seven wonders finalist

8/6/2019 Seven Wonders Finalist

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/seven-wonders-finalist 1/15

Seven WondersSeven Wonders

FinalistFinalist

HumanHuman--Made CategoryMade Category



Alhambra, SPAIN Alhambra, SPAIN

Mohammed I, the first king of the Nasriden ± a Moorishdynasty in Granada - converted a 9th-century castle intohis private royal residence, and it is this which we nowknow as the Alhambra. The structure, which covers an

area of 13 hectares, is renowned for its stunning frescoesand interior detail. The building is one of the finestexamples of Moorish architecture in the world and isamong Europe¶s most-visited tourist attractions.



Angkor Wat, CAMBODIA Angkor Wat, CAMBODIA

Angkor is the most important monument of the south-eastAsian Khmer Empire and the world¶s largest sacredtemple. Built during the reign of King Suryavaman, at thebeginning of the 12th century, Angkor is noted for itsintricate ornamentation and striking beauty. With its water

moats, concentric walls and magnificent temple mountainin the center, Angkor Wat symbolizes the Hindu cosmos,with its oceans at the periphery and the Meru mountain atthe center of its universe.



Kiy omizu Temple, JAPANKiy omizu Temple, JAPAN

Laid out in 794 A.D., the palaces and temples of Kyotowere the residences of Japan's emperors and shoguns formore than 1,000 years. The Japanese Emperor isenthroned at the Kyoto Gosho (Imperial Palace). Among

other significant works are the Higashi Honganji and NishiHonganji temple complexes, the Kinkakuji Temple with its'Golden Pavilion' and the Kiyomizu Temple, the temple of

³clear waters.´ The Kyoto sites have been destroyed andrebuilt many times throughout history and are todayamong Asia's greatest cultural heritage sites.



Neusc hwanstein Castle, GERMANNeusc hwanstein Castle, GERMAN

Neuschwanstein Castle was built in a time when castlesand fortresses were no longer strategically necessary.Instead, it was born of pure fantasy ± a beautiful,romantic composition of towers and walls in the perfect

setting of mountains and lakes. The combination of various architectural styles and intrinsic craftwork hasinspired generations of adults and children alike.



Stonehenge Amesbur y , UKStonehenge Amesbur y , UK

Construction of Stonehenge took place between ca.3000 and 1600 B.C. With each stone weighingaround 50 tons, it is regarded as a truly amazingfeat of engineering. Although it is not clear who built

the monument, nor for what purpose, it has beenspeculated that it was either a temple dedicated tothe worship of ancient earth deities, an astronomicalobservatory or a sacred burial site.



The A c ropolis of Athens, GREECEThe A c ropolis of Athens, GREECE

Built atop what is known as the ³Sacred Rock´ of Athens,the Acropolis was to radiate power and protection for itscitizens. The temples of the Acropolis have become thesome of most famous architectural landmarks of ancient

and modern history. Today, the Parthenon in particular isan international symbol of Greek civilization. A graphicillustration of the temple also appears in the UNESCOlogo, representing culture and education.



Ei ffel Tower, FRANCEEi ffel Tower, FRANCE

The creation of Gustave Eiffel, this magnificent steel towerhas come to serve as a symbol of Paris, as well as of France itself. The structure is not only a landmark that isrecognized all over the world, but is perhaps the mostpopular architectural achievement in the Western world. Itwas the tallest man-made structure in the world until theEmpire State Building was constructed. The tower isvisited by six million people every year.



Kremlin & Red Square, RUSSIA Kremlin & Red Square, RUSSIA

Built as a residence for Ivan I, the Kremlin was the officialresidence of the Czars until the 1917 Russian Revolution.Today, it still houses the President¶s office. In front of theKremlin is Red Square ± an impressive and exuberantplaza which, for many people, is associated with the

infamous May Day demonstrations. Rising from the squareis St Basil's Cathedral, built in the 1550s to commemorateIvan the Terrible's capture of the Mongol stronghold of Kazan.



Timbukt u, MALITimbukt u, MALI

In the 12th century, Timbuktu was at the crossroads of the four most important caravan paths supplying the Arabworld, which then spanned from the Middle East all theway to Spain. The accumulation of wealth made it one of the wealthiest places on earth at the time. This allowed

one of the first universities in the history of humankind tobe established± the celebrated Islamic university calledthe Koranic Sankore, where 20,000 students studied law,medicine, rhetoric, etc. Today, it remains with us as apowerful myth and, in this way, resembles anotherAncient Wonder, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

seven wonders finalist

Documents