21 Finalist Candidates New Seven Wonders

The 21 Finalist Candidates for the New Seven Wonders Reviewed

[ Click on the Heading / Image to navigate to the respective articles. ]


The Acropolis of Athens (450 - 330 B.C.) Athens, Greece

There are many acropoleis in the world. Rome, Jerusalem, Athens, Thebes, Corinth etc all have acropoleis, but the word if plainly used; means the Acropolis of Athens; because it is that much associated to decisive historical events that shaped the destiny of Europe.

Alhambra (12th century) Granada, Spain

Not even an inch is spared from artworks, arches were made only for aesthetics, walls covered with expensive and enchanting ceramics and ornate plasters, coverings made of wooden frames carved so beautifully. As in the case of typical Muslim palaces walls are adorned of calligraphy depicting poems.

Angkor (12th century) Cambodia

Once there was a culture based on Hindu mythologies that spanned from Afghanistan in the west and up to the Indonesian Peninsula in the east. The real name of this temple or the town hosted it is not known (Angkor derived from Nokor the corrupt form of the word Nagar in Sanskrit meaning city)

The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá (before 800 A.D.) Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

The Chichen Itza monuments are the creation of the Maya Civilization that existed in this are during 600 AD. The whole monuments are located in the northern center of the Yucatan Peninsula and managed by National Institute of Anthropology and History Mexico (INAH)

Christ Redeemer (1931) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

One wonder overlooking another world wonder is rarity in itself; it is the place where the ‘Carnival’ is held when people simply live in sheer abandon in the spirit of festival for a whole season, forgetting everything except merry making!

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

It was Vespacin the Roman Emperor who constructed this elliptical (with perfect oval shape) theatre. Titus Flavius Vespacianus, (69-79) was the founder of the Flavian dynasty the theatre is named as Flavian Amphitheatre after his family name.

Statues of Easter Island (10th - 16th Century) Easter Island, Chile

From where did these inhabitants come why did they built so many gigantic statues (these statues are known as Moais), how did those people bring these stones to this remote island, what technology they used for the transportation?

The Eiffel Tower (1887 - 89) Paris, France

Gustav Eiffel was a dejected man when his design was rejected by the committee and there were few buyers for his work on which he had poured out his heart. Most scoffed it off as ugly and lacking aesthetics!

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

The idea of this great wall arose when Ming Emperor was defeated by the Mongols in the war of Tumu in 1449. By that time construction methods improved and instead of rammed earth used by previous emperors Ming used bricks and stone. Enemies of all sorts were kept at bay and Ming was able to rule his land in peace for a considerable period of time!

The Hagia Sophia (532 - 537 A.D.) Istanbul, Turkey

In Istanbul Turkey there stands the most beautiful building the ‘Aya Sofya’ with many old names by which it was known and many old roles it had made to play in the centuries that passed after its construction. It in its course has been burned down to ashes, crumbled down in earth quakes and got vandalized by rioters but each time it literally rose from its ashes to be the most beautiful human construction ever happened.

Kiyomizu Temple (749 - 1855) Kyoto, Japan

This temple of Kiyomizu belonged to the Hosso-Sect of the Buddhist religion founded by a Chinese monk by name Doshi, This sect was a comparatively small one in number of followers but one of the oldest Buddhist sects in Japan.

The Kremlin and Red Square (1156 - 1850) Moscow, Russia

From the beginning of the 12^th century Kremlin has been the nerve center of Russia, with a brief spell when Peter the Great shifted his capital to Peter’s burg alone Kremlin was deprived of that status. When Russia emerged as the capital of world’s communism, Kremlin had the role of managing that ideology world wide!

Machu Picchu (1460-1470), Peru

As these works are done on mountain slopes and more than hundred steps to connect them; all cut in stone. Remnants of fountains used to irrigate garden-plants, and vents for the disposal of waste and storm-water; all made of stones!

Neuschwanstein Castle (1869 -1884) Schwangau, Germany

King Ludwig 2 (who was crowned at the age of 19) a fan of Richard Wagner built this hill palace as a tribute to his favorite artist Richard Wagner (1813 -1883, the world famous German composer known for his operas but Ludwig had not actually seen his performance). Seven weeks after the death of Ludwig 2 the palace was left open to the public.

