How many of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World were known to be destroyed by earthquakes?

The Great Pyramid of Giza: The only Wonder of the Ancient World that still stands. It has only been damaged by time and erosion.

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus: A tomb built for Mausolus, a satrap (or governor) in the Persian Empire, between 353 and 350 BC. It was destroyed by earthquakes from the 12th to the 15th century.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria: A lighthouse built between 280 and 247 BC, estimated to be 100 m (330 ft) tall. After being damaged by 3 earthquakes between AD 956 and 1323, it became an abandoned ruin.

The Colossus of Rhodes: A statue of the Greek sun-god Helios in the city of Rhodes. According to description, it stood about 33 m (108 ft) high. It collapsed during the earthquake of 236 BC.

Statue of Zeus at Olympia: A giant seated figure made around 435 BC in the temple of Zeus in Olympia, Greece. The statue was lost and destroyed during the 5th century AD. Details and descriptions are known only from ancient Greek writings and representations on coins.

Temple of Artemis: A temple dedicated to the Greek goddess of the hunt, Artemis. After a devastating flood and then an act of arson 300 years later, it was rebuilt twice. By 401 AD, however, it had been ruined or destroyed. Only foundation and fragments remain.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon: Supposedly, beautiful tiered gardens containing a wide variety of trees, shrubs and vines. The location and ultimate fate are unknown and there is speculation to their having existed at all.

More Info: en.m.wikipedia.org

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53 Comments

Denise Currie

I worked out 4 of them but chose 5 as my answer, and before writing this I have checked and the answer should be five:- The Mausoleum of Maussolos, The Lighthouse of Alexandria, The Colossus of Rhodes, The Hanging Gardens of Babylon and The Statue of Zeuss was destroyed by a fire caused by an earthquake, so I think that should qualify too. That is the one I didn't include in my estimate of four

jude h

I think people are forgetting the question actually asked was how many of the wonders were KNOWN to be destroyed, not thought to be destroyed by earthquake. Read in context answer 3 is actually correct.

marian

Correct answer not given as option

Marianne

I counted the three that have been documented: the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Lighthouse (Pharos) of Alexandria and the Colossus of Rhodes. Greek historians such as Strabo and Diodorus Siculus documented the existence of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon but, there is no archaeological proof that the city of Babylon was destroyed by an earthquake. Some archaeologists have advanced the idea that the Hanging Gardens were built in Niniveh. The Statue of Zeus with its almost 12 m (40 feet) high and plated with gold and ivory, is said to have disappeared from the temple that was destroyed in 426 CE, and may have been taken to and destroyed in a fire at Constantinople about 50 years later.

Chris Brown

Even so, the direct cause of the destruction of the statue of Zeus (one "s") was due to the Roman Emperor Theodosius I (r. ... 426 CE following a decree against pagan temples by Theodosius II (r. 402-450 CE) and then completely destroyed by earthquakes in 522 and 551 CE. The ruins were eventually covered in silt brought by the River Alpheus as it slowly changed its course over time. However, of these wonders, 4 were destroyed by earthquakes, 2 were destroyed by fire, and 1 is still standing.

Chris Brown

Yes, the correct answer should be four, not three.

whitewaterrapids

I believe it's four

Steve McAuley

Have been to site of all of them except Alexandria

robert

Actually 4 were, you did not give the option, for that!

vfields

I googled this question and the answer they gave was 4. No matter what we chose it should have been wrong with the chooses you gave. That's not right.

Donna Smith

Missed it

Christine Parrillo

Iancompat, There was an earthquake in Israel as Jesus died. I do not know what happened to the Wonders of the World; I am commenting about the earthquakes in that part of the world. Thank you, Christine, James' wife

Dena Barrett

jude h, there is no way to know with certainly about how they were destroyed as primary source material disagrees.

Dena Barrett

John D Schmitt, experts generally agree that 4 definately were but a fifth could have been. This question needs to be pulled.

Dena Barrett

You need to specify which source to use as there are multiple sources that agree 5 of them were destroyed or damaged to the point they were later destroyed because of earthquakes. Since there is no solid agreement between experts, this is an ambiguous question.