The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: Revered Structures in History

1. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were the most revered and awesome structures in all of history. Philo of Byzantium compiled the first list of Seven Wonders for travelers of the Hellenistic Era, which included only unique man-made structures, such as the Pyramids at Giza or sculptures like the Colossus of Rhodes. The Seven Wonders: The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is the first known list of the most remarkable creations of classical antiquity; it was based on guidebooks popular among Hellenic sightseers and only includes works located around the Mediterranean rim. The number seven was chosen because the Greeks believed it represented perfection and plenty, and because it was the number of the five planets known anciently, plus the sun and moon. Many similar lists have been made. Revered:尊敬；崇敬 verb / to very much respect and admire someone or something. EX: Nelson Mandela is revered for his brave fight against apartheid. Awesome:很好的；了不起的 adjective / extremely good Ex: You look totally awesome in that dress. Philo of Byzantium: also known as Philo Mechanicus, was a Greek engineer and writer on mechanics, who lived during the latter half of the 3rd century BC. Although he was from Byzantium he lived most of his life in Alexandria, Egypt. He was probably younger than Ctesibius, though some place him a century earlier.

2. Hellenistic Era: The Hellenistic period is the period of ancient Greek and eastern Mediterranean history between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the emergence of the Roman Empire as signified by the Battle of Actium in 31 BC and the subsequent conquest ofPtolemaic Egypt in 30 BC. At this time, Greek cultural influence and power was at its peak in Europe, Africa and Asia, experiencing prosperity and progress in the arts, exploration, literature, theatre, architecture, music, mathematics, philosophy, and science. It is often considered a period of transition, sometimes even of decadence or degeneration, compared to the brilliance of the Greek Classical era. • Pyramids at Giza: The Great Pyramid of Giza (also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the Pyramid of Cheops) is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering what is now El Giza, Egypt. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact. • Colossus of Rhodes: The Colossus of Rhodes (Ancient Greek: was a statue of the Greek titan-god of the sun Helios, erected in the city of Rhodes, on the Greek island of the same name, by Chares of Lindos in 280 BC. It is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was constructed to celebrate Rhodes' victory over the ruler of Cyprus, Antigonus I Monophthalmus, whose son unsuccessfully besieged Rhodes in 305 BC. 

3. One Wonder that evokes a great deal of interest is the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Philo highlighted the various qualities that made the gardens worthy of incorporation onto the list of Wonders in the 3rd century B.C. These gardens portrayed the majesty of the Babylonian culture and the advanced technology of its people. It was a terraced garden that exhibited many beautiful plants and held many fountains. • Evokes: Evokes (verb):喚起(記憶等) to make someone remember something or feel an emotion. EX: That smell always evokes memories of my old school. • worthy of:值得的 • Worthy (adjective):足以...的 deserving respect, admiration or support. • EX:The donations will go to a worthy charity. Babylonian:was an ancient Akkadian-speaking Semitic state and cultural region based in central-southern Mesopotamia . It emerged as an independent state c. 1894 BC, with the city of Babylon as its capital. It was often involved in rivalry with its fellow Akkadian state of Assyria in northern Mesopotamia. Babylonia became the major power in the region afterHammurabi (fl. c. 1792 – 1752 BC middle chronology, or c. 1696 – 1654 BC, short chronology created an empire out of many of the territories of the formerAkkadian Empire. • Terraced:排房的，排屋的 adjective / built as or belonging to a row of often small houses joined together along their side walls • EX: a terraced street • Garden:花園 noun/ a piece of land next to and belonging to a house, where flowers and other plants are grown, and often containing an area of grass

4. Nebuchadnezzar II ordered this wonder to be built during his reign of 43 years between the years of 604-562 BC. He built it to please his homesick wife, Amyitis, who was from Media. She longed for the meadows and mountains of her homeland. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon awed and astounded many travelers and historians in ancient times. Although they no longer exist, the idea of such a magnificent feat of engineering still fascinates people today. Reign:統治 verb/ to be the king or queen of a country EX: Queen Victoria reigned over Britain from 1837 to 1901. longed for:渴望 Meadows:（常指有野花的）草地，牧場 noun/a field with grass and often wild flowers in it. EX: There was a path through the meadow to the village. Feat:英勇事蹟 noun / something difficult needing a lot of skill, strength, bravery, etc. toachieve it EX: The Eiffel Tower is a remarkable feat of engineering.