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

Petra City was capital of the Nabataeans; a tribe engaged in trading and lived in Jordan and southern part of Arabia. These Nabataeans were pre Islamic tribes and were experts in trade as well as water supply-techniques. They were smart enough to create a perennial stream of water for the use of this city located in the arid desert.

The Pyramids of Giza (2600 - 2500 B.C), Egypt

If these pyramids are monuments for the dead royal family members where these royal families lived (their palaces must be far grander than their dead member’s cove) but there is not even a trace of those palaces left.

The Statue of Liberty (1886) New York City, U.S.A.

This colossal statue is situated in the Liberty Island (14.71 acre islet in the New York port (this uninhabited islet was formerly known as Bedloe’s Island) in the mouth of River Hudson accessible only by ferry service. Those who take a ticket to the ferry can roam in the island to pass time without any fee.

Stonehenge (3000 B.C. - 1600 B.C.) Amesbury, United Kingdom

It is believed that these formations pertain to about 3000 BC involving massive human labor not less than 30 million man-hours. It is also found that the work was completed in three phases with more than one interruption in between. One of the stoppages took more than 1000 years.

Sydney Opera House (1954 - 73) Sydney, Australia

The entire complex looks like a gigantic house-boat floating in the sea spreading its masts. The design is so unique that the structure can be distinguished from any distance as there is something similar to it found nowhere else in the world.

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

The Taj is an architectural marvel formed of the fusion between Indian, Persian, Turkish and the Islamic styles. Its construction started on 1632 took 16 long years when it was finally completed in 1648!

Timbuktu (12th century) Mali

Timbuktu; the ‘center of significant written culture of Africa’ is -located in Tombouctau District, Mali- was a torch spreading light all around; it was at a time when rest of the world groped amidst the gloom that encircled.

New Seven Wonders of the World

New Seven Wonders of the World

The Magical digit '7'

Seven happens to be a magical digit for man and the earth as well, seven continents, seven seas, seven colors, seven musical notes, and the ancient concept of Seven Wonders of the World.

7^th July 07 (7-7-07) was also a rare date all of sevens and was apt to coin 7 existing wonders for the world to wonder!

The 7 Wonders Society a non-profit organization promoted by Bernard Weber coined 7-7-7 for selecting the wonders, and the method he chose was unique, through voting via internet. The response from the public was tremendous; more than one hundred million people cast their vote (neglecting differences of region, religion or race), a phenomenon quite unheard of in the history of the world,

The results include worldwide online, SMS and telephone voting. The results were also miraculous, winners were from different continents while Latin America (3, Macchu Pichu, Chichen Itza and Christ the Redeemer) and Africa (2, Petra and Pyramid of Giza) and Asia (2, Great Wall of China and Taj Mahal of India) as expected topped the list (Africa has Pyramids the extra and superb wonder) Europe had to be content with just one the Colossium of Italy.

We congratulate Mr. Weber’s efforts to create awareness among public regarding the cultural heritages they have inherited, and the organization duly deserve the dramatic success it received. Mr. Weber has rightly said “if we want to save anything, we first need to truly appreciate it”. His campaign has been successful in getting people appreciating the monuments, preservation will follow.

New Seven Wonders of the World

(All the New 7 Wonders are equal and are presented as a group without any ranking.)

