The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
The classic list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, compiled by Hellenic travelers and scholars, includes:
- Great Pyramid of Giza (Egypt) — The only wonder still substantially intact.
- Hanging Gardens of Babylon (Iraq) — Legendary tiered gardens; existence debated.
- Temple of Artemis at Ephesus (Turkey) — Grand marble temple to the goddess Artemis.
- Statue of Zeus at Olympia (Greece) — Colossal gold-and-ivory statue by Phidias.
- Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (Turkey) — Monumental tomb for Mausolus, origin of "mausoleum."
- Colossus of Rhodes (Greece) — Giant bronze statue of Helios straddling the harbor.
- Lighthouse of Alexandria (Egypt) — Towering beacon on Pharos Island, guiding sailors for centuries.
All were located around the Mediterranean and Middle East. Most were destroyed by earthquakes, fire, or conquest; only the Great Pyramid endures. The list reflects the geographic and cultural horizon of the ancient Greek world.