Describe one of the wonders of the world. What is it and how many wonders of the world are there: photo and list

The pyramids of Giza were built during the reign of the 4th dynasty of the pharaohs (about 2550 BC), supposedly as tombs for kings and queens. The architecture of Ancient Egypt is represented by 90 pyramids, the main of which are the Pyramids of Giza, which are located on the edge of the capital Cairo. The largest in the world - the Pyramid of Cheops, towering above the plateau is one of the most ancient and untouched by time historical and cultural monuments. For 4300 years, the Pyramid of Cheops was the most tall building on the ground. In 1889, the Eiffel Tower in Paris took its place.

The pyramid is built entirely of limestone. Scientists have not yet been able to find out with the help of what mechanisms this grandiose pyramidal complex was built. During its construction, 1,300,000 stone blocks weighing from 2.5 to 15 tons were used. The length of its base is 230 meters. The four sides of the Pyramid of Cheops look at the four cardinal points at an angle of 52 degrees. The original height of the Pyramid was 146.5 meters, but today it is only 137 meters. The pyramid lost 9 meters in height due to the fact that the limestone coating and facing stones that were on top were removed from the pyramid and used by the Turks in power in Egypt and used in the construction of houses and mosques in Cairo. The pyramid of Cheops has two exits. Both of them are located in its northern part: one main and the second 17 meters above ground level.

In the XI n. e. the treasure-seeker caliph el-Mamun suggested that there were countless treasures inside the pyramid and sent masons to open the entrance to it. They carved a tunnel into the pyramid, which deviates from the original entrance and connects with it after 35 meters. They did not find anything inside the pyramid: the tombs of the pharaohs were plundered in ancient times.

From the main entrance to the Pyramid, a long narrow corridor with a low ceiling leads to the place where the sarcophagus was located. It descends to a depth of more than 100 meters and leads to a chamber located about 24 meters below ground level.

20 meters from the descending corridor there is another tunnel that leads to the very heart of the pyramid. It ends at the largest part of the pyramid - the Great Gallery. And it is a rectangular hall 49 square meters long and 15 meters high. From the Grand Gallery, a long tunnel leads to the second chamber, which is known as the Queens' Tomb.

Rising from the Grand Gallery, you can find the entrance to the third chamber, a sarcophagus is installed here, which was made from a single block of granite stone. The room of this chamber is an amazing archaeological find: it is built from granite blocks that were brought from southern city Egypt Aswan, located 1000 km from the Giza plateau! The roof of the chamber consists of 9 granite slabs, each of which is estimated to weigh approximately 50 tons. The burial chamber has small rectangular exits from the pyramid. Scientists suggest that these recesses in the pyramid served to provide ventilation, or, according to the beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, ensured the contact of the pharaoh with the stars.

The Great Pyramid in Egypt belonged to the Egyptian king Khufu. The name "Cheops" was given to him by the Greeks. Both names are common. The same applies to the Pyramid of Khafre (Greek "Chephren") and the Pyramid of Menkaure (Greek "Mycerine") located nearby on the Giza Plateau.

Pyramid of Khafre, the second largest pyramid on the Giza plateau of Egypt. The main difference of this pyramid is the layer of facing white stone remaining at the top. When examining the Pyramids of Giza, it seems that it is the largest. In fact, this is just an optical illusion, as she stands on a hill. In height, the Pyramid of Khafre is only 136 m, the width of the base is 214.5 m. Initially, the Pyramid of Khafre was 143.5 m in height.

No corridors leading to its center and burial chambers underground were found in the pyramid. The pyramid has a single entrance 15 meters above the ground, and descends along a narrow corridor at an angle of 25 degrees to a burial chamber measuring 14.2 by 6.9 meters. This chamber contains a large black sarcophagus.

For Khafre's son, Menkaure, the smallest of the three pyramids on the Giza plateau was built: 65.5 m high (currently 62 m), with a base of 105 m and an angle of 51.3 degrees. This pyramid, like the other two on the Giza plateau, has a northern entrance. In addition to its size, the Pyramid of Menkaure differed from the other two in that its lining was made of pink granite, which was brought from Aswan. King Muhammad Ali Pasha of Egypt used it to build a residence in Alexandria.

Beautiful creations of nature and mankind in different centuries were considered the most amazing. But another era has come and today "I and the World" will show you the wonders of the world of our time.

At the beginning of the 21st century, they decided to update the list of the seven wonders of the world. To do this, almost 100 million people around the world voted for the wonderful creations of the planet. And in 2007, the results of a survey were announced, where the modern beauties of the Earth were presented.

How many and what curiosities have survived to this day? Let's start in order.

Colosseum (Italy)

Of all the buildings of that time, the Colosseum is the most grandiose and almost preserved to this day. Here, for the amusement of the citizens of Rome, hundreds of gladiator slaves fought and died, as well as many exotic animals.

The amphitheater is 57 meters high and 527 meters in circumference. A huge canopy was attached at the top, and everything inside was covered with marble. 36 elevators were raised manually by slaves, each with 10 people.

After 8 years, when the amphitheater was completed, a holiday was held in the arena that lasted as long as 100 days, and thousands of animals and hundreds of gladiators were killed in the arena. The entrance was free, so everyone could see the bloody spectacles, especially there were many women. Fights always began at dawn and ended when the last rays of the sun touched the horizon. And on holidays, everything went on for several days.

Great Wall (China)

The wall stretches across northern China for 8,851.9 km. Construction began in the 3rd century BC. e., where more than 1,000,000 people took part. Construction lasted 10 years, but there were too many problems: there were no roads, enough water and food for the builders, epidemics raged. As a result, the local population rebelled against further construction and the ruling dynasty.

The next government that came to power continued construction. But this exhausted the people and the treasury, and the wall itself did not provide the protection that the authorities had hoped for. Enemies could easily penetrate weakly fortified places, or simply bribe the guards.

Ancient city in Peru

Machu Picchu is an old "lost city of the Incas" built high in the mountains. This city - one of the world's wonders - was built in the 15th century at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level. The architecture of stone buildings harmoniously blended into the beauty of mountain landscapes.

Astronomical structures were invented in the city, allowing you to observe the heavenly bodies - this is a water mirror 0.92 by 0.62 m, a gnomon monolith and a temple resembling an observatory.

Fruits and vegetables, medicinal plants, coca (cocaine) were grown here. And higher in the mountains there were pastures of domestic animals and useful metals were mined here.

During the entire existence of the city, the Spaniards and other conquerors never managed to reach it. After the collapse of the Inca Empire, the inhabitants left the city and for 400 years it was in ruins.

Nabataean city

The ruins of ancient Petra were located at the crossroads of the trade routes of the Red and Mediterranean Seas. More than 800 sights could be admired in the city. The structure was considered an artificial oasis, built among rocks and sand, and consists almost entirely of stone buildings.

At one time, Petra was conquered by the Roman Empire, but after the fall of Rome, the city was forgotten for almost 2,000 years. And only at the beginning of the 19th century it was discovered by a Swiss traveler.

tomb in india

One of the most beautiful wonders of the world -. The architecture smoothly intertwines Persian, Islamic and Indian styles. Construction continued for 21 years, day and night. The temple was built in honor of the beloved wife of Emperor Mumtaz Mahal who died during childbirth.

To build the tomb, building material was brought to India from all over Asia, and more than 20,000 workers built the temple. The building rises up to 74 meters. At one time, English soldiers and officials plundered the Taj Mahal, picking out precious stones from the walls of the temple. At the end of the 19th century, the tomb was reconstructed and modified, and the garden was given an English look.

A beautiful snow-white mausoleum with five domes and four minarets seems to hover over an artificial pond, reflecting on the water surface.

Statue of Christ (Brazil)

The famous 38-meter statue of Christ the Redeemer. Lightning strikes it regularly and therefore there are always stones nearby for restoration.

Every year, almost 2,000,000 tourists visit the huge monument to see not only it, but also the picturesque picture that opens at the foot of the statue. You can get to the top by motorway or railway with a miniature train. Funds for the construction of the statue were collected "by the whole world" and the work lasted about 9 years.

In the initial version, the pedestal was supposed to have the shape of a globe of the earth, but then they settled on the statue of Christ with outstretched arms in the form of a cross.

Sacred Mayan City (Mexico)

Chichen Itza - holy city Maya peoples. People came to this place in the 4th century, and in the 10th century it was captured by the Toltecs and turned into the most powerful city of that time. In the 12th century, the city began to decline and gradually collapse. But it is still unknown why the inhabitants left the great city.

Beautiful buildings have survived to this day: the Kukulkan pyramid, dedicated to the God of winds and rains, the “Temple of Time”, ball games grounds (it is believed that the losing team was beheaded), the temple of the Warriors, the observatory, the Sacred Cenote for sacrifices.

