The Lighthouse of Alexandria: Why is it the Seventh Wonder? (2023)

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Alexandria is a city in Egypt known for its ancient history. Alexander the Great founded it in 331 BC. BC, making it one of the oldest metropolises in the world. It was an important place in the Hellenistic period.

The city is also home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, sometimes called the Lighthouse of Alexandria. This lighthouse was not the first, but undoubtedly the most famous lighthouse in history.

In this article you will learn everything you need to know about this lighthouse that was once built in Alexandria.

What is the history of the Alexandria lighthouse?

The history of this architectural masterpiece is closely linked to the city of Alexandria. The city earned the nicknames "Pearl of the Mediterranean" and "World Trading Post".

The reason for this is that Alexandria was the most important part of Greek civilization and became the preferred location for education, politics and architecture for the rulers of that time.

Alexandria is known for its many buildings, including the library, which houses countless books on a wide variety of subjects, Maus, dedicated to art and the worship of the gods, and the famous lighthouse.

the person who ordered the construction of the buildingwill doPtolemaios I. war König Ptolemaios I.Egypt. The reason for his order was that while Alexandria was the most famous port in the Mediterranean valley, the coast was extremely dangerous.

Since there were no obvious landmarks along the coast and shipwrecks were common due to the barrier reef, Ptolemy I built a lighthouse on the island of Pharos so that ships could safely reach Alexandria.

This construction greatly increased Alexandria's economy. The inability of merchant and merchant ships to freely and safely approach dangerous shores helps cities win and demonstrate their might to those who come to port.

However, several earthquakes occurred between 956 and 1323 AD. As a result of these earthquakes, the Alexandria Lighthouse structure was severely damaged and eventually fell into disuse.

How is a lighthouse?

Although no one knows exactly what a lighthouse islooksSince several reports agree on some points, but also differ on others, the overall idea emerges.

In 1909, Herman Thiersch wrote a book entitledLighthouses, Antiquity, Islam and the West,Still in press if you want to take a look.。Thiersch drew on ancient sources to draw the most comprehensive picture we have of lighthouses, a work containing much information about lighthouses.

Therefore, the lighthouse was built in three stages. The first layer is square, the second is octagonal, and the last layer is cylindrical. Each section slopes slightly inland and the summit can be reached via a wide spiral ramp. The fire burned overnight.

There are reports of a large statue atop the lighthouse, but the statue's subject is still unclear. Possibly Alexander the Great, or even Ptolemy IZeus。

The Alexandria lighthouse is between 100 and 130 meters high, is made of limestone and decorated with white marble and has three floors. Government offices are reportedly located on the ground floor.

An account by the Muslim scholar Al-Balawi, who visited Alexandria in 1165, states:

“...the navigator's guide, for without him they could not have found the true course to Alexandria. Visible more than seventy miles away and ancient. It is the strongest on all sides and as high as the sky. Description is insufficient and the eye cannot comprehend it, words are not enough, the scene is so huge. We measured one of her four sides and found that she was more than 50 arms long (nearly 112 feet). It is said to be more than a hundred fifty kama (human size). The interior is spacious, the view is impressive, with stairs, accesses and numerous apartments, so anyone who walks through the corridors and wanders in them can lose their bearings, in short, there are no words to express their concept. "

How do the headlights work?

Historians believe that the building's original purpose may not have been as a lighthouse. There are also no records explaining in detail how the mechanisms on top of the structure work.

However, there are some accounts, such as that of Pliny the Elder, who describes them illuminating the top of the tower with flames at night to illuminate the surrounding area and help ships know where to go at night .

Another account by Masudi states that they used a mirror in the lighthouse during the day to reflect the sunlight towards the sea. This makes the headlamp useful both during the day and at night.

Besides guiding the sailors, the lighthouse at Alexandria served another function. It shows the authority of Ptolemy I, because thanks to him the second tallest man-made building exists.

How did the Alexandria lighthouse disappear?

As already mentioned, several earthquakes between 956 and 1323 AD were the reason for the disappearance of the Alexandria lighthouse. These also triggered tsunamis that weakened their structure over time.

The lighthouse began to deteriorate until part of the tower collapsed completely. Since then the lighthouse has been abandoned.

After about 1,000 years, the lighthouse disappeared entirely, a reminder that everything passes with time.

Significance of the Lighthouse of Alexandria

According to historians, the Alexandria lighthouse was built between 280 B.C. and 247 BC It is also considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World as it was one of the most advanced structures of its time.

Although no longer in existence, the structure is believed to have played an important role in the creation of "El Faro". This Greek term refers to the style of architecture where buildings use lights to guide sailors.

Interestingly, the Alexandria Lighthouse is the second tallest man-made structure after the Giza Pyramids, which only underscores how well built this lighthouse is.

Lighthouses also affect buildings with downstream minarets. It became so prominent that something likewill doMediterranean ports.

Origin of the word lighthouse

Although there is no record of the origin of the term, Pharos was originally a small island off the coast of the Nile Delta, opposite the peninsula where Alexander the Great landed around 331 BC. founded Alexandria.

Later, a tunnel called Heptastadion connected the two locations. On the east side of the tunnel is a large port and on the west side is the port of Eunostos. In addition, you will find the lighthouse at the easternmost end of the island.

Today, both Stadium Seven and the Alexandria Lighthouse no longer exist. The expansion of the modern city led to the destruction of the tunnels and much of the island of Pharos disappeared. Only the area of ​​Ras el-Tin remains, where the palace of the same name is located.

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Alexandria is a city with a rich ancient history. Although their structures were destroyed, they are still so distinctive and extraordinary that we still talk about them today. The Alexandria Lighthouse is proof of this.

When the lighthouse was built, it was the second tallest structure known to mankind.beautyIts size surprises everyone who has seen it. Today it is one of the seventh wonders of the ancient world.