The Lighthouse of Alexandria History
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Questions and Answers

During which time period was the Lighthouse of Alexandria built?

  • 247-280 AD
  • 320-280 BC
  • 956-1323 AD
  • 280-247 BC (correct)

    • What was the Lighthouse of Alexandria's approximate height?

  • 150 meters (492 ft)
  • 200 meters (656 ft)
  • 50 meters (164 ft)
  • 100 meters (330 ft) (correct)

    • What caused severe damage to the Lighthouse of Alexandria between 956 and 1323 AD?

  • Volcanic eruption
  • Fire
  • Earthquakes (correct)
  • Tsunami

    • When did the remains of the Lighthouse of Alexandria on the sea floor get discovered by French archaeologists?

    <p>1994</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the fate of the last remnants of the Lighthouse of Alexandria in 1480?

    <p>They were used to build another structure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What city did Alexander the Great found in 332 BC on an isthmus opposite Pharos?

    <p>Alexandria</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term was used to refer to the mole that connected Alexandria and Pharos, measuring more than 1,200 meters?

    <p>Heptastadion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the original purpose of the Heptastadion connecting Alexandria and Pharos?

    <p>A military fortress</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which unit of length was a stadion, used to measure the mole spanning more than 1,200 metres?

    <p>180 meters</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What geographical feature represents all that is left of the island of Pharos?

    <p>Ras el-Tin promontory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was responsible for the dedication to the 'Saviour Gods' inscribed on the Lighthouse of Alexandria?

    <p>Sostratus of Cnidus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Lucian claim Sostratus did to ensure his name would be visible on the Lighthouse of Alexandria?

    <p>He hid his name under plaster that bore Ptolemy's name</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which materials were primarily used in the construction of the Lighthouse of Alexandria?

    <p>Sandstone and limestone</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was positioned on each corner of the Lighthouse of Alexandria based on extant Roman coins?

    <p>Statue of Triton</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did Al-Idrisi estimate the total height of the Lighthouse of Alexandria when he visited it in 1154?

    <p>$300$ dhira rashashl</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    The Lighthouse of Alexandria

    • Also known as the Pharos of Alexandria, built by the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Ancient Egypt during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (280-247 BC)
    • Estimated to be at least 100 meters (330 ft) in overall height, making it one of the tallest man-made structures in the world
    • One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, surviving in part until 1480

    Construction and Design

    • Took 12 years to complete at a total cost of 800 talents of silver
    • Built mostly with solid blocks of limestone and granite
    • Furnace at the top produced light, with a mirror reflecting sunlight during the day and a fire lit at night
    • Comprised of three tapering tiers: a lower square section, a middle octagonal section, and a circular section at the top
    • Featured an inscription dedicated to Zeus on the seaward-facing side
    • Statue of Triton on each of the four corners and a statue of Poseidon or Zeus stood atop

    History and Legacy

    • Severely damaged by three earthquakes between 956 and 1323 AD and became an abandoned ruin
    • Last of its remnant stones were used to build the Citadel of Qaitbay on the site in 1480
    • Remains of the lighthouse were discovered on the sea floor in 1994 by a team of French archaeologists
    • Plans to turn the submerged ruins into an underwater museum were announced in 2016 by the Ministry of State of Antiquities in Egypt

    Location and Geography

    • Located on the island of Pharos, which was connected to the city of Alexandria by a mole (the Heptastadion) spanning over 1,200 meters (0.75 miles)
    • Pharos island was later obliterated by the sea, and today's city development lies on the silt that widened and covered the mole
    • The Ras el-Tin promontory represents all that is left of the island of Pharos, where the lighthouse was built at its eastern point

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    Description

    Explore the history of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Learn about its construction during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus in Ancient Egypt.

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