The world is full of wonders. They say that there are seven of them. I believe it is way more. There are incredible wonders all around us, all the time.
But. Back to the Big Seven. Let’s look at the “new” Seven Wonders as listed in the Encyclopedia Brittanica.
They are:
The Great Wall of China – China
Chichén Itzá – The Mayan City
Petra – The Jordan City
Machu Picchu – Peru
Christ the Redeemer – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Colosseum – Rome
Taj Mahal – Agra, India
Now. This is a noble list. I am sure. I’ve never been to any of these, though. Truth be told. I’ve looked at lots of photos. And videos. And they all look nicely built. That is just it. They are all built. I don’t fault anyone for this list. It is a good one.
What about the “original” Seven Wonders of the World? I will share those, too:
The original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were a list of remarkable constructions known to the ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern civilizations. Here’s the list:
Great Pyramid of Giza (Egypt) – The only surviving wonder, built as a tomb for the Pharaoh Khufu around 2580–2560 BC.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon (Iraq) – Described as an extraordinary series of tiered gardens containing a wide variety of trees and plants, though its existence is debated.
Statue of Zeus at Olympia (Greece) – A massive statue of the god Zeus, made by the sculptor Phidias around 435 BC, housed in the Temple of Zeus.
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus (Turkey) – A grand temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis, rebuilt around 550 BC after being destroyed.
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (Turkey) – A tomb built for Mausolus, a Persian satrap, around 350 BC, famous for its architectural beauty.
Colossus of Rhodes (Greece) – A giant statue of the sun god Helios, erected on the island of Rhodes around 280 BC, which stood approximately 33 meters tall.
Lighthouse of Alexandria (Pharos of Alexandria) (Egypt) – A towering lighthouse built on the island of Pharos around 280 BC to guide sailors safely into the busy harbor of Alexandria.
These wonders were celebrated for their architectural and artistic achievements, mostly. But. Most have been destroyed over time due to natural disasters. And also human actions.
But.
I’m thinking there are greater wonders around us. Like Yellowstone and those glorious landscapes, pools, and geysers.
Or what about The Grand Canyon with its tawny walls that go on and on seamlessly forever? I could stand on the edge and stare for a long time at that incredible wonder.
I’m sure if we all started listing our candidates for the Wonders of the World, they would run the full gamut. I think, in fact, that sounds like a good idea. We should list one apiece. If you feel up to it and care to.
However, as curator of the list, I will automatically disqualify the Largest Ball of Twine, located in located in Cawker City, Kansas. There are others who claim they have the largest ball. And while it must have taken some time to wind, it is an obscene display of “too much time on your hands.”
It has to make you wonder.
Oh, wait.
Maybe “wondering” should be on the Wonder List.
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“Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature.” — St. Augustine
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“To be alive is to be amazed.” — David Foster Wallace
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“The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water, but to walk on the earth.” — Chinese Proverb
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I love Seven. And these are the Good Wonders.
