Of the Seven Wonders of the World the First
of Or the seven wonders of the world, made by the hand
of man, the first is the Capitol at Rome, the very salvation of the inhabitants, and greater than a whole city. In it were statues of the nations subdued by the Romans, or images of their gods, and on the breasts of the statues were inscribed the names of the nations which had been conquered, with bells hanging from their necks. Priests or watchmen attended on these by turns, day and night, and showed much care in watching them. If either of them should move, the bell made a noise, and so they knew what nation was rebelling against the Romans. When they knew this, they communicated the information by word of mouth or by writing to the Roman princes, that they might know against what nation they were next to turn the Roman arms.
The Second
The second is the Light-house of Alexandria, which Alexandria. was founded on four glass arches, twenty paces deep beneath the sea. The wonder is, how such large arches could be made, or how they could be conveyed without breaking; how the foundations, which are cemented together above, could adhere to them, or how the cement could stand firm under the water; and why the arches are not broken, and why the foundations cast in above do not slip off.
The Third
The third is the figure of the Colossust in the island of
Rhodes, a hundred and thirty-six feet long, and cast of melted metal. The wonder is how such an immense mass could be cast, or how it could be set up and not fall.
The Fourth
The fourth wonder is the iron figure of Belerophon on horseback, which hangs suspended in the air over the city, and has neither chains nor any thing else to support it; but great magnetic stones are placed in vaults, and so it is retained in assumption (position), and remains in balanced measure. Now the calculation of its weight is about five thousand pounds of iron.
The Fifth
The fifth wonder is the Theatre of Heraclea, carved
out of one piece of marble, so that all the cells and rooms of the wall, and the dens of the beasts, are made out of one solid stone. It is supported on four arches carved out of the same stone; and no one can whisper in the whole circle so low, either to himself or to another, without being heard by every one who is in the circle of the building.
The Sixth
The sixth wonder is the Bath, which is such, that when
Apollotaneus has lighted it with one candle of consecration, it keeps the hot baths continually burning without being attended to.
The Seventh
The seventh wonder is the Temple of Diana, on four pillars. Its first foundations are arched drains; then it increases gradually, upper stones being placed on the former arches. Thus: upon these four are placed eight pillars and eight arches; then in the third row it increases in a like proportion, and stones still higher are placed thereon. On the eight are placed sixteen, and on the sixteen thirty-two; the fourth row of stones is on the fifth row of arches, and sixty-four pillars complete the plan of this remarkable building.
Side-notes
Giles prints a running summary in the outer margin of each page. It is gathered here, one entry to a page, rather than left where the scanner had put it — threaded through the sentences it was printed beside.
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Capitol of Rome.
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Pharos of Alexandria. Ad ~ Colossus of. Rhodes. Figure of Belerophon. Theatre of Heraclea.
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Bath of Apollota-neus. Temple of Diana.
Notes
The modern enumeration of Diana. IV. The Mausoleum of the wonders of the world is Artemisia. V. The Colossus of thus:—I.The Pyramids of Egypt. Rhodes. VI. The Statue of II. The Hanging Gardens of Jupiter Olympius. VII. The Babylon. III. The Temple of Pharos of Alexandria.
The cost of this famous by Chares, a pupil of Leusippus, tower was equal to £180,000 of across the harbour of Rhodes. our money- It was built by or- After standing fifty years, it was der of Ptolemy Philadelphus, by overthrown by an earthquake. Sostratus,in the 124th Olympiad, It was of so great bulk, that who affixed this inscription:— when the Saracens took Rhodes, SOSTRATVS. CNIDIVS. DEXI- A.D. 667, they loaded 900 caPHANIS. F. DIIS. SERVATO- mels with the brass that was reRIBVS. PRO. NAVIGANTIBVS. maining of it. + The Colossus was erected
The Temple of Diana was was 425 feet in length and 200 built at the foot of a mountain, in breadth, and supported by in marshy ground, to secure it 127 pillars of Parian marble, and from earthquakes. This greatly of the Ionic order, each 60 feet increased the expense, as it was in height. Bede makes the numnecessary to construct drains, to ber less by 13. The estimated convey the water, which de- weight of each pillar, with its scended from the mountain into base, was 150 tons of marble. the Cayster. To secure the con- According to Pliny, it was upduits which were to bear the wards of 400 years before it was weight of this immense edifice, completed. Not a vestige now beds of charcoal were laid down, remains, and even its precise site firmly rammed, and upon them is a subject of conjecture. others of wool. The Temple