h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

So the seven wonders of the world were listed in classical times, and there are similar lists of monuments that survive into modern times, but what have we built in the last 100 years of true greatness and majesty?

I would start with the Mamayev Kurgan.

Let's see...

Wartime bunkers, Dyson vacuum cleaner (only joking...)

Hmmmmm... can't think of any...

Thinking about the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, they all inspired a sense of wonder, in several cases because the item was so big. I'm hard pushed to think of any modern structure or statue that inspires that sense of wonder in me. The only thing I can think of is Mount Rushmore, which I have never seen but which makes me think 'Wow! Making that was quite a feat.' The Italian Chapel in Orkney Islands does inspire wonder, but in a different way.

The problem is, modern technology makes building large things (comparatively) easy. The ancient wonders were built as long ago as 4,500 years (The Pyramids), when building large things required a lot of effort and co-ordinating because they didn't have the tools and machines that we have now. It's hard to look at something like the Empire State building or the 'Angel of the North' and feel any sense of awe. The one is just a very tall skyscraper, the other is just a very big metal statue. Big deal, so what.

The great mystery about the Pyramids (or Stonehenge, or The Great Wall of China...) to me, is not "how did we build them?" but "why did we stop?". Why did we stop making grand gestures just because we wanted to impress ourselves, when did we stop having enough collective will to really want to build something impressive.

Check out the Mamayev Kurgan it's incredible (is it the largest freestanding statue in the world? Surely it is?

Was Mount Rushmore 20th century? I guess it was, so that has to be in there too.

Mount Rushmore is definitely 20th century. Work was done between the late 1920s and the late 1930s.

I assume the statue you're referring to is 'The Motherland', as Mamayev Kurgan is a 'memorial complex'. The statue certainly is big, and even these days it would count as a wonder. Thanks for nominating that one, as I'd never heard of Mamayev Kurgan before.

Gardens aren't considered so wonderful these days but, if we want an equivalent of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, how about the Eden Project in Cornwall?

I think that the Sun Temple of Rameses II at Abu Simbel could go in as well, though the origonal rock carved shrine was built 3000 years ago the mountain it was built into was moved and reassembled in a mightily impressive effort to same it from the Aswan deluge. Does that count?

Some of the big dam projects are mightily impressive too, especially when you look at the difference in the map of Russia btween 1920 and 1970. But as with nearly atll big dam projects the environmental and social consequences are not all for the good. Like the Eden Project really.

I think the moving of Abu Simbel was wonderful, considering that they didn't have much time to do it. They even managed to get the alignment *almost* exactly right - the 'sun miracle' occurs one day later than it did when Abu Simbel was in its original location.

I wouldn't class any dam as 'wonderful', when I consider the lives and ecological conditions that have been ruined by so many of them.

Jesus, they dont come more deeper than you!!!!

Gaudi's cathedral in Barcelona gets my vote for one of the 20th centuries great wonders.
I'll have a think if I can think of any others.
I'm temptede to say the Chrysler Building in New York for a miraculous blend of technology and art.

ladies and gentleman,

there is website currently devoted to New 7 Wonders. They are asking you vote for new ones (184 days left to vote). you can find the links in the meme webguide A573040 under the heading:

"New 7 Wonders, our heritage is our future"

thank you reading the meme webguide A573040 - get inspirited
pheloxi

<>

It strikes me that the 20th century saw the dawn of a new era marked not so much by architecture as by *technology* that has made the world a different place...

Just to take the most immediate example, the computer and the internet might not be *majestic* but they are accomplishments worthy of a certain respect and pride as human acheivements

Salt and Vinegar crisps?

My contributions would be:

Transatlantic cable
Saturn V rocket
Google.com

Andy

The footsteps on the moon.

The West Schelde Storm Surge Barrier.

Azara

Oops, that's the East Schelde - the giant Dutch river barrier they also call the Delta Project. It's an amazing sight.



Azara

May I show ignorance and ask when the statue of Jesus in Rio was built. I'm not esp religous but fly-by pics of that always impress the heck out of me.

Also I would second footsteps on the moon.
And add the Mir - a long lasting semi perminant structure in space built on 80's technology It's a pitty it was pushed into the atmosphere. If it wern't for the cold war I wonder what else would be up there by now

Battleships on fire off the shoulder of Orion.

I think you're on the right lines, talking about the footsteps on the moon.

The traditional seven wonders, (mostly disappeared by now), were 'wonders' because of how difficult building them must have been with relatively basic technology. The modern day equivalents, such as the Statue in Rio, or the Empire State Building, must have been 'easy' in comparison!

Has anybody considered the extraordinary Mathamatical perfection of the pyramids. The only thing comparrable today, was building a Rocket capable of allowing man leave the earth and return safely.

Stuns me every time I think about it.........



Well, that and Yoga. How do they get their legs up there?

Thing is, we will only start to recognise the wonders of the 20th century after we have a little time to reflect. In future generations they may recognise things we take for granted (or even dislike) as wonderous for example the M25 or milton keynes. Perhaps the wind farms we are now building or even something like the channel tunnel or the CERN (hope thats right) particle accelorator which is truely gargantuan.