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Pharos in Alexandria is one of the buildings of the Ancient World, which was mentioned in his famous list of “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World” by Antipater of Sidon. The lighthouse was built in the early 3rd century BC: construction began by Ptolemy Soter, the ruler of Egypt, after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC.

The scale of the lighthouse project and its immediate construction was impressive. Legends claim that the light from it was visible from the sea more than 50 km away.

Alexandria

Pharos (as it is usually called Alexandrian lighthouse) was built on the island of the same name, located in the harbor of the future Alexandria. When Alexander the Great arrived in Egypt in 332 BC. BC, Pharos was a shrine and home to Proteus, god of the sea. When Alexander and his troops captured Memphis (the capital ancient egypt) and won, the Egyptian people were delighted and accepted him as their pharaoh.

As Alexander and his troops explored new territory, they discovered the small fishing village of Rakotis. Its strategic location (on the coast) attracted Alexander's attention and he declared that a new capital should be built there: Alexandria.

Huge and rich, this city in the future will become a stronghold for the development of all types of arts and will retain its memory in world history as the place where the oldest and largest library was created.

The new coastal area, in terms of geography, was elongated horizontally, like the rest of Egypt. The state did not have any landmarks that could help ships navigate the sea.

Thus, the decision to build a lighthouse was related to the needs of sailors. Later, the Alexandria Lighthouse will begin to perform a protective, defensive function.

Lighthouse project

The lighthouse of Alexandria was designed by the Greek architect Sostratus of Cnidus. It was built of light stone, which was reinforced with molten lead. This technology made it possible to protect the walls of the structure from violent sea waves.

The lighthouse consisted of three parts: the lower (square level) provided reliable support for the entire structure, an octagonal pillar rose in the middle of the lighthouse, and the upper level was a structure in the shape of a circle. A mirror was installed on the top of the lighthouse, which reflected the light of the sun during the day, and at night a fire was lit on the lighthouse.

Although many researchers refute this myth due to technological limitations, recent experiments have shown that fires could actually happen: the reflective abilities of the mirror would be quite enough.

Pharos in Alexandria existed unchanged until the earthquakes that occurred in 1303 and 1323. AD After natural disasters, only rubble remained from the legendary lighthouse.

In 1994, a team of archaeologists discovered the remains of the Alexandria Lighthouse in the harbor. Construction Materials, remaining from the destroyed Pharos, were used in the construction of the Qait Bay fort, which has survived from the 15th century. AD to this day.

Interesting facts about the Alexandria Lighthouse

The construction of the lighthouse cost the ruler of Egypt 800 talents. In modern money, this is about three million dollars.

The height of the lighthouse was about 137 meters.

The lighthouse in Alexandria ranks third on the list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that have survived to this day. The first place is the Great Pyramids of Giza, the second is the mausoleum at Halicarnassus.

He repeatedly mentioned the Lighthouse of Alexandria in his writings.
Today the lighthouse is used as a symbol on the coat of arms and flag of the city of Alexandria.

The first (lower) tier of the lighthouse with a square base resembled a fortress or castle with towers installed in the corners. The towers were oriented to the cardinal points. The height of the tier reached approximately sixty meters. The flat roof of the lower tier served as the basis for the second tier. Statues of tritons were also installed on the roof here. Inside the first tier there was a garrison guarding the lighthouse and maintenance personnel, as well as the necessary equipment and supplies of water and food in case of a siege.

II (middle) tier

The second (middle) tier with an octagonal base rose another forty meters. A ramp was presumably built inside the second tier, along which fuel for the signal fire was raised to the third (upper) tier.

III (upper) tier

On the third cylindrical tier, columns were installed to support the dome of the lighthouse. On the site among the columns a signal fire was lit. The light of the signal light was reflected and amplified by a whole system of polished bronze plates.

A huge golden statue of Poseidon was installed on the dome of the lighthouse. It seemed that Poseidon guarded Faros lighthouse , peering intently into their sea expanses.

The Alexandria Lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, also has another name - Faros. It owes its second name to its location - the island of Pharos, located off the coast of the city of Alexandria, which is located in Egypt.

