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The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: An Extraordinary New Journey Through History's Greatest Treasures
An immersive, awe-inspiring tour of the ancient sites that kindle our imagination and afford us a glimpse into our shared history
Forty-five centuries ago, tens of thousands of workers teemed across Egypt’s Giza plateau, tirelessly heaving, chiseling, and constructing what would become the largest, tallest edifice on the planet for millennia—all for a single man, a god on earth. What would impel so early a civilization to embark on such a resource-thirsty endeavor? More importantly, what does it say about our forebears and the human will writ large?
Following the spectacular Pyramid of Giza came six more wonders of the ancient the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis, the Statue of Zeus, the Mausoleum of Halikarnassos, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Lighthouse at Alexandria. Not all were created for the benefit of one person. Indeed, one may not have existed at all. But each came to be associated with aesthetic sublimity, ingenious engineering, and sheer, audacious magnitude, imbuing their creators and dedicatees with world-historical significance for time immemorial.
Guiding us through this fascinating history is celebrated historian Bettany Hughes, who has traveled to each of the sites to scour their ruins for clues, uncovered the latest archaeological discoveries, and brought these once breathtaking places back to vivacious, captivating life. Along the way we learn of the diverse people who built them and pilgrimaged to them, the incredible planning and design behind their seemingly flawless execution, and the spellbinding stories surrounding them—of arson, war, and love—that cemented their place in history.
These wonders persist in our minds as totems of the greatness of antiquity, but beneath the familiar images is a surprising, revelatory history. Carried by Hughes’s lyrical, engrossing voice, we begin to see the ancient world, and ourselves, in an entirely new way.
Forty-five centuries ago, tens of thousands of workers teemed across Egypt’s Giza plateau, tirelessly heaving, chiseling, and constructing what would become the largest, tallest edifice on the planet for millennia—all for a single man, a god on earth. What would impel so early a civilization to embark on such a resource-thirsty endeavor? More importantly, what does it say about our forebears and the human will writ large?
Following the spectacular Pyramid of Giza came six more wonders of the ancient the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis, the Statue of Zeus, the Mausoleum of Halikarnassos, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Lighthouse at Alexandria. Not all were created for the benefit of one person. Indeed, one may not have existed at all. But each came to be associated with aesthetic sublimity, ingenious engineering, and sheer, audacious magnitude, imbuing their creators and dedicatees with world-historical significance for time immemorial.
Guiding us through this fascinating history is celebrated historian Bettany Hughes, who has traveled to each of the sites to scour their ruins for clues, uncovered the latest archaeological discoveries, and brought these once breathtaking places back to vivacious, captivating life. Along the way we learn of the diverse people who built them and pilgrimaged to them, the incredible planning and design behind their seemingly flawless execution, and the spellbinding stories surrounding them—of arson, war, and love—that cemented their place in history.
These wonders persist in our minds as totems of the greatness of antiquity, but beneath the familiar images is a surprising, revelatory history. Carried by Hughes’s lyrical, engrossing voice, we begin to see the ancient world, and ourselves, in an entirely new way.
380 pages, Paperback
First published January 18, 2024
458 people are currently reading
5542 people want to read
About the author
Bettany Hughes
17 books723 followersBettany Hughes is an English historian, author and broadcaster. Her speciality is classical history.
Bettany grew up in West London with her brother, the cricketer Simon Hughes. Her parents were in the theatre: she learnt early the importance and delight of sharing thoughts and ideas with a wider public. Bettany won a scholarship to read Ancient and Modern History at Oxford University and then continued her post-graduate research while travelling through the Balkans and Asia Minor. In recognition of her contribution to research, she has been awarded a Research Fellowship at King's London.
Bettany lectures throughout the world. She has been invited to universities in the US, Australia, Germany, Turkey and Holland to speak on subjects as diverse as Helen of Troy and the origins of female 'Sophia' to concepts of Time in the Islamic world. She considers her work in the lecture hall and seminar room amongst the most important, and rewarding she does.
Bettany grew up in West London with her brother, the cricketer Simon Hughes. Her parents were in the theatre: she learnt early the importance and delight of sharing thoughts and ideas with a wider public. Bettany won a scholarship to read Ancient and Modern History at Oxford University and then continued her post-graduate research while travelling through the Balkans and Asia Minor. In recognition of her contribution to research, she has been awarded a Research Fellowship at King's London.
Bettany lectures throughout the world. She has been invited to universities in the US, Australia, Germany, Turkey and Holland to speak on subjects as diverse as Helen of Troy and the origins of female 'Sophia' to concepts of Time in the Islamic world. She considers her work in the lecture hall and seminar room amongst the most important, and rewarding she does.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
March 24, 2024
I wouldn't have read this book, maybe not even found out about it, if it wasn't for a recommendation by Natalie Haynes. As I know now, both Haynes AND Hughes are on television, sharing their love for history with all of us - which explains why they are so good at infecting us with their enjoyment and enthusiasm. And why both are great at narrating their own audiobooks. Yep, I once again bought this in print and audio.
