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Seven Wonders of the Ancient World Timeline

(c. 2560 BCE – c. 1480 CE)

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were a celebrated list of remarkable architectural and sculptural achievements of classical antiquity, compiled by Greek writers. Only the Great Pyramid of Giza still stands today. Less

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Great Pyramid of Giza

Construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza begins

2560 BC

The Great Pyramid of Giza was built as a tomb for the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu during the Fourth Dynasty. Constructed from roughly 2.3 million stone blocks, it became the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years and is the only surviving wonder of the ancient world.

Image source: Great Pyramid of Giza

Construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza begins

Khufu's pyramid completed as tallest structure on Earth

2540 BC

Upon completion, the Great Pyramid rose to approximately 146 meters (481 feet), making it the tallest human-made structure on Earth. It retained this record until the construction of Lincoln Cathedral's spire in England around 1311 AD.

Great Sphinx of Giza carved near the pyramids

2500 BC

The Great Sphinx, a colossal limestone statue with a lion's body and a human head, was likely carved during the reign of Pharaoh Khafre. It stood guard near the pyramids of Giza, forming part of the monumental funerary complex that would later inspire wonder in travelers.

Image source: Great Sphinx of Giza

Great Sphinx of Giza carved near the pyramids

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Sennacherib builds terraced gardens at Nineveh

700 BC

Some scholars argue that the famous 'Hanging Gardens' were actually built by the Assyrian king Sennacherib at Nineveh around 700 BC, using advanced aqueducts and screw-based irrigation. Assyrian reliefs depict lush terraced gardens that may match Greek descriptions of the Babylonian wonder.

Image source: Nineveh

Sennacherib builds terraced gardens at Nineveh

Reign of Nebuchadnezzar II begins in Babylon

605 BC - 562 BC

Nebuchadnezzar II ruled the Neo-Babylonian Empire at its height, transforming Babylon into a magnificent city with grand walls, the Ishtar Gate, and vast ziggurats. Ancient writers credited him with building the legendary Hanging Gardens for his Median wife Amytis.

Image source: Nebuchadnezzar II

Reign of Nebuchadnezzar II begins in Babylon

Legendary construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon

600 BC

According to ancient accounts, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon featured terraced gardens with exotic plants and trees irrigated by an ingenious system. Though celebrated by Greek writers, no definitive archaeological evidence has been found, leading some scholars to suggest they may have been located in Nineveh or were entirely legendary.

Image source: Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Legendary construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Statue of Zeus and Temple of Artemis

Croesus of Lydia funds rebuilding of Artemis temple

560 BC

The fabulously wealthy Lydian king Croesus contributed generously to the reconstruction of the Temple of Artemis, donating many of its columns. His patronage helped make the temple one of the most splendid religious structures in the Greek world.

Image source: Croesus

Croesus of Lydia funds rebuilding of Artemis temple

Construction of the great Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

550 BC

The new Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, funded in part by King Croesus of Lydia, took decades to complete. With 127 marble columns standing 18 meters tall, it was considered the largest and most magnificent Greek temple of its age.

Image source: Temple of Artemis

Construction of the great Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

First Temple of Artemis at Ephesus destroyed by flood

550 BC

An earlier temple to Artemis at Ephesus was destroyed by a flood in the 7th century BC, prompting the Ephesians to commission an even grander replacement on marshy ground designed to withstand earthquakes.

Phidias sculpts the Statue of Zeus at Olympia

435 BC

The renowned sculptor Phidias created a colossal seated statue of Zeus for the Temple of Zeus at Olympia. Made of ivory plates and gold panels over a wooden framework, the statue stood about 12.4 meters tall and depicted the king of the gods majestically enthroned.

Image source: Statue of Zeus at Olympia

Phidias sculpts the Statue of Zeus at Olympia

Herostratus burns the Temple of Artemis

Jul 356 BC

On the night Alexander the Great was born, an arsonist named Herostratus set fire to the Temple of Artemis seeking fame. The Ephesians rebuilt the temple even more magnificently, but banned mention of Herostratus's name — a prohibition that ultimately failed.

