How else was the Alexandrian lighthouse called. Lighthouse of Alexandria, also known as Pharos - the highest construction of the ancient world

One of the seven wonders of the world is Alexandrian lighthouse- a structure built on the island of Pharos in the third century BC. The building is located near the famous Alexandria, in connection with which it was given such a name. Another option may be the phrase "Faros lighthouse" - from the name of the island on which it is located.

purpose

The first wonder of the world - the Lighthouse of Alexandria - was originally intended to help lost sailors who want to get to the shore, safely overcoming underwater reefs. At night, the path was illuminated by flames and signal beams of light emanating from a huge fire, and by day - columns of smoke emanating from a fire located at the very top of this sea tower. The lighthouse of Alexandria served faithfully for almost a thousand years, but was very badly damaged by an earthquake in 796. After this earthquake, five more very powerful and long tremors were recorded in history, which finally disabled this magnificent creation of human hands. Of course, they tried to reconstruct it more than once, but all attempts only led to the fact that a small fortress was left of it, which was built by Sultan Kait Bey in the 15th century. It is this fortress that can be seen today. She is all that remains of this majestic creation of man.

Story

Let's delve a little into history and find out how this wonder of the world was built, because it's really exciting and interesting. How much has happened, what are the features of the construction and its purpose - we will tell you about all this below, do not be too lazy just to read.

Where is the Lighthouse of Alexandria

The lighthouse was built small island called Pharos, which is located off the coast of Alexandria in the Mediterranean Sea. The whole history of this lighthouse was originally associated with the name of the great conqueror Alexander the Great. It was he who was the creator of the first wonder of the world - a thing that all mankind is proud of. On this island, Alexander the Great decided to establish a large port, which he actually did in 332 BC during his visit to Egypt. The structure received two names: the first - in honor of the one who decided to build it, the second - in honor of the name of the island on which it is located. In addition to such a famous lighthouse, the conqueror decided to build another city of the same name - one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean. It should be noted that in his entire life, Alexander the Great built about eighteen policies with the name "Alexandria", but it was this one that went down in history and is known to this day. First of all, the city was built, and only then its main attraction. Initially, the construction of the lighthouse was supposed to take 20 years, but no such luck. The whole process took only 5 years, but despite this, the construction saw the world only in 283 BC, after the death of Alexander the Great - during the government of Ptolemy II - the king of Egypt.

Construction features

I decided to take a very careful approach to the issue of construction. According to some sources, he has been choosing a place for the construction of the port for more than two years. The conqueror did not want to create a city in the Nile, for which he found a very good replacement. The construction site was pitched twenty miles south, near the dry lake of Mareotis. Previously, there was a platform of the Egyptian city of Rakotis, which in turn slightly facilitated the entire construction process. The whole advantage of the location was that the port was able to receive ships as mediterranean sea, and from the Nile River, which was very profitable and diplomatic. This not only increased the conqueror's profits, but also helped him and his followers build strong ties with both merchants and sailors of the time. The city was created during the life of Macedon, but the lighthouse of Alexandria was the development of Ptolemy the first Soter. It was he who finalized the design and brought it to life.

Alexandrian lighthouse. Photo

Looking at the image, we can see that the lighthouse consists of several "layers". Three large marble towers stand on the base of huge stone blocks, with a total weight of several hundred thousand tons. The first tower has the shape of a huge rectangle. Inside it are rooms intended for the housing of soldiers and workers of the port. At the top was a smaller octagonal tower. The spiral ramp was a transition to the upper cylindrical tower, inside of which there was a large fire, which served as a source of light. The entire structure weighed several million thousand tons, excluding decorations and appliances inside it. Because of this, the soil began to subside, which caused serious problems and required additional fortifications and construction work.

Start of fire

Although the Pharos Lighthouse was built between 285 and 283 BC, it only began to operate at the beginning of the first century BC. It was then that the whole system of signal lights was developed, working thanks to large bronze disks that direct light into the sea. In parallel with this, a composition of gunpowder was invented, which emitted a huge amount of smoke - a way to indicate the way during the day.

