Wonders of the World 7

BY: Alon Sabbah and Shlomi Amar

 Background
The original list of the 7 World Wonders was compiled by Herodotus and Callimachus in the 1-
2 century BC.
The seven wonders were chosen because in Greek culture the number seven was considered
perfection.
Since then, many new lists have been compiled. The one that we focused on is from 2007.
New7Wonders of the World (2000–2007) is a campaign started in 2000 to choose wonders of
the world from a selection of 200 existing monuments.
From all the 200 monuments there were 21 finalists. From them were chosen the New7Wonders
of the World.
 The Great Wall of China
China

The Chinese name for the wall is "Ten-Thousand Mile Long Wall" (萬里長城, Wanli Changcheng)
The wall is a series of fortifications made of stone, tamped earth and wood. It was built mostly to
protect the Chinese states and empires against the enemy raids
It was built by the first Emperor of China before more than 2000 years
A comprehensive archaeological survey, using advanced technologies, has concluded that the walls
measure 8,850 km (5,500 mi)
In 1987 the wall was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO
 Petra (‫) لاــبترـاء‬
Ma’an Governorate, Jordan

 The name Petra comes from the word in Ancient Greek “rock” (Πέτρα, petros).

 It is located in southern Jordan approximately 96 km (60 mi) from Eilat.

  Petra is an ancient Nabatean Kingdom city famous for its ancient palaces carved into the
sandstone of the Edom Mountains. That’s why it’s named “the red rock” in Hebrew.

 Al-Khazneh (Arabic: ‫خزنة‬KK‫ لا‬, “The Treasury") is one of the most elaborate temples in Petra.

 In 1812 a European traveler discovered Petra during his travels.

 Petra was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

Christ the Redeemer
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

 Christ the Redeemer is a statue of Jesus Christ that is 38 meters (124 ft) high. The arms stretch 28 meters
(92 ft) wide, overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro.

 Its construction lasted 9 years until it was formally inaugurated on 12 October 1931.

 Lightning struck the statue during violent thunderstorms in 2008 and 2014, causing some damage to the
fingers, head and eyebrows.

 A symbol of Christianity across the world, the statue has also become a cultural icon of both Rio de Janeiro
and Brazil. The statue of Christ the Redeemer with open arms symbolizes peace and welcomes all citizens .

 This is the newest site on the seven wonders list.

 Machu Picchu
Cusco Region, Peru

 Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was constructed as an estate for the Inca
emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472).
 Machu Picchu is a Quechua word that means “Old Mountain” or “Old Peak.” 
 Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca city, located in the Cusco, Peru, on a mountain ridge
2,430 metres (7,970 ft) above sea level.
 The Incas built the estate around 1450 but abandoned it a century later during the time of
the Spanish Conquest. Although known locally, it was not known to the Spanish during the
colonial period and remained unknown to the outside world until an American
historian brought it to international attention in 1911.
 Machu Picchu was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
Chichen Itza
Yucatan, Mexico

 Chichen Itza was built in 600AD and was one of the largest Maya cities.
 Chichen Itza was an important regional activity center in the north of Mexico's lowland region.
 The site has a variety of architectural styles, belonging to the "Mexican" styles that were seen in the
center of Mexico and the styles of the Foca Maya found in the northern Mexican lowlands.
 Archaeological information, such as evidence of the burning of several important buildings and
complexes, suggests that Chichen Itza was probably violently destroyed as a result of an invasion.
 In 1988 UNESCO declared the Chichen Itza as a World Heritage Site.
Colosseum (Anfiteatro Flavio)
Rome, Italy

 Built in A.D. 72-82. Commissioned by Flavian emperors during the first century of the Roman Empire. The
Colosseum is the largest amphitheater ever built, and is considered to be one of the greatest works of Roman
architecture.
 The Colosseum could hold, it is estimated, between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators, having an average
audience of 65,000.
 It was used for gladiator and hunting shows, as well as public executions for four centuries. After the fall of
the Roman Empire, it was used temporarily as a housing complex.
 The Colosseum is an unofficial symbol of the city of Rome and of the Roman Empire. It is one of the most
popular tourist destinations in the city of Rome.
 In 1980 it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Taj Mahal (ताज महल)
Agra, India

 The Taj Mahal was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (reigned from 1628 to
1658), to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan, the
builder.
 The Taj Mahal, with an area of ​about 700 acres, combines motifs of Islamic architecture, mainly in the
style of Persian architecture with Hindu influences. It took around 20,000 workers and 16 years to build.
 In 2007, 3.2 million visitors visited the site, including 700,000 foreign tourists. In more recent years, the
Taj Mahal has attracted 7–8 million visitors a year.
 In 1983 UNESCO declared the Taj Mahal a World Heritage Site.
!There’s a twist
When the new list came out in 2007, the Egyptians were angry that the pyramid of Giza did
.not show on the list; considering that it is the only surviving ancient wonder

In response, The Pyramid of Giza was named an honorary candidate

Great Pyramid of Giza (‫وفو‬K‫ خ‬K‫)هرم‬
El Giza, Egypt

 The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex.
 The Pyramid is an impressive engineering achievement. The number of pathes and chambers is greater
than every royal pyramid ever built. Its construction began in the middle of the 3rd millenium BC and
lasted 20-25 years.
 The pyramid was built as a tomb for the Fourth Dynasty Egyptian pharaoh Khufu and was meant to serve
him in life after death. According to religous-psychological thought in ancient Egypt, the soul continues
to exist after death, and because of that so many resources have been devoted to the construction of
graves.
 Like the other Egyptian tombs, the pyramid is located on the West Bank of the Nile, because according to
the Egyptian religion, the kingdom of the dead was located in the west - the place of sunset.
 Memphis, the pyramid Necropolis and pyramids from Dahshur to Giza
were declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979.