Our New Wonders of the World?!

Now that we have explored the Ancient Seven Wonder of the World, an idea was provocted that a list of "New Wonders of the World" be created to show the more moder/contemporary Wonders that still exist in our life. The following Wonders have been casted and are our New Wonders of the World. They include the Taj Mahal in Indai, the Roman Colosseum in Rome, the Palace Tombs of Petra in Jordan, the Incan city of Mancu Pichu in Peru, the Great Wall in China, the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and Chiche'n Itza in the Yucatan, Mexico. The last and final step for this session is for you to think and make up your own list of Seven Wonders of the World. I don't want any of yours to be any of the one's I have already mentioned. I want a whole new complete list from what you marvel as a wonder. In this blog, you must present where the Wonder is, why you think it is a Wonder, and about 5 sentences of background on each Wonder. This is to be thourough and complete in thought! Then, print out the list that you have compiled and present in class. Next, alongside with your Wonder, you must show pictures of each Wonder. *The Wonders MUST be REAL, STILL STANDING, and may be from anywhere in the world. In addition, it must be a MANMADE Wonder! I want NO natural Wonders on your list, no Grand Canyon, no Mountains, etc. They must all BE MANMADE! Last assignment, lets make it our best!!

A Final Wrap Up!

As we have explored each and every Wonder of the World, it will be completley essential that one fully develop and appreciate the Wonders that have been exhibited through the blog. I want each and everyone of you to type a 3 page report on the best Wonder you liked best. In the report, I want the folowing answered. I want a background of the country in where the Wonder was. For example, if in Rhodes, use Egypt as your destination. Next, find out much more on the Wonder. I have given each and every little information I know of, and what some sources off the Internet has told me. There is so much to each and every Wonder. I want builders names, how many years, how much it cost, the length of building the Wonder, etc. I want to know alot of details. I LOVE details. I want an intro paragraph, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. This must be typed, 12 pt. font, and double spaced. This is a great way to learn so much about your favorite Wonder! I remember doing my report in 6th grade about the Temple of Diana and finding so much more than I ever knew. The overall project will be worth 100 points with the following opportunites for extra credit. If you want 5 extra credit points, print out a picture of the Wonder back in it's "hey day" and then find a picture of where the Wonder now stands in today's world. Don't expect it to look like the Wonder, it will probably be rubble, stone, etc. Then put both pictures on a cover sheet in the front with the Wonder's name on the front.  If you are not a writer, and more or less of an artist, this is your option. Once again, this will be worth 100 points as well. Create a model of the Wonder. I want for your imagination to run free here! This was another opportunity for me in grade school, and I created the Temple using recycled paper towel tubes and spray painting them white, them making a roof and ultimatly making the Temple! Be very very CREATIVE! I don't want to see Legos! Lego's are for toddlers and the break in a heartbeat! NO LEGOS! Use so many other items around the house that can be made into the Wonders. Now don't go using your mothers very expensive paints or your fathers best wood, go to Goodwill, recycle centers,etc. to find great ideas and basis materials. On top of your replication of the wonder, you can get extra credit here too! If you write a 1 page essay on the wonder of 1 myth/legend/etc. from the Wonder and just a tad bit more of information, you can recieve 5 points extra credit. Alright! You know the information, and the assignment! After this, one more blog will be posted! Lets Do It!

