Lighthouse of Alexandria

The Lighthouse of Alexandria, often called the Pharos, was a massive maritime beacon in Ancient Egypt.

It stood as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. For many centuries, it was among the tallest man-made structures on the planet. Its primary purpose was to guide sailors safely into the city of Alexandria. The northern coast of Africa featured flat shores that were hard to see from a distance. Shallow shoals and submerged reefs made navigation through these waters very dangerous for ships.

Construction of the tower began in the third century BC under the Ptolemaic Kingdom. King Ptolemy I Soter commissioned the project shortly after declaring himself king in 305 BC. The massive building took twelve years to complete during the reign of his son, Ptolemy II Philadelphus. The total cost was 800 talents of silver. This was an enormous sum, representing about one-tenth of the entire royal treasury at the time. To put this in perspective, the famous Parthenon in Greece cost an estimated 469 talents of silver.

The structure was built using large blocks of light-colored stone. Scientific analysis shows these blocks of sandstone and limestone came from the Wadi Hammamat quarries. These quarries are located in the desert east of Alexandria. The tower was designed in three distinct, tapering tiers. The base was a large square section with a central core. Above this sat a middle octagonal section, which is an eight-sided shape. The top tier was a circular section.

At the very top of the tower, a mirror reflected sunlight during the day. At night, a furnace provided light through fire. Some ancient Roman coins suggest that statues of Triton stood on the four corners of the building. A statue of a god, such as Poseidon or Zeus, likely stood at the very peak.

The architect may have been a man named Sostratus of Cnidus. According to the writer Lucian, Sostratus hid his name under a layer of gypsum. He believed the plaster would eventually fall off to reveal his name to future generations.

Detailed accounts from travelers help us understand the interior of the lighthouse. The traveler Balawi visited in 1166 and described a large rectangular shaft inside. This shaft contained an inner ramp that was wide enough for two horsemen to pass at once. The ramp led through four different storeys. These floors contained a total of 49 rooms. The base of the lighthouse was approximately 30 meters long on each side. The connecting ramp was about 300 meters long and 10 meters wide.

Natural disasters eventually destroyed the great tower. Between AD 956 and 1303, three major earthquakes caused severe damage. The earthquake in 956 caused the top 20 meters of the structure to collapse. A much more powerful earthquake occurred in 1303, originating from Crete. By 1480, the remaining ruins were gone. The Sultan of Egypt, Qaitbay, used the fallen stones from the site to build a medieval fort called the Citadel of Qaitbay.

Archaeologists have worked to rediscover the lost wonder beneath the waves. In 1994, a French team led by Jean-Yves Empereur found physical remains on the floor of the Eastern Harbour. They used photography and mapping to catalog over 3,300 pieces of debris. These findings included granite blocks weighing between 49 and 60 tonnes. They also found 30 sphinxes, five obelisks, and various carved columns.

Today, the study of the Pharos connects history with modern science. Satellite imaging and sonar have revealed other submerged structures like temples and houses. In 2016, Egypt planned to create an underwater museum to protect these ruins. In 2025, researchers resurfaced parts of the original entrance and foundation stones. This work helps scholars create accurate digital reconstructions of the lighthouse. These efforts ensure that the architectural skill of the ancient world is not forgotten.