The first man on planet Earth appeared 2 million years ago, such conclusions help to make archaeological excavations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania. During its existence, humanity has evolved, leaving behind vivid traces of its existence.
What can we so clearly demonstrate the level of development, religion, power in different periods of a person's life on earth, no matter how human handiwork? Architectural monuments are a real treasure of history. This is what helps us to remember our majestic past, our former power, to recreate lost historical information, to be proud of our ancestors and believe in the forces of modern society.
7 Wonders of the World- this is the most striking demonstration of the majesty of the past. Why exactly 7? Let's start with the fact that 7 wonders of the world were identified in ancient times. The number "7" was considered a saint, the number of the great god Apollo, it was a symbol of completeness and perfection.
There are stories about these delightful historical monuments back in the Hellenistic era - this is a period of time that ends with the death of Alexander the Great, or rather 323 BC. Ancient papyri that have come down to us say that the wonders of the world were the subject of study at school.
The first to describe the 7 wonders of the world known today was Herodotus. True, the ancient Greek historian in his work "History" displayed only three monuments. And in the III century AD the world was presented with a complete list of "7 wonders of the world", which has survived to this day.
With the passage of time, the list changed several times, the old was removed, the new was added. Nevertheless, we will now consider the wonders of the world that were in the very first ancient list that has survived to this day.
7 wonders of the world include: the Pyramid of Cheops and the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt, the Statue of Zeus in mainland Greece, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis and the Mausoleum in Halicarnassus were located on the territory of modern Turkey, the Colossus of Rhodes towered on the island of Rhodes
Of all these majestic historical monuments, only one has survived to this day, the rest of the masterpieces of architecture, unfortunately, were destroyed.
The Pyramid of Cheops. This is the only wonder of the world that has survived to this day. The largest pyramid at Giza was built around 2000 BC. The base of the building is square, its height reaches 147 meters, but due to the fact that sandstorms and strong winds occurred around the pyramid for several millennia, one of the 7 wonders of the world went a little underground, significantly reducing its height.
According to scientists, the construction of this tomb continued for thirty years. But the body of the pharaoh inside the walls of the tomb was never found - this fact is a mystery to this day.
Looking at this historical monument is breathtaking. The pyramid of Cheops is striking in its beauty and grandeur. Were the ancient Egyptian slaves able to build such a masterpiece without modern gadgets? How did they do it? 
Hanging pyramids of Babylon. In fact, the hanging gardens should have been called "hanging". During archaeological excavations, historians stumbled upon the palace complex, which was made in the form of a pyramid. The whole pyramid was covered with a lot of vegetation, which seemed to hang from the tiers of the structure.
One of the seven wonders of the world was erected in the 7th century BC, by order of King Nebuchadnezzar II, who at that time ruled Babylon the Great.
Nebuchadnezzar made an alliance with the ruler of Media, Kyaxar, who was reinforced by the marriage of the Babylonian king and the daughter of Kiaskar Amitis. Amitis of Media, a country with a rich natural environment filled with greenery and fresh air, was forced to move to Babylon, a city built on an arid land, dusty and sandy. Observing how his wife was suffering, a caring husband decided to make a gift to his wife - to create a kind of oasis where Amitis would feel at home. Nebuchadnezzar did just that, thus one of the 7 wonders of the world was born - the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Why the Gardens of Babylon? The answer to this question is very simple: this is a mistake of ancient historians. They prescribed the gardens to the Assyrian queen Semiramis, who lived two centuries earlier.
Where exactly the Hanging Gardens were located is still a mystery. Historians have several hypotheses on this score. 
Zeus statue in Olympia. According to Greek mythology, Zeus is the main god. He is worshiped by thunder and lightning, sky and air, the rest of the gods are afraid of him.
The statue of Zeus, which amazed the minds of mankind, was erected in the 5th century BC in the temple of Zeus at Olympia. The temple was made of marble and amazed with its majesty and beauty. One of the most famous and talented architects of Greece, Phidias, was invited to make the statue of the Thunderer.
In 435, the statue was unveiled. At that moment, all of Greece froze in amazement. No wonders of the world could compare with the power, strength, beauty of the statue of the great god Zeus. Zeus was made of gold and ivory. He sat on a golden throne, in his hands was a golden scepter, a golden eagle proudly sat at his feet, and a wreath adorned his head.
