It took 174 years to build and complete, considering it was built in stages with add-ons made later, and did not tilt until the weight of the third floor was added on. In order to compensate one side was built heavier than the other with taller walls, but they over compensated and it began to lean in that direction.  Recently in the 1990’s to 2001 a mass restoration was undertaken along with strengthening of the structure and reinforcing the base, to prevent collapse and further tilt.  Because of these efforts it will remain stable for at least another three hundred years and maintain its iconic status.

It had an octagon shaped base and it was built by the Buddhist of that time, and rose nine stories into the sky to 260 feet; however the original plans for this massive monument called for an additional four stories making it 330 feet. Constructed with white porcelain bricks it was said to become a beacon of bright white during the day and was illuminated by hundreds of lamps by nightfall, and within these white brick panels were colored stoneware tiles which held many colors and images, along with landscapes and other scenes. However, after the 1850s it was lost to warfare and total destruction.

In the middle of this massive complex there is a spiral staircase that was for the movement of corpses down into the catacomb, and one of the most famous episode of this catacomb is the result of Emperor Caracalla.  Although Emperor Caracalla was not buried here, he contributed to this necropolis’ population, with a mass burial chamber containing animals and humans massacred on his orders.  The catacomb was lost for over a thousand years until in 1900 a donkey fell into one of its shafts, and lead to its rediscovery.

Although Ptolemy died before it could be completed, his son took over and insured it would be, and was finished in the 200’s.  To insure it would survive the base was strengthened with molten lead, making the structure the second longest-lived “Great Wonder” of the ancient world, as it was still standing in the 1100’s AD, but earthquakes in 1303 and 1323 heavily damaged it. Then in 1480 the final parts vanished with the building of a castle upon it, using the stones from the lighthouse.

The statue they built starting in 292 BC was 34 meters tall at least with iron beams embedded in brick, along with plates of bronze attached to hold it up and an interior support of massive columns, and it was completed in twelve years in 280BC.  The statue only stood for five decades until a large earthquake laid waste to it in 226 BC, and despite an offer by Ptolemy III to pay for the reconstructions the locals refused, thinking it had offended Helios.  The remains of the statue reportedly laid undisturbed for 800 or so years until Arabs under Muawiyah invaded and acquired Rhodes as their own, then the remains were sold and scattered.

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was destroyed by arson two hundred years later on July 21, 356 BC by a man seeking fame named Herostratus - who was then executed and mention of his name stricken under penalty of death.  The temple was the restored in 323 BC, and then was destroyed again by the Goths in 262, and it was then rebuilt again - which did not last very long and it too was demolished.  Parts of it were later used for some of the columns in the Hagia Sophia.

Greek historians were the first to write down what it is they knew of it and detailed them extensively including how water was given to the lush hanging gardens.  Some evidence recently unearthed has shown that there were indeed large walls, wells, and many other circumstantial evidence that they did exist; however there are still those who maintain it was created as a kind of fairy tale.  Having been obliterated and lost to time itself there is no conclusive evidence that suggest they did or did not exist, however with more excavation it is likely to be determined.

After the great success of the New 7 Wonders of the World, a new contest as started!

The New 7 Wonders of Nature.

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Under her the construction of the Tomb was increased and it was half completed, when in just two years she passed away as well, however the builders decided to stay and finish the monument which was massive, with the base being 45 meters tall and atop this a thirty six column, nine on each side, brought up the next third of the total high and supported the pyramid roof, which was the final third of the height.  The structure lasted for one thousand and six hundred years until earthquakes shattered it, and it was then used as building material. So great was this structure that Artemisia assured would be constructed that all tombs afterwards became known as mausoleums.

The exact date of its ultimate destruction is not known, however one theory has it destroyed almost a thousand years later when the temple was demolished, and others have it being taken to Constantinople and then destroyed by the fire of Lauseion.   The workshop that the sculptor, Phidias, used was discovered in 1958 which has given to us the knowledge of the exact methods used in the creation of this once wonder of the world.  The framework of the statue was made of wood, having ivory put on representing skin and flesh, gold leaf being representational of armor and finally ebony for all the outer wooden needs.