Seven Ancient Wonders of the World

1.    Pyramids

The pyramids are the only surviving ancient wonder.  The three main pyramids are Cheops, Chephren and Mykerinus.  They were built around 2,500 BC at around the same time we were building Stonehenge in the UK!

2.    Statue of Zeus

One of two masterpieces by Phidias (the other being the statue of Athena in the Parthenon) which was built around 430 BC in the temple of Zeus at Olympia.  There is now nothing left.

3.    Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

These are a bit of a mystery, but were built around 600 BC in what is now Iraq.

4. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.

  Well OK this is the library at Ephesus but the temple got destroyed!  It was originally built by Croesus, King of Lydia around 550 BC and was destroyed by the Goths around 250 AD

5.    Mausoleum of Halicarnassus

This is all that's left.  Can you see me in the picture?  The ruins are now in the middle of Bodrum, a tourist place in South West Turkey.

6.    The Colossus of Rhodes

This and the pillar opposite are what is left of a colossal statue of the sungod Helios.  It was 30 meters high, and some say straddled the harbour.  It was built around 290 BC, but only lasted about 30 years before being toppled by an earthquake.

7.    Pharos of Alexandria

I have not been to Alexandria, so I have not put a picture up - not that there is much there!  Built around 280 BC, at a height of around 110 meters, it would have been the largest building around except for the pyramids.  It lasted until around 1200 AD when it was destroyed by an earthquake.