Lighthouse of Alexandria

The purpose of the lighthouse is to guide sailors into harbors at night. It serves as light that gives the sailors light if ever they wander.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria, also known as the Pharos of Alexandria, was a tower built between 280 and 247 BC on the island of Pharos at Alexandria, Egypt to guide sailors into the harbor at night. With a height variously estimated at between 120–140 m (390–460 ft), it was for many centuries among the tallest man-made structures, and was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

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The Lighthouse of Alexandria was originally referred to as the Pharos after the name of the former island where it finally stood. Pharos gave its name to the building and is used as a word for ‘lighthouse’ in several languages (the word phare in French and faro in Italian and Spanish)

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was constructed in the ancient city which was founded by Alexander the Great and it achieved growth and prosperity for almost 1000 years. The city was described by the writer Strabo as ‘the greatest emporium in the inhabited world’. Within fifty years of the founding of the city it became the major commercial center of the ancient Mediterranean and the richest city of antiquity. The entrance to Alexandria was one of the most important ports of the Mediterranean. Trading ships flocked to the city but because of dangerous sailing conditions and the flat coastline, the construction of a lighthouse became necessary.

The Pharaohs Ptolemy I and Ptolemy II utilized the skills of Sostratus, the son of Dexiphanes, the Conidian who was the architect of the Lighthouse.  Sostratus was a wealthy Alexandrian courtier and a diplomat. Sostratus officially inaugurated the Lighthouse and the dedication on the monument, according to Strabo, read: “Sostratus the Conidian, friend of the sovereigns, dedicated this, for the safety of those who sail the seas”.

The interior of the Lighthouse of Alexandria was massive. It is believed that 364 rooms were built in the Pharos Lighthouse measuring form ten to twenty cubits square. The rooms were designed with vents and windows in order to absorb gusts of wind against the lighthouse reducing the risk of collapse. There were also a series of wide 72 ramps creating access to the top of the lighthouse. The rooms were covered with beams of teakwood and an arch of stones, cemented and decorated. The viewing galleries constructed on the second and third levels of the structure where visitors could experience a view from nearly 400 feet high. Important visitors would be lavishly entertained in rooms allocated for this purpose.

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A series of earthquakes from the 10th to the 14th century contributed to the destruction of the Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria. However, the fabulous Pharos Lighthouse survived until the middle Ages when it was believed to have been attacked in 1365 by the Cypriot king, Pierre I de Lusignan who sacked Alexandria. The site of the Pharos Lighthouse is covered by the Islamic Fort of Kait Bay which was built on, and from, some the ruins of the collapsed lighthouse. The lasting remains of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the last of the Seven Wonders of the World, lie underwater near the entrance to Alexandria’s Eastern Harbor.

Sources: www.king-tut.org.uk

                en.wikipedia.org

Taj Mahal of India

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India. It is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Taj Mahal is considered to be the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Islamic and Indian architectural styles.

TheEntrance

Shah Jahan travelled from the fort to the tomb by boat. Court histories describes his arrival on the riverside of the monument and his ascent to its terrace by the way of the embankment. This approach, however, was reserved for the emperor and members of his party. Others passed through a large courtyard, a jilokhana to enter to the main gateway on the south. This courtyard was a place where travellers halted. Here, also, the poor were provided with food and shelter, and on every death anniversary of Mumtaz, vast sums were distributed in charity.

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The tomb

The Tai Mahal is situated more than 900 ft. (275 m) away from the entrance at the opposite end of the garden. Towering almost 200 ft. (76m) in height, the tomb stands on its own marble plinth, which rests on a red sandstone platform that serves to the level the land as it slopes to the river. Four tall minarets rise up from the corners of the white marble plinth. Thye taper to a majestic height of 138 ft and are crowned with eight windowed cupolas.

The marble mausoleum is square in plan with chamfered corners. Each facade of the tomb is composed of a grand iwan framed by bands of calligraphy. The doorways inside these iwans are also adorned with calligraphy. The iwan is flanked on both sides by small double arches one over the other. They are rectangualr while the arched alcoves of equal size at the angles of the tomb are semi-octagonal. Each

section in the facade is well demarked on both sides by attached pilasters which rising from the plinth level of the tomb rise above the frieze and are crowned by beautiful pinnacles with lotus buds and finials. The pinnacles ornament the superstructure and help along with the other features to break the skyline gracefully.