The Pharos

The last and final stop of the Wonders of the world is the Pharos at Alexanderia. As we know, Alexandria is still a country in Egypt and still exists. Unfortunatly, the Pharos is not. If all of you are still confused about what a Pharos is, it was just a fancy and descritive word for a lighthouse. For the background of the Pharos, it was erected in 130 B.C. For the construction, it wasn't in honor nor glory, it was put as a basic warning device that Alexander had put up for all sailors. At the time, Alexandria had been the busiest port in all of the ancient worlds. For the Pahros was more or less, a way advanced piece of technology that was used by the Egyptians at the times. It was said that the top part of the lighthouse was just an open room with a hole in the middle of the floor. There stood a gianormous bowl that held over hundreds and hundreds of wood that would be ignited and lit daily. The fire would burn as long as there was enough wood for the evening and that someone always replenished it. The design of the Pharos was very simple and looks like it is in simple block form. The bottom, sturdy basis was long and rectangular, the middle long stone section held a huge room inside that had a huge post in the middle that held a gianormous mirror, that, during the day, when the fire would not be burning, the giant mirrors inside would catch the light from the sun and reflect and be shown all over the harbor in Alexandria. During the day slaves, either from war or men who couldn't make finanical payments who turned themselves into slaves to pay off their debt's, they were forced to crank the basis of the pole that held the mirror inside the Pharos all day without rest. Though it sounded like a cruel punishment, they were truly helping people safetly float and steer in the harbor. As we learned just a few sentences back, it was in Alexander's idea that this Pharos be built and help protect all that traveled in the dark harbor. Now, for the destruction of the lighthouse, it was said that a fire from the lighthouse had destroyed it, but all the records that once stood in the Great Library in Alexandria was burned as well and all true information was lost. But scientist and reseachers have been able to find out that it took 2 earthquakes to destroy the lighhouse and finally, the remainding pieces were torn down by the Persian conquers later in the 1300's. As we have wrapped up our final Wonder, I want you to research around 3 lighthouses that are in the world today and are still in use, or not. Tell me who made them, if they stood for importance, or if there is just a base standing, tell me the complete history of the light house that once stood there and how it was destructed. Be thourough and complete! In this website, there are pictures and names of where some lighthouse maybe. You may use only 1 lighthouse from this website to look! The others, you must look up by yourself! Here, take a look !http://www.nicholsonprints.com/Lighthouses.htmDetails and a good background of the lighthouse is a must!

The Colossus

Our next wonder that we will open and explore is the Colossus at Rhodes. This wonder was erected in 357 B.C. And, if you followed yesterdays blog, the army that took control over King Mausolo and Queen Artemisia land, the Persians had ultimalety conquered the land and renamed it Rhodes. It was then only just a few short years later that Alexander the Great conquered the land and took control. If one searches, and this will be part of this blog, how old was Alexander when he died, and what did he die of? I won't tell the rest of the story, but it was only then that it was that the land of Rhodes was open for attack from multiple countries. Many countires tried to come in and over take the land, but some of the men in Alexander's league, decided to make great towers for lookout posts.After the land was attacked by the Egyptians, overall, the Rhodians had won the battle, and were thankful to keep their state independent from any other countries. It was in thier honor that they constructed a huge statue of their beloved sun God, Helios. Another fact, was that the war that was fought among the Rhodians and the Egyptians, was fought among in the water. They decided that they wanted to build their staute over looking the harbor in Rhodes. There they erected a 110 foot statue that was made out of melted bronze, silver, and gold. It was there that they had the statue containing all of the spoils from war and all of borrowed and given donations. The people in Rhodes loved that their sun God was to be there forever and that it was to be looked at by all of the people who came into the city from far away places. The Colossus of Rhodes stood for over 38 years and lasted for a long time until an earthquake came along and shook it down. Many people like to come over and see where the Colossus once stod, but it is viturally and physically impossible to do so beacuse, as from the picture, and from many texts, the Colossus stood over the harbor and fell right into the ocean and was never to be found again, except one of the Colossus thumb that held the burning torch. Many people were over excited when they heard that the thumb of the Colossus was found and that they could travel and see it.Now legend of Rhodes, says that they built the inside of the torch base completley in gold so when it was lit, and truth be told, it was semi used as a lighthouse, to a point, but more or less, when the sun reflected out of the torch, and was seen, it was like a gianormous fireball that lit the sky both in the morning and the night. Unfortunatly, the correct drawings and configurations of the Colossus still remain unknown and still have not been able to produce and excact replica of what stood once in the Rhodian harbor. Many historians believed that the model for the statue was that of a young, male teenager with long curly hair and a halo above his head. with one hand holding a spear and the other a bowl of fire thrusted toward the sky. Another depiction of the Colossus is what many people think of when they hear "the Colossus of Rhodes", and that is what is pictured above. Another statement had the Colossus as a man standing with his head looking down upon the harbor, and one hand at his side, the other hand had it lifited towards the sky with once again a bowl of fire. Think of what stautes you know of that people show their pride of their country. The Rhodians were extremley happy with thier statue and were ultimaltly gladdened when a piece of the Colossus was found. Think if you had a country that was war torn and was being attacked over several times, what kind of figure would you put at the entrance of your city to show that you were happy that you city was saved? Also to find out the facts about Alexander the Great,as mentioned above in the reading. Look and explore! And creativity is a must for this!