The list of wonders of the ancient world has been revised a few times. Back in ancient times and more modern days. The most "agreed-on" list and indeed this book lists
1) the great pyramid at Giza
2) the hanging gardens of Babylon
3) the temple of Artemis at Ephesus
4) the statue of Zeus at Olympia
5) the mausoleum of Halikarnassos
6) the coloss of Rhodes
7) the pharos lighthouse at Alexandria
Through maps as well as pictures of engravings, statues, mosaics and other pieces of art we get to know the regions and cultures in which these seven wonders can be found. This also gives context to how and why they were created and what they must have looked like back in the day. For instance: the area around the great pyramid used to have waterways and was way greener. Amazing, right?
The sheer magnitude of some of these structures, to say nothing of the creativity needed to have the idea, then draw up plans, and turn them into real things, is breathtaking to me. Always has been. People have always worshipped one thing or another, have always appreciated beauty in one form or another, but to consider what we, as a species, were capable of in times when we didn't have electricity or machines ... I cannot put into words how much that has always fascinated and impressed me and also given me hope (if we were capable of it THEN, we should be capable of great things still).
Thankfully, the author, while being at least as fascinated and thrilled about these wonders, was not at a loss for words. She managed to draw wonderfully detailed pictures of the respective country / region / realm / culture for all seven cases and provided us with highly interesting tidbits from geography to history to religion to mythology to politics and gave nice context to the differences between then and now.
A wonderful read that transported me to each site and nicely engaged with me.
I'd like to end this review a little differently, with quoting the last paragraph of the author's acknowledgements:
The earth has been kind in giving up its resources to make these Wonders. [...] We are fortunate to meet and mingle with wonder in this world, all power to the wonder-makers of the past and future.
The list of wonders of the ancient world has been revised a few times. Back in ancient times and more modern days. The most "agreed-on" list and indeed this book lists
1) the great pyramid at Giza
2) the hanging gardens of Babylon
3) the temple of Artemis at Ephesus
4) the statue of Zeus at Olympia
5) the mausoleum of Halikarnassos
6) the coloss of Rhodes
7) the pharos lighthouse at Alexandria
Through maps as well as pictures of engravings, statues, mosaics and other pieces of art we get to know the regions and cultures in which these seven wonders can be found. This also gives context to how and why they were created and what they must have looked like back in the day. For instance: the area around the great pyramid used to have waterways and was way greener. Amazing, right?
The sheer magnitude of some of these structures, to say nothing of the creativity needed to have the idea, then draw up plans, and turn them into real things, is breathtaking to me. Always has been. People have always worshipped one thing or another, have always appreciated beauty in one form or another, but to consider what we, as a species, were capable of in times when we didn't have electricity or machines ... I cannot put into words how much that has always fascinated and impressed me and also given me hope (if we were capable of it THEN, we should be capable of great things still).
Thankfully, the author, while being at least as fascinated and thrilled about these wonders, was not at a loss for words. She managed to draw wonderfully detailed pictures of the respective country / region / realm / culture for all seven cases and provided us with highly interesting tidbits from geography to history to religion to mythology to politics and gave nice context to the differences between then and now.
A wonderful read that transported me to each site and nicely engaged with me.
I'd like to end this review a little differently, with quoting the last paragraph of the author's acknowledgements:
The earth has been kind in giving up its resources to make these Wonders. [...] We are fortunate to meet and mingle with wonder in this world, all power to the wonder-makers of the past and future.
April 22, 2024
My brain is full. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by Bettany Hughes is absolutely packed with everything you might want to know about the Wonders. Everything is in here including the people who planned it, built it, demanded it, and lived around it. I generally find ancient history a hard time period for me. Often, we know so little about specific stories that it becomes necessary to use conjecture which always pulls me right out of a story if used too much. Hughes does not have this problem here. The amount of research and thought put into each chapter is mind-blowing. Every Wonder gets its own chapter and, while there is a lot of information, none of it was tangential. Everything made our understanding of a Wonder more complete.
Strangely, the book's strength is also its sole weakness. I was very interested in the subject matter and even I felt, at times, a bit overwhelmed by the detail in each chapter. I found myself sometimes looking forward to the next chapter just because I felt like I already had everything I needed. Clearly, this is a minor quibble, and any ancient history nerds will be thrilled with this book and want it on their shelf.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by the publisher.)
Strangely, the book's strength is also its sole weakness. I was very interested in the subject matter and even I felt, at times, a bit overwhelmed by the detail in each chapter. I found myself sometimes looking forward to the next chapter just because I felt like I already had everything I needed. Clearly, this is a minor quibble, and any ancient history nerds will be thrilled with this book and want it on their shelf.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by the publisher.)
June 26, 2024
Ms. Hughes’ book is jam-packed with historical details about the Seven Ancient Wonders. The only wonder still standing is the Great Pyramid at Giza. Hughes does a fantastic job to aid in describing how those structures would have possibly looked or how they were constructed.
I think my favorite wonder was the Colossus of Rhodes simply for the gargantuan size and appearance the god Helios would have made.
I would recommend this for lovers of ancient history who have an invested interest in this area. Hughes is very passionate and enthusiastic about her subject. Her verbosity in the text may be off-putting to some (not to me!) I feel like going back over some of my own personal ancient history books to continue the fun I had in learning and experiencing Hughes’ newest work.
