Ten Ancient Landmarks Lost Forever: From the Temple of Artemis to Palmyra
A recent survey highlights ten historic sites, including the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus (circa 260s AD), the House of Wisdom in Baghdad (1258 AD), and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon (1st century AD). Other landmarks featured are the Lighthouse of Alexandria (approximately 14th century AD), the Great Library of Alexandria (date disputed), the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (15th century AD), the Colossus of Rhodes (toppled 255/56 BC, destroyed 654 AD), Palmyra (2015), the Statue of Zeus at Olympia (5th century AD), and the Menorah from the Second Temple (post-71 AD). Notably, the Temple was set ablaze in 356 BC, the House of Wisdom fell to Mongol forces, and Palmyra's monuments were ravaged by ISIS in 2015.
Key facts
- Temple of Artemis at Ephesus lost c. 260s AD; built by Croesus c. 550 BC; burned by Herostratus 356 BC; ravaged by Goths.
- House of Wisdom in Baghdad lost 1258 AD; founded by Abbasid caliphs; destroyed by Mongols.
- Hanging Gardens of Babylon lost 1st century AD; possibly built by Nebuchadnezzar II; destroyed by earthquake; alternative location Nineveh per Stephanie Dalley.
- Lighthouse of Alexandria lost c. 14th century AD; built by Sostratus of Cnidus; over 350 feet tall; on Pharos Island.
- Great Library of Alexandria lost disputed; founded c. 295 BC by Ptolemy I; possibly burned by Julius Caesar 48 BC; branch Serapeum destroyed 391 AD.
- Mausoleum at Halicarnassus lost 15th century AD; built 353-351 BC for King Mausolus; designed by Satyros and Pythius; destroyed by earthquakes.
- Colossus of Rhodes toppled 255/56 BC, destroyed 654 AD; 105 feet high; by Chares of Lindos; melted down by Arabs.
- Palmyra ruins lost 2015; UNESCO site since 1980; destroyed by ISIS including Temple of Bel and Arch of Triumph.
- Statue of Zeus at Olympia lost 5th century AD; by Phidias; gold and ivory; destroyed by fire in Constantinople.
- Menorah from Second Temple lost after 71 AD; looted by Titus 70 AD; Arch of Titus relief painted yellow ochre per 2012 scan.
Entities
Artists
- Phidias
- Chares of Lindos
- Sostratus of Cnidus
- Satyros
- Pythius of Priene
- Leochares
- Bryaxis
- Scopas
- Timotheus
- Hendrick van Cleve III
- Valentin Foulquier
- Felix Gardon
- Philip Galle
- Maerten van Heemskerck
- JMW Turner
- Francesco Hayez
- Antoine-Chrysostome Quatremère de Quincy
- O. von Corven
- Yahyá al-Wasiti
- James Gordon
- Paolo Villa
Institutions
- TheCollector
- UNESCO
- ISIS
- British Museum
- Rijksmuseum
- National Gallery of Art
- Yale Centre for British Art
- Royal Academy, London
- The Garden Trust
- Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
- Gallerie dell’Accademia, Venice
- Arch of Titus Project
- Yeshiva University
Locations
- Ephesus
- Turkey
- Baghdad
- Iraq
- Babylon
- Nineveh
- Alexandria
- Egypt
- Pharos Island
- Halicarnassus
- Caria
- Rhodes
- Greece
- Aegean Sea
- Palmyra
- Syria
- Olympia
- Constantinople
- Jerusalem
- Israel
- Rome
- Italy
- Mount Sinai
- Damascus
- China
- Europe
- Mediterranean Sea
- Euphrates River
- Anatolia
- Venice
- London
- United Kingdom
- Paris
- France
- New York City
- United States