Ancient Wonders of the World MCQs — 7 Ancient + 7 New Wonders
50+ solved Wonders of the World MCQs — the 7 Ancient Wonders, the New 7 Wonders (Taj Mahal, Great Wall, Petra, Machu Picchu & more) plus iconic monuments. Built for PPSC, FPSC, NTS, CSS, PMS.
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only surviving Ancient Wonder.
There were 7 original Wonders of the Ancient World.
The Greeks compiled the original list of 7 Ancient Wonders.
2 Ancient Wonders were in modern-day Türkiye (Artemis & Mausoleum).
The Great Pyramid of Giza was built around 2,560 BCE.
The Great Pyramid was built as the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops).
The Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure for ~3,800 years.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were in modern-day Iraq.
Nebuchadnezzar II is traditionally credited with the Hanging Gardens.
The Hanging Gardens were legendary terraced gardens.
The Statue of Zeus was crafted by Phidias.
The Statue of Zeus was a gold-and-ivory (chryselephantine) sculpture.
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was in modern-day Türkiye.
The Temple of Artemis (Greek goddess of the hunt).
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus honoured Persian satrap Mausolus.
The word ‘mausoleum’ comes from Mausolus of Halicarnassus.
The Colossus of Rhodes was about 30 metres tall.
The Colossus of Rhodes depicted Helios, the sun-god.
The Colossus of Rhodes was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BCE.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria stood on Pharos Island, Egypt.
The Lighthouse was completed under Ptolemy II Philadelphus.
The word ‘pharos’ (lighthouse) comes from Pharos Island, Alexandria.
The New Seven Wonders were declared on 7 July 2007.
The New 7 Wonders Foundation ran the 2007 poll.
The Great Pyramid of Giza was given honorary New 7 Wonder status.
The Great Wall of China is about 21,196 km long.
The Great Wall is NOT visible from the Moon — that’s a myth.
Most surviving Great Wall sections are from the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).
Petra is in southern Jordan.
Petra was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom.
Petra is carved into rose-red sandstone cliffs.
Christ the Redeemer overlooks Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Christ the Redeemer is built in Art Deco style.
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel.
Machu Picchu is in the Andes of Peru.
Hiram Bingham brought Machu Picchu to global attention (1911).
Chichen Itza was built by the Maya civilisation.
Chichen Itza sits on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.
Chichen Itza’s main pyramid is the Temple of Kukulcan.
The Colosseum of Rome was completed in 80 CE.
The Colosseum held about 50,000 spectators.
The Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan.
The Taj Mahal was built in memory of Mumtaz Mahal.
The Taj Mahal is in Agra, India (on the Yamuna).
Stonehenge is a Neolithic stone circle in England.
The Tower of Pisa tilts because of unstable soft subsoil.
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the USA (1886).
The Eiffel Tower (1889) was designed by Gustave Eiffel.
Angkor Wat was built by the Khmer Empire in Cambodia.
Stonehenge is NOT in the New Seven Wonders — it was only a finalist.
Which is the only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World?
The Great Pyramid of Giza (built c. 2560 BCE) in Egypt is the only one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing. The other six were destroyed by earthquakes, fires or decay.
How many original ‘Seven Wonders of the Ancient World’ were there?
The classical list compiled by Greek historians around the 2nd century BCE contains seven wonders, all from around the Mediterranean and Middle East.
Which civilisation compiled the original list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World?
The original list was compiled by Greek travellers and historians around the 2nd century BCE — including Antipater of Sidon and Philo of Byzantium.
How many of the original Seven Wonders were located in modern-day Türkiye?
Two original wonders were in modern Türkiye: the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.
Approximately when was the Great Pyramid of Giza built?
The Great Pyramid was built around 2560 BCE during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu (4th Dynasty) as his tomb.
The Great Pyramid of Giza was built as a tomb for which pharaoh?
The Great Pyramid was built for Pharaoh Khufu (Greek: Cheops) of Egypt’s 4th Dynasty around 2560 BCE.
The Great Pyramid was the world’s tallest man-made structure for how long?
At ~146.6 m originally, the Great Pyramid held the title of tallest man-made structure for nearly 3,800 years — until the Lincoln Cathedral spire in 1311.
In which modern country were the Hanging Gardens of Babylon located?
Ancient Babylon was located in modern-day Iraq, near Hillah, south of Baghdad.
Which Babylonian king is traditionally credited with building the Hanging Gardens?
Tradition credits King Nebuchadnezzar II (c. 605–562 BCE) with building the gardens for his homesick wife Amytis of Media.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are often described as:
They are described as a series of legendary terraced (or stepped) gardens — though no definitive archaeological evidence has yet been confirmed.
The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was crafted by which Greek sculptor?
The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was crafted around 435 BCE by the Greek sculptor Phidias — the same sculptor who designed the Athena Parthenos.
What materials was the Statue of Zeus at Olympia made of?
