Wonders 4 Through 7
4. Temple of Artemis at Ephsesus – Located in what is now Selcuk, Turkey, the Temple of Artemis was once lost entirely to the modern world. Finally, after spending 6 decades in search of the ancient location, the ruins were finally discovered by an expedition led by John Turtle Wood. Subsequent excavation efforts have revealed fragments of sculpture from the once awe inspiring sight, now on display in the British Museum, though many these artifacts are believed to be from a 300 C.E. rebuilding effort, not the original temple itself. As it currently stands, the site of the temple is commemorated with a single column built out of recovered materials. In its heyday, the Temple of Artemis was quite the impressive vision, not only in architectural beauty but in planning and location. According to Wonders chronicler Antipater of Sidon, “but when I saw the house of Artemis that mounted the clouds, those other marvels lost their brilliancy, and I said, ‘Lo, apart from Olympus, the Sun never looked on aught so grand.’” Modern day tourists can enjoy a model of the Temple of Artemis, situated in Miniaturk Park of Instanbul. 5. Mausoleum of Mausolus at Halicarnassus -Though not around today, the Tomb of Mausolos remained intact into the Common Era, surviving even the city of Halicarnassus’ conquest by Alexander the Great in 334 B.C. However, Mother Nature ultimately caused the downfall of the gem invading forces spared, with earthquakes reducing the Mausoleum to mere rubble by the 1500′s C.E. The remains were used in new construction projects, mostly reinforcing/rebuilding castle walls to protect against attack. The ornate structure, adorned with bountiful statues and columns surrounding the perimeter (36 in total), entered the term mausoleum into common vernacular for subsequent lavish tombs. Some statues were salvaged prior to dismemberment of the remaining ruins, which have since made their way to the British Museum. At the original site, solely the foundation remains, with a modest museum on hand. The Mausoleum does live on, however, it its enduring influence on subsequent architecture, with Grant’s Tomb in New York, Los Angeles City Hall, the Shrine of Remembrance in Australia, St. George’s Church in London, the St. Louis Civil Courts Building, House of the Temple in D.C., the Indiana War Memorial in Indianapolis and Soldiers & Sailors Memorial in Pittsburgh all paying homage through their design. 6. Colossus of Rhodes -Standing for but 56 years, from 280 B.C.E. to 226 B.C.E., an earthquake in the city of Rhodes truly exemplified how quick the mighty can fall. Standing more than 107 feet high, this full body statue of the Greek god Helios, truly scraped the sky, with massive legs depicted to have straddled the harbor by Medieval artists, though such imagery may have been the product of creative liberty. Though no remains can be confirmed, Colossus’ presence is felt by today’s tourists when they gaze upon the Statue of Liberty, whose concept and posture owes tribute to the original waterside giant. Inscribed inside the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal, reads a sonnet entitled “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus, commenting on juxtaposed nature of the two statues, with Helios standing proud as a conquering champion and Lady Liberty representing a welcoming, guiding figure. 7. Lighthouse of Alexandria – Giving light and setting course for sailors off the coast of Alexandria, Egypt, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was among the tallest manmade accomplishments of its time, at an estimated height between 400 and 450 feet. Completed in 247 B.C.E., the lighthouse cast a beacon visible from nearly 30 miles away. Using a mirror during the day and fire by night to show the way, the tower’s rectangular base ceded to a cylindrical midsection topped off with a slimmer turret from which the light shone, then christened with a statue. Like many of the Wonders, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was reduced to glorified rubble by earthquakes, after which the Egyptians erected a military fort in its place.