The beautiful creations of mankind still delight with their beauty and originality. Maybe in many years new list seven wonders of the world, but for now we admire the photo and read the description of these beautiful structures.

Pyramid of Pharaoh Cheops

This currently existing geographical feature, which is also included in the list of 7 wonders of the world, sometimes called great pyramid Giza. It serves as the tomb of the Egyptian ruler Cheops (Khufu). The pyramid was built near Giza, a suburb of Cairo. It took the combined efforts of 100,000 people to create this miracle. According to the calculations of archaeologists, the work lasted about twenty years.

Zeus statue in Olympia

A truly monumental structure was erected in honor of the God of Thunder. The temple of Zeus was built entirely of marble, including even the roof. Around the perimeter of the sanctuary there were 34 columns made of limestone. The walls of the temple were covered with picturesque bas-reliefs with images, as well as the exploits of Hercules.

But not included in the list of 7 wonders of the world temple complex and a statue of Zeus. The ancient Greek sculptor Phidias worked on the realization of this masterpiece. The body of the god was created from ivory, a great variety of rare gems and about 200 kg of gold without the slightest admixture of ligature also took to decorate the statue. The eyes of the Thunderer seemed to be throwing lightning, and the head and shoulders shimmered with an unearthly light.

According to legend, lightning struck the center of the marble floor of the temple. This was regarded as an expression of approval from Zeus. An altar of copper was erected at the site of the blow. The statue of Zeus was destroyed in a fire that broke out in the temple in 425. There is another version, according to which it was transported to Istanbul, where the figure of the Thunderer burned down in 476.

The ancient city of Halicarnassus was famous for its residences of nobles, theaters and green gardens. But the list of 7 wonders of the world did not include these architectural beauties, but the tomb of the cruel ruler Mausolus. There were 3 levels in the mausoleum, the total height of the building was 46 meters. This man-made masterpiece mixed several architectural trends.

Traditional columns, as well as statues of horsemen and lions were used as decorations for the mausoleum. At the very top was a sculpture of King Mausolus, proudly seated in a horse-drawn chariot. The mausoleum stood for about 19 centuries, the reason for its destruction was a strong earthquake. An interesting fact - some fragments of the mausoleum went to the construction of the fortress of St. Peter.

faros lighthouse was built in the 3rd century BC, it is also included in the world famous list of 7 wonders of the world. This object was supposed to help sea vessels safely navigate coastal reefs and avoid shipwreck. During the day, sailors were led by a column of smoke, and at night they could focus on flames.

The lighthouse of Alexandria towered 120 meters above sea level, its signals could be seen at a distance of up to 48 km. The upper part of the structure was decorated with a statue of Isis-Faria, who was revered as the patroness of navigators. To make the light flow as efficient as possible, the builders used an original system of curved mirrors.

The Pharos lighthouse, like many other objects from the list of 7 wonders of the world, was destroyed in a rather trivial way. It was destroyed by a powerful earthquake that occurred in the middle of the 14th century. Some fragments of the Lighthouse of Alexandria were discovered by scientists at the bottom of the sea during research in 1996.

The Colossus of Rhodes

This statue was made in honor of Helios (the sun god). It was assumed that the height of the figure would be 18 meters, but later it was decided to make it 36 meters. The statue in the form of a god-youth was cast in bronze; it is located on a marble pedestal. Construction was carried out on a hill created artificially. Stones were placed inside the figure, which was done to increase the stability of the structure.

The sculptor Hares, who worked on the Colossus of Rhodes, made a miscalculation in determining the amount of materials needed. The master had to borrow a lot of money to be able to complete his masterpiece. Hares was completely ruined and surrounded by creditors, the sculptor committed suicide.

The Colossus of Rhodes was destroyed by an earthquake that occurred in 222 or 226 BC. The statue broke at the knees, and its fragments continued to lie in place for about 1000 years. The fragments of the Colossus were sold by the Arabs who captured Rhodes in 977. To take out parts of the sculpture, it was necessary to equip a caravan consisting of 900 camels.

By the way, have you ever wondered why there are only seven wonders of the world? In this case, we recommend that you read the article "" - and you will discover the secret meaning of this "lucky" number!

Question-answer, About the most, History

Everyone knows that there were only seven wonders of the world in the world. Which of them have survived, and which have sunk into oblivion?

Six of the seven wonders of the world, unfortunately, have not been preserved. And only one thing remains to please the eyes of tourists. Moreover, the wonder of the world, which has survived to this day, is the most ancient. How old is he, where is he? We will definitely answer this question. But first, let's remember them all, and in order, starting with the youngest - built in the 3rd century BC.

Six wonders of the world that have not survived to this day

The Colossus of Rhodes

The Colossus of Rhodes is a gigantic (colossal), at that time, ancient statue of the ancient Greek sun god Helios, erected on the island of Rhodes (in the Aegean Sea), in the city of the same name.

The statue was commissioned by the inhabitants of Rhodes from the sculptor Haresu.

Initially, they planned that it would be ten times higher than human height, but subsequently increased the height of the project to 36 meters.

Construction began in 292 BC. and it lasted 12 years. The Colossus of Rhodes stood on a marble pedestal, had an iron frame and was lined with bronze plates, and the internal volume was filled with clay. At the same time, it is known that its construction took about 8 tons of iron and about 13 tons of bronze.

The Colossus of Rhodes stood for only about 55 years and was destroyed by an earthquake around 225 BC.

Alexandrian lighthouse

The lighthouse of Alexandria was built in the third century BC in ancient egypt on the island of Pharos in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Alexandria. It was built from 5 to 20 years (here the data differ) during the reign of the king of Egypt, Ptolemy II. The approximate year of completion of construction is 283 BC. The name of the architect is known, he was Sostratus of Cnidus.

The lighthouse of Alexandria was made of marble (or faced) and had three levels:

the lower level was rectangular and had living quarters
the middle level was octagonal
upper level - the cylinder in which the lighthouse fire burned

The lighthouse of Alexandria received another name in honor of the island on which it was built - the Pharos lighthouse. It was about 130 meters high, and its light was visible to ships, according to various sources, at a distance of 50 to 80 kilometers.

The lighthouse stood intact until 796 AD. This year a strong earthquake severely damaged it. It was restored, but not in full. It is known that in the 14th century its height was only 30 meters. And in the 15th century, Sultan Al-Ashrafom Saif al-Din Qait-bey built the Qait-Bey fortress on this site, which exists to this day.

mausoleum in Halicarnassus

The Mausoleum in Halicarnassus is the tombstone of Mausolus, the ruler of the Carian people. The ancient city of Halicarnassus, where the mausoleum was built, was located on the territory modern Turkey(city of Bodrum).

The construction of the mausoleum was ordered by the wife of Mausolus Artemisia III during the life of her husband. The Greek architects Satyr and Pytheas undertook the construction. Also, the well-known sculptors Briaxides, Leohar, Skopas and Timofeos were involved in the work.

The mausoleum was built for eight years from 359 to 351 BC. Mausolus did not wait for the completion of construction and died in 353.

The resulting structure was 45 meters high, the first level was decorated with 36 columns and many statues, a pyramid towered above it, on top of which there was a marble quadriga - a two-wheeled chariot with four horses harnessed to it.

The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus stood for 19 centuries and the ball was destroyed by a strong earthquake in the 13th century.

For reference: the word “mausoleum” comes from the name Mausolus.

Zeus statue in Olympia

The Olympic Games, in honor of the god of thunder and lightning - Zeus, were held in ancient greece from 776 BC. They enjoyed great popularity. And now, after 300 years, the Greeks decided to build a temple in honor of their main god and patron of the Olympic Games. In 470 BC, they began to collect donations for its construction.

When funds were raised, the construction of the temple began, which lasted ten years between 466 and 456 BC. The temple of Zeus turned out to be truly grandiose: a marble roof measuring 27 by 64 meters was supported by 34 limestone columns. Each column was 10.6 meters high and over 2 meters in diameter. A total area building was 1728 square meters.

The temple was built. After some time, the question arose of creating a statue worthy of the god Zeus. The famous Athenian sculptor Phidias undertook its creation. To do this, he needed a gigantic workshop equal in area to the temple itself, which was built 80 meters from it.

The opening of the statue of Zeus at Olympia took place in 435 BC. e. It was made in the technique of chrysalephantine sculpture: the wooden frame was pasted over with ivory plates, and the cape, the scepter with an eagle in the left hand, the statue of the goddess Nike in the right hand, and the olive wreath on the head were covered with gold. And with all this, Zeus sits on a golden throne. Information about the height of the statue varies: together with the pedestal, it was 12-17 meters.

