Seven Wonders of the Medieval World

Seven Wonders of the Medieval World

Three lists,

When a subject is taken for one among the seven wonders; its time of construction comes first, as the scope of the builders is bound by the limitations of that time, hence separate lists of seven wonders exist for each age namely Ancient, Medieval and Modern.

Taking world at his strides

In this article we present the Seven Wonders of the medieval times. The significance with medieval period is that it was a time man has started to show his might as a super being and began to show his presence felt by building landmarks with super size or super looks.

Loosing the power to wonder!

In the ancient times man was not so much organized and technology was too crude to work wonders, whereas in this modern times technology has outdated the concept of wonder itself, as every thing has been made possible by the press of a button! Man has lost the power to get wonderstruck!

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1. Stonehenge

Stonehenge - Seven Wonders of the Medieval World

The Stonehenge consists of a number of big long-cut stones arranged in a strange pattern, the purpose of bringing such huge stones to this place and arranging them in this particular pattern is subject to much study and speculation. click here to read the full article...

2. The Colosseum

The Colosseum - Seven Wonders of the Medieval World

The Colosseum is not just a colossal structure situated at the heart of Rome; it was companion to the history of the great Roman Empire which boldly outlived the Empire facing all strives and tribulations associated with the fall of the Empire. click here to read the full article...

3. The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa

Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa - Seven Wonders of the Medieval World

These Catacombs are subterranean funeral halls; cut in rock; with galleries for the dead one’s coffins, places for conducting last rites; staircases and dining halls for the ritual feasts to be held associated with the funeral etc all carved in rock. click here to read the full article...

4. The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China - Seven Wonders of the Medieval World

The Great Wall of China was built between 5^th and 16^th century by the Ming Dynasty. As the construction was a rather prolonged affair spanning eleven long centuries; many kings and dynasties were born and dead and all have something to add to this great monument. The present wall is the last in a series of wall constructed by various dynasties. click here to read the full article...

5. The Porcelain Tower of Nanjing

The Porcelain Tower of Nanjing - Seven Wonders of the Medieval World

This Buddhist Pagoda known as the Porcelain Tower does not exist now; yet in history this magnificent tower that radiated sunrays and functioned as a center of pilgrimage stands tall among world wonders. As per records this Buddhist Pagoda was constructed by a Chinese Emperor by name Yung le in the 15^th century. click here to read the full article...

6. The Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia - Seven Wonders of the Medieval World

In Istanbul Turkey there stands the most beautiful building the ‘Aya Sofya’ with many old names by which it was known and many old roles it had made to play in the centuries that passed after its construction. It in its course has been burned down to ashes, crumbled down in earth quakes and got vandalized by rioters. click here to read the full article...

7. The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Leaning Tower of Pisa - Seven Wonders of the Medieval World

Like all other structures the Tower of Pisa was also built to stand straight, but the fate of this particular one is to stand leaning for all its life. This lean turned out to be the tower’s identity and the credit of the Whole Pisa city. click here to read the full article...

Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa

Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa

Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa image courtsey: touregypt.net

An underground city for the dead

As deep as the netherworld

Egypt is famous not only for its Pyramids which are tombs for the dead and rise to tremendous heights so as to kiss the heaven, but these tombs of Kom el Shoqafa or Mound of Shards (Lofus Kiramaikos in Greek) do just the opposite; they go deep in to the grounds to embrace the netherworld. The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa may not be as famous or visible as the pyramids but they are equally astonishing and perhaps more intriguing than the Pyramids –the mother of all wonders. No wonder they are listed as one among the Seven Medieval Wonders of the World.

What are these catacombs?

Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa image courtsey: touregypt.net

These Catacombs are subterranean funeral halls; cut in rock; with galleries for the dead one’s coffins, places for conducting last rites; staircases and dining halls for the ritual feasts to be held associated with the funeral etc all carved in rock. In olden days Christians of the Roman empires also were resorted to bury their dead in subterranean catacombs to evade desecration by the oppressive regimes. Kom el Shoqafa structures were of Pagan sects. The Pharaoh-Cult members believed in rebirths of the dead; hence placed the bodies of the dead intact in sub terrene caves cut in rocks.

A fusion of three great civilizations,

Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa image courtsey: touregypt.net

The Catacombs are located in a fishing village of Rhakolis; the old part of City of Alexandria in Egypt (Alexandria is known as the Paris of antiquity) where Influence of Greek culture is still very much visible in architecture and artworks scattered throughout the city. The historical turmoil taken place during the past centuries have either eliminated or shattered much of the rich monuments those were standing on the ground (Pyramids though battered to great extents withstood all adversities). The ‘necropolis’ (meaning the city of the dead) by which such sites are called are underground cemeteries could escape damage because of their advantageous location. The Kom el Shoqafa Cemetery is the most beautiful as well as one among all the catacombs.

