The Seven Wonders were first defined as thematic (Greek for ‘things to be) by Philo of Byzantium in 225 BCE, in his work On the Seven Wonders.
Old seven wonders of the world:
- Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt
- Hanging Gardens of Babylon
- Statue of Zeus at Olympia
- Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
- Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
- Colossus of Rhodes
- Lighthouse of Alexandria
New seven wonders of the world:
Currently, as chosen by the New 7 Wonders Foundation, the Seven Wonders of the World are as follows:
Current wonders of the modern world:
1) Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal, a symbol of love, was built by Emperor Shah Jahan to honour his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
- The construction of this world’s richest grave begun during 1632 and took more than 20,000 labourers and 1,000 elephants to complete.
2) The Great Wall of China
It is an ancient series of walls and fortifications totalling more than 13,000 miles in length to keep invaders from crossing China’s northern border. However, some parts of the walls are destroyed over the years due to erosion and flooding.
3) Machu-Pichu
This is an Incan city located in the Andes Mountains in Peru, above the Urubamba River valley built in the 15th century, approximately by the Inca Pachacutec. The previous use of this place remains a mystery. Though the site itself is an earthquake-prone area, the stones in this building bounce through the tremors and fall back into place, keeping this place intact for years.
4) Roman Colosseum
Roman Colosseum was built around 80 A.D. and can accommodate 50,000 people in tiered seating. It is a fantastic spot, the destruction caused by earthquakes, vandals, and fire.
5) Christ the Redeemer Statue
It was constructed between 1922 and 1931. This 98-foot-tall iconic statue with open arms was made to nullify the increasingly “sinful” nature of the Republic of Brazil, as a symbol of peace.
6) Petra Jordan
Petra is an ancient stone complex built by the Nabataeans around 300 BC. It is situated in Jordan’s southwestern desert and has been added to the World’s New 7 Wonders recently.
7) Chichen Itza
It is the largest and famous pyramid in the Yucatan peninsula, built-in 600 A.D.
The Great Pyramid of Giza is added to the list recently and is just considered an honorary candidate and not a wonder of the world.
Eight wonders of the world
Eighth Wonder of the World is an unofficial title sometimes given to new buildings or designs deemed comparable to the Seven Wonders of the World.
Some Places claiming the title
- Burney Falls in California, United States; as called by Theodore Roosevelt
- Deadvlei Clay Pan in Namibia
- Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, etc.