The statue has existed for over 800 years. The last written evidence of it dates back to 363. And in the 11th century, the historian Georgy Kedrin claimed that in the 5th century the statue was still intact. She could be transferred to Constantinople, where she burned down during a fire in 476. According to another version, she was not transported anywhere, and she died along with the temple in a fire in 425.

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

The temple of Artemis of Ephesus, as you might guess, was located in the ancient Greek city of Ephesus, not far from modern city Selcuk (westernmost Turkey). The temple was erected in honor of Artemis, the goddess of hunting and fertility, and the patroness of all life on Earth.

Funds for the construction of the temple were donated by the Lydian king Croesus, and the project was developed by the architect Khersifron. He erected the walls and colonnade of the temple. Without waiting for the completion of construction Hersifron died. The construction was continued by his son Metagenes, and the architects Paeonius and Demetrius completed the construction of the temple.

The Temple of Artemis was built around 550 BC. And in 356 BC. e it was destroyed by fire, which, according to legend, a resident of Ephesus named Herostratus. Thus, Herostratus simply wanted to become famous and achieved his goal.

By 323 BC, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus had been completely restored by the architect Alexander Deinocrates. And the funds for this were allocated by Alexander the Great. The temple turned out to be exactly the same as its previous version, except that it was raised to a higher stepped base. The roof was supported by 127 columns standing in eight rows and having a height of 18 meters. The length of the temple was 105 meters, and the width was 52. Inside the temple was decorated with sculptures, bas-reliefs and paintings.

The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus successfully existed for several centuries, before it was sacked by the Goths in 263 AD. And at the end of the 4th century, it was closed and destroyed by Christians, in connection with the prohibition of paganism.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

hanging gardens Semiramis is the most controversial wonder of the world. It is not known for certain if they even existed. Moreover, if they existed, then not at the time when Queen Semiramis lived.

The legend is as follows: the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II entered into a military alliance with Cyaxares, the king of Media, and in order to secure the alliance, he married the daughter of Cyaxares, whose name was Amitis (Amanis). Amitis moved in with her husband in Babylon (the ruins of Babylon are located on the outskirts of the modern city of El Hill in Iraq), which was a dusty and dry desert city.

Amitis missed her mountainous and green homeland - Mussels. And to extinguish this boredom, Nebuchadnezzar II ordered the construction of green hanging gardens. They were supposedly created in 605 BC.

And Semiramis, the legendary queen of Assyria, the wife of King Nin, lived two centuries earlier. So the “hanging gardens of Babylon” would be more correct to call the “hanging gardens of Amitis”. As for the term “hanging garden”, it implies a garden that is located on the roof, gallery or special stone supports. Plants in it grow on a bulk soil layer.

According to the legends, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon existed until the first century AD.

Pyramid of Cheops - the only surviving wonder of the world

The Pyramid of Cheops is the oldest and highest wonder of the world. And besides, the only one that has survived to this day. And that means the most durable. It is located on the Giza plateau at the base of the Nile Delta, not far from Cairo, in Egypt.

Although about 4,500 years have passed since the construction, we know (how reliable this knowledge is is a question) who was its architect. He was the nephew of Cheops - Hemiun. Presumably, the construction was completed somewhere around 2540 BC and took about 20 years.

It is impossible to say for certain the exact date of the start of the construction of the pyramid of Chiops. Different methods of its determination gave different results, which fit into the following period: 2850 - 2560 BC. At the same time, Egypt celebrates the official date for the start of construction: August 23, 2560 BC. e.

The pyramid of Cheops is made of blocks of granite and limestone (mainly limestone). Now it has a stepped appearance, but originally it was lined with white limestone (the so-called Jura marble) and had sloping slopes. Somewhere this lining has been preserved. The slopes of the pyramid shone peach in the sun, and the top was crowned with a gilded stone - a pyramidion.

The height of the pyramid is 135.5 meters (originally - 146.6 meters). The sides of the base are approximately 230 meters long. The base area is about 53,000 square meters. And the average weight of one stone block is 2.5 tons. At the same time, the heaviest block weighs 35 tons. In total, there are about 2.3 million blocks in the pyramid. The total weight of the pyramid is 6.5 million tons.

For more than 3,000 years, the pyramid of Cheops was the highest human creation, and in 1311, Lincoln Cathedral was built in England, the spire of which already towered 160 meters. True, in 1549 the spire collapsed.

Now the height of the cathedral does not exceed 83 meters.

As for the purpose of the pyramid of Cheops, it is not known for certain. It is logical to assume that it is the tomb of the pharaoh Cheops (Khufu), but no mummies were found in it.

The eighth wonder of the world

Officially, the eighth wonder of the world does not exist. This term is used to call some of the grandiose structures of mankind that could claim the title of a wonder of the world, but ... but there are only seven wonders of the world and this list cannot be expanded.

7 Wonders of Peace on Earth

Seven: Pyramid of Cheops Hanging Gardens of Babylon Temple of Artemis at Ephesus Statue of Zeus at Olympia Mausoleum at Halicarnassus Colossus Rhodes Lighthouse of Alexandria

Many people know that there are 7 wonders of the world. Recently, 8 wonders of the world have appeared, so officially it should be accepted that there are eight wonders. The name Seven Wonders of the World was first coined by Antipater of Sidon in the second century BC.

e. The ancient Greeks called the Seven Wonders of the World the most famous buildings and statues in antiquity. These miracles include the Egyptian pyramids, which were built during the reign of three Egyptian pharaohs of the fourth dynasty: Cheops (Khufu), Khafre (Khephren) and Menkaur (Mykerin). The Egyptian pyramids were built near the village of Giza, southwest of the capital of Egypt, Cairo. The pyramids are the only of the Seven Wonders of the World that have survived to this day and continue to delight visitors with their grandeur and beauty. - Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, which was built in honor of the Greek goddess of the moon and hunting Artemis (the Romans called her Diana). The Temple of Artemis was built in the 7th-6th centuries BC. e. in the city of Ephesus, on the coast mediterranean sea. - Hanging Gardens of Babylon. According to legend, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BC) erected artificial terraces on which all conceivable and unimaginable plants and trees grew in that area. The Hanging Gardens were built for the entertainment of the wife of Nebuchadnezzar II, the daughter of the Median king, Amitis. - Zeus statue in Olympia. The great Athenian sculptor Phidias carved a statue of Zeus in 435 BC. e. in the city of Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. - The mausoleum in Halicarnassus was erected as the tomb of King Mausolus of Caria, who died in 353 BC. e. in the city of Halicarnassus, on the territory of the modern city of Bodrum (Türkiye). The mausoleum in Halicarnassus stood for about 2 thousand years, it was destroyed by a powerful earthquake in the 13th century. - The Colossus of Rhodes. The colossus was a statue of the sun god Helios, which was installed on the island of Rhodes in the 3rd century BC. e. - Faros lighthouse. it is also called Alexandria, as it was located on the way to the Alexandria Bay. The Pharos lighthouse was built around 280 BC. e. The eighth wonder of the world is the Taj Mahal. The white marble tomb of the Taj Mahal in Agra is called poetry in stone. Saddened by the death of his beloved wife, the ruler Shah Jahan (1592-1666) built for her a magnificent mausoleum (1631-1653), which rightfully became the architectural pearl of India.

Seven wonders of the world. In general, each country has its own miracle)))

Pyramid of Cheops (Egypt) , Hanging Gardens of Babylon (Babylon) , Temple of Artemis in Ephesus (Greece) , Statue of Zeus in Olympia (Greece) Mausoleum in Halicarnassus (Peninsula of Asia Minor) , Colossus of Rhodes (Rhodes Island in the Aegean Sea) , Pharos lighthouse (Faros Island in the Mediterranean Sea), and the eighth miracle of the Taj Mahal (India)

7 old wonders of the world: Egyptian pyramids, Lighthouse of Alexandria, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Colossus of Rhodes, Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Mausoleum at Galakarnassus. 7 new wonders of the world: Roman Colosseum. The Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, the city of Petra carved into the mountain in Jordan, the statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro, the Indian city of Macchu Picchu in Peru, the Mayan pyramid in the city of Chichen Itza in Mexico.

There is another wonder of the world: The most famous and mysterious landmark of Jordan is the city of Petra, ancient capital Nabataean kingdom, carved right into the rocks more than 2 thousand years ago. Due to its rich history, fascinating, almost mystical beauty and excellent preservation of monuments, at the end of the last century, Petra was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and in 2007 was elected one of the new seven wonders of the world. The territory of Petra stretches for several kilometers and includes the ruins of numerous stone buildings, a grandiose rock temple, which takes your breath away, and a rock monastery carved on top of a cliff. The path to the heart of Petra passes through a narrow gorge, on the sides of which natural 60-meter cliffs rise.