I think my favorite wonder was the Colossus of Rhodes simply for the gargantuan size and appearance the god Helios would have made.
I would recommend this for lovers of ancient history who have an invested interest in this area. Hughes is very passionate and enthusiastic about her subject. Her verbosity in the text may be off-putting to some (not to me!) I feel like going back over some of my own personal ancient history books to continue the fun I had in learning and experiencing Hughes’ newest work.
August 10, 2025
The Seven Wonders of the World. Only The Pyramids are still here. The other six no longer are. There's some debate about where the Hanging Gardens were located. Babylon or Babylonia? Perhaps Nineveh?
Though the information is fascinating, I didn't like the author's writing style where she has to show off her broad range of vocabulary at every available opportunity. When writing about the truce that took place during the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece (in the Statue of Zeus at Olympia chapter) , the author writes that the truce took place to ensure the safe passage of athletes and pilgrims to Olympia, so that these men could fetishise competition in the presence of the king of the gods.
Really? I hadn't realised that's what male attendees at sporting events were doing!
The author also mentions that Hercules measured out the stadium at Olympia, which is why the stadium is longer than all the others, because Hercules had enormous, heroic feet. This is hilarious but not clever.
Some interesting facts are that the Colossus of Rhodes was 108 feet high with a skeleton of iron and a skin of bronze. The sculpture stood on the acropolis in Rhodes and didn't span the harbour entrance as is generally depicted. The colossus became famous very quickly and didn't last very long, perhaps 50 - 60 years, before an earthquake felled it along with the city's walls.
The Pharos at Alexandria was perhaps four times as high as the colossus and lasted for around 1,500 years.
Though the information is fascinating, I didn't like the author's writing style where she has to show off her broad range of vocabulary at every available opportunity. When writing about the truce that took place during the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece (in the Statue of Zeus at Olympia chapter) , the author writes that the truce took place to ensure the safe passage of athletes and pilgrims to Olympia, so that these men could fetishise competition in the presence of the king of the gods.
Really? I hadn't realised that's what male attendees at sporting events were doing!
The author also mentions that Hercules measured out the stadium at Olympia, which is why the stadium is longer than all the others, because Hercules had enormous, heroic feet. This is hilarious but not clever.
Some interesting facts are that the Colossus of Rhodes was 108 feet high with a skeleton of iron and a skin of bronze. The sculpture stood on the acropolis in Rhodes and didn't span the harbour entrance as is generally depicted. The colossus became famous very quickly and didn't last very long, perhaps 50 - 60 years, before an earthquake felled it along with the city's walls.
The Pharos at Alexandria was perhaps four times as high as the colossus and lasted for around 1,500 years.
November 7, 2025
4.5 stars
A fascinating read. I'd recommend the audiobook.
I'm adding Bettany Hughes other books to my wishlist.
A fascinating read. I'd recommend the audiobook.
I'm adding Bettany Hughes other books to my wishlist.
February 7, 2024
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was one of my most anticipated books of 2024. I felt really lucky that the release date was in January because the wait would've been horrible. It's only my second book by Bettany Hughes (the first one being her book on Venus and Aphrodite which I also highly recommend) but it didn't came as a surprise that I ended up loving the book. I already knew what the seven wonders of the ancient world were but I had never actually come across a book about them until now. It was really amazing to read about all of these wonders. I often ended up reading past my bedtime because I just needed to finish the chapter I was in. I just love ancient history so damn much!
The seven wonders of the ancient world were: the Great Pyramid at Giza in Egypt, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in Iraq, the Temple of Artemis in Turkey, the statue of Zeus at Olympia in Greece, the mausoleum of Halikarnassos in Turkey, the Colossus at Rhodes in Greece and the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt. Only the Great Pyramid is still standing but we do know where the other wonders would've been located. I knew about all seven of these wonders but aside from the Great Pyramid at Giza I didn't know too much about them or their intricate histories. This is why I'm so glad that Bettany Hughes wrote this book and did a deep dive about them. She even visited all of the places where the wonders are (the Great Pyramid) and would've been (the others) located.
Initially I would've thought that the Great Pyramid at Giza or the Lighthouse of Alexandria would be my favorites to read about since I'm a huge Egyptophile but the chapter on the mausoleum of Halikarnassos ended up being my favorite. This came as a surprise but the history of the mausoleum and the dynasty that build it was very fascinating. Now all I want to do is find more literature about it. Second place would go to the Temple of Artemis. It was also super interesting to read and learn more about. I could clearly go on like this but yes, those two chapters definitely stood out to me. Another thing I loved was learning that Alexander the Great visited all of these seven wonders in his short but frenzied life. Quite a feat, if you ask me!
Needless to say, you could really tell that the author did amazing research. In the book it was mentioned, if I remember correctly, that she was writing the book in 2019 but she also visited the various sites where the wonders would've been. The descriptions is what makes this book really stand out because I could absolutely imagine all of the wonders in my mind's eye even though there are only artistic renderings of them (aside from the Great Pyramid, of course). The only reason why I didn't give it an extra star and make it a 5 star rating is that some chapters could be quite dense with not always the easiest words used. Even for me, who's been reading nonfiction like this for years it sometimes became a little heavy. Other than that I have no negative remarks at all.