Height and distance of outgoing light

The total height of the Lighthouse of Alexandria is from 120 to 140 meters (the difference is the difference in ground height). Thanks to this arrangement, the light from the fire was visible at a distance of more than 60 kilometers in bright weather (there is evidence that the light was visible for 100 kilometers or more in calm weather) and up to 45-50 kilometers during a thunderstorm. The direction of the rays was due to a special construction in several rows. The first row was a tetrahedral prism, the height of which reached 60-65 meters, with a square base, an area of ​​900 square meters. Inventory and everything necessary for supplying fuel and maintaining the "eternal" fire were stored here. The basis for the middle part was a large flat cover, the corners of which were decorated big statues Tritonov. This room was an octagonal tower of white marble 40 meters high. The third part of the lighthouse is built of eight columns, on top of which there is a large dome, which is decorated with a large eight-meter bronze statue of Poseidon. Another name for the statue is Zeus the Savior.

"Eternal flame"

Maintaining the fire was a difficult task. More than a ton of fuel was required daily so that the fire could burn with the necessary force. Wood, which was the main material, was delivered in specially equipped carts along a spiral ramp. The carts were pulled by mules, which required more than a hundred for one climb. In order for the light from the fire to spread as far as possible, huge bronze sheets were placed behind the flame, at the foot of each column, with the help of which they directed the light.

Additional purpose

According to some manuscripts and surviving documents, the lighthouse of Alexandria served not only as a source of light for lost sailors. For soldiers, it became an observation post, for scientists - an astronomical observatory. Accounts say what was there a large number of very interesting technical equipment - watches of various shapes and sizes, a weather vane, as well as many astronomical and geographical instruments. Other sources talk about the presence of a huge library and a school that taught elementary disciplines, but this does not have any significant evidence.

Doom

The death of the lighthouse was not only due to several powerful earthquakes, but also due to the fact that the bay almost ceased to be used, because it was very silted up. After the port became unusable, the bronze plates that cast light into the sea were melted down into coins and jewelry. But this was not the end. Total destruction The lighthouse occurred in the 15th century during one of the most powerful earthquakes ever to hit the Mediterranean coast. After that, the remains were restored several times and served as a fortress, as well as a home for the few inhabitants of the island.

In modern world

Today, the Faros Lighthouse, whose photo can be very easily found, is one of the few architectural monuments lost in history and time. This is something that is still of interest to both scientists and ordinary people who like centuries-old things, because many events, literary works and scientific discoveries are associated with it, important for the entire development of the world. Alas, not much is left of the 7 wonders of the world. The lighthouse of Alexandria, or rather only part of it, is one of those structures that humanity can be proud of. True, all that remains of it is just the lower tier, which served as a warehouse and a place of residence for the military and workers. Thanks to many reconstructions, the building was not completely destroyed. It was converted into something like a small castle-fortress, inside which the remaining inhabitants of the island lived. This is exactly what you can see when visiting the island of Pharos, which is quite popular among tourists. After a complete construction and cosmetic repair, the lighthouse has more modern look, which makes it a modern building with a long history.

Future plans

The Lighthouse of Alexandria is one of the objects under the protection of UNESCO. Due to this, various repairs are carried out every year in order to protect the fortress from destruction. There was even a time when they talked about completely resuming their former appearance, but this was never done, because then the lighthouse would lose its status as one of the wonders of the world. But you must see it if you are already interested in history.

Farosky, aka the Lighthouse of Alexandria - one of the seven wonders of the world - was located on east coast Pharos Islands within Alexandria. It was the first and only lighthouse at that time so giant size. The builder of this building was Sostratus of Cnidus. Now the lighthouse of Alexandria has not been preserved, but the remains of this structure have been found, confirming the reality of its existence.

The fact that the remains of a lighthouse are under water in the Pharos region has long been known. But the presence of an Egyptian naval base on this site prevented any research. Only in 1961, Kemal Abu el-Sadat discovered marble statues, blocks and boxes in the water.

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

Active Research

In 1980, a group of archaeologists from different countries started excavations at 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 found at a depth of 6–8 meters, covering an area of ​​more than 2 hectares. In addition, studies have shown that there are objects on the seabed that are older than the lighthouse. Many columns and capitals made of granite, marble, limestone, belonging to different eras, were extracted 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.