Image source: Herostratus

Herostratus burns the Temple of Artemis

Alexander the Great offers to rebuild the temple

334 BC

After conquering Asia Minor, Alexander the Great offered to fund the temple's reconstruction if it bore his name. The Ephesians politely declined, famously claiming it was improper for one god to build a temple to another, and financed the work themselves.

Image source: Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great offers to rebuild the temple

Olympic Games banned by Roman emperor Theodosius I

393

Emperor Theodosius I banned all pagan festivals, including the Olympic Games held at Olympia since 776 BC. Without the games, the sanctuary declined, and the great temple housing the Statue of Zeus eventually fell into ruin.

Image source: Theodosius I

Olympic Games banned by Roman emperor Theodosius I

Fire destroys the Statue of Zeus at Constantinople

426

After the Olympic Games were banned, the statue was moved to a palace in Constantinople, where it perished in a fire around 426 AD (some sources say 475 AD). No copy survives, leaving only depictions on coins and ancient descriptions.

Workshop of Phidias discovered at Olympia

1958

Archaeologists excavating at Olympia identified the workshop where Phidias created the Statue of Zeus, finding tools, ivory fragments, and molds matching the statue's dimensions. This discovery confirmed details recorded by the ancient traveler Pausanias.

Lists and Legacy

Herodotus praises Egyptian monuments in his Histories

440 BC

The Greek historian Herodotus traveled through Egypt and described the pyramids and other marvels in his Histories. His writings helped spread fame of these monuments across the Mediterranean and influenced later wonder-list compilers.

Image source: Histories (Herodotus)

Herodotus praises Egyptian monuments in his Histories

Callimachus compiles an early list of marvels

305 BC

The Alexandrian scholar Callimachus of Cyrene reportedly wrote 'A Collection of Wonders in Lands Throughout the World,' an early catalog of remarkable monuments. Though lost, such works inspired the canonical list of seven wonders.

Image source: Callimachus

Callimachus compiles an early list of marvels

Philo of Byzantium writes 'On the Seven Wonders'

225 BC

The engineer Philo of Byzantium authored a short guide describing six of the seven wonders (omitting the Lighthouse), providing valuable contemporary detail about how these monuments appeared to travelers of the Hellenistic era.

Antipater of Sidon lists the wonders of the world

140 BC

The Greek poet Antipater of Sidon composed one of the earliest known lists of the seven wonders, praising the temples, statues, pyramids, and gardens that Hellenistic travelers considered the supreme achievements of human craftsmanship.

Pausanias records monuments of Greece in his travels

160

The Greek traveler Pausanias toured the classical world and wrote detailed descriptions of sites like Olympia, home of the Statue of Zeus. His guidebook preserved invaluable information about monuments that have since vanished.

Image source: Pausanias (geographer)

Pausanias records monuments of Greece in his travels

Napoleon's expedition surveys Egypt's ancient monuments

1798 - 1801

Napoleon Bonaparte's Egyptian expedition brought scholars who systematically documented the pyramids and temples of Giza. Their publication, the Description de l'Égypte, sparked European fascination with ancient Egypt and launched modern Egyptology.

Image source: French campaign in Egypt and Syria

Napoleon's expedition surveys Egypt's ancient monuments

Charles Newton recovers Mausoleum sculptures for Britain

1856 - 1859

British archaeologist Charles Newton excavated the site of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, recovering friezes and colossal statues of Mausolus and Artemisia that are now highlights of the British Museum's collection.

Image source: Charles Thomas Newton

Charles Newton recovers Mausoleum sculptures for Britain

John Turtle Wood excavates the Temple of Artemis site

1869 - 1874

British engineer John Turtle Wood located and excavated the long-lost site of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, uncovering foundation remains and sculptures now displayed in the British Museum.

Image source: John Turtle Wood

John Turtle Wood excavates the Temple of Artemis site

New Seven Wonders of the World announced in Lisbon

Jul 7, 2007

Following a global poll organized by the New7Wonders Foundation, a new list of seven wonders was announced in Lisbon, honoring monuments including Petra, Machu Picchu, and the Great Wall of China — a modern echo of the ancient tradition begun by Hellenistic travelers.