Overall, The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by Bettany Hughes was quite a riveting ride. I loved learning about all of these wonders and it made me wish that almost all of them hadn't been destroyed by earthquakes and fires. It was amazingly written, full of marvelous tidbits and facts about the ancient hellenistic world. I already know this will end up on my favorite books of 2024 list!
The seven wonders of the ancient world were: the Great Pyramid at Giza in Egypt, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in Iraq, the Temple of Artemis in Turkey, the statue of Zeus at Olympia in Greece, the mausoleum of Halikarnassos in Turkey, the Colossus at Rhodes in Greece and the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt. Only the Great Pyramid is still standing but we do know where the other wonders would've been located. I knew about all seven of these wonders but aside from the Great Pyramid at Giza I didn't know too much about them or their intricate histories. This is why I'm so glad that Bettany Hughes wrote this book and did a deep dive about them. She even visited all of the places where the wonders are (the Great Pyramid) and would've been (the others) located.
Initially I would've thought that the Great Pyramid at Giza or the Lighthouse of Alexandria would be my favorites to read about since I'm a huge Egyptophile but the chapter on the mausoleum of Halikarnassos ended up being my favorite. This came as a surprise but the history of the mausoleum and the dynasty that build it was very fascinating. Now all I want to do is find more literature about it. Second place would go to the Temple of Artemis. It was also super interesting to read and learn more about. I could clearly go on like this but yes, those two chapters definitely stood out to me. Another thing I loved was learning that Alexander the Great visited all of these seven wonders in his short but frenzied life. Quite a feat, if you ask me!
Needless to say, you could really tell that the author did amazing research. In the book it was mentioned, if I remember correctly, that she was writing the book in 2019 but she also visited the various sites where the wonders would've been. The descriptions is what makes this book really stand out because I could absolutely imagine all of the wonders in my mind's eye even though there are only artistic renderings of them (aside from the Great Pyramid, of course). The only reason why I didn't give it an extra star and make it a 5 star rating is that some chapters could be quite dense with not always the easiest words used. Even for me, who's been reading nonfiction like this for years it sometimes became a little heavy. Other than that I have no negative remarks at all.
Overall, The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by Bettany Hughes was quite a riveting ride. I loved learning about all of these wonders and it made me wish that almost all of them hadn't been destroyed by earthquakes and fires. It was amazingly written, full of marvelous tidbits and facts about the ancient hellenistic world. I already know this will end up on my favorite books of 2024 list!
October 24, 2024
3.5 stars
I found this very informative but most of it was almost too informative, if that makes sense? Like i found myself zoning out a bunch because of all the off-shoot stories that Hughes included with each lengthy description of the 7 wonders. I would definitely give this 5 stars for the information but the 3.5 star rating for me just comes from the massive amounts of information that was dumped on me throughout each incredibly long chapter. I liked it, though, just not a ton.
I found this very informative but most of it was almost too informative, if that makes sense? Like i found myself zoning out a bunch because of all the off-shoot stories that Hughes included with each lengthy description of the 7 wonders. I would definitely give this 5 stars for the information but the 3.5 star rating for me just comes from the massive amounts of information that was dumped on me throughout each incredibly long chapter. I liked it, though, just not a ton.
May 7, 2024
the book is packed with infomation. alot of which i didnt know at all. i dont think you can ever put a limit on knowladge. but i find it funny how we as a civilsation now in the 21st century are studying the past and all its wonders now just as the ancients did then. really our curiosity is no different now to what it was 2000 years ago or more. its mind blowing how these ancient structures and the people who built them are still causing mass curiosity in our modern minds just as they did hundreds and also thousends of years ago. i think thats what makes us human beings in all. is the curiosity to know more.
April 3, 2024
I love every single one of Bettany Hughes' documentaries, but I hated this book. I feel terrible giving it one star, but it was not enjoyable at all. Each chapter felt like Hughes had very limited information and then tried to drag that out to 50 pages using pointless facts. The chapters are dreadfully dry and boring, and the sentences are all run-on and convoluted. If you are a hard-core fan of ancient history, maybe you would enjoy all of the superfluous information, but I felt like my time was being wasted. I was shocked by how bad I felt this book was.
July 27, 2024
This was a very informative read, & each page seemed to be bursting with interesting facts and statistics. My favorite chapter is probably the one about 'The Hanging Gardens Of Babylon', all of which Hughes writes like some kind of an archaeological dig through fact and fiction.
Where else can you read a book where ancient sailing tips are compared to Sat Nav, an influence of one Wonder is traced to a God of War video game, and some ancient celebrations are likened to competitive partying? This books is fun for both history nerds & complete newbies alike.
Where else can you read a book where ancient sailing tips are compared to Sat Nav, an influence of one Wonder is traced to a God of War video game, and some ancient celebrations are likened to competitive partying? This books is fun for both history nerds & complete newbies alike.
August 20, 2024
I listened to the audio version of this book, while on holiday, and it is excellently narrated by the author. The book is a great reflection on history, the psychology of wonders, and the author's own personal journeys to the relevant archaeological sites.
