The Seven Wonders of the World

As this list was originally devised by the ancient Greeks, what better place to have more information on the lot of them than Zeus Heaven. Actually there have been many lists drawn up by many a famous Greek, but the lists containing those monument we know best were been compiled by Antipater of Sidon and Phidon of Byzantium.

Most Greek travelers and other list makers seemed to have agreed on the first six wonders, but the seventh one remained a bit of a problem.

> Should we count the Walls of Babylon?

< But we already have the Hanging Gardens there, and besides, they’re Persian.

> True, how about Cyrus Palace?

< Another pesky Persian.

> I know! Let’s add the Pharos lighthouse in Alexandria.

< Eureka, that’s a wonderful idea!

Well, possibly, but not likely. Anyroad, the lighthouse was finally added in the 6th century AD.

As you may have noticed, all the Seven Wonders are located close to Greece, which is of course logical if you look at the list from the viewpoint of the ancient Greek tourist. Non of them were likely to have come close to structures like Stonehenge or the Great Wall of China. However, you have to remember that these Wonders could not all be visited during a single point in time. Many of them were already in ruins, like the Babylon Gardens. Others, like the Colossus of Rhodes only survived for 50 years before an earthquake leveled the statue. The only one that hasn’t changed much since the Greeks made their list is the oldest one of all, the Great Pyramid at Giza (or as Pharaoh players know it: Rostja).

So here’s the list of the Seven Wonders of the World, in a more or less chronological order.

Some of these little chapters may contain some additional data on other famous structures in the same area.

Enjoy
Angel Jayhawk

With thanks to the Museum of Unnatural Mystery and several other sites.