in the same III century BC) and Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt (the seventh wonder of the world, collapsed in the XIV century).

Panorama Google Maps"At the foot of the pyramid of Cheops (Khufu)"

New seven wonders of the world

The list of new wonders of the world, each of which continues to amaze tourists, was compiled in the first decade of the 21st century, in 2001-2007. Currently, these are the most famous of these ratings and therefore, along with the list world heritage UNESCO, the main must see landmark for tourists actively traveling around the world. It was compiled by a specially created non-profit foundation The New 7 Wonders of the world based on international voting using the Internet and other means of communication. About 100 million votes were accepted as part of the selection of attractions, but since the conditions allowed for multiple votes, this list became questionable almost immediately after publication.

One of the undisputed leaders of the list is the Great Wall of China. It stretched across the north of the country for almost 9 thousand kilometers, and taking into account the ruins - more than 20 thousand kilometers. The most famous landmark of China is organically inscribed in the landscape and is truly impressive sight. Several sites are open for tourists. The most popular is Badaling, connected by transport to Beijing.

The ancient Colosseum is an iconic landmark of Rome, its signature silhouette. This amphitheater, a masterpiece of architectural thought of the 1st century AD, almost immediately after its creation was proclaimed a wonder of the world in the list of the Roman poet Martial, his contemporary.

The symbol of Rio de Janeiro - the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Mount Corcovado - blesses the city, stretching out his hands over it from a height. At night, the illuminated figure of Christ is clearly visible from almost any part of the city, however best view it appears from Mount Pan de Azucar. In the list of the new 7 wonders of the world, the statue, erected in honor of the century of independence of Brazil, is the youngest attraction, its age is less than a hundred years.

Lost in the middle of the desert in Jordan, Petra, the capital of the ancient kingdoms of Idumea and Nabatea, was opened to Europeans only in the 19th century. The main attractions of Petra, the “stone city”, are crypts carved into the rocks of red sandstone and rock temple El Deir.

The pearl of Muslim architectural art in India is the mausoleum-mosque Taj Mahal in Agra, built in the 17th century at the behest of the king Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. It is not surprising that today the Taj Mahal is considered not only an outstanding architectural and spiritual monument, but also a symbol of love. Every year the marble complex becomes a place of pilgrimage for millions of people from all over the world.

The Lost Inca City of Machu Picchu is located in what is now Peru. This sixth new wonder of the world was created as a sacred mountain retreat during the Inca rule of Pachacutec in the middle of the 15th century. However, the mountainous city remained inhabited for less than a century - until the invasion of the Spaniards, who, however, never reached it. The worldwide discovery of the Inca "city among the clouds" took place only in 1911. Many mysteries of Machu Picchu have remained unsolved, and they still haunt researchers.

Completes the list modern wonders light legacy of the Maya - another lost civilization of America. holy city Chichen Itza in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula was founded around the 7th century AD, later the Toltecs who captured it contributed to the architecture of the complex. It is not known exactly why such a developed city was deserted at the end of the 12th century. The complex of surviving monuments of Chichen Itza includes pyramid temples, gaming "stadiums", ruins of colonnades, a well of sacrifices and an observatory.