There are many wonders in the world. Some people might think that the seven wonders of the world or wonders of the ancient world are no longer relevant, but they would be wrong. These Wonders still hold a lot of power and attract people from all corners. Here is a look at the wonders of the new world and what makes the 7 wonders of the world so special.
1. How many Wonders of the World are there?
According to a recent poll, there are seven new wonders of the world. They are
- The Great Wall of China,
- Machu Picchu,
- Petra,
- Christ the Redeemer,
- Chichén Itzá,
- Colosseum, and
- Taj Mahal. (See What is the Biggest Thing on Earth?)
2. Who made the list of the Seven Wonders?
Herodotus and Callimachus of Cyrene at the Museum of Alexandria were among the first to compile lists of seven wonders. Must read about the 3 Types of Native American Shelters.
3. How were the 7 Wonders of the World chosen?
The first recorded list of the seven wonders of the ancient world was compiled by Hellenic travelers and noted in poetry and other arts. There is no definitive list, but a few have been particularly influential over time. The most popular, which was first promulgated by historian Herodotus, famously included the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, and the Colossus of Rhodes. Other lists have included different combinations of these and other wonders. Also, check out the 6 Official Languages of UN.
4. Do the Seven Wonders of the World change?
There are multiple lists of the seven wonders of the world, compiled by different people or groups throughout history. The Greek historian Herodotus listed the original seven wonders and only included man-made structures that could be seen by anyone visiting the site. So, the answer is yes, of those original seven, only the Great Pyramids of Giza still exist today. (See Is St Augustine Oldest City in the US?)
5. What are the Ancient Wonders of the World?
There are seven wonders of the Ancient World, as codified by Philo of Byzantium in 227 BC. These are the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, and then finally, the Pharos of Alexandria. For many centuries these were the only known Wonders, and all other notable structures were seen compared to them. The list was expanded in subsequent years like The Seven Wonders of the medieval world and The Seven Wonders of the Modern World even more recently. (See What Country am I in?)
6. What are the Original 7 Wonders of the World?
The original seven wonders of the world were
- The Great Pyramid of Giza,
- The Hanging Gardens of Babylon,
- The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus,
- The Statue of Zeus at Olympia,
- The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus,
- Colossus of Rhodes, and
- The Lighthouse of Alexandria.
These wonders were all built between the 6th and 3rd centuries BCE and were renowned for their size, beauty, and architectural design. Of these 7 original wonders, only the Great Pyramid still stands today. (See Is Bahamas part of US?)
7. What happened to the Original 7 Wonders of the World?
Various natural and man-made disasters destroyed the original seven wonders of the World:
- An earthquake partially destroyed the Great Pyramid of Giza.
- An invading army and erosion destroyed the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
- The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was destroyed by fire, looting, and flood.
- An earthquake destroyed the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.
- An earthquake destroyed the Colossus of Rhodes.
- A series of earthquakes destroyed the Lighthouse of Alexandria.
- The Pharos of Alexandria was destroyed by an earthquake some time ago. (See How many Islands in the Philippines are Known?)
8. What are the new 7 Wonders of the world?
The new 7 wonders of the new world are:
- Great Wall of China,
- Chichén Itzá El Castillo,
- Petra, Jordan,
- Machu Picchu, Peru,
- Christ the Redeemer, Brazil,
- Taj Mahal, and
- Giza Pyramid Complex, Egypt. Also, check out What are the Names of Coldest Places on Earth?
9. What are the 7 Natural Wonders of the World today?
Many things could be considered natural wonders, but here is a list of seven examples:
- The Northern Lights: Aurora Borealis,
- The Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA,
- Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River,
- Mount Everest,
- The Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland,
- Harbor of Rio de Janeiro, and
- Paricutin – an extinct volcano in Mexico. (See Why Dubai is called the impossible city?)
10. What are the 7 Man-made Wonders of the World today?
The 7 man-made wonders of the world are:
- Great Wall of China: The wall stretched over 13,000 miles and was built to protect the Chinese empire from invaders.
- Machu Picchu: This ancient Incan city is located in the Andes Mountains of Peru.
- The Colosseum: The Colosseum is a large amphitheater in Rome, Italy. It was built during the Roman Empire and could seat over 50,000 people. (See Why Paris is the city of Love?)
- The Taj Mahal: The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India. It was built for the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his late wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
- The Great Pyramid of Giza: The Great Pyramid is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in Giza, Egypt. It was built for Pharaoh Khufu over 4000 years ago.
- Christ the Redeemer: Christ the Redeemer is a statue of Jesus located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is one of the most recognizable landmarks in South America.
- Chichén Itzá El Castillo: El Castillo is a Mesoamerican step pyramid located in Chichén Itzá, Mexico. It was built by the Maya people and is one of the Seven Wonders. (See Where is Turkey Situated?)
11. What is the most Popular Wonder of the World?
The most popular wonder out of the seven wonders of the world is undoubtedly the Taj Mahal. Millions of people visit this beautiful monument every year, and it’s easy to see why. The Taj Mahal is an amazing example of Mughal architecture, and it’s one of the most stunning buildings in the world. Emperor Shah Jahan built it in memory of his late wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and it took over 20 years to complete. The Taj Mahal is a truly remarkable feat of human engineering, and it’s no wonder that it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. (See How are Volcanoes Distributed on the Map?)
Now that we’ve explored the seven wonders of the world, it’s your turn to decide which one among the 7 wonders of the world is most awe-inspiring. Do you think natural beauty or man-made creations are more impressive? Are ancient structures more fascinating than modern feats? (See How do you say Sea in French?)