dates back to app. 2600 B.C.

monuments located at the outskirts of Cairo

massive stone-built tombs of pharaohs

they used to be covered in polished limestone with a golden tip on top

the workers inhabited a village found nearby

the only ancient wonder still standing

located in what used to be Babylon (today´s Iran)

its existence and location is debated

probably built by a Syrian queen Semiramis (or her husband)

the breath-taking terraces were made of trees, bushes and flowers

besides its eye-catching beauty, the structure of terraces would help the irrigation as well

originally built around 435 B.C.

it was over 12m tall

materials: ivory and gold

the figure is seated and dedicated to the Greek god, surrounded by pillars and colums

the statue was placed in the Temple of Zeus overlooking Olympia

the faith of the artefact is unknown - it might have been destroyed shortly after it was finished or moved to Constantinople (Istanbul) where is was destroyed by fire or collapsed in an earthquake

the landmark is located in the city of Ephesus (a Turkish city nowadays)

it was dedicated to the Greek goddess of hunt - Artemis

the columns were about 17m tall

it is believed that it was the first Greek temple entirely made of marble

the temple was destroyed multiple times - it was burned down and reconstructed by the citizens of Ephesus but later it was again destroyed during an invasion

today, only ruins remain

located in Halicarnassus, the capital city of an ancient region of Caria in Anatolia (part of the Persian Empire)

the construction of the tomb was planned by the Caria´s king and finished after his death by his wife/sister

the tomb was made of marble and surrounded by pillars

it is thought that the mausoleum was destroyed by an earthquake sometime between 11th-15thC

the stones were used for the construction of fortifications and other smaller buildings

built and revealed in Rhodes app. in 280 B.C.

portrayed the Greek god of Sun Helios

about 30m tall

made of bronze and iron, stood on a marble pedestal

made to honour the survivors of the Macedonian siege

destroyed by an eartquake

the pieces that survived were later destroyed as well and exported

dates back to app. 280 B.C. near Alexandria in Egypt

the first lighthouse

110m tall - used to be the second tallest monument in the world (after the pyramids in Giza)

it survived several earthquakes but it was weakened - it fell down after an eartquake in 1323

today, the ruins are underwater

It seems that many Ancient Wonders were destroyed by earthquakes. Why? Do you think that earthquakes were more common in the Ancient World than they are today?

How and who determines a monument to be ´a wonder´? What do you think are the criteria?

Can you name the ´7 Wonders of the New World´?