The original Seven Wonders: 6 that are now lost and one that still stands

Even before the concept of a travel bucket list was born, ancient Greek philosophers compiled what would come to be called the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, a compilation of incredible structures renowned for their sheer size, creativity, and engineering ingenuity. Traditionally, it was believed to have been written by ancient Greek scholars such as Antipater of Sidon. This collection of wonders was based on what was deemed to be the most outstanding structures in the ancient world. There were originally seven wonders, but currently, only one of them still stands. The rest were destroyed by the passage of time due to factors such as earthquakes, fires, invasions, and decay.The most enigmatic of all the ancient wonders, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are believed to be a collection of gardens with a profusion of greenery in the heart of ancient Mesopotamia. According to ancient records, they were built by King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon for his queen, who was from a region where there was a lot of greenery. What makes this wonder so fascinating is that not a single shred of evidence has ever been found to prove that it This massive statue of Zeus was created by the renowned artist Phidias in the 5th century BCE. It was made of ivory with gold plating. The statue was housed inside the Temple of Zeus. It was an outstanding example of Greek art. However, the statue was lost over time. It is assumed that it was burnt after it was moved to Constantinople.The Temple of Artemis was once the largest temple ever built. It was dedicated to the Greek goddess of the hunt. The temple was rebuilt many times after its destruction. It was once burnt down in an act of arson in 356 BCE. Despite its many rebuildings, the temple was finally ruined. Today, only a small part of the temple is left. A rebuilt column marks the location of the once-renowned temple. This magnificent structure was built as a grand tomb for a Persian satrap named Mausolus. Its impact was so significant that the term “mausoleum” was coined. Reaching a height of 45 metres, the structure was a blend of Greek, Egyptian, and Lycian styles. It stood the test of time for centuries until it was destroyed by a series of earthquakes in the medieval era. The structure was later used for the construction of fortifications by the Knights of St. John. This gigantic statue of the sun god Helios was erected at the harbour of Rhodes as a symbol of triumph and strength. Reaching a staggering height of 33 metres, the statue was one of the tallest in the ancient world. Its existence was brief. An earthquake struck Rhodes in 226 BCE, destroying the statue. Its remains were scattered for centuries until they were sold as scrap.This lighthouse was also known as the Pharos of Alexandria. It was a very tall structure that played a significant role as a guide for sailors entering the port of Alexandria. The construction of this wonder took place in the 3rd century BCE. It survived for over a thousand years until it was gradually destroyed by a series of earthquakes. By the 14th century, it had completely disappeared, with parts of it being used to construct other buildings. The only surviving wonder of the ancient world, the Great Pyramid of Giza, stands as a symbol of the genius that went into its construction. This pyramid was constructed as a tomb for Pharaoh Khufu around 2560 BCE. Initially, it stood at a height of 146 metres. For over 3,800 years, it was the tallest structure ever created. Unlike all the other wonders, it has survived all that nature and human beings have thrown at it. It still stands to this day, attracting millions of visitors to its location. It remains one of the most iconic structures on Earth.