About Alexandria

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 quarters with wide streets. The two widest of them (30 meters wide) intersected at right angles.

Alexandria had 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 commanders fought among themselves and divided the huge power of Alexander, Ptolemy settled in Egypt and made Alexandria one of the richest and most the most beautiful capitals Ancient world.

Abode of the Muses

The glory of the city was greatly facilitated by the creation of Museion by Ptolemy (“the 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, Mouseion became something like an academy of sciences. Attracted by favorable conditions, scientists flocked here from all over Hellenistic world. Funds were generously allocated from the royal treasury for various experiments and scientific expeditions.

Scientists were also attracted to Mouseion by the magnificent Library of Alexandria, in which about 500 thousand scrolls were collected, including the works of the outstanding Greek playwrights 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 bail. The king resignedly paid. But he refused to return the manuscripts.

Some famous scientist or poet was usually appointed as the custodian of the library. For a long time this post was held by the outstanding poet of his time, Callimachus. Then he was replaced famous geographer and the 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 possibilities available at that time, does not detract from his merits.

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

The natural sciences, mathematics and mechanics were widely developed. In Alexandria lived the famous mathematician Euclid, the founder of geometry, as well as the outstanding inventor Heron of Alexandria, whose work was far ahead of its time. For example, he created a device that was actually the first steam engine.

In addition, he invented many different automata, 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 brilliant astronomer Aristarchus of Samos, long before Copernicus, stated that the Earth is a ball that rotates around its axis and around the Sun. Among his contemporaries, his ideas evoked only a smile, but he remained unconvinced.

Creation of the Lighthouse of Alexandria

The developments of Alexandrian scientists were also used in real life. An example of the outstanding achievements of science was the Lighthouse of Alexandria, which in that era 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 poured isthmus. And five years later, by 280 BC. e., the construction of the lighthouse was completed.

The lighthouse of Alexandria 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 long. The faces of the square were turned to the four cardinal points: 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, whose height reached 7 meters. The dome of the lighthouse rested on marble columns. Leading up spiral staircase was so convenient that all the necessary materials, including fuel for a fire, were lifted up on donkeys.

A complex system of metal mirrors reflected and intensified 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 Pointers

Bronze statues were placed on the octagonal tower, which forms the second floor. Some of them were equipped with special mechanisms that allowed them to serve as weathercocks that indicated the direction of the wind.

Travelers talked about the miraculous properties of the statues. One of them allegedly always pointed with her hand at the sun, tracing its path through the sky, and lowered her hand when the sun set. Another throughout the day beat off every hour.

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

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

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

The Pharos lighthouse did not know its analogues in the Ancient World either in terms of size or technical data. Prior to this, ordinary bonfires were usually used as lighthouses. 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

The builder of this miracle, Sostratus of Cnidus, carved an inscription on a marble wall: “Sostratus, the son of Dexifan from Cnidus, dedicated to the gods-saviors 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 eyes of others saw the name of the master who created the magnificent lighthouse.

Although the lighthouse was located on the eastern coast of the island of Pharos, it is more often called the Alexandrian, and not Pharos. This island is mentioned in Homer's poem "The Odyssey". At the time of Homer, it was in the Nile Delta, opposite the small Egyptian settlement of Rakotis.

But by the time the lighthouse was built, according to the Greek geographer Strabon, it had come much closer to the coast of Egypt and was one day's journey from Alexandria. With the start of construction, the island was connected to the coast, actually turning it from an island into a peninsula. For this, a dam was artificially poured, which was called Heptastadion, since its length was 7 stages (a stage is an ancient Greek measure of length, which equals 177.6 meters).

That is, in terms of the measurement system familiar to us, the length of the dam was approximately 750 meters. On the side of Pharos, the main, Great Harbor of Alexandria was also located. This harbor was so deep that a large ship could anchor near the shore.

Nothing is eternal

The tower is an assistant to sailors who have lost their way.
Here at night I kindle the bright fire of Poseidon.
It was about to collapse from the deafly noisy wind,
But Ammonius strengthened me again with his labors.
After the ferocious waves, they stretch 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 a pedestal has survived from this famous wonder of the world, which is built into medieval fortress. Therefore, the opportunities for archaeologists or architects to study the remains of this grand structure practically absent. There is now an Egyptian military port on Pharos. And on the western side of the island there is another lighthouse, which does not resemble its great predecessor in any way, but also continues to show the way to the ships.

