The fortress of Sacsahuaman

The fortress of Sacsahuaman was built by the Inca in the 15th century on a hill northwest of their capital at Cuzco, in Peru. The fortress takes the form of a series of zigzag retaining walls built of huge stones, some weighing several tons. Such fortresses, called pucaras, were frequently built above population centers in the Andes to serve as refuges for the populace in case of attack. Spanish sources suggest that Sacsahuaman was also an important storage center, and it may have had religious significance as well. Construction is usually attributed to the ruler Pachacuti, but it is unlikely that the huge fortress was completed in a single reign.

The Pharos of Alexandria

The Pharos of Alexandria, the most famous lighthouse of ancient times and the prototype for all subsequent lighthouses, was planned by Ptolemy I of Egypt and completed (C.280 BC) after his death. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the tiered tower, with a spiral ramp leading to its top, was erected on the island of Pharos, in the harbor of Alexandria. The tower's light, which was produced by a fire of oil or resinous wood, was intensified with the aid of many reflecting mirrors.

The Pharos of Alexandria became the prototype for ancient lighthouses. Situated on Pharos island at the end of the harbor of the new city, the structure was planned by Ptolemy I of Egypt (d. 284 BC) and completed by his successor in about 280 BC. Its base proclaimed that the architect Sostratus of Cnidus dedicated it to the "savior gods" on behalf of navigators. Models show a rectangular, tiered tower 122 m (400 ft) high, in which fires of resinous wood or oil were kept burning. They were reflected by metal mirrors supposedly designed by Archimedes, thus making them visible for possibly 50 km (about 30 mi), an excellent distance for antiquity. The 15th-century fort of Qait Bay now stands in the ruins of the Pharos.

The Colossus of Rhodes

The Colossus of Rhodes (292-280 BC), which stood approximately 118 ft (36 m) high overlooking the city's harbor, was erected to celebrate the end of Demetrius Poliorcetes' siege (305 BC) against Rhodes. Designed by Chares of Lindos and reinforced with stone and iron, the bronze statue portrayed Helios, the sun god and patron divinity of Rhodes. The Colossus of Rhodes was one of the Seven Wonders of the World

After defeating Demetrius Poliorcetes in 305 BC, the citizens of Rhodes used their booty to erect a thank offering to their divine patron Helios. Chares of Lindos, a pupil of Lysippus, built (292-280 BC) a bronze statue of the nude young god wearing a sun-ray crown and looking out to sea. Many stories exaggerate the size of the statue; it must, however, have been approximately 36 m (120 ft) high on a base of white marble 6-7.5 m (20-25 ft) high and thus larger than any other statue. It stood beside, not over, the harbor. Although reinforced with stone and iron, the Colossus broke at the knees and fell in an earthquake 60 years later. It remained a wonder until the Arab invasion (AD 653), when it was broken up and sold for scrap metal. Nothing of it remains except very dubious copies.

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus,Ionia, was erected (C.352 BC) to commemorate the death of the satrap (overlord) Mausolus. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the grandiose white marble tomb, ornamented with a frieze and other sculptural works, was surmounted by a 24-step pyramid, upon which stood a chariot. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus is the origin of the word mausoleum

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, in Ionia, has given its name to all subsequent tomb monuments. Mausolus, satrap of Caria, was honored with this tomb by his queen, Artemisia (d. 350 BC). The architects Satyros and Pythios designed a templelike marble tomb with an Ionic colonnade on a high base surrounded by lions; the roof was a 24-step pyramid on the peak of which stood a chariot. The famous sculptors Timotheus, Bryaxis, Leochares, and Scopas created the friezeัdepicting Amazons battling heroesัwhich is now in the British Museum. The site on which the mausoleum stood was excavated in 1857; the medieval castle at Bodrum, Turkey, contains many fragments from it.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

The colossal gold and ivory statue of Zeus seated on an elaborately worked throne was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It was sculpted (C.436-432 BC) by Phidias and placed in the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, Greece. Standing almost 40 ft (12 m) high, the statue survived until the 5th century AD.

The colossal Zeus in the temple at Olympia was the most celebrated ancient statue because of its size, beauty, and costliness. It was chryselephantineัmade of gold and ivory. The famous Athenian sculptor Phidias (who also designed the statue of Athena in the Parthenon) made the seated figure (c.436-432 BC) in a special workshop behind the temple. The figure sat on an elaborate throne covered with ebony, glass, and gemstone inlays as well as sculptures and paintings of Greek myths and legends. It held a scepter with an eagle in its left hand and a Nike (victory goddess) in its right. The flesh was ivory and the drapery gold. In front of the figure, whose head nearly touched the ceiling (it was approximately 12 m/40 ft high), was a blue-black stone basin filled with oil to protect it from the damp air of Olympia. Tourist galleries surrounded it. The lost statue is known from coins and archaeological evidence.

