The New 7 Wonders of the World
New 7 Wonders of the World since 2007
Updated Version- Must-know information from the Wikipedia website:
The New 7 Wonders of the World (2000–2007) was a campaign started in the year 2000 to choose seven Wonders of the World from a selection of 200 existing nominated monuments. The popularity poll was led by Canadian-Swiss Bernard Weber and organized by the New7Wonders Foundation based in Zurich, Switzerland, with winners announced on 7 July 2007 in Lisbon. (The capital of Portugal)
But First, Why Might Number 7 Be Chosen to Represent the World's Wonders?
(...) Maybe many of us asked the same question at least once in our lives; Here's the most logical answer I could find:
Since the beginning of History, the number Seven has long been considered significant in many cultures and religions around the world. In ancient times, it was associated with completeness and perfection. Therefore, there are several reasons why the number seven might have been chosen for the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World:
- Cultural significance: The number seven held symbolic importance in many ancient cultures, including those of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece. It was often associated with celestial bodies, days of the week, and other natural phenomena.
- Religious significance: In Judeo-Christian tradition, the number seven is frequently mentioned in the Bible, such as the seven days of creation in Genesis or the seven seals, trumpets, and plagues in the Book of Revelation. This could have influenced the selection of seven wonders.
- Geographical scope: The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was meant to showcase the most remarkable man-made structures across various regions of the ancient world. Choosing seven may have provided a manageable number while still representing a diverse range of civilizations and achievements.
- Literary tradition: The concept of listing seven wonders dates back to ancient Greek literature. The earliest known list of Seven Wonders was compiled by Antipater of Sidon, a Greek poet, around 140 BCE. This list included structures such as the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, considered marvels of the ancient world.
- Memorability: Seven is often considered a memorable number, making it well-suited for creating lists or categorizing items. This could have contributed to its adoption of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, ensuring that the chosen structures would be easily remembered and referenced.
Overall, the selection of the number seven for the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World likely stems from a combination of cultural, religious, and practical factors, as well as its longstanding significance in human history and symbolism.
There's no doubt that the Seven Wonders of the World are some of the most impressive man-made structures in history. From the Great Pyramid of Giza to the Taj Mahal, these ancient wonders have resisted the test of time and remain some of the most popular tourist destinations on the planet.
The world is a beautiful place. From the majestic mountains to the vast oceans, there’s so much to explore. And while there are countless wonders to behold, there are seven that stand out above the rest. Today, and just for those who don’t acknowledge or want to learn what the new 7 Wonders of the world are, this article is written for you.
But before we start, it is useful and somehow an act of respect, to have a quick look over the classic Seven Wonders of the Ancient Era, that were raised on this throne hundreds of years ago. In a random list, here are the seven old marvels:
1. Colossus of Rhodes.
2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
3. Statue of Zeus at Olympia.
4. Lighthouse of Alexandria.
5. Great Pyramid of Giza.
6. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
7. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.
Actually, none of those monuments still standing due to natural factors (earthquakes or others), but only one among them all, and we can visit also; The Pyramid of Giza, in Egypt.
However, the world is an amazing place. With so many different cultures, natural wonders, and architectural marvels, it's hard to believe that there are only seven official "New 7 Wonders of the World". But unfortunately, that's exactly what the New7Wonders Foundation has chosen. (The list below) So, let's get back to our initial topic: The New 7 Wonders of the World.
So Then, Who Wins The New 7 World's Wonders of Today?
Voted on by over 100,000,000 (1M) people all over the planet, the New Seven was declared in Lisboa, the Portuguese Republic, on July 7, 2007.
So let’s begin discovering our listing as it appears in the New7Wonders Foundation journal:
1- CHRIST THE REDEEMER, RIO-BRAZIL
Christ the Redeemer, an iconic statue perched atop the Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, stands as a symbol of faith, strength, and unity. Inaugurated in October. 12, 1931, on the highest summit of Cordova Mountain, raising his arms over the famous Rio’s Bay, this awe-inspiring monument overlooks the vibrant cityscape and the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean below.
Although it is not a very new sight, it was the biggest art-deco sculpture in the world, at that time. We could use a kind of train passing through a wide evergreen forest to reach the base of the statue, 2350 feet up to the mountain. A panoramic elevator and a motorized stair were added later in September 2002, making the ride of 220 steps to the top much easier for visitors.
Brilliant throughout the day, charming and glittery once dark, makes from this monument deserves its new nomination.
With outstretched arms embracing the sky, Christ the Redeemer embodies the spirit of Christianity and welcomes visitors from around the globe with its serene presence. As one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, it serves as a testament to human ingenuity and remains a beloved symbol of Rio's rich cultural heritage and spiritual significance.
A panoramic elevator and a motorized stair were added later in September 2002, making the ride of 220 steps to the top much easier for visitors. As one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, it serves as a testament to human ingenuity and remains a beloved symbol of Rio's rich cultural heritage and spiritual significance.
