Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Long ago, Greek writers made a list of the most amazing things people had built. These became known as the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. They were huge, beautiful, and very hard to build. Only one of them still stands today. The others were lost to wars and earthquakes.

The Seven Wonders

The list includes the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. It also has the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the Statue of Zeus at Olympia. There was a Temple of Artemis, a tomb called the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, and a giant statue called the Colossus of Rhodes. The last one was a tall Lighthouse of Alexandria.

The Great Pyramid stands tall under a bright blue sky.
The Great Pyramid stands tall under a bright blue sky. (Alex lbh / Wikimedia Commons)

Only One Left

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only wonder still standing. It was the oldest wonder on the list. The others were destroyed by fires, earthquakes, or time. We only know about them from old stories and pictures. People still talk about them today.

Fun Facts

  • The Great Pyramid was the tallest building for almost 4,000 years.
  • The Colossus of Rhodes was a huge bronze statue about 108 feet tall.
  • The Lighthouse of Alexandria had a fire burning at the top to guide ships.

Did You Know?

There is also a list of 'New Seven Wonders of the World' that was made in 2007.