Smyrna times., 1869-06-16
Ancient and Modern Wonders.

The "sevcn wonders" Of the world, or the
seven historical monuments of the construct
i've skill and magnificent art OF the anclents
are-First, THE Great Pyramid of Egypt.
Plny says 800 900 men were employed ~ years
in building this pyramid Second, Babylon
the Great the Lady Of the Kingdoms, the lilo
ry Of the whole earth" The same historian
states that the walls of the city were sixty miles
in circumference, and $50 feet high. The city
was entered by % gates on each side, OF sohd
brass, and strengthened by $50 towers. third,
The Gold and Ivory Statue Of Jupiter Olym-
pus," dCne by Phidias, the greatest artist
that ever lived. The god was formed OF gold
almost touching the roof of the building,
Fourth, THE Temple of Diana of the Ephe-,
slams at Ephesus. The temple was built OF
cedar, cypress and even gold, and within
it were treasures, offerings to the goddess, OF
works Of art, the value Of which almost exceed,
ed computation. Praxiteles, the celebrated
Greek sculptor carved the altar, and during
period Of two hundred and twenty years, the
whole Of Asia Minor assisted in enrlching the
structures. As an architectural work 1T was
doubtless brought near TO a state OF perfection
Fifth, The Mausoleun, or Tomb OF Maui
solus, erected at Harcarnassus; Is. Z. 353-
1t was nearly square in plan, III by W teet,
I having around its base peristyle OF 80 Doric
columns 60 feet high, while the superstructure
d
feet 1t was veryrichly adorned with sculpture
by Greek masters, but it is very likely that the
tomb OF Mausolus was inferior to that OF Napo-
leon in Paris.
Sixth, "Thc Pharos of Alexander" an an
cent lighthouse consisting OF several stories and
galleries Of prodigious hight, with lantern ON
the top continually burning. 1t was so famous
that all lighthouses after it were called by the
g mmon rame Of Pharos. The ancient Pharos
: was $50 feet high.
: Seventh, The Colossus of Rhodes" de-
/ scribcd as a giant figure l05 t2ct high placed
y across the harbor Of Rhodes, with stride OF
q fifty feet from rock to rock vessels passed un'
IS der it full sail 4 lamp blazed in its right hand.
e An internal spiral staircase led to its summit
/ and around its neck was suspended glass 10
It which ships might be diScerned far Oft as the
r Egyptian coast | twas an object OF worship,
! but was thrown down by an earthquake, pa b.
1t c., fftysix years after its completion.
o 1t will be observed, that with the exception
It of the ancient PharOs' not one of the seven
3 wonders of the world possessed any intrinsic
utility.
ID We might easily, however, point to seven
l modern wonders of the world, greater as works
4 of skill than those Of the ancientS, which are
u not merely objects for wide eyed admiration,
ri but are daily and hourly benefting the entire
IL race. The modern system OF land and marine
y, steam transportation, OF which the Paclhc
to Railroad Just completed is the most prominent
c, example on land, and our magnificent and
Ill staunch ocean steamers the greatest triumph
s. of man over sea the electric telegraph, which
ne has anuihilated time in commul .tiOn between
the remotest parts of the earth; the modern
suspension bridges, under which the Colossus
he might have walked without STOPPING or knock
't, ing his hat off our immense tunnels, through
60 which the iron horse plunges needless OF the
- mountain which cngulfs it our steam hammer
on 80 ponderous in weight, so delicate in its ac
d. ton; our spinning jennies and mules whereby
at single person can spin a thousand threads
a with greater ease than the ancient matrOn
it. could spin one our modern printing press
IL which preserves the thought of the entire worlC
ne as a rich inheritance for the future ages; our
In but We have already our seven modern wonder
he of utility and we might easily name seventy
en- All the glory, all the barbaric magnifcence o
of the ages recorded in history, could not, if com
ire pressed into a single epoch, equal those of th'
ut century We now live ina century which is re
he garded by many as one in which utilitarianisn
W has degraded mans esthetical nature. LIE
hi those who will, sigh that the world goes back
5 a ward. They think so only because the stand
fly point from which they look at progress make
lp- the direction Of events seem reversed. = Seen
pts 1Dlpyjc0n