The Lost Six: How They Fell

Earthquakes, fire, and doubt erased the other six — from the Colossus of Rhodes to the Hanging Gardens.

The top 3

1. Earthquakes toppled the giants: A 226 BC quake felled the Colossus of Rhodes, and successive quakes destroyed the Lighthouse of Alexandria.
2. Arson burned the Temple of Artemis: The great temple at Ephesus was set ablaze by Herostratus in 356 BC, seeking eternal fame.
3. The Hanging Gardens may never have existed: The only wonder with no confirmed ruins or location — some scholars doubt it was ever built.

Sources

• Encyclopaedia Britannica — Seven Wonders of the World
• World History Encyclopedia — Seven Wonders

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