What do gardens, lighthouses, and pyramids have in common? All of them are represented on the list of Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. But while the Pyramids at Giza and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are almost universally known as being on this list, fewer people are likely to name the Lighthouse at Alexandria as one of these ancient wonders.
This is not all that surprising. The Lighthouse at Alexandria was not even included on the earliest list of ancient wonders. In any case, the lighthouse was eventually made a part of this record as it was an important landmark in a city that was the center of learning in the ancient world. Located in northern Egypt, Alexandria was named for Alexander the Great who conquered the region in 332 BC. The famed lighthouse was actually built on the island of Pharos, which is situated right off the coast of Alexandria. Due to its location, Pharos would be another name by which the Lighthouse of Alexandria was known.
King Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt, one of Alexander’s many successors, called for the construction of the lighthouse in 299 BC, but the structure was not complete until twenty years later when Ptolemy II Philadelphus had ascended the throne. Originally conceived to help solve traffic problems in the busy harbor at Alexandria, Sostratus of Knidos was the architect of the monument, which would be the very first lighthouse ever created. He built the lighthouse of white marble block and it was somewhere between 450 and 600 feet tall, the tallest building in the world in its day except for the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Much of our knowledge about the appearance of the lighthouse comes from medieval Islamic scholars. They report a three-tiered structure: a square base, an octagon shaped middle section, and, on top, a cylinder-shaped tier that held the light for the lighthouse in place (a burning fire). The top two sections were each half the size of the base. Some reports speak of a mirror at the top of the lighthouse that made the light visible from a greater distance, but it should be noted that the actual light was a later addition to the lighthouse during the first century BC. Initially, the lighthouse had no fire to light the way and was just a large structure designed to be visible from miles away. Its architecture influenced the construction of buildings all around the Mediterranean, which can be seen on touring holidays, and it remains an inspiration for more recent architects. For example, the Lighthouse of Alexandria inspired the George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia.
The history of the lighthouse is somewhat contested. Scholars do know that the lighthouse survived for centuries, but it is possible that its top tier was lost sometime around AD 800. Earthquakes followed in the years 950 and 956, cracking the lighthouse. Although Saladin began a restoration project around 1270, the massive quake that shook the entire Mediterranean world in 1303 destroyed what was left of the ancient wonder. Later, Sultan Qait Bey built a fort on the site, supposedly using some of the stones from the original lighthouse. The fort still stands today and is a popular destination for escorted tours.
Prior to 1994, no archaeological work was possible at Pharos because the area was considered a military zone. But reports of stone blocks and statues on the ocean floor intrigued scholars and an archaeological team was finally allowed to begin excavation work. Underwater archaeologists have mapped the area and have discovered several blocks that are believed to have come from the lighthouse, as well as many other artifacts and statues, all testimonies to the engineering skill of the ancient Egyptians who created a structure that has captured the imagination for centuries.
LOCATION
• Alexandria, Egypt – basic map of the ancient city of Alexandria
• NASA Picture of Alexandria – satellite view of modern Alexandria from NASA
HISTORY
• How Lighthouses Work – information on the science of lighthouses, including the Lighthouse of Alexandria
• Lighthouse of Alexandria – brief history of the Lighthouse of Alexandria
• Treasures of the Sunken City – US Public Broadcasting System special on the excavation of Pharos
DESCRIPTION
• The Pharos – artistic image of the Lighthouse of Alexandria
• Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – description of the appearances of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, including the Lighthouse of Alexandria