As you know, in the world there were not 7, but 8 Wonders of the World. Some of them even managed to survive to this day. Alas, but, unfortunately, not all. What is included in this list? For example, the legendary Egyptian pyramids. Unfortunately, most of the original miracles have not survived to this day. We can only read about them in books and imagine what they looked like and what they were.

After all, even with modern technologies, humanity still cannot recreate many ancient monuments. Perhaps there really were developed civilizations that knew some amazing secrets and possessed wonderful construction technologies? It is possible that they were destroyed by the inexorable passage of time or by the planet itself (natural disasters have occurred throughout human history and, unfortunately, will continue to occur). Let's try to find out what is still hidden under the abbreviation "8 wonders of the world", known to every more or less educated inhabitant of the planet Earth.

Let's start with what we have already mentioned. That's right, with...

Egyptian pyramids

Built near Giza, located in the South-West of the capital of the state, Cairo. The only wonder of the world from the original, which has survived to this day. Moreover, almost in its original form. Pyramids - something over which time has no power. Once upon a time, nobles were buried here, whose peace was disturbed only recently, with the light hand of archaeologists. The most popular pyramid of Cheops. The original height of 146.5 meters over the years (and almost 5 thousand years have passed since the construction) has decreased to 137 meters.

It's almost always in season. And last-minute tours are sold almost all year round. Go ahead.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Unfortunately, we were not destined to see. They were erected by King Nebuchadnezzar between 605 and 562 BC as a gift for his beautiful wife Semiramis. The stunning lush vegetation was designed to remind the girl of her home. Nature finished with the gardens, the earthquake wiped them off the face of the Earth ...

Statue of Zeus at Olympia

Created by the legendary sculptor Phidias in 435 BC. One of the most majestic 8 Wonders of the World was built using gold and ivory. The height of the statue was thirteen meters.

Temple of Artemis

Built in the period from the 7th to the 6th century BC in the city of Ephesus (now located in Turkey). Huge size, 120 marble columns (20 meters each) and a statue of the goddess - all this splendor was burned by the scoundrel Herostratus. However, soon the temple was rebuilt on the same place. And the new one is even better than the old one. But he was also destroyed. Only ruins have survived to this day. But they are wonderful too!

mausoleum in Halicarnassus

It is the tomb of the ruler Mausolus, who died in 353 BC. The tomb amazed contemporaries with the grandeur and genius of architects. It was 140 meters long, 20 meters wide and 45 meters high. Now this is unlikely to be seen in a modern cemetery.

faros lighthouse

He surprised those who saw him with his length of 150 meters. Such a structure could be erected in 280 BC. Many know him as Alexandria. The sailors, who noticed the huge lighthouse from afar, were imbued with respect for the empire that managed to build such a giant.

The Colossus of Rhodes

Built in honor of the sun god in the third century BC. Its height is not as impressive as that of the aforementioned lighthouse, but, nevertheless, for those times it was grandiose. The statue towered 35 meters, and it was built for more than ten years.

Taj Mahal

Second of 8 wonders of the world which has come down to our days. The mausoleum, the symbol of India, the icon of all-consuming and all-conquering love - the Taj Mahal is a monument to the greatness of the idea. It was built in the 17th century, already AD. To see it without spending a lot of money, it is enough to buy hot tours to India.

As for the new seven wonders of the world, you can read about them here.

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Album "From Wonders of the World to Wonders of Russia"

Description: This material will be useful for teachers. It is intended for students in grades 5 and 6. The material is useful and interesting information, which can be used in history lessons and in extracurricular activities.
Seven Wonders of the World- This ancient monuments architecture, which are rightfully considered the greatest creations of human hands. The number 7 was chosen for a reason. It belonged to Apollo and was a symbol of completeness, completeness and perfection. At the same time, the traditional genre of Hellenistic poetry was the glorification of the list of the most famous cultural figures - poets, philosophers, kings, generals, etc., or outstanding architectural monuments.
The first mention of the Wonders of the World occurs precisely in this era, when the victorious troops of Alexander the Great had already passed through Europe. The wide distribution of Greek culture in the territories that are part of the states that the great commander conquered ensured loud fame for individual monuments and architectural structures. But it should be noted that the "selection" of miracles occurred gradually. Some names have been replaced by others, and today the list of the most magnificent works of art and architecture includes:
1. Pyramids of Giza
2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon
3. Olympian statue of Zeus
4. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
5. Mausoleum of Halicarnassus
6. Colossus of Rhodes
7. Lighthouse of Alexandria

Pyramids of Giza
One of the most ancient and, nevertheless, the brightest Wonders of the World are the Great Pyramids located in Giza (Egypt). The complex of Gisaean buildings is the greatest architectural monument ever created by man. In total, more than a hundred pyramidal structures were found on the territory of Egypt, but most of them did not stand the test of time.

The Pyramid of Cheops
The largest of the Giza complex, the Cheops pyramid is the largest building structure in the world. Its base is a square with a side of as much as 227.5 meters. It is assumed that the original height of the structure was 146 meters, but several of the upper stones were destroyed, and today the pyramid is 9 meters lower.
Engineering studies have shown that the largest architectural monument of Giza consists of 2.3 million stone blocks, each of which weighs at least 2.5 tons. The total volume of the building is 2.34 million cubic meters. The faces of the pyramid are deployed to the cardinal points, and the entrance inside is from the north.
A distinctive feature of the structure is that every single building block is so well fitted to each other that even now, after several thousand years, it is impossible to stick even the thinnest blade between them. In addition, the researchers found that the mortar with which the structural elements were fastened was superior in strength to any modern material.
The purpose of the pyramids
There are no inscriptions, drawings and decorations in the pyramid of Cheops. Inside the building there are three chambers, in the center of one of which there is a granite sarcophagus. At first it was assumed that the structure was a tomb. Long-term studies have either confirmed or refuted this assumption.
But neither the remains of the pharaoh, nor any utensils or things that, according to the tradition of that time, were buried with the deceased, were found. True, there is Great chance that the pyramid was simply plundered. However, some details in the hypothesis about the purpose of the structure do not agree with the version about the tomb.
However, let's leave historians and archaeologists questions about the origin and purpose of building such an amazing complex of buildings, the entrance to which is protected by Great Sphinx- the largest monolithic sculpture on the planet. For us, the Pyramids of Giza, with which many legends are associated, remain one of the most striking and unusual examples of the height of engineering.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are the second largest Wonder of the World. Unfortunately, this amazing architectural structure did not survive to this day, but the memory of it still survived.
The attraction is located not far from Baghdad, and today its stone ruins can impress a simple tourist except for their scale. However, history testifies that the structure was one of the most beautiful creations of mankind.

Amazing gift for wife
The gardens were discovered by Robert Koldewey, who in 1989 was excavating near Al Hill. In the course of archaeological research, an extensive network of trenches was discovered, and in their cuts the scientist immediately recognized the legendary architectural monument.
The facts show that the Hanging Gardens were built at the behest of Nebuchadnezzar II, whose reign falls on the 6th century BC. The best engineers, mathematicians and inventors of Mesopotamia worked day and night to satisfy the request of the king to create a gift for his wife Amitis.
The latter was of Median origin, and those lands, as you know, were filled with the aromas of flowering gardens and green hills. In stuffy Babylon, the queen had a hard time, she yearned for her native land. That is why the ruler decided to lay out an unusual park that would at least slightly remind his wife of his home.
Controversy over the Babylonian Miracle
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon have been described by many ancient historians. But there are still some doubts about the reality of this piece of engineering art. For example, Herodotus, who traveled around Mesopotamia sometime in the 5th century BC, did not say a word about this structure. Although, apparently, it was the most majestic and beautiful in Babylon.
Even the chronicles of the city itself do not mention the Gardens. However, Berossus, a Chaldean priest who worked on chronicles at the end of the 4th century BC. very clearly and clearly marked the building in his works. There is even an opinion that all historians, including modern scientists, relied on his descriptions, and they are too much embellished with the author's conjectures and judgments.
Some even believe that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon have been confused with similar parks that were created in Nineveh, located on east coast Tiber. But the basis of the irrigation system of this monument was the design of Archimedean screws, which was invented in the 2nd century BC, while the construction of the Gardens dates back to the 6th century.
However, perhaps the Babylonians already had an idea about the special thread of such a screw, although they called the device differently. And be that as it may, the mystery of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon still excites the minds of scientists, archaeologists and historians.

Zeus statue in Olympia
The statue of Zeus in Olympia is the third wonder of the world, whose history began long before its creation - in 776 BC. Then for the first time in the temple, which was built in honor of the father of the gods, the participants of the next Olympic Games arrived.
Representatives of Asia Minor, Syria and Sicily, Egypt and, of course, Great Hellas were present at the opening of the greatest event in history. The first sanctuary of Zeus was built 150 km from Athens. But over time, the Games gained more and more political weight, so the rulers of Greece decided to build a new Temple.

