The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World represent remarkable feats of architecture and engineering that have captivated people in antiquity and continue to inspire wonder today. The list was begun over 2,000 years ago and the structures surpassed all others in the areas of beauty, size, skill of construction, location, or ingenuity.

But what is made by man is only temporary. “Nothing lasts forever but the Earth and the sky.” – Kansas, 1977.

Throughout history, the list was flexible as various monuments were added and deleted. The original list was compiled in the second century BCE (Before the Christian Era) by Antipater, a Greek author. These extraordinary features were scattered across the Mediterranean region and couldn’t include the magnificent edifices in South America, late to be discovered and overgrown in disguise.

What were included were the Great Pyramid of Gaza, a testament to Egypt’s architectural prowess; the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, a symbol of opulence and beauty; the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, a masterpiece of Greek art; the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus featuring ornate decorations and intricate sculpture; the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, setting the standard for future mausoleums; the Colossus of Rhodes, a symbol of Greek power; and finally the Pharos of Alexandria, a lighthouse that was a marvel of engineering.

Though most of these wonders have long vanished, their legacy endures as a reminder of the creativity of mankind. What has man constructed today that will continue to inspire in another millennia? McDonald’s Arches are hopefully not a candidate!