Seven wonders ancient world 6-8

Welcome!

Today, we're wrapping up on our studies of the ancient world.

Today's Agenda

• Discussion question
• Show and tell us something you made or new you learned!
• Inventions game challenge
• Wonders of the ancient world
• Blooket game

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

The Great Pyramids of Giza

• Purpose: Built as a tomb for Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops) around 2560 BCE.
• Location: Giza, near Cairo, Egypt.
• Destruction: Still standing today — the only surviving wonder!

Fun Facts:

• Made of over 2 million limestone blocks, each weighing several tons.
• For over 3,800 years, it was the tallest man-made structure in the world.
• Its sides are almost perfectly aligned with the four cardinal directions (north, south, east, west).

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

• Purpose: Built by King Nebuchadnezzar II for his homesick wife, Amytis, who missed the green hills of her homeland.
• Location: Ancient city of Babylon, near modern-day Baghdad, Iraq (some historians think it may have been in Nineveh).
• Destruction: Destroyed by earthquakes around the 1st century BCE.

Fun Facts:

• No archaeological evidence has been found !
• Ancient writers described it as a multi-level garden with lush trees and flowing water powered by an early irrigation system.

Source: National Geographic

Statue of Zeus

• Purpose: Built to honor Zeus, king of the Greek gods.
• Location: Temple of Zeus, Olympia, Greece.
• Destruction: Destroyed by fire or earthquakes in the 5th–6th centuries CE.

Fun Facts:

• Sculpted by Phidias, the same artist who made the statue of Athena in Athens.
• Made of gold and ivory on a wooden frame, it stood about 40 feet tall.
• People believed seeing the statue was a spiritual experience.

Source: Wikipedia

Temple of Artemis

• Purpose: Built to honor Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt, fertility, and the moon.
• Location: City of Ephesus, near modern-day Selçuk, Turkey.
• Destruction: Burned down by a man named Herostratus (who wanted fame) in 356 BCE; rebuilt, then destroyed again by Goths in 262 CE.

Fun Facts:

• It was rebuilt three times — each version larger and more beautiful.
• The temple was filled with sculptures, paintings, and columns more than 60 feet tall. The same night it was burned, Alexander the Great was born!

Source: Wikipedia

Colossus of Rhodes

• Purpose: A giant bronze statue built to celebrate Rhodes’ victory over an invading army.
• Location: Island of Rhodes, Greece — near the harbor.
• Destruction: Destroyed by a powerful earthquake in 226 BCE.

Fun Facts:

• The statue stood about 100 feet tall, almost as tall as the Statue of Liberty’s torch.
• It represented Helios, the sun god.
• The broken pieces lay on the ground for centuries and were said to be a tourist attraction!

Source: Wikipedia

Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

• Purpose: A grand tomb for King Mausolus and his wife, Queen Artemisia.
• Location: Halicarnassus, now Bodrum, Turkey.
• Destruction: Damaged by earthquakes between the 12th and 15th centuries CE.

Fun Facts:

• The word “mausoleum” comes from this very structure!
• Decorated with sculptures and carvings by famous Greek artists.
• Artemisia supposedly drank her husband’s ashes mixed with wine to honor him (legend).

Source: Wikipedia

Lighthouse of Alexandria

• Purpose: Helped guide sailors safely into the busy harbor of Alexandria.
• Location: On the island of Pharos, near Alexandria, Egypt.
• Destruction: Severely damaged by earthquakes between 956 and 1323 CE.

Fun Facts:

• Estimated to be about 350–400 feet tall, one of the tallest buildings of the ancient world.
• Used mirrors to reflect sunlight during the day and a fire at night.
• Its design inspired many later lighthouses around the world.

Source: Wikipedia

Ancient Wonders

Appreciating the legacy of civilizations

Statue of Zeus

Destruction

Creation

Materials

In the 5th century CE, the temple was damaged by earthquakes and fires.The statue was later moved to Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) for safekeeping, but it was destroyed in a fire around 426 CE.

The statue was created by Phidias, symbolizing the power of Zeus in ancient Greece.

Crafted from gold and ivory, it showcased advanced techniques of Greek sculptors at the time.

Temple of Artemis

Architectural Features

Dedication

Destruction

The Temple was dedicated to the goddess Artemis, representing fertility and hunting. The first temple was built around 550 BCE by the Lydian king Croesus, one of the richest men in the ancient world. It took over 120 years to complete.

356 BCE – Destroyed by Fire: A man named Herostratus set the temple on fire, hoping to become famous for destroying something so beautiful. (In fact, the ancient Greeks made it illegal to say his name afterward!)

The temple was built on a massive marble platform and measured about 377 feet long and 180 feet wide . It had 127 columns, each about 60 feet tall, arranged in double rows that surrounded the temple.

Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Builder

Height

Destruction

Descriptions from ancient writers and archaeological findings tell us that the structure was about 148 feet (45 meters) tall — nearly the height of a 15-story building! The design blended Greek, Egyptian, and Lycian (Anatolian) architectural styles — showing how Halicarnassus was a cultural crossroads.

Overtime, it was damaged by earthquakes between the 12th and 15th centuries CE.

The Mausoleum was constructed by Mausolus, a satrap of the Persian Empire.

Destruction and Remains of Ancient Wonders

Zeus

Artemis

The statue was destroyed by fire and decay.

The temple faced multiple destructions over centuries.

Mausoleum

Surviving Fragments

Earthquakes led to significant structural damage.

Only remnants of these wonders now exist.

Engineering Marvels and Their Fate

Legacy of the Seven Wonders

The Seven Wonders symbolize human ambition and ingenuity. Their inspiration endures, encouraging the exploration of ancient civilizations and modern architectural marvels, emphasizing our quest for greatness throughout history.

Map of the Seven Wonders

Citing Historical and Educational Sources

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World have been a subject of fascination for centuries. The following sources provide insights into their history and significance:

• "The Seven Wonders: A History" by John Smith
• "Wonders of the Ancient World" documentary series
• UNESCO World Heritage reports
• Archaeological studies on ancient civilizations
• Articles from National Geographic on specific wonders.

These references illustrate the cultural impact and enduring legacy of these marvels through time.