The Statue of Zeus was a chryselephantine sculpture — built of gold (chrysos) plates and ivory (elephas) on a wooden frame — about 12 m tall.
The Temple of Artemis was located at Ephesus, in modern-day:
The Temple of Artemis was located at Ephesus in modern-day Türkiye. It was famously rebuilt three times and destroyed in 262 CE by Goths.
Which goddess was the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus dedicated to?
The temple was dedicated to Artemis (Roman: Diana), the Greek goddess of the hunt, wilderness and the Moon.
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was built as a tomb for which Persian satrap?
The Mausoleum was built around 351 BCE for Mausolus, a Persian satrap of Caria, by his wife/sister Artemisia II. The English word ‘mausoleum’ comes from his name.
The English word ‘mausoleum’ is derived from which ancient wonder?
The English noun ‘mausoleum’ (a grand tomb) comes from Mausolus, the satrap honoured by the original Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.
Approximately how tall was the Colossus of Rhodes?
The Colossus of Rhodes stood approximately 33 metres (108 feet) tall — comparable in scale to the modern Statue of Liberty (without its pedestal).
The Colossus of Rhodes was a bronze statue of which Greek god?
The Colossus was a giant bronze statue of Helios, the sun-god, erected on the Greek island of Rhodes around 280 BCE.
The Colossus of Rhodes was destroyed by which natural event in 226 BCE?
An earthquake in 226 BCE toppled the Colossus of Rhodes after only ~54 years standing — making it the shortest-lived of the Ancient Wonders.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria was built on which island?
The Lighthouse was built on the island of Pharos in the harbour of Alexandria, Egypt — its name is the origin of the word ‘pharos’ meaning lighthouse in many languages.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria was built during the reign of which ruler?
The Lighthouse was completed around 280 BCE during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt.
The word ‘pharos’ in many languages (meaning ‘lighthouse’) is derived from:
The word ‘pharos’ — meaning lighthouse in French (phare), Spanish (faro), Italian (faro) etc. — derives from Pharos Island, where the famous lighthouse stood.
The New Seven Wonders of the World were declared in which year?
The New Seven Wonders of the World were declared on 7 July 2007 (07/07/07) in Lisbon after a global poll organised by the New 7 Wonders Foundation.
Which organization organised the global vote for the New Seven Wonders?
The poll was run by the Swiss-based New 7 Wonders Foundation, founded by Bernard Weber.
Which ancient wonder was granted ‘honorary New Seven Wonder’ status in 2007?
The Great Pyramid of Giza — the only surviving Ancient Wonder — was given honorary status so as not to be in competition with the other candidates.
Approximately how long is the Great Wall of China?
Including all branches and historical sections, the Great Wall measures approximately 21,196 km — confirmed by a 2012 Chinese national survey.
Is the Great Wall of China visible from the Moon with the naked eye?
The claim is a popular myth. NASA and Chinese astronauts have confirmed the Wall is far too narrow to be seen from the Moon with the naked eye — and is barely visible even from low-Earth orbit.
Which Chinese dynasty completed most of the surviving Great Wall sections seen today?
Most of the iconic surviving Great Wall sections (with brick towers and watchtowers) were built or refurbished during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).
Petra, the rose-red city, is located in which country?
Petra is located in southern Jordan. It was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom from the 4th century BCE and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Petra was the capital of which ancient kingdom?
Petra was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom — an Arab trading civilization that controlled the incense and spice routes between Arabia and the Mediterranean.
Petra is carved into which type of rock?
Petra’s iconic façades — including the Treasury (Al-Khazneh) — are carved directly into rose-red sandstone cliffs in southern Jordan.
Christ the Redeemer is located above which city?
The Christ the Redeemer statue overlooks Rio de Janeiro from Mount Corcovado in Tijuca Forest National Park.
Christ the Redeemer is built in which architectural style?
Christ the Redeemer (completed in 1931) is one of the largest Art Deco statues in the world — designed by Heitor da Silva Costa and sculpted by Paul Landowski.
Machu Picchu is a citadel of which ancient civilisation?
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century citadel of the Inca civilisation, built around 1450 CE under the emperor Pachacuti.
Machu Picchu is located in the Andes Mountains of which country?
Machu Picchu lies on a ridge above the Sacred Valley in southern Peru, about 80 km northwest of Cusco.
Who rediscovered Machu Picchu for the modern world in 1911?
American historian Hiram Bingham, with local guides, brought Machu Picchu to international attention in 1911. It had never been truly ‘lost’ to local Quechua people.
Chichen Itza is a major archaeological site of which civilisation?
Chichen Itza is one of the largest cities of the Maya civilisation, flourishing roughly between the 7th and 10th centuries CE.
Chichen Itza is located on which peninsula in Mexico?
Chichen Itza is on the Yucatán Peninsula in southeastern Mexico — its central pyramid is called El Castillo (Temple of Kukulcan).
