GGEThe Seven Wonders of The

8/14/2019 GGEThe Seven Wonders of The

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The Seven Wonders of the

Ancient World


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Temple of Zeus at Olympia

In his right hand a figure of Victory made from ivory and gold. In his lefthand, his scepter inlaid with all metals, and an eagle perched on the

sceptre. The sandals of the god are made of gold, as is his robe.Pausanias the Greek (2nd century AD)


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When the statue was completed, it barely fitted in the temple. Strabowrote:

".. although the temple itself is very large, the sculptor is criticizedfor not having appreciated the correct proportions. He has shownZeus seated, but with the head almost touching the ceiling, so thatwe have the impression that if Zeus moved to stand up he wouldunroof the temple."

The base of the statuewas about 6.5 m (20 ft)wide and 1.0 meter (3 ft)high. The height of the

statue itself was 13 m(40 ft), equivalent to amodern 4-story building.


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Pyramid of Giza

The great pyramid of Giza isthe only surviving ancientwonder.

Built by Pharaoh Khufu, 4th

Dynasty around 2650 BC, asa tomb.

It ranked as the tallest structure on Earth for more than 43 centuries:

145.75 m (481 ft) high (outdone in the 19 th century).

The maximum error between side lengths is astonishingly less than 0.1%

The structure consists of approximately 2 million blocks

of stone, each weighing more than two tons


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Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The approach to the Garden slopedlike a hillside and the several parts

of the structure rose from oneanother tier on tier... On all this, the

earth had been piled... and wasthickly planted with trees of everykind that, by their great size and

other charm, gave pleasure to thebeholder... The water machines

[raised] the water in greatabundance from the river, although

no one outside could see it.

Diodorus Siculus


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Construction Details

Built under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562BC) of the Babyloniankingdom.

Built for his wife. Archeological evidence is slim,as the Euphrates River isseveral hundred meters away.

Possibly an exaggeration of

Alexander the Greats soldiers. Water from the river (?) was

raised up by use of theArchimedian Screw.


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Temple of Artemis at Ephesus Built in honor of the

goddess of hunting,wild nature, andfertilityArtemis

Earliest foundation:7 th century BC;Wonder: 550 BC

Temple C sponsoredby Lydian KingCroesus

Architect Theodorus(Temple D) One of the artists:

Pheidias (Temple of Zeus at Olympia)


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Artemis of Ephesus

Greek Artemis/Roman Diana = Hunt

Ephesus Artemis = Fertility
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Statue_of_Artemis_Ephesus.jpg


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Compare with Roman copy of Hellenistic Original
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Diane_de_Versailles_Leochares.jpg


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Herostratus Temple D, 300 ft. long, 150 ft. wide

Destroyed July 20, 356 BC by a young Ephesian named Herostratus Herostratus wanted to be eternally famous (or infamous) Citizens of Ephesus issued a decree that anyone who spoke the name

Herostratus would be put to death. Coincidentally, Alexander of Macedon (the Great) is born the same night

(rumor has it that Artemis was at his birth, not at the temple). New temple contructed completely in marble (fire-safe): 425 ft. long; 225 ft.

wide: 127 columns; 60 ft. high (compare Parthenon 230 ft. long) Construction time: 60-120 years

Destruction by the Goths in 262 AD: a century later the Emperor Constantinerebuilt much of Ephesus (except the temple, hes Xian)

Ephesus abandoned, the statues pounded into powder for wall plaster. (Sigh)


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Compare the Scale:Parthenon vs. Temple of

Artemis

hixclient

hixclient


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Refound by the British in 1863

http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass/ixbin/hixclient.exe?%7BUPPE

R%7D%3Av2_free_text_tindex=ephesus&_IXDB_=compass&_IXSPFX_=gr aphical%2Fsummary%2F&_IXFPFX_=graphical%2Ffull%2F&_IXNOMATCHES_=graphical%2Fno_matches.html&%24+%28with+v2_searchable_index%29+sort=.&_IXsearchterm=ephesus&_IXspage=search&submit-button=summary

A single column marks the spot wherethe temple once stood.


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Mausoleum of Halicarnassus Halicarnassus =

Modern Turkish city of Bodrum

Persian Satrap,Mausollos ruled (377-

353 BC). Idea from Mausollos

wife/sister Artemisia. Mausollos died 3 yrs.

prior, Artemisia 1 yr.

Remained intact 1600years until earthquake Crusaders of 1494-

1522 disassembled itfor a fort.


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Colossus of Rhodes Lasted only 56 years. Not a statue, but a

symbol of unity. In 408 BC, three cities of

the island of Rhodescame together as onepower.

Success in war (304 BC)financed the colossus of the Sun-god Helios. Completed 282 BC

Earthquake in 226 BC Breaks at the knee Egypt offers to finance

rebuild; Oracle forbadeit; offer declined.


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End of the Colossus The remains lay on the ground for

1,000 years. Pliny the Elder (1 st century AD) few

people can make their arms meet round thethumb

AD 654 the Arabs invade Rhodes. The scraps sold off (takes 900 camels)

and melted into coins.

Misconceptions: 1. The Colossus did not straddle the

harbor (physics and engineering sayno).

2. Model of the Statue of Liberty.


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Other Images of the Colossus


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Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria

Practical use vs.architectural splendor.

Pharos, from PharaohsIsland just off fromAlexandria.

Completed around 290 BC Mirror (?) light could be

seen 25/35 miles away. Survived earthquake in

956 AD.

Badly damaged in 1303and 1323 earthquakes.

Arabs dismantled it tomake a fort in 1480.


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Lighthouse Facts & Legends Covered in white marble. The total height of the building including the

foundation base was about 117 m (384 ft),equivalent to a 40-story modern building.

Reflecting mirror: Archimedean Death-Ray? Lighthouse:

French, phare Spanish, faro Italian, faro


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Documents

GGEThe Seven Wonders of The