Pharos of Alexandria | ancient lighthouse, Alexandria, Egypt | Britannica.com Pharos of Alexandria lighthouse Pharos of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the most famous lighthouse in antiquity. It was a technological triumph and is the archetype of all lighthouses since. Built by Sostratus of Cnidus, perhaps for Ptolemy I Soter , it was finished during the reign of Soter’s son Ptolemy II of Egypt in about 280 bce. The lighthouse stood on the island of Pharos in the harbour of Alexandria and is said to have been more than 350 feet (110 metres) high; the only taller man-made structures at the time would have been the pyramids of Giza . Much of what is known about the structure of the lighthouse comes from a 1909 work by Hermann Thiersch, Pharos, antike, Islam und Occident. According to the ancient sources consulted by Thiersch, the lighthouse was built in three stages, all sloping slightly inward; the lowest was square, the next octagonal, and the top cylindrical.

A broad spiral ramp led to the top, where a fire burned at night. Pharos of Alexandria. Overview of the Pharos (Lighthouse) of Alexandria. Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz Some descriptions report that the lighthouse was surmounted by a huge statue, possibly representing either Alexander the Great or Ptolemy I Soter in the form of the sun god Helios. Though it was well-known earlier, the Pharos does not appear in any list of wonders until the 6th century ce (the earliest list gives the walls of Babylon instead). In the Middle Ages sultan Ahmed ibn Touloun replaced the beacon with a small mosque . The Pharos was still standing in the 12th century, but by 1477 the Mamlūk sultan Qāʾit Bāy was able to build a fort from its ruins. Illustration of the Pharos of Alexandria by Maerten van Heemskerck.

Bettmann/Corbis Pharos of Alexandria (Lighthouse of Alexandria) | AncientWorldWonders Pharos of Alexandria (Lighthouse of Alexandria) 25 Oct 2011 at 05:30 admin Alexandria Lighthouse Pharos ... The Lighthouse of Alexandria was one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. It was situated on the small offshore island of Pharos, lighting the way for many sailors navigating the tricky harbor. This place was considered to be one of the centers of the civilization by the time it was build. However it needs to be mentioned that Pharos actually was not a true island: It was connected to the mainland by a dike, called the Heptastadion. In this way, Alexandria had two harbors, one on either side of the dike. The story of the Pharos itself started with the founding of the city of Alexandria by the Macedonian conqueror Alexander the Great in 332 B.C.. Alexander founded and called upon his name at least 17 cities named Alexandria at different locations in his vast domain. Time after time most of them disappeared, but Alexandria in Egypt thrived for many centuries and is prosperous even today.

The city of Alexandria was built some twenty miles to the west of Nile Delta, in order to protect the harbor from the silt and mud carried from the river itself. Though, the city had two harbors inasmuch the Lake Mateoris was located in the south as well. Thus, the activities which were conducted from both sides of the city were the main source of its immense treasure and income. After the death of Alexander the Great, in 323 B.C. , Photemy Soter ruled over the Egypt, who managed to be the successful legatee of former sovereign and made the city even more prosperous and famous for its wealth. Therefore, the harbor was busy as never, so Photemy clearly saw the need of a symbol, a sign which could give a guide to the trade ships. As a result, he authorized the building of the Pharos in 290 B.C., and when it was completed some twenty years later, it was the first lighthouse in the world and the tallest building in existence, with the exception of the Great Pyramid.

Besides its height which was amazing by that period, the sum of the expenses which were spent over the construction was said to have been 800 talents, an amount equal today to about three million dollars. It is purely impressive how wonderful the construction technique, unbelievable extents, beauty of the creation was in Egypt that two of its buildings, the Pyramid of Giza, at the beginning of Egypt history and the second the lighthouse of Alexandria, built by one of the last pharaohs, Photemy I Soter, who couldn’t even witness the completion of the construction because of his death. [ADS2] Pharos Lighthouse stood on the eastern point of Pharos Island some distance from the city center of Alexandria . It was constructed at the beginning of the third century BC over a period of about twelve years and took an enormous cost and usage of considerable slave labor. As far as we mentioned Pharos Lighthouse was completed and inaugurated by the first Ptolemy’s son, Ptolemy Philadelphus , in 283. The festival he held that day, 279 BC was attributed to his parents. However, it didn’t maintain the original look, but it underwent a number of modifications by later rulers.

