Guide Book of Ancient Treasures Quiz

Answer: 7

Ancient travelers were just as captivated by the works of man as we are today. It was common practice to list things to be seen to make them easier to remember. Antipater's poem is one such list and would be similar to the guide books that we use to travel with today.

Answer: Great Pyramid of Giza

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.

Answer: Helios

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.

Answer: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The legend most adhere to is that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were built by King Nebuchadnezzar II about 601 BC for his wife Amytis of Media who, living in the desert, missed the greenery of her homeland. The Gardens, if they did exist, were believed to have been destroyed after the 1st century by an earthquake.

Answer: Zeus

The statue of Zeus at Olympia was created by the Greek sculptor Phidias around 432 BC. Although the statue was destroyed it has been depicted in reliefs, drawings and even on the back of the Coin of Elis.
Many assumed that Phidias had climbed Mount Olympus or that Zeus had come down from his throne so that Phidias could see him but Phidias had claimed that his inspiration came from the detailed descriptions of Zeus in the stories of the Iliad by Homer.

Answer: Lighthouse at Alexandria

The Lighthouse at Alexandria was described best by Abou Haggag Youssef Ibn el-Andaloussi, an Arab traveler in 1165 AD. His account gives a detailed description of the tower and its many attributes.
The Lighthouse was believed to be between 393 and 450 feet (120 and 140 meters) tall and was believed to have been built around 280 BC. It was destroyed by a series of earthquakes, but its ruins were recently discovered in 1994 and some of its building blocks were placed on display for public view.

Answer: Colosseum

Construction of the grand Colosseum of Rome began in 72 AD. The structure was capable of seating 50,000 spectators for the purposes of entertainment by recreating famous battles and dramatic stories as well as animal hunts, executions and the famous gladiator battles.
Although the Colosseum was, and still remains, an architectural marvel it was not one of the original seven wonders of the world described by Antipater in his "travel guide".

Answer: A tomb

The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus was built as a tomb for Mausolus, ruler of Caria between 377 and 353 BC. It was erected by his widow and sister, Artemisia.
This wonder is unique in that so many Greek artisans of the time worked together to add to its grandeur. Satyrus and Pythis being the architects who designed the structure and Scopas of Paros, Leochares, Bryaxis and Timotheus, famous sculptors who all worked on the project along with hundreds of other craftsman.

Answer: Temple of Artemis

"I have set eyes on the wall of lofty Babylon on which is a road for chariots, and the statue of Zeus by the Alpheus, and the hanging gardens, and the Colossus of the Sun, and the huge labour of the high pyramids, and the vast tomb of Mausolus; but when I saw the house of Artemis that mounted to the clouds, those other marvels lost their brilliancy, and I said, 'Lo, apart from Olympus, the Sun never looked on aught so grand."

- Antipater, Greek Anthology IX.58

Answer: Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon remain a controversial addition to the list of ancient wonders in that not only could their location have been confused with other known gardens of the time, but the lack of documentation of the Gardens has also perplexed researchers.