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the monumental Temple of Artemis (Artemesion) at Ephesus, an Ionian city in Anatolia, was erected (C.560 BC) by the architects Chersiphron and Metagenes. The original colonnaded temple was burned (356 BC) and the Goths destroyed (AD 263) a rebuilt temple.

The Artemision, or Temple of Artemis (Diana), at Ephesus in Ionia was famous since c.560 BC, when a monumental temple was erected by Chersiphron and his son Metagenes of Crete. Its base measured 115 X 55 m (377 X 180 ft), and the roofless, colonnaded interior housed a primitive statue of Artemis. The columns of the porch carried reliefs of mythical characters and inscriptions recording donations by King Croesus (r. 560-546 BC) of Lydia. The original Artemision, reportedly the finest example of early Ionic architecture, burned in the rebellion of 356 BC; it was rebuilt on a higher base and decorated by Scopas and Apelles. The temple was finally destroyed by the Goths in AD 263. Roman copies of the bizarre, mummylike statue survive.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Greek legends tell two stories of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. One holds that they were built by the Assyrian Queen Semiramis (Sammuramat, 810-805 BC). The other, that Nebuchadnezzar II (r. 605-562 BC) built the gardens to remind his wife, a Mede, of her mountainous homeland, is perhaps more likely. The excavator, Robert Koldewey, identified the arched substructure of what may have been a terraced garden. Set in a corner of the palace fortifications and towering over the famous Ishtar Gate (decorated with blue-enameled reliefs of bulls and dragons)was a 7-m-high (23-ft) wall on which trees had presumably been planted, creating what would have been a majestic view visible to anyone entering on the Processional Way.

The Taj Mahal (1630 A.D.) Agra, India

This immense mausoleum was built on the orders of Shah Jahan, the fifth Muslim Mogul emperor, to honor the memory of his beloved late wife. Built out of white marble and standing in formally laid-out walled gardens, the Taj Mahal is regarded as the most perfect jewel of Muslim art in India. The emperor was consequently jailed and, it is said, could then only see the Taj Mahal out of his small cell window.

The Roman Colosseum (70 - 82 A.D.) Rome, Italy

This great amphitheater in the centre of Rome was built to give favors to successful legionnaires and to celebrate the glory of the Roman Empire. Its design concept still stands to this very day, and virtually every modern sports stadium some 2,000 years later still bears the irresistible imprint of the Colosseum's original design. Today, through films and history books, we are even more aware of the cruel fights and games that took place in this arena, all for the joy of the spectators.

Petra (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.), Jordan

On the edge of the Arabian Desert, Petra was the glittering capital of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to 40 A.D.). Masters of water technology, the Nabataeans provided their city with great tunnel constructions and water chambers. A theater, modelled on Greek-Roman prototypes, had space for an audience of 4,000. Today, the Palace Tombs of Petra, with the 42-meter-high Hellenistic temple facade on the El-Deir Monastery, are impressive examples of Middle Eastern culture.

Machu Picchu (1460-1470), Peru

In the 15th century, the Incan Emperor Pachacútec built a city in the clouds on the mountain known as Machu Picchu ("old mountain"). This extraordinary settlement lies halfway up the Andes Plateau, deep in the Amazon jungle and above the Urubamba River. It was probably abandoned by the Incas because of a smallpox outbreak and, after the Spanish defeated the Incan Empire, the city remained 'lost' for over three centuries. It was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911.

The Great Wall of China (220 B.C and 1368 - 1644 A.D.) China

The Great Wall of China was built to link existing fortifications into a united defense system and better keep invading Mongol tribes out of China. It is the largest man-made monument ever to have been built and it is disputed that it is the only one visible from space. Many thousands of people must have given their lives to build this colossal construction.

The Pyramids of Egypt

The most important and famous pyramids of Egypt are the three great pyramids at Giza, on the west bank of the Nile River. They were built between 2660 and 2560 BC for the kings Cheops, Chephren (Khafre), and Mycerinus. The pyramids were meant to house the pharaohs' bodies and serve as reminders of their almighty power. The pyramids are the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the World and the only ones to survive to modern times

The most important and famous pyramids of Egypt are the three great pyramids at Giza, on the west bank of the Nile River. They were built between 2660 and 2560 BC for the kings Cheops, Chephren (Khafre), and Mycerinus. The pyramids were meant to house the pharaohs' bodies and serve as reminders of their almighty power. The pyramids are the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the World and the only ones to survive to modern times

The pyramids of Egypt, in the desert of Giza and Saqqara outside Cairo, were old before the other six wonders were built. The tradition of such monumental tombs for the pharaohs began with the step pyramid of Zoser (3d dynasty). Supposedly designed by the engineer Imhotep, this pyramid gave the impression of a stone hill 60 m (197 ft) high. The interior is almost solid, with gangways and burial chambers (some of which are empty, serving as decoys for thieves). Successive pharaohs copied and enlarged the form, adding limestone facings. The largest is the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), about 147 m (481 ft) high on a base 230 m (755 ft) square. Khafre (Chephren), Menkaure (Mykerinos), and others built successively less impressive pyramids.