Top 10 Engineering Marvels of All Time

In the realm of human achievement, few endeavors showcase our ingenuity, determination, and innovative spirit quite like the monumental engineering feats that span our planet. From ancient structures that have stood the test of millennia to modern wonders that defy belief, these marvels are a testament to what we can achieve when we push the boundaries of what is possible.

Here is a list of the top 10 engineering marvels of all time;

1. Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt

The Great Pyramid of Giza, located on the outskirts of Cairo, is the oldest and only surviving structure of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Built over 20 years during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops) around 2580–2560 BC, this colossal structure was the world’s tallest man-made structure for over 3,800 years. The pyramid was constructed as a tomb for Pharaoh Khufu and is part of a larger complex that includes two other major pyramids, several smaller pyramids, and the Great Sphinx. Despite its ancient origins, the construction techniques and exact methods used to build the pyramid remain subjects of debate and fascination among historians, archaeologists, and engineers.

Did you know that:

• The Great Pyramid was originally covered in casing stones that formed a smooth outer surface; what is seen today is the underlying core structure. Some of the casing stones that once covered the structure can still be seen around the base.
• Although it’s a common belief that slaves built the pyramids, studies suggest that the Great Pyramid was built by tens of thousands of skilled workers who lived in nearby temporary camps.
• The original height of the Great Pyramid was 146.6 meters (481 feet), but due to the loss of the outer casing stones and the capstone, its current height is approximately 138.8 meters (455 feet).
• The Great Pyramid is the most accurately aligned structure in existence and faces true north with only 3/60th of a degree of error.

2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Iraq

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the most mysterious wonders of the ancient world, primarily because their existence has not been definitively proven. They are said to have been constructed in the city of Babylon, near present-day Hillah, Babil province, in Iraq, around 600 BC. According to ancient Greek texts, the gardens were built by King Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife, Amytis of Media, who longed for the trees and fragrant plants of her homeland. The gardens were described as an astonishing feat of engineering, with a series of terraces containing a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and vines, watered by an ingenious irrigation system. Despite extensive archaeological efforts, no definitive evidence of the gardens’ existence has been found at the site of Babylon.

Did you know that:

• Some historians and archaeologists believe that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon may not have been located in Babylon at all, but were instead confused with gardens built by the Assyrian king Sennacherib in Nineveh.
• The descriptions of the gardens come primarily from Greek historians like Strabo and Philo of Byzantium, who wrote about them centuries after their supposed existence, as there are no Babylonian records that mention the gardens.
• The advanced irrigation system described as part of the gardens, known as the chain pump, would have been a marvel of technology for the time, raising water from the Euphrates River to the gardens’ highest terraces.

3. Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Greece

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was a giant seated figure of the god Zeus, crafted by the renowned sculptor Phidias around 435 BC. Located in the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, Greece, the statue was made of ivory and gold-plated bronze, standing about 12 meters (39 feet) tall. Considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it represented the height of artistic achievement in its time and was worshipped by visitors from across the Hellenic world. The statue depicted Zeus sitting on an elaborately decorated throne, holding a statue of Nike, the goddess of victory, in his right hand, and a scepter topped with an eagle in his left hand. The temple and statue were destroyed by fire in the 5th century AD, and no copies of the statue survive.

Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Did you know that:

• The workshop where Phidias created the statue contained a cup with an inscription claiming that he “drank dew” while working on the statue, possibly implying that he worked with divine inspiration or under divine conditions.
• Ancient reports suggest that the temple had a hole in the roof directly above the statue of Zeus, which was intended to prevent the god from standing up and leaving, as the statue was almost as tall as the temple itself.
• The throne of Zeus was adorned with precious stones, ebony, ivory, and gold, and featured detailed depictions of mythological scenes, making it a masterpiece in its own right.
• The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was so admired that it was said one could feel the god’s presence upon viewing it, with the famous orator Libanius remarking that a single glimpse would make a man forget all his earthly troubles.

4. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Turkey

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, also known as the Artemision, was a grand temple located in Ephesus (near the modern town of Selçuk in present-day Turkey). Dedicated to Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, wilderness, childbirth, and virginity, the temple was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The final and most magnificent iteration of the temple was built around 550 BC by the Cretan architect Chersiphron and his son Metagenes, funded by Croesus, the wealthy king of Lydia. The temple was renowned for its staggering size, measuring approximately 137 meters by 69 meters (about 450 feet by 225 feet), and its impressive columns that stood 18 meters (60 feet) high. It was destroyed and rebuilt several times throughout history, with the final destruction by the Goths in 268 AD.

Schaff, Philip, 1819-1893, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons

Did you know that:

• The Temple of Artemis was rebuilt at least three times on the same site, each time grander than the last, following destruction by flood, arson, and finally, invasion.
• The man who burned down the temple in 356 BC, a man named Herostratus, did so in an attempt to achieve lasting fame. Consequently, the Ephesians decreed that anyone who mentioned his name would be put to death, introducing the concept of “herostratic fame.”
• Pliny the Elder described the temple as surpassing every other building in magnificence, with some of its columns being sculpted by the renowned sculptor Scopas. Despite its destruction, the foundation and a single column remain today, providing a glimpse into its former glory.
• Artifacts and remains of the temple suggest that it may have served as both a religious sanctuary and a marketplace, indicating its central role in Ephesian society.

5. Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu is an ancient Inca city set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru, above the Urubamba River valley. Built in the 15th century under the reign of Emperor Pachacuti, it’s one of the most iconic symbols of the Incan Empire. Often mistakenly referred to as the “Lost City of the Incas,” Machu Picchu was never truly lost but rather unknown to the outside world until its discovery by American historian Hiram Bingham in 1911. The site is a marvel of engineering, with its sophisticated dry-stone construction that fuses huge blocks without the use of mortar, terraced fields, and sophisticated water distribution systems.

Did you know that:

• Machu Picchu was built without the use of wheels; large stones used in its construction were likely pushed up the steep mountainous terrain by hundreds of men.
• The site was an astronomical observatory, and its Intihuatana stone accurately indicates the two equinoxes. Twice a year, the sun sits directly over the stone, creating no shadow at all.
• Despite its popularity and significance, the exact purpose of Machu Picchu remains a mystery. It’s believed to have been a royal estate or sacred religious site for Inca leaders.
• The Incas abandoned Machu Picchu in the early 16th century, around the time of the Spanish Conquest. However, the Spaniards never found it, and it remained untouched and hidden until the early 20th century.

6. Colossus of Rhodes, Greece

The Colossus of Rhodes was a giant statue of the sun god Helios, erected on the Greek island of Rhodes by Chares of Lindos in 280 BC. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the statue was constructed to celebrate Rhodes’ victory over the ruler of Cyprus, Antigonus I Monophthalmus, whose son unsuccessfully besieged Rhodes in 305 BC. Standing approximately 33 meters (108 feet) high, the statue was one of the tallest in the ancient world. It was made of bronze plates over an iron framework and stood for only 56 years before being destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC. Despite its destruction, the Colossus of Rhodes continues to be celebrated as a symbol of Greek triumph and engineering prowess.

Did you know that:

• Contrary to popular belief, the Colossus of Rhodes likely did not straddle the harbor entrance of Rhodes. This misconception might have originated from medieval conceptions. The statue likely stood fully on one side of the harbor.
• After the earthquake in 226 BC, the Rhodians did not rebuild the Colossus due to an oracle advising against it. The ruins remained on the ground for over 800 years and were still a tourist attraction.
• The materials from the fallen statue were eventually sold off by invaders around 654 AD, who transported the bronze scrap on the backs of 900 camels.
• Although the exact location and appearance of the Colossus remain subjects of speculation, it’s believed that the sun god Helios was depicted holding

7. Lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt

The Lighthouse of Alexandria, also known as the Pharos of Alexandria, stood on the island of Pharos in the harbor of Alexandria, Egypt. Constructed in the 3rd century BC during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, it was one of the tallest man-made structures in the world for many centuries and was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Serving as both a landmark and a guide for sailors into the busy harbor of Alexandria, the lighthouse was an architectural and technological marvel of its time. It is estimated to have been approximately 100 meters (330 feet) tall. The lighthouse was severely damaged by a series of earthquakes between 956 and 1323 and eventually became an abandoned ruin.

Did you know that:

• The Lighthouse of Alexandria is the first known lighthouse in history and served as a model for all subsequent lighthouses in the world.
• It is believed that the lighthouse’s mirror could reflect light more than 35 miles offshore; some legends even claim it could burn enemy ships before they reach the shore.
• The structure was composed of three tiers: a lower square section, a middle octagonal section, and a circular top, with a statue of Zeus or Poseidon at the apex.
• The remains of the lighthouse were used in the construction of the Citadel of Qaitbay in the 15th century on the same site, and some parts can still be seen in the structure of the citadel.

8. Great Wall of China, China

The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications made of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood, and other materials, generally built along an east-to-west line across the historical northern borders of China to protect the Chinese states and empires against the invasions of the various nomadic groups of the Eurasian Steppe. The construction of the wall started as early as the 7th century BC, with the most famous sections built by the Ming dynasty (1368–1644 AD). Stretching over 21,196 kilometers (13,171 miles), it is one of the most impressive architectural feats in history and a symbol of China’s enduring strength.

Did you know that:

• Not a single, continuous wall, the Great Wall is a network of walls and fortifications.
• The Great Wall is not visible from space with the naked eye, contrary to popular belief.
• An estimated 15–30% of the wall has disappeared due to natural erosion and human damage.
• The mortar used in some parts of the Great Wall was made with sticky rice, which contributed to the wall’s durability.

9. Petra, Jordan

Petra, an archaeological site in Jordan, is famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system. Established possibly as early as the 4th century BC as the capital city of the Nabataeans, Petra is often called the “Rose City” due to the color of the stone from which it is carved. It was an important center for trade and commerce, featuring a unique blend of Hellenistic architecture with Eastern traditions. Petra was abandoned in the 7th century AD after several earthquakes destroyed much of the city’s water management systems and buildings. It remained unknown to the Western world until 1812 when it was rediscovered by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.

Did you know that:

• Petra’s most famous structure, the Treasury (Al-Khazneh), appears in the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” as the entrance to the final resting place of the Holy Grail.
• The city contains tombs that are over 2,000 years old, and some are still adorned with original paint and carvings.
• The Nabataeans were pioneers in hydraulic engineering, constructing complex water channels and dams to control the flash floods typical of the area.

10. Colosseum, Italy

The Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, is an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome and is located in the center of Rome, Italy. Constructed under the Flavian emperors, Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian, between AD 70 and 80, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests, public spectacles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. It could hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators, making it the largest amphitheater ever built. Despite being partially ruined due to earthquakes and stone robbers, the Colosseum still stands as a testament to the ingenuity of ancient Roman engineering.

Did you know that

• The Colosseum had a retractable roof-like structure, known as the velarium, which was used to protect spectators from the sun.
• Beneath the arena floor lay an elaborate underground structure called the hypogeum (meaning