Back In Ancient Egypt, The Lighthouse Of Alexandria Used To Be One Of The Seven Wonders Of The World
The Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, once stood tall in Alexandria, Egypt, on the island of Pharos in the city’s harbor.
At the time of its construction, it stretched more than 300 feet into the sky and was regarded as a major architectural accomplishment. But sadly, the lighthouse is nothing more than ruins today.
The grand structure was built right at the start of the third century B.C.E., just as a Greek general named Ptolemy, who served under Alexander the Great, declared himself as pharaoh.
The lighthouse was meant to guide ships to shore and help prevent shipwrecks from happening at night.
It is estimated that the lighthouse took at least a decade, possibly even three before it was completed. It wasn’t finished until Ptolemy II began his reign. He ruled from 284 to 246 B.C.E.
The lighthouse was built in three stages. The lowest section of the lighthouse was square. The second section was shaped like an octagon, while the third, top part was a cylinder.
At night, a fire burned at the tip of the structure. It was also equipped with a bronze mirror to reflect the flame, casting the light out to sea.
As a result, the lighthouse was visible to ships as far as 30 miles away. During the day, the billowing smoke from the fire helped with visibility as well.
There was also a statue erected at the top of the lighthouse, which gave it a boost in height. The statue may have been of Ptolemy, Alexander the Great, or a Greek god.
AlexAnton – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
Over the years, the lighthouse suffered damages from earthquakes and endured many repairs. But for the most part, it remained relatively the same in appearance.
It was constructed from light-colored stone, and the side of the lighthouse that faced the sea bore an inscription honoring the god Zeus.
Between 796 and 956 C.E., massive earthquakes caused the lighthouse to crack in several places. Then, in 1303 and 1323, more devastating earthquakes and tsunamis reduced the lighthouse to pieces.
In 1480, the Sultan of Egypt erected a fort within the lighthouse’s ruins, marking the end of the structure.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria was lost until the 20th century when archaeologists stumbled across its ruins.
In the years 1906, 1940, and 1968, the ruins were observed by several archaeologists. However, it wasn’t until 1994 that a proper archaeological expedition was able to be carried out.
Underwater images were captured of the lighthouse’s physical remains. By the end of 1995, more than 3,300 pieces of the lighthouse were recovered. Some of them are on display at museums in Alexandria.
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