Temple of Zeus
Construction lasted over 15 years, and in 456 BC. the world saw one of the most monumental and beautiful Houses of Zeus. The project was developed by the famous ancient architect - Lebon, whose creation had all the features of the famous Greek sanctuaries, but surpassed them in scope.
The Temple building was erected on a high rectangular platform. The roof was supported by 13 majestic columns about 10 m high and at least 2 m in diameter, and there were as many as 34 of them.
Creation of Phidias
The government of Hellas invited Phidias, a famous sculptor, to Athens, who managed to create something excellent - a statue of Zeus. The news of this work of art instantly spread throughout the ancient world, and the masterpiece took its place in the list of Wonders of the World.
The creation of the statue dates back to around 440 BC. The sculpture of the father of the gods was created mainly from the finest ivory. According to the description of eyewitnesses who managed to catch the statue in "good health", it had a very impressive size.
Its height was at least 15 m, the structure contained about 200 kg of gold, the modern monetary equivalent of which exceeds 8 million dollars. The opening of the statue of Olympian Zeus falls on 435 BC.
The fate of the statue of Zeus
Historical sources claim that in the second half of the 4th century AD. The temple of Zeus was closed by the Roman emperor Theodosius, who was a Christian and disliked the pagan beliefs of the Greeks.
In 363 the statue was moved to Constantinople. Although some facts indicate that this architectural monument did not survive the looting and destruction of the Temple, which took place at the end of the 5th century.
In 1875, the remains of the Temple of Zeus were found, and in 1950, archaeologists discovered the workshop of Phidias. Careful studies of the place where the architectural monument was found made it possible to recreate both the Temple itself and the statue of Olympian Zeus.

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
Ancient Greek Ephesus knew a period of unprecedented prosperity. Founded in the XII century BC, the city was the largest center of trade and radiated wealth and prosperity. Artemis patronized him. She, as is known, was the goddess of fertility and the patroness of animals, the protector of women in childbirth and hunters. Honoring her sacredly, the townspeople decided to build a majestic temple in honor of Artemis, which, moreover, was to significantly increase the income of the city.

Building a shrine
In the VI century BC. Harsiphron, the most famous architect, arrived in Ephesus. It was he who came up with the idea of building a building of marble. According to his plan, the temple should have been encircled by two rows of impressive columns. At the same time, the master, apparently, had an outstanding engineering mind, since the project is the most complex and at the same time original of all that were being developed at that time. Since the city was rich and could afford the construction of such a large and expensive building.
But there was one obstacle - a deposit has not yet been found that can satisfy the appetites of the project. But soon, due to chance, a sufficient amount of stone was found, and the temple was successfully built. Monolithic marble columns deserve a special place in the construction of the building. They were transported here straight from the quarries located ten kilometers from the construction site. The foundation of the temple is aerobatics engineering thought.
The building was built on a swampy area, since the sad memory of the earthquakes that hit Hellas was still alive. A huge pit was dug on the site of the future building, which the builders filled with charcoal and wool. This, plus the rather unorthodox foundation of the Temple, should have been a guarantee that the building would withstand tremors of any power.
In the main hall of the Temple, an amazingly beautiful statue of the goddess Artemis was installed, the height of which was about 15 meters. It was very expensive, because quite often it was inlaid with precious stones and gold. Outstanding Greek artists and sculptors took part in the decoration of the building. Rumors about the beautiful shrine quickly spread throughout the ancient world, and subsequently the Temple of Artemis became one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
The Fate of the Temple
It should be noted that Harsiphron did not have time to complete the construction. But the work was continued by his son, and after that by the architects Peonit and Demetrius. And so, around 450 BC. the world saw the unsurpassed Temple of Artemis. They say that if it survived to this day, it could outshine any of the currently existing masterpieces of architectural art. But, unfortunately, in 356 BC. Herostratus, obsessed with the idea of becoming famous at any cost, set the building on fire.
The building was almost completely destroyed, of course, with the exception of those structural elements that were made of marble. After that, the Temple of Artemis was revived several times and again ceased to exist. But in 263 B.C. it was last sacked by the Goths. Finally, the “marble” health of the building was broken by swampy soil, as well as the Kaistra River flowing nearby. And it took scientists from all over the world several decades to restore the original appearance of the building.

mausoleum in Halicarnassus
Halicarnassus Mausoleum is the same age as the second Temple of Artemis. The same people who restored the shrine after the fire set by Herostratus took part in its construction. The building is a ziggurat, that is, at the same time a tomb, a sanctuary, and a monument. It should be noted that the name "mausoleum" comes from the name of the imperious and cruel ruler of Caria - Mausolus.

Start of construction
Despite the fact that already in the IV century BC. the state was a colony of the Persian Empire, Mausolus ruled imperiously and stubbornly, trying not to bend under imperial pressure. His position was so strong, and his connections so wide, that even after the suppression of the uprisings he had raised, he managed to remain on the throne. During the reign of the energetic and ambitious king, Helicarnassus became the capital of Caria.
At the same time, the construction of the tomb, which later entered the list of the seven most famous sights of the ancient world, was started long before the death of the ruler - approximately in 353 BC. The project of the Mausoleum was developed by Greek architects - Satyr and Pytheas. The sculptors Timothy, Leohar, Skopas and Briaxides were hired to decorate the building. In total, hundreds of talented craftsmen took part in the construction, whose names, unfortunately, have not been preserved in history.
R luxurious tomb for the king
The tomb was an imposing architectural complex having its own courtyard. A stone platform was installed in the center of the latter. A wide staircase led to the top, guarded by stone lions. Inside the building was decorated with bas-reliefs depicting scenes from ancient Greek legends and legends. The outer walls of the Mausoleum were covered with statues of gods and goddesses, and in the corners of the structure, huge guards-warriors carved from stone served.
The ziggurat was crowned with a marble chariot driven by four massive horses. The statues of the drivers depicted Mausolus himself and his sister-wife Artemisia. The height of this sculpture was about 6 meters, and the pyramidal roof of the tomb was supported by 36 7-meter monolithic columns.
The fate of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
When the ruler of Caria died, the construction of the Mausoleum had not yet been completed, and the decoration of the premises was completed only in 350 BC. The tomb survived both the conquest of Halicarnassus by the Macedonian and the attack of pirates at the beginning of the 1st millennium. But at the beginning of the 15th century, the Maltese visited Asia Minor, who finally destroyed the building, taking marble and stone slabs for the construction of the fortress of St. Peter, which was located on the very spot where the palace of Mausolus and Artemisia stood. By the end of the 16th century, only one foundation remained from the Mausoleum.
The excavations of the tomb of Mausolus, led by Christian Jeppesen, were completed only in 1966-1977. Based on the found bas-reliefs, statues and other elements of the furnishings and construction, the appearance of the Mausoleum was restored. His design served as the basis for the construction of City Hall in Los Angeles, the Indiana Warriors Memorial, St. George's Church in London and many other architectural monuments of our time.

The Colossus of Rhodes
Rhodes was a major economic center of the ancient world. located on southwest coast In Asia Minor, he often acted as a tidbit for the rulers of neighboring powers. So, in 357 BC. the famous king Mavlos became the new ruler of the city, and after 17 years the city fell into the possession of the Persian Empire. In 322 BC. Rhodes was conquered by Alexander the Great, but after his death civil strife began between the heirs of the great commander, and one of them - Antigonus - sent his son Demetrius to capture and destroy the rebellious city.

It should be noted that the long siege was not successful, and the commander was forced to retreat. On the shore of the island, his warriors abandoned a huge siege tower, which was a real engineering miracle of that time, and the enterprising people immediately decided to sell it. With the proceeds, it was decided to build a statue of Helios, the patron saint of Rhodes, in order to praise the sun god for having saved the city from the invaders.
The construction of the statue began around 304 BC. The creation of the Colossus was entrusted to Chares, a student of the famous ancient sculptor Lysippus. It was proposed to portray Helios standing, and in his left hand he had to hold a veil falling to the very ground, and with his right to cover his eyes from the sun. Despite the fact that such a pose did not correspond to some of the canons of sculpture of that time, the master understood that the huge statue would not stay on its feet if the Colossus pointed into the distance with his hand.
Three massive stone pillars formed the basis of a 36-meter statue. They were fastened with iron beams at the level of the shoulders of the Colossus, which was supposed to provide him with stability. Construction continued for 12 years, after which the world saw the greatest statue, the head of which was decorated with a radiant crown.
Death of the Colossus
Literally half a century later, the strongest earthquakes shook the island, and the legs of the Colossus of Rhodes broke. The statue of the god fell into the sea and lay off the coast for about 1000 years. The defeated giant was overgrown with legends, but in 977 AD. they decided to dismantle it, melt it down and sell it. The chronicles preserved data that it took 900 camels to transport the bronze with which the statue was decorated.
Modern interpretations of the great statue
The Colossus of Rhodes was included in the list of the Seven Wonders of the World. Currently, even some measures are being taken to restore the huge statue. According to some reports, the cost of a modern sculpture of Helios will be about 200 million euros. However, the idea of creating monumental sculptures following the example of the Colossus of Rhodes was used much earlier - a statue of a woman holding a huge torch was installed in New York Bay. This monument is better known to the world as the Statue of Liberty, but its creation was based on the image of the Rhodes masterpiece.

