The Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the seven wonders of the world, is located in the city of Alexandria, Egypt. This lighthouse, which is now submerged, is the tallest lighthouse ever built. The lantern, which has a height of 135 meters and consists of 3 sections, is completely made of white marble. Even today, such a large lighthouse does not exist in the world. Among the wonders of the world of antiquity, it is considered the only work that can be used in daily life. It has been one of the seven wonders of the world as the largest and highest lighthouse ever built.
It was built on Pharos Island, opposite the Port of Alexandria in Egypt. For this reason, it was called Pharos for a while. In languages such as Spanish, French and Italian, the word “Pharos” means “lantern”. The purpose of the lighthouse is to guide the sailors and to guide the ships entering and leaving the port. The fire lit on the top floor of the lighthouse, that is, in the fire room, was reflected by the bronze mirror and could be seen even from 70 km away. In this way, sailors moved more easily in finding their way and reaching the port. Egypt has been a place where trade was intense throughout history. Its ports have been an important port of call for ships coming from other countries. For this reason, the construction of lighthouses such as the Lighthouse of Alexandria became important.
Architecture of the Lighthouse of Alexandria
Alexandria Lighthouse was designed by the architect Sostratus from the territory of Knidos and consists of 3 parts. A large bronze mirror was found at the top of the lighthouse, which is 135 meters high. At the top of the lighthouse is the statue of the sea god Poseidon. The lower part is rectangular and only 55 meters high. The middle area is in the form of an upward cylindrical shape and its height is around 27 meters. The fire of the lantern was also found in this part. The woods and materials required for the fire could be easily transported to this area thanks to a well-designed mechanism. The upper part is cylindrical and has a chamber inside.
The cylindrical upper area of the lighthouse was destroyed by an earthquake in 955 AD and the storm that followed. The hull area was destroyed during an earthquake in 1302. All remaining remnants of the lighthouse were completely destroyed in 1500. Before its collapse, the lantern was depicted in many paintings by various painters. These pictures formed the sketches of the lighthouses that were built later.
History of the Lighthouse of Alexandria
Alexandria Lighthouse, between 285 and 246 BC, the first kings of the state, Ptolemy Soter and II. It was built by Ptolemy. However, it could not be protected over time due to natural disasters and was gradually demolished and flooded. Alexandria is Egypt’s second largest city on the Mediterranean coast and was discovered and founded by Alexander the Great in 382 BC. The city got its name from its founder. City of Alexandria; Apart from the lighthouse, it is also known for its large library. Today, it is considered an important city in terms of tourism.
In the period when Alexander the Great was not alive, the lands of Egypt changed hands and a large lighthouse was needed as the trade activities of the people increased. The construction of the lighthouse was started by Ptolemy. However, due to the size of the lighthouse, it was not completed at that time. The completion of the lighthouse took place during the reign of Ptolemy’s son. The lighthouse has been destroyed by many natural disasters over time. In 1408, the Mamluk Sultan Qaitbay had a castle built on the ruins of the lighthouse. Kayitbay Castle is still standing today as one of the works of the Islamic period. Most of the castle’s materials were obtained from the ruins of the lighthouse.
The area where the lighthouse is located has been a popular diving site for divers for many years. Amateur divers saw the remains of the lighthouse at a depth of 8 meters during their dives. Among these remains are granite stones, column fragments and sculpture fragments. The region where these ruins are found is called “Rock Forest”. But the ruins that amateur divers saw were not taken seriously for years. However, as a result of the dives made with archaeologists in 1962, it was understood that a great history lay in the depths of the water. It was determined in a short time that these remains belonged to the Alexandria Lighthouse. Measures were taken to protect the ruins and the Egyptian government built a port in the region. In this way, the remains are protected.
