For some time now I've wanted to compile a list in this blog of my favorite architectural buildings. It is an art form that I have always admired yet never written much about. I feel that architecture is never fully embraced as an artform the same way as a painting or music. Perhaps it is because a building is sometimes overlooked by the sheer industry of which it represents. Yet on the contrary a built structure is a man made beacon of society that celebrates industry and culture at once.
I'm going to write a series of posts concerning the most famous of architecture. All of which is subjective to my personal preference of course. This first post will be my favorite ancient wonders, followed by modern wonders, cathedrals, and buildings. This study will give me a chance to better understand these incredible man made moments of culture and how they have lasted the test of time to truly become icons of an entire people.
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Before I begin to share my top ten favorite ancient wonders, I thought it fitting to begin with the 1st official list of wonders. These were the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, constructed before the age of Christ. Today only one of the seven still stands.
Great Pyramids of Giza
Culture: Egyptian
Date of Construction: 2584 BC
Date of Destruction: Still Stands
Location: Giza, Egypt
Hanging Garens of Babylon
Culture: Babylonia
Date of Construction: 600 BC
Date of Destruction: 1st Century AD (unknown cause)
Location: Hillah, Iraq
Temple of Artemis
Culture: Greek
Date of Construction: 550 BC
Date of Destruction: 356 BC (Destroyed by Herosratus plundering)
Location: Selcuk, Turkey
Statue of Zeus
Culture: Greek
Date of Construction: 466 BC
Date of Destruction: 5th century AD (Destroyed by fire)
Location: Olympia, Greece
Colossus of Rhodes
Culture: Greek
Date of Construction: 292 BC
Date of Destruction: 226 BC (Destroyed by earthquake)
Location: Rhodes, Greece
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Culture: Greek
Date of Construction: 351 BC
Date of Destruction: 12th Century AD (Destroyed by earthquake)
Location: Bodrum, Turkey
Lighthouse of Alexandria
Culture: Greeks
Date of Construction: 280 BC
Date of Destruction: 1303 AD (Destroyed by earthquake)
Location: Alexandria, Egypt
My Top Ten Favorite Ancient Wonders
10. Chichen Itza
Culture: Mayan (Mexican)
Date of Construction: 8th Century (800 AD)
Location: Yucatan, Mexico
Purpose: It was an ancient city built by the Mayan people. At the center of the city was it's most iconic structure, El Castillo. This was a temple to the god Kukulkan
Significance: This city, most notably El Castillo have become iconic symbols of the Mayan culture. At it's height it was one of the largest Mayan cities ever built and a center for trade, worship, and art. The Castillo stands 79 ft high, with four stairways of 91 steps, and a final step at the top to bring a total of 365 steps. Which represents the number of days in the MesoAmerican Haab calender.
9. Moai of Easter Island
Culture: Rapa Nui (Chilean/Polynesian Natives)
Date of Construction: 1250-1500 (250 years)
Location: Easter Island, Chile
Purpose: They were built as monuments to past chiefs and ancestors. The larger the statue the larger significance the chief had.
Significance: This assembly of over 900 statues known as the Moai has been considered a remarkable achievment in architecture for it's craftmanship as well as it's transportation. The stone statues range up to 33 feet high and weigh over 82 tons and are scattered along hillsides of Easter Island. The defining characteristic of the statues are the extremely large faces that make up almost half of the statues.
8. Petra
Culture: Nabataeans (Arabians)
Date of Construction: 5th Century BC
Location: Ma'an, Jordan
Purpose: It was originally built as a temple for the gods and tombs for the king yet it grew into a city within a cave.
Significance: The most iconic part of this cave city, is the temple facade known as Al Khazneh. Carved on a mountain side it serves as an entrance into the wonder. The site is full of ancient history, mythology, and mystery. I remember first learning of this wonder after watching Indiana Jones: The Last Crusade.
7. Stonehedge
Culture: British
Date of Construction: 3000 to 2000 BC
Location: Wiltshire, England
Purpose: It is believed to have been constructed as a burial holy site.
Significance: The construction is as one of the oldest standing structures built by mankind. Along with the Pyramids come many questions of how they were built and what exactly was the purpose of this structure. Some theories often suggest it was a center of supernatural significance. While it is such a simple design of large standing stones, it's the questions that make it such a wonder. The questions of how and why it has stood for so long.
6. Great Wall of China
Culture: Chinese
Date of Construction: 7th century BC
Location: China
Purpose: It was primarily built as a method of defense against nomadic tribes. It also later served a purpose as a border control.
Significance: Beginning with it's construction in the 7th century the Chinese dynasties continued to expand the wall along the Chinese border. It reached it's height of creation during the Qin dynasty of 200 BC. In it's entirety the wall measures over 13,000 miles, spreading over hills, forests, and the vast lands of China.