Of the seven wonders, the chapters on the Giza pyramids and Babylon's hanging gardens were excellent. In the latter, Hughes deals superbly with the mystery of whether or not they ever existed. The chapter on the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was, unexpectedly for me, the most interesting of them all - it was absolutely fascinating. Every reader will find different wonders more or less interesting than the others. Even the wonders which are less interesting, I felt, than the others - for me, the Colossus of Rhodes and the great statue of Zeus - are used by Hughes as apertures in the history of the era and societies that created them.
Of the seven wonders, the chapters on the Giza pyramids and Babylon's hanging gardens were excellent. In the latter, Hughes deals superbly with the mystery of whether or not they ever existed. The chapter on the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was, unexpectedly for me, the most interesting of them all - it was absolutely fascinating. Every reader will find different wonders more or less interesting than the others. Even the wonders which are less interesting, I felt, than the others - for me, the Colossus of Rhodes and the great statue of Zeus - are used by Hughes as apertures in the history of the era and societies that created them.
May 21, 2025
this was a lot to get through but i enjoyed (most of) it and would read again later in life
i felt like it had a super strong start and a strong end but lulled a bit for the middle two chapters but i was also too busy to read a lot
there is so much information here! and super cool to learn about the ancient world and see how interconnected ancient civilizations were
i felt like it had a super strong start and a strong end but lulled a bit for the middle two chapters but i was also too busy to read a lot
there is so much information here! and super cool to learn about the ancient world and see how interconnected ancient civilizations were
January 24, 2025
I listened to this and I fear I missed out on some visuals. But man did she describe everything in such detail and with historical facts to explain the why. Fascinating.
May 1, 2024
A terrific survey of some of the most incredible structures you’ll never see.
Reading about the ancient wonders always makes me a little sad, as six of the seven are no longer extant and some we don’t even have reliable imagery of, but a good writer and historian can bring them to life and let you imagine them as they were meant to be seen, and Hughes does a lovely job of that.
This is intended as a general survey of all seven and in some cases I felt like I wanted more information, but Hughes does a great job of making the book accessible for those who know nothing about the seven ancient wonders coming and also provides some excellent detail for those with a bit more background on the subject.
There’s a particularly interesting discussion on the Hanging Gardens of Babylon to that end: Did it even exist? It is just a poetic concept or might we perhaps have the location slightly wrong? Fascinating stuff.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Reading about the ancient wonders always makes me a little sad, as six of the seven are no longer extant and some we don’t even have reliable imagery of, but a good writer and historian can bring them to life and let you imagine them as they were meant to be seen, and Hughes does a lovely job of that.
This is intended as a general survey of all seven and in some cases I felt like I wanted more information, but Hughes does a great job of making the book accessible for those who know nothing about the seven ancient wonders coming and also provides some excellent detail for those with a bit more background on the subject.
There’s a particularly interesting discussion on the Hanging Gardens of Babylon to that end: Did it even exist? It is just a poetic concept or might we perhaps have the location slightly wrong? Fascinating stuff.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
March 20, 2024
It's been a while since I got a book from an author I haven't read anything from before, even more so a book that I hadn't heard of before. Sometimes I feel Goodreads does ruin the "what will I find"-anticipation of going to bookstores a bit.
I really enjoyed this book. I have seen 1 or 2 documentaries on the 7 wonders before but they never really piqued my interest. I always felt like I knew what I'd want to know about them: where they are, if they still exist, that they were big or unique, etc. BH's book showed me I was wrong. It delves into the motivation for their creation, the uncertainties still surrounding them (e.g. did the Gardens of Babylon exist? Were they in Nineveh instead?), how they were built and why their legacy was so lasting. I especially enjoyed reading about how they were connected through their materials, funders, creators and... well, Alexander the Great. I might just start getting interested in him too.
The main critique I have is that the book would have benefited from more editing. BH seems to be like me, in that she writes in very long sentences. While mine generally get edited by my co-authors, this book was still full of them and it often made the reading experience difficult or confusing. The structuring of the chapters could also have been done a bit better I think and there was some repetition. I also have some smaller gripes, mainly how often it was stated 'this item can be seen at/was taken to/etc. the British Museum (or occasionally other museums beyond the country of origin). This is in itself not an issue, but only once or twice was it kind of mentioned that we are talking about theft and colonialism, and that bothered me. Though I must also add, it was nice to see how many people from the Med and Near/Middle East region (I make this assumption based on their names) were mentioned in the acknowledgment.
I really enjoyed this book. I have seen 1 or 2 documentaries on the 7 wonders before but they never really piqued my interest. I always felt like I knew what I'd want to know about them: where they are, if they still exist, that they were big or unique, etc. BH's book showed me I was wrong. It delves into the motivation for their creation, the uncertainties still surrounding them (e.g. did the Gardens of Babylon exist? Were they in Nineveh instead?), how they were built and why their legacy was so lasting. I especially enjoyed reading about how they were connected through their materials, funders, creators and... well, Alexander the Great. I might just start getting interested in him too.
