What Destroyed the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World?

_Elsa_

‘The Great Pyramid of Giza was built in 2570 BC and is still standing today. It is believed to have taken 20 years and as many as 100,000 workers to complete the Great Pyramid, which was built as a tomb for the 4th dynasty Egyptian pharaoh named Khufu. It was built as part of a complex that included temples and many other pyramids.

The outermost stones of the pyramid were highly polished white limestone, which were eventually loosened by an earthquake more than 600 years ago and were removed to help build cities and mosques. When these casing stones were present, some believe that the pyramid was so large and bright that it could be seen from the moon.

There is much speculation about the construction methodologies and intentions of the pyramid, including references to the moon, the Orion constellation, continental gravity, and more. What is known, however, is that the four sides of the base are more than 700 feet long and differ in length by no more than 8 inches. Each side of the pyramid is almost perfectly aligned with the four cardinal points of the compass. And the pyramid's dimensions covert to a ratio that equates to 2π with nearly perfect accuracy.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon was built in 600 BC and was destroyed by earthquake in 226 BC. The first and most interesting fact about the gardens is that there is significant controversy about whether the gardens existed at all.

Whether they did or did not exist, there are many elaborate accounts and poetic descriptions of the gardens. They are generally believed to have been built by King Nebuchadrezzar II for his wife because she missed the gardens of her home. Some research suggests that it was an elaborate series of rooftop gardens. Another theory suggests that the gardens were built in the walls of the royal palace.

Babylon, being in the middle of the desert, had no such natural greenery, however; calling into question of how such lushness would have survived in the dryness of the desert. Recent excavations have suggested the use of an exceptional system of irrigation using a cellar well in conjunction with a chain pump to raise the water to the gardens. Still, other theories even suggest that the gardens weren't in Babylon at all. Rather, that they were constructed by Sennacherib at the eastern bank of the Tigris river.

Regardless of the final outcome, it is interesting to note that the imagination of the poets and ancient historians have created one of the Wonders of the World.

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus (Ἀρτεμίσιον) was built in 550 BC and was destroyed by fire in 356 BC. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was built and rebuilt over the course of many years. The most famous was built in about 550 BC and was funded by King Croesus of Lydia.

Unlike many other temples of its time, it was built of marble and glittered with gold. The temple's foundation was over 180 by 350 feet and its steps led to a high platform on which stood more than one hundred beautifully sculptured columns that supported its roof. At least twice the size of the Parthenon, it was so breathtaking it was said to rise to the clouds.

The temple housed many incredible works of art, but the most famous was the statue of Artemis herself. Although the original no longer exists, it was thought to have been made of gold and other beautiful materials. Her legs were covered with animals and bees and the top of the body covered with breasts symbolizing fertility.

Although destroyed and rebuilt many times, and ultimately left to be destroyed by man, nature and neglect, the most famous version of the temple was destroyed by arson committed by a man named Herostratus on the night Alexander the Great was born.’ (Source) 

Let’s continue - The destruction of the seven worlds continued …………….

Start at the beginning – Jean-Luc travels through time