In turn, Alexandria got its name because of the name of the conqueror of ancient Egyptian lands - Alexander the Great.

He approached the choice of a place to build a new city quite carefully. At first glance it may seem strange that the settlement area was determined by Macedon to be 20 miles from the south of the Nile Delta. If he had built it in the delta, the city would have been at the intersection of two waterways important for that area.

These roads were both the sea and the Nile River. But the fact that Alexandria was founded south of the delta had a strong justification - in this place river waters they could not clog the harbor with sand and silt that were harmful to it. Alexander the Great had high hopes for the city under construction. His plans included turning the city into a reputable shopping mall, because he successfully located it at the intersection of land, river and sea routes of communication of several continents. But such a significant city for the country's economy needed a harbor.

Its arrangement required the implementation of many complex engineering and construction solutions. An important need was the construction of a dam that could connect the sea coast with Pharos, and a pier that would protect the harbor from sand and silt. Thus, Alexandria received two harbors at once. One harbor was supposed to receive merchant ships sailing from Mediterranean Sea, and the other - ships that came along the Nile River.

Alexander the Great's dream of transforming a simple city into a thriving trade center came true after his death, when Ptolemy I Soter came to power. It was under him that Alexandria became the richest port city, but its harbor was dangerous for sailors. As both shipping and maritime trade continually developed, the need for a lighthouse became increasingly felt.

The tasks assigned to this structure were to secure the navigation of ships in coastal waters. And such care would lead to an increase in sales, since all trade was conducted through the port. But due to the monotonous landscape of the coast, the sailors needed an additional landmark, and they would have been quite happy with a signal light illuminating the entrance to the harbor. According to historians, Alexander the Great had other hopes for the construction of the lighthouse - to provide the city with security from attacks by the Ptolemies, who could attack from the sea. Therefore, to detect enemies who could be located at a considerable distance from the shore, a lookout post of impressive size was needed.

Difficulties in the construction of the Alexandria Lighthouse

Naturally, the construction of such a solid structure required a lot of resources: financial, labor and intellectual. But they were not easy to find during that turbulent time for Alexandria. But nevertheless, a favorable economic situation for the construction of the lighthouse arose due to the fact that Ptolemy, who conquered Syria with the title of king, brought countless Jews to his country and made them slaves. Thus, the lack of labor resources necessary for the construction of the lighthouse was filled. No less important historical events Then came the signing of a peace agreement by Ptolemy Soter and Demetrius Poliorketes (299 BC) and the death of Antigonus, the enemy of Ptolemy, whose kingdom was given to the Diadochi.

Construction of the lighthouse began in 285 BC, and all work was supervised by the architect Sostratus of Knidus. Wanting to immortalize his name in history, Sostratus carved an inscription on the marble wall of the lighthouse indicating that he was building this structure for the sake of sailors. Then he hid it under a layer of plaster, and on it he glorified King Ptolemy. However, fate wished that humanity would learn the name of the master - gradually the plaster fell off and revealed the secret of the great engineer.

Design features of the Alexandria lighthouse

The Pharos structure, intended to illuminate the harbor, had three tiers, the first of which was represented by a square with sides of 30.5 m. All four faces of the lower square tier were facing all cardinal directions. It reached a height of 60 m, and its corners were decorated with statues of tritons. The purpose of this room was to accommodate workers and guards, as well as to arrange storerooms for storing provisions and fuel.

The middle tier of the Alexandria lighthouse was built in the form of an octagon, the edges of which were oriented towards the wind directions. The upper part of this tier was decorated with statues, and some of them were weather vanes.

The third tier, made in the shape of a cylinder, was a lantern. It was surrounded by 8 columns and covered with a dome-cone. And on its top they erected a 7-meter statue of Isis-Faria, who was considered the guardian of seafarers (some sources claim that it was a sculpture of Poseidon, the king of the seas). Thanks to the complexity of the system of metal mirrors, the light of the fire lit on top of the lighthouse was intensified, and the guards monitored the sea area.

As for the fuel needed to keep the lighthouse burning, it was transported along a spiral ramp in carts pulled by mules. To facilitate delivery, a dam was built between the mainland and Pharos. If the workers did not do this, the fuel would have to be transported by boat. Subsequently, the dam, washed up by the sea, became an isthmus that currently separates the western and eastern harbors.