The architect was Sostratos, a Greek from the Asia Minor city of Cnidus, whose name also appears on the sanctuary of Appolo at Delphi and on Delos. Though only the king’s name was allowed on buildings erected during their reigns in the period, Sostratos got around this by also carving his own with a dedication, which was then covered with plaster. The consecration in honor of Ptolemy was then carved into the plaster, which over time peeled away leaving only Sostratos dedication, which provides, “Sostratos of Cnidus, son of Dexiphanes, to the savior gods, for sailors. “ The lighthouse was apparently a tourist attraction from the very beginning. We are told that food was sold to visitors at the observation platform at the top of the first level. A smaller balcony provided a view from the top of the eight-sided tower for those that wanted to make the additional climb. The view from there must have been impressive as it was probably 300 feet above the sea. There were few places in the ancient world where a person could ascend a man-made tower to get such a perspective. The writings indicated that the structure consisted of4 main sections.

At the bottom was a platform filled with statues that are still being discovered by present-day divers off the coast of Alexandria. Some researchers believe that ships docked just off this platform as well. On top of this platform stood a square structure measuring 18 m (60 ft) on each side and roughly 56 m (184 ft) tall. In the middle of this section is a shaft and stairwell used for transporting material and fuel up the Pharos Lighthouse, and for visitors as well. The third section was an eight-sided structure measuring roughly 27 m (90 ft) high. It also contained a similar transportation shaft in the middle. On top of this was a circular tower that housed the fire (for use to alert ships during the night) and the great mirror (for use during the day). A statue of Poseidon stood on top this tower. It is purely wonderful how the architects of the Pharos Lighthouse could impress event engineers of today’s skyscrapers. They show similarities in so many cases. The lighthouse is measured up to a modern 40-story building. The Greeks were so impressed with it that they included it as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

[ADS2] The mirror of the Pharos Lighthouse appeared to be quite famous in ancient times. Many people believed that the mirror was so smooth and powerful that it could be used to reflect the sun’s rays onto invading ships and burn them. Another belief was that the mirror was so strong it could be used to observe and spy on competing city-states across the Mediterranean Sea, more than 100 miles away. However, it is highly unlikely that either of these stories are true. From historical evidence, it appears that the Pharos Lighthouse was also a touristattraction. Hundreds of visitors climbed the Lighthouse everyday to enjoy the fantastic view around Alexandria. Food vendors also sold their goods at the top of each section of the Pharos. The lighthouse was built on the island of Pharos and soon the building itself acquired that name. The connection of the name with the function became so strong that the word “Pharos” became the root of the word “lighthouse” in the French, Italian, Spanish and Romanian languages. The fact is that the lighthouse doesn’t exist any longer, but the history records confirm its subsistence.

The question appears: how it’s possible that this huge building, being an eye of spectators disappear without leaving any ruins of itself. It’s believed that the lighthouse winded up in the Mediterranean. Most accounts indicate that it, like many other ancient buildings, was the victim of earthquakes. It stood for over 1,500 years, apparently surviving a tsunami that hit eastern Mediterranean in 365 AD with minor damage. After that, however, tremors might have been responsible for cracks that appeared in the structure at the end of the10th century and required a restoration that lowered the height of the building by about 70 feet. Then in 1303 A.D., a major earthquake shook the region that put the Pharos permanently out of business. There is also an unlikely tale that part of the lighthouse was demolished through trickery. In 850 A.D. it is said that the Emperor of Constantinople, a rival port, devised a clever plot to get rid of the Pharos. He spread rumors that there was a fabulous treasure buried under the lighthouse.

When the Caliph at Cairo, who controlled Alexandria at this time, heard these rumors, he ordered that the tower be pulled down to get at the treasure. It was only after the great mirror had been destroyed and the top two portions of the tower removed that the Caliph realized he’d been deceived. He tried to rebuild the tower, but couldn’t, so he turned it into a mosque instead. As colorful as this story is there does not seem to be much truth in it. Visitors in 1115 A.D. reported the Pharos intact and still operating as a lighthouse. Did the divers actually find the remains of Pharos in the bottom of the harbor? Some of the larger blocks of stone found certainly seem to have come from a huge building. Statues were located that may have stood at the base of the Pharos. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The Pharos Lighthouse The Great Lighthouse at Alexandria The great lighthouse at Alexandria, Egypt, stood on the island of Pharos. (Copyright Lee Krystek, 2011) In the fall of 1994 a team of archaeological divers donned scuba equipment and entered the waters off of Alexandria, Egypt.

Working beneath the surface, they searched the bottom of the sea for artifacts. Large underwater blocks of stone and remnants of sculpture were marked with floating masts so that an electronic distance measurement station on shore could obtain their exact positions. Global positioning satellites were then used to further fix the locations. The information was then fed into computers to create a detailed database of the sea floor. Ironically, these scientists were using some of the most high-tech devices available at the end of the 20th century to try and sort out the ruins of one of the most advanced technological achievements of the 3rd century, B.C.. It was the Pharos, the great lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World . Seven Quick Facts Built: Around 290 - 270 BC Function: Guide Ships to Alexandria's Harbor. Destroyed: 1303 AD by earthquake. Size: Height 450 ft. (140m) Made of: Stone faced with white marble blocks with lead mortar. Other: Said to be the only ancient wonder with a practical application.

