The New Seven Wonders of the World
Posted by admin in History World Wonders on May 25, 2011
The New Seven Wonders of the World is something that the numerous people would like to see. Travelers enjoy to see the 7 New Wonders if they go via river or ocean cruise. In the year 2007, July the results of the New 7 Wonders of the World were publicized in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. It was in the year 2009 that the campaign was started to select the new 7 man-made wonders of the world. The people all around the globe came forward to nominate their favorite choices. In January 2006 the International panel of judges was formed. These 21 finalists were later on posted at the site of New 7 Wonders. There were more than 100 million votes from all around the globe which decided upon the seven winners.
The notion of choosing the New 7 Wonders was derived by the Ancient 7 Wonders of the World; these were compiled in 200 B.C by Philon of Byzantium. The list given by Philon was used as a travel guide by other people in Athens, it was seen that all the sites which were man-made were situated in the Mediterranean Sea basin. Regrettably, now only one of the original 7 wonders of the olden world is in existence today, this is The Pyramids of Egypt. The other 6 early wonders were: the Temple of Artemis, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Statue of Zeus, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus.
o The Taj Mahal in India
o Petra in Jordan
o The Great Wall of China in northern China
o Chichen Itza in Mexico
o The Statue of Christ Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro
o Machu Picchu in Peru
o The Colosseum in Rome Read the rest of this entry »
The Great Pyramids of Giza – World Wonders
Posted by admin in History World Wonders on May 25, 2011
The Great Pyramids of Giza are part of the Giza Necropolis that includes the three prominent pyramids of Menkaura (Mycerimus), Khufu (Cheops), and Khafra (Chephren). The Giza Necropolis is also home to the Great Sphinx, several cemeteries, an industrial complex as well as a laborer’s village. Pyramids were constructed and named to contain the corpses of deceased Pharaohs who had at one time reigned over Ancient Egypt.
The Egyptian people believed that death was merely the beginning of another journey. For that reason, pyramids were constructed not just as burial places but also as vaults with the capacity to hold items the departed Pharaohs would need in the next life. The Great Pyramids of Giza are situated west of the Nile River, near Cairo, Egypt, and are believed to have been built between 2300 B.C. and 2500 B.C.
The largest and most magnificent of the Great Pyramids and the only remaining Seven Wonder of the Ancient world still largely intact today is the Pyramid of Khufu (Greek name, Cheops). Experts believe that the Great Pyramid of Khufu was constructed as the burial place for Khufu, a Fourth Dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh. Spanning 13 acres, the Great Pyramid of Khufu is generally thought to be composed over two million stone blocks weighing an average of two tons. Although there are several theories, it is generally thought that the Egyptians moved the massive stones using log rollers and sledges. With the slope of the faces at approximately 51.5 degrees, the Great Pyramid of Khufu is 241 meters (756 feet) square and 153 meters (481 feet) tall. Completing the trio of pyramids is the pyramid of Khufu’s son, Khafra and his grandson, Menkaura. Oblique walls originally constructed to imitate the rays of Ra, the sun God, were assembled as stairs and then filled in using limestone.
The Great Pyramid of Giza contains three identified chambers. The King and Queen’s chambers are elevated above the lowest chamber. The lowest chamber is carved into the rock layer upon the base of the pyramid and was unfinished. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the sole Egyptian pyramid proven to have both upward and downward passageways. The major section of the Giza complex is a grouping of structures made up of two mortuary shrines in honor of Khufu (one near the pyramid and one close to the Nile), three lesser pyramids for the wives of Khufu, an even less significant outpost pyramid, an elevated walkway linking the two temples, and small rectangular tombs, called mastabas for nobles. Read the rest of this entry »