Wonders of Ancient World
by Wonders _
As sete maravilhas do mundo antigo são uma famosa lista de majestosas
obras artísticas e arquitetônicas erguidas durante a Antiguidade Clássica.
Das sete maravilhas, a única que resiste até hoje quase intactas são as
Pirâmides de Gizé, construídas há cinco mil anos. É interessante que na
Grécia se encontrava apenas a estátua de Zeus em Olímpia, construída em
ouro e marfim com 12 metros de altura. A idéia que se tem dela vem das
moedas de Elis onde foi cunhada a figura da estátua de Zeus.
As 7 Maravilhas do Mundo Antigo
Pirâmides de Gizé
Jardins Suspensos da Babilônia
Estátua de Zeus em Olímpia
Templo de Ártemis em Éfeso
Mausoléu de Halicarnasso
Colosso de Rodes
Farol de Alexandria
A origem da lista é duvidosa, normalmente atribuída ao poeta e escritor grego Antípatro de Sídon, que escreveu sobre as estruturas em um poema. Outro documento que contem tal lista é o livro De septem orbis miraculis, do engenheiro grego Philon de Bizâncio. A lista também é conhecida como
Ta hepta Thaemata ("as sete coisas dignas de serem vistas"). Os gregos foram os primeiros povos a relacionar as sete maravilhas do mundo entre os anos 150 e 120 a.C.. Extraordinários monumentos e esculturas erguidos pela mão do homem, construídos na antigüidade fascinam por sua majestade, riqueza de detalhes e magnitude até hoje. Podemos imaginar o aspecto que outros monumentos e esculturas tinham a partir de descrições e reproduções estilizadas em moedas.
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Since ancient times, numerous “seven wonders” lists have been created. The content of these lists tends to vary, and none is definitive. The seven wonders that are most widely agreed upon as being in the original list are the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which was compiled by ancient Greek historians and is thus confined to the most magnificent structures known to the ancient Greek world. Of all the Ancient Wonders, the pyramids alone survive.
The Pyramids of Egypt are three pyramids at Giza , outside modern Cairo. The largest pyramid, built by Khufu (Cheops), a king of the fourth dynasty, had an original estimated height of 482 ft (now approximately 450 ft). The base has sides 755 ft long. It contains 2,300,000 blocks; the average weight of each is 2.5 tons. Estimated date of completion is 2680 B.C.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were supposedly built by Nebuchadnezzar around 600 B.C. to please his queen, Amuhia. They are also associated with the mythical Assyrian queen Semiramis. Archeologists surmise that the gardens were laid out atop a vaulted building, with provisions for raising water. The terraces were said to rise from 75 to 300 ft.
The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was made of gold and ivory by the Greek sculptor Phidias (5th century B.C.). Reputed to be 40 ft high, the statue has been lost without a trace, except for reproductions on coins.
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was begun about 350 B.C., in honor of a non-Hellenic goddess who later became identified with the Greek goddess of the same name. The temple, with Ionic columns 60 ft high, was destroyed by invading Goths in A.D. 262.
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was erected by Queen Artemisia in memory of her husband, King Mausolus of Caria in Asia Minor, who died in 353 B.C. Some remains of the structure are in the British Museum. This shrine is the source of the modern word mausoleum.
The Colossus at Rhodes was a bronze statue of Helios (Apollo), about 105 ft high. The work of the sculptor Chares, who reputedly labored for 12 years before completing it in 280 B.C., it was destroyed during an earthquake in 224 B.C.
The Pharos (Lighthouse) of Alexandria was built by Sostratus of Cnidus during the 3rd century B.C. on the island of Pharos off the coast of Egypt. It was destroyed by an earthquake in the 13th century.