Alexander the Great The story of the Pharos starts with the founding of the city of Alexandria by the Macedonian conqueror Alexander the Great in 332 B.C.. Alexander started at least 17 cities named Alexandria at different locations in his vast domain. Most of them disappeared, but Alexandria in Egypt thrived for many centuries and is prosperous even today. Alexander the Great chose the location of his new city carefully. Instead of building it on the Nile delta, he selected a site some twenty miles to the west, so that the silt and mud carried by the river would not block the city harbor. South of the city was the marshy Lake Mareotis. After a canal was constructed between the lake and the Nile, the city had two harbors: one for Nile River traffic, and the other for Mediterranean Sea trade. Both harbors would remain deep and clear and the activity they allowed made the city very wealthy. A modern lighthouse often is designed as just a single, slim column, unlike the Pharos. Alexander died in 323 B.C. and the city was completed by Ptolemy Soter, the new ruler of Egypt. Under Ptolemy the city became rich and prosperous.

However, it needed both a symbol and a mechanism to guide the many trade ships into its busy harbor. Ptolemy authorized the building of the Pharos in 290 B.C., and when it was completed some twenty years later, it was the first lighthouse in the world and the tallest building in existence, with the exception of the Great Pyramid. The construction cost was said to have been 800 talents, an amount equal today to about three million dollars. Construction of the Lighthouse The lighthouse's designer is believed to be Sostratus of Knidos (or Cnidus), though some sources argue he only provided the financing for the project. Proud of his work, Sostratus desired to have his name carved into the foundation. Ptolemy II, the son who ruled Egypt after his father, refused this request, wanting only his own name to be on the building. A clever man, Sostratus supposedly had the inscription: SOSTRATUS SON OF DEXIPHANES OF KNIDOS ON BEHALF OF ALL MARINERS TO THE SAVIOR GODS chiseled into the foundation, then covered it with plaster. Into the plaster was carved Ptolemy's name.

As the years went by (and after both the death of Sostratus and Ptolemy) the plaster aged and chipped away, revealing Sostratus' dedication. The lighthouse was built on the island of Pharos and soon the building itself acquired that name. The connection of the name with the function became so strong that the word "Pharos" became the root of the word "lighthouse" in the French, Italian, Spanish and Romanian languages. Video: A Climb Up the Pharos Lighthouse There are two detailed descriptions made of the lighthouse in the 10th century A.D. by Moorish travelers Idrisi and Yusuf Ibn al-Shaikh. According to their accounts, the building was 300 cubits high. Because the cubit measurement varied from place to place, however, this could mean that the Pharos stood anywhere from 450 (140m) to 600 (183m) feet in height, although the lower figure is much more likely. The design was unlike the slim single column of most modern lighthouses, but more like the structure of an early twentieth century skyscraper.

There were three stages, each built on top of one other. The building material was stone faced with white marble blocks cemented together with lead mortar. The lowest level of the building, which sat on a 20 foot (6m) high stone platform, was probably about 240 feet (73m) in height and 100 feet (30m) square at the base, shaped like a massive box. The door to this section of the building wasn't at the bottom of the structure, but part way up and reached by a 600 foot (183m) long ramp supported by massive arches. Inside this portion of the structure was a large spiral ramp that allowed materials to be pulled to the top in animal-drawn carts. On top of that first section was an eight-sided tower which was probably about 115 feet (35m) in height. On top of the tower was a cylinder that extended up another 60 feet (18m) to an open cupola where the fire that provided the light burned. On the roof of the cupola was a large statue, probably of the god of the sea, Poseidon.

The Mirror A depiction of the lighthouse by the 16th-century Dutch artist Maarten van Heemskerck The interior of the upper two sections had a shaft with a dumbwaiter that was used to transport fuel up to the fire. Staircases allowed visitors and the keepers to climb to the beacon chamber. There, according to reports, a large curved mirror, perhaps made of polished bronze, was used to project the fire's light into a beam. It was said ships could detect the light from the tower at night or the smoke from the fire during the day up to one-hundred miles away. There are stories that this mirror could be used as a weapon to concentrate the sun and set enemy ships ablaze as they approached. Another tale says that it was possible to use the mirror to magnify the image of the city of Constantinople, which was located far across the sea, and observe what was going on there. Both of these stories seem implausible, however. The structure was said to be liberally decorated with statuary including four likenesses of the god Triton on each of the four corners of the roof of the lowest level.

