Philo of Byzantium, approximately 2,000 years ago, compiled a list of two statues, a temple, a roof-top garden, two tombs, and a lighthouse. Ancient Romans considered these to be the seven great man-made wonders of the world. Why seven? Six of the seven have long been destroyed, some by nature, some desecrated by humans. Only the Great Pyramid of Giza still stands in its original form and is the oldest wonder, built around 2500 B.C. The other six are the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesos, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes and the Pharos (lighthouse) at Alexandria. This video reveals the story behind each wonder, its location, and the people responsible for the construction and original function of each. It's all here-- the immense creativity of ancient civilizations expressed in size, majesty, and beauty, qualities which produced a sense of wonder then and now.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.