Lighthouse Ruins (Exterior View)

Lighthouse Ruins (Exterior View)

Introduction: The Lighthouse of Alexandria was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Unlike the other wonders, it had no religious significance and was built solely to serve the daily needs of the public. Its beacon lit up the Port of Alexandria at night, ensuring the safety of provincial vessels. The lighthouse was built around 270 BC on the island of Pharos, near the city of Alexandria, Egypt. Upon its completion, it stood 400 feet tall, making it the tallest man-made structure in the world at the time. It was designed by the Greek architect Sostratus of Cnidus.

The lighthouse was constructed from white marble and consisted of three main tiers. Inside, a spiral ramp led to the top where fuel was transported to the lantern room. There, workers used the fire from burning oil, and a system of mirrors at the back to collect and reflect the light out to sea, illuminating the waters at night. During the day, sunlight was reflected instead. It was said that the light could be seen from up to 56 kilometers away and also served defensive and reconnaissance functions against enemies.

For 1,500 years, the Lighthouse of Alexandria guided sailors safely into harbor under the cover of darkness. It was also the last of the Seven Wonders to disappear. A massive earthquake in the 14th century completely destroyed it.

In recent years, scientists have conducted excavations in Alexandria, providing deeper insights into the lighthouse’s history and structure.

The lighthouse ruins are located on Pharos Island, just outside the city of Alexandria. Built around 280 BC, historical records indicate that the lighthouse had four tiers, each slightly inclined inward. The base was square-shaped, 60 meters high, with over 300 rooms and openings for housing personnel and storing goods. The second tier was an octagonal structure, 30 meters tall. The third level was circular, supported by eight columns beneath a domed roof, and featured a spiral ramp leading to the top — this was where the actual lantern mechanism was housed. The light source was either a large metal mirror that reflected daylight during the day and moonlight at night, or a massive, continuously burning brazier, with polished granite mirrors used to amplify the fire’s glow. Either way, distant ships could see the tower’s light shining steadily, serving as a crucial navigational aid. The fourth tier was a grand statue of the sea god Poseidon, about 7 meters tall. The entire lighthouse complex covered approximately 930 square meters and reached a height of 180 meters. It was built from limestone, granite, white marble, and bronze, presenting a majestic sight. However, after several earthquakes, the lighthouse was completely destroyed in 1435. In 1480, its stones were repurposed to build a fortress on the same site, named the Citadel of Qaitbay after Sultan Al-Ashraf Sayf al-Din Qa'it Bay. In 1966, it was converted into the Egyptian Naval Museum, displaying models, murals, oil paintings, and exhibits that trace Egypt’s shipbuilding and maritime history dating back 10,000 years to its earliest reed boats. Together with the Cairo Citadel, it is considered one of Egypt’s two great medieval fortresses.

Alexandria, Egypt