5. Angor Wat
Culture: Hindu (Indian)
Date of Construction: 12th Century
Comissioned by: King Suryavarman
Location: Angor, Cambodia
Purpose: It was constructed by the Khmer Empire as a Hindu temple for the god Vishnu as well as the state temple and mausoleum. It later transformed into becoming a Buddhist temple.
Significance: The design has become a symbol of Cambodian Hindu identity. It is built as temple representing a mountain and a homage to the gods of Hindu mythology. It utilizes sandstone as the structure's material, with towers rising over 200 ft. At a resounding 402 acres it is the largest religious monument still standing at present day.
4. Great Pyramids of Giza
Culture: Egyptian
Comissioned by: Pharoah Khufu
Date of Construction: 2584 BC (20 years)
Location: Giza, Egypt
Purpose: It is believed to have been built as a tomb for the Phaorah Khufu. It as was common practice for Egyptian royalty to be buried in great shrines in accordance to their beliefs of reincarnation.
Significance: It is the oldest man man structure standing for over 4000 years. At 481 feet tall it was the tallest man made structure for nearly 4000 years until it was surpassed in the year 1092 by the Lincoln Cathedral of Britain. There has been much speculation as to how the Egyptians were able to build such a monument with such limited tools. It has often become the source of great mystery making it for the perfect ancient wonder.
3. Parthenon
Culture: Greek
Date of Construction: 447 BC- 432 BC (15 years)
Style: Classical
Location: Athens, Greece
Purpose: It was dedicated to the Goddess, Athena
Significance: It has become the defining building of Greek culture, an ancient temple of Greek mythology. The structure stands high on hilltop to be seen by the entire city of Athens.
2. Machu Picchu
Culture: Incan (Peruvian)
Date of Construction: 1438-1472
Location: Cuzco, Peru
Purpose: It was built as an estate for the Incan emperor, Pachacuti.
Significance: Standing high on the Andes Mountains above the Sacred Valley, this small city has become an icon of Inca civilization. It is built of dry-stone walls in the classical style. It has often referred to as the Lost City of the Incas yet has become one of the most famous man-made wonders of our present day.
1. Colosseum
Culture: Roman
Date of Construction: 70-80 AD
Commissioned by: Emperor Vespasian
Location: Rome, Italy
Purpose: It was built as the largest ampitheater ever created to host mass events of the Roman Empire.
Significance: It is the iconic symbol of the glorious Roman Empire. During it's peak it could seat nearly 80,000 viewers of gladiatorial battles and other public spectacles.
I'm going to write a series of posts concerning the most famous of architecture. All of which is subjective to my personal preference of course. This first post will be my favorite ancient wonders, followed by modern wonders, cathedrals, and buildings. This study will give me a chance to better understand these incredible man made moments of culture and how they have lasted the test of time to truly become icons of an entire people.
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Before I begin to share my top ten favorite ancient wonders, I thought it fitting to begin with the 1st official list of wonders. These were the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, constructed before the age of Christ. Today only one of the seven still stands.
Great Pyramids of Giza
Culture: Egyptian
Date of Construction: 2584 BC
Date of Destruction: Still Stands
Location: Giza, Egypt
Hanging Garens of Babylon
Culture: Babylonia
Date of Construction: 600 BC
Date of Destruction: 1st Century AD (unknown cause)
Location: Hillah, Iraq
Temple of Artemis
Culture: Greek
Date of Construction: 550 BC
Date of Destruction: 356 BC (Destroyed by Herosratus plundering)
Location: Selcuk, Turkey
Statue of Zeus
Culture: Greek
Date of Construction: 466 BC
Date of Destruction: 5th century AD (Destroyed by fire)
Location: Olympia, Greece
Colossus of Rhodes
Culture: Greek
Date of Construction: 292 BC
Date of Destruction: 226 BC (Destroyed by earthquake)
Location: Rhodes, Greece
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Culture: Greek
Date of Construction: 351 BC
Date of Destruction: 12th Century AD (Destroyed by earthquake)
Location: Bodrum, Turkey
Lighthouse of Alexandria
Culture: Greeks
Date of Construction: 280 BC
Date of Destruction: 1303 AD (Destroyed by earthquake)
Location: Alexandria, Egypt
My Top Ten Favorite Ancient Wonders
10. Chichen Itza
Culture: Mayan (Mexican)
Date of Construction: 8th Century (800 AD)
Location: Yucatan, Mexico
Purpose: It was an ancient city built by the Mayan people. At the center of the city was it's most iconic structure, El Castillo. This was a temple to the god KukulkanSignificance: This city, most notably El Castillo have become iconic symbols of the Mayan culture. At it's height it was one of the largest Mayan cities ever built and a center for trade, worship, and art. The Castillo stands 79 ft high, with four stairways of 91 steps, and a final step at the top to bring a total of 365 steps. Which represents the number of days in the MesoAmerican Haab calender.
