The Story of the Lighthouse of Alexandria: A Side Tale of the Port of Alexandria

The Story of the Lighthouse of Alexandria: A Side Tale of the Port of Alexandria

In 332 BC, Alexander the Great of the Macedonian Empire established an ancient city—Alexandria—on the western side of the Nile River estuary in Egypt. After the death of Alexander the Great, the Ptolemaic Dynasty of Egypt began to rise, and Alexandria became the capital of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, thus flourishing. Moreover, located at the junction of Asia, Africa, and Europe, and accessible to both the Nile River and the Mediterranean Sea ports, one can imagine how prosperous Alexandria was and how developed global trade was. Additionally, on Pharos Island within Alexandria stood the Lighthouse of Alexandria (The Pharos Light House), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, illuminating the harbor. The area also contains numerous ruins of buildings such as temples and palaces of Egyptian kings. Despite such prosperity, today Alexandria is vastly different. Scientists believe that due to a major earthquake in the 4th century AD, most of these structures collapsed.

Scientists have conducted multiple excavation projects in the Port of Alexandria. During an excavation in 1996, French experts claimed to have discovered large-scale ancient ruins on the seabed of the port, along with traces of ancient roads and paving stones. Investigators found amphorae—ancient Greek jars with two handles used for transporting goods such as wine—that had sunk into the sea in ancient times. The team also discovered the head of a pharaoh’s statue. Workers first secured the head with metal tools, then used a balloon to lift the statue to the surface. This investigation took place at the possible location of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Just comparing the size of the statue’s head with the workers nearby gives an idea of the statue’s immense scale. Alongside these discoveries, multiple investigations have unearthed thousands of relics, most weighing several tons to dozens of tons. From these relics, we can gradually imagine the appearance of the mysterious Lighthouse of Alexandria. Given Alexandria’s prosperity and the primitive navigational technology of the time, it is easy to understand how crucial the Lighthouse of Alexandria, shining over the entire harbor, was for safeguarding the lives of ancient sailors. Whether future generations can gain a clearer understanding of the Lighthouse of Alexandria depends on whether governments and experts prioritize further excavations in the Port of Alexandria. With further developments in these excavations, more architectural features could be brought back to life.