Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-10-04
Pharos Castle.

Being at AlexsudIia IN the spring ot
last year, desired TO visit the building,
and was fortunate enough tO obtain per-
mission TO do so, which for long tue
past has been rarely granted. My object,
apsrt from motives of interest IN the old
building itself, was to ascertain, if posi-
bic, whether any signs could be dlscerned
Of its having teen erected on the actual
foundations of Its more ancient and re-
nswned predecessor. My inspection was
necessarily very superficial one, but as
far as il could 90 i, confirmed me IN the
belief that some such indications are actu
ally TO be detected. and | noticed in p9r,I-
cular spot near one Of the corners OF the
building where the wall could be perceived
to run In a direction not widely; but dis
tlnc'ly, different from that of the presum-
ably original foundation, with which II
Termed gradually divergent angle,
The Pharos was still in existence IN A.
d. 1926. Ii became a complete rum be-
tween that date and A. ID. lS49. The pre-
sent building was erected by tie Egyptian
Sultan Ksit-Bey, who reigned from A. ID.
l46S to 1895. Ii may readily be presumed
that, according to the uniform practice OF
the East, the ground continued until that
time encountered with the TuIns OF Its pre-
decessor. The name and titles OF kait
Bey were imperfecuy but unmistakably
legible on one Of two nuch-decayed lime
stone tablets over the entrance gate. The
latter was roughly formed by three massive
blocks Of granite, two of which, standing
erect, served as jambs on either side, with
the third forming Intel across the top,
the whole presenting q peculiarly Egyptian
appearance. A wide passage turning al
an abrupt right angle to the left gave ac-
cess to a small mosque, consisting OF
hypa,hral court, With four arched recesses
one of Whlca contained the ktOt0h anc
pulpit. The slight deviation OF the walls
of the castle from the lines of the ancient
foundations may possibly have been mads
for the express purpose OF placing the
mosque in the true Inc Of direction TO-
wards Mecca. Tne mosque composed Dui
very small portion d the building. Iht
remainder, rising one story above the othei
was occupied by innumerable rooms ol
various sizes, opening out OF long and mar
row passages, all empty, and ier many
yea-s apparently disased. | was INFORMED
by the officer who vas my guide that i
was capable Of lodging five thousand mer
"a statement which was probably not ex
aggerated. The quarters intended Tor th'
commander and other superior otiicer
were easily distIuguishable By their super
or look, and by some scanty remains o
decoration and of ancient mosaic tioorlnl
of coIored marbles.
On the fiat root rose somewhat ruln
Gus mine5et, the upper portion OF whici
has disappeared, but which contributes
much TO the picturesquenes OF the masslV
SQUARE building, which, with It's rounde'
towers at each OF its four angles, form 8
CONSPICUOUS feature IN the vi w OF Alex
audrls. on its eastern side, both from In
land and from the sea. was recelve'
with the most perfect courtesy by the iur
Ikish ofIi 3ers. and was conducted over ever
mart. both of the outer and inner enceHate
of the fortress, not excluding the casenia'
ed batteries constructed at the foot OF In
tower, and commanding the sea on Two I
lis sides. In compliance witn the honol
abb. understanding under which l was az
mI,,ed. studIously abstained from pay
Ing any attention to its military features
of which, indeed, should not have bee
. competent observer. On that part
the subject / can, therefore, offer only 10
general remark that the batteries stric
me as presenting very formidable.appea
ance. 1t is, of course. highly improoab
/ that the castle will be rebuilt. We mus
on the contrary, expect that its shattere
fragments will speedily be removed Bl
many, | feel sure, will join with me
hoping that this may not be done witho'
, the preseuce of some competent perso
able TO ascertain, with some degree OF Pc
cision, whether anything bs re,lly sun
lexistence OF the lsst remains OF the wioel
celebrated monument that once stood up'
Lei,