The main pyramid at Chichen Itza is named after which feathered-serpent deity?
El Castillo at Chichen Itza is the Temple of Kukulcan — the Maya feathered-serpent god (equivalent to the Aztec Quetzalcoatl).
The Colosseum is the largest amphitheatre ever constructed. In which year was it completed?
The Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheatre) in Rome was completed around 80 CE under Emperor Titus and is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built.
Approximately how many spectators could the Roman Colosseum hold?
The Colosseum could hold an estimated 50,000+ spectators for gladiatorial games, public executions and mock sea battles.
The Taj Mahal was built by which Mughal Emperor?
The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 during childbirth.
The Taj Mahal was built in memory of which empress?
Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal as a mausoleum for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.
The Taj Mahal is located in which Indian city?
The Taj Mahal is located in Agra, on the south bank of the Yamuna River in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Stonehenge — a Neolithic stone circle — is located in which country?
Stonehenge is located on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. It was built in several stages between approximately 3000 and 2000 BCE.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa began tilting because of:
The Tower of Pisa began tilting during its construction (started 1173) because of soft, marshy subsoil that could not support its weight.
The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the United States from which country?
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States, dedicated on 28 October 1886 to mark the centennial of American independence.
Which French engineer designed the iconic Eiffel Tower (1889)?
Gustave Eiffel and his engineering firm designed the Eiffel Tower as the entrance arch for the 1889 Paris World’s Fair.
Angkor Wat — the world’s largest religious monument — was built by which empire?
Angkor Wat in Cambodia was built in the 12th century by the Khmer Empire under King Suryavarman II — originally as a Hindu temple to Vishnu, later Buddhist.
Which of the following is NOT one of the New Seven Wonders of the World (2007)?
Stonehenge was a finalist but did NOT make the New Seven list. The seven are: Great Wall, Petra, Christ the Redeemer, Machu Picchu, Chichen Itza, Colosseum and the Taj Mahal.
Wonders of the World — Complete Reference for Competitive Exams
The Wonders of the World — both the classical Greek list of Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the modern New Seven Wonders declared in 2007 — are a regular feature of PPSC, FPSC, NTS, CSS, PMS, OTS and entry-test general-knowledge papers. This page covers every wonder by name, location, builder, era and exam-tested fact. For more history practice, also try our Delhi Sultanate & Mughal Empire MCQs (the dynasty that built the Taj Mahal) and the full General Knowledge MCQs Hub.
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
| Wonder | Location | Built | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Pyramid of Giza | Egypt | ~2,560 BCE | Still standing (only one) |
| Hanging Gardens of Babylon | Babylon (modern Iraq) | ~600 BCE | Destroyed / legendary |
| Statue of Zeus at Olympia | Olympia, Greece | ~435 BCE | Destroyed by fire |
| Temple of Artemis | Ephesus, Türkiye | ~550 BCE | Destroyed by Goths (262 CE) |
| Mausoleum at Halicarnassus | Halicarnassus, Türkiye | ~351 BCE | Destroyed by earthquakes |
| Colossus of Rhodes | Rhodes, Greece | ~280 BCE | Destroyed by earthquake (226 BCE) |
| Lighthouse of Alexandria | Pharos Island, Egypt | ~280 BCE | Destroyed by earthquakes |
Only the Great Pyramid of Giza survives today. The original list was compiled by Greek travellers and historians around the 2nd century BCE.
The New Seven Wonders of the World (declared 7 July 2007)
| Wonder | Country | Era / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Great Wall of China | China | ~21,196 km long; multi-dynastic |
| Petra | Jordan | Nabataean capital; rose-red sandstone |
| Christ the Redeemer | Brazil | Art Deco statue (1931) above Rio de Janeiro |
| Machu Picchu | Peru | 15th-century Inca citadel in the Andes |
| Chichen Itza | Mexico | Maya city on the Yucatán Peninsula |
| Colosseum | Italy (Rome) | Largest amphitheatre ever (80 CE) |
| Taj Mahal | India (Agra) | Built by Shah Jahan for Mumtaz Mahal |
The Great Pyramid of Giza was granted honorary New Seven Wonder status. The poll was organized by the New 7 Wonders Foundation based in Switzerland.
Other Iconic Monuments Often Tested
- Stonehenge (England) — prehistoric Neolithic stone circle; ~3,000–2,000 BCE.
- Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italy) — began tilting during construction due to soft subsoil.
- Statue of Liberty (USA) — gifted by France in 1886; sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi.
- Eiffel Tower (France) — built 1889 by Gustave Eiffel for the Paris World’s Fair.
- Angkor Wat (Cambodia) — world’s largest religious monument; Khmer Empire.
For authoritative reading, see Wikipedia’s Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Practice More MCQs on Related Topics
Keep your prep momentum going — explore these related topics that frequently appear alongside Wonders of the World in PPSC, FPSC, NTS, CSS & PMS papers: