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Seven Wonders of the World - Light House of Alexandria

This light house of Alexandria was one of theand completed after his death by his son
useful of the seven wonders of the world (forPtolemy Philadelphus. Sostratus who lived in
the sailors to return to the Great Harbor),the same time as Euclid, was the architect.
which is a small differentiates it, whenThis used to remain in the harbor for
compared with the other wonders of the world.centuries. This wonder of the world also
The mirror which was mounted on thisdepicted in the Roman coins that time.The
lighthouse could reflect the light more thanwritings of the Arab conquerors are very good
35 miles off-shore. Of the 6 ancientsource of information about this lighthouse.
destroyed wonders, this was the last to beThe new rulers moved the capital to the
destroyed around 1480 AD.Location:On theCairo. So this place had lost its importance.
ancient island of Pharos, now a promontory onThree earthquakes stuck in various periods
the harbor of the city of Alexandria in(around AD 956, AD 1303 and AD 1323 ) have
Egypt.Description:This lighthouse was builtdamaged the lighthouse significantly. The
around 280 BC and was around 134 m in height.during AD 1480 the Egyptian Mamelouk Sultan,
This was built in the city of Alexandria.Thehas built a medieval fort at the same place.
light house had a good mirror which canThat was the end to the story of the light
reflect the sun light to a very longhouse.There are some more tales to the light
distance. Mythical stories used to say thathouse. Sostratus after he completed the
this mirror was used to burn the enemylighthouse wanted his name to be carved on
ships.The Macedonian conqueror, Alexanderthe light house. This was not allowed by
during his successful reign, had triedPtolemy II Philadelphus. Ptolemy II wanted
establishing approximately 17 cities in thehis name to be carved on the structure. But
name of Alexandria. The only one survivedwhat Sostratus did is he first carved his
long was the one in Egypt. That too even thisname underneath, put plasters on it and then
city was not completely built by Alexander.carved Ptolemy II's name. After some years,
The completion of the construction of thisthe plasters worn out and his name has come
city was achieved by his commander Ptolemy Iout to be known to all.The design of the
Soter.Ptolemy connected Alexandria to thelighthouse was unlike the modern slim
Pharos island by a bridge. It was realizedlighthouse towers. This was built in 3
that the sailing in this coastal region isstages, each built on top of the lower.This
very dangerous. That is why he decided tolighthouse was so popular that the word
build a light house. This project wasPharos came into French, Spanish and Italian
initiated during Ptolemy's reign in 290 BCto mean lighthouse.



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