Выполнила студентка 1 курса Белоброва Ю.В. Преподаватель Бабак О. В. КубГУ, г. Краснодар, 2010 г.

The conquest of much of the known world in the 4th century BC gave Hellenistic travelers access to the civilizations of the Egyptians, Persians, and Babylonians.These visitors, smitten by the landmarks and marvels of the various lands, began to list what they saw. As a way of organizing, a compendium of these places made it easier to remember. Hence, the list was meant to be the Ancient World's counterpart of a travel guidebook. Each person had his own version of the list, but the best known and earliest surviving was from a poem by Greek-speaking epigrammist Antipater of Sidon from around 140 BC.

It is thought that the limitation of the lists to seven entries was attributed to the special magical meaning of the number. Geographically, the list only covered the sculptural and architectural monuments of the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions, then thought to encompass the "known" world for the Greeks. Hence, extant sites beyond this realm were not considered as part of contemporary accounts. Now in number of seven miracles of light include:

Great Pyramid of Giza ( BC) Believed to have been built as the tomb of fourth dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu. Date of destruction:Still in Existence. Modern Location:Giza Necropolis, Egypt. Builder:Egyptians

Hanging Gardens of Babylon (Around 600 BC) Builder: Babylonians Diodorus Siculus described multi-levelled gardens reaching 22 meters (75 feet) high, complete with machinery for circulating water. Large trees grew on the roof. Built by Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife Amytis of Media. Date of destruction: After 1st century BC Cause of destruction: Earthquake Modern Location: Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq

Statue of Zeus at Olympia BC (Temple) 435 BC (Statue) Builder:Greeks Occupied the whole width of the aisle of the temple that was built to house it, and was 12 meters (40 feet) tall. Date of destruction:5th-6th centuries AD Cause of destruction:Fire Modern Location:Olympia, Greece

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus (c. 550 BC) Builder: Lydians, Persians, Greeks Occupied the whole width of the aisle of the temple that was built to house it, and was 12 meters (40 feet) tall. Date of destruction: 356 BC (by Herostratus) AD 262 (by the Goths) Cause of destruction: Arson by Herostratus, Plundering Modern Location: near Selçuk, Izmir Province, Turkey

Builder: Carians, Persians, Greeks Stood approximately 45 meters (150 feet) tall, with each of the four sides adorned with sculptural reliefs. Origin of the word mausoleum, the tomb built for Mausolus, a satrap in the Persian Empire Date of destruction: by AD 1494 Cause of destruction: The original structure was destroyed by flood. Then a new structure was built and was damaged by an earthquake and eventually disassembled by European Crusaders. Modern Location: Bodrum, Turkey

Builder: Greeks A giant statue of the Greek god Helios, god of the sun, c. 35 m (110 ft) tall. Date of destruction: 226 BC Cause of destruction: Earthquake Modern Location: Rhodes, Greece

Builder: Hellenistic Egypt, (Greeks) Between 115 and 135 meters (380 – 440 ft) high, it was among the tallest structures on Earth for many centuries. The name of the island that it was built on, Pharos, eventually became the Latin word for lighthouse, pharos. Date of destruction: AD Cause of destruction Modern Location: Alexandria, Egypt