Where the Faros lighthouse was built. The Lighthouse of Alexandria, also known as the Pharos Lighthouse, is the tallest structure of the ancient world

One of the seven wonders of the world is Alexandrian lighthouse- a structure built on the island of Pharos in the third century BC. The building is located near the famous Alexandria, which is why it was given this name. Another option could be the phrase “Faros Lighthouse” - from the name of the island on which it is located.

Purpose

The first wonder of the world - the Alexandria Lighthouse - was originally intended to help lost sailors who wanted to get to the shore, safely overcoming the underwater reefs. At night, the path was illuminated by flames and signal rays of light emanating from a huge fire, and during the day by columns of smoke emanating from a fire located at the very top of this sea tower. The lighthouse of Alexandria served faithfully for almost a thousand years, but was very badly damaged by an earthquake in 796. After this earthquake, five more very powerful and long-lasting tremors were recorded in history, which finally disabled this magnificent creation of human hands. Of course, they tried to reconstruct it more than once, but all attempts only led to the fact that what remained of it was a small fortress, which was built by Sultan Qait Bey in the 15th century. It is this fortress that can be seen today. She is all that remains of this magnificent creation of man.

Story

Let's delve a little deeper into history and find out how this wonder of the world was built, because it is really fascinating and interesting. How much has happened, what are the features of the construction and its purpose - we will tell you about all this below, just don’t be lazy to read.

Where is the Alexandria Lighthouse located?

The lighthouse was built on a small island called Faros, which is located off the coast of Alexandria in the Mediterranean Sea. The whole history of this lighthouse is initially associated with the name of the great conqueror Alexander the Great. It was he who was the creator of the first wonder of the world - a thing that all humanity is proud of. On this island, Alexander the Great decided to establish a large port, which he actually did in 332 BC during his visit to Egypt. The structure received two names: the first - in honor of the one who decided to build it, the second - in honor of the name of the island on which it is located. In addition to such a famous lighthouse, the conqueror decided to build a city of the same name - one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean Sea. It should be noted that throughout his life, Alexander the Great built about eighteen policies with the name “Alexandria,” but this particular one went down in history and is known to this day. The city was built first, and only then its main attraction. Initially, the construction of the lighthouse was supposed to take 20 years, but that was not the case. The whole process took only 5 years, but despite this, the construction saw the world only in 283 BC, after the death of Alexander the Great - during the government of Ptolemy II - the king of Egypt.

Construction Features

I decided to approach the construction issue very carefully. According to some sources, he spent more than two years choosing a place to build a port. The conqueror did not want to create a city in the Nile, for which he found a very good replacement. The construction site was set up twenty miles to the south, not far from the drying up Lake Mareotis. Previously, there was a platform for the Egyptian city of Rakotis, which in turn made the entire construction process a little easier. The whole benefit of the location was that the port was able to receive ships from both Mediterranean Sea, and from the Nile River, which was very profitable and diplomatic. This not only increased the conqueror's profits, but also helped him and his followers build strong ties with both the merchants and sailors of the time. The city was created during the lifetime of Macedonian, but the Lighthouse of Alexandria was developed by Ptolemy the first Soter. It was he who finalized the design and brought it to life.

Alexandrian lighthouse. Photo

Looking at the image, we will see that the lighthouse consists of several “layers”. Three large marble towers stand on the base of huge stone blocks, weighing several hundred thousand tons in total. The first tower has the shape of a huge rectangle. Inside there are rooms intended for housing soldiers and port workers. On top was a smaller octagonal tower. The spiral ramp was a transition to the upper cylindrical tower, inside of which there was a large fire, which served as a light source. The entire structure weighed several million thousand tons, not including the decorations and instruments inside it. Because of this, the soil began to subsidence, which caused serious problems and required additional fortifications and construction work.

Start of fire

Despite the fact that the Pharos lighthouse was built during 285 - 283 BC, it began to work only at the beginning of the first century BC. It was then that the entire system was developed signal lights, powered by large bronze discs that direct light into the sea. In parallel with this, a composition of gunpowder was invented that emitted a huge amount of smoke - a way to indicate the way during the day.

Height and range of outgoing light

The total height of the Alexandria lighthouse is from 120 to 140 meters (the difference is the difference in ground height). Thanks to this arrangement, the light from the fire was visible at a distance of more than 60 kilometers in bright weather (there is evidence that in calm weather the light was visible 100 kilometers or more) and up to 45-50 kilometers during a thunderstorm. The direction of the rays was due to a special formation in several rows. The first row was a tetrahedral prism, the height of which reached 60-65 meters, with a square base with an area of ​​900 square meters. Equipment and everything necessary to supply fuel and maintain the “eternal” fire were stored here. The basis for the middle part was a large flat lid, the corners of which were decorated with large statues of Tritons. This room was an octagonal tower made of white marble 40 meters high. The third part of the lighthouse is built of eight columns; on top of them there is a large dome, which is decorated with a large eight-meter bronze statue of Poseidon. Another name for the statue is Zeus the Savior.

"Eternal flame"

Maintaining fire was a difficult task. More than a ton of fuel was required every day so that the fire could burn with the necessary strength. Wood, which was the main material, was delivered in specially equipped carts along a spiral ramp. The carts were pulled by mules, which required more than a hundred for one lift. In order for the light from the fire to spread as far as possible, huge bronze sheets were placed behind the flame, at the foot of each column, with the help of which they directed the light.

Additional purpose

According to some manuscripts and surviving documents, the Alexandria Lighthouse served not only as a source of light for lost sailors. For soldiers it became an observation post, for scientists - an astronomical observatory. Accounts say that there was a large amount of very interesting technical equipment - clocks of all shapes and sizes, a weather vane, as well as many astronomical and geographical instruments. Other sources speak of the presence of a huge library and a school where elementary disciplines were taught, but this does not have any significant evidence.

Death

The death of the lighthouse occurred not only due to several powerful earthquakes, but also due to the fact that the bay almost ceased to be used, since it was very silted. After the port became unusable, the bronze plates used to direct the light into the sea were melted down into coins and jewelry. But this was not the end. The complete destruction of the lighthouse occurred in the 15th century during one of the most powerful earthquakes ever to occur off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. After this, the remains were restored several times and served as a fortress, as well as a home for the few inhabitants of the island.

In modern world

Today, the Faros Lighthouse, a photo of which can be very easily found, is one of the few architectural monuments lost in history and time. This is something that is still of interest to both scientists and ordinary people who like centuries-old things, because many events, literary works and scientific discoveries, important for the entire development of the world. Alas, not much remains of the 7 Wonders of the World. The Alexandria Lighthouse, or rather only part of it, is one of those buildings that humanity can be proud of. True, all that remains of it is just the lower tier, which served as a warehouse and place of residence for the military and workers. Thanks to many reconstructions, the structure was not completely destroyed. It was converted into something like a small castle-fortress, inside which the remaining inhabitants of the island lived. This is exactly what you can see when you visit the island of Faros, which is quite popular among tourists. After a complete construction and cosmetic renovation, the lighthouse has a more modern appearance, making it a modern building with a centuries-old history.

Future plans

The Lighthouse of Alexandria is one of the sites protected by UNESCO. Thanks to this, various repairs are carried out annually in order to protect the fortress from destruction. There was even a time when they talked about completely restoring its previous appearance, but this was never done, because then the lighthouse would have lost its status as one of the wonders of the world. But you should definitely see it if you are interested in history.

After the conquest of Egypt in 332 BC. Alexander the Great founded a city in the Nile Delta named after him - Alexandria. During the reign of Ptolemy I, the city achieved wealth and prosperity, and the Alexandrian harbor became a bustling center of maritime trade. As shipping developed, the helmsmen who brought ships with cargo to Alexandria increasingly felt the need for a lighthouse that would show ships a safe path among the shoals. And in the 3rd century. BC. on the eastern tip of the island of Pharos, lying in the sea at a distance of 7 stadia (1290 m) from Alexandria, the architect Sostratus, son of Dexiphanes of Cnidus, built the famous lighthouse, which became one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World.
To transport building materials, the island was connected to the mainland by a dam. The work took only six years - from 285 to 279 BC. Seeing this tower suddenly rising on a deserted island, contemporaries were shocked. From the list of seven wonders of the world, “miracle No. 2” - the walls of Babylon - was immediately crossed out, and its place was immediately taken by the Pharos lighthouse.
hundred was completed in the late summer of 1997. In October 1998, this project received the prestigious Project of the Year award, awarded annually by the International Concrete Institute.

The Alexandrian poet Posidippus (c. 270 BC) praised this amazing structure in one of his epigrams:
The tower on Pharos, the salvation of the Greeks, was erected by Sostratus Dexiphanov, Architect from Cnidus, O Lord Proteus!
There are no island guards on the cliffs in Egypt, But a mole is built from the Earth for the anchorage of ships,
And high, cutting through the ether, the tower rises, Everywhere for many miles is visible to the traveler during the day, At night, from afar, those sailing the sea see all the time, The light from a large fire at the very top of the lighthouse. Per. L. Blumenau
The lighthouse remained this way during Roman rule. According to Pliny the Elder, he shone “like a star in the darkness of the night.” This monumental structure was at least 120 m high, and its light was visible at a distance of up to 48 km.
According to Strabo, the lighthouse was built from local limestone and faced with white marble. Decorative friezes and ornaments are made of marble and bronze, columns are made of granite and marble. The lighthouse seemed to grow from the center of a spacious courtyard, surrounded by a powerful fence, at the corners of which powerful bastions rose, reminiscent of the pylons of ancient Egyptian temples. Numerous loopholes were cut through them, as well as throughout the entire wall.
The lighthouse itself consisted of three tiers. The first, square in plan (30.5 × 30.5 m), oriented to the cardinal points and lined with squares of white marble, had a height of 60 m. Monumental statues depicting tritons were installed in its corners. Inside the first tier there were rooms for workers and security at different levels. There were also storerooms where fuel and food were stored. On one of the side facades one could read the Greek inscription: “To the savior gods - for the salvation of sailors,” where the gods meant the king of Egypt Ptolemy I and his wife Berenice.

The smaller octagonal middle tier was also faced with marble slabs. Its eight faces were deployed in the directions of the prevailing winds in these places. At the top there were numerous bronze statues around the perimeter; some of them could serve as weather vanes indicating the direction of the wind. There is a legend that one of the figures followed the movement of the sun with an outstretched hand and lowered its hand only after it had set.
The upper tier had the shape of a cylinder and served as a lantern. It was surrounded by eight polished granite columns and topped by a cone-shaped dome topped by a 7-meter bronze statue Isis-Farias, guardians of seafarers. However, some researchers believe that there was a statue of the sea god Poseidon there.
Light signaling was carried out using a powerful lamp placed at the focus of concave metal mirrors. It is believed that fuel was delivered to the top by lifting mechanisms installed inside the tower - in the middle of the lighthouse there was a shaft leading from the lower premises upward to the lighting system. According to another version, fuel was brought along a spiral ramp on carts drawn by horses or mules.

