The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World Essay Example

as a gesture for his homesick wife. According to Clayton (63), the garden did not hang like most people imagine, suspended by ropes or cables (38). Instead, the name "hanging" simply comes from the Greek word kremastos, which means overhanging, like a balcony or terrace.

Using the stairs, one could access the highest story of the garden in Babylon. An intriguing and incredible aspect of the garden was its unique watering system. Babylon experienced irregular rainfall, so they utilized water from the Euphrates River for irrigation. To accomplish this, water would be lifted into the air and then allowed to flow down the terraces, ensuring an adequate water supply for each level. Unfortunately, earthquakes in the 2nd century BC led to the destruction of the hanging garden of Babylon.

Another marvel of the ancient world is the Statue of Zeus at Olympia. Created by Phidias, an Athenian sculptor, it was located in Zeus's temple at Olympia, a historic site for the Olympics in Peloponnesus, now known as Greece. According to McWilliam (135), the statue was crafted in 432 BC and stood at an impressive height of approximately 40 feet (155). The sculpture's exquisite craftsmanship was what made it truly remarkable. The Greeks held the Olympic Games in high regard, considering them one of their most cherished and significant festivals.

The Olympic Games, which occur every four years, were originally created as a homage to the king of the gods. An elaborate shrine was constructed to pay tribute to the god Zeus, utilizing various materials like gold-plated plates on wooden and ivory frames. These remarkable pieces were skillfully crafted by the people of that time using their available tools.

Tragically, the shrine was engulfed in flames during the fifth century A.D. and its remnants were uncovered during an excavation in 1950. Another extraordinary wonder is found in the temple of Artemis at Ephesus.

The temple honoring Artemis, a Greek goddess, was built in Ephesus, which is now modern-day Turkey, during the mid-6th century BC. Cherisiphron and his son were the architects of this grand structure, which measured 377ft by 180ft. Because of its impressive size and location, the temple gained fame as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Located at commercial roads, this temple attracted numerous people due to its unique design, unlike the mostly rectangular temples of ancient Greece. Blending classical near-Eastern elements with Greek executions and designs, it stood out among its counterparts. Unfortunately, on July 21, 356 BC, Herostratus intentionally set the temple on fire in pursuit of personal fame. Despite reconstruction efforts, it was once again destroyed in 262 by the Goths.

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, now known as Bodrum in Turkey, was well-preserved and repurposed in the construction of other buildings. Commissioned by Artemisia II of Caria in 353 BC, this tomb served as a tribute to her late husband Mausolus.

Artemisia and her brother, who were the rulers of Halicarnassus for twenty-four years, commissioned skilled artists to construct a grand tomb following her brother's death. This tomb was renowned for its impressive size and exquisite decorations, making it a symbol of Greek artistic and architectural heritage. The tomb was strategically positioned on a hill, providing a vantage point to overlook the cherished city encircled by a courtyard.

The courtyard contained numerous statues of Greek gods. The tomb featured a central square

platform that elevated the block. Its roof was in the form of a stepped pyramid, with a chariot drawn by four horses carrying Artemisia and Maussollos. A staircase led to the platform where the Mausoleum stood. Unfortunately, Artemisia passed away two years after the construction began, before its completion. Greek artists also aided in the construction of the tomb.

Four sculptors from Paros - Bryaxis, Leochares, Timotheus, and Scopas - created the tomb, which remained undamaged for a considerable period. Even after Alexander assumed power in 334 BC, the tomb remained untouched. Despite pirate attacks on the city in 58 and 62 BC, the tomb remained upright.

The upper part of it was damaged by an earthquake in the 13th century AD. St. Johns knights utilized its remains to fortify a castle at Bodrum. In the 1800s, an archaeologist named Charles Newton discovered remnants of the tomb.

Works Cited

• Aldean, Ismaiel. The hanging gardens of Babylon. Place of publication not identified: publisher not identified, 2011. Print.
• Clayton. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis, 2013. Print.
• McWilliam, Janette. Statue of Zeus at olympia new approaches. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Pub, 2011. Print.