• The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá (before 800 A.D.) Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

The Chichen Itza monuments are the creation of the Maya Civilization that existed in this are during 600 AD. The whole monuments are located in the northern center of the Yucatan Peninsula and managed by National Institute of Anthropology and History Mexico (INAH) Read the full article here

• Christ Redeemer (1931) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The statue has a height of 39.6 meters and a total weigh 700 tons. The work started on 1926 it took just five years and monument was declared open on 31^st October, 1931. Read the full article here

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

The Colosseum is the biggest structure built in the Roman Empire. The size of Colosseum was such (165feet in height and 200 feet in length) that it could easily accommodate 50,000 spectators Read the full article here

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

This great structure has been granted the World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1987 and it remains as a hot destination for tourists’ world wide (since opening up of the economy China has started to emerge as a tourist destination) and this great wall remains as one of the most photographed structures in the world. Read the full article here

• Machu Picchu (1460-1470), Peru

The site is 7000 feet above sea-level and consists of temples, giant walls, pathways, gardens, ramps and remnants of buildings and halls all built on the terraces made on mountain slopes. Read the full article here

• Petra (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.), Jordan

This city is at present uninhabited but has the remnants of all amenities its dwellers enjoyed; all made of carved and finished granites and sandstones. The Petra city was located in the ancient trade routes between Gaza, Bosra and Damascus. Read the full article here

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

The Taj is an architectural marvel formed of the fusion between Indian, Persian, Turkish and the Islamic styles. Its construction started on 1632 took 16 long years when it was finally completed in 1648! Read the full article here

Christ Redeemer

Christ the Redeemer Rio de Janeiro Brazil

Christ Redeemer Statue Rio de Janiero

An idea and its time

The 130 feet giant statue of Jesus Christ standing arm stretched on the peek of Corcovado Mountain; the most impressive landmark not only of Rio the Capital of Brazil; but the whole nation of Brazil. This giant statue is to Brazil what Eiffel Tower is to Paris or Kremlin to Moscow. As the case of every noble idea; this Brazilian dream also took a long- long time to get accepted. The credit of first seeing such a wonderful dream goes to one Catholic Priest by name Pedro Maria Boss. Fr. Boss’s resourceful mind envisaged a giant statue standing on the mountain overseeing city of Rio and the giant port beside. He proposed about the project to the then ruling Princess Isabel expecting financial aid from the Government.

The Redeemer Princess!

Christ Redeemer Statue Rio de Janiero

Somehow the idea did not ring bells in the mind of the ruling princess (Princess Isabel daughter of Pedro-2. It remains an irony that the same princess who slept on the request for years and finally rejected it; got nicknamed ‘princess redeemer’! Strange naming (nomenclature) indeed! However the liberal princess has done a lot of other good things like abolition of slavery etc, she was the first female ruler of Brazil since it got out of the colonial status.

The power of the people

Good ideas never die; like matured seeds they keep on sprouting out of fertile minds. The ‘rebirth’ of the Christ the Redeemer idea occurred in 1921; when Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro proposed it before the believers; and organized a Semana do monumento (monument week) to create awareness and to collect donations for the purpose. The response was tremendous; all people assured their support, money flowed like river; and the idea became an instant hit. The machine worked like a well oiled one; people of Rio could not hide their enthusiasm as whole atmosphere became electric.

How was it built?

Heitor da Silva Costa a local engineer prepared the design and sculpting was done by Paul Landoski a French of Polish origin; from his selections Christ standing stretching both hand side ways as if the embrace the people of the whole city was selected. The whole statue was planned to make in re-in forced concrete. The concreting job was under Albert Caquot and the upper surface of the statue was covered with soap stone imported from Lymhamn Sweden. Soap stones are metamorphic rocks rich in magnesium and known for its endurance and easiness to use. The statue has a height of 39.6 meters and a total weigh 700 tons. The work started on 1926 it took just five years and monument was declared open on 31^st October, 1931.

Rio de Janeiro the pride of Brazil

Christ Redeemer Statue Rio de Janiero

Rio de Janeiro (meaning river of January) is one of the most wonderful cities in the world, not only as it holds the pride of having two World Wonders in its lap like Christ the Redeemer and the Port of Rio de Janeiro; both accredited as world wonders and are World Heritage Sites in the UNESCO list. One wonder overlooking another world wonder is rarity in itself; it is the place where the ‘Carnival’ is held when people simply live in sheer abandon in the spirit of festival for a whole season, forgetting everything except merry making!