Lighthouse of Alexandria is the sixth wonder of the world.(aka Faros lighthouse). It was built in the 3rd century BC on the Mediterranean Sea.

In Egypt, on the small island of Pharos, not far from Alexandria, there was a bay with great importance for merchant ships. It was for this reason that the need arose for the construction of the Faros Lighthouse.

Hardly anyone imagined that the outstanding structure would enter. At night, flames reflected by the water surface were visible at a distance of more than 60 kilometers, allowing ships to safely pass the reefs. During the day, instead of light, a column of smoke was used, which was also visible extremely far away.

Having stood for almost 1000 years, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was seriously damaged by an earthquake that occurred in 796 AD. When the Arabs came to Egypt (XIV century), they decided to restore grand building, reaching only 30 meters from the original height.

However, the reconstruction was not destined to be completed, and by the end of the 15th century, Kait-bey, a famous sultan, founded a fortress on the foundation of the lighthouse. By the way, it still exists.

Interesting facts about the wonder of the world Lighthouse of Alexandria

During the reign of Ptolemy II in Egypt, it was decided to build the famous lighthouse. According to the plan, the implementation of the idea was supposed to take 20 years, but all residents saw the masterpiece much earlier. The main architect and builder of this structure is Sostratus of Cnidus.

On the marble wall of the lighthouse, he carved his name, and then, applying thin plaster, wrote words glorifying Ptolemy. Naturally, after a short period of time, the plaster crumbled, and the name of an outstanding master entered the centuries. So, Sostratus completed the construction of the Pharos Lighthouse in 5 years, which, by the standards of antiquity, was generally an instant!

The lighthouse of Alexandria consisted of three towers. The first, lowest, rectangular part of the monument served technical purposes. Workers and soldiers lived there, as well as tools and equipment necessary for maintaining the lighthouse. A second, octagonal tower rose above the first part.

A ramp wound around it to carry fuel for the fire. The third tier was a majestic cylindrical building, equipped with a complex system of mirrors. It was here that a vital fire burned, spreading its light for many kilometers around.

The height of the sixth wonder of the world, the Pharos lighthouse, ranged from 120 to 140 meters. At the very top was a statue of the god of the seas, Poseidon.

Some travelers, describing the miracle that struck them, mentioned unusually arranged statues. The first one pointed with her hand at, throughout the day, and when the sun went down, the hand dropped.

The second statue sounded every hour day and night. The third constantly indicated the direction of the wind, playing the role of a weather vane.

In the 12th century AD, ships stopped using the Alexandrian bay due to the fact that it had become extremely silty. This is what caused the outstanding building to fall into complete decline. Even later, in the XIV century, due to an earthquake Wonder of the Lighthouse of Alexandria completely collapsed.

A fortress was erected in its place, which changed its appearance more than once. Now on this historical place the base of the Egyptian fleet is located and, despite various proposals, the authorities are not considering the idea of ​​restoring the lighthouse.

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Alexandrian lighthouse

Lighthouse of Alexandria (Faros)- one of the 7 wonders of the world, was built in the III century BC. e. in the Egyptian city of Alexandria, so that the ships could safely pass the reefs on their way to the Alexandrian Bay. At night, they were helped in this by the reflection of flames, and during the day - by a column of smoke. It was the first lighthouse in the world, and it stood for almost a thousand years, but in 796 AD. e. was badly damaged by the earthquake. Subsequently, the Arabs who came to Egypt tried to restore it, and by the XIV century. the height of the lighthouse was about 30 m. At the end of the 15th century. Sultan Kait Bey erected a fortress on the site of the lighthouse, which still stands today.

The lighthouse was built on small island Pharos in the Mediterranean off the coast of Alexandria. This busy port was founded by Alexander the Great during his visit to Egypt in 332 BC. e. The building was named after the island. It was supposed to take 20 years to build, and it was completed around 283 BC. e. , during the reign of Ptolemy II, king of Egypt. Building this gigantic structure lasted only 5 years. Architect - Sostratus of Cnidus.