The Garden

A green carpet of garden, a Persian garden, runs from the main gateway to thefoot of the taj Mahal. Such gardens were introduced to India by Babur, the first Mughal emperor, who also brought with him the Persian infatuation with flowers and fruit, birds and leaves, symmetry and delicacy. The Persian Garden was artificially contrived, unbashedly manmade, based on geometric arrangements of nature without any attempt at a “natural”look.

The Mosque

On either side of the Taj Mahal are buildings of red sandstone. The one to the west is the Mosque. It faces towards the Mecca and is used for prayer. The greenery shaded structure, measuring 19ft.by 6.5 ft.marks the site where the remains of Mumtaz Mahal were deposited when first brought to Agra. From this temporary grave they were removed to their present place of internment in the mausoleum.

Another World's Wonder which became famous throughout the whole world. The Taj Mahal of India.

Resources: www.taj-mahal-india-travel.com

                      en.wikipedia.org

Colossus of Rhodes

The Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of the Greek god Helios, erected in the city of Rhodes on the Greek island of Rhodes by Charles of Lidos between 292 and 280 BC. It is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Before its destruction, the Colossus of Rhodes stood over 30 meters (107 ft) high, making it one of the tallest statues of the ancient world.

Ancient accounts, which differ to some degree, describe the structure as being built with iron tie bars to which brass plates were fixed to form the skin. The interior of the structure, which stood on a 15-meter- (50-foot-) high white marble pedestal near the Mandraki harbor entrance, was then filled with stone blocks as construction progressed. Other sources place the Colossus on a breakwater in the harbor. The statue itself was over 30 meters (107 ft) tall. Much of the iron and bronze was reforged from the various weapons Demetrius army left behind, and the abandoned second siege tower was used for scaffolding around the lower levels during construction. Upper portions were built with the use of a large earthen ramp. During the building, workers would pile mounds of dirt on the sides of the colossus. Upon completion all of the dirt was removed and the colossus was left to stand alone. After twelve years, in 280 BC, the statue was completed. Preserved in Greek anthologies of poetry is what is believed to be the genuine dedication text for the Colossus.

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The purpose of the construction of the Colossus of Rhodes was to celebrate the victory in war against Demetrius army. The Rhodesians defended their homeland and the army of Demetrius was retreated as a result of that war. People of Rhodes sold all the equipment left by Demetrius in order to bear the construction expenses of Colossus.

The Colossus of Rhodes remained intact for 56-years only before it was brought down by a severe earthquake in 224BC. The earthquake broke it up and for about 800years the remains were left where it fell. It is said that in 654 AD, the Arab force under Muslim Caliph Muawiya h captured Rhodes and sold the relics of Colossus of Rhodes to a Jewish merchant.

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Though it can’t be seen today but we believe that people can really build such wonder with a real true purpose. It was consider as the ancient wonder but in today’s world people can build it by using modern equipment.

Source: en.wikipedia.org

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

In 377 BC, the City ofHalicarnassus was the capital of a small kingdom along the Mediterranean coast of Asia Minor. It was in that year that the ruler of this land, Hecatomnus of Mylasa, died and left control of the kingdom to his son, Mausolus Hecatomnus, a local satrap to the Persians, had been ambitious and had taken control of the neighboring cities and districts. Mausolus in his time, extended the territory even further so that it finally included most of southwestern Asia Minor.

Mausolus with his queen Artemissa, ruled over Halicarnassus and the surrounding territory for 24 years. Mausolus, though he was descended from the local people, spoke Greek and admired the Greek way of life and government. He founded many cities of Greek design along the coast and encouraged the Greek democratic traditions.

When he died (353 B.C.) leaving his queen Artemisia, who was also his sister (it was their custom to marry their own sister), broken –hearted. As a tribute to him, she decided to build him the most splendid tomb in the known world. She sent messengers to Greece to find the most talented artists of the time.

The tomb was erected on a hill overlooking the city. The whole structure sat in an enclosed courtyard. At the center of the courtyard was a stone platform on which the tomb itself sat. A staircase, flanked by stone lions, led to the top of this platform. Along the outer wall of this were many statues depicting gods and goddess. At each corner stone warriors, mounted on horseback, guarded the tomb.

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At the center of the platform was the tomb itself. Made mostly of marble, the structure rose as a square, tapering block to about one-third of the Mausoleum’s 140 feet height. This section was covered with relief sculpture showing action scenes from the Greek myth/history.

