Reality or Conspiracy? The Truth Behind The New 7 Wonders of the World

We are all acquainted with the 7 wonders of the ancient world. If not, we are definitely familiar with Maarten van Heemskerck’s depiction. The list was the first of its kind to recognise the architectural prowess of man-made antiquities. Since then, several authors and media organizations have curated their lists of the new 7 wonders of the world. They form a part of a larger discourse, chronicling natural phenomena, astronomical occurrences, and man-made heritage sites. But what is a little history without some rumours? Whether it is aliens, Gods of the Underworld, or a simple and tasteful human sacrifice, none of the new 7 wonders of the world have been sans conspiracy theories.

7 Wonders Of The World Names

Despite the controversies associated with the curation of the list, the official list was released by the New 7 Wonders (N7W) Foundation. However, the Pyramids of Giza, which have since occupied a position in the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, did not find a place in the new 7 Wonders of the World list but were incorporated as an honorary entry. But that doesn’t take away from the following 7 marvellous entries, which are simply put, beauty incarnate.

At the moment, we present to you 7 wonders of the world names, we will talk about the conspiracy theories associated with them in the following paragraphs.

Chichen Itza Mexico

Tinúm Municipality, Yucatán state, Mexico, serves as Chichen Itza’s location. Much has been talked about Chichen Itza, whether it is Chichen Itza history, architecture, or planning. Hence, we won’t bore you with Chichen Itza facts and take a plunge into the rumoured darkness that intrigues the mind. These conspiracy rumours will definitely chill you to the core.

1. Two secret tunnels were found by archaeologists under a smaller Chichen Itza pyramid, Ossuary. While traversing, they found them to be blocked. (intentional ??) According to underwater archaeologist Guillermo de Anda, “In a cave that’s important, they seal it forever.”
2. The tunnels lead to a secret cenote which is directly under one of the Chichen Itza pyramids, El Castillo. The Mayans believed in the Underworld and heaven and found it of utmost importance to harmonize with the Lords of the Underworld lest they be stuck by famine or devastation. 
3. The El Castillo pyramid is said to be built with astronomical intricacies, representing the fifth axis or the Tree of Life. The four sides represent the four equinoxes. Each side has 91 steps. Hence, the total number of steps comes out to be 365 (including the top step). Coincidence much? El Castillo is also said to shoot a ray of light from its centre to communicate with the aliens (who allegedly built the city) or the heavenly beings.
4. Archaeologists have found human remains in various cenotes. According to them, 80% of the analyzed samples belong to children between the ages of 3 to 11. Does it allude to child sacrifice? Perhaps!
5. According to Luis Augusto Garcia Rosado, the minister of tourism for the Mexican state of Campeche, the “translations of certain codices” indicate a contact “between the Mayans and extraterrestrials”. He also confirmed the existence of “landing pads in the jungle that are 3,000 years old.”
6. In the acoustically perfect ball court, the Mayans engaged in a gruesome game. While we think of the winning team winning a trophy and a cash prize, the Mayans had a strange custom for the winner of what seems to be a Mayan Quidditch game. The captain of the winning team (and sometimes all the players) was beheaded.
7. In the Temple of Warriors, the Mayans would cut out the still-beating heart of their finest warriors. Their hearts and entrails would be placed in the bowl held by the Chac Mool statue.

Christ The Redeemer Brazil

What is Christ the Redeemer height? Where is Christ the Redeemer located? We’ve got all these quick Christ the Redeemer facts at our fingertips. Rio’s Christ The Redeemer Statue is a masterclass in Art Deco. The statue is an effigy of Jesus Christ made as a symbol of Christianity, which has since become a cultural icon. If we were to focus on Christ the Redeemer history, we would find that the building was originally commissioned by the Catholic Church of Rio over the “Godlessness” which was rampant in Brazil.

Rio’s Christ The Redeemer Statue has been struck by lightning thrice in 2008, 2014, and 2023. While one would expect the statue to sustain a heavy amount of damage (which was the case in 2014, breaking off Christ the Redeemer Rio’s thumb), the statue has come out unscathed each time. Lightning is often incorporated into the legal definition of “Act of God.” Several modern religious leaders are transfixed by this phenomenon. They consider it to be a forewarning of mankind’s wickedness. Jesus, who was welcomed into heaven after his resurrection still remains God’s favorite and it is evident in the fact that Christ The Redeemer statue persists.

The Colosseum Rome

Facts about the Colosseum such as ‘who built the Colosseum’ and ‘who was the Colosseum’s architect’ are incorporated into the history of the Colosseum, which is public knowledge. But you would be shocked to find that the heart of Rome The Colosseum is more gory than how it is depicted in movies.