Tunnels of the 20^th century bow your heads in shame!

Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa image courtsey: touregypt.net

The Kom el Shoqafa; though not a big ‘city’ is big enough to house as much dead as they required and enough space was provided to conduct the last rites of the dead as per their existing customs, staircases and tunnels to connect all these together. As dead ones need no recreational facilities; so many facilities can be supposed to be more than enough for them. The construction can easily equal the modern-day subways and tunnel in the technology adopted for its construction but as far as aesthetics are concerned it was far superior to our 20^th century subways and monotonous tunnels!

A virtual museum!

Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa image courtsey: touregypt.net

This underground cemetery is believed to have built in the 1^st century at the time of the Antonine Emperors are also known as Mound of Shards meaning a mound of broken materials like glass stones etc. Members of the ‘Pharaonic cult’ were following Pagan rites as the organized religions were not in vogue two statues one of a man and the other a woman, the Sun God with wings flanked by two falcons, gods of the Roman and ancient Egyptian order like Sobek (the crocodile tailed god), Anubis (the god with head of dog) and the likes. The fusion of the arts and architecture of Imperial Roman Empire, Hellenistic (Greek origin) as well as the Egyptian styles is the main importance this site is that it is a typical case-study for the students of archeology, in that aspect itself it surpasses the Pyramids and remains one of the most memorable monuments of Egypt.

The discovery,

The strange thing is that the whole site was lying unknown till until one Friday 28the September, 1900 though there were excavations going on here for ancient monuments for several decades. It is said that a donkey that happened to fall in to a pit! Yes; no joke; a donkey accidentally fell in to a deep pit in the ground and the donkey’s trail led to discovery of this site! This story is contradicted by more reliable sources as while excavating land for stones; one Alexandrian by name Monsieur Es Sayed Aly Gibarah happened find the extraordinary things and he informed the Alexandria Museum authorities and it was thus the secret of an ancient cemetery was discovered by the world. The credit is shared by one Betti on the museum.

The complex,

Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa image courtsey: touregypt.net

It was a virtual treasure that was unfolded before the authorities who came hearing the news; something the authorities could not find for decades straightly came before them to be ‘discovered’; all filled with mud and water. When the dirt was pumped out and washed there gradually appeared a funeral complex with all paraphernalia. In the beginning a deep stairway with 99 steps that led them to a vestibule in the ground level which had two opposed niches (recess in the walls) well paved with alabaster (a type of marble used in classical works) believed to be resting place for the visitors.

In the first stage include a platform for funeral rituals, a vestibule with double exedra (arcade for assembly), a rotunda (hall with a dome), a Roman style triclinium (a big dining-table with chairs at three sides) and what else?

In the second stage there were the main accessible from the rotunda through staircase tombs Hundreds of chambers and numerous sarcophagus tombs (‘sarcophagi’ literally means body eater as these types of rocks absorb body matter they are called so), and what else? Magnificent statues, decorations on all proper places, images, ornate carvings and practically everything needed for a funeral hall.

A perfect creation!

The whole complex is nothing short of a complete funeral complex; all cut in a rock with a depth equal to the height of a five storied building a shaft of six meter in diameter provided to let light and fresh-air in. This shaft had holes with the stairways to light up the stairs. The real delight for the archeologists is the names provided on the tombs of the dead. The scripts written, the motif, the engravings, statues and even the coffins are all treasures not only to the archeologists but all who love their heritage and history.

Millenniums never end!

In a sense catacombs were escape roots to the oppressed and the hunted to preserve their rituals and heritage, and at the same time it has become a medium for them to communicate with people who happened to see it after twenty long centuries. A tale of oppression suffered by some people and their brave survival strategies; along with expression of creative talents in the middle of sufferings. When the people of the 21^st century see and appreciate their culture the souls of these people even heave a sigh of relief, let us hope these people rest in their tombs in eternal peace for far more millenniums to come!.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge

Stonehenge

Among pre-historic tribes for a while.

It seems strange and unbelievable that Britain a symbol and torch-bearer of modernity could conceal in its lap; such an ancient monument made by some prehistoric people supposed to have lived as far as 5000 years back. In usual cases such ancient monuments are found in Asia or Africa. The Stonehenge as this site is known is located in a small city by name Bath in south-west England; about two hour bus-journey from London. The City of Bath was founded by the Romans and it has hot springs; famous for their medicinal properties. The city got its name as it was the bathing spot of Roman Lords. This hot spring is still there in well preserved state and there is a 500 year old church nearby. Romans called the city Aquae Sulis.