A pilgrimage spot, Carnival starting point

The Corcovado Mountain and the Redeemer statue (called Christo Redentor in Portuguese- Portuguese is the national language of Brazil) have the status as a pilgrimage spot and many people visit this sight as pilgrims. There is a small church adjacent to the statue and regular mass is held in it. During festival season prior to Easter; the Carnival Parades are held; this spot (known as the Christ’s armpit) is selected as the place from where the parade starts.

Too impressive to go unimpressed!

Christ Redeemer Statue Rio de Janiero

The imposing statue standing atop an impressive Corcovado Mountain has impressed connoisseurs all over the world. The Redeemer Statue has inspired numerous statues to be built over hilltops. In the hill top encroaching spree; those who cannot afford to build a statue started placing at least a cross over every hill tops! Though their basic theme is a copy of the Christ the Redeemer there are two or three worth attention due to their innovativeness.

Christo Rei (meaning Christ the King) is a remarkable work that stands overlooking Lisbon the Capital of Portugal. This statue erected by the notorious dictator of Portugal (Antonio de Oliveira Salazar in May 17 1959 is 28 meter in height but the column on which it is placed has an astounding height of 75 meters.

Cristo-Rei

Christ of the Ozarks is yet another statue inspired by the Redeemer which is 20 meters in height and the shape of Christ is remarkably different. It is located at Eureka Springs, Arkansas in the Southern part of the US. Christ of the Ozarks is a creation of Gerald L K Smith and was erected in 1966.

Christ of the Ozarks

How to get there?

Christ Redeemer Statue Rio de Janiero

Rio de Janeiro is a metropolitan city well connected by air, road and sea. The Corcovado Mountain on the top which the statue is placed is reachable by foot although a bit strenuous; the effort is worth the pleasure. One can see the statue in close up is only one thing; but a vision of the entire cityscape of the Rio from the hill top is far more astounding. The huge natural port that houses so many ships, yachts and boats each struggling for space to park is also a sight for a lifetime! There is cogwheel train facility in every 30 minutes for those who find it hard to climb. Go Rio ‘the fun city’ climb the Corcovado and see the world!

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza – Mexico

Chichen Itza

The Pre-Hispanic culture

Latin America in general and the Mesoamerican region of Mexico in particular is a place where history literally lies asleep; through the monuments and images created by the numerous ethnic tribes who lived in the area centuries back. In other words we can say that these objects are sentinels of a rich culture that bound these people together for thousands of years. The Chichen Itza monuments are the creation of the Maya Civilization that existed in this are during 600 AD. The whole monuments are located in the northern center of the Yucatan Peninsula and managed by National Institute of Anthropology and History Mexico (INAH); but the land is owned by Barbachano family.

The power of myths!

The amazing constructions built by these prehistoric people remain as striking objects for the modern world to wonder that how these people in the absence of wheeled cart made all these. Still more wonderful thing is how these tribes constituted such an empire and lived together, how such fathomless myths led an empire to form a cohesive society; remains as yet another wonder; even the well armed modern military fail to hold a nation together. Please remember the Inca Empire almost whole South America and the Caribbean.

Capital of the Mayan Empire

Chichen Itza Map courtsey: cancun.bz

The Chichen Itza city (means ‘at the mouth of the well of Itza’) was the capital of the Mayan Rulers where numerous structures of great archeological value are located; while some of them are mere remnants a good number of them are intact enough to tell their tales. The ancient city of Chichen Itza lies in the Yucatan peninsula in the Mesoamerican region (the Mesoamerican region is that comes between two Americas).

No wheeled carts no animals to work

Chichen Itza - Columns in the Temple of a Thousand Warriors

These people did not know the how to tame animals and make them work and wheeled carts were also were not known to them. They were experts in geometry, medical sciences, astrology, architecture etc. Their architecture was a mixture of what prevailed in middle Mexico and the locally developed skills.

Cenote Segrado!

Northern Yucatan area where Chichen Itza is located is an arid region and there is no river or other water bodies. The whole city’s water requirement was met from two natural water holes by name cenotes. The city itself was named (as ‘well at the mouth of Chichen Itza’) so because of the presence of these two natural water holes; of which the ‘Cenote Segrado’ (sacred cenote) is the most famous (it still enjoys the status of a pilgrimage center). Examination of these natural water holes have revealed the presence of human bones with markings of ritual sacrifices; hence it is presumed that people even conducted human sacrifices to please the Gods for uninterrupted availability of water.

