Fun Trivia » World » World Sites » Seven Ancient Wonders

The Mausoleum was built in what is now known as Bodrum, Turkey. Artemisia, queen and naval commander of the Persian Empire, had the Mausoleum built in honor of her dead husband, Satrap Mausolus. The Mausoleum was built to be 131 feet tall. The outer walls of the Mausoleum depicted battle scenes and Greek gods and goddesses. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan

The Great Pyramid is located at Giza in Egypt. Of all the ancient wonders it is by far the oldest and the only one still standing. The ancient historian, Herodotus, estimated the number of workers required to construct the pyramid at one hundred thousand. Modern scholars suggest a much more modest figure of eight thousand, comprised of labourers and craftsmen. The solar boat, discovered in 1954, was constructed from 1274 pieces of wood and measured more than thirty metres in length. It is believed that the boat was used to transport the dead Pharaoh down the Nile to his final resting place. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Mummified cats, Wine filled urns, Visa and passport

The Pharos of Alexandria and the Pyramids were the only two wonders located in Egypt. However, the list of wonders was very Mediterranean based and didn't therefore encompass the possible treasures lurking in Asia or the Americas. Difficulty: Hard.

 

1, 3, 7

The Pyramids are currently the only wonders that haven't been destroyed. The Pyramids were supposedly built for Pharoah Khufu and his family. Difficulty: Very Easy.

 

Napata, Thebes, Abydos

Phidias or Pheidias also did the statue of Athena in the Parthenon at Athens. This statue was made for a new temple (completed 456 BC) that was built due to the popularity of the Olympic Games. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Theomanos, Karosas, Nicodemos

In 332 B.C., Alexander The Great founded the city of Alexandria in Egypt. Although Alexander The Great started approximately seventeen other cities named Alexandria, the one in Egypt was the most prominent, and thrived even after the other cities with same name had disappeared. When Alexander The Great died in 323 B.C., Ptolemy Soter became the new ruler of Egypt. Ptolemy made the city of Alexandria rich and prosperous, but he realized that it needed a symbol, something great, to guide the many trade ships in the busy harbor. In 290 B.C., Ptolemy authorized the building of the Pharos, which is better known as The Lighthouse of Alexandria. In 270 B.C, the lighthouse was completed. The design was unlike the slim single column of most modern lighthouses, but more like the structure of an early twentieth century skyscraper. There were three stages, each built on top of the lower.

The building was constructed of marble blocks with lead mortar. The lowest level was probably more that 200 feet in height and 100 feet square, shaped like a massive box. Inside this section was a large spiral ramp that allowed materials to be pulled to the top in horse-drawn carts. The last recorded time that the lighthouse was seen was around 1115 A.D., and in the report it was stated that the lighthouse was intact and operational. After standing tall for 1,500 years, the great lighthouse collapsed in 1326 after being damaged by earthquakes in 365 and 1303 A.D. For many years, no one knew what happened to this magnificent structure, until it was rediscovered in 1994 at the bottom of the sea. In 1994, scuba divers came across large underwater blocks of stone that, after some testing, revealed that it was indeed The Lighthouse of Alexandria. Difficulty: Hard.

 

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, The Great Pyramid of Egypt

Philon of Byzantium was a second-century BCE engineer who published many works on mathematics. Many modern historic scholars do not believe he is the actual author of the work, but rather his name was used as a pseudonym. It has been suggested that the actual author wrote the account several hundred years later. Regardless, the work is the oldest surviving text on the original list of the seven accepted ancient wonders. There were other lists that predate Philon's work, but none of them have survived. Some like to give Herodotus credit for the list, but it must be noted that a few of the wonders were not built until long after Herodotus was dead. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Aristotle, Sophocles, Pliny the Elder

A modern replica has been made and it does indeed produce an electric current. Difficulty: Hard.

 

a treatment for arthritis, a way to keep food from spoiling, a religious altar

At it's height, it held 300,000-500,000 volumes of work. Difficulty: Average.

 

The Council of Greek Studies, The Egyptian Scrolls, The Library of Ptolemy

The Egyptian Pyramids were built over 4000 years ago and served as tombs for the Egyptian pharaohs. Believed to have been completed in 2560 BC, the Great Pyramid of Giza (also known as the Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Cheops) is the only surviving of the seven ancient wonders. It stood as the world's tallest man-made structure for more than 3,800 years.
Difficulty: Hard.