The lighthouse of Alexandria was not only a lamp - it was also a fortified fortress guarding sea route in town. Due to the presence of a large military garrison, an underground part was also provided in the lighthouse building, necessary for supplies. drinking water. To enhance security, the entire structure was surrounded by powerful walls with watchtowers and loopholes.

In general, the three-tier lighthouse tower reached a height of up to 120 m and was considered the tallest structure in the world. Those travelers who saw such an unusual structure subsequently enthusiastically described the unusual statues that served as decoration for the lighthouse tower. One sculpture pointed to the sun with its hand, but lowered it only when it went beyond the horizon, the other served as a clock and reported the current time hourly. And the third sculpture helped to find out the direction of the wind.

The fate of the Alexandria lighthouse

After standing for almost a thousand years, the lighthouse of Alexandria began to collapse. This happened in 796 AD. due to a powerful earthquake, the upper part of the structure simply collapsed. From the huge 120-meter building of the lighthouse, only ruins remained, but even those reached a height of about 30 m. Somewhat later, the ruins of the lighthouse were useful for the construction of a military fort, which was rebuilt several times. So the Faros lighthouse turned into Fort Kite Bay - it received this name in honor of the Sultan who built it. Inside the fort is historical Museum, in one of its parts there is a museum of marine biology, and opposite the fort building there are the Aquariums of the Museum of Hydrobiology.

Plans for the restoration of the Alexandria Lighthouse

From the once majestic Alexandria Lighthouse, only its base remains, but it is also completely built into a medieval fortress. Today it is used as a base for the Egyptian fleet. The Egyptians are planning to carry out work to recreate the lost wonder of the world, and some countries that are members of the European Union want to join this venture. Italy, France, Greece and Germany are planning to include the construction of a lighthouse in a project called "Medistone". Its main objectives are the reconstruction and preservation of African architectural monuments dating back to the Ptolemaic era. Experts estimated the project at $40 million - this is exactly how much will be required for the construction of a business center, a hotel, a diving club, a chain of restaurants and a museum dedicated to the Alexandria Lighthouse.

Alexandrian lighthouse

Faros (Alexandria) lighthouse - one of the seven wonders of the world - was located on east coast the island of Pharos within the boundaries of Alexandria and was the first and only lighthouse of such a gigantic size at that time. The builder of this structure was Sostratus of Cnidus.

It has long been known that there are remains of a lighthouse underwater in the Faros area. But the presence at this place naval base prevented any research from being carried out. Only in 1961, Kemal Abu el-Sadat discovered statues, blocks and marble boxes in the water. On his initiative, a statue of the goddess Isis was removed from the water. In 1968, the Egyptian government approached UNESCO with a request for an examination. An archaeologist from Great Britain was invited, who presented a report on the work done in 1975. It contained a list of all finds. Thus, the significance of this site for archaeologists was confirmed.

In 1980, a group of archaeologists from different countries began excavations on the seabed in the Faros area. This group of scientists, in addition to archaeologists, included architects, topographers, Egyptologists, artists and restorers, as well as photographers. As a result, hundreds of fragments of the lighthouse were discovered at a depth of 6–8 meters, occupying an area of more than 2 hectares. In addition, studies have shown that on the seabed there are objects more ancient than the lighthouse. Many columns and capitals made of granite, marble, and limestone belonging to different eras were recovered from the water.

Of particular interest to scientists was the discovery of the famous obelisks, called “Cleopatra’s needles” and brought to Alexandria by order of Octavian Augustus in 13 BC. e. Subsequently, many of the finds were restored and exhibited in museums in different countries.

Alexandria, the capital of Hellenistic Egypt, was founded in the Nile River delta by Alexander the Great in 332–331 BC. e. The city was built according to a single plan developed by the architect Dinohar, and was divided into blocks with wide streets. The two widest of them (30 meters wide) intersected at right angles.