5. Nebuchadnezzar, the builder of the gardens, was the most important ruler of his dynasty. He was the son of Nabopolassar, and lived from 604-562 B.C. As a military commander, he followed in the footsteps of his predecessors, conquering many Cities. He marched through Palestine and besieged Jerusalem twice. Nebuchadnezzar was also one of the most renowned builders in the Near East, making Babylon the most beautiful city in the region. Around his city, he built walls, which formed a square. Dynasty:王朝，朝代 noun /  a series of rulers or leaders who are all from the same family, or a period when a country is ruled by them EX: The Mogul dynasty ruled over India for centuries. Nabopolassar: was the king of Babylonia and played a key role in the demise of the Assyrian Empire following the death of the last powerful Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal.He ruled over Babylon for twenty years (625–605 BC). military commander:軍士官長 besieged Jerusalem:圍攻耶路撒冷 Renowned:著名的 adjective/famous for something EX: The region is renowned for its outstanding natural beauty.

6. The walls measured 9 miles long. Beyond the wall was a deep moat, which kept the city safe from invasion. Herodotus states that the wall was 80 feet thick, 320 feet high, with 250 watchtowers, and 100 bronze gates. Nebuchadnezzar also built the Ishtar Gate. It was a double gate at the south end of the processional way, which was dedicated to the goddess Ishtar. It was covered with brilliant blue glazed bricks and bas-relief animal sculptures. When visitors came upon this gate they would be in awe. In addition to the Ishtar gate Nebuchadnezzar built a majestic palace for himself. Moat: （城堡等的）護城河，城壕 noun/ a long wide hole which is dug all the way around a place such as a castle, and usually filled with water, to make it more difficult to attack Invasion:入侵，侵略 noun/ when an army or country uses force to enter and take control of another country EX: They were planning to mount an invasion of the north of the country. Herodotus: He was a the first historian known to collect his materials systematically and critically, and then to arrange them into a historiographic narrative Watchtowers:瞭望塔，崗樓 noun/ a tower built especially around the edges of prisons and army camps, the top of which provides a good position from which to see anyone who is coming close Ishtar Gate:  was the eighth gate to the inner city of Babylon. It was constructed in about 575 BC by order of King Nebuchadnezzar II on the north side of the city. Glazed:裝玻璃於 verb/ to put a piece of glass into a window or the windows of a building. EX: All the rooms have glazed doors.

7. Travelers marveled at the walls decorated with colorful friezes of blue and yellow enameled bricks. Nebuchadnezzar paved the street sidewalks with small red stone slabs. Along the edge of each stone were carved, "I am Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who made this," demonstrating Nebuchadnezzar's absolute power and influence over Babylon . Nebuchadnezzar used these works as a means of self-promotion and self-glorification, not unlike other kings of that time. Although Nebuchadnezzar suffered from insanity at some point during his 43-year reign, he transformed his city into an “urban wonder,” states Herodotus. Nebuchadnezzar died a world conqueror and an architectural role model. Enameled:塗瓷釉（或搪瓷、瓷漆）於；給…上琺瑯 verb / to cover something with enamel Slabs: （石、木、金屬、食物等的）板，片 noun/ a thick, flat piece of a solid substance, such as stone, wood,metal, food, etc., which is usually square or rectangular self-promotion:自我宣傳 self-glorification:自我吹捧 suffered from insanity: 遭受神經失常的疾病所苦 Conqueror:征服者；勝利者 noun/someone who has conquered a country or its people Architectural:建築的 adjective/ relating to architecture EX: architectural drawings/plans

8. Nebuchadnezzar built the Hanging Gardens, breaking natural law by creating a botanical wonder, an "impulse deriving from the love of a woman." He wished to please his homesick Median wife Amyitis, whom he had married to make an alliance between Media and Babylonia. She was raised in a green and mountainous land. botanical wonder: offers a wide selection of rare plants for gardens and containers. Impulse:衝動，突然的強烈欲望 noun/ a sudden strong wish to do something EX: I had this sudden impulse to shout out "Rubbish!" in the middle of her speech.

9. Amyitis found Mesopotamia depressing, as it is a flat and sun-baked environment. Nebuchadnezzar, with hope of making her happier, decided to build a recreated homeland, which was an artificial mountain with rooftop gardens. What made it special was that it was a man-made paradise, and it defied nature. In a barren region, Nebuchadnezzar succeeded where nature had failed Amyitis: Amytis of Media (c. 630–565 BC) was the daughter or granddaughter of the king Cyaxares, and the wife of Nebuchadnezzar II. Artificial:人造的，人工的；仿造的 adjective/ made by people, often as a copy of something natural EX: an artificial lake Defied:對抗；違抗；反抗 verb/ o refuse to obey a person, decision, law, situation, etc. A forest fire raging in the south of France is defying (= is not changed by) all attempts to control it.