 

Colossus of Rhodes, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Phidias was a Greek artist who built the statue of Zeus in Olympia, Greece, where the ancient Olympic games were once held. The throne of Zeus was said to be made from ivory, gold, and precious stones. The statue of Zeus no longer stands in Olympia. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Hera, Aphrodite, Artemis

The Great Pyramid of Giza dates back to between 2584-2561 BC. It was built by Egyptians and still remains standing at Giza Necropolis, Egypt. The construction of this marvel has been the topic of controversy for centuries and remains a mystery to this day. The true marvel may not be how it was constructed, but that it was constructed so well that it remains the only wonder of the world still in existence. Difficulty: Easy.

 

The Colosseum, Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal

Because there has been no discoveries of first hand or eyewitness accounts of their existence, the Hanging Gardens might very well just be the stuff of myth and legend. Common ancient descriptions of the gardens, written hundreds of years after the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, paint vivid images of tiered layers of stone pillars with marble steps leading to each level. Trees of immense height and girth, flowers and shrubs would hang down where people could walk under the canopy while workers toiled above. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Herod, Arthur, Charlemagne

The Great Pyramid of Giza was constructed somewhere between 2584-2561 BC and is the only wonder still standing. It was built as a tomb for the Pharaoh Khufu. The pyramid was also the tallest of all man-made structures for over 3,800 years until the Lincoln Cathedral was completed in 1300 AD. Difficulty: Very Easy.

 

Gardens of Babylon, Lighthouse of Alexandria, Statue of Zeus at Olympia

The Pharos, or lighthouse at Alexandria was one of the first of its kind in the ancient world. The fire in the lighthouse was always kept burning by slaves at night, so as to guide ships into the port. Alexandria was named after Alexander the Great who conquered the area and made this city an important part of his empire. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Cairo, Giza, Cheops

Also known by the Greek name of "Cheops," Khufu is widely credited with directing the construction of the Great Pyramid (without the assistance of space aliens!). The Great Pyramid remained the tallest building in the world until the Lincoln Cathedral surpassed it in 1311, for a period of about 4,000 years! Snefru was Khufu's father and predecessor as pharaoh. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Rameses II, Tutankhamun, Snefru

Although there may have been different ways to how it was watered, experts believe this is the most likely idea as it was the most efficient. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Each plant was watered separately, They waited for it to rain, A different group of slaves watered each terrace

Though it is said that Nebuchadnezzar built the structure for his homesick wife, Amytis, no evidence has been found to substantiate its existence. It isn't even mentioned by Herodotus. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Colossus of Rhodes, Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, Pharos of Alexandria

Chrys is the root for gold. Elephantine is the root for ivory (for obvious reasons). In his right hand was the goddess Nike (Victory). His left hand held a scepter as king of the gods. Difficulty: Hard.

Callimachus of Cyrene lived from 305BC-240BC. All we know about this collection is its title because it was destroyed with the Alexandria Library. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Maerten van Heemskerck, Herodotus, Johann Fischer von Erlach's

In 332 B.C., Alexander the Great captured the city of Rhodes. When Alexander died, his kingdom was divided, and taken over by Ptolemy, Seleucus, and Antigous. The Rhodians wanted Ptolemy as their ruler, but this angered Antigous, who sent his son Demetrius, along with 40,000 men to destroy the city of Rhodes. A strong, tall wall that forced the invaders to climb over it protected Rhodes. In the end, the Rhodians won this battle. When Demetrius tried to attack the city a year later, he was surprised to find an army of Egyptian ships protecting the city.

Demetrius immediately withdrew. About 311 B.C., the Colossus of Rhodes was designed, although some historians claim that it was designed in 304. Chares of Lindos was a Rhodian sculptor, who started out making smaller versions of the Colossus of Rhodes. Chares used these smaller versions to create the skin of the masterpiece that was his great donation to the ancient world. This great statue, which resembled the Statue of Liberty, was created for the same purpose, freedom. Difficulty: Hard.

 

The Lighthouse of Alexandria, The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

It was made of solid white marble and survived until 1375 A.D. Difficulty: Hard.

 

limestone, sand, unknown material

Made of a high carbon metal that cannot be duplicated even today. The swords made of this material were said to be able to bisect a feather floating in mid air, or fell a Crusader with equal ease. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Greece, Rome, Iraq

Originally founded for teaching script to wealthy children to prepare them for careers as scribes. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Greece, Rome, Egypt

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus in Asia Minor was built in the 6th century BC. It was a marble temple in honor of the goddess Artemis and of the moon. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Pharos of Alexandria, Colossus of Rhodes

Alexander the Great was born on July 21, 356 BC. After the first temple was burned, a new temple was built six years later. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Alexander the Great's wedding day, Alexander the Great's funeral, Alexander the Great's coronation

The Colossus of Rhodes was constructed by Charres of Lindos around 280 BC. It was 107 Ft (30 meters) tall and was erected to celebrate the victory over the Cyprus ruler, Antigonus I Monophthalmus. It was made of iron and bronze believed to have been from the weapons that were left behind by the army after the unsuccessful seige of Rhodes. The Colossus was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Atlas, Potamoi, Cronus

