The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

The Seven Wonders of the World (or the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) is a widely-known list of seven remarkable constructions of classical antiquity. The earliest known version of the list was compiled in the 2nd century BC by Antipater of Sidon; it appears to be based on the guide-books popular among Hellenic sight-seers and only includes works located around the Mediterranean rim.

The ancient Greeks loved to compile lists of the marvelous structures in their world. Though we think of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World as a single list today, there were actually a number of lists compiled by different Greek writers. Antipater of Sidon, and Philon of Byzantium, drew up two of the most well-known lists.

Many of the lists agreed on six of the seven items. The final place on some lists was awarded to the Walls of the City of Babylon. On others, the Palace of Cyrus, king of Persia took the seventh position. Finally, toward the 6th century A.D., the final item became the Lighthouse at Alexandria.

Since the it was Greeks who made the lists it is not unusal that many of the items on them were examples of Greek culture. The writers might have listed the Great Wall of China if then had known about it, or Stonehenge if they'd seen it, but these places were beyond the limits of their world.

It is a surprise to most people to learn that not all the Seven Wonders existed at the same time. Even if you lived in ancient times you would have still needed a time machine to see all seven. While the Great Pyramid of Egypt was built centuries before the rest and is still around today (it is the only "wonder" still intact) most of the others only survived a few hundred years or less. The Colossus of Rhodes stood only a little more than half a century before an earthquake toppled it.

However the seven wonders of the world are:

The Great Pyramid of Giza 2500 BC Approximate - Egyptians

Hanging Gardens of Babylon 600 BC - Babylonians - Destroyed by Earthquake

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus 550 BC - Anatolians - Destroyed by Fire 356 BC

Statue of Zeus at Olympia 435 BC - Greeks - Destroyed by Fire

Mausoleum of Halicarnassus 315 BC - Hellenized Carians - Destroyed by Earthquake

Colossus of Rhodes 292-280 BC - Hellenistic Civilization - Destroyed 224 BC by Earthquake

Lighthouse of Alexandria 3rd Century BC - Hellenistic Civilization - Destroyed by Earthquake

20 Years since the Fall of the Berlin Wall

Germany celebrated on Monday 9, the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which marked the beginning of the reunification of Germany and the end of the Cold War.

2009 is a great year to visit Germany and experience history where it unfolded. After more than 28 years of German division, the Berlin Wall fell overnight from November 9-10, 1989, marking a historical event of global significance. Today, 20 years later, Germany, Europe and the entire world look back, in order to look forward. Thanks to the peaceful revolution and the Fall of the Wall, millions of people were united as the two separeted German coutries were reunified.

The balance between East and West was again established.

Germany as a destination has become a country without borders, thrown open to visitors from all over the world. A country which is impressive in the way it connects the past, present and future; a country which also cordially invites you to visit the relics of that time and relive history.

R.

Circus of the Sun

Maybe you have heard about the spectacular “Cirque Du Soleil”, or maybe not. But here, you will get a short look into this magical world, that has shocked and amazed all continents around the world.
It all began when a group of street performers in Quebec (Canada) decided to get together and jointly create a venue for their passion. The leader of the group, Guy Laliberté, has ever since the foundation in 1982, created some of the most thrilling and innovative shows in the world.



Through the 1900s and 2000s, Cirque has expanded rapidly, and nowadays around 4,000 people are working in this huge community, and the artists are from 40 different countries.

Cirque Du Soleil is not a traditional circus with animals. The shows are based on histories and is concentrated on telling the audience a story, full of beauty, elegance and elements taken from the Idea of a Circus, with clowns, fantasy and unreal creatures. All of the artists are elected because of their undoubtful talent in acrobatics and gymnastics.
The shows are influenced by ballet, opera and rock with features from medieval and baroque. All the garment is very colorful and the effects from the make up give a magical illusion of the contortionists, jugglers and clowns.
During the shows there is live music playing and the spoken language is "Cirquish", an imaginary dialect created by the company.

If you want to have a piece of this delightful and absolutely stunning adventure, Cirque Du Soleil is coming again to Rio de Janeiro, january 9th, performing on of their most marvellous shows: “Quidam”!

http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/

E.J.L.

It’s decision time

The year is ending… And most students who are finishing high school want to enter a college. In the USA, some universities and colleges use tests like SAT, ACT and GRE. Otherwise, many colleges have rejected these standardized tests; they prefer to evaluate students through other means, such as the grades the student received in a previous school.
In Brazil, the entrance examination is known as Vestibular, each college usually has its own test. The government wants to unify this, with ENEM, the student wouldn’t need to make registration in several college tests.
But, are we, teenagers, prepared to face all this pressure? I don’t think so. A research made by Federal University of Santa Catarina in 2003, with 754 teenagers - vestibulandos and pré-vestibulandos (how students who will take vestibular are called) brought out that 43% of them showed stress symptoms. Young people with stress have been related in different places, like the USA., Turkey, Pakistan, Japan, Sweden, France and South Africa. Some consequences are: low self-esteem, eating disorders, clinical depression, homicide, suicide, antisocial behavior, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia and drug abuse.

All these disorders can be avoided with parents' support, giving theirs sons and/or daughters affection and safety. The parents can’t force a child to become an adult of a sudden. Each thing has its time.
As Jim Morrison would say “Time to live / Time to lie / Time to laugh / Time to die / Take it easy, baby / Take it as it comes”.

F.