The Mausoleum

Our next Wonder is the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus in past day Asia Minior, along the beautiful coast of the Mediterranian. The foundation of the the Mausoleum can be hardly found, as one can only find stones and rubble. The Mausoleum was built in honor of the late King Mausolus, by his wife, and sister, Queen Artemisia. In was a custom that the Kings marry their sister in order to keep the family name and royal blood in line for the best breeding and overall, the occupation of the same name in the throne. The Mausoleum was over 140 feet high and all in marble. After his short lived life, Queen Artemisia had felt such sorrow and grief, she asked if her son, of whom she had with Mausolus, complete a huge Mausoleum in honor of their lost family member. Queen Artemisia had orderded that the Mausoleum over look the city of where King Mausolus had ruled. She asked for the same builders who had built the Temple of Diana to come over and make a plan for the Mausoleum. Q. 1, who built the Temple of Diana and the Mausoleum. She liked of what they had presented her and she instructed it to be built with no expense in mind. The Mausoleum started with a polished marble floor and from there, built up grandly and flourished with marble and red clay. All around the steps of the Mausoleum were statues of Greek, Roman, and Egyptian gods and goddess. Queen Artemisia was very pleased with the work and planned that the last and finally highest floor of the Mausoleum have a gianormous stone white tomb for her husband, and later her. But while construction, Artemisia was unaware of a small naval warfare that was arrising in the Mediterranian. She had placed her fleet of warriors adrift and commanded war, but since war cost money, the Mausoleum was postponed until the war was over. But, just like her husband, Artemisia died young and left the Mausoleum uncompleted. Her son was killed in warfare, and never returned to complete the Mausoleum. And to this day, it was known that it was never completed by anyone. So, after just letting it stand, it was destroyed by an earthquake and left as a pile of rubble. As we can see so far, many of these wonders had stood for something and/or someone. They were made in memory of either myth or legend, and or a final resting place. But, lets imagine that you have to create a small myth. In this myth, I want to hear about a made up God and Goddess, they must represent something, such as wind water, air,etc. Then, after you have told me the myth, make sure one of them is unfortunatley dies, is killed, etc. and have the other remaining God/Goddess erect a temple for them. Make sure it all connects. All I want here is creativity, and make sure you thouroughly explain what the builidng would look like both inside and out! This is one of the best and creative blog we will have! And for an extra bonus/start, I have a great teacher website with famous author Jane Yolen who will help guide you in writing! Take a look!http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/mff/mythswshop_index.htm