It is known that the statue still existed in the 5th century AD. But after the adoption of Christianity by the Greeks, all churches were closed. Theodosius I ordered to take the statue apart. After which the great work of art was burned, either in Constantinople, or in Greece itself. 
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. The Temple of Artemis was built in the 6th century BC. But before this architectural structure acquired the form in which it became one of the wonders of the world, it was built many times and destroyed many times.
The inhabitants of the ancient world, namely Greece, worshiped the great goddess of fertility Artemis. At a certain moment, having chosen a place where they mainly made sacrifices for the goddess, the inhabitants of Ephesus began construction. Wooden buildings could not withstand natural destruction, so the temple was built several times.
Finally, the famous and talented sculptor Khersiphon built a better temple in 450 BC, but after a hundred years it was burned down. Then the followers of the sculptor decided to make the temple out of marble. It was the greatest masterpiece of art, and it was he who became one of the 7 wonders of the world. The majestic building was of enormous scale: 105 meters long, 51 meters wide.
Unfortunately, already in 263 the temple was plundered by the Goths. In the IV century AD, a single religion, Christianity, was proclaimed, which required the destruction of all pagan cultural monuments. 
Mausoleum in Halicarnassus. Exactly when the construction of the mausoleum began is still unknown. It is considered the beginning of construction around the 4th century BC. The time when Caria was still a colony of the Persian Empire.
The ruler of Caria, Mavsol, began construction during his lifetime. Finishing it, already the wife of Mavsol.
By the way, the name "mausoleum" came from the name of the ruler - Mavsol.
The finished building was amazing, it was so beautiful. The mausoleum at Halicarnassus was a large architectural structure with its own courtyard inside. Thin and at the same time very powerful carvings adorned the decoration of the building.
How exactly the mausoleum was destroyed is not known. The historical monument was finally destroyed by the Maltese raid in the 15th century, or an earthquake.
The remains of the mausoleum were found in 1977 as a result of the archaeological excavations of Christian Geppes. 
The Colossus of Rhodes. The Colossus of Rhodes is the penultimate in the ancient list of the 7 wonders of the world.
Unfortunately, if you now want to admire one of the most powerful monuments of ancient architecture - the Greek 36-meter high god of the sun - Helios, then you will not succeed. Since the greatest historical monument was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC. The work of art that was created by the greatest ancient sculptors for 12 years lasted only 60 years.
The decision to create such a sculpture of impressive size was prompted by the gratitude of the inhabitants of Rhodes, for the fact that the supposedly great Helios contributed to the fact that Demetrius of Macedon was able to protect the city from the conquerors.
Now they are trying to restore one of the 7 wonders of the world. According to the plan of modern architects, the statue will be increased in size by another 30 meters, and there will be an entertainment complex inside. 
Alexandrian lighthouse. The list of "Wonders of the World" ends with a work of art that was located near Alexandria.
Alexandria was a port city, and the Mediterranean coast was too shallow and the bottom was rocky. Therefore, in 285, on the island of Pharos, which is near Alexandria, a grandiose structure began.
As a result of long-term work, the world was presented with a 120-meter statue, consisting of three sections. In the upper compartment of which a huge fire was burning. Stone and marble are the main components of the structure, which was supposed to be built for centuries. But, unfortunately, the fate of the magnificent tower was not prepared for such a long existence. Having stood for almost 1000 years, the masterpiece of ancient art collapsed in an earthquake. 
Wonders of the world, how many mysteries and secrets are in them? How much we still do not know, and we will never know. One thing becomes clear, it is necessary to carefully protect our cultural values so that our descendants can personally admire the amazing historical monuments.
Long ago, sages and travelers compiled a list of 7 wonders of the world, the list included the most beautiful and most majestic buildings of the whole world in their view.
The most magnificent buildings of antiquity - seven wonders of the world
Initially, in the 5th century BC. there were only 3 wonders of the world on the list. After that, in the 3rd century BC, thanks to a poem by Antipater of Sidon, 4 more wonders of the world were added to the list, and so the list was named 7 wonders of the world. Here is a list of the 7 wonders of the world:
The Pyramid of Cheops
This pyramid is the largest of all Egyptian pyramids and the most popular of the 7 Wonders of the World. It was erected in 2540 BC. e.
