Although the ancient world left few written records, the evidence we do have describes it as far more advanced and culturally rich than many might expect. From the Phoenicians of Mesopotamia to the Mayans of Central America, technological advancements and complex theories pushed ancient civilizations forward. The great thinkers of this period like Socrates (other great thinkers) left enormous traces in the literary world. Great scientists like Copernicus (other great scientists) developed theories that laid the foundation for more modern thinking. Juxtaposing their technology with ours, we find their achievements truly astonishing. Their buildings, remarkably constructed without cranes, bulldozers or assembly lines, rival our greatest and create great wonder within our culture. Among their architectural feats, the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World constantly remind us of the splendors and progress of ancient cultures. These monuments, the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, the Statue of Zeus in Olympia, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of Alexandria or the Walls of Babylon according to the list, left evidence of the magnificence of the ancient world. Understanding the history of the entire group as well as the history of each location creates gratitude and respect for our ancient ancestors. Herodotus created the first list of wonders in the fifth century BC, but gained little notoriety for this feat and inspired few subsequent lists. . His written record, a list mirroring that above except for the replacement of the lighthouse with the Alexandria Lighthouse, was destroyed except for references in the middle of paper fire......s . To do this, they commissioned Phidias, chief sculptor of the Parthenon, to build a statue paying tribute to this god, Zeus. Using an innovative method designed by Phidias himself, he constructed a wooden skeleton in the intended shape of the statue and ordered workers to decorate it (Woods and Woods, Seven Wonders 56-57). Sheets of iron and gold were cut and shaped to cover the wooden structure. Towering over the Temple of Zeus, the statue rose 40 feet into the air and measured 22 feet wide. The statue of Zeus represents him seated on a magnificent throne, his head touching the ceiling. The ancient historian Strabo criticized the proportions of the statue, saying that Phidias "depicted Zeus seated, but with his head almost touching the ceiling, so that we have the impression that if Zeus moved to rise he would open the roof of the temple. . .” (Unnatural Museum).