In the underground part of the lighthouse there was a storage facility for drinking water for the military garrison located on the island: both under the Ptolemies and the Romans, the lighthouse simultaneously served as a fortress preventing enemy ships from entering the main port of Alexandria.
It is believed that the upper part of the lighthouse (cylindrical, with a dome and a statue) collapsed in the 2nd century, but the lighthouse was still in operation in 641. In the XIV century. The earthquake finally destroyed this masterpiece of ancient architecture and construction technology. A hundred years later, the Egyptian Sultan Qait Bey ordered the construction of a fort on the remains of the lighthouse foundation, named after its creator. Judge about appearance We can see the lighthouse today only from its images on coins of Roman times and a few fragments of granite and marble columns.
In 1996, underwater archaeologists led by the famous French scientist Jean-Yves Emperer, founder of the Center for the Study of Alexandria, managed to find on the seabed the remains of the lighthouse structures that collapsed into the sea as a result of the earthquake. This aroused great interest around the world. In 2001, the Belgian government even took the initiative to recreate the Faros lighthouse on the same spot where it was built 2,200 years ago. However, now the walls of the Qait Bay fortress still rise here, and the Egyptian government is in no hurry to agree to its demolition.

Alexandrian lighthouse

Alexandria (Faros) lighthouse- one of the 7 wonders of the world, was built in the 3rd century BC. e. V Egyptian city Alexandria, so that ships could safely pass the reefs on their way to Alexandria Bay. At night they were helped in this by the reflection of flames, and during the day by a column of smoke. It was the world's first lighthouse, and it stood for almost a thousand years, but in 796 AD. e. was heavily damaged by the earthquake. Subsequently, the Arabs who came to Egypt tried to restore it, and by the 14th century. the height of the lighthouse was about 30 m. At the end of the 15th century. Sultan Qait Bey erected a fortress on the site of the lighthouse, which still stands today.

The lighthouse was built on small island Pharos in the Mediterranean Sea near the coast of Alexandria. This busy port was founded by Alexander the Great during his visit to Egypt in 332 BC. e. The building was named after the island. Its construction was supposed to take 20 years, and it was completed around 283 BC. e. , during the reign of Ptolemy II, king of Egypt. Construction of this giant structure lasted only 5 years. Architect - Sostratus of Cnidus.

The Faros lighthouse consisted of three marble towers standing on a base of massive stone blocks. The first tower was rectangular and contained rooms in which workers and soldiers lived. Above this tower was a smaller, octagonal tower with spiral ramp, leading to the upper tower. The upper tower was shaped like a cylinder in which a fire burned.

Guide light

Death of the lighthouse

In the 14th century, the lighthouse was completely destroyed by an earthquake. A few years later, its ruins were used to build a fortress. The fortress was subsequently rebuilt several times.

Literature

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See what "Alexandria Lighthouse" is in other dictionaries:

Alexandrian lighthouse- Alexandrian lighthouse … Russian spelling dictionary

This article is about the artistic image. For other meanings of the term in the title of the article, see Pillar of Alexandria. The Alexandria pillar is an image used by Alexander Pushkin in the poem “Monument” 1836 ... Wikipedia

This term has other meanings, see Lighthouse (meanings). In Kronstadt ... Wikipedia

May imply: A literary image introduced by A. S. Pushkin in the poem “Monument” Informal name of the Alexander Column, going back to this image Lighthouse of Alexandria, according to a number of Pushkinists, implied by A. S. ... ... Wikipedia

Lighthouse- Lighthouse, UK. LIGHTHOUSE, a tower-type structure, usually installed on the shore or in shallow water. Serves as a navigation reference for ships. It is equipped with so-called beacon lights, as well as devices for giving sound signals,... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

LIGHTHOUSE, a tower-type structure, usually installed on the shore or in shallow water. Serves as a navigation reference for ships. It is equipped with so-called beacon lights, as well as devices for sending sound signals, radio signals (radio beacon) ... Modern encyclopedia

A tall, tower-shaped structure standing on the seashore, along the route of ships to show the way to seafarers. At night, a fire is maintained on top of the M. Indicative markers are erected in the open sea, on individual small rocks and shallows, and... ... Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron

Lighthouse, a tower-type structure that serves as a landmark for identifying shores, determining the location of a ship and warning about navigational hazards. M. are equipped with light-optical systems, as well as other technical means alarms:... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Lighthouse of Alexandria (Faros)- a lighthouse on Pharos Island near Alexandria in Egypt, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Built in 285-280. BC. Sostratus of Knidos in order to make it safe for ships to enter the Alexandria harbor. It was a three-tiered tower with a height of... ... Ancient world. Dictionary-reference book.

Unfortunately, the earthquake almost completely destroyed the building, but despite this, there were no fewer people wanting to see the lighthouse.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The lighthouse is also called Faros lighthouse, due to its location on the island of Faros on the coast of Alexandria in Egypt. The city received its name from Emperor Alexander the Great. He approached the location of the city very thoughtfully. At first it will seem unusual that Macedonsky did not choose the Nile Delta, where two important strategic routes pass. However, if Alexandria were built on the Nile River, harmful sands and silt would clog its harbor. Thus, the most the best option, because high hopes were placed on the city.

Macedonian planned to create the largest market town, where goods will be delivered from all over the world. Well, of course, such an important center required a harbor. Many famous designers of that time created a project according to which a dam was built connecting the island and the mainland. Thus, two harbors were obtained, receiving ships from both the Nile and the sea.

The emperor’s dream came true only after his death, when Ptolemy I ascended the throne. It was he who made Alexandria the largest trading port city in all of Greece. With the growth and development of navigation, the island increasingly needed a lighthouse. Its construction would secure the navigation of ships at sea, and also attract more sellers and buyers.

Among the sparse landscape, the lighthouse would stand out with its lights, creating a powerful landmark for the lost. According to historians, Alexander the Great also planned to turn the lighthouse into a defensive structure in case of attacks from the sea. Therefore, the plans were to build a huge patrol point.

Construction of the Alexandria Lighthouse

Of course, the construction of such a large-scale facility required large financial and labor resources. Finding them in such a difficult time was not easy. But Ptolemy solved this problem by bringing from conquered Syria a huge number of Jews who became slaves at construction sites. At this time, several other important events for the state take place. Ptolemy signs a peace agreement with Demetrius Poliorcetes and celebrates the death of his blood enemy Antigonus.

In 285 BC. Led by the architect Sostratus of Knidos, the construction of the Pharos begins. To perpetuate his name, the architect creates an inscription saying that he is building this building for sailors. At the top, the inscription was covered with tiles with the name of Ptolemy. However, the secret has now been revealed.

Lighthouse structure

The Alexandria lighthouse had three tiers of a rectangular shape with a side of 30.5 meters. The edges of the lower tier were clearly turned to certain cardinal directions. Its height was 60 meters. The lower tier was decorated with tritons on the sides and was used by workers for personal purposes. Supplies of fuel and food were also stored here.

The middle tier was built in the shape of a polygon, the edges of which were directed towards the winds.

The third tier resembled a cylinder and directly served as a luminary. At the top there was a seven-meter sculpture of Isis-Faria, which sailors revered as their guardian. According to some sources, there was a statue of Poseidon at the top, but this fact has not been proven. Here a complex design of mirrors was created, which significantly increased the range of light. Fuel was supplied to the lighthouse via special ramps carried by mules. It was for ease of movement that the dam was built. The Alexandria lighthouse, in addition to its direct responsibility, served as the defense of the city. There was a military garrison here. For complete safety, thick walls and small towers were erected around the lighthouse.

In general, the entire structure was 120 meters high, becoming the tallest in the world.

The fate of the lighthouse

After a millennium, the structure began to collapse. This happened in 796 during a powerful earthquake. All that remains of the majestic structure are 30-meter-high ruins.

The Kite Bay military fort was later built from the wreckage, which now houses several museums inside? Museum of Marine Biology and History Museum.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria is one of the oldest engineering structures of mankind. It was built between 280 and 247 BC. e. on the island of Faros, located off the coast ancient city Alexandria (territory of modern Egypt). It was thanks to the name of this island that the lighthouse was also known as the Faros lighthouse.

