This is shown alongside the approximate lifetime of Philo of Byzantium, who documented them and was alive when they all existed simultaneously.
And at the bottom you can see the relative height of each of them.
Dates in bold green indicate construction, while dates in dark red indicate destruction.
Here’s more about them:
| Name | Date of construction | Builders | Date of destruction | Cause of destruction | Modern location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Pyramid of Giza | 2584–2561 BC | Egyptians | Still in existence, majority of façade gone | Giza Necropolis, Egypt | |
| Hanging Gardens of Babylon | c. 600 BC (evident) | Babylonians or Assyrians | After 1st century AD | Unknown | Hillah or Nineveh, Iraq |
| Statue of Zeus at Olympia | 466–456 BC (temple), 435 BC (statue) | Greeks (Phidias) | 5th–6th centuries AD | Disassembled and reassembled at Constantinople; later destroyed by fire | Olympia, Greece |
| Temple of Artemis at Ephesus | c. 550 BC; and again in 323 BC | Greeks, Lydians | 356 BC (by Herostratus); AD 262 (by the Goths) | Arson by Herostratus, plundering by Goths | Near Selçuk, Turkey |
| Mausoleum at Halicarnassus | 351 BC | Greeks, Persians, Carians (Satyros and Pythius of Priene) | 12th–15th century AD | Earthquakes | Bodrum, Turkey |
| Colossus of Rhodes | 292–280 BC | Greeks (Chares of Lindos) | 226 BC | Destroyed by earthquake | Rhodes, Greece |
| Lighthouse of Alexandria | c. 280 BC | Greeks, Ptolemaic Egyptians | AD 1303–1480 | Destroyed by earthquake | Alexandria, Egypt |
Even more about them:
1. Great Pyramid of Giza
- Location: Giza, Egypt
- Built by: Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops)
- Construction Date: c. 2580–2560 BC
- Destruction Date and Cause: Still standing (the only surviving ancient wonder)
- Purpose: A tomb for Pharaoh Khufu, reflecting ancient Egyptian beliefs in the afterlife.
2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon
- Location: Babylon (modern-day Iraq) (exact location debated)
- Built by: Traditionally attributed to King Nebuchadnezzar II (though disputed)
- Construction Date: c. 600 BC (exact date uncertain)
- Destruction Date and Cause: Possibly destroyed by earthquakes or erosion after the 1st century BC (exact date unknown)
- Purpose: Allegedly built as a lush terraced garden for Nebuchadnezzar’s homesick wife, Amytis of Media.
3. Statue of Zeus at Olympia
- Location: Olympia, Greece
- Built by: Sculptor Phidias
- Construction Date: c. 435 BC
- Destruction Date and Cause: c. AD 475, ultimately destroyed by fire or earthquake.
- Purpose: A monumental statue honouring Zeus, the chief god of the Greeks, located inside the Temple of Zeus.
4. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
- Location: Ephesus (modern-day Turkey)
- Built by: Sponsored by King Croesus of Lydia, designed by the Greek architect Chersiphron and his son Metagenes.
- Construction Date: c. 550 BC; rebuilt in 323 BC after a fire (356 BC)
- Destruction Date and Cause: Destroyed by invading Goths in AD 262.
- Purpose: Dedicated to the Greek goddess Artemis, serving as a religious centre and pilgrimage site.
5. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
- Location: Halicarnassus (modern-day Bodrum, Turkey)
- Built by: Commissioned by Artemisia II in memory of her husband Mausolus, designed by Greek architects Satyros and Pythius.
- Construction Date: c. 353–350 BC
- Destruction Date and Cause: Damaged by earthquakes between the 12th–15th centuries AD; dismantled by Crusaders for building materials.
- Purpose: Monumental tomb commemorating Mausolus, Persian satrap of Caria.
6. Colossus of Rhodes
- Location: Rhodes, Greece
- Built by: Sculptor Chares of Lindos
- Construction Date: c. 292–280 BC
- Destruction Date and Cause: Destroyed by an earthquake in c. 226 BC, lasting only around 54 years.
- Purpose: Giant bronze statue celebrating the island’s successful defense against a siege, dedicated to Helios, the Greek sun god.
7. Lighthouse of Alexandria (Pharos of Alexandria)
- Location: Alexandria, Egypt
- Built by: Commissioned by Ptolemy I Soter; completed during the reign of his son, Ptolemy II Philadelphus. Designed by the architect Sostratus of Cnidus.
- Construction Date: c. 280–247 BC
- Destruction Date and Cause: Gradually destroyed by earthquakes from AD 956–1323, last remnant disappeared in 1480.
- Purpose: Guiding ships into Alexandria’s busy harbour; considered one of the earliest and tallest lighthouses ever constructed.
Locations of The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Which ancient world wonder is closest to you?
Also see: Which of the 7 Modern Wonders of the World Are You Closest To?
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