Egypt derides 7 wonders of the world contest

The pyramids are 8220;living in the hearts of people around the globe, and don8217;t need a vote to be among the world wonders,8221; said the head of Egypt8217;s Supreme Council of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass, according to the state-run Middle East News Agency.

Egyptian officials refused to meet with the organiser of the 8220;New 7 Wonders of the World8221; contest, the Swiss adventurer Bernard Weber, when he visited Egypt earlier this month, said the contest8217;s spokeswoman Tia B Viering. When Weber tried to hold a press conference near the pyramids, police shut it down.

Organisers say the hostility is unwarranted, claiming the competition is supposed to renew international interest in culture and history, not strip the pyramids of ancient status.

8220;The contest is not about taking something away, it8217;s about moving something into modern times,8221; Viering said.

The Egyptian pyramids are the only surviving structures from the traditional list of seven wonders of the ancient world, derived by later authors from various lists of marvels cited by ancient Greek and Roman writers.

Besides the pyramids, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the best known list includes the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Colossus of Rhodes, the ancient lighthouse that once stood on the island of Pharos in Alexandria, Egypt, and three other long-vanished edifices.

Choosing a new world wonders roster has attracted interest over the years: The UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites includes 830 selections.

Weber started his project in 1999, collecting nearly 200 nominations. That list was eventually narrowed to 21 by a panel of architectural experts, chaired by former UNESCO chief Federico Mayor.

The revenues raised by the campaign will go in restoring historic sites, including the Bamiyan Buddha statue in Afghanistan.