The pattern with some riddle in store.

Plan of Stonehenge today. After Cleal et al. and Pitts.

It is believed that these formations pertain to about 3000 BC involving massive human labor not less than 30 million man-hours. It is also found that the work was completed in three phases with more than one interruption in between. One of the stoppages took more than 1000 years.

The Stonehenge consists of a number of big long-cut stones arranged in a strange pattern, the purpose of bringing such huge stones to this place and arranging them in this particular pattern is subject to much study and speculation.

There is a large earth-work (henge) comprising of a ditch around the bank with round pits in chalk of about one meter wide. The megaliths arranged in middle of the bank; as the outermost layer there is a circle formed of Sarsen stones; within that there is an inner circle of blue stones as the second layer. In the central portion (the core) five trilithons placed in a horse-shoe pattern; with its axis directed to the midsummer sunrise.

Why all these were made?

Stonehenge photo taken July 1877

Plainly speaking it is a structure made of huge stones of various types; by people who lived there in the prehistoric times. They might have intended the site to be auspicious for performing some sort of religious rituals. As human bones have recovered from beneath the site it is also assumed that it might have been used as an altar for performing human sacrifices. The types of stones used include Blue-stone, Sarsen, Welsh and Sandstone etc. As the arrangement is in such a fashion that its axis was aligned towards midsummer sunrise it is supposed that the tribes which installed these stones had worshipped celestial bodies like sun, moon and the stars.

What exactly is the Stonehenge?

The site is in UK and let us probe what Englishmen have to say about it, Oxford being the tongue of England let us hear what the Oxford Dictionary has to say about this riddle.

“The Stonehenge is a megalithic monument located in Salisbury plains, Wiltshire UK, which was completed in several constructional from 2950 BC. It is composed of circle of Sarsen stones, surrounded by a bank and ditch enclosing a circle of smaller blue stones. Within this inner-circle is a horse-shoe arrangement of five trilithons with the axis aligned on the midsummer sunrise, an orientation that was probably for ritual purposes”

No beating about the bushes; “just long enough to cover all the essentials and short enough to be attractive”! As one gentleman remarked when asked about the correct size of ladies skirts!

Megalithic monuments are monuments made of big stones used extensively in prehistoric monuments (mega + lithos = big + stone).

The Sarsen is a silicified (converted in to silica) stones found in the chalk downs of Southern England; it commonly used in other prehistoric monuments also for its easy availability.

Blue stones form the inner part of the formation; these stones are made of dolerite (igneous rock formed of solidified lava).

The five trilithons are structures; each made of three long stones two of them standing vertically on the floor and the third one horizontally placed on the top joining both of them as if a bridge.

Scientists! Rake thy brain.

Stonehenge 'Slaughter Stone' in the foreground

For Great Britain Stonehenge is not an isolated one as there is one or two such stone arrangement like that in Avebury complex about 25miles north from Wiltshire; which pertains to 2400 BC. Though Britain does not have a Pyramid or a Machu Pichu to boast of at least this site is a consolation; only thing absent is the missing links as to which tribe built it, how they lived, what sort of culture did they have, which human race did they belong etc. More than all these; the pattern of the stone arrangement and its purpose is perhaps more weird than the details of its makers.

Thank You Time-Machine!

A trip to Bath is like a time machine-ride; first stop at Bath 10 to 20 centuries back; there are remnants of the erstwhile Roman Empire to take you to the medieval period; like the hot spring-spas, the five hundred year old church, calm and serene country scenes etc. Bath is also famous for the ‘Bath-buns’ for those are worshippers of exotic dishes. Have a bath in a spring-water spa imagining a Roman Lord having it in the nearby room, pray in the church nearby thinking there are Roman beauties in the nearby seats and eat stomach full of Bath-buns as if it is found nowhere else. Ask the machine to take you to the stone-age -Stonehenge (the final point -5000 years back), see it as much as you please; feel weird things like that you are among the tribals (or even one among them!) enjoying their company.

Time travelers and their brides; it’s time!

sun rising over Stonehenge

At last; it is all over; the time machine (can also be called a bus) blows horn, o k let’s go back; let the machine to take us back to the 21^st century! Because all events; even if it is a virtual one; should have an end. Thank You ‘Time Machine’! Take us back to home; Bye; dear virtual comrades, Bye; Bath –the ‘Roman City’; Bye; Bye; Stonehenge.........!

