The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World : science, engineering and technology / Michael Denis Higgins. Higgins, Michael Denis, 1952- author.

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2023]

x, 330 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color), maps (some color) ; 25 cm

"The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were originally a sort of 'bucket' list of must-see monuments chosen for their grandeur and this compilation still resonates today. Some people have sought a link between the wonders and Alexander the Great, although he did not build any of them. All of the Wonders are gone except for the Pyramids, so we must rely on scarce ancient accounts, augmented with scientific studies, to understand their context, the materials used in their construction and the forces that finally damaged or destroyed them. Earth science figures prominently in modern studies of the Wonders: the wealth and resources needed for construction were controlled by the physical environment, as well as the forces of destruction and burial. Climate and soil determined the agricultural wealth of communities and rapid changes, not dissimilar to those we are now experiencing, had a powerful influence on cultural resilience. Finally, some legends may be geomyths, real events recast as stories"- Provided by publisher.