9. Moai of Easter Island
Culture: Rapa Nui (Chilean/Polynesian Natives)
Date of Construction: 1250-1500 (250 years)
Location: Easter Island, Chile
Purpose: They were built as monuments to past chiefs and ancestors. The larger the statue the larger significance the chief had.
Significance: This assembly of over 900 statues known as the Moai has been considered a remarkable achievment in architecture for it's craftmanship as well as it's transportation. The stone statues range up to 33 feet high and weigh over 82 tons and are scattered along hillsides of Easter Island. The defining characteristic of the statues are the extremely large faces that make up almost half of the statues.
8. Petra
Culture: Nabataeans (Arabians)
Location: Ma'an, Jordan
Purpose: It was originally built as a temple for the gods and tombs for the king yet it grew into a city within a cave.
Significance: The most iconic part of this cave city, is the temple facade known as Al Khazneh. Carved on a mountain side it serves as an entrance into the wonder. The site is full of ancient history, mythology, and mystery. I remember first learning of this wonder after watching Indiana Jones: The Last Crusade.
7. Stonehedge
Culture: British
Date of Construction: 3000 to 2000 BC
Location: Wiltshire, EnglandPurpose: It is believed to have been constructed as a burial holy site.
Significance: The construction is as one of the oldest standing structures built by mankind. Along with the Pyramids come many questions of how they were built and what exactly was the purpose of this structure. Some theories often suggest it was a center of supernatural significance. While it is such a simple design of large standing stones, it's the questions that make it such a wonder. The questions of how and why it has stood for so long.
6. Great Wall of China
Culture: Chinese
Date of Construction: 7th century BC
Location: China
Purpose: It was primarily built as a method of defense against nomadic tribes. It also later served a purpose as a border control.
Significance: Beginning with it's construction in the 7th century the Chinese dynasties continued to expand the wall along the Chinese border. It reached it's height of creation during the Qin dynasty of 200 BC. In it's entirety the wall measures over 13,000 miles, spreading over hills, forests, and the vast lands of China.
5. Angor Wat
Culture: Hindu (Indian)
Date of Construction: 12th CenturyComissioned by: King Suryavarman
Location: Angor, Cambodia
Purpose: It was constructed by the Khmer Empire as a Hindu temple for the god Vishnu as well as the state temple and mausoleum. It later transformed into becoming a Buddhist temple.
Significance: The design has become a symbol of Cambodian Hindu identity. It is built as temple representing a mountain and a homage to the gods of Hindu mythology. It utilizes sandstone as the structure's material, with towers rising over 200 ft. At a resounding 402 acres it is the largest religious monument still standing at present day.
4. Great Pyramids of Giza
Culture: EgyptianComissioned by: Pharoah Khufu
Date of Construction: 2584 BC (20 years)
Location: Giza, Egypt
Purpose: It is believed to have been built as a tomb for the Phaorah Khufu. It as was common practice for Egyptian royalty to be buried in great shrines in accordance to their beliefs of reincarnation.
Significance: It is the oldest man man structure standing for over 4000 years. At 481 feet tall it was the tallest man made structure for nearly 4000 years until it was surpassed in the year 1092 by the Lincoln Cathedral of Britain. There has been much speculation as to how the Egyptians were able to build such a monument with such limited tools. It has often become the source of great mystery making it for the perfect ancient wonder.
3. Parthenon
Culture: Greek
Date of Construction: 447 BC- 432 BC (15 years)Style: Classical
Location: Athens, Greece
Purpose: It was dedicated to the Goddess, Athena
Significance: It has become the defining building of Greek culture, an ancient temple of Greek mythology. The structure stands high on hilltop to be seen by the entire city of Athens.
2. Machu Picchu
Culture: Incan (Peruvian)
Date of Construction: 1438-1472Location: Cuzco, Peru
Purpose: It was built as an estate for the Incan emperor, Pachacuti.
Significance: Standing high on the Andes Mountains above the Sacred Valley, this small city has become an icon of Inca civilization. It is built of dry-stone walls in the classical style. It has often referred to as the Lost City of the Incas yet has become one of the most famous man-made wonders of our present day.
1. Colosseum
Culture: RomanDate of Construction: 70-80 AD
Commissioned by: Emperor Vespasian
Location: Rome, Italy
Purpose: It was built as the largest ampitheater ever created to host mass events of the Roman Empire.
Significance: It is the iconic symbol of the glorious Roman Empire. During it's peak it could seat nearly 80,000 viewers of gladiatorial battles and other public spectacles.
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