10. The gardens were made to look like a natural Median wilderness. Nebuchadnezzar had man made hills covered with many different types of trees, which satisfied his wife's passion for mountainous surroundings. The gardens were sloped down like a hillside, and were also terraced into different flowerbeds. The beautiful landscape of the Hanging Gardens helped make it a special structure, and transformed the desert-like environment into a pastoral countryside. • desert-like:像沙漠般的 • Pastoral:諮詢指導的，提供建議和幫助的 adjective/describes the part of the work of teachers and priests that involves giving help and advice about personal matters. • EX: A priest's pastoral duties include helping the poor and sick.

11. The gardens had exotic flourishing plants. These plants were cultivated above ground level. Nebuchadnezzar imported the plants from foreign lands. The plants may have included cedar, cypress, myrtle, juniper, almond, date palm, ebony, olive, oak, terebinth, nuts, ash, firs, nightshade, willow, pomegranate, plum, pear, quince, fig, and grapevine. cedar :雪松 a tall wide evergreen (= never losing its leaves) tree Cypress:柏樹 a type of conifer (= tree that never loses its leaves) myrtle:香桃木 Juniper:杜松 Almond:杏仁 date palm:枣椰子 Ebony:黑檀 Olive:橄欖 Oak:橡木 Terebinth:橡樹 Nuts:堅果 Ash:灰

12. Firs:冷杉 • Nightshade:顛茄 • Willow:垂柳 • Pomegranate:石榴 • Plum:李子 • Pear:梨 • Quince:榅桲 • Fig:無花果 • Grapevine:葡萄藤 • The plants were suspended over the heads of observers on terraces, they draped over the terraced walls. Arches were underneath these terraces. The brilliantly colored trees and flowers that dangled from the walls created a lush and magical environment. • Suspended:停止，暫停，中止 verb / to stop or to cause to be not active, either temporarily or permanently • EX: The ferry service has been suspended for the day because of bad weather.

13. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were an impressive example of architecture. The gardens formed a quadrilateral shape. There were stairways that led to the uppermostterraced roofs. The plants hung over terraces that were supported by stone columns. There were arched vaults, which were located on cubed fountains. The fountains created a humidity that helped keep the area cool. Impressive:給人深刻印象的；令人欽佩的 adjective / If an object or achievement is impressive, you admire or respect it, usually because it is special, important or very large Ex: There are some very impressive buildings in the town. uppermost:最高（的），最上面（的）；最重要（的）；在最高處（的） adjective/ in the highest position or having the most importance EX: The office block's uppermost floors were engulfed with flames. Terraced:排房的，排屋的 adjective / built as or belonging to a row of often small houses joined together along their side walls EX: a terraced street Columns:縱列 noun / any vertical block of words or numbers EX: Add the column of figures and divide the sum by three. humidity:濕潤，潮濕 nounthe quality of being humid EX: I don't like the humidity of this climate.

14. The shade from the trees also helped keep the gardens cool. The garden ascended in closely planted levels to form a man-made replica of mountain greenery. The gardens were supported by an intricate structure of stone pillars, brick walls, and palm tree trunk beams. These trunks were made watertight. Palm tree trunked beams were laid over with mats of reed and bitumen as well as two layers of baked mud brick. All of this was covered in a layer of lead. There were fourteen vaulted rooms and underground crypts. shade :陰處；陰涼處 noun/ slight darkness caused by something blocking the direct light from the sun Ex: The sun was hot, and there were no trees to offer us shade. Ascended:上升；攀登；登上 verb/to move up or climb something EX: They slowly ascended the steep path up the mountain. man-made replica: 人造複製品 Intricate:錯綜複雜的；複雜精細的；難理解的；難解決的 adjective  / having a lot of small parts or details that are arranged in acomplicated way and are therefore sometimes difficult tounderstand, solve or produce. EX: The watch mechanism is extremely intricate and very difficult to repair

15. Beams:光線；光束；光柱 noun / a line of light that shines from a bright object. EX: We could just pick out the path in the weak beam of the UKUSUALLYtorch/US flashlight. Bitumen:瀝青 noun / a black sticky substance such as tar or asphalt, used for making roads and roofs • The entire structure measured 400 feet by 400 feet. The gardens were as tall as the city walls, which Herodotus reported to be 320 feet high. Conflicting sources report that the walls were 80 feet high, a less remarkable, but still majestic height. The architecture of the Hanging Gardens demonstrates the majesty of Babylonian structural design under Nebuchadnezzar's rule. Remarkable:非凡的；奇異的；引人注目的 adjective/unusual or special and therefore surprising and worthmentioning • EX: The 20th century was remarkable for its inventions.

