The Lighthouse of Alexandria

The Lighthouse of Alexandria is one of the Sevensection was an eight-sided structure measuring
Wonders of the Ancient World. It is the mostroughly 27 m (90 ft) high. It also contained a
recent Wonder to be built, having been built duringsimilar transportation shaft in the middle.On top of
the reign of Ptolemy I of Egypt, a commanderthis was a circular tower that housed the fire (for
under Alexander the Great who took over controluse to alert ships during the night) and the great
of Egypt after Alexander's death. Historicalmirror (for use during the day). A statue of
records indicate that the Lighthouse wasPoseidon stood on top this tower.The Pharos
commissioned in 290 B.C. and completed some 2Lighthouse was a true wonder in architecture and
decades later.The Lighthouse of Alexandria is alsoengineering, bearing similarities to modern
the most well-recorded of the six destroyedskyscrapers. It measured up to a modern
members of the Seven Wonders of The Ancient40-story building. The Greeks were so impressed
World (the Pyramids of Giza being the onlywith it that they included it as one of the Seven
Wonder still standing), since it was still in operationWonders of the Ancient World.The mirror of the
until a serious of earthquakes demolished thePharos Lighthouse appeared to be quite famous in
structure over a few decades in the early 14thancient times. Many people believed that the
century.Since it survived until so recently, themirror was so smooth and powerful that it could
writings of many of the travelers who visited thebe used to reflect the sun's rays onto invading
Lighthouse of Alexandria also survived till this day,ships and burn them. Another belief was that the
vividly describing what the Lighthouse looked likemirror was so strong it could be used to observe
and what it was used for.The Lighthouse ofand spy on competing city-states across the
Alexandria was built on the island of Pharos justMediterranean Sea, more than 100 miles away.
off the coast of Alexandria, Egypt. As such, itHowever, it is highly unlikely that either of these
was also commonly known as the Pharosstories are true.From historical evidence, it
Lighthouse. The Lighthouse was designed by theappears that the Pharos Lighthouse was also a
famed architect Sostratus, and was sotourist attraction. Hundreds of visitors climbed the
complicated that it took 2 decades to beLighthouse everyday to enjoy the fantastic view
completed. The best description came from thearound Alexandria. Food vendors also sold their
writings of Arab traveler Abou-Haggaggoods at the top of each section of the
Al-Andaloussi when he visited the PharosPharos.However, the Pharos Lighthouse was
Lighthouse in 1166.The writings indicated that thedamaged by earthquakes, becoming totally
structure consisted of 4 main sections. At thedemolished in the early 14th century. Its ruins and
bottom was a platform filled with statues that arelocation were subsequently used by the Egyptian
still being discovered by present-day divers offSultan Qaitbay to build a fort in 1480, thus ending
the coast of Alexandria. Some researchersthe story for this Wonder of the World.Steven
believe that ships docked just off this platform asmaintains the informational website Wonders of
well.On top of this platform stood a squareAncient Egypt at . Do visit if you want to find out
structure measuring 18 m (60 ft) on each sidemore about the wonders of Egypt such as the
and roughly 56 m (184 ft) tall. In the middle ofPyramids and the Lighthouse; or mysteries such
this section is a shaft and stairwell used foras mummifcation and conspiracy theories; or its
transporting material and fuel up the Pharosreligion and history.
Lighthouse, and for visitors as well. The third