The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World Multiple Choice Quiz | 10 Questions

Answer: True

While the pyramids are not in their original pristine condition, and ruins of several of the others still remain, the pyramids are the only one of the seven wonders still standing essentially intact. The others were destroyed by either earthquake or war.

Answer: Khufu

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.

Answer: a hill in the city behind the harbor

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.

Answer: ivory and gold

The body of the statue was made of ivory, and Zeus' robe and sandals were covered in gold. His sceptre was inlaid with many different metals, and the throne adorned with gold and precious stones. What a dazzling sight that must have been when illuminated by the Greek sunshine!

Answer: Temple of Artemis

The Temple of Artemis was a huge tourist attraction, bringing throngs of pilgrims and tourists to its site. It is said the site was even beset by vendors selling miniature Artemis statues and temples, fortune-tellers selling little carved oracles, and priests selling sacrificial meat.

Some things never change! (I presume these items for sale did NOT include T-shirts proclaiming, "My parents went to Artemis, and all I got was this lousy T-shirt!")

Answer: Hanging Gardens of Babylon

To date, there has been no archeological evidence of the Hanging Gardens ever found, and many scholars even debate whether it existed at all. Underwater discoveries of ruins off the coast of Alexandria in the past few years finally elevated the status of the Pharos from its previously similar position of archeological vacuum.

Answer: False

Nobody knows what they truly looked like, or even if they actually even existed at all. But the most widely accepted theories today describe it as a vast garden complex built on and around artificially-built hills and terraces. Sort of like the Kew Gardens of the ancient world!

Answer: a lighthouse

The Pharos is said to have been an enormous lighthouse guarding the harbor of Alexandria. While some ancient accounts ascribe heights of as much as 560 meters (over 1,800 feet!), modern estimates put its probable height at a more-modest but still impressive 100-110 meters.

Answer: A local leader

The Mausoleum was built as a tomb for Mausolus (hence the origin of the word "mausoleum"), who served in the capacity of a local governor under the ruling Persian empire.

Answer: Statue of Liberty

The Colossus is believed to have had a radiated crown, like Lady Liberty's, and also was believed to be holding a torch aloft in one hand.