Alexandria was home to many magnificent palaces and royal tombs. Alexander the Great was also buried here, whose body was brought from Babylon and buried in a golden sarcophagus in a magnificent tomb by order of King Ptolemy Soter, who thereby wanted to emphasize the continuity of the traditions of the great conqueror. At a time when other military leaders were fighting among themselves and dividing Alexander's huge power, Ptolemy settled in Egypt and made Alexandria one of the richest and most beautiful capitals of the Ancient World.

The glory of the city was greatly facilitated by the creation by Ptolemy of the Museion (“abode of the Muses”), where the king invited prominent scientists and poets of his time. Here they could live and engage in scientific research entirely at the expense of the state. Thus, Museion became something of an academy of sciences. Attracted favorable conditions, scientists flocked here from different parts Hellenistic world. Funds were generously allocated from the royal treasury for various experiments and scientific expeditions.

Scientists were also attracted to the Museion by the magnificent Library of Alexandria, which collected about 500 thousand scrolls, including works by the outstanding playwrights of Greece Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides. King Ptolemy II allegedly asked the Athenians for these manuscripts for a while so that the scribes could make copies of them. The Athenians asked for a huge deposit. The king paid without complaint. But he refused to return the manuscripts.

A famous scientist or poet was usually appointed as the keeper of the library. For a long time, this post was occupied by the outstanding poet of his time, Callimachus. Then he was replaced by the famous geographer and mathematician Eratosthenes. He was able to calculate the diameter and radius of the Earth and made only a minor error of 75 kilometers, which, given the capabilities available at that time, does not detract from his merits.

Of course, the king, providing hospitality and financial support to scientists and poets, pursued his goals: to increase the glory of his country in the world as a scientific and cultural center and, thereby, your own. In addition, poets and philosophers were expected to praise his virtues (real or imaginary) in their works.

Natural sciences, mathematics and mechanics were widely developed. The famous mathematician Euclid, the founder of geometry, lived in Alexandria, as well as the outstanding inventor Heron of Alexandria, whose work was long ahead of its time. For example, he created a device that was actually the first steam engine. In addition, he invented many different machines driven by steam or hot air. But in the era of the general spread of slave labor, these inventions could not find application and were used only for the entertainment of the royal court.

The most brilliant astronomer Aristarchus of Samos, long before Copernicus, stated that the Earth is a ball that rotates around its axis and around the Sun. His ideas only caused a smile among his contemporaries, but he remained unconvinced.

The developments of Alexandrian scientists found application in real life. An example of outstanding achievements of science was the creation of the Alexandria Lighthouse, which in ancient times was considered one of the wonders of the world. In 285 BC. e. The island was connected to the shore by a dam - an artificially formed isthmus. And five years later, by 280 BC. e., the construction of the lighthouse was completed.

It was a three-story tower about 120 meters high. The lower floor was built in the form of a square with four sides, each of which was 30.5 meters in length. The edges of the square were facing the four cardinal directions: north, south, east, west - and were made of limestone. The second floor was made in the form of an octagonal tower, lined with marble slabs. Its edges were oriented in the direction of the eight winds. The third floor, the lantern itself, was crowned with a dome with a bronze statue of Poseidon, the height of which reached 7 meters. The dome of the lighthouse rested on marble columns. The spiral staircase leading up was so convenient that all the necessary materials, including fuel for the fire, were carried up on donkeys. A complex system of metal mirrors reflected and amplified the light of the lighthouse, and it was clearly visible to sailors from afar. In addition, the same system made it possible to monitor the sea and detect enemy ships long before they appeared within sight.

Bronze statues were placed on the octagonal tower that forms the second floor. Some of them were equipped with special mechanisms that allowed them to serve as weather vanes indicating the direction of the wind. Travelers talked about the miraculous properties of the statues. One of them allegedly always pointed her hand at the sun, tracing its path across the sky, and lowered her hand when the sun set. The other chimed every hour throughout the day. They said that there was even a statue that, when enemy ships appeared, pointed to the sea and uttered a warning cry. All these stories do not seem so fantastic if we remember the steam automata of Heron of Alexandria. It is quite possible that the scientist’s achievements were used in the construction of the lighthouse, and the statues could produce some mechanical movements and sounds when a certain signal was received.