Today these works of art stand in the Mausoleum Room at the British Museum. There the images of Mausolus and his queen forever watch over the few broken remains of the beautiful tomb she built for him.

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Built for her husband but become the world’s wonder.

Resources: http://www.unmuseum.org

                  En.wikipedia.org   

Machu Picchu: Peru

Machu Picchu, “Old Mountain” is a pre-Columbian Inca site located 2,430 meters (7,970 ft) above sea level. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is 80 kms.northwest of Cuzco and through which the Urubamba River flows. This was another wonder of the world which was discovered after the centuries that it was considered as the lost city.

Everything inside this city from the complex and refined gardens to the multifaceted bridges and channels was intended to give the travelers and locals an idea about the blessed relationship of nature and mankind.

Machu Picchu was constructed around 1450, at the height of the Inca empire, and was abandoned less than 100 years later, as the empire collapse under Spanish conquest. Over the centuries, the surrounding jungle grew to enshroud the site, and few knew of its existence.

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In 1911, Yale historian and explorer Hiram Bingham brought the “lost” city to the world's attention. Bingham and others hypothesized that the citadel was the traditional birthplace of the Inca people or the spiritual center of the “virgins of the sun,” while curators of a recent exhibit have speculated that Machu Picchu was a royal retreat.

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It is thought that the site was chosen for its unique location and geological features. It is said that the silhouette of the mountain range behind Machu Picchu represents the face of the Inca looking upward towards the sky, with thelargest peak, Huayna Picchu (meaning Young Peak), representing his pierced nose.

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In visiting the city, you can see many historic and magnificient attractions. The first attraction you will see when you enter the ruins is the Temple of the Sun. however entering the temple is not allowed and yet this condition does carry much impact because the sight of the exterior architecture that you can witness is enough to create a lasting impression about this rich ruins of the past.

The Royal Tomb-is a cave like structure, which houses an outstanding stepped altar and a progression of niches. Down the stairs of Royal Tomb is awater canal and a chain of interrelated fountains.

Chamberof the Princess-Situated next to the templeof the Sun is the two-story Chamber of the

Princess. This structure and the nearby structures give travelers thechance to imagining how the buildings look like duiring the Incan period.

Intihuatana-it is obvious that hiking is avery important activity for you to see the whole of Machu Picchu. And you will do the same if you want to see and visit one of the most important shrines in the area. Intihuatana is a captivating carved wood that imitates the blessed peak rising ahead of the ruins.

Carved, designed and made with hands but surely became the World's Wonder.

Resources: http://www.iho-ohi.org

                en.wikipedia.org

Famous Goddess Temple: World's Wonder

A famous temple was built in olden times and became one of the world's wonder. This is the temple of Artemis also known less precisely as temple of Diana. This same with other world's wonder this was created for the purpose of their goddess but as centuries passed it became the world's wonder.



The Temple of Artemis was a Greek temple dedicated to a goddess Greeks identified as Artemis that was completed, its most famous phase,around 550 BC at Ephesus (in present day Turkey ). Though the monument was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient world, only foundations and sculptural fragments of the temple remain. There was previous temples on its site, where evidence of a a sanctuary dates as early as the Bronze Age. The whole temple was made of marble except for the roof.

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Artemis was a Greek Goddess, the virginal huntress and twin of Apollo, who supplanted the Titan Selene as goddess of the Moon. Of the Olympian goddesses who inherited aspects of the Great Goddess of Crete. Athena was more honored than Artemis at Athens. At Ephesus, a goddess whom the Greeks associated with Artemis was passionately venerated in an archaic, certainly pre-Hellenic that was carved of wood and kept decorated with jewelry.

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The temple soon attracted merchants, kings, and sightseers, many of them donated jewelry and other treasures to Artemis and her temple. Its splendor also attracted many worshipers and pilgrims, strengthening the cult of Artemis.

On July 21,356 BC, the nigh Alexander the Great was born, legend has it that a psychopathic arsonist intent on immorality set fire to the temple. Plutarch remarked that Artemis was too preoccupied with Alexander's delivery to save her burning temple.

Many more things to describe about this temple but to see its beauty is to visit its site. This is just another wonder made with hands but now became one of the World's Wonder.





Resources: en.wikipedia.org
                 sacred-destinations.com