The Pharos lighthouse consisted of three marble towers, standing on a base of massive stone blocks. The first tower was rectangular, it contained rooms in which workers and soldiers lived. Above this tower was a smaller, octagonal tower with spiral ramp leading to the top tower. Upper tower the shape resembled a cylinder in which a fire burned.

guiding light

The death of the lighthouse

In the 14th century, the lighthouse was completely destroyed by an earthquake. A few years later, its fragments were used to build a fortress. The fortress was subsequently rebuilt several times.

Literature

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See what "Alexandria Lighthouse" is in other dictionaries:

Alexandrian lighthouse- Alexandrian lighthouse … Russian spelling dictionary

This article is about the artistic image. For other meanings of the term in the title of the article, see Pillar of Alexandria. Pillar of Alexandria image used by Alexander Pushkin in the poem "Monument" 1836 ... Wikipedia

This term has other meanings, see Lighthouse (meanings). In Kronstadt ... Wikipedia

May imply: The literary image introduced by A. S. Pushkin in the poem "Monument" The informal name of the Alexander Column, which goes back to this image, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, according to a number of Pushkinists, was implied by A. S. ... ... Wikipedia

Lighthouse- Lighthouse, UK. LIGHTHOUSE, a tower-type structure, usually installed on the shore or in shallow water. Serves as a navigational guide for ships. It is equipped with so-called beacon lights, as well as devices for giving sound signals, ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

LIGHTHOUSE, a tower-type structure, usually installed on the shore or in shallow water. Serves as a navigational guide for ships. It is equipped with so-called beacon lights, as well as devices for giving sound signals, radio signals (radio beacon) ... Modern Encyclopedia

A tall building, in the form of a tower, standing on the seashore, on the way of ships to indicate the way for sailors. At night, a fire is maintained at the top of M.. Indicative M. are erected in the open sea, on separate small rocks and shallows, and ... ... Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron

Lighthouse, a tower-type structure that serves as a landmark for identifying coasts, determining the position of a vessel and warning of navigational danger. M. are equipped with light-optical systems, as well as other technical means of signaling: ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

In the fall of 1994, a group of archaeologists set off to explore the coastal waters near the Egyptian city of Alexandria. With the help of scuba diving equipment, scientists began to study the seabed, hoping to find artifacts here. Large stone blocks, noticed under water during the research, were marked with "beacons", thanks to which, a little later, it was possible to fix their location with special devices from the shore. Satellite imagery was made, which made it possible to determine the coordinates of the finds with particular accuracy. Further, the information received was entered into a computer for further processing - it was supposed to help in creating detailed map relief of the seabed in the bay ...

It's funny that the researchers used the most advanced technology to try to find the ruins of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, which was one of the greatest technological and scientific achievements 3rd century BC The same lighthouse on the island of Pharos, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.

Background.

The history of the lighthouse is connected with the foundation of the city of Alexandria, which appeared in 332 BC. thanks to the famous conqueror from Macedonia - Alexander the Great. In general, the great commander founded at least 17 cities with the same name in different parts of his vast empire. Almost all of them disappeared without a trace, however. Egyptian Alexandria flourished for many centuries and flourishes to this day.

Alexander the Great carefully chose a place for the future city. Instead of building it in the Nile Delta, he determined the area of ​​​​the settlement 20 miles south so that the waters great river did not clog the city harbor with silt and sand. In the south, the city bordered on the swampy lake Mareotis. Alexandria had two excellent harbors at once. One of them received ships sailing along the Nile River, and the second was intended for merchant ships arriving from the Mediterranean Sea.

Shortly thereafter, in 323 B.C. Alexander died, and the city passed into the possession of the new ruler of Egypt - Ptolemy I Soter. During his reign, Alexandria developed into a wealthy and prosperous port city, lacking only its own symbol, as well as a prominent coastal landmark showing merchant ships the way to the mouth of the city harbor. Then in 290 BC. the ruler Ptolemy I. ordered to build a lighthouse on the small island of Pharos as soon as possible.