1. Even though there were fan favourites who were often pardoned, the fights that took place at the Roman Colosseum were judged by the ‘munerarius’, or the ‘giver of the games’ was in charge of presiding over the games, not the Emperor. His role was to monitor the activities and decide whether the loser was to be executed or given a free pass. Note to self: never find an enemy in a ‘munerarius’.
2. Seldom, the professional gladiators who fought in the Colosseum of Rome would decide not to kill their opponents, although it was a rare occurrence. If you might’ve worked in showbiz, you would know that not everything works as smoothly as it seems. During technical difficulties, Emperor Claudius would send his stagehands to fight. On the contrary, Emperor Caligula picked out a group of random spectators to be thrown into the battle arena to fight to their deaths.
3. According to the Italian archaeologist, Heinz-Jürgen Beste and his team, the sixth-century Romans believed that the Colosseum in Rome was often visited by necromancers in the night to summon demons and worship the devil.

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China was built to secure China’s northern border from various nomadic groups of the Eurasian Steppes. The Great Wall of China begins in the east at Shanhaiguan in the Hebei province and ends in the west at Jiayuguan in the Gansu province. Since there is no single area (apart from China), questions such as ‘Where is the Great Wall of China’ become nonsensical. Contrary to popular belief, the Great Wall of China is not visible from space. It is also quite blurry when seen from the lower orbit. Here are a few more bizarre and intriguing conspiracy facts about the Great Wall of China.

1. The Great Wall of China is made up solely of stones and mortar. But what goes into the mortar? Some believe that the mortar found in the section created by the Ming dynasty was made by grounding up human bones, especially the labourers who died during its construction.
2. According to Qanon, The Tartarian dynasty (Tartar is colloquial with north central Asia) built the wall to keep the Chinese out.

Machu Picchu Peru

Machu Picchu was the Incan citadel. It is seldom known as the ‘Lost City of the Incas’. American explorer Hiram Bingham III wrote extensively about Machu Picchu with the assistance of indigenous farmers. Enough has been written about the Peru Machu Picchu history. We all know the answer to the questions – ‘Who built Machu Picchu’ or ‘What is Machu Picchu elevation’. What might not be public knowledge are the several unresolved mysteries. Hence, here we present a few Machu Picchu facts and conspiracy theories.

1. Several historians have argued the purpose of a cell-like structure built near the Temple of the Condor. Most believe that it was used to house the prisoners of war.
2. A Birmingham team found several elongated heads. It is believed that the Incan royalty, in an attempt to assert their dominance, artificially elongated their heads.
3. Underneath the Temple dedicated to the sun god, Inti lurks a cave with a stone staircase leading nowhere. What purpose did this cave serve? The question remains unresolved.
4. The Temple of Inti or Torreon, housed female religious practitioners called ‘virgins of the sun’. They were sometimes sacrificed to appease them.
5. Some believe that the city was built by aliens. The reason is the magnificent architecture at the time when bulldozers, mining & carving tools, and mechanical transportation didn’t exist. How would the Incas bring heavy granite rocks from the valley to the Machu Picchu? The most logical answer, the E.T.s lent them a helping hand.

Petra City Jordan

Petra Jordan is often known as Raqmu or Raqēmō. It translates to ‘rock’ which is the defining characteristic of the city. It is located adjacent to the Jabal Al-Madbah mountain, in the basin of the Arabah Valley. According to Canadian author Dan Gibson, the original location of Mecca was Petra. He bases this theory on the fact that none of the ancient trade maps have ever mentioned Mecca.

The Taj Mahal India

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum made by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Some believe the Taj Mahal to be a Hindu temple called ‘Tejo Mahalaya’, built by a Rajput ruler. A BJP leader once filed a petition to the Allahabad High Court pleading to open 22 rooms and the basement of the mausoleum to investigate the alleged Hindu idols sitting inside. However, the plea was denied. BJP MP Diya Kumari claimed to have the right to the lands of the Taj Mahal, asserting them to be ancestral property. The emperor had simply usurped the land belonging to the Jaipur royalty. Another theory describes that Shah Jahan ordered the hands of 40,000 masons; employed to create this awe-striking marvel to be cut so they could never replicate it.

References:

1. “Mayan Documentary to Show “Evidence” of Alien Contact in Ancient Mexico.” The Guardian, 29 Sept. 2011, www.theguardian.com/film/2011/sep/29/mayan-documentary-alien-mexico.
2. Tutton, Mark. “Hidden Tunnel Could Lead to Mayan “Entrance to the Underworld.”” CNN, 2 Feb. 2018, edition.cnn.com/2018/02/02/world/chichen-itza-maya-tunnel-cenote/index.html
3. Mueller, Tom. “Secrets of the Colosseum.” Smithsonian, Smithsonian.com, 2011, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/secrets-of-the-colosseum-75827047/.
4. “Taj Mahal: The Conspiracy Theories | Hot Mic with Nidhi Razdan.” NDTV.com, www.ndtv.com/india-news/taj-mahal-the-conspiracy-theories-hot-mic-with-nidhi-razdan-2984290. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.
5. Nizamoglu, Cem. “The Petra Fallacy: Early Mosques Do Face the Sacred Kaaba in Mecca.” Muslim Heritage, 15 Sept. 2020, muslimheritage.com/the-petra-fallacy/. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.

Image Courtesy – Jagran Josh

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Andre Gennie

Hi Ya’ll !!

I love writing about pop culture and all things queer.

Sub Editor at Abir Pothi