Tlabloc the terrible!

However good the meat is it doesn’t taste without gravy, myths are the gravy that makes the daily life bearable; for the Mayan and the Toltec there is no dearth for myths; as these were for them; their life blood. Chac and Tlaloc were their favorite gods. Tlaloc belongs to the Aztec Myths; he was considered as the rain-god as well as the god of virility. Aztecs sacrificed children to please this fearsome god with projected eyes, sharp canines, feather-cap etc. Chac is a world apart he wears an axe with which he strikes at the clouds to form lightening.

Qeqchi myth

The Sun, Moon and the Chac are brothers; they have a tyrant adoptive mother who used to abuse these sons. One day these brothers together defeat and drove away the adoptive mother and her lover. After the exit of the mother friendship between them did not last. One day Sun finds Chac doing adultery with Sun’s wife. The punishment given to Chac was such that he remembers it for ever and shed tears in the form of rain. The rain water is actually Chac’s tears. Before he starts weeping he may angrily strike the clouds with his axe to produce lightening! .

Kukulcan Temple.

Chichen Itza - Chac Mool Statue image courtsey: yucatantoday.com

Let us have a brief look these structures one by one; the first and the most prominent is the El Castillo; the Temple of Kukulcan (known as Quetzal coatl in Maya language). This is a huge step pyramid made in accordance with astronomical events. At the time of spring or fall equinoxes; the shadow of the rising and setting sun resembles a plumed serpent (a mythical creature depicted as half serpent and half bird) worshiped by Toltec and Aztec Civilizations. (Kukulcan and Quetzal coatl also mean the serpent in their language). There was one more temple unearthed from the same compound.

The temple of the Warriors

This complex is a large stepped pyramid fronted with large columns representing soldiers, at the top of the stairways on the summit of the pyramid is located a magnificent statue of the Chacmool (a lying man with head partly raised, the myth regarding it is unknown).

The Great Ball-Court, The most impressive play-field ever found in any archeological sites. It is 166 * 68 meters in size surrounded by a 12 meter tall wall. It is believed the field was used to play the Mesoamerican ball game.

Las Monjas is a complex for the Government offices; the Spanish earlier took it for a nunnery hence this name Las Monjas (nunnery) and hence the misnomer. This complex consist of numerous structures all built in ‘Puuc’ style (carvings in veneer stone embedded in concrete).

The La Iglesia in the Las Monjas complex, The High Priest’s Temple, El Caracol all are there open for the tourists.

Cultural invasion

It has been established that there was human inhabitation in Mexico more than 10,000 years back; from then to the 16^th century (up to the arrival of the Europeans) there arose so many civilizations, Izapa, Teotihuacan, Maya, Zapotec, Toltec, Aztec etc are just some of them; which were destined to arise, flourish and ultimately perish in the blessed soil of Mesoamerica. These cultures before there end fortunately left many monuments for the present world to see and remember them with affection.

Long live these monuments!

Chichen Itza - Templo de los Guerreros (Temple of the Warriors)

These are things of the past; these entire scenarios changed with the arrival of Europeans who made an invasion not only physical form; but the cultural invasion they made was far deeper that led to the death of the soul of the innocent people. The remnants of most of the monuments still have marks of burning that hints the violent reprisals these cultural monuments had undergone. As all those cultures are dead; let us hope ‘long live these monuments’!

Petra

Petra

petra image courtsey: bibleplaces.com

Petra - Jordan, ‘a rose red city half as old as time’.

A ghost city all carved in solid rocks,

Petra in Jordan is a World Heritage Site on the slopes of Mount Hor at the south west of part of Jordan. It lies in a basin between two mountains and bordered by the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aquaba. There is no clear idea when all these constructions were made; it is generally believed that it has been there for more than two thousand years. This city is at present uninhabited but has the remnants of all amenities its dwellers enjoyed; all made of carved and finished granites and sandstones. The Petra city was located in the ancient trade routes between Gaza, Bosra and Damascus; the whole complex remained unknown to the modern world until a Swiss explorer John Ludwig Burckhardt discovered it in 1812.