The height of this grandiose structure, according to various historians, was approximately 120-140 meters. For many centuries, it remained one of the tallest structures on our planet, second only to the pyramids at Giza.

Beginning of lighthouse construction

The city of Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great, was conveniently located at the intersection of numerous trade routes. The city developed rapidly, everything came into its harbor more ships, and the construction of a lighthouse became an urgent necessity.

Some historians believe that, in addition to the usual function of ensuring the safety of sailors, the lighthouse could have a related, no less important function. In those days, the rulers of Alexandria feared a possible attack from the sea, and such a colossal structure as the Alexandria Lighthouse could serve as an excellent observation post.

Initially, the lighthouse was not equipped with a complex system of signal lights; it was built several hundred years later. At first, signals were given to ships using smoke from a fire, and therefore the lighthouse was effective only during the daytime.

The unusual design of the Alexandria lighthouse

Such a large-scale construction was a grandiose and very ambitious project for those times. However, the construction of the lighthouse was completed in a very short time - it lasted no more than 20 years.

For the construction of the lighthouse, a dam was quickly built between the mainland and the island of Pharos, through which the necessary materials were delivered.

It is simply impossible to talk briefly about the Alexandria Lighthouse. The huge structure was built from solid marble blocks, connected to each other for greater strength with lead brackets.

The lower, largest level of the lighthouse was built in the shape of a square with sides approximately 30 meters long. The corners of the base were designed strictly according to the cardinal directions. The premises located on the first level were intended for storing necessary supplies and housing numerous guards and lighthouse workers.

A reservoir was built at the underground level, the supply of drinking water of which should have been sufficient in case of even a prolonged siege of the city.

The second level of the building was made in the shape of an octagon. Its edges were oriented in exact accordance with the wind rose. It was decorated with unusual bronze statues, some of which were movable.

The third, main level of the lighthouse was built in the shape of a cylinder and topped with a large dome. The top of the dome was decorated with a bronze sculpture no less than 7 meters high. Historians still have not come to a consensus whether this was an image of the god of the seas, Poseidon, or a statue of Isis-Faria, the patroness of sailors.

How was the third level of the lighthouse arranged?

For that time, the true miracle of the Alexandria Lighthouse was the complex system of huge bronze mirrors. The light from the fire, which was constantly burning on the upper platform of the lighthouse, was reflected and greatly amplified by these metal plates. In ancient chronicles they wrote that the shining light coming from the Alexandria lighthouse was capable of burning enemy ships far out to sea.

Of course, this was an exaggeration of inexperienced guests of the city who saw this for the first time ancient miracle light - Alexandria lighthouse. Although in fact the light of the lighthouse was visible for more than 60 kilometers, and for ancient times this was a huge achievement.

A very interesting engineering solution for that time was the construction of a spiral staircase-ramp inside the lighthouse, along which the necessary firewood and combustible materials were delivered to the upper tier. Enormous amounts of fuel were required to operate smoothly, so mule-drawn carts were constantly going up and down an inclined staircase.

The architect who built the miracle

At the time of the construction of the lighthouse, the king of Alexandria was Ptolemy I Soter, a talented ruler, under whom the city turned into a prosperous Trading port. Having decided to build a lighthouse in the harbor, he invited one of the talented architects of that time, Sostratus of Knidos, to work on it.

In ancient times, the only name that could be immortalized on a built structure was the name of the ruler. But the architect who built the lighthouse was very proud of his creation and wanted to preserve for posterity the knowledge of who really was the author of the miracle.

Risking the wrath of the ruler, he carved the inscription on one of the stone walls of the first level of the lighthouse: “Sostratus of Cnidia, son of Dextiphanes, dedicated to the savior gods for the sake of seafarers.” Then the inscription was covered with layers of plaster and the required praises addressed to the king were carved on top of it.