Materials recently salvaged from the sea by archeologists, including the stone torso of a woman, seem to support these stories. The lighthouse was apparently a tourist attraction. Food was sold to visitors at the observation platform at the top of the first level. A smaller balcony provided an outlook from the top of the eight-sided tower for those that wanted to make the additional climb. The view from there must have been impressive as it was probably 300 feet above the sea. There were few places in the ancient world where a person could ascend a man-made tower to get such a perspective. An ancient coin with the likeness of the Pharos on it. Destruction How then did the world's first lighthouse wind up on the floor of the Mediterranean Sea? Most accounts indicate that it, like many other ancient buildings, was the victim of earthquakes. It stood for over 1,500 years, apparently surviving a tsunami that hit eastern Mediterranean in 365 AD with minor damage. After that, however, tremors might have been responsible for cracks that appeared in the structure at the end of the10th century and required a restoration that lowered the height of the building by about 70 feet.

Then in 1303 A.D., a major earthquake shook the region that put the Pharos permanently out of business. Egyptian records indicate the final collapse occurred in 1375, though ruins remained on the site for some time until 1480 when much of the building's stone was used to construct a fortress on the island that still stands today. There is also an unlikely tale that part of the lighthouse was demolished through trickery. In 850 A.D. it is said that the Emperor of Constantinople, a rival port, devised a clever plot to get rid of the Pharos. He spread rumors that there was a fabulous teasure buried under the lighthouse. When the Caliph at Cairo, who controlled Alexandria at this time heard these rumors, he ordered that the tower be pulled down to get at the treasure. It was only after the great mirror had been destroyed and the top two portions of the tower removed that the Caliph realized he'd been deceived. He tried to rebuild the tower, but couldn't, so he turned it into a mosque instead. As colorful as this story is there does not seem to be much truth in it. Visitors in 1115 A.D.

reported the Pharos intact and still operating as a lighthouse. The Pharos at night. Copyright Lee Krystek, 1998. Did the divers actually find the remains of Pharos in the bottom of the harbor? Some of the larger blocks of stone found certainly seem to have come from a huge building. Statues were located that may have stood at the base of the Pharos. Interestingly enough, much of the material found seems to be from earlier eras than the lighthouse. Scientists speculate that these may have been recycled in the construction of the Pharos from an even older building. The area is now an underwater archaeological park. Tourists with diving gear can swim about the remains of the great Pharos lighthouse while they wonder what it would have been like to climb to its ancient heights a thousand years ago. Copyright Lee Krystek 1998-2011. All Rights Reserved.

Ancient Wonder of the World: Egypt Approves Plan to Rebuild Pharos of Alexandria | Ancient Origins 7 May, 2015 - 17:09 aprilholloway Ancient Wonder of the World: Egypt Approves Plan to Rebuild Pharos of Alexandria (Read the article on one page) The Pharos of Alexandria was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the most famous lighthouse in antiquity. The incredible feat of ancient engineering stood at an impressive height of 130 meters (430ft) until it was destroyed by an earthquakes in the 14 th century AD. Now it is destined to rise again as Egyptian authorities have just approved plans to rebuild the towering monument. Hand-colored engraving of the Pharos of Alexandria by Maarten van Heemskerck (1498–1574). ( Wikimedia Commons ) Built either late in the reign of Ptolemy I or early in the reign of Ptolemy II, around 280 BC, the lighthouse was located on the eastern tip of the island of Pharos.

Posidippus of Pella, who lived in Alexandria during the reign of Ptolemy II, wrote a poem on a piece of papyrus, which recorded its architect as Sostratus of Cnidus. In some descriptions, it is recorded that a huge statue, representing either Alexander the Great or Ptolemy I in the form of the Sun God, Helios, stood on the top of the lighthouse. This would have been an obvious message to anyone entering Alexandria by sea that the city was now under ‘Ptolemaic management’. In addition, this would have demonstrated the euergetism (the doing of good deeds) of the new ruling dynasty. Searching for the Hanging Gardens of Babylon 17th century sketch of the Pharos of Alexandria ( Wikimedia Commons ) Besides being a propagandistic symbol of Ptolemaic legitimization, the Pharos also served a much more practical function. As with all lighthouses, it was meant to be a guide for sailors to the harbor.

As Strabo records, “This was an offering made by Sostratus of Cnidus, a friend of the kings, for the safety of mariners, as the inscription says: for since the coast was harborless and low on either side, and also had reefs and shallows, those who were sailing from the open sea thither needed some lofty and conspicuous sign to enable them to correct their course to the entrance to the harbor. And the western mouth is also not easy to enter, although it does not require so much caution as the other.” From this description, it can be inferred that Alexandria was a very important city in Ptolemaic Egypt, as it was not only its capital, but also its gateway to the Mediterranean. Hence, the building of a lighthouse to ensure that ships, especially those of merchants, could safely arrive at Alexandria’s harbor would have brought economic benefits to the Ptolemies. The lighthouse was damaged by a series of earthquakes between 3 rd and 12 th centuries and is believed to have been completely destroyed in the early 14 th century. In 1994, hundreds of huge masonry blocks from the original lighthouse were found in waters off the island.