Alexandrian lighthouse
The history of the seventh Wonder of the World - the Lighthouse of Alexandria - is associated with the foundation in 332 BC. Alexandria, a city that was named after the great Roman general Alexander the Great. It should be noted that during his career the conqueror founded about 17 cities with similar names, but only the Egyptian project managed to survive to this day.

Foundation of the city to the glory of the great commander
Macedonian selected the site for the founding of Egyptian Alexandria very carefully. He did not like the idea of a location in the Nile Delta, and so the decision was made to set up the first construction sites 20 miles south, near the swampy Lake Mareotis. Alexandria was supposed to have two large harbors - one intended for merchant ships coming from the Mediterranean Sea, and the second for ships sailing along the Nile.
After the death of Alexander the Great in 332 BC. the city came under the rule of Ptolemy I Soter, the new ruler of Egypt. During this period, Alexandria developed into a prosperous Trading port. In 290 BC. Ptolemy ordered the construction of a huge lighthouse on the island of Pharos, which would light the way for ships going to the harbor of the city at night and in bad weather.
Construction of a lighthouse on the island of Pharos
The construction of the Lighthouse of Alexandria dates back to the 4th century BC, but the system of signal lights itself appeared only in the 1st century BC. The creator of this masterpiece of engineering and architectural art is Sostratus, a resident of Cnidia. The work continued for a little over 20 years, and as a result, the Lighthouse of Alexandria became the world's first building of this type and the tallest building in the ancient world, not counting, of course, the Giza pyramids.
The height of the Lighthouse of Alexandria was approximately 450-600 feet. At the same time, the building was absolutely unlike any of the architectural monuments available at that time. The building was a three-tiered tower, the walls of which were made of marble slabs fastened with lead mortar. Most Full description The Lighthouse of Alexandria was compiled by Abu el-Andalussi - the famous Arab traveler - in 1166. He noted that in addition to performing purely practical functions, the lighthouse served as a very noticeable attraction.
The fate of the great lighthouse
The Pharos Lighthouse has been illuminating the way for sailors for over 1500 years. But strong tremors in 365, 956 and 1303 A.D. the building was badly damaged, and the most powerful earthquake of 1326 finally destroyed one of the greatest architectural structures in the world. In 1994, the remains of the Lighthouse of Alexandria were discovered by archaeologists, and subsequently the image of the structure was more or less successfully restored using computer modeling.

New 7 wonders of the world

The classic list of 7 wonders of the world appeared in the 3rd century BC. It included the greatest architectural, historical and cultural monuments ancient world. But the years passed, and more and more curiosities appeared in the world, which today can also be considered with all rights as the Wonders of the World, that is, the most outstanding creations of man.
And so 2001 was marked by the beginning of the New Open World Corporation project. Its main purpose was to select modern Wonders of the World, worthy of forever going down in history. So, the winners of the competition on July 7, 2007 were:
1. Great Wall of China
2. Taj Mahal
3. Colosseum
4. Machu Picchu
5. Petra
6. Chichen Itza
7. Statue of Christ the Redeemer

The great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is one of the oldest structures that has survived to this day, which, in its grandeur and grandeur, has no analogues even in the modern world. Its history goes back to the 5th century BC, a time that was marked by the collapse of the Zhou state.
In its place, many small kingdoms were formed, which immediately began a bloody internecine struggle with each other for the legacy of a great empire. It was during this period of the "warring kingdoms" that the first foundation pits were dug and earthen ramparts were erected in order to strengthen the borders from aggressive neighbors.

Start of construction
And in 221 BC. the ruler of one of the kingdoms - Qin - the great Shi Huangdi managed to pacify the long-term blood feud. He was proclaimed the first Chinese emperor and during the 11 years of his reign he created a state with an effective system of administration and justice. It was he who came up with the idea to connect the defensive structures that already existed in the north of the empire with a single wall.
And by order of the ruler, his army, consisting of 300,000 soldiers, as well as about a million prisoners and slaves, began to build fortress walls. Great Chinese Wall built using a variety of building technologies. To protect the still unfinished fortifications in the area of the construction site, numerous garrisons vigilantly served.
Followers of Shi Huangdi
After the death of Shi Huangdi, the work was continued by his successors - the emperors of the Han dynasty, who not only monitored the maintenance of the structure in proper order, but also lengthened the wall. The last important stage in the construction of the Great Wall of China falls on the reign of the imperial Ming dynasty, in 1368-1644.
From the middle of the 17th century, the need for a building disappeared, and time and natural factors immediately took up its stone sides. But, fortunately, most of the Wall has survived to this day. Moreover, the Chinese government once invested huge sums in its reconstruction.
New Wonder of the World
Already during the reign of the Ming Dynasty, fortifications stretched from the Shanhaiguan fortress, located on the shores of the Bohaiwan Strait, to Jiayuguan itself in the northwest of Gansu Province. Today, the length of the wall is 8,851.8 kilometers in total, which is an absolute and most likely unbeatable record in construction.
In 1962, the Great Wall of China took pride of place in the list of national monuments of China, and in 1987 it was accepted into the general list. world heritage UNESCO. It should be noted that this is the only structure that can be seen from Earth orbit without the use of any optical instruments. And in July 2007, the Wall entered the list of New Wonders of the World, as one of the most impressive buildings in the history of mankind.

Mausoleum Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal is not in vain called the architectural gem of India. You will not find a more majestic and magnificent building in the whole country. This mausoleum embodies the memory of the tender love of the Muslim ruler Shah Jahan for his wife, a fabulously beautiful woman named Mumtaz Mahal. The future king of the Great Moghuls was still a young prince, when at the beginning of the 17th century he married a nineteen-year-old beauty. The newlyweds dearly loved each other and, despite the fact that the king had a huge harem, he simply did not pay attention to other women.

History of construction
Beloved wife gave birth to Shah Jahan six daughters and eight sons, but numerous births broke the woman's health, so when the fourteenth child was born, she died. The grief of the king was so great that he wished to take his own life. But responsibility for the state and other reasons kept the ruler in this world. Literally before the eyes of his retinue, he turned gray, and soon a two-year mourning was declared throughout the state, during which there was no place for holidays, dances, music and fun.
"Indian gem"
Somewhat later, a grandiose mausoleum was erected in the capital of the Mughal Empire - Agra. The construction of the Taj Mahal lasted over 20 years. More than 20 thousand people worked at the construction site, including the best Persian, Turkish, Samarkand and, of course, Indian architects and architects. The project was completed in 1653, and since then this amazing building has attracted millions of explorers and travelers.
Inside the Taj Mahal there are two tombs - the shah and his wife. But in fact, the burial is underground. The mausoleum is a five-domed building 74 meters high. It is located on a platform with 4 minarets, which are tilted away from the tomb, and adjoins the amazingly beautiful garden with an abundance of fountains and a pool. The walls of the Taj Mahal were made of translucent polished marble, which was brought to the construction site from a unique deposit 300 km from Agra.
The greatest monument architecture
The great mausoleum has survived to this day. It is one of the most majestic and beautiful buildings on the planet. Every day it is visited by tens of thousands of tourists, due to which the “Indian pearl” replenishes the state treasury with considerable funds. Throughout the year, the Taj Mahal receives about 5 million visitors. In order to preserve the architectural monument, traffic in the Taj Mahal area was prohibited.
Not so long ago, cracks were discovered in the walls of the Taj Mahal. Scientists believe that the destruction of the building is associated with the shallowing of the Jumna, a river flowing in its immediate vicinity. But, nevertheless, the Taj Mahal remains one of the most unusual and majestic structures in the world. It was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and in July 2007 took pride of place among the New Wonders of the World.

Coliseum
The Colosseum is one of the most majestic amphitheaters ever built by man. This famous ancient Roman monument to this day rises in the middle of modern buildings the Italian capital. For a very long time, the Colosseum played a very important cultural role in the lives of the citizens and guests of Rome. A huge number of people gathered in its stands, who longed for one thing - bright and exciting spectacles. It was here that gladiator fights and animal persecution, sports competitions and naumachia took place.

