Did you know that the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World began as a travel guide for tourists?
In the fourth century BC, writers Antipater of Sidon and Philon of Byzantium composed a number of destination guides for places in and around the Mediterranean. It was in these travel guides that they put together the first “seven wonders” list of the must-see attractions of their time.
7. Lighthouse of Alexandria
Date: Approximately 280 BC
Location: Alexandria, Egypt
Built in approximately 280 BC, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was 383 to 440 feet tall, making it the tallest of the seven ancient wonders. It was built on the island of Pharos to guide boats into the harbor at night and was said to be visible from up to twenty-nine miles away.
The lighthouse was damaged in a series of earthquakes in 956, 1303, and 1323. Qaitbay, the Sultan of Egypt, eventually built the Citadel of Qaitbay over its remains.
Visit: Today, travelers can visit and tour the Citadel of Qaitbay, which includes information about the lighthouse. Visitors can also go diving in Alexandria’s eastern harbor to see the remnants of the lighthouse on the sea floor.
6. Colossus of Rhodes
Date: Approximately 290 BC
Location: Rhodes, Greece
The Colossus of Rhodes was a giant, towering statue of the Greek god Helios—god of the sun. At 110 feet tall, he stood straddling the entrance to the city’s harbor. It was one of the tallest statues of the ancient world and was built using money received from selling the equipment of a defeated invading army.
Rhodes was hit with an earthquake in 225 BC, and the statue was destroyed after standing for only approximately fifty-six years. It is said that the statue snapped at the knees.
Visit: Today, travelers can visit the city of Rhodes, but the location of the ruins of Colossus is unknown. In 2008, it was announced that the statue would be rebuilt as an innovative light sculpture that visitors would be able to enter—a big departure from the original Colossus.
