The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

1879

The Seven Wonders of the world have justly called forth admiration for many ages, and as many of our readers may not be acquainted with them, we take this opportunity of giving a short description of them.

First, the enormous Colossus, of Rhodes, claims our attention. It was built by Cares, of Lindus, a pupil of Lysippus, in the year 288, A. D., and twelve years were spent in its construction. It was an enormous statue of Apollo, and was one hundred and twenty feet high. It stood across the harbor of Rhodes for sixty-six years, when it was prostrated by an earthquake. It was afterward bought by a Jew from the Saracens, who loaded nine hundred camels with the brass.

Next in order are the Pyramids of Egypt, those wondrous monuments of wealth and grandeur of the ancient kings of that country. The largest of the structures employed three hundred and sixty thousand workmen for thirty years in its construction. The general opinion is that it was designed for the tomb of Cheops, the supposed founder of the pyramids.

Next comes the aqueducts of Rome. Little is known about them except that they were constructed by Appius Claudius, the Roman censor.

Fourth, the Labyrinth of Psammetichus, on the banks of the Nile, containing within one continued wall, one thousand houses and twelve royal palaces, all covered with marble, and having only one entrance. One building was said to contain three thousand chambers and a hall built of marble, adorned with statues of the gods.

Fifth, the Pharos of Alexandria, a tower built by order of Ptolemy Philadelphos, in the year 252, B. C. It was erected as a lighthouse and contained magnificent galleries of marble, a large lantern at the top, the light of which was seen a hundred miles distant. Mirrors of enormous size were fixed around the galleries, which reflected everything on the sea. A common tower now stands in its place.

Sixth, the Walls of Babylon, built by order of Semiramis, or Nebuchadnezzar, and finished in one year by two hundred thousand workmen. These walls were of sufficient thickness to allow six chariots to run abreast upon them. They were further furnished with one hundred gates of solid brass.

The last of the Seven Wonders is the Temple of Diana, at Ephesus, completed in the reign of Sevius, the sixth king of Rome. It was four hundred and fifty feet long, two hundred feet broad, and was supported by one hundred and twenty-six marble pillars seventy feet high. The beams and doors were of cedar, the rest of the timber was cypress wood. It was destroyed by fire in the year 365 B. C.