The lighthouse was constructed to protect the ships entering Alexandria’s harbor. ‘The Pharos of Alexandria’, Atlas Jansson Jansonius, 1630 ( Wikimedia Commons ) The lighthouse consisted of three sections: a lower square segment with a central core, a middle octagonal section, and a circular segment at its top. A mirror was used to reflect sunlight during the day, while a fire was lit at night in order to guide ships. The Cairo Post reports that the plan is to rebuild the lighthouse just a few meters southwest of where it once stood, as the original location is now occupied by the Qaitbay Citadel. Featured image: The Pharos of Alexandria by Fischer von Erlach, 1656 – 1723 ( Wikimedia Commons ) Lighthouse of Alexandria | Seven Wonders of the World | Ancient Wonders On the ancient island Pharos, in the harbor of Alexandria, Egypt. History Alexander the Great started at least 17 cities with the name Alexandria. Most of them disappeared but Alexandria in Egypt prospered and is still around today. When Alexander died in 323 B.C., the city was completed by Ptolemy Soter, the new ruler of Egypt.

The new city needed a symbol and a guide for the many trade ships that used the busy harbor. 20 years later, the Pharos was built. It was the first lighthouse ever built and one of the tallest structures in the world (around 400 feet (121.92 meters) high.) Description Of the seven wonders of the world, there is only one remaining ( Great Pyramid of Giza .) The Lighthouse of Alexandria was the last wonder to disappear. Earthquakes destroyed it in the 14th century A.D. Apparently, a mysterious mirror could reflect the light for almost 40 miles (around 50 km) away. This mirror was also able to detect and burn enemy ships before they reached the shore. Imagine a 40-story high building. The inside of the building was used as a shaft to lift fuel needed for the fire. At the top, a mirror reflected sunlight during the day and fire was used during the night. Pharos was the island the lighthouse was on and it quickly became the name of the lighthouse. Look up Pharos in a French, Italian or Spanish dictionary and you'll see it means lighthouse.

Related Stories: The Lighthouse at Alexandria: the Seventh Wonder of the Ancient World (Article) - Ancient History Encyclopedia by writer873 published on 18 January 2012 The Pharos at Alexandria was the last structure to be named on Antipater of Sidon 's list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was constructed at the beginning of the 3rd century BCE, begun by Ptolemy Soter, the ruler of the Egyptian region after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE. It was impressive in its construction and scale, and legends claim that its light (a reflective mirror) was visible in the harbor from 35 miles away. ALexander 's City The Pharos (which has become a generic term for lighthouse) was actually located on the tiny limestone island of Pharos that sat in front of the harbor of what would become Alexandria. When Alexander the Great arrived in Egypt in 332 BCE, Pharos was a shrine and home to Proteus, a sea god. When Alexander and his troops took Memphis (the ancient Egyptian capital) and defeated the occupying Persians, the Egyptian people were elated, and accepted him as their new Pharaoh .

Advertisement The lighthouse was constructed on the tiny harbor island of Pharos as an aid to sailors. As Alexander and his troops further explored their new territory, they happened upon a small fishing village called Rhacotis. Its strategic location (on the coast) caught Alexander's eye, and he proclaimed that a new capital city, Alexandria, was to be built there. Immense and opulent, this city would be home to beautiful art and architecture, as well as all of the most influential literature in ancient history in its fabled Library. This new coastal capital of Egypt had a very horizontal quality about it, like the rest of Egypt. It also lacked any real landmarks that would aid ships in navigation there. Thus, the lighthouse was constructed on the tiny harbor island of Pharos as an aid to sailors. Later on, it would become a defensive monument as well. Design The Lighthouse at Alexandria was designed by the Greek architect Sostratus of Cnidus. It was constructed of a light-colored stone that was reinforced with molten lead. This would have protected the walls from crashing ocean waves (this also helped it to become one of the longest-standing monuments of the list of wonders).

It stood in three levels: a lower square level with a strong core to provide support, an octagon-shaped center level, and a circular level on top. At the peak of the lighthouse was a mirror that reflected the light of the sun at day, and a fire was lit each evening. Remove Ads Advertisement In the 1st century CE, the Pharos was believed to have become more than merely a navigational aid for sailing ships. Stories and legends claim that the lighthouse was used to set enemy ships ablaze in the harbor. Though many scholars refute this possibility due to technological limitations, recent experiments have shown that fires could have indeed been started using the reflective powers of the mirror and the sun (though probably not in as dramatic a fashion as reported by the ancients). Later History The Pharos at Alexandria stood and remained in use until two earthquakes, in 1303 and 1323 CE, reduced it to rubble. In 1994 CE, underwater archaeologists located some of the remains of the lighthouse in the Alexandrian Harbor, and more have recently been located using remote imaging.