The Temple of Diana

Our next adventure continues pretty close to our last Wonder. Up next is the giant, marble temple of Diana. The temple was erected probably around 550 B.C. The tempe stood in Ephesus, a past day Greek land county, but now is found in present day Turkey. The temple was all made out of marble except the thatched roof. If one was to travel to Turkey and visit the site, they would find a handful of pillars that are still standing, and the large rectangular basis of the temple. The temple was made for one goddess in particular, Diana, or better known as the Hunting goddess Artemis. In Roman mythology, they believed in all of the same gods and goddess that the Greeks did. But since they didn't want to copy the Greek way, they changed the names of all thier gods around. So here is the list of Greek to Roman God and Goddess', Zeus was Jupiter, Hera was Juno, Posiedon was Neptune, Hades was Pluto, Demeter was Ceres, and Hestia was Vesta. In his children's order, Apollo was Apollo, Artemis was Diana, Aries was Mars, Hephasteus was Vulcan, Aphrodite was Venus, Athena was Minerva, Dionysus was Bacchus, and Hermes was Mercury. All of the Romans paid tribute to their gods and goddess by offering them many sacrifices and gifts, just like the Greeks and Egyptians.I want all of you to take a look inside the ancient colosseum of Rome. I want you to relate the history you know on Rome and how this colosseum is very important to Roman history. As we know, Rome was all powerful empire that boomed! Remember, it was the Roman empire that took over the lands that Greece once held. Look:http://dsc.discovery.com/games/colosseum/tour.html In the temple, it was world renouned as a wonder because around the time, war and turbulence was exploding all over the country. The Wonder was that it was able to stand among many wars and stand as a place to practice pagan rituals at this temple. Inside, the temple held over 120 pilars and then, right smack dab in the middle was an average pure golden statue of Diana. All around the golden figure and in a small back room of the temple were tons and tons of offerings and gifts to the goddess. Now, as we know, many of the Gods and Goddess had multiple signs of nature and household uses. Diana was the goddess was of hunting, and more importantly the Moon. In Greek mythology, it was said that Diana's mysticals powers were so strong and important to all Greeks, they believed her to be the most simplest, and purest goddess. Artemis' main mythological home stood in the middle of the woods and was decorated with animals and tons of furs and horns. In one tale, Diana was bathing in the river when a mortal man, meaning someone who couldn't live forever, was caught spying on the beauiful goddess. She transformed him into a deer and let her hunting dogs go after him and eat him. Diana was also a goddess for mythological women known as the Amazons. These women were super strengthed women who could fight for their own and self servient women. They were thought to use the Temple as once their sheltered home and as a place to worship their lead goddess. There is so much that is still to be found on Diana, I'll let this one be a self finding activty. I want to ask you, what other mytological tales was Diana in? Using the worldwide web, find out much more on Diana and report intresting facts on her and the temple. Second, tell me some of the various natural disasters that slightly damaged the temple, and what ultimaltly destroyed the temple? Look at what else Diana stood for and then look at what Artemis stood for in Greek. Report as much information as you can!

The Statue of Zeus

Our next two Wonders will be centered around the land of Greece. We will immerse ourselves into Greek mythology to understand what religious purpose these temples signifed to all people in Greece.First, we need to know the basic Greek God and Goddess family line. In basic, the King of the Gods was Zeus. He then married his sister who was Queen of all the Gods, Hera. Among Zeus's family, his brothers and sisters were among the Gods in Greece. His brothers included Posiedon, god of the Sea and Oceans, and Hades, God of the Dead and the Underworld. His sisters, Hesta, was Goddess of keeping the fire of the Gods and Goddess going all year round, and Demeter, Goddess of Harvest and Field work. Zeus's other children, from many other women, include Artemis, Goddess of Hunting, and Apollo, God of the Sun. Both Apollo and Artemis were twins. He had a daughter Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and soon afterward, named for the center of Greece. A son Dionysus, God of the Wines, Ares, the God of War, Hephaestus, God of Metal Making and Skillcraft, Aphrodite, Goddess of Love and Passion, and Hermes, personal messsanger for the Gods. As one can see, Zeus had alot of children. I want each and everyone of you to take a look at this website and blog about some of the gods and their relationships to others: http://www.webexhibits.org/greekgods/It was in honor, that the people of Greece erected a huge temple complete with a treasure vault room and a twelve foot long reflecting pool that honored their patron God. Inside was thirty nine foot bronze and gold statue of the God holding another deity Goddess of Greece, Nike, who represented victory. On his other side was an eagle, his animal symbol known by all Greeks. Later on, when Rome over ruled the Meditteranian, it was asked that all other pagan god temples be destroyed. First, share some family memebers you have and tell them what they might represent.Second, out of all your family memebers, who would you build a temple to? What might they look like and what might be inside?