The Placer herald., 1857-12-19
The Seven Wonders of the World.

the larger proportion Of our readers, who
have forgotten the classical Instructions of
their youth, will find their memories refresh
ed by the following:
lst. The Colossus at Rhodes 1t stood on
the two moles which formed the entrance of
the harbor, at the city of Rhodes. 1t was
composed of brass, and some estimate Of the
amount used may be made from the fact that
after it had remained in ruins s94 years there
remained after the diminution from rust and
theft, 100000 pounds. 1t was sold to Jew
of Odessa and carried away on 900 camels.
1t was hollow, and the cavities filled with
stones, to coun:erbalance its weight and rem
der it firm on its pedestal. Its height was
los feet, and all vessels could pass between
its legs. There were few persons who could
encompass its thumb with both arms, and
its fingers were larger than most statues. 1t
was the workmanship of Chares, who was
employed 81 years in building it. 1t was
erected B. G. 800, and, after having stood
Sc years, was broken off below the knees,
and thrown down by an earthquake.
Cd. The Temple of Diana at Ephesus.
This surpassed all the structures Of antiquity,
and the building of it occupied 22O years.
1t was 426 feet in length, 220 in breadth;
adorned with l27 columns of the Ionic or
der, and of Parian marble, each 60 feet high,
and a statue of the goddess, supposed to
have been sent down from heaven. On the
very night of the birth of Alexander the
Great, it was partially burnt down by lleras
tratus, who took the means to immortalize
his name. Cinocrates was the architect who
superintended its rebuilding. Alexander Of
fered to appropriate his spols to its restora-
ton, if the Ephesians would give him the
sole honor and have his name placed on the
Temple. They refused, really from national
pride, but with the pretence, "that it was
not right for one divinity to eject temple
to another"
3D. The Labyrinth of Egypt. 1t is in
Lower Egypt, near Lake M@ris. According
to lIerodotus it consisted of 5000 cham
bers; 1900 above ground, and the same
number subtelranean. 1t he'd so many in
tricate windings that when once in it it was
impossible to get out without guide. 1t is
opinions with reference to its object, appear
to yield in acumen and ingenuity to that of
Glatterer, who supposed it to be an archtcc
tural symbolic representation OF the zodiac,
and the course of the sun through the same
one-half being above, and the other below
the earth; whilst the 5000 chambers have a
symbolical reference to the procession of the
equinoXes.
4th. The Pyramids Of Egypt. OF these
there are nearly 100, and they constitute the
most stupendous works of man. The largest
is at Ghizeh, near the Nile which covers II
acres of ground, and is about 500 feet high,
and is said to have employed 100000 men
thirty years in building.
9TH. The Temple of Jupiter Olympus 1t
was situated on the river Alpheus, in Ellis,
near the spot where Olympic games were
celebrated. It's height was G8 feet; breadth
95, and length 500 feet. 1t WAS adorned in
ternally and externally with great variety
of statues. The figure Of Olympian deity
was composed of ivory and gold and of such
vast proportions that, though seated, it reach
ed nearly to the ceiling, suggesting the idea,
that in rising it would bear away the roof
In the right hand, it grasped an image of
victory, and in his left sceptre, on which
was perched an eagle.
9th. The walls and hanging gardens of
Babylon. These were built by Semiramis,
were $50 feet high, 81 feet thick and about
sixty miles in circuit. They were composed
of brick baked in the sun, and cemented with
btumen instead of mortar. The gardens
were situated in an immense palace built at
the west end Of the bridge which crossed
the Euphrates. 1t contained square of 400
feet on every side, and was carried up in the
manner of terraces, one after another, till it
reached the walls of the city, The ascent
was from terrace to terrace by means of stairs
ten feet wide. The whole pile was sustained
by vast arches, raised on other arches. On
the top of the arches flat stones were first
laid, then great quantity Of reeds and btu
men, next double row of bricks, the whole
covered with thick sheets of lead This
hoorage was designed to keep the moisture
of the mould from escaping through the
arches. The earth laid thereon was so deep
that la:ge trees could take root, and with
such the garden was covered, together with
plants and shrubs of every description. On
the upper terrace there was pump aud en-
gine for drawing water from the river to
Nebuchadnezzer desired something resem-
bling the hills Of her native Media, and to
crafty her, the king rased this prodigious
structure.
9TH. The Mausoleum. A monumental struc-
ture reared by Artemisia, in memory Of her
husband and brother, Mausolus, king OF CARR,
B. c. 352. She is said to have been so much
attached to him that she mixed his ashes
with water and drank them Off The entire
height of the monument was 140 feet, being
nearly square, each side measuring ll3 feet.
1t was decorated with peristyle of 36
columns, about SO feet in height. There are
no remains Of the monument at the present
time
The Charlottesville (va) Advocate states
that in consequence of mistake in engineer