Image source: New 7 Wonders of the World

New Seven Wonders of the World announced in Lisbon

Mausoleum and Colossus

Mausoleum at Halicarnassus built for Mausolus

350 BC

Artemisia II of Caria commissioned a magnificent tomb for her husband and brother Mausolus at Halicarnassus (modern Bodrum, Turkey). Designed by Greek architects Satyros and Pythius and adorned by famed sculptors including Scopas, it stood about 45 meters tall.

Image source: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Mausoleum at Halicarnassus built for Mausolus

Word 'mausoleum' enters the language from the tomb

350 BC

The grandeur of Mausolus's tomb was so extraordinary that his name became synonymous with any grand funerary monument. The term 'mausoleum' is still used today for above-ground tombs worldwide.

Image source: Mausoleum

Word 'mausoleum' enters the language from the tomb

Rhodians celebrate victory over Macedon with a colossus

292 BC

To commemorate their successful defense against Demetrius I's year-long siege, the people of Rhodes commissioned the sculptor Chares of Lindos to build a giant bronze statue of the sun god Helios, funded partly by selling abandoned siege equipment.

Image source: Colossus of Rhodes

Rhodians celebrate victory over Macedon with a colossus

Colossus of Rhodes completed after twelve years

280 BC

Standing approximately 33 meters tall, the bronze Colossus of Rhodes rivaled the Statue of Liberty in height. Contrary to popular legend, it did not straddle the harbor entrance but stood near the Mandraki harbor on a pedestal.

Earthquake snaps the Colossus of Rhodes at the knees

226 BC

A powerful earthquake broke the Colossus at its weakest point, the knees, toppling it onto land. The Oracle of Delphi advised the Rhodians not to rebuild it, and the massive bronze remains lay where they fell for over 800 years, astonishing travelers.

Remains of the Colossus sold to a Jewish merchant

654

According to chroniclers, Arab forces that captured Rhodes sold the fallen Colossus's bronze remains to a Jewish merchant, who reportedly needed 900 camels to transport the metal away for scrap.

Earthquakes topple the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

1400

Successive earthquakes between the 12th and 15th centuries reduced the Mausoleum to ruins. Knights of St John later quarried its stones to fortify their castle at Bodrum, and some of its sculptures were carried off to the British Museum.

Lighthouse of Alexandria

Lighthouse of Alexandria constructed on Pharos island

280 BC

Commissioned by Ptolemy I Soter and completed under Ptolemy II Philadelphus, the Lighthouse of Alexandria guided ships into the great harbor for centuries. Designed by Sostratus of Cnidus, it stood between 100 and 130 meters tall, among the tallest structures of antiquity.

Image source: Lighthouse of Alexandria

Lighthouse of Alexandria constructed on Pharos island

Sostratus secretly inscribes his name on the lighthouse

280 BC

Legend holds that Sostratus, denied public credit by the Ptolemies, inscribed his own name beneath plaster bearing the king's dedication, knowing time would reveal the true architect once the plaster wore away.

Earthquakes progressively damage the Pharos lighthouse

796 - 1323

A series of earthquakes between the 8th and 14th centuries gradually reduced the great lighthouse to ruins. By 1480, its remaining stones were reused by Sultan Qaitbay to build the Citadel of Qaitbay on the same site.

Citadel of Qaitbay built from lighthouse stones

1477 - 1480

Sultan Al-Ashraf Sayf al-Din Qaitbay fortified Alexandria's harbor using granite blocks salvaged from the ruined lighthouse. The citadel still stands today on the exact site of the ancient Pharos.

Image source: Citadel of Qaitbay

Citadel of Qaitbay built from lighthouse stones

Key Facts

  1. The Great Pyramid of Giza, built around 2560 BCE for Pharaoh Khufu, is the oldest wonder and the only one still in existence today.
  2. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are the most mysterious of the wonders, as no definitive archaeological evidence of their existence has ever been found.
  3. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, a massive gold-and-ivory figure created by the sculptor Phidias around 435 BCE, was destroyed by fire in the 5th century CE.
  4. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was rebuilt multiple times after destruction, with its final destruction occurring in 401 CE.
  5. The Colossus of Rhodes, a bronze statue of the sun god Helios completed in 280 BCE, stood only about 56 years before an earthquake toppled it in 226 BCE.

Source

This Seven Wonders of the Ancient World timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.

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