Seven Wonders of the World | General Awareness & Knowledge - Bank Exams PDF Download

Introduction

The Seven Wonders of the World, both ancient and modern, represent remarkable human creativity and architectural brilliance. While the classical wonders epitomize timeless perfection, more recent sites like Angkor Wat reflect deep cultural and historical importance. Explore the Seven Wonders of the World, both old and new.

7 Wonders of the World

• Great Pyramid of Giza – Egypt
• Hanging Gardens of Babylon – Ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq)
• Statue of Zeus at Olympia – Greece
• Temple of Artemis at Ephesus – Turkey
• Mausoleum at Halicarnassus – Turkey
• Colossus of Rhodes – Greece
• Lighthouse of Alexandria – Egypt

These wonders were renowned for their grandeur and the feats of engineering they represented. Sadly, except for the Great Pyramid of Giza, all have been destroyed by natural disasters or human actions.

8th Wonder of The World: Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat in Cambodia has been named the 8th Wonder of the World. Angkor Wat is the largest religious structure in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple was built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II.

The title of "Eighth Wonder of the World" is also used for other amazing new buildings, projects, or designs.
Some other options for the 8th Wonder of the World are:

• Mitre Peak in Milford Sound, New Zealand
• Deadvlei Clay Pan in Namibia
• Torres del Paine National Park in Chile
• The rock-hewn churches of Lalibela in Ethiopia
• Stonehenge in England

Original 7 Wonders of the World

• Great Pyramid of Giza - Located in Egypt
• Hanging Gardens of Babylon - Built near the Euphrates River in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq)
• Statue of Zeus at Olympia - Found in Greece
• Temple of Artemis at Ephesus - Situated in Turkey
• Mausoleum at Halicarnassus - Located in Turkey
• Colossus of Rhodes - Found in Greece
• Lighthouse of Alexandria - Situated in Egypt

Ancient Greek poets described the Hanging Gardens of Babylon as gardens planted up to 75 feet high on a large square brick terrace.
The New 7 Wonders Foundation was founded in 2001 by Bernard Weber, a Swiss-born Canadian filmmaker, author, and adventurer. The foundation's goal is to protect the world's human-made and natural heritage.

New 7 Wonders of the World

Here is a list of seven wonders of the world of some of the most impressive buildings, including the

In 2000, the Swiss Foundation started the campaign for selecting the New Seven Wonders. The announcement for the new Seven Wonders was in 2007, and the whole list was made public.

List of 7 Wonders of the World

New Seven Wonders of World

1. The Colosseum

• The Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, is a remarkable structure in Rome.
• In AD 80, Titus, Vespasian's son, unveiled this grand amphitheatre for 100 days of games with gladiators and animals.
• It stands out as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
• Despite significant damage to about two-thirds of the original building, it remains a popular tourist destination.

2. Machu Picchu 

• An ancient Incan location in Peru named Machu Picchu was discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911.
• It is among the 7 Must-See Sites globally.
• It is located near the town of Cuzco.
• Vilcabamba, a hidden Incan refuge utilized during the 16th-century uprising against Spanish authority, turned out to be what he believed it to be.
• It is among the rare extensive pre-Columbian remains identified nearly completely intact.

3. Petra

• Petra is a fascinating ancient city located in the south of Jordan. It is also called Raqmu or Rose City because of its color.
• It is recognized as one of the 7 Wonders of the World.
• The city of Petra was likely established by the Nabataean people, a nomadic Arab tribe native to the region of southwest Jordan.
• Located about 150 miles south of Jerusalem and Amman, the capital of Jordan, Petra was positioned midway between Damascus, Syria, and the Red Sea, making it a significant hub for trade in the area.

4. Taj Mahal

• Agra, India's Taj Mahal is a grand marble tomb complex showcasing Mughal architecture.
• Shah Jahan constructed it in memory of his spouse Mumtaz, also known as the "Chosen One of the Palace," who died in 1631 after having their 14th offspring.
• Being part of the New 7 Wonder of the World, the Taj Mahal engaged around 20,000 craftsmen overseen by a group of skilled architects.

5. Cristo Redentor (OR) Christ the Redeemer Statue

• On Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro, the Christ the Redeemer Statue, also called Cristo Redentor, is a statue of Jesus in the Art Deco style.
• Heitor da Silva Costa designed a 130-foot statue made of reinforced concrete and soapstone.
• The construction cost was about $250,000, mostly from contributions.
• The statue weighs 635 tonnes and is located on the Peak of Corcovado Mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park, offering views of Rio de Janeiro.

6. Great Wall of China

• The Great Wall of China is an impressive piece of engineering. It is thought to be around 5,500 miles (8,850 km) in length according to some estimates, but the Chinese argue it spans 13,170 kilometres (21,200 km).
• Construction of the Great Wall of China happened over a span of two thousand years, commencing in the 7th century BCE.
• Back then, the Great Wall of China served multiple purposes such as managing commerce and migration, regulating borders, levying taxes on Silk Road transactions, and safeguarding the territory.

7. Chichén Itzá

• A Mayan city in Mexico is known as Chichen Itza.
• It is situated on the Yucatán Peninsula, which was prosperous in the ninth and tenth centuries A.D.
• In later Mesoamerican stories, Chichen Itza is believed to be one of the legendary great cities, or Tollans.
• The ancient structures in the city are remnants of the Maya Civilization, featuring the Temple of Kukulkán.

• The Temple of Kukulkán has 365 steps, each representing a day in the Haab solar calendar.

  

How were the Seven Wonders of the World Chosen?

The Seven Wonders of the World were first cataloged by the Greek historian Herodotus in the 5th century BC, based on the most impressive structures he encountered during his travels. The modern list, however, was established in 2007 through a global voting process.
Millions of people from around the world cast their votes for their favorite wonders, and the seven with the most votes were selected. While there are no strict criteria for being named a Wonder of the World, these sites are typically recognized for their architectural and engineering significance, historical importance, beauty, and aesthetic appeal.