The beginning of the history of the Flavian Amphitheater
The Colosseum is located on the Caelius, Palatine and Esquiline hills, that is, where the pond of the Golden House of Nero used to be. Initially, the building was called the Flavian Amphitheater (in honor of its founders) of the famous imperial dynasty. Construction continued for 8 years, and around 80 AD. the world saw one of the most capacious arenas.
Like any other Roman building of this type, the Colosseum has the shape of an ellipse, in the center of which is the arena, and its stands are arranged in the form of concentric rings. The perimeter of the outer ellipse of the Roman arena is 524 m, the major and minor axes are 187.7 and 155.64 m long, and the height of the walls of the amphitheater approaches 50 m. The results of simple calculations show that the Colosseum could easily accommodate about 50 thousand people. spectators. It is the most grandiose arena in the world, not counting modern stadiums that can accommodate over 100 thousand people.
The fate of the world's greatest arena
The Colosseum was deservedly considered a symbol of Roman greatness. Philosophers said that while it stands, the Great Empire will stand. Back in 264, during the reign of Decius, the millennium of Rome was celebrated in the amphitheater. History testifies that during this era, about 40 wild horses, more than 30 elephants, 60 lions and many other wild animals were killed in the arena. In 405, gladiator fights were banned by Emperor Honorius, and the Colosseum removed the laurels of the greatest arena in the world.
Toward the end of the 13th century, the Roman amphitheater was turned into a quarry. At the same time, 23 estates for aristocratic families were built from it. In the XIV-XV centuries, the Italians built 6 churches from the dismantled parts of the Colosseum, and at the end of the XV century, the office of the Pope was built from the material of the Colosseum. In the middle of the 16th century, the architectural elements of the amphitheater served as the basis for some Roman bridges. In 1744, the Colosseum was lit up in honor of the early Christian martyrs, and a cross was installed in the center of the arena.
In July 2007, the amphitheater was accepted into the list of New Wonders of the World. Today it is the most famous historical and architectural monument of Rome, annually attracting tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world.

City of Machu Picchu
On the territory of modern Peru there is one old Mountain peak which the Indians called Machu Picchu. It is located at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level, offering amazingly beautiful views of the valley of the Urumamba River. It is here, at the foot of Mount Machu Picchu, that one of the oldest cities is located, which is often called the "city among the clouds."

The origin of the "city in the sky"
Archaeologists believe that this lost city of the Incas was created as the winter residence of the ruler of this ancient people- Pachacuteca - literally a century before the Spaniards came here. In 1532, when brave conquistadors and adventurers obsessed with a thirst for gold invaded the Inca empire, every single one of the inhabitants of the city mysteriously disappeared.
Machu Picchu was one of the three houses of Pachacutec and along the way served as a shrine. The city had a very modest size and contained about 200 buildings. City buildings were built from high-quality processed stone blocks, fitted to each other so tightly that most of the buildings of Machu Picchu have survived to this day. The abandoned settlement was accidentally discovered only at the beginning of the 20th century by the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham. Decades later, it was found legendary trail Inca, leading through the valley of Urumamba straight to the city.
Attractions of the residence of the ruler of the Incas
highlight ancient city are extensive terraces on which the Incas were engaged in agriculture. "Decorated Room" found at western wall the main temple, is a clear indication of how skillful these people were. The foundation of the room is made of two imposing stone blocks with carved three-dimensional peaks.
The Temple of the Three Windows is the most mysterious structure of Machu Picchu. According to Bingham's hypothesis, trapezoidal windows facing east were symbols of Pachacutec's ancestral home. But since architectural style The city belongs to the late Inca period, the reliability of such an assumption raises certain doubts among archaeologists.
The new Wonder of the World Machu Picchu received UNESCO World Heritage status, after which it turned into a bustling center mass tourism. About 2,000 travelers visited the city daily. But in order to preserve the city, UNESCO demanded that the number of visitors be reduced to 800 people a day. On July 7, 2007, Machu Picchu was selected as a New Wonder of the World, and since February 2012, it has been excluded from the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger.

Rock City Petra
The ancient city of Petra is one of the most amazing monuments of architecture. It is carved in solid rock, and a huge number of secrets and omissions hovers around its origin. It is believed that the city was founded by the Nabataeans - nomadic tribes, who in the VI-IV centuries BC. managed to subdue the vast territory on which Jordan, Syria and Israel are located today.

Great city in the desert
Due to its favorable location at the crossroads of wide trade routes, Petra prospered and grew rich over the years. For many years it was a real salvation for merchants and travelers from scorching sun. However, in the IV century BC. abandoned for reasons still unknown. Perhaps the inhabitants were driven out of the cool stone shade by the lack of water. But most likely the city was abandoned due to the loss of significance of its location in the very depths of the rocky Jordanian desert.
The city of Petra is carved into the red sandstone rock. Outwardly, the architectural elements that have survived to this day resemble Roman architecture. On the territory of the city, archaeologists managed to find many temples, palaces, tombs and even an ancient theater. The buildings of Petra were built over many centuries, so there is an incredible interweaving of echoes of the culture of different eras.
At various times, Edomites, Nabataeans, Romans, Byzantines and Arabs owned Petra, and in the 12th century BC. The city was taken over by the crusaders. After the VI century AD. construction stopped, and gradually one of the most amazing settlements on the planet was empty. The first European to visit famous city, is the Swiss traveler Johann Burckhardt. It is thanks to him that a detailed description of the structure of Petra, as well as sketches of some of its attractions, has been preserved.
Main Attractions
The main city attraction is the Treasury - a huge building with a solid facade carved from the rock. The majestic colonnade with an amphitheater, crowning the kilometer-long canyon of the Siq, also arouses admiration. They are the legacy of Roman culture in the history of Petra. Also of note is the aqueduct that supplied water to the city. It was a complex system of terracotta pipes that collected moisture from all sources located within a radius of 25 km from the city.
Ed-Dair deserves special attention - a huge monastery carved right into the rock at the top of the highest cliff in the canyon. For some time he even served Christian temple. While excavating the monastery, archaeologists discovered here the tomb of the Nabataean king. You can climb to it along a staircase carved in stone, consisting of 800 steps.
Center for mass tourism and the New Wonder of the World
Today, Petra is one of the busiest tourism centers in the world. Every year, about half a million people come here to see this amazing creation of human hands with their own eyes. In July 2007, Petra, a little earlier included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, became one of the New Wonders of the World.

City of Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza, the sacred Mayan city, is located 75 miles east of Merida, the capital of the Yucatan. Archaeologists consider the ancient settlement, covering an area of about 6 square miles, one of the world's greatest architectural monuments. Previously, several hundred structures were located here, but most of them have not survived to this day. The surviving buildings, of which there are about 30, are of great interest to archaeologists, scientists and researchers.

Ancient center of culture and religion
Archaeologists conditionally divide the remains of the city into two parts - the first contains buildings erected by the Mayans around the 6th-7th centuries AD, while the second is a monument of the culture of the Toltecs who lived in Yukotan in the 10th-11th centuries. Apparently, the population of Chichen Itza experienced a rather acute lack of water. This is evidenced by numerous cenotes - wells with steep smooth walls.
It was during the Mayan period, which is associated with an unprecedented flourishing of science and art, that the city acquired a high status of a cultural and religious center. A striking confirmation of this are the buildings erected in this period - the Deer House, the monastery and the church, Akab Dzib, the Pali House, the Temple with three lintels and the Red House. After the Mayan civilization declined, the reasons for which are still shrouded in a dense shadow of mysteries and secrets, cities like Chichen Itza were used for burials and some rituals.
City symbols
One of the most famous buildings preserved in Chichen Itza is the Pyramid of Kukulkan, which locals often referred to as El Castillo. The height of the structure is 23 m. On the day of the spring and autumn equinoxes in the afternoon, the sun illuminates the western balustrade of the main staircase so that an image of 7 isosceles triangles is formed, placed in a special order. Upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the figure created by the sun's rays most of all looks like a huge snake crawling towards its head. And to see this breathtaking sight, every year on March 20 and September 21, thousands of tourists gather here.
Another attraction - Huego de Pelota - is the largest playground ever created by the Maya. It should be noted that there are eight more such structures in the city, but the "Great Ball Game" is much larger than them - its length is 135 m. Particular attention is drawn to the paintings carved on the walls that enclose Huego de Pelota. They depict very cruel scenes, and scientists believe that they are directly related either to the practice of sacrifice, or to the illustration of the game, which serves as a substitute for bloody war.
The fate of the city
After 1194, Chichen Itza was completely empty, and there are numerous rumors and legends around what caused the departure of the inhabitants of the city. It should be noted that the tough policy of the Spaniards, who ruled America in the 11th century, involved the execution of Mayan clergy, as well as the destruction of ancient books and manuscripts. Therefore, no more or less plausible information about the mysterious history of this ancient civilization has come down to our days.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer
The statue of Christ the Redeemer is installed on top of the Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro. The monument is a symbol of the city and Brazil. Every year, millions of travelers and tourists come here to see with their own eyes the majestic statue of Christ, as if taking the whole modern world into his arms.