The height of this giant is approximately 138.75 m. The heaviest stone module of the pyramid weighs 15 tons. Imagine! The pyramid consists of 2.5 million blocks, each weighing 2.5 tons.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
This wonder of the world still has one name - the Hanging Gardens of Amitis, that was the name of the wife of the king of Babylon. These gardens were created for her. The Babylonian ruler, Nebuchadnezzar II, twice giving the city to his enemy, decided to join forces with the king of Media. Having won the war, Nebuchadnezzar II and the ruler of Media divide the territory of Assyria.
To confirm the military alliance, Nebuchadnezzar II marries the daughter of the Medes king - Amitis. Amitis, who was accustomed to green gardens, was not happy with the "dusty" Babylon, and in order to console her spouse, Nebuchadnezzar builds these hanging gardens for her.
Third of the Seven Wonders of the World - Statue of Zeus at Olympia
This statue was made in the temple of Zeus by the brilliant architect Phidias. The temple was built much earlier than the statue itself.
It took 10 years to build only the temple, only this fact allows us to add to the list of 7 wonders of the world! The sculpture of Zeus sits on the throne, holding in his left hand a scepter with a falcon, and in his right hand a sculpture of the goddess of victory - Nika.
Temple of Artemis of Ephesus
The temple was located in the old town of Ephesus and was built in the 6th century BC. e. In 356 BC. burned by Herostratus. For Artemis, this temple was built because, according to legend, she had a special gift: she could cause the growth of all vegetation, took care of animals, blessed for happiness in marriage and the birth of babies.
mausoleum in Halicarnassus
This wonder of the world was built in the middle of the 4th century BC. e. by order of the wife of Mavsol - Artemisia III.
The construction of the mausoleum began even before the death of Mavsol, for whom the monument was actually built. The wife of the Carian ruler called the most notorious architects of Greece, Satyr and Pytheas, and the most recognized architects of that time - Leochares, Skopas.
The Colossus of Rhodes
This huge statue of the ancient Greek sun god Helios was located in Rhodes. The statue was created by the stately architect Hares. The height of the statue was 36 meters and was made entirely of bronze. The statue used 13 tons of bronze and 12 years of work by the architect Khares.
The seventh wonder of the world of the seven wonders of the world is the Lighthouse of Alexandria
The lighthouse was built in the 3rd century BC. e. in the Egyptian town of Alexandria. The Lighthouse of Alexandria was the very first lighthouse in history. This lighthouse has stood for about a thousand years!
At the end of the 15th century, Sultan Kait Bey built a fortress on the site of the Alexandria lighthouse, which still exists today.
That's the whole list of 7 wonders of the world or just wonders of the world.
Everyone has heard about the wonders of the world, but confusion often arises with what exactly is considered such. Often, this list includes those buildings and monuments that, of course, have a huge historical and cultural value, but are not included in the official list. In addition, in 2007, Portugal selected new "miracles", so we can say that there are already more than seven of them. All of them have made a huge contribution to the culture of humanity. Wikipedia and other encyclopedias write about the seven wonders of the world in great detail. Let's dwell on short description everyone.
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The wonders of the ancient world are studied at school in history lessons. It includes those structures that were created before our era. None of them has survived to this day, except for the pyramids of Cheops in. These include:
- Pyramid of Cheops.
- The statue of Zeus at Olympia.
- Colossus of Rhodes.
- Alexandrian lighthouse.
Pyramid of Cheops and Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Both structures are legendary tombs, but the time of their construction is very different.
It is interesting that the pyramid of Cheops - the oldest wonder of the world and at the same time the only one that has survived to this day... It was created approximately two thousand years BC. e., and the mysteries of its construction are still debated and sometimes completely incredible theories are put forward. For example, the shape of the arrangement of the pyramids exactly repeats the arrangement of the stars in the constellation Orion, so some consider the pyramids to be a gift from alien civilizations. Every year thousands of tourists from all over the world come to see them. Indeed, the structure strikes once and for all.
This building, like all the mausoleums built later, received the name of King Mavsol, who ordered after his death to erect a monument similar to the pyramids of Egypt, and glorifying the king himself and his wife. The building was not only a tomb, but also a temple. The king rested on the first tier, and on the second it was possible to conduct divine services. Both the statues of the gods and the statues of Mavsol himself and his wife Artemisia were installed in the mausoleum. The statues of the royal couple have survived to this day, you can find their photos and even look at them in the British Museum.