Pharos was located near the coast of Alexandria - it was connected to the mainland by a huge artificial bridge (dam), which at the same time was part of the city harbor. The coast of Egypt is distinguished by the monotony of the landscape - it is dominated by plains and lowlands, and sailors have always needed an additional landmark for successful navigation: a signal fire in front of the entrance to the harbor of Alexandria. Thus, the function of the building on Pharos was determined from the very beginning. Actually, a lighthouse, just like a structure with a system that reflects sunlight mirrors and beacons on top, dates from about the 1st century AD. e., which refers to the times of already Roman domination. However, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, which served as a coastal sign for sailors, was erected as early as the 4th century BC.

Lighthouse construction.

The lighthouse was designed by the architect Sostratus from Cnidia. Proud of his creation, he wanted to leave his name on the foundation of the building, but Ptolemy II, who inherited the throne after his father Ptolemy Soter, forbade him to commit this free act. The pharaoh wanted only his royal name to be engraved on the stones, and that it was he who was revered as the creator of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Sostratus, being a smart man, did not argue, but simply found a way to circumvent the order of the lord. First, he carved the following inscription on a stone wall: "Sostratus, the son of Dexiphon, a Cnidian, dedicated to the savior gods for the health of seafarers!", After which he covered it with a layer of plaster, and wrote the name of Ptolemy on top. Centuries passed, and the plaster cracked and crumbled, revealing to the world the name of the true builder of the lighthouse.

Construction dragged on for 20 years, but in the end, the Lighthouse of Alexandria became the very first lighthouse in the world, and the most high structure ancient world, not counting the Great Pyramids at Giza. Soon the news of the Miracle spread all over the world and the lighthouse began to be called by the name of the island of Pharos or simply Pharos. After, the word "faros", as the designation of a lighthouse, was fixed in many languages ​​​​(Spanish, Romanian, French)

Description of the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

In the 10th century, two detailed descriptions Lighthouse of Alexandria: travelers Idrisi and Yusuf el-Shaikh. According to them, the height of the building was 300 cubits. Since such a measure of length as "elbow" had different sizes among different peoples, when translated into modern parameters, the height of the lighthouse ranges from 450 to 600 feet. Although I think the first figure is more true.

The lighthouse on Pharos was completely different from most modern facilities of this type - thin single towers, but rather resembled a futuristic skyscraper. It was a three-story (three-tiered) tower, whose walls were made of marble blocks, fastened with a mortar mixed with lead.

The ground floor was over 200 feet high and 100 feet long. Thus, the lowest tier of the lighthouse resembled a massive parallelepiped. Inside, along its walls, there was an inclined entrance, along which a cart drawn by a horse could climb up.

The second tier was built in the form of an octagonal tower, and the top floor of the lighthouse resembled a cylinder topped with a dome resting on columns. Decorated the top of the dome huge statue the god Poseidon, ruler of the seas. There was always a fire on the platform below him. It is said that from ships it was possible to see the light of this lighthouse at a distance of 35 miles (56 km).

In the lowest part of the lighthouse there were many service rooms where inventory was stored, and inside the two upper floors there was a shaft with a lifting mechanism that allowed fuel for the fire to be delivered to the very top.

In addition to this mechanism, a spiral staircase led along the walls to the top of the lighthouse, along which visitors and attendants climbed to the platform where the signal fire was blazing. According to sources, a massive concave mirror, probably made of polished metal, was also installed there. It was used to reflect and amplify the light of a fire. It is said that at night the way to the harbor was indicated by a bright reflected light, and during the day - a huge smoke column, visible from afar.

Some legends say that the mirror on faros lighthouse could also be used as a weapon: supposedly it was able to focus the sun's rays so that it burned enemy ships as soon as they appeared in sight. Other legends say that it was possible to see Constantinople on the other side of the sea in it, using this mirror as a magnifying glass. Both stories seem too far-fetched.