Among other things, the lighthouse was also an impregnable fortress with a powerful garrison. In the underground part, in case of a siege, there was a huge tank with drinking water.

The Faros lighthouse had no analogues in Ancient world neither in size nor in technical data. Before this, ordinary fires were usually used as beacons. It is not surprising that the Lighthouse of Alexandria, with its complex system of mirrors, colossal dimensions and fantastic statues, seemed to all people a real miracle.

The builder of this miracle, Sostratus of Cnidus, carved the inscription on the marble wall: “Sostratus, son of Dexiphanes of Cnidus, dedicated to the savior gods for the sake of sailors.” He covered this inscription with a thin layer of plaster, on which he placed the praise of King Ptolemy Soter. When, over time, the plaster fell off, the name of the master who created the magnificent lighthouse appeared to the eyes of those around him.

Alexandrian lighthouse

Although the lighthouse was located on the eastern shore of the island of Pharos, it is more often called the Alexandrian lighthouse rather than the Faros lighthouse. This island is mentioned in Homer's poem "Odyssey". In Homer's time it was located in the Nile Delta, opposite the small Egyptian settlement of Rakotis. But by the time the lighthouse was built, according to the Greek geographer Strabonne, it had moved significantly closer to the shores of Egypt and was one day’s journey from Alexandria. With the start of construction, the island was connected to the coast, effectively turning it from an island into a peninsula. For this purpose, a dam was artificially built, which was called Heptastadion, since its length was 7 stages (a stage is an ancient Greek measure of length, which is equal to 177.6 meters). That is, translated into our usual measurement system, the length of the dam was approximately 750 meters. The main harbor, the Great Harbor of Alexandria, was located on the Pharos side. This harbor was so deep that a large ship could anchor off the shore.

The tower is an assistant to sailors who have lost their way.

Here at night I light the bright fire of Poseidon.

The muffled wind was about to collapse,

But Ammonius strengthened me again with his labors.

After the ferocious waves they stretch out their hands to me

All sailors, honoring you, O shaker of the earth.

Nevertheless, the lighthouse stood until the 14th century and even in a dilapidated state reached a height of 30 meters, continuing to amaze with its beauty and grandeur. To date, only the pedestal, which is built into the medieval fortress, has survived from this famous wonder of the world. Therefore, there are practically no opportunities for archaeologists or architects to study the remains of this grandiose structure. Now there is an Egyptian military port on Pharos. And on the western side of the island there is another lighthouse, which in no way resembles its great predecessor, but also continues to show the way for ships.

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The Faros Lighthouse, also known as the Alexandria Lighthouse - one of the seven wonders of the world - was located on the eastern shore of the island of Pharos within the boundaries of Alexandria. It was the first and only lighthouse of such gigantic size at that time. The builder of this structure was Sostratus of Cnidus. Now the Alexandria Lighthouse has not survived, but the remains of this structure have been found, confirming the reality of its existence.

It has long been known that there are remains of a lighthouse underwater in the Faros area. But the presence of an Egyptian naval base at this site prevented any research. Only in 1961, Kemal Abu el-Sadat discovered statues, blocks and marble boxes in the water.

On his initiative, a statue of the goddess Isis was removed from the water. In 1968, the Egyptian government approached UNESCO with a request for an examination. An archaeologist from Great Britain was invited, who presented a report on the work done in 1975. It contained a list of all finds. Thus, the significance of this site for archaeologists was confirmed.

Active Research

In 1980, a group of archaeologists from different countries began excavations on the seabed in the Pharos area. This group of scientists, in addition to archaeologists, included architects, topographers, Egyptologists, artists and restorers, as well as photographers.

As a result, hundreds of fragments of the lighthouse were discovered at a depth of 6–8 meters, occupying an area of more than 2 hectares. In addition, studies have shown that on the seabed there are objects more ancient than the lighthouse. Many columns and capitals made of granite, marble, and limestone belonging to different eras were recovered from the water.

About Alexandria

At a time when other military leaders were fighting among themselves and dividing Alexander's huge power, Ptolemy settled in Egypt and made Alexandria one of the richest and most beautiful capitals of the Ancient World.