The gardens were named after the legendary Queen Semiramis, but, oddly enough, she has nothing to do with them. Two centuries after her death, the Babylonian king decided to marry the daughter of the king of Media, a country drowning in gardens and greenery. Babylon stood in the desert, and in order to strike the bride, the ruler ordered the creation of gardens of unprecedented beauty. The tubs with plants bloomed so luxuriantly that they almost hid the building, on the walls of which they were located, and seemed to be hanging in the air. The structure looked especially majestic in the middle of a barren desert, when a traveler saw a magic garden in the endless sands, symbolizing the greatness of Babylon and its king.
Supreme Greek God reached the height of a five-story building, to work on it, the architect Phidias demanded to create a workshop, repeating the temple in which the statue was installed. At the same time, Zeus, sitting on the throne, seemed to "not fit" into the temple, if the statue could stand, then broke the vault. Thus, the greatness of God was emphasized.
The materials were also selected as appropriate: ivory and gold... Interesting: Phidias in those distant times, when physics had not yet reached its heyday, managed to choose the material and location of the statue in such a way that it seemed that the light falling on it was reflected, and it seemed to glow from the inside. After the establishment of Christianity and the closure of pagan temples, Zeus was transported to Constantinople, where, unfortunately, he burned down.
Its significance was great, the building was used not only for religious rituals, but also for public meetings and even trade. The best sculptors and architects worked on the construction; the building was striking in its beauty and grandeur. It is also famous for the fact that it was burned by the hot-tempered young man Herostratus, who thus decided to leave his name in history. It is worth noting that he really did it. Fortunately, the temple has been rebuilt.
The Colossus of Rhodes
The colossus on feet of clay collapsed seventy years after its construction, but it rightfully takes a place among the wonders of the world. There are disputes about its height, they indicate sizes from forty to sixty meters. There is a legend that ships easily sailed between his legs, although this theory is now controversial. According to the descriptions found, the colossus could not be in the port, but on land, in the city of Rhodes. It was erected as a gratitude to the god Helios for protecting the city from enemy troops who left after a year of siege. It is interesting that the chief sculptor of the colossus committed suicide, as he borrowed a huge amount to complete his creation, which he could not return.
Alexandrian lighthouse
Lighthouse of Alexandria - this structure saved the lives of more than one ship, since its light spread over sixty kilometers... Built among reefs and rocks, the one hundred and thirty-five meter high lighthouse pointed the way to a saving bay in one of the most dangerous marine locations. According to the surviving descriptions, the sculptures inside the lighthouse were very interesting:
- One of them pointed to the position of the sun all day, and at night her hand dropped.
- The other was arranged like a clock, striking an hour every sixty minutes.
- The third always pointed with her hand in the direction the wind was blowing, and thus was used as a weather vane.
To perpetuate his name, the sculptor, who was required to glorify the king, went to the trick - he carved his name on a stone, covered it with plaster and wrote the name of the king. Centuries later, the plaster was crumbling, and the name of the architect, Sostrat of Cnidus, has come down to us.
The New Seven Wonders of the World is a project aimed at finding the modern seven wonders of the world. It was organized by the non-profit organization New Open World Corporation (NOWC) at the initiative of the Swiss Bernard Weber. The selection of the new seven "wonders of the world" from the famous architectural structures of the world took place via SMS, telephone or Internet. The result was announced on July 7, 2007.
The Colosseum or the Flavian amphitheater is an amphitheater, an architectural monument of Ancient Rome, the most famous and one of the most grandiose structures of the Ancient World that have survived to our time. It is located in Rome, in the hollow between the Esquiline, Palatine and Celievsky hills.
In ancient Rome, many historical monuments have survived, but the most extraordinary of them is the Colosseum, in which people doomed to death fought and died desperately for the entertainment of the free citizens of Rome. It became the largest and most famous of all Roman amphitheaters, and one of the greatest masterpieces of Roman engineering and architecture that has survived to this day. The grandiose Colosseum amazed anyone who first entered the capital of the empire. It is a symbol of Rome and its centuries-old history, the largest and most beautiful stadium in the ancient world.
The amphitheater is a Roman invention. It consisted of an elliptical arena, surrounded by lined tiers of rows of seated stands, on which a large audience, without putting themselves at risk, could watch the breathtaking bloody spectacles. Here, gladiator fights were held and wild exotic animals were paraded, so that later, in front of a bewitched crowd, they would play off against each other in mortal combat.