The Nabataeans!

Petra monastery

It remains a mystery that only in 1812 AD the modern world came to know about the existence of this rock city which housed a great historically important culture. Petra City was capital of the Nabataeans; a tribe engaged in trading and lived in Jordan and southern part of Arabia. These Nabataeans were pre Islamic tribes and were experts in trade as well as water supply-techniques. They were smart enough to create a perennial stream of water for the use of this city located in the arid desert. For this purpose they built a dam and connected its water to the city through sand-pipes. The Petra site has been described by the UNESCO as the ‘most precious cultural properties of man’s cultural heritage’.

A place in the Dead Sea Scrolls,

petra image courtsey: bibleplaces.com

The Dead Sea Scrolls discovered from the eleven caves of Wadi in Qumran from the north shore of the Dead Sea have references of this city; which was known as Rakem at that time. These Scrolls comprising 900 very rare documents contained a Bible written in Hebrew belonged to the 1^st century AD was the only one of its kind. These scrolls were

discovered between 1947 and 1956; are being scrutinized. It is believed that they are potent enough to make dramatic changes in the whole recorded history of the world.

Architecture and styles,

Petra Amphitheatre

Historians and archeologists rake their heads to determine the exact time the city was built, there are no written records to prove any and hence they depend upon the style of architecture adopted to calculate the age of the city. The architecture involved in the numerous structures exhibit Greek, Roman and Syrian styles; the local style is considered as good as lost. In an attempt to estimate the period of origin of this culture; historians take pre Hellenic tombs (of Greek origin) as the base as they are the earliest structures found intact; it is estimated that they are not older than 6^th century BC.

El Khazneh (the treasury),

The present entrance in to the site is through east through the Musa Wadi (Musa’s Valley); from there a narrow and dark gorge with high standing rocks on both sides called ‘Siq’ leads to the Petra Site. The Siq is of varying width from three to four meters and end before the courtyard of an enchanting structure- the El Khzneh or the treasury. Though it was only a royal tomb the title of treasury it acquired following a local legend. For years robbers found it as a secure hide. People spread rumors as a big urn kept there contained the loot deposited by the robbers. Hearing all these rumors; the Bedouin Arabs went there to secure the loot; they tried to break it by firing bullets; without knowing that it was made of solid rock! The urn still bears the mark of bullet hits.

Early morning or afternoon,

There are altogether 800 individual monuments in this large complex like temples, funerary halls, arched gateways, an elaborate theater, and waterway made of natural split in the granite structures to carry water to the Haji Musa River all carved out of shining sand-stone! The row of invaluable monuments stretch several kilometers, it is advisable to the tourists to select early morning or afternoon to pay visits as they can evade the hot desert time as well as see the cut sand-stones of the structures reflecting the sunrays in multicolor spectrum. The most magnificent structure is the El Khzaneh (the treasury building); with its carved rose sandstone facade standing tall; a sight which has no parallel.

The life that once existed,

Nabataeans the original occupants of the city were followers of Pagan faith who spoke Aramaic (a Semitic language used for divine worship; with 3000 old history in which many original portions of the Bible was written) worshipped Dushara –a male god who was flanked by three female goddesses namely Uzza, Allat and Manah. Along with these gods they worshipped some deified emperors who ruled the land; the whole site is dotted with the statues of these gods. What were their mythologies, how these emperors ruled the land; all are left to the imagination of the viewers as no written versions are available.

Mosses aka Musa Nabi,

Written records are available after the entry of Christianity in to the arena in AD 500; and there are references of an ‘Antioch-10 Bishop of Petra’, in the records of Pope Antonosius 1 of Alexandria. AD 629 -632 was the turn of the Islam to conquer the Petra. As per the Islamic versions Petra is the place where Musa Nabi (Mosses for Christians) happened to beat a stone with his stick and spot turned out to be an eternal source of water. The nearby valley is also known as Musa Wadi meaning the Valley of Musa.