Monument construction
The history of the monument goes back to the 16th century, when the Portuguese navigators dubbed Corcovado Peak "Mountain of Temptation". In 1921 (a year before the anniversary of Brazil's independence), the well-known publication "O Cruzeiro" announced the collection of funds for the construction of the monument, as a result of which over 2 million flights were collected.
The Christ the Redeemer statue was designed by Carlos Oswald. In 1927, the first models of the monument were constructed, and Costa Hisses performed all the necessary calculations. Pedro Viana and Heitor Levy took part in the construction of the monument, as well as the sculptor Paul Landowski, who modeled and made the plaster head and arms of the statue.
A whole army of engineers and technicians worked on the creation of the sculpture. It was decided to replace the steel frame of the monument with reinforced concrete, and the outer layer of the monument was made of soapstone, specially imported to Rio de Janeiro from the Swedish Lymhamn deposit.
The construction lasted about 9 years, and in 1931 the world saw the majestic statue of Christ the Redeemer, which for a long time was not equal in scale all over the world. The height of the monument is 38 meters, and the weight of the entire structure, taking into account the base, exceeds 1100 tons. The arm span of the statue is approximately 23 meters, and the head and arms of Christ the Redeemer weigh about 54 tons.
The Majestic History of Christ the Redeemer Statue
In 1965, the monument was consecrated by Pope Paul VI, and in 1981, on the day of the 50th anniversary of the monument, John Paul II was present at the solemn feast. The statue of Christ the Redeemer was restored three times - in 1980, 1990 and 2010. In 1932 and 2000, the night lighting system of the statue was modernized, and today it stands out in a special way against the background of the starry sky at night.
It should be noted that the statue of Christ the Redeemer passed the strongest storm in July 2008, which destroyed several nearby neighborhoods of Rio. The monument was saved by the same soapstone, which acted as a dielectric and extinguished lightning discharges on the surface of the statue. To date, the monument is in excellent condition.
The statue of Christ the Redeemer took pride of place in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and on July 7, 2007, at the initiative of the New Open World Corporation, it was included in the list of New Wonders of the World.

7 wonders of Russia: the greatness and beauty of the country

Everyone knows the Seven Wonders of the World. Their history is studied by scientists all over the planet, many scientific works have been written about them, presentations, messages, reports, chapters in textbooks are devoted to them. Secrets and legends are associated with each of the unusual world heritage sites of Russia and UNESCO, there are many facts and unconfirmed information. On June 12, 2008, the world learned that the 7 Wonders of Russia were published - to choose these objects from a huge number of ancient, mysterious, mystical and just very beautiful places, which abound in the corners of the country, was quite difficult. The project, aimed at identifying the most beautiful places in Russia, was initiated by the Izvestia newspaper in collaboration with the Mayak radio station and the Rossiya TV channel in 2007. In 2008, as a result of a popular vote, the most iconic and amazing sights of the country were chosen - 7 Wonders of Russia.
The list of 7 wonders of Russia includes: 1. Pillars of weathering Man-Pupu-ner in the Komi Republic. 2. Elbrus peak in Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria. 3. Lake Baikal in Buryatia. 4. Valley of Geysers on the Kamchatka Peninsula. 5. Mamaev Kurgan, the monument "Motherland". 6. Monument of palace and park art "Peterhof", St. Petersburg. 7. St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow.
Of the seven wonders of the world in Russia, 4 belong to the class of natural objects, three - to architectural monuments and park art.

Lake Baikal, Buryatia
In Buryatia, where Lake Baikal is located, it is called Baigal Dalai or Baigal Nuur. Most deep lake The world has a tectonic origin and is an object under the protection of UNESCO. Included in the 7 Wonders of Russia, Baikal is often called the sea - its dimensions are really impressive: the width is from 24 to 80 km, the length is 632 km. The very shape of the majestic and very beautiful reservoir is also interesting - in the form of a crescent.

Interesting to know. The crystal clear waters of the "father of Baikal", a member of the Great Seven Wonders of Russia, are also unique - you can see every pebble at a depth of 40 meters, and the minimum amount of mineral salts allows you to use Baikal water as distilled water.
The name “father Baikal” was given to the object of the 7 Wonders of Russia because of ancient legend. Baikal had 336 sons and only one daughter, Angara. The sons constantly replenished Baikal with their waters, and the Angara gave its waters to the Yenisei, whom she fell in love with. Angered by Baikal, he cursed his daughter Angara by throwing the rock Shaman-stone at its source.

Valley of Geysers, Kamchatka Territory
The Valley of Geysers is hidden in one of the volcanic gorges of the Kronotsky Reserve, it can only be reached by helicopter. 250 kilometers on the way over the tundra, ridges, hills, taiga ravines and acid lakes - and a person finds himself in a different world filled with fountains of swirling vapors, light smells of sulfur and rain splashes shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow. Walking along a walking path with wooden decks, you can observe 30 large geysers and many small springs, throwing jets of boiling water (+95 °C) up to tens of meters. Hot mud pots have also been preserved. Due to the well-heated soil, the slopes of the valley are overgrown with lush greenery of grasses and trees. The Geysernaya River flows along the bottom of the gorge, which never freezes.

Mamaev Kurgan and Motherland, Volgograd Region

During the years of the Great Patriotic War Mamaev Kurgan became the scene of bloody battles. The struggle for Mamaev Kurgan, marked on military topographic maps as "Height-102.0", lasted 135 days out of 200 days of the Battle of Stalingrad. In 1959 - 1967, a memorial complex was erected on this site - "To the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad". On the hill in mass grave 34,505 warriors found eternal rest. 200 granite steps lead from the foot to the top of the mound (according to the number of days of the battle). The statue "Motherland is calling!" is installed here. It is a figure of a woman 87 meters high with a raised sword in her hands. This is one of the tallest monuments in the world. (For comparison: the height of the Statue of Liberty in the United States reaches only 46 meters). The figure of a woman-mother is an allegorical symbol of the Motherland, calling her sons to fight the enemy.

Peterhof, St. Petersburg

Founded in the 1710s by Emperor Peter I, Peterhof became a luxurious royal residence and a kind of triumphal monument, symbolizing the successful entry of Russia to Baltic Sea. Palaces, alleys, graceful sculptures and greenhouses with outlandish plants are united in a single ensemble. But the main pride of Peterhof is its fountains. 176 fountains and 4 cascades operate without a single pump. Hydraulic engineer V. Tuvolkov created a unique fountain conduit: 20 km from here, springs flow from which water flows through canals and locks into pools due to the height difference, and from there it rushes through underground pipes to the fountains and cascades of Peterhof.

Basil's Cathedral, Moscow

St. Basil's Cathedral is the same symbol of Russia and Moscow as the Eiffel Tower is for Paris and France, the Statue of Liberty is for the USA and New York, or the Taj Mahal is for India and Agra. St. Basil's Cathedral was built by Ivan the Terrible in 1555-1561 as a sign of victory over the Kazan Khanate. In plan, the temple is an eight-pointed star: 8 churches symbolize 8 days falling on the days of decisive battles for Kazan. They are grouped around the 9th, central church, personifying the king's state idea of united lands. The name of the cathedral was given by a chapel built in 1588 and consecrated in honor of St. Basil the Blessed.

Weathering pillars, Komi

The top of the Man-Pupu-ner mountain is crowned with remains of bizarre shapes. These giant pillars, 30 to 42 meters high, were created over 200 million years under the influence of water and wind. According to legend, the pillars were giants who wanted to destroy the local people - the Mansi. But as soon as their leader-shaman saw sacred mountain- Man-Pupu-ner, then in horror he threw his tambourine, and his companions turned into stone idols.

Elbrus, Caucasus

On the border of the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia there is a two-headed Elbrus - highest point Russia. The height of the western peak of Elbrus is 5642 m, and the eastern one is 5621 m. The mountain is famous for its glaciers that feed mountain rivers, mineral springs, spread out at the foot, and bewitching views. Few mountains of volcanic origin surpass Elbrus in height: for example, highest peak Africa - the Kilimanjaro volcano - is only 253 meters higher than the "Russian miracle".
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