The most complete description was left by the Arab traveler Abu Haggag Yusuf ibn Mohammed el-Andalussi, who visited Pharos in 1166. His notes read: "The lighthouse of Alexandria is located on the very edge of the island. Its plinth has a square base, the sides of which are approximately 8.5 meters long, while the northern and western sides are washed by the sea. The height of the eastern and southern walls of the plinth reaches 6.5 meters. However, the height of the walls facing the sea is much greater, they are more sheer and resemble a steep mountain slope. The masonry of the lighthouse here is especially strong. I must say that that part of the building, which I described above, is the most modern, since it was here that the masonry was most dilapidated and needed to be restored. On the side of the plinth that faces the sea, there is an ancient inscription, which I cannot read, because the wind and sea ​​waves exuded a stone base, because of which the letters partially crumbled. The size of the letter "A" is slightly less than 54 cm. And the upper part of the "M" resembles big hole at the bottom of a copper cauldron. The sizes of the rest of the letters are similar.

The entrance to the lighthouse is located at a considerable height, because an embankment with a length of 183 meters leads to it. It rests on a series of arches, the width of which is so great that my companion, standing under one of them and spreading his arms to the sides, could not touch its walls. There were sixteen arches in all, and each one was larger than the last. The last arch is especially striking in its size.

Apparently, the lighthouse also served as a local landmark, where travelers were allowed: for example, on observation platform on the first floor of the lighthouse, one could not only admire the view from there, but also buy food. If guests wanted to go higher, they had a small balcony at their disposal, arranged at the very top of the middle tier - at an altitude of 300 feet above the sea. Undoubtedly, the lucky ones who managed to get there were in for a stunning spectacle, especially since those old times, there were very few structures like this.

Destruction.

How did the very first lighthouse in the world end up at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea? Most sources say that the lighthouse, like other buildings of antiquity, fell victim to earthquakes. The lighthouse on Pharos stood for 1500 years, but aftershocks in 365, 956 and 1303 AD. e. severely damaged him. And the earthquake of 1326 (according to other sources in 1323) completed the destruction.

The story of how most of the lighthouse in 850 was turned into ruins thanks to the intrigues of the emperor of Constantinople. Since Alexandria competed very successfully with the aforementioned city, the ruler of Constantinople conceived a cunning plan to destroy the lighthouse on Pharos. He spread rumors that a treasure of fabulous value was hidden under the foundation of this building. When the caliph in Cairo (who was at that time the ruler of Alexandria) heard this rumor, he ordered the lighthouse to be demolished in order to find the treasures hidden under it. Only after the giant mirror had been broken and two tiers had already been destroyed did the caliph realize that he had been deceived. He tried to restore the building, but his attempts were unsuccessful. Then he rebuilt the surviving first floor of the lighthouse, turning it into a mosque. However, no matter how colorful this story is, it cannot be true. After all, travelers who visited the Pharos lighthouse already in 1115 AD. e. testify that even then it still remained safe and sound, regularly performing its function.

Thus, the Lighthouse still stood on the island when the traveler Ibn Jabar visited Alexandria in 1183. What he saw shocked him so much that he exclaimed: "Not a single description can convey all its beauty, there are not enough eyes to take a look at it, and there are not enough words to tell about the greatness of this spectacle!"

Two earthquakes in 1303 and in 1323 destroyed the lighthouse on Pharos so badly that the Arab traveler Ibn Batuta could no longer get inside this structure. But even these ruins have not survived to this day: in 1480, Sultan Kite Bey, who ruled Egypt at that time, erected a citadel (fort) on the site of the lighthouse. For the construction, the remains of the masonry of the lighthouse were taken. Thus, the lighthouse became part of the medieval fort of Kite Bay. However, the blocks from which the Lighthouse of Alexandria was once built can still be discerned in the stone walls of the fort - thanks to their gigantic size.

Was the fragments of the walls of the Lighthouse of Alexandria really discovered by divers at the bottom of the harbor? Undoubtedly, some of these massive blocks of stone were once part of a huge building. And the statues found in the same place, in coastal waters, could well be the very ones that served as decoration for the lighthouse. An interesting fact is that a significant part of the finds made belongs to the era that preceded the creation of the lighthouse. Scientists suggest that in the construction of the lighthouse on Pharos, stones taken from the ruins of more than ancient building.

It is planned that this part of the seabed will be turned into an underwater museum of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. And a few years later, tourists will be able, armed with scuba diving, to dive to the bottom of the bay and see with their own eyes the ruins of the Great Lighthouse of Alexandria.