Some remains of the Pharos were also used in the construction of Fort Qaitbey in the 15th century CE, which stands on the very same spot to this day. Advertisement Help us write more We're a small non-profit organisation run by a handful of volunteers. Each article costs us about $50 in history books as source material, plus editing and server costs. You can help us create even more free articles for as little as $5 per month , and we'll give you an ad-free experience to thank you! Become a Member Bibliography Lighthouse of Alexandria | Seven Wonders of the Ancient World | Fandom powered by Wikia Seven Wonders of the Ancient World Share A drawing of the lighthouse by German archaeologist Prof. H. Thiersch (1909). The Lighthouse of Alexandria (or The Pharos of Alexandria, Greek: ὁ Φάρος τῆς Ἀλεξανδρείας) was a tower built in the 3rd century BC (between 285 and 247 BC) on the island of Pharos in Alexandria, Egypt to serve as that port's landmark, and later, its lighthouse.

With a height variously estimated at between 115 and 150 m (380 and 490 ft) it was among the tallest man-made structures on Earth for many centuries, and was identified as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by Antipater of Sidon. It may have been the third tallest building after the two Great Pyramids (of Khufu and Khafra) for its entire life. Some scholars estimate that would make the tower the tallest building up to the 14th century. Contents Graphic reconstruction of the lighthouse according to a comprehensive study of 2006 The Lighthouse of Alexandria Pharos was a small island just off the coast of Alexandria. It was linked to the mainland by a man-made connection named the Heptastadion, which thus formed one side of the city's harbor. As the Egyptian coast is very flat and lacking in the kind of landmark used at the time for navigation, a marker of some sort at the mouth of the harbour was deemed necessary—a function the Pharos was initially designed to serve.

Use of the building as a lighthouse, with a fire and reflective mirrors at the top, is thought to date to around the 1st century AD, during the Roman period. Prior to that time the Pharos served solely as a landmark or day beacon. Construction and destruction The lighthouse was completed in the 3rd century B.C., after having been initiated by Satrap (governor) Ptolemy I Soter, Egypt's first Macedonian ruler and a general of Alexander the Great. After Alexander died unexpectedly at age 32, Ptolemy Soter (Saviour, named so by the inhabitants of Rhodes) made himself king in 305 B.C. and ordered the construction of the Pharos shortly thereafter. The building was finished during the reign of his son, Ptolemy Philadelphos. According to legend, Sostratus was forbidden by Ptolemy from putting his name on his work.

But the architect left the following inscription on the base's walls nonetheless: "Sostratus, the son of Dexiphanes, the Cnidian, dedicated (or erected) this to the Saviour gods, on behalf of those who sail the seas"; the original Greek inscription "ΣΟΣΤΡΑΤΟΣ ΔΕΞΙΦΑΝΟΥ ΚΝΙΔΙΟΣ ΘΕΟΙΣ ΣΩΤΕΡΣΙΝ ΥΠΕΡ ΤΩΝ ΠΛΩΙΖΟΜΕΝΩΝ" literally means: "Sostratos of Dexiphanes [meaning: son of Dexiphanes] the Cnidian to Saviour Gods for the seafarers (or seafaring [ones])". These words were hidden under a layer of plaster, on top of which was chiseled another inscription honoring Ptolemy the king as builder of the Pharos. After centuries the plaster wore away, revealing the name of Sostratus. The lighthouse was badly damaged in the earthquake of 956, then again in 1303 and 1323.

The fullest description of it comes from the Arab traveler Abou Haggag Youssef Ibn Mohammed el-Andaloussi who visited the structure as a tourist in 1166. His description runs: "The Pharos rises at the end of the island. The building is square, about 8.5m [just under 28 feet] each side. The sea surrounds the Pharos except on the east and south sides. This platform measures, along its sides, from the tip up to the foot of the Pharos walls, 6.5m [a little over 21 feet] in height. However, on the sea side, it is larger because of the construction and is steeply inclined like the side of a mountain. As the height of the platform increases towards the walls of the Pharos its width narrows until it arrives at the measurements above. On this side it is strongly built, the stones being well shaped and laid along with a rougher finish than elsewhere on the building. This part of the building that I have just described is recent because on this side the ancient work needed to be replaced.

On the seaward south side, there is an ancient inscription which I cannot read; it is not a proper inscription because the forms of the letters are carried out in hard black stone. The combination of the sea and the air has worn away the background stone and the letters stand out in relief because of their harshness. The A measures a little over 54cm [slight more than 21 inches]. The top of the M stands out like a huge hole in a copper boiler. The other letters are generally of the same size. The doorway to the Pharos is high up. A ramp about 183m [600 feet] long used to lead up to it. This ramp rests on a series of curved arches; my companion got beneath one of the arches and stretched out his arms but he was not able to reach the sides.