Rome had several amphitheaters before the Colosseum was built, but after a great fire in 64 AD. e. a new structure was needed. The Roman emperor Vespasian, who ruled from 69 AD. e., wishing to further spread the bloody sport of gladiators, ordered to start in 72 AD. e. the construction of an amphitheater, which was supposed to bear the name of the new imperial dynasty and surpass all previous ones with unprecedented dimensions and beauty. The amphitheater was initially called the Flavium (Amphiteatrum Flavium).
It was erected at the bottom of an artificial reservoir dug under Vespasian's predecessor, Emperor Nero, for his famous luxurious Golden House. This choice of location was very beneficial not only from a technical, but also from a political point of view, as if demonstrating a break with the previous decadent luxury. Vespasian developed construction plans with no less scope than Nero, but this was construction for public needs, and not at all to satisfy the personal whims of the emperor.
In circumference, the Colosseum reaches 527 meters, it has the shape of an ellipse with diagonals of 188 and 156 meters. The height of the part that has not been destroyed is 57 meters. Four floors of the building could accommodate 80 thousand people. A giant canopy was attached to the columns of the upper tier, protecting the audience from the scorching sun. The inside of the building was lined with marble, and along the facade - travertine (a porous rock, widely used in the ancient era as a building material), the slabs of which were held together by iron brackets. Numerous underground passages began under the sand-covered wooden floor of the arena. During performances along these passages, decorations, animals, gladiators and their weapons were lifted with the help of special mechanisms. The audience was separated from the arena by a metal grill. One could get inside the building through one of the 80 arches of the first tier.
It was solemnly consecrated in A.D. 80. e. already the heir to Vespasian, the emperor Titus. On this occasion, a celebration was organized, which lasted exactly 100 days. During that period of time, 5 thousand predators brought from North Africa and hundreds of gladiators were killed in the arena of the Colosseum. But even then, despite the official opening, the construction was not yet fully completed. The last, upper tribune for spectators was completed only under the successor of Titus, the emperor Domitian.
A distinctive feature of this structure is the large number of tiers. Its architecture shows how ingenious it is - you can simply order and direct the movement of countless human crowds. A sophisticated system of flights of stairs and passages provided unimpeded and easy access to the seats from the stands. Four main entrances allowed quick access to the arena, and through 80 arches, in just 10 minutes, you could find yourself in numbered auditoriums. Spectators often spent several days in a row here, so they brought food from home with them. All this speaks of the high engineering and architectural level of the structure. But it should also be noted that there were no toilets with all the ensuing circumstances.
Seats in the Colosseum were allocated according to the social status of the spectators. The lower ones were intended for representatives of the upper strata of society - government officials, priests, vestals. Commoners sat on the upper tiers. The imperial box - a podium with a spacious terrace - was located right next to the arena. The rows closest to it were reserved for wealthy patricians and guests of honor. The amphitheater was divided into sectors, each of which had a serial number.
The name of the architect who owns the project of the amphitheater is unknown, but it is assumed that he was Rabirius, who later became the author of Domitian's palace. Outside, the amphitheater is entirely covered with travertine and has four tiers. The three lower ones represent arched chants running along the entire profile, cut by pilasters and semi-columns in the canonical sequence: on the first tier - Doric, on the second - Ionic, and on the third - Corinthian. The fourth, upper tier, completed a little later, is a solid wall, dissected by Corinthian pilasters and cut through by small windows. On the crowning cornice, there are still holes, where supports were inserted to tension the bright awning, which protects the audience from the heat. Each arched span of the first tier had a corresponding entrance to the seats for spectators: 76 of these entrances were numbered (Roman numerals can still be seen on the arches); four main entrances were intended: one for the imperial retinue, the other for the vestals, the third for the judges and the last for the guests of honor.
The Colosseum had 36 elevators operated by hand by slaves. Each elevator could lift up to 10 slaves. They also carried wild animals. In 523 A.D. e., after long popular protests, Rome adopted a decree prohibiting the killing of predators. In this ancient stadium, the display of gladiatorial battles continued until the 5th century AD. e.