The decline,

It is believed that an earthquake shattered the path of water and the town became arid devoid of the life giving water source. People had to migrate to places for a living leaving Petra as a ghost city. The development of sea-route also diminished the trade importance of this place. As the place got devoid of population thieves found it a treasure trove and random looting took away valuable historical monuments; completing its total decline. The carved granite mansions remain defying thieves and robbers and as sentinels who tell long stories of a bygone age to the numerous visitors who flock to Petra in search of some monuments that has no parallel anywhere in the world.

Petra at present,

Petra image courtsey: civilization.ca

The Petra Monuments of Jordan is a UNESCO approved World Heritage Site; in a recently held pole (in 7^th July 2007) Petra has been selected as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is just 4 hour drive from Amman the capital of Jordan, though robbed off much of its splendor; it still has much to thrill a visitor. This ‘rose red city’ with its more than 900 monuments is a major tourist attraction and visited by thousands of tourists every year.

Seven Wonders of the Medieval World

Seven Wonders of the Medieval World

Three lists,

When a subject is taken for one among the seven wonders; its time of construction comes first, as the scope of the builders is bound by the limitations of that time, hence separate lists of seven wonders exist for each age namely Ancient, Medieval and Modern.

Taking world at his strides

In this article we present the Seven Wonders of the medieval times. The significance with medieval period is that it was a time man has started to show his might as a super being and began to show his presence felt by building landmarks with super size or super looks.

Loosing the power to wonder!

In the ancient times man was not so much organized and technology was too crude to work wonders, whereas in this modern times technology has outdated the concept of wonder itself, as every thing has been made possible by the press of a button! Man has lost the power to get wonderstruck!

Click on the Links / Images to navigate to full Articles.

1. Stonehenge

Stonehenge - Seven Wonders of the Medieval World

The Stonehenge consists of a number of big long-cut stones arranged in a strange pattern, the purpose of bringing such huge stones to this place and arranging them in this particular pattern is subject to much study and speculation. click here to read the full article...

2. The Colosseum

The Colosseum - Seven Wonders of the Medieval World

The Colosseum is not just a colossal structure situated at the heart of Rome; it was companion to the history of the great Roman Empire which boldly outlived the Empire facing all strives and tribulations associated with the fall of the Empire. click here to read the full article...

3. The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa

Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa - Seven Wonders of the Medieval World

These Catacombs are subterranean funeral halls; cut in rock; with galleries for the dead one’s coffins, places for conducting last rites; staircases and dining halls for the ritual feasts to be held associated with the funeral etc all carved in rock. click here to read the full article...

4. The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China - Seven Wonders of the Medieval World

The Great Wall of China was built between 5^th and 16^th century by the Ming Dynasty. As the construction was a rather prolonged affair spanning eleven long centuries; many kings and dynasties were born and dead and all have something to add to this great monument. The present wall is the last in a series of wall constructed by various dynasties. click here to read the full article...

5. The Porcelain Tower of Nanjing

The Porcelain Tower of Nanjing - Seven Wonders of the Medieval World

This Buddhist Pagoda known as the Porcelain Tower does not exist now; yet in history this magnificent tower that radiated sunrays and functioned as a center of pilgrimage stands tall among world wonders. As per records this Buddhist Pagoda was constructed by a Chinese Emperor by name Yung le in the 15^th century. click here to read the full article...

6. The Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia - Seven Wonders of the Medieval World

In Istanbul Turkey there stands the most beautiful building the ‘Aya Sofya’ with many old names by which it was known and many old roles it had made to play in the centuries that passed after its construction. It in its course has been burned down to ashes, crumbled down in earth quakes and got vandalized by rioters. click here to read the full article...

7. The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Leaning Tower of Pisa - Seven Wonders of the Medieval World

Like all other structures the Tower of Pisa was also built to stand straight, but the fate of this particular one is to stand leaning for all its life. This lean turned out to be the tower’s identity and the credit of the Whole Pisa city. click here to read the full article...