After the change of civilizations, the fleeting time leaves an architectural heritage in memory of them. However, everything built by human hands is subject to destruction. Therefore, the seven wonders of the world, known since antiquity, remained only in the descriptions. They were replaced by new ones.
The selection was carried out very carefully. The result was seven of the most ambitious structures known throughout the world. They are called wonders of the world because they rise above the temporal category.
Selection rules
Architectural monuments evoke the same admiration among contemporaries as in ancient times. The only surviving representative of the old wonders of the world was the Cheops pyramid. It is impossible to see neither the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, nor the statue of Zeus, nor the legendary Alexandria lighthouse.
Thanks to a competition held by an independent company, in 2007 the most worthy of the honorary title of monuments of architectural thought of the modern world were selected.
The building of the Sydney Opera House, Moscow Red Square, English Stonehenge, and the Acropolis of Athens lost quite a bit to the current winners.
We got to the finals of the Giza pyramid, but the Egyptian authorities themselves refused to participate in the competition. They referred to the fact that these structures are among the ancient monuments.
The great Wall of China
There are many legends and legends about the construction of a grandiose structure. To this day, many believe that those who erected the Wall were buried inside it. However, this is just a myth. The truth is, the construction took over a million lives. The construction was initiated by the emperors of the Qin dynasty.
The wall was supposed to protect the land from the raids of nomads, to prevent the assimilation of the Chinese nation by foreigners. The construction took several centuries. The rulers of the Celestial Empire were changing. The Manchu dynasty condescendingly watched the construction, others demanded detailed reports on the progress of the work.
Due to lack of proper attention, a significant part of the structure collapsed. There was only a section not far from Beijing. For a long time it served as a kind of entrance gate to the imperial capital.
Restoration work began in the last century. The Great Wall of China has been included in the list of the greatest wonders of modern times since 1997. The architectural structure is recognized as the largest in the world in terms of its length. It stretched for almost nine thousand kilometers.
The construction process has been systematically carried out for thousands of years. However, the structure is not monolithic. There are gaps in the wall. This provided in due time the opportunity for the conquest of China for Genghis Khan. Millions of visitors come to see one of the modern wonders of the world every year.
Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro
The sculptural image of Christ the Redeemer towers over the city. He spread his arms as if embracing the inhabitants of the metropolis. The monument was erected in honor of the centenary of the country's independence. From a carefully chosen location, the mountains of Corcavado, the whole of Rio is in the palm of your hand.
Funds for the construction were collected by all of Brazil through a subscription announced by the O Cruzeiro magazine. France helped to implement the project. Poor enough, with a poorly developed industry, Brazil could not cope with such a large-scale plan on its own.
The detail-made statue was transported to the site of the future installation. The elements were delivered to Corcavado by the railroad that still exists today. Millions of tourists climb the mountain every year to admire one of the most popular structures.
Taj Mahal
On the banks of the Jamna in Indian Agra stands the most beautiful palace-mausoleum in the world. This is the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of Shah Jahan, a descendant of the great Tamerlane. The pinnacle of Mughal architecture was a synthesis of Indian, Arab and Persian art.
The most recognizable element is the snow-white dome. Taj Mahal is built of white marble. This five-domed palace houses the tombs of the ruler himself and his wife. Minarets at the edges of the palace are slightly tilted to protect the complex from potential damage due to earthquakes.
Such a disaster is not uncommon in India. The mausoleum is adjoined by a park with a picturesque lake and magnificent fountains. Taj Mahal was erected in 1653. The large-scale project involved more than twenty thousand people who worked for more than twenty years.
Chichen Itza
The secret Mayan city is located on the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula. The unusual structure, erected in the seventh century, served as both a cult center and a capital. Most of the buildings belong to the Mayans, the rest were built by the Toltecs.
By the end of the seventh century, Chichen Itza was almost devoid of inhabitants. This gave rise to one of the mysteries: whether the Spaniards, who killed the Maya, were to blame for the mass exodus, or whether the incident was caused by the deterioration of the economic situation.
Several architectural structures were discovered on the territory of the city. One of the most notable was the pyramid. It is the concentration of Maya knowledge, their religious beliefs and cult center.
The monument, towering twenty-four meters, has four faces. Each of them has nine steps. The stairs on the sides consist of ninety-one steps. The total sum of the numbers is 364 and one more. As a result, the number of days in a year is formed.
A balustrade made in the form of a snake body runs along the edges of the stairs. The reptile's head is located at the base of the pyramid. On the day of balance, the impression of the movement of a snake is created. It seems to flow down in the fall, rising up in the spring.
Ritual temples were built inside the structure and on top, which were used to make sacrifices.
Coliseum
The appearance of the famous monument is partially associated with the name of Nero. The legendary despot erected a grandiose palace with a lake in the center of Rome. Vespasian, who replaced Nero, decided to completely erase the years of his predecessor's reign from human memory.
The luxurious palace was used as an institution, and a huge amphitheater was erected on the site of the lake. The Colosseum was originally called the Flavian Amphitheater. Only from the eighth century the building received its familiar name. The reason for the name change was the impressive size.
The architectural work even celebrated the millennium of Rome. Because of the barbarians in the Middle Ages, the destruction of the Colosseum began. The earthquake in the fourteenth century also played a role. Literally brick by brick, the monument was pulled apart for the needs of construction.
It wasn't until the eighteenth century that Pope Benedict the Fourteenth ordered the Colosseum to be protected as an important architectural site. Now it is the most visited symbol of Rome.
Machu Picchu
The Aztec city is located in South America. It rises almost 2,500 thousand meters. It remained untouched only because of its inaccessibility: the conquistadors did not manage to get to it.
Machu Picchu was discovered only at the beginning of the last century. Very little is known about the settlement. There is no information about the number of inhabitants, the purpose of the legendary building has not been clarified to this day.
It is clear that Machu Picchu is conceived as a settlement with a clear structure and a definite layout.
The unique city is under the protection of UNESCO. The number of visitors is limited to 2500 people per year.
Petra
The city in the rock is called the pearl of Jordan. The path to Petra runs through the gorges, which at the same time played the role of city walls. In ancient times, Petra was located on an important trade route. This is how the population lived.
The townspeople not only perfectly worked with stone, but also perfectly knew how to collect water.
Petra has become an artificial oasis in the middle of the desert.
Especially tourists are attracted by the Al-Khazneh temple. It is, according to scientists, a mausoleum.
There are many legends associated with it. Some myths claim that it is here that the treasures of the pharaoh are hidden, others claim that this is the place of wealth hidden by robbers.
Petra with its main temple is famous for the film about the adventures of the famous Indiana Jones.