In the center of the Roman Colosseum, there was an arena surrounded by archers, who guarded the audience from the attacks of predators. A terrace was built around the arena, where the imperial box and the boxes of prominent senators, judges and popes were located. The rest of the seats were divided into three tiers. The lower tier is for noble nobles and wealthy merchants, the second is for the free citizens of Rome of the middle class, the last is for the common people. In the uppermost rows were slaves operating the elevators. And even higher than the slaves were the sailors of the Imperial Navy Classis Miseniensis. What were they doing there? They controlled a huge linen canvas that covered the top of the Colosseum so that the arena was always open. For this, a complex structure was built here, consisting of 240 pillars, supporting a gigantic matter. And since the sailors were excellent masters of sailing, they were the ones who were responsible for this sector. There were special passages under the arena, which were used for performances, as well as cages with wild animals. The creators of the Colosseum designed a complex system of passages and lifts, through which angry beasts, released from their cages into the dungeon, fell directly into the arena. There were 2 special exits in the Colosseum: an exit for life and an exit for death. The victors or pardoned gladiators came out into one, and through the other they carried the dead.
The entrance to the Colosseum was free. Many emperors cared about the amusement of their people so that they could be more easily controlled. For the same purpose, in front of the entrance to the stadium, flour was distributed free of charge for baking bread. Among the spectators, there were many women who were ardent admirers of these bloody spectacles.
Gladiator battles began at dawn and ended at dusk, and some festive performances continued for several days. The performance usually opened with a performance of festively dressed gladiators, under their feet was a wooden flooring, sprinkled with sand to absorb blood.
The first number of the program was the cripples and clowns: these also fought, but not seriously and without blood. Sometimes women also appeared - they competed in archery. And only then came the turn of gladiators and beasts. First, trained animals performed, and then wild animals were released into the arena, which they set against each other or against armed people. The Romans' love of such spectacles led to the mass extermination of animals. But the battles of gladiators who fought for life and death were much more brutal. They were recruited from slaves, convicted criminals or prisoners of war. The main weapon of gladiators was a short double-edged sword - the gladius. When mortally wounded soldiers fell, a man in a Charon costume (a character in Greek mythology - the carrier of the dead to the afterlife) entered the arena. The body was carried out, the bloody stain was sprinkled with sand, and the next one took the place of the deceased gladiator. Anyone who was seriously injured could lie on the floor and ask the audience for mercy. If the crowd thought he fought valiantly, they chanted "Mitte!" ("Free him!"). But if the fighter did not manage to win the sympathy of the public, the implacable "Ingula!" ("Kill him!"). In the Colosseum, the almighty Caesar did not contradict the wishes of his subjects: at the request of "Mitte!" he raised his thumb up, giving the gladiator life, and sometimes freedom, while after shouting "ingula!" put his finger down, sentencing the fighter to death.
The use of wild animals in the arena has become so varied and complex that specially trained people - bestiaries - have been recruited to perform performances with them. Spectacles with animals were especially fond of the Roman mob. The highest nobility preferred gladiatorial fights. Bestiaries were trained in a special school. They had their own traditions, their own form and their own professional jargon. During the lavish celebrations marking the opening of the Colosseum in 80 AD. e. gladiators killed about 5 thousand lions, hippos, elephants, zebras. A huge number of animals died in 248, during the festivities in honor of the 1000th anniversary of Rome.
The bloody battles of gladiators were banned only in 404 AD. e. In 523 A.D. er., after long popular protests, in Rome adopted a decree prohibiting the killing of predators.
The invasions of the barbarians led the Flavian Amphitheater to desolation and laid the foundation for its destruction. From the 11th century until 1132, it served as a fortress for noble Roman families who challenged each other for influence and power over their fellow citizens, especially for the families of Frangipani and Annibaldi. The latter, however, were forced to cede the Colosseum to Emperor Henry VII, who presented it to the Roman Senate and people. Back in 1332, the local aristocracy organized bullfights here, but from that time on, the systematic destruction of the Colosseum began. They began to look at it as a source of obtaining building material, and not only the stones that had fallen off, but also deliberately broken out of it, began to go to new structures. So, in the 15th and 16th centuries, Pope Paul II took material from it for the construction of the so-called Venetian palace, Cardinal Riario - the palace of the chancellery, Paul III - Pallazo Farnese. However, a significant part of the amphitheater survived, although the building as a whole remained disfigured. Sixtus V intended to use it to set up a cloth factory, and Clement IX actually turned the Colosseum into a plant for the extraction of saltpeter.
