Speech on the New 7

¶ … Speech on the New 7 Wonders

The Seven Wonders of the World

Over the years it can be said that different architectural landscapes and settings have never failed to capture the attention of man's naked eye (or his camera lens for that matter). These "wonders of the world," as we now call it, have been a topic of photography sessions, write-ups, sketches, and other artworks for the longest time. These wonders of the world have also taken on the role of socio-cultural emblems of the countries to which they can be found.

It is through this dynamic role of these constructions that we find it fruitful to revisit the famous "Seven Wonders of the World." Particularly, we are faced with this question: "What makes these constructions so wonderful that they occupy such an elusive and prestige spot in human history?"

Allow me to take you to a tour and give you a feel of these nature wonders using descriptive language. Let us begin our tour to the world's largest continent, Asia. In this continent alone, we shall find three of the seven man-made wonders of our time. Let us begin this tour in China. Popularly known for its age-old civilization, China is the home of the Great Wall of China. Widely known to be a man-made construction that can still be seen from the outer space, this wall runs from about "6,400 kilometers east to west from Gulf of China to the Yellow Sea to a point in Central Asia" (Seven Wonders of World Website, n.d.). This wall acted as the protector of the Qin Empire against tribal attacks originating from Central Asia. This wall also provided the empire's offense system as Qin warriors walk on the wall and attacked their enemies. As a result, this construction allowed for the expansion of the Qin Empire (ibid.).

If the Great Wall of China was constructed for the country's defense purposes, the reason for construction of Taj Mahal says a different story. Taj Mahal was built under the rule of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to honor the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal who died during childbirth. "The mausoleum stands on a marble plinth 23 feet high and has four identical faces with a chamfered corner and a massive arch of height 108 feet on each face. Parapets create the skyline rhythm of the mausoleum over each arch and by pinnacle and domed kiosks on each corner" (ibid.). This construction has received numerous praises for its beauty, particularly when its marble surface reflects the morning sunlight as well as the variety of accessories used in the structure's design that adds beauty to the mausoleum.

History, indeed, shows the kind of importance people give to their departed loved ones. We can even notice some display of grandeur. We have seen this in the case of the recently discussed Taj Mahal as well as in this another wonder of the world - Jordan's Petra. Popular for its tombs, Petra is an ancient rose-red city carved into limestone mountains that is located at a remote area of the southern desert mountains of Jordan (Garrison, n.d.). It was the country's former inhabitants, the Nabataean Arabs who carved on these structures more than two millennia ago. It is popular for its dramatic and vividly striking tombs as well as its temple facades which used to be a church during the Byzantine era (Gogeometry Website, 2008).

Moving in the Western direction, we shall find the other three wonders in South America. The Peruvian Machu Picchu was built in the 1940s during Spanish colonization. Machu Picchu or "Old Peak" is an old Inca town placed in between two mountains: the Machu Picchu (Old Mountain) and the Huayna Picchu (Young Mountain). As it stands about 3,000 ft. tall, Machu Picchu overlooks the Urubamba River. The buildings in Machu Picchu, all made from local stones, has different types of wallings. "The steep slopes of the site are terraced with masonry retaining walls to hold soil for the gardens, and the various levels of the town are linked by stone stairways." (Fletcher in Gogeometry Website, 2008). The trail to Machu Picchu is known as one of the best trekking sites in the world, particularly for its landscapes that showcase the remnants of its historic past as well as its diverse ecology (ibid).

Mexico's Chichen Itza also showcases its nation's rich, historical past in the same way the Machu Picchu does. Chichen Itza, roughly translated as "at the mouth of the well of the Itza," is considered as a political, commercial, and religious center of the ancient Mayan tribe in Mexico. In this city, one can locate the Temple of Kulkulan (Feathered Serpent), the Observatory, an astronomical observatory, and Temple of the Warriors and the Sacred Cenote (Well of Sacrifice). These structures have religious and scientific significance for the Mayan culture (ibid.).

Not too far from Mexico, we can find Brazil's huge Christ Redeemer structure. "Christ the Redeemer is a large Art Deco-style statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The statue stands 38 m (125 feet) tall and is located at the peak of the 710-m (2330-feet) Corcovado Mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park, overlooking the city. The statue has become an icon of the city, its open arms seen by many as a testament to the warmth of the Brazilian people" (ibid).

Moving farther away brings us to Europe, where we can find the Colosseum in Rome. This structure goes as far back as 80 AD for its inauguration. The designs of our modern stadiums are largely indebted to and influenced by this ancient Colosseum. During the pre-modern times, gladiators dueled to death and Christians were fed to the lions in this place (ibid.).