The Lighthouse of Alexandria History

15 Questions

During which time period was the Lighthouse of Alexandria built?

280-247 BC

What was the Lighthouse of Alexandria's approximate height?

100 meters (330 ft)

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

Earthquakes

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

1994

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

They were used to build another structure

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

Alexandria

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

Heptastadion

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

A military fortress

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

180 meters

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

Ras el-Tin promontory

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

Sostratus of Cnidus

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

He hid his name under plaster that bore Ptolemy's name

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

Sandstone and limestone

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

Statue of Triton

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

$300$ dhira rashashl

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

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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