The main critique I have is that the book would have benefited from more editing. BH seems to be like me, in that she writes in very long sentences. While mine generally get edited by my co-authors, this book was still full of them and it often made the reading experience difficult or confusing. The structuring of the chapters could also have been done a bit better I think and there was some repetition. I also have some smaller gripes, mainly how often it was stated 'this item can be seen at/was taken to/etc. the British Museum (or occasionally other museums beyond the country of origin). This is in itself not an issue, but only once or twice was it kind of mentioned that we are talking about theft and colonialism, and that bothered me. Though I must also add, it was nice to see how many people from the Med and Near/Middle East region (I make this assumption based on their names) were mentioned in the acknowledgment.
January 25, 2024
Bettany Hughes’ tour of the ancient world via the seven wonders is an immersive and one-of-a-kind non-fiction reading experience. The writing in this book is stunning and creates incredibly vivid imagery to accompany the conclusions and analysis. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World doesn’t just provide information about the wonders but also a thorough exploration of the ancient world in general, whether it be in Greece, Ionia, Egypt, or Babylon. I thought it was a captivating read from start to finish.
I found myself quite emotional at times reading this book, and I was reduced to tears by some of the writing - especially at the discussion of Ancient Egyptians and their conceptualisation of a humanity deeply interconnected with the universe in both life and death. This struck a chord with me due to personal tragedy, grief, and loss in a way that I wasn’t expecting, and it was such a powerful reading experience - definitely one that will stick with me.
Overall, I think Bettany Hughes is an exceptionally talented writer with a unique ability to perfectly express the captivating nature of ancient history that holds the attention of so many people across time and space, this being a concept that my heart has always understood but my mind hasn’t always been able to properly articulate. The writing here is just so beautiful. I’m very grateful for classicists/historians who champion the subject like this, and I’m sure this book will inspire many with a fascination for the ancient world and its remarkable wonders.
I found myself quite emotional at times reading this book, and I was reduced to tears by some of the writing - especially at the discussion of Ancient Egyptians and their conceptualisation of a humanity deeply interconnected with the universe in both life and death. This struck a chord with me due to personal tragedy, grief, and loss in a way that I wasn’t expecting, and it was such a powerful reading experience - definitely one that will stick with me.
Overall, I think Bettany Hughes is an exceptionally talented writer with a unique ability to perfectly express the captivating nature of ancient history that holds the attention of so many people across time and space, this being a concept that my heart has always understood but my mind hasn’t always been able to properly articulate. The writing here is just so beautiful. I’m very grateful for classicists/historians who champion the subject like this, and I’m sure this book will inspire many with a fascination for the ancient world and its remarkable wonders.
May 14, 2024
I was so looking forward to this, but found it rather dry.
April 20, 2025
An outstanding account of the seven wonders of the ancient world, which could have read like an endless list of archaeological facts and figures but instead brilliantly captured the wondrous world which these monuments inhabited.
I really enjoyed learning about the lesser-known wonders, and great credit must go to Hughes for the way in which she establishes links between the various monuments and the people behind them. The reader gets an insight into the mindset surrounding ancient wonders, as well as the context in which they were constructed and revered.
Overall a really enjoyable and interesting story of the seven wonders, as well as an underlying discussion of the very nature of wonder itself and why it has captured the imagination of all generations since the birth of history.
I really enjoyed learning about the lesser-known wonders, and great credit must go to Hughes for the way in which she establishes links between the various monuments and the people behind them. The reader gets an insight into the mindset surrounding ancient wonders, as well as the context in which they were constructed and revered.
Overall a really enjoyable and interesting story of the seven wonders, as well as an underlying discussion of the very nature of wonder itself and why it has captured the imagination of all generations since the birth of history.
September 5, 2025
Growing up, I heard the stories of great men and women and how their limited lives created great shifts in history. In awe of their exploits, I saw it as important to understand and spread their importance. In terms fo the Seven Ancient Wonders, we can always trust our man Alexander to sneak his megalomaniac hands into the picture.
In her novel, Hughes’s analysis on each of the wonders is wonderfully detailed and inquisitive. Having traveled to each of the sites, she has an extra level of depth and experience that provides a personal connection to the reader. What really makes her analysis unique, I feel, is the connection she makes on what each of the wonders symbolize, from “a machine to travel to the afterlife” to simply “mortality commemorated”.
Despite her great analyses, her prose is disconnected and confusing at times. I understand that she is from across the sea, but you can’t skip a necessary comma so many times before I lose my mind. I understand that writing a complex sentence can really give an author some style, but having an unorthodox sentence structure every couple of sentences is tiresome.
All in all, Hughes’s book is curiosity-filling and leaves the reader satisfied with the stories behind each of these ancient titans. Her themes of hope and perseverance reminds me that our creativity can last dozens of lifetimes, that we can all create our own expressions of hope.
“Perhaps we create wonders to prove something…”
In her novel, Hughes’s analysis on each of the wonders is wonderfully detailed and inquisitive. Having traveled to each of the sites, she has an extra level of depth and experience that provides a personal connection to the reader. What really makes her analysis unique, I feel, is the connection she makes on what each of the wonders symbolize, from “a machine to travel to the afterlife” to simply “mortality commemorated”.
Despite her great analyses, her prose is disconnected and confusing at times. I understand that she is from across the sea, but you can’t skip a necessary comma so many times before I lose my mind. I understand that writing a complex sentence can really give an author some style, but having an unorthodox sentence structure every couple of sentences is tiresome.
