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A campaign to choose seven new wonders of the world is in its final stages, finalists have been whittled down to 21 by an international panel of experts. The result will be announced on this coming Sunday (07-07-07), you still have approximately 1 day left to vote for it on New7Wonders.

Let’s review what are the Original Wonders; The original seven wonders of the ancient world weren’t chosen by international consensus. They came about after the historians of ancient Greece began traveling around the borders of their classical empire and noted what monuments caught their eye—sort of like a travel guide for their fellow Greeks.

One funny fact was the [Stonehenge] of England was built 5,000 ago but never made it into the wonders. Maybe the Greeks did not travel up to England??

The Great Pyramid at Giza, Egypt

The Great Pyramid at Giza is both the oldest ancient wonder and the only one still standing today. It was built as a mausoleum for the pharaoh Khufu around 2650 BC and for over 4,000 years remained the world’s tallest structure.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Iraq

According to legend, 6th-century Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar had a colossal maze of waterfalls and dense vegetation planted across his palace for a wife, who missed her lush homeland. Archaeologists still debate the garden’s existence.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Greece

Built around 450 BC and 40 feet tall, the seated figure of Greece’s Olympic deity was the country’s most revered piece of art. Zeus was so impressive that games’ visitors routinely wept at its sight and the Roman emperor Caligula tried to steal it.

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Turkey

Even the ancient historians who saw and compiled the list of wonders couldn’t believe the immense beauty of the marble Temple of Artemis, built in 550 BC by a local king. It was set ablaze a few centuries later by a man seeking fame.

The Colossus of Rhodes, Greece

This statue of the God Helios presided for just 60 years over the harbor entrance on Rhodes, but that was long enough to create a legend. People came to see its 100 feet of ruins for years after it was felled by an earthquake in 226 BC.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria, Greece

Both practical and beautiful, the 400-foot lighthouse at the mouth of Alexandria harbor started guiding sailors home around 250 BC. A fire made the lighthouse glow at night and a mirror reflected sun rays during the day, some say up to 35 miles away.

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Turkey

Built for a king of little note, this glorified headstone made the list for its incredible marble and gold details, reportedly awe-inspiring to any who saw it. The 4th-century BC monument was eventually dismantled and its stones used in other local building.

References:
Livescience , 7Wonders, New7Wonders

Technorati Tags: Ancient, Wonder, Great Pyramid, Hanging Gardens, Statue of Zeus, Temple of Artemis, Colossus of Rhodes, Lighthouse of Alexandria, Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, new7wonders, Stonehenge

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