Discovery Channel - Seven Wonders of the World (1994)

Two statues, a temple, a hanging garden, two tombs and a lighthouse. This selection of monuments became known as "The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World". There are probably few who could list them right away, are even fewer who know something about each of them or the reasons for which they were labeled as Wonders. Six of those seven were destroyed by forces of nature, or by human hand. Each episode in this series describes one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and we see besides the monuments themselves the people who designed and built them, with the vision to create something wonderful.
Now they exist only within the precise, rectangular pits of excavated remains that capture a once-powerful dream whose images continue to echo around us. But, centuries ago, the Seven Wonders of the World were advertisements for a contemporary, thrilling, and heroic way of life, the finest examples of a brand-new civic architecture, the ancestors of every modern city on the planet. Here is the history behind these legendary lost structures: the enormous statue to the Greek god Zeus, carved by Phidias and holding a figure of Victory in one hand and a scepter in the other; the Colossus of Rhodes, a tribute to freedom looking up to Olympus and over the sea; the elegant lighthouse on the island of Pharos in Alexandria; the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, adorned with numerous statues and carvings; the many-tiered Hanging Gardens of Babylon; the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, as beautiful as the goddess for whom it was named; and the eternal Pyramids and the Rise of Wonder.
Journey back to the ancient world to discover it's man-made Wonders. Each wonder is recreated with computer animation, and your host, author and archaeologist, John Romer examines the historical background of these ancient monuments and the civilisations to which they belonged.

Part 1: Simply the Best
In this episode, John Romer invites viewers to investigate the notion of Seven Wonders and the concept of Wonder itself. He examines the statue of Zeus and the Colossus of Rhodes. For Zeus, John Romer visit a Parthenon and a copy of Nashville, TN, explaining how the great statue and temple was constructed. At the site of the temple of Zeus at Olympia, Romer talks about how the statue was made. Exploring the Colossus, Romer finds the foundation pieces of the statue embedded in an old fort in the harbor. But where exactly was the statue of Rhodes? Romer investigates this question and the image of Colossus.

Part 2: The Magic Metropolis
In this episode, John Romer explores the history of the Lighthouse of Alexandria and the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. Of the seven wonders of the world most practical was the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Built in 285 BC, the lighthouse can be seen from 50 km at sea and to show the way to the old town Nepal. From medieval legends we hear magic light attacking and burning sails of the ships . Lighthouse of Alexandria was more than an indicator to ancient ships, it symbolized one of the most spectacular experiments of mankind and birth of the modern city and Magic Metropolis.
In today's Bodrum (ancient city Halicarnassus), Romer visits the initial site where once was the largest tomb the world has ever seen, the tomb of King Mausolus or Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. The term Mausoleum (large funeral tomb) comes after the name of King Mausol.

Part 3: Wonders of the East
Now presenter John Romer studies the history and beauty of two other Wonders: Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. Romer explains the myths around the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. In Iraq, archaeologists discovered the remains of great palaces and walls, but none of the famous gardens. They were an opulent dream, brought from the Orient. This Persian paradise filled with fruit and flowers was used by the Greeks to plant olive groves on impressive terraces. At Ephesus, Romer details ancient goddess worship at the temple which attracts all those who believed in it. The place is now near the ruins of Didyma, and he reveals how you could still see the remains of Temple of Artemis.

Part 4: Ghosts of Wonder
John Romer bears viewers a wonderful trip, studying the pyramids of Egypt and the new concept of wonder of the world. Visiting the amazing Sydney Opera building in Australia, Romer walks along the majestic roof of this structure, considered one of the modern wonders of the world. He discusses the ancient heritage of Wonders, which lasted for centuries. Pyramids of Giza are the only surviving ancient wonders and by far the oldest, and Romer explains how and why they were built. You then follow Romer climbing to the Pharaoh's Chamber in the Great Pyramid, where he discusses the mathematical complexity of the pyramid and its significance for ancient Egyptians.


Related Documentaries:
Discovery Channel - Seven Wonders of Ancient Rome (2004)
Discovery Channel - Seven Wonders of Ancient Greece (2004)
Discovery Channel - Seven Wonders of Ancient Egypt (2007)
Channel 4 - Seven Wonders of the Muslim World (2008)
BBC - Seven Wonders of the Buddhist World (2011)