# Which of the Seven Ancient Wonders would you like to see restored? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 5, 2017, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575 "2017-09-05T18:46:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575/1 "2017-09-05T18:46:43Z")
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World are (or were): Great Pyramid of Giza, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Temple of Artemis, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Colossus of Rhodes, and the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Of these seven, only the Great Pyramid still exists … which of these seven would you like to see restored, and why? (For the Great Pyramid, for “restored” imagine it with its original outer cladding, and completely unlooted!) No Civ jokes please. 😃 Inspired by this thread: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=835096](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=835096) ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575/2 "2017-09-05T18:59:36Z")
Pyramid ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575/3 "2017-09-05T19:00:40Z")
Temple or Statue ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575/4 "2017-09-05T19:07:49Z")
Colossus of Rhodes ---
**Author:** ![Reddy\_Mercury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@Reddy\_Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reddy_Mercury)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575/5 "2017-09-05T19:13:11Z")
Hanging Gardens \<3 ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575/6 "2017-09-05T19:15:00Z")
Kong! ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575/7 "2017-09-05T19:24:51Z")
_Sees thread title_ _Starts furiously working on at least 3 CIV jokes while the thread loads_ _sees OP’s prohibiting CIV jokes_ _Is disappoint_ Colossus or Lighthouse ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575/8 "2017-09-05T19:27:29Z")
Hanging gardens ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575/9 "2017-09-05T19:35:29Z")
Probably the Hanging Gardens, simply because we have the least concept of what it looked like and how it functioned. Everything else, we can sort of guess what it was like based on archaeological finds, ancient writings, ruins, and some guesswork. That one, though, we literally have no idea what it looked like, how it got enough water, etc. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575/10 "2017-09-05T19:42:05Z")
I’d like to see the Colossus of Rhodes. It’s pretty clear to me that they used the Colossus as a model when they made the Statue of Liberty – the heights are about the same, the statues both use an internal core to support a very thin exterior copper skin (which would quickly be covered with _verdigris_), and the poses weren’t that different. The Colossus reported had a set of spike-like Rays emanating from its head, just as the SoL does. Failing that, the Lighthouse (as **Frodo** already suggested). Even if it doesn’t have a Lens or a Mirror (as some people hopefully, but improbably, suggested), it’d still be impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575/11 "2017-09-05T21:12:51Z")
there is a plan to rebuild the colossus of Rhodes > **[Rhodes reconstruction project will be a colossal gamble for Greece | Kate...](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/27/greece-colossus-rhodes-new-project)** > > Rebuilding one of the seven wonders of the ancient world is one of the grandest of grand projects. Can Greece afford not to do it? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575/12 "2017-09-05T21:22:16Z")
Lighthouse or Colossus ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575/13 "2017-09-05T21:25:31Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > there is a plan to rebuild the colossus of Rhodes > > [Rhodes reconstruction project will be a colossal gamble for Greece – but it might well pay off | Kate Williams | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/27/greece-colossus-rhodes-new-project) Woah! ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575/14 "2017-09-05T22:00:16Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Probably the Hanging Gardens, simply because we have the least concept of what it looked like and how it functioned. Everything else, we can sort of guess what it was like based on archaeological finds, ancient writings, ruins, and some guesswork. That one, though, we literally have no idea what it looked like, how it got enough water, etc. And think of all the heritage plants! The Garden is the one I’d like to see restored. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575/15 "2017-09-05T22:08:51Z")
The pyramids. We _know_ how big they are. Restored they would be (even more) spectacular. How certain are we that the other ancient wonders are as spectacular as their descriptions? Couldn’t there be a lot of exaggeration in generations of retelling? I’d hate to use up my one restoration wish and end up with the equivalent of the Stonehenge set from _Spinal Tap_… ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575/16 "2017-09-05T22:23:50Z")
In a perfect world, I’d restore the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, but it’s not a perfect world, and Babylon looks too much like war-torn Iraq right now. I’d go with the Colossus of Rhodes, as long as the Greek taxpayers don’t have to foot the bill; Greece has been through enough lately, to be honest. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575/17 "2017-09-05T22:48:58Z")
I’d trade them all for the Library at Alexandria. Failing that: The Colossus of Rhodes, but only because that was the name of the first movie I remember seeing in a theater as a child. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575/18 "2017-09-05T23:26:05Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > And think of all the heritage plants! The Garden is the one I’d like to see restored. And blown up in…oh, ten minutes! It’s in Iraq. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575/19 "2017-09-06T00:08:54Z")
I’d have to go with either the Hanging Gardens or the Colossus. The Gardens because, as others have said, we have very little idea what they were actually like, and they were probably very beautiful, from a human perspective walking around in them. The Colossus because, even though it was much shorter than the Statue of Liberty (108’ vs. 305’), it was still tall enough to be an absolutely phenomenal feat of engineering for the time, and I’d love to see how they managed it. The rest of the Wonders may have been the greatest specimens of the sort of thing they were, but they weren’t too different from the second-fanciest temple, or the second-prettiest gold statue, or whatever. But those two were the _only_ specimens of what they were. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2017, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575/20 "2017-09-06T00:26:25Z")
The Hanging Gardens, because as others have said we could finally see what they looked like. Plus it’d bring back the concept of Babylon, the center of a great civilization, and could be used as a starting point to rebuild modern Iraq. Imagine the tourist possibilities - perhaps there could be a flume ride installed for even more fun. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-would-you-like-to-see-restored/795575.md?page=2)