All in all, Hughes’s book is curiosity-filling and leaves the reader satisfied with the stories behind each of these ancient titans. Her themes of hope and perseverance reminds me that our creativity can last dozens of lifetimes, that we can all create our own expressions of hope.
“Perhaps we create wonders to prove something…”
April 26, 2025
Myth and history: two of my favourite things to exist and brought together in such a lush way. If you like meaty history this is as much for you as it was for me. Bettany Hughes’s “The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World” takes us on a luminous journey through time, breathing life into the marble, myth, and mystery of antiquity’s most awesome marvels. Vanished worlds seen through a scholarly eye. I had to keep reading this progressively as there is so much to absorb 🪐💫🐪
Hughes brings to life the Great Pyramid of Giza, the paradisiacal Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the sacred Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Never once losing sight of the soul within the stone. Reading about these palimpsests of human wonder has stolen my breath away. Looking at mankind’s eternal impulse to build, to remember, and to reach beyond the horizon is addicting. Even in a dog eat dog world, great masterpieces were and are possible 🏛️
In a way this book summons the voices of architects, laborers, emperors, and poets long buried beneath layers of dust and empire. This is exactly why I love to research the bones of antiquity. I feel like Bettany’s writing resurrects not only the grandeur of these monumental achievements, but also the civilizations and souls who even dared to imagine them. Mathematicians who danced with the stars and artisans/ uprooted people who put chisel to earth. We taste the dust of Olympia and feel the echo of tools in Ephesus.
Hughes brings to life the Great Pyramid of Giza, the paradisiacal Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the sacred Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Never once losing sight of the soul within the stone. Reading about these palimpsests of human wonder has stolen my breath away. Looking at mankind’s eternal impulse to build, to remember, and to reach beyond the horizon is addicting. Even in a dog eat dog world, great masterpieces were and are possible 🏛️
In a way this book summons the voices of architects, laborers, emperors, and poets long buried beneath layers of dust and empire. This is exactly why I love to research the bones of antiquity. I feel like Bettany’s writing resurrects not only the grandeur of these monumental achievements, but also the civilizations and souls who even dared to imagine them. Mathematicians who danced with the stars and artisans/ uprooted people who put chisel to earth. We taste the dust of Olympia and feel the echo of tools in Ephesus.
April 28, 2024
Received this as birthday gift, but it struggled to grip me. I failed to have the desire to read more, even though the subject matter was inherently up my street.
I found the introduction excellent which tackles why 7 wonders? What is it that makes a wonder? Why have these burned brightest in the imaginations of old and new? But the rest of the chapters failed to live up to that prodding and questioning of why this was a wonder and what could that tell us about people and life at the time.
At times, it suffered from being too descriptive - both of the wonder and tertiary sources. Acknowledging I sound a bit childish, I would have like more pictures and situated in the text, it’s hard to imagine a coin, statue or intricate relief without seeing it.
This book teaches you a lot, but I’ve forgotten huge swathes already. The author gives the Temple of Artemis the largest space with almost double the colossus of Rhodes. Duly, the temple of Artemis is cool, I also enjoyed the mausoleum of Halicarnassus.
Ultimately, the 7 wonders are symbols for euro centricism and Hellenism, not representative of the world or different cultures. They are all touched by Alexander the Great in some form, and this book is as much about him as it the wonders. It is a well reminded ode to the impact of one man, who spread Greek culture across the ‘world’ ( well world according to Ancient Greeks).
The book built a longing building to visit the sites, some very unimpressive rn ( looking at you mausoleum of Halicarnassus..) but just like Alexander the Great, the British Museum is another common denominator. It would be good to have a purposeful visit and bring to life some of the fascinating architectural wonders.
I found the introduction excellent which tackles why 7 wonders? What is it that makes a wonder? Why have these burned brightest in the imaginations of old and new? But the rest of the chapters failed to live up to that prodding and questioning of why this was a wonder and what could that tell us about people and life at the time.
At times, it suffered from being too descriptive - both of the wonder and tertiary sources. Acknowledging I sound a bit childish, I would have like more pictures and situated in the text, it’s hard to imagine a coin, statue or intricate relief without seeing it.
This book teaches you a lot, but I’ve forgotten huge swathes already. The author gives the Temple of Artemis the largest space with almost double the colossus of Rhodes. Duly, the temple of Artemis is cool, I also enjoyed the mausoleum of Halicarnassus.
Ultimately, the 7 wonders are symbols for euro centricism and Hellenism, not representative of the world or different cultures. They are all touched by Alexander the Great in some form, and this book is as much about him as it the wonders. It is a well reminded ode to the impact of one man, who spread Greek culture across the ‘world’ ( well world according to Ancient Greeks).
The book built a longing building to visit the sites, some very unimpressive rn ( looking at you mausoleum of Halicarnassus..) but just like Alexander the Great, the British Museum is another common denominator. It would be good to have a purposeful visit and bring to life some of the fascinating architectural wonders.
August 23, 2025
There is a lot to be learned from this book about the seven wonders of the ancient world. I knew only one remained (the pyramid of Khufu/Cheops), but remains of most of the others can still be traced back somehow on the sites where they used to be (except for the Colossus of Rhodos).
