First-Year Research Seminar: The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Catalog description

The Great Pyramids of Giza; The Hanging Gardens of Babylon; The Lighthouse of Alexandria; The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus; The Statue of Zeus at Olympia; The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus; The Colossus of Rhodes. These are the seven monuments that were listed as the most wondrous sights in the ancient world, spanning the eastern Mediterranean, northern Africa, and western Asia. Today, only one of the seven monuments is extant; but in antiquity, they were must-see destinations that were famed for their colossality, technological achievements, and beauty. In addition to their marvelous qualities, these wonders beg questions around the cultural, political, and social functions of monuments. In this course, we will unpack the list of ‘Seven Wonders,’ especially as they relate to topics on travel and tourism, cultural heritage, memory, and myth-making. Furthermore, we will learn how to study and analyze monuments for which the physical, visual, and literary evidence is fragmentary. For their research projects, students will pick a monument for analysis and deep study, using the resources that are available to them through New York University and across New York City.