Abode of the Muses

The glory of the city was greatly facilitated by the creation by Ptolemy of the Museion (“abode of the Muses”), where the king invited prominent scientists and poets of his time. Here they could live and engage in scientific research entirely at the expense of the state. Thus, Museion became something of an academy of sciences. Attracted by favorable conditions, scientists flocked here from different parts of the Hellenistic world. Funds were generously allocated from the royal treasury for various experiments and scientific expeditions.

Of course, the tsar, providing scientists and poets with hospitality and financial support, pursued his own goals: to increase the glory of his country in the world as a scientific and cultural center and, thereby, his own. In addition, poets and philosophers were expected to praise his virtues (real or imaginary) in their works.

In addition, he invented many different machines driven by steam or hot air. But in the era of the general spread of slave labor, these inventions could not find application and were used only for the entertainment of the royal court.

Creation of the Alexandria Lighthouse

The developments of Alexandrian scientists found application in real life. An example of outstanding achievements of science was the Alexandria Lighthouse, which was considered at that time one of the wonders of the world. In 285 BC. e. The island was connected to the shore by a dam - an artificially formed isthmus. And five years later, by 280 BC. e., the construction of the lighthouse was completed.

The Alexandria lighthouse was a three-story tower about 120 meters high.

The lower floor was built in the form of a square with four sides, each of which was 30.5 meters in length. The edges of the square were facing the four cardinal directions: north, south, east, west - and were made of limestone.
The second floor was made in the form of an octagonal tower, lined with marble slabs. Its edges were oriented in the direction of the eight winds.
The third floor, the lantern itself, was crowned with a dome with a bronze statue of Poseidon, the height of which reached 7 meters. The dome of the lighthouse rested on marble columns. The spiral staircase leading up was so convenient that all the necessary materials, including fuel for the fire, were carried up on donkeys.

A complex system of metal mirrors reflected and amplified the light of the lighthouse, and it was clearly visible to sailors from afar. In addition, the same system made it possible to monitor the sea and detect enemy ships long before they appeared within sight.

Special signs

Bronze statues were placed on the octagonal tower that forms the second floor. Some of them were equipped with special mechanisms that allowed them to serve as weather vanes indicating the direction of the wind.

Travelers talked about the miraculous properties of the statues. One of them allegedly always pointed her hand at the sun, tracing its path across the sky, and lowered her hand when the sun set. The other chimed every hour throughout the day.

They said that there was even a statue that, when enemy ships appeared, pointed to the sea and uttered a warning cry. All these stories do not seem so fantastic if we remember the steam automata of Heron of Alexandria.

It is quite possible that the scientist’s achievements were used in the construction of the lighthouse, and the statues could produce some mechanical movements and sounds when a certain signal was received.

Among other things, the lighthouse was also an impregnable fortress with a powerful garrison. In the underground part, in case of a siege, there was a huge tank with drinking water.

The Faros lighthouse had no analogues in the Ancient world, either in size or technical data. Before this, ordinary fires were usually used as beacons. It is not surprising that the Lighthouse of Alexandria, with its complex system of mirrors, colossal dimensions and fantastic statues, seemed to all people a real miracle.

Who created the Lighthouse of Alexandria

But by the time the lighthouse was built, according to the Greek geographer Strabonne, it had moved significantly closer to the shores of Egypt and was one day’s journey from Alexandria. With the start of construction, the island was connected to the coast, effectively turning it from an island into a peninsula. For this purpose, a dam was artificially built, which was called Heptastadion, since its length was 7 stages (a stage is an ancient Greek measure of length, which is equal to 177.6 meters).

That is, translated into our usual measurement system, the length of the dam was approximately 750 meters. The main harbor, the Great Harbor of Alexandria, was located on the Pharos side. This harbor was so deep that a large ship could anchor off the shore.

Nothing is eternal

The tower is an assistant to sailors who have lost their way.
Here at night I light the bright fire of Poseidon.
The muffled wind was about to collapse,
But Ammonius strengthened me again with his labors.
After the ferocious waves they stretch out their hands to me
All sailors, honoring you, O shaker of the earth.