Several centuries after construction, pieces of plaster gradually fell off, and an inscription appeared, preserving in stone the name of the man who built one of the seven wonders of the world - the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

First of its kind

In ancient times in different countries The flames and smoke of fires were often used as a warning system or to transmit signals of danger, but the Lighthouse of Alexandria became the first specialized structure of its kind in the whole world. In Alexandria they called it Pharos, after the name of the island, and all the lighthouses that were built after it also began to be called faros. This is reflected in our language, where the word “headlight” means a source of directional light.

The ancient description of the Alexandria Lighthouse contains information about unusual “living” sculptures and statues, which can be called the first simple automata. They turned, made sounds, and performed simple actions. But these were not chaotic movements at all, one of the statues pointed its hand at the Sun, and when the Sun set, the hand automatically lowered. Another figure had a clock mechanism built into it, which marked the beginning of a new hour with a melodious ringing. The third statue was used as a weather vane, showing the direction and strength of the wind.

The brief description of the Lighthouse of Alexandria by his contemporaries failed to convey the secrets of the structure of these statues or the approximate diagram of the ramp along which fuel was delivered. Most of these secrets are lost forever.

Lighthouse destruction

The light from the fire of this unique structure showed the way to sailors for many centuries. But gradually, during the decline of the Roman Empire, the lighthouse also began to decline. Less and less money was invested in maintaining it in working order, and the harbor of Alexandria was gradually becoming smaller due to the large amount of sand and silt.

In addition, the area where the Alexandria Lighthouse was built was seismically active. A series of strong earthquakes caused serious damage to it, and the disaster of 1326 finally destroyed the seventh wonder of the world.

Alternative version of destruction

In addition to the theory that explains the decline of the colossal structure by insufficient funding and natural disasters, there is one more interesting hypothesis about the reasons for the destruction of the lighthouse.

According to this theory, the enormous military importance that the lighthouse had for the defenders of Egypt was to blame. After the country was captured by the Arabs, Christian countries, and most notably the Byzantine Empire, hoped to recapture the people of Egypt. But these plans were greatly hampered by the Arab observation post located at the lighthouse.

Therefore, a rumor was spread that somewhere in the building in ancient times the treasures of the Ptolemies were hidden. Believing, the Arabs began to dismantle the lighthouse in an attempt to get to the gold, and in the process damaged the mirror system.

After this, the damaged lighthouse continued to function for another 500 years, gradually deteriorating. Then it was finally dismantled, and a defensive fortress was erected in its place.

Possibility of recovery

The very first attempt to restore the Alexandria Lighthouse was made by the Arabs in the 14th century AD. e., but it was possible to build only a 30-meter semblance of a lighthouse. Then construction stopped, and only 100 years later the ruler of Egypt, Qait Bey, built a fortress in its place to protect Alexandria from the sea. At the base of this fortress, part of the foundation of the ancient lighthouse and almost all of its underground structures and reservoir remained. This fortress still exists today.

Often, enthusiastic historians consider the possibility of recreating this famous building in its original state. But there is one problem - there is practically no reliable description of the Alexandria Lighthouse or its detailed images, on the basis of which it would be possible to accurately restore its appearance.

Touch history

For the first time, some fragments of the lighthouse were discovered by archaeologists at the bottom of the sea in 1994. Since then, an expedition of the European Institute of Underwater Archeology at the bottom of the harbor has discovered the whole block ancient Alexandria, the existence of which scientists had not previously guessed. The remains of many ancient structures remain underwater. There is even a hypothesis that one of the found buildings may be the palace of the famous Queen Cleopatra.

The Egyptian government approved a large-scale reconstruction of the ancient lighthouse in 2015. In the place where it was built in ancient times, they plan to build a multi-story copy of the great lighthouse. Interestingly, the project involves the construction of an underwater glass hall at a depth of 3 meters, so that all lovers ancient history could see the ruins of the ancient royal quarter.