The pulling away of the stone, which threatened to completely destroy the ancient monument, was stopped only in the middle of the 18th century by Pope Benedict XIV, who erected a cross on the building, and around it a series of altars in memory of the torture, the procession to Golgotha and the death of the Savior on the cross and consecrated it as the place of the martyrdom of many Christians. This cross and altars were only removed from the Colosseum in 1874. The popes who followed Benedict XIV, especially Pius VII and Leo XII, continued to take care of the surviving parts of the building and reinforced the places of the walls that threatened to fall with buttresses, and Pius IX fixed some of the internal stairs in it.
The current appearance of the amphitheater is almost a triumph of minimalism: a strict ellipse, three tiers executed in three orders, precisely calculated in the shape of an arch. Initially, a statue was attached to each arch, and a giant opening between the walls was pulled with a canvas using a special mechanism.
They are called the New Seven Wonders of the World » , monuments that won an international competition held by the New Open World Corporation inspired by the list of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The initiative came from Swiss filmmaker Bernard Weber.The voting was public, in which more than one hundred million people took part. It was the first massive internet, phone and text voting in history, open to members around the world. The ceremony of announcing the new wonders was broadcast live on more than 160 television channels in more than 170 countries. Of the seven wonders of the modern world, six have been declared World Heritage by UNESCO.
So, let's get down to familiarizing ourselves with the seven new wonders of the world.
This wonder of the world is located in a narrow valley at the edge of the Arabian Desert, between the mountains south of Dead sea... The city of Petra was the capital of the Nabatean Empire, ruled by King Aretas IV (9 BC to 40 AD). Peter's most famous remains are undoubtedly his rock-cut structures; in particular the buildings known as Khazne (treasury) and Deir (monastery).
Petra, which means "stone" in Greek, has survived for so many years thanks to the fact that most of its "buildings" were carved into solid stone walls. This is perhaps the most exciting ancient city that stood until today. It was discovered by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812. Petra has also been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is part of the 7 New Wonders of the World.
This new wonder of the world was built between 220 BC. and 1644 AD The purpose of this structure was the need to link the existing fortifications into a single defense system in order to defend the country from the invasion of Mongol tribes. It is the largest monument ever built by man and the only one visible from space. The wall is estimated to be 8,851 kilometers long, from the Korean border to the edge of the Yalu River in the Gobi Desert, 6 to 7 meters high and 4 to 5 meters wide. At the height of the Ming era, the wall was guarded by over one million warriors.
Declared a World Heritage Site in 1987, it is considered the largest cemetery in the world (about 10 million workers died during construction), and is now one of the new wonders of the world.
3. Taj Mahal in Agra
The Taj Mahal was created between 1631 and 1654 in the city of Agra, in the state of Uttar Pradesh on the banks of the Yamuna River, by order of Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, in memory of his beloved late wife. This mausoleum consists of four minarets, each with over 13 floors. It is estimated that 20,000 workers were needed to build it.
Built with white marble, set against a backdrop of gardens, this new wonder of the world is considered the ultimate pearl of Muslim art in India, and combines elements of Indian, Persian, Islamic and even Turkish architecture. Please note that the Taj Mahal is on our list " «.
Interesting fact: The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan was overthrown by one of his children and ended by contemplating and admiring the Taj Mahal from a window for the rest of his days.
4. Colosseum in Rome
Amphitheater of the Roman Empire, built in the first century, in the center of Rome. In ancient times, it had a capacity for 50,000 spectators and was the largest amphitheater ever built in the empire. Construction began in 70 AD by the emperor Vespasian, was completed in 80 by the emperor Titus, and some changes were made during the reign of Domitian. The place is dedicated to public entertainment such as gladiatorial fights, various performances, etc. Currently, it is not only one of the most famous, but also a new wonder of the world.
5. Chichen Itza in Mexico
7. Statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro
Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro is a symbol of love and a call to brotherhood. The statue is located at an altitude of 709 meters above sea level and is located in the city of Rio de Janeiro, on the top of Mount Corcovado. The total height is 38 m, 8 belong to the pedestal. This new wonder of the world was built on October 12, 1931, after about five years of work.
Create this religious monument in the city was first proposed in 1859 by a priest Pedro Maria Boss and Princess Elizabeth. The idea was revived in 1921, on the eve of the centenary of the Independence Day.
CANDIDATES FOR THE NAME OF NEW WONDERS OF THE WORLD
There are others in the world Beautiful places that could have been on the list of the new seven wonders of the world, but did not make it there. Therefore, I think it will be interesting to know about them, at least in the photo.
- Pyramids of Giza in Cairo
