Things like this fascinate me, it seems such a shame to me that now only one of these wondrous monuments still stands today.

Iv researched extensively to compile a detailed list of the seven wonders of the ancient world

All but one of these great wonders now cease to exist in our world today. This list; compiled by historian Herodotus(484-425BC), who in western cultures was know as the 'father of history' contains what was believed then to be the 7 wonders of the world...

1. Great Pyramid of Giza

2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon

3. Statue of Zeus at Olympia

4. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

5. Mausoleum of Maussollos at Harlicarnassus

6. Colossus of Rhodes

7. Ishtar Gate

The 7th was later replaced by scholar Callimachus of Cyrene (305-240BC) with the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

Today only the Great Pyramid of Giza still graces our planet, taking over 20 years to complete, finished in around 2560BC it is one of 3 pyramids that stand together on the boarder of Cairo in Egypt.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are surrounded by controversy as to whether or not they really existed, such little documentation of them in Babylonian history makes it hard to determine whether or not they were simply of poetic creation. Where now stands Iraq, the gardens where built in 600BC by Nebuchadnezzar 2^nd in honour of his wife, Amytis; who missed the lush trees of her homeland. The gardens did not actually hang, they were planted atop a vast construction that is said to be theater like, built up in tiers, with water running into it. Destroyed by several earthquakes in the 2nd century BCE.

Created in 432BCE in the site where it was erected, this statue of Zeus seated on a throne of cedarwood stood 12meters tall and was sculpted of ivory and gold plated bronze. With a statue of Nike, the goddess of victory in one hand, and a sceptre inlaid with gold in the other, and an eagle perched next to him, Dio Chrysostom, a greek orator said that "a single glimpse of the statue would make a man forget his earthly troubles" Built by sculptor Phidias, the date of the statue was long at debate until the rediscovery and excavation of Phidias workshop by archaeologists.

The Temple of Artemis, was finished to its most famous stage in 550BC, the 120year project was designed by Chersiphron a Cretan architect, and his son Metagenes, sadly only foundations and fragments of the temple remain today, and this is the monument to the 4th wonder of the ancient world.

Mausoleum of Maussollos at Harlicarnassus, what a mouthful! Built around 350BC, in what is now Bodrum in Turkey for Governor of the Persian Empire, Maussolus and his wife and sister Artemisia the second. It is believed that it was custom for rulers to be siblings, so to keep the power and wealth within a family. The structure is said to have stood 45 meters in height, and it is from this structure that we get the word, Mausoleum: Mausol-eion originally stood for building dedicated to Mausolus.

Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of the Greek god Helios, Built in Rhodes between 292-280BC by Chares of Lindos. Before the statue was destroyed it stood as one of the tallest structures in the ancient world at over 30meters tall.

The Ishtar Gate was constructed under the order of king Nebuchadnezzar 2^ndat around 575BC on the north side of the city of Babylon, it served as the eighth gate to the inner city of Babylon. This original Wonder of the World stood as part of the Walls of Babylon, until it was replaced by the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Part of the Ishtar Gate has been reconstructed in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. Lions and Dragons were common adornments of the Gate, depicted on blue glazed tiles, lining the walls of the Processional Way. Many parts of the original gate, recovered through excavation are now in museums around the world. While only 3 museums acquired dragons, 9 museums received lions. For a list of where you can see these magnicificant artifacts visit Wikipeida and enter Ishtar Gate.

 It is these seven sights that are known to be the original Seven Wonders of the world. The first on lists put together by historians, travellers, scholars, archaeologists and sculptors in the years before Christ.

 All my research was carried out on Wikipedia, any incorrect information is not purposely displayed. If you know of anything that is wrong please let me know and I will change it.