HOW THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD WERE BUILT

A Czech import surveys the legendary Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The ancient world was filled with architectural marvels, but few have captivated European-based cultures like its so-called Seven Wonders (which would most accurately be called the Seven Wonders of Cultures Surrounding the Mediterranean). These wonders are the pyramids of Giza, the hanging gardens of Babylon, the statue of Zeus at Olympia, the temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the lighthouse of Alexandria, each of which is discussed herein with varying levels of success in a breezy tone that’s more conversational than educational. When explaining why there are only seven, the author states that, “Well, there are seven days in the week, seven sacraments, and seven virtues. In the Middle Ages, there were even seven liberal arts. The number seven denotes completeness and mysticism—what do you think?” In other words: shrug emoji. Savvy readers may point out that the seven sacraments, virtues, and liberal arts were grouped after the ancient wonders and are culturally defined rather than universal. Fact and fiction blur more with specific wonders. The text acknowledges that the hanging gardens may not have existed but also lists a recipe for how the walls were constructed. The Colossus of Rhodes fairs slightly better, although a conversation written into the text has no historical basis. The absence of citations and a bibliography means curious readers will be left stranded. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Not wonderful.