There are 16 of these arches, each gradually getting higher until the doorway is reached, the last one being especially high." The el-Andaloussi description of the dimensions does not appear to match the Thiersch drawing, the classic painting, or the graphic reconstruction, all of which show buildings with a footprint that would have been at least 80 x 80 feet, based on the scale of surrounding objects. Fort Qaitbey was built on the site of the Pharos in the 15th century, using some of its fallen masonry. There are ancient claims the light from the lighthouse could be seen from up to 35 mi (56 km) away. Unconfirmed legends claim the light from Pharos could burn enemy ships before they reached shore. Constructed from large blocks of light-coloured stone, the tower was made up of three stages: a lower square section with a central core, a middle octagonal section, and, at the top, a circular section. At its apex was positioned a mirror which reflected sunlight during the day; a fire was lit at night.

Extant Roman coins struck by the Alexandrian mint show that a statue of a triton was positioned on each of the building's four corners. A statue of Poseidon stood atop the tower during the Roman period. A fanciful 16th-century interpretation of the Pharos by Martin Heemskerck The Pharos' walls were strengthened in order to withstand the pounding of the waves through the use of molten lead to hold its masonry together, and possibly as a result the building survived the longest of the Seven Wonders—with the sole exception of the Great Pyramid of Giza. It was still standing when the Muslim traveller Ibn Jubayr visited the city in 1183. He said of it that: "Description of it falls short, the eyes fail to comprehend it, and words are inadequate, so vast is the spectacle." It appears that in his time, there was a church located on the top. The two earthquakes in 1303 and 1323, damaged the lighthouse to the extent that the Arab traveler Ibn Battuta reported no longer being able to enter the ruin.

Even the stubby remnant disappeared in 1480, when the then-Sultan of Egypt, Qaitbay, built a medieval fort on the former location of the building, using some of the fallen stone. The remnants of the Pharos that were incorporated into the walls of Fort Qaitbey are clearly visible due to their excessive size in comparison to surrounding masonry. Recent archaeological research Some remains of the lighthouse were found on the floor of Alexandria's Eastern Harbour by divers in 1994. More of the remains have subsequently been revealed by satellite imaging. A Nova program chronicled the underwater discovery of the fabled Pharos lighthouse. It is possible to go diving and see the ruins. Significance Pharos became the etymological origin of the word 'lighthouse' in Greek (φάρος), Bulgarian (фар) and many Romance languages, such as French (phare), Italian (faro), Portuguese (farol), Spanish (faro), Romanian and Catalan (far), and Swedish ("Fyr"). The design of minarets in many early Islamic mosques many centuries later followed a similar three-stage design to that of the Pharos, attesting to the building's broader architectural influence.

Pharos in culture The Pharos of Abuqir, an ancient funerary monument thought to be modeled after the Pharos at Alexandria, with which it is approximately contemporaneous Tower of Hercules, a Roman lighthouse modelled on the Pharos In architecture A well-preserved ancient tomb in the town of Abu Qir, 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of Alexandria, is thought to be a scaled-down model of the Alexandria Pharos. Known colloquially under various names—the Pharos of Abuqir, the Abuqir funerary monument and Burg al-Arab (Arab's Tower)—it consists of a 3-story tower, approximately 20 metres (66 ft) in height, with a square base, a hexagonal midsection and cylindrical upper section, like the building upon which it was apparently modeled. It dates to the reign of Ptolemy II (285-246 BC), and is therefore likely to have been built at about the same time as the Alexandria Pharos. The Tower of Hercules, near A Coruña in Spain, a 2nd century AD Roman lighthouse, is closely modelled on the Alexandrian Pharos.

A replica of the Lighthouse of Alexandria was constructed in the Window of the World Cultural Park in Shenzhen, China. The design of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia was partially inspired by the Lighthouse of Alexandria. The fate of the Lighthouse of Alexandria from the Arab conquest until its collapse in the 14th century has been investigated by Doris Behrens-Abouseif in her article "The Islamic History of the Lighthouse of Alexandria" (in: Muqarnas XXIII [2006], pp. 1-14) In books Matthew Reilly uses this ancient wonder as the location of a piece of the golden capstone in his novel that states in the cultural section from Book 2 of the Cambridge Latin Course, the Pharos of Alexandria is mentioned, along with the history of Alexandria, as one of the greatest international ports of the ancient world. Destination: The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World The Pharos (Lighthouse) of Alexandria Built: About 270 B.C.

