Summary
Highlights
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest of the seven wonders and the only one still standing. It was originally covered in polished limestone, making it shine brilliantly under the Egyptian sun.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, if they existed, might have used a sophisticated irrigation system to pump water to the upper levels.
The Colossus of Rhodes was toppled by an earthquake only 56 years after its construction, leaving behind enormous bronze fragments.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria was one of the tallest man-made structures for centuries, with its light visible up to 35 miles away.
The Temple of Artemis was rebuilt several times after destructions by flood and arson, each time grander than before.
The term 'mausoleum' comes from Mausolus, a satrap in the Persian Empire for whom the grand tomb was originally built.