2- THE ROMAN COLOSSEUM, ITALY
Another standing still of the new wonders of the planet is also not new; the construction was started in AD72, and the completion of the Colosseum was in AD80. Built on the location of a large lake in the center of Rome, it had been the foremost spectacular building of the Roman Empire.
Extended for several days, it had been accustomed to entertaining the crowd with free games to show the power of the present Emperor. It sometimes started with humorous plays, and displays of animals and then escalated to "fights-to-the-death" between animals and between Gladiators and animals, or sometime between Gladiators themselves.
Nowadays it's the foremost recognizable of Rome's Classical buildings that accommodate about half dozen thousand sitting and ten thousand standing, all of whom might disperse in a very matter of minutes, because of the eighty entrances. Its restoration began in the eighteenth century under the guidance of Pope Benedict who declared it sanctified. Currently one among the New 7 Wonders of the World.
3- THE GREAT WALL of CHINA
Engineered over 2000 years ago by the primary Emperor of China - Qin Shi Huangdi - to keep the Mongols out of China, the Great Wall expends five hundred miles from east to west.
Guard stations and watchtowers were built in addition to the original ones. It has been eventually abandoned and these days only a few parts of the wall exist. Construction of the Great Wall began in the 7th century BC. The Great Wall of China is the longest man-made structure in the world. It stretches for over 21,000 kilometers.
This is often one of the few structures that may be seen from Earth Orbit.
At a glance, The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications made of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood, and other materials, generally built along an east-to-west line across the historical northern borders of China to protect the Chinese states and empires against the raids and invasions of the various nomadic groups of the Eurasian Steppe. Therefore the Great Wall is currently one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
4- MACHU PICCHU, PERU
Machu Picchu set high within the mountain range Mountains, lies 43 miles northwest of town at the highest of a ridge, within the Urubamba natural valley. It had been engineered between 1460 AD and 1470 AD by Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui an Inca ruler.
The town has an altitude of 8,000 feet and is believed to possess either a royal estate or a spiritual retreat. Unknown to the modern world for hundreds of years, Hiram Bingham is claimed to have discovered it in 1911, since then it's become a travelers’ attraction.
There are many ways to get to Machu Picchu, by train from town directly to the small village at an all-time low of the mountain, then by old buses that drive-thru and finish up the trip facet to a plaza where there are an eating place and restaurant with outside picnic tables, advised for adventurers and nature lovers.
5- CHITZEN ITZA, MEXICO
The Kukulkan Pyramid, referred to as El Castillo, was probably built by the Mayan peoples between 1000 - 1200 AD (around the Sixth Century) in Chichen Itza, located in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula near the city of Valladolid, in Mexico. A magnificent Pyramid-Temple.
It was dedicated to the Feathered Serpent, Quetzalcoatl (known among the Maya people as Kukulkan, which is the name of a Maya snake deity that also serves to designate historical persons.
It has been restored to its original state, with a temple on the top, and steps leading to it. Chitzen Itza, which incorporates the Kukulkan Pyramid, is currently one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
6- PETRA, JORDAN
Located south of the capital of the Jordanian Kingdom and north of Aqaba, Petra is the inheritance of the Nabataeans, a roving Arab who settled in southern Jordan over 2000 years ago. The town was hidden away for several centuries and wasn't discovered until 1812 by a Swiss UN agent.
Petra, the rock-carved chromatic town, currently one of the 7 Wonders of the World, won't disappoint any of its visitors. The first impression of the Petra site, was the spectacular monument, the Treasury (or rather El-Khazneh) which is an engraved facade glowing within the sun. Its age of 400 years ago with more than 800 individual monuments, as well as tombs, baths, funerary halls, temples, arched gateways, and columned streets, all engraved in arenaceous rocks by the inventive inhabitants, made from it deserve its new nomination.
The whole layout is just too wide and contains several monuments for visitors to visualize in a short time. Their neighboring include some hotels, where guests will reside, and restaurants to dine at, allowing guests to remain for a couple of days.
Note, that the best times to visit the site are early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
7- The Taj Mahal, INDIA
At the end of this article, we arrived at the last one of the seven Wonders; and this time we are directed to the Fareast: To India. This monument differs from the others; it incorporates a memory of love, built starting in 1632 by the Mogal Emperor Shah Jahan, for his favorite wife, Queen - Mumtaz Mahal.
It's a sepulture or tomb that homes her grave and it is coated entirely with white marble.
The central dome of the Mausoleum is flanked by four smaller domes and 4 slender Minarets, that rise 162 feet. The entire edifice is embellished with decorated styles of flowers. It comprises the main entrance, a mosque, gardens, and alternative palatial buildings, on the banks of the Jamuna River.
The large garden contains four reflective pools, dividing it into two equal parts. With the sepulture located at the northern tip, every part of the Mausoleum is independent of another, giving it the distinctive look recognized by people everywhere in the world.
These new 7 wonders of the world are truly amazing edifices of engineering and architecture, and they offer visitors a chance to experience some of the most incredible sights in the world. If you're planning a trip, then the best destination is one or more of those sites that include those marvels...