This book has an extremely high information density, which makes for exhausting reading. The author has a tendency to cram as much information into her sentences as possible, then expands individual items between brackets with irrelevant asides. I ended up ignoring everything she put in between brackets after a while.
Illustrations in the text should have been made more relevant as well: rather than her dense descriptions of what things used to look like, show a relevant picture (and not tue fantasy renderings from the 18th century that are there). It turned out some more relevant illustrations were at the end of the book, but I already used Google maps to find out about the current state of the sites of these wonders.
All in all, it is an achievement to collect so much up-to-date information, but the writing is lacking.
This book has an extremely high information density, which makes for exhausting reading. The author has a tendency to cram as much information into her sentences as possible, then expands individual items between brackets with irrelevant asides. I ended up ignoring everything she put in between brackets after a while.
Illustrations in the text should have been made more relevant as well: rather than her dense descriptions of what things used to look like, show a relevant picture (and not tue fantasy renderings from the 18th century that are there). It turned out some more relevant illustrations were at the end of the book, but I already used Google maps to find out about the current state of the sites of these wonders.
All in all, it is an achievement to collect so much up-to-date information, but the writing is lacking.
February 10, 2024
Felt this was such a well researched book and fuelled my wanderlust.
I learned a lot from this book, and really enjoyed it although at times I felt I was trying to prep for a quarterly exam due to a heap load of things packed in.
The author’s writing is what makes it. Each description of the seven wonders evokes a feeling of actual wonder and imagination.
I learned a lot from this book, and really enjoyed it although at times I felt I was trying to prep for a quarterly exam due to a heap load of things packed in.
The author’s writing is what makes it. Each description of the seven wonders evokes a feeling of actual wonder and imagination.
May 3, 2024
Bethany Hughes’ "The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World" was like a time-traveling adventure, mixing cool historical facts with personal perspective. She doesn’t just talk about the pyramids or the magical Hanging Gardens—she paints a picture of the people who lived back then, too. She dives deep into the cultures that built these wonders (which I loved). My personal favorite part was this song found near one of the sites that reads, “while you live, shine, have no grief at all” (too cool)! Even though this book is packed with historical facts, it’s actually a blast for anyone who loves a good story, whether you’re a hardcore history buff or just curious about the past. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC! 4 ⭐️
January 2, 2025
3⭐️ (audio) - This book is obviously well researched and the author is truly passionate about the topic and that really does come through in the pages (also helps that she narrated the audio book so you really feel it in that format). However, I did feel like it was a bit dense and “textbook-y” to get through. I realize this is a hard topic to be comprehensive about because you aren’t just talking about the historical sites but also all the other factors that made the creation, fame, and destruction possible. Because of that I felt like I was whipped around a lot. Glad I experienced though! Very informative!
March 12, 2024
Hughes' history books are just great! Istanbul is amazing and this one was also great. Have to relisten at some point tho - because I was listening partially during a very fun but exhausting trip to Greece, my attention deeeefinitely wandered more than the book deserved!
March 15, 2024
*Audiobook
January 11, 2024
There is so much to learn in this wonderful book
Bettany Hughes takes the seven wonders of the ancient world and clearly places them in the time they were built. Not only this, she clearly links one to another. The result is a really wonderful account of the ancient medditerrian world, as well as frequent and unexpected cameos from Alexander the Great.
I came away from this book with a new admiration for Hughes' writing. Her descriptions of tunnels beneath the great pyramid of giza made me feel thoroughly claustrophobic. The chapter on the Statue of Zeus at Olympia gave the ancient games a completely different sheen from the one I had assumed for years.
There is something new to learn in each part of this book and the whole history is an absolute joy.
Thank you to the publisher for an early copy of this book.
Bettany Hughes takes the seven wonders of the ancient world and clearly places them in the time they were built. Not only this, she clearly links one to another. The result is a really wonderful account of the ancient medditerrian world, as well as frequent and unexpected cameos from Alexander the Great.
I came away from this book with a new admiration for Hughes' writing. Her descriptions of tunnels beneath the great pyramid of giza made me feel thoroughly claustrophobic. The chapter on the Statue of Zeus at Olympia gave the ancient games a completely different sheen from the one I had assumed for years.
There is something new to learn in each part of this book and the whole history is an absolute joy.
Thank you to the publisher for an early copy of this book.
May 28, 2024
When I was a kid, I used to pore over our Golden Book Encyclopedia reading about the seven wonders of the ancient World. I knew that only the Great Pyramids were still intact. Giving myself a little test prior to listening to this, I could only name five of the wonders.
Hughes gives a lot of history and mythology behind these wonders. I'd forgotten a lot.
Hughes gives a lot of history and mythology behind these wonders. I'd forgotten a lot.
July 11, 2025
Undeniably an interesting book, which has taught me some new things. However, while the content was gripping enough to keep me reading, the style of writing at points did make me ready to finish the book. The sheer inconsistency and variety of the sentence structures and length left it feeling jarring in places, alternating between ones that are invariably a paragraph long to barely a few words. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but at certain times it did feel like there were sections which were just information dumping excessively, and that as much of the discussion was regarding the general culture of that time and place as much as it was about the wonders.
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