High ways are happy ways,

When they lead to home;

Dear home......................!

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Leaning Tower of Pisa - La Torre de Pisa - Italy

Leaning Tower of Pisa image courtsey:wikipedia.org

A humble tower and too many detractors!

Like all other structures the Tower of Pisa was also built to stand straight, but the fate of this particular one is to stand leaning for all its life. This lean turned out to be the tower’s identity and the credit of the Whole Pisa city. There were opinions from detractors that this structure was originally built to lean which were subsequently proved wrong after testing the ground soil and other details. There are more accusations against the leaning tower like a useless structure, it pauses danger to tourists etc. Unmindful of all these this tower is keeping on leaning and pulling crowds to the city of Pisa and bringing its cash registers ringing.

Who built it?

Work for this structure started on August 9, 1173, there is some dispute regarding the architect of this slanting tower which was intended to be the bell-tower for the Cathedral of Pisa. The generally accepted opinion points to the names like Guglielmo, Dioti Salvi or Bonanno Pisano. The styles adopted by these architects with their other works have been subject to study and since no conclusive decisions have been arrived at.

Stats.

Leaning Tower of Pisa image courtsey: wikipedia.org

This tower (official name Torre Pendente di Pisa) is located in Piazza dei Miracoli, Pisa Italy; is an 8 storied tower, it is 55.86 meters (183.27 feet) in height and its famous (notorious) slant is 5.5 degrees. That means that its the top is away from its base by 4.5 meters. The width of the wall at the base is 4.09 meters and that at the top is 2.48 meters altogether there are 294 steps that lead to the top. The first floor is supported by pillars with classical capitals. This entire tower is estimated to weigh 14,500 tons. Its foundation is just 3 meters in height and built in loose and unstable soil (reason for the slant).

Work calendar

The Construction of the Tower of Pisa is a two centuries old saga and closely related with the history of Pisa; which was not in good relation with its neighbors like Florence, Genoa etc. Wars between these neighbors were frequent and construction works were to be deferred more than two times. Detractors of this tower say that the construction of this tower itself was to boast before these neighboring counties!

August 9, 1173 work started.

1178, Third floor completed and the tower began to lean and the work got halted for about a century.

1272 work resumed under Giovannido Simone. He compensated the tilt by making one side longer there by giving the tower a curve.

1284 Work had to be again halted as in a war the Pisans were defeated by Genoans in the battle of Meloria.

1319 The seventh floor was completed.

1372 Bell chamber was completed by Tommaso di Andrea Pisano, he is said to be responsible for adding the Romanesque style (The architectural style equivalent to the Norman, prevailed in Europe from 5^th to 9^th century characterized by round arches, massive vaulting, heavy piers, columns and walls with small windows).to the tower.

The bell chamber contains seven bells one each representing a musical note.

1655 The largest bell was installed in the chamber.

1838 – 40, major renovation undertaken.

1934 Benito Mussolini got the base of the tower filled with concrete to straighten it up, in fact this work made the tower to sink further.

January 7, 1990 Entry to this tower was closed to the public and massive strengthening works undertaken, the bells were removed to lessen the weight.

December 15, 2001 reopened for public after work and it was certified that the tower will remain stable for about 300 more years.

One of the Seven Wonders of the Medieval World.

Leaning Tower of Pisa Map courtsey: utexas.edu

This wonderful tower; approved by UNESCO as World Heritage Site; ‘that keeps on tilting without falling’ it also has been selected as one of the Seven Manmade Wonders of the World. One may be shocked to read that this world heritage was on the verge of destruction during the Second World War. Nazis took hiding in it and it was discovered by the Allies, by the fortune of the whole world the American officer deputed to deal with the affairs did not call for the cannon fire. Virtually the existence of this World Heritage Site hung on a single word from that unknown officer who deserves the status of a world war hero.

Taught the world about mass and gravity.

Galileo Galilee image courtsey: malaspina.com

(Galileo Galilee; Feb 15, 1564 – Jan 8, 1642).

The Leaning Tower of Pisa has one more tryst with history as Galileo Galilee also a native of Pisa used this tower to prove his theory by dropping two cannon balls of different weights and established before the public that mass of a material does not affect acceleration due to gravity (things of different weights if dropped will fall in the same speed). Before this experiment the whole world thought that heavier fell in greater speed if dropped. This Tower of Pisa has seen much events since its construction and survived 9centuries keeping the world in tender-hooks about will fall and will not fall, let us hope it stands for ever sp that generations to come may also have a tender hook, will it or will it not?!!!