Alexandria's Lighthouse The lighthouse was built of light-colored stone and molten lead to make walls sturdy enough to resist the smashing waves. It reached around 450 feet tall. The first level had a square form, the middle level had an octagon shape, and the top level had a circular shape. There were windows in all three levels for people inside the tower who could see the sky during bad weather or night. A platform at the top allowed the keepers to change the lamps they used. The Pharos was a famous lighthouse that guided ships into the port of Alexandria. It was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The Pharos was built about 250 years before the Great Lighthouse of Alexandria and it stood for over 300 years. It was destroyed by Alexander the Great when he invaded Egypt. But its ruins have been found by archaeologists everywhere from Asia to Europe. People have always wanted to build better lighthouses because they are important for safety on roads and at ports. Also, good lighthouses make for exciting photos! Today's lighthouse runners use LEDs instead of fire for light, but they work on the same principle as the Pharos: electricity passes through a glass tube filled with chemicals that produce light. And now you know!