16. The gardens were as much of a technological feat as they were an architectural triumph. The technique of hydro engineering demonstrated their knowledge of irrigation. Since Babylon rarely received rain, the gardens had to be irrigated. Streams of water emerged from elevated sources and flowed down the inclined channels. This kept the whole area moist and thus the grass was always green. The gardens were as much of a technological feat as they were an architectural triumph: 這個花園有許多技術上的功績,因為它是建築上的一大勝利 Inclined:傾向於…的 adjective / tending or wanting to do something EX: Tom is inclined to be lazy. Kept:保有；保存；保留 verb / PAST SIMPLE AND PAST PARTICIPLE OF keep Moist:潮濕的；濕潤的 adjective / slightly wet, especially in a good way EX: Keep the soil in the pot moist, but not too wet.

17. Historians have questioned whether the Hanging Gardens used hydroponics as a way of growing plants. Hydroponics means that nutrients are added to the water swirling around the plants roots. No soil is used in a hydroponic system. Excavations have found an elaborate tunnel and pulley system that brought ground water to the top terrace. Hydroponics:（植物的）無土種植法，水耕法 noun/the method of growing plants in water to which specialchemicals are added, rather than growing them in earth swirling around the plants roots:包圍植物的莖 Excavations:發掘 noun/to remove earth that is covering very old objects buried in theground in order to discover things about the past EX:Excavation on the site is likely to continue for several years. Elaborate:精心計劃（或製作）的；詳盡的；複雜的 adjective / containing a lot of careful detail or many detailed parts EX: You want a plain blouse to go with that skirt - nothing too elaborate.

18. The water was dispersed by means of a chainpump. A chain pump consists of two large wheels, like a ski lift, with one wheel at the top and one at the bottom. Buckets hanging from the chain were continuously dipped into the reservoir at the base of the gardens. Chain:一連串，一系列（的事物）noun/ a set of connected or related things EX: She has built up a chain of 180 bookshops across the country. Pump:幫浦，抽水機；油泵；打氣筒 noun / a piece of equipment which is used to cause liquid, air or gas to move from one place to another EX: a water/bicycle/fuel pump dipped into the reservoir at the base of the gardens: 深入到花園的水池

19. By turning handles slaves provided the power to turn the wheels. The source of the gardens' water was from the Euphrates River. The water from the pool at the top of the gardens could be released from gates into channels. The channels acted as artificial streams, designed to water the garden. This chain pump showed the technological ingenuity of Babylonia and helped sustain the Hanging Gardens. Slaves:奴隸 noun/ a person who is legally owned by someone else and has to work for them EX: I'm tired of being treated like a slave! Ingenuity:心靈手巧；足智多謀；獨創力 noun/someone's ability to think of clever new ways of doing something. EX: Drug smugglers constantly use their ingenuity to find new ways of getting drugs into a country.

20. Ultimately, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon lasted through the time of Alexander the Great. This great masterpiece, with its keen architectural style, cleverness in hydro engineering, lush, flourishing plants and well-constructed landscape belongs on the list of the Wonders of the World. • Lush:植物 plantsadjective/ EX:A lush area has a lot of green, healthy plants, grass and trees Flourishing:茁壯成長；繁榮；蓬勃發展 adjective / growing or developing successfully EX: There's a flourishing trade in second-hand video machines. well-constructed: 建構良好的 adjective

21. Nebuchadnezzar was great in many ways surpassing all other rulers of his dynasty. The elegance of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon demonstrates his leadership a strong esthetic sense and great architectural and engineering foresight. Even if Amyitis never resolved her homesickness, Nebuchadnezzar and the people of the ancient world who experienced the gardens all benefited by her depressed nature. • esthetic:美感的；審美的；美學的 adjective/ MAINLY US FOR aesthetic • Foresight:深謀遠慮；先見之明；遠見卓識 noun / the ability to judge correctly what is going to happen in thefuture and plan your actions based on this knowledge • EX:She'd had the foresight to sell her apartment just before house prices came down. • Amyitis: Amytis of Media (c. 630–565 BC) was the daughter or granddaughter of the king Cyaxares, and the wife of Nebuchadnezzar II.