Not all historians are fond of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. First devised by 'father of history' Herodotus in the 5th century BC and constantly revised by other classical authors, some experts consider them a gimmick – an arbitrary list that's spawned countless imitations. But although only one survives today and uncertainties surround all seven, it's still easy to see why these extraordinary monuments to human ingenuity enchanted antique travellers as much as they do modern readers.

Click through this gallery to discover what we really know about the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World…