The Statue of Zeus was completed about 430 B.C. by the Athenian sculptor Phidias. Described as being chryselephantine, meaning gold and ivory, it rose to a height of around forty feet and portrayed a bare chested Zeus seated on a cedarwood throne. The Greek traveller, Pausanias, recorded details of a figure of Victory in his right hand, a sceptre with a perching eagle in his left hand, and a wreath of olive branches adorning his head. After being located in Olympia for over eight centuries, the statue was relocated to Constantinople where, in 462 A.D., it was destroyed by fire. Difficulty: Hard.

 

The toes were longer than the fingers, The head was too big for the body, The genitalia was grossly exaggerated

The gardens were said to have been built by Nebuchadnezzar II between 605-562 BC and destroyed in the 2nd Century BC by earthquakes. He built the garden to please his wife, Amytis of Media who was homesick. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Hurricanes, Volcanoes, Tidal Waves

The sphinx is undoubtedly a formidable creature, with the body of a lion and the head of a woman; not many Egyptians were going to stand in its way. A chimaera was a mixture of lion, goat and serpent and was seen more often in Greek mythology guarding underground treasures. The manticore is also a Greek beast and may be seen as the Greek equivalent of the sphinx as it has the body of a red lion and a human head. The Cyclops is perhaps the most famous of these beasts, distinguished by its one eye and brutal nature. Difficulty: Very Easy.

 

Chimaera, Manticore, Cyclops

Nobody is 100% certain of the actual location today, but the once widely-accepted theory of an enormous statue straddling the entrance to the harbor, under whose legs ships would pass to enter the harbor, has been largely discredited. And ancient texts tell of houses being destroyed by the toppled statue, which would rule out a location in or near the harbor.

The most likely site is atop a hill in the city, the present-day location of the Turkish School at the head of the Street of Knights, which overlooks the ancient harbor. The Colossus was toppled by an earthquake in 226 B.C., and lay in ruins at the site for about 900 years before being carted away by plundering Arabs around 654 A.D. Difficulty: Hard.

 

astride the entrance to the harbor, to the side of the entrance to the harbor, the middle of town

It is said that Nebuchadnezzar II built these gardens for his wife because she missed her homeland up in the mountains. He never had a son named Herodotus; he was a Greek historian. Difficulty: Average.

 

Herodotus, Darius, Hamurabi

This tomb was built after King Mausolus died in 353BC. In honor of this wonder, English now has the word "mausoleum". Difficulty: Hard.

 

Smithsonian Institution, National Museum in Ankara, A private collection in Paris

In 355 B.C. Scopas of Pharos designed the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. This creation was to be his best creation ever built. The building is thought to be the first completely constructed of marble, and one of its most unusual features were 36 columns, whose lower portions were carved with figures. The temple was also home to many works of art including, four bronze statues of Amazon women. The temple stood 425 feet and was 225 feet wide. It had 127 columns, that were 60 feet in height, supported the roof. Many believe that since the great temple was built on a muddy-marsh, that it started to sink slowly into oblivion. There is a single column that has been constructed to remind visitors that once The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus stood in the very same place. Difficulty: Hard.

 

The Lighthouse of Alexandria, The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Khufu was the second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty and was considered to be the commissioner of the Great Pyramid. Khufu's father was Sneferu who had built three true pyramids of his own which helped develop the building technology. It makes sense that Khufu would want to build a pyramid even grander than his father; however, the number of resources needed to build the great pyramid would lead it never to be surpassed. The Great Pyramid was the first ancient wonder of the world constructed and had been in existence for almost 2,000 years before the construction of the second ancient wonder. On top of that, the Great Pyramid is the only ancient wonder still standing today. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Ramses the Great, Sneferu, Khafre

The statue was created by sculptor Chares of Lindus to commemorate a hard won victory over the Macedonians. Difficulty: Hard.

 

18 months, 34 years, 3 years

Believed to be a treatment for relieving swelling on the brain, as in a head injury. Difficulty: Hard.

 

boring, transplaning, silly

 

Greek, Romans, Sumerians

Constructed in the 6th century BC, it was a series of terraces of trees and flowers along the banks of the Euphrates. Difficulty: Average.

 

Solomon, Xerxes, Darius

The Temple of Artemis was built in Ephesus in 550 BC on the coast of modern day Turkey. The temple was built three times before being destroyed permanently by the Goths in 268 CE. The third time the Temple of Artemis was rebuilt, 127 columns surrounded the temple. Difficulty: Average.

 

Love, War, Family