Location: On ancient island of Pharos in harbor of Alexandria, Egypt History: Upon its completion, the Alexandria lighthouse -- commonly estimated to have been about 400 feet high -- was one of the tallest structures on Earth. The Greek architect Sostratus designed it during the reign of King Ptolemy II. The Pharos guided sailors into the city harbor for 1,500 years and was the last of the six lost wonders to disappear. Earthquakes toppled it in the 14th century A.D. An Arab traveler made notes in 1166 that provide intricate details on the structure. From his writing, archaeologists have deduced that the lighthouse was constructed in three stages. At the top, a mirror reflected sunlight during the day, and a fire guided sailors at night. The structure was so famous that the word "pharos" came to mean lighthouse in French, Italian and Spanish. In November 1996, a team of divers searching the Mediterranean Sea claimed to have found the ruins of the fabled lighthouse of Pharos.

Pharos Lighthouse at Alexandria, one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World for Kids - 7 Wonders of the Ancient World FAQ, About Us This Lighthouse was built on the Island of Pharos in the harbor of Alexandria, Egypt. Sometimes it's referred to as Pharos Lighthouse. It was a working lighthouse that helped ships find their way safely into harbor. It was also a tourist attraction. Visitors could buy food at the observation platform on the first level. Anyone who wished to do could climb nearly to the top. There were not many places in the ancient world that visitors could climb a man-made structure, 300 feet up, to view the sea. The Lighthouse at Alexandria was not included as one of the 7 wonders by some ancient Greek writers. They thought other structures were far more impressive. But Philo, who created the list of 7 ancient wonders that we use today, was a Greek engineer and mathematician. He understood the demands that went into the construction of this amazing lighthouse. Because it was so well constructed, the lighthouse stood for over 1500 years. Scientists believe an earthquake finally brought the lighthouse down about 200 years before Columbus discovered America.

For something so big, built so long ago, it is incredible that it lasted so long! It took more than one earthquake to bring it down. Lighthouse of Alexandria Lighthouse of Alexandria ► More 7 Wonders of the Ancient World The Lighthouse of Alexandria is sometimes referred to as the Pharos of Alexandria. It was a tower erected between 280 and 247 BC on the island of Pharos in Alexandria, Egypt. Its main objective was to help guide mariners into the Alexandria harbor at night. Having an estimated height of between 393 and 450 feet, the lighthouse was one of the highest man made buildings in the world for hundreds of years. It became one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Help for Ships Pharos was a small island located off the coastline of Alexandria. It is said the inhabitants of Pharos would not allow salvage attempts for any ship that ran aground or wrecked off its coastline. Instead the ships would be plundered and destroyed. To help prevent this problem, Ptolemy Soter the King of Egypt, ordered that the lighthouse be built to help sailors navigate the tricky entrance into the Alexandria harbor and avoid the Island of Pharos.

The lighthouse complex was connected to the mainland by a giant causeway known as the Heptastadion, which consequently created one side of the harbor. Construction of the lighthouse was completed in the 3rd century BC. Shortly after Alexander the Great died, Ptolemy Soter declared himself king in 305 BC. He commanded that the lighthouse be built. However, the construction was not finished until the reign of his son Ptolemy Philadelphos. Construction The base of the giant lighthouse was constructed mainly from massive blocks of light-colored stone. The lighthouse tower was comprised of three levels: a lower rectangular section having a single central foundation, an octagonal mid-section, and circular top level. At the top of the lighthouse was a mirror which reflected sunlight throughout the day, and a fire was lit during the night. A statue of Triton, son of Poseidon the Greek god Of The Sea, was stationed at each of the four corners of the lighthouse. And a statue of Poseidon was placed on top of the tower. The huge stone blocks of the base were locked together and sealed using molten lead. This helped to resist the pounding waves.

It was reported that in early times the light from the lighthouse could be seen from a distance of up to 29 miles away. Invasion Following the Muslim invasion of Egypt, the pinnacle of the Lighthouse of Alexandria purportedly was turned into a mosque. By this time the beacon was no longer functioning. The lighthouse continued this way until its ultimate deterioration sometime in the 14th century. The lighthouse was severely damaged in the great earthquake of 956, then again in subsequent earthquakes in 1303 and 1323. Reportedly, the two later earthquakes in 1303 and 1323 wrecked the lighthouse so much so, that access to it was no longer possible. Even the broken ruins of the great lighthouse disappeared completely in 1480, when the Sultan of Egypt, Qaitbay, established a gothic fort over the former location of the structure using some of the lighthouse stones for building materials. Remains of the lighthouse were discovered in 1994 on the floor of Alexandria’s Harbor. A few of these ruins were brought up and were on display at the harbor in 1995.

Recent satellite photos suggest more remains may still lie at the bottom of the harbor. 7 Wonders of the Ancient World

Question: Which wonder of the ancient world was on the island of Pharos in Alexandria, Egypt?
Answer: Lighthouse