Where was the Faros lighthouse built. Lighthouse of Alexandria (Faros) - interesting historical facts

Alexandrian lighthouse

Faros (Alexandria) lighthouse - one of the seven wonders of the world - was located on east coast islands of Pharos within the boundaries of Alexandria and was the first and only lighthouse at that time so giant size. The builder of this building was Sostratus of Cnidus.

The fact that there are remains of a lighthouse under water in the Pharos region has long been known. But the presence of a 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.

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.

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.

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.

The developments of Alexandrian scientists were also used in real life. An example of the outstanding achievements of science was the creation Lighthouse of Alexandria considered in antiquity as 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.

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 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.

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.

faros lighthouse did not know its analogues in the ancient world, neither in size nor in 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.

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.

Alexandrian 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.

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, there are practically no opportunities for archaeologists or architects to study the remains of this grandiose structure. 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.

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The lighthouse was located on the island of Pharos, off the coast of the ancient Egyptian city of Alexandria. The history of the lighthouse is connected with the foundation of this city of Ancient Egypt. In fact, the city compared to others ancient Egyptian cities, not so ancient. He appeared in 332 BC. thanks to the famous conqueror of Ancient Egypt - Alexander the Great.

Very carefully Alexander the Great chose a place for the future city. He determined the settlement area not in the Nile Delta itself, but 20 miles to the south, although, it would seem, it was in the Delta that two major waterways intersect: along the sea and along the Nile River. And yet the city was founded a little away from the Delta, so that the waters great river did not clog the city harbor with silt and sand. Alexandria was conceived as the most important shopping mall at the intersection of river, sea and land routes of three continents. Such a center had to have its own well-defended harbor.

To equip such a harbor, it was necessary to carry out a number of serious engineering and construction works. The first task was the construction of a dam connecting the coast with the island of Pharos, as well as the construction of a pier protecting the harbor from sand and silt, which the numerous branches of the Nile Delta carry in abundance to the sea.

As a result, the city had two excellent harbors at once. One of them was intended for merchant ships arriving from mediterranean sea, the other accepted ships sailing along the Nile River.

In 323 BC. Alexander died, and soon after that the city passed into the possession of the new ruler of Egypt - Ptolemy I Soter.

During his reign, Alexandria turned into a rich and prosperous port city, and the construction of a lighthouse played an important role in this.

The task of the lighthouse was to ensure the safety of navigation in coastal waters, and thanks to this, the volume of trade carried out through the port of Alexandria increased. The coast of Egypt is characterized by a monotonous landscape - it is dominated by lowlands and plains, and for a successful voyage, sailors always needed an additional landmark: a signal fire in front of the entrance to the harbor of Alexandria. However, this task could be performed by a lighthouse much lower. Even a lighthouse with a height of 35 m (and this is the height of another Wonder of the World of antiquity - the Colossus of Rhodes) for these purposes would be somewhat excessive.

Most likely, one of the most important functions of the Lighthouse of Alexandria was to ensure security from attacks from the sea of the capital of the Ptolemaic state. The greatest threat to Egypt could come from the sea, which was naturally protected from attacks by enemies on land by the desert.

It was to detect the enemy at a considerable distance from the coast that an observation post of considerable height was required. This was especially true in view of the absence of any natural hills near Alexandria on which such observation posts could be set up.

The erection of such a grand structure required significant intellectual, financial and labor resources, which would be difficult to attract in turbulent wartime. However, by the beginning of the III century. BC e. favorable conditions for the start of construction. At this time, having assumed the title of king, Ptolemy conquered Syria, taking a huge number of Jews as slaves to Egypt. Other important events were the conclusion of peace between Ptolemy Soter and Demetrius Poliorcetes in 299 BC, as well as the death of Ptolemy's worst enemy - Antigonus, and the division of his kingdom between the Diadochi.

It was after 299 BC. and began the construction of a lighthouse on the island of Pharos. It is rather difficult to name the exact date of construction. They call 290, 285, etc. years BC

Pharos Island in 285 BC It was connected by a dam to the mainland, which greatly facilitated the construction work.

The lighthouse on Pharos was completely different from most modern facilities of a similar type - thin single towers. It looked more like a futuristic skyscraper.

To this day, accurate information about the size and design of the Lighthouse of Alexandria has not been preserved.

The height of the lighthouse ranged from 120 to 180 m. It was a three-tiered tower, the walls of which were made of marble blocks fastened with mortar mixed with lead.

The base of the lighthouse had a strong foundation in the form of a square of granite or limestone with a side length of about 180 - 190 m. On this site there was a palace or fortress with four towers at the corners. This lowest tier of the lighthouse looked like a massive parallelepiped. Along its walls inside there was an inclined entrance, along which a horse-drawn cart could climb up.

The second tier was erected in the form of an octagonal tower, and the third tier of the Lighthouse of Alexandria resembled a cylinder topped with a dome resting on columns. At the top of the dome proudly looked at the world huge statue the god Poseidon, ruler of the seas. The fire burned in the area below him. Evidence has been preserved that from the ships it was possible to see the light of this lighthouse at a distance of sixty, or even a hundred km.

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.

A spiral staircase led along the walls to the top of the lighthouse, along which the attendants and visitors climbed to the platform where the signal fire was blazing. There was a massive concave mirror, most likely made of polished metal. It was supposed to reflect and enhance the light of the fire. According to sources, a bright reflected light at night showed the ships the way to the harbor, and during the day, a huge smoke column visible from afar rose up instead.

The lighthouse of Alexandria immediately upon completion of construction was recognized as one of the seven wonders of the world, becoming the subject of admiration for the entire ancient world. His silhouette was depicted on vessels, minted on coins, cast and carved in the form of souvenir figurines for Greek and Roman travelers. The lighthouse became the symbol of Alexandria. IN enthusiastic colors Strabo and Pliny the Elder described the lighthouse.

For almost 1,000 years, the lighthouse of Alexandria has shown the way to ships. Earthquakes gradually destroyed it. In 1183, he still towered on the island, this year the traveler Ibn Jabar visited Alexandria. grand building so shocked him 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!”. Alexandria bay to XII century so filled with silt that the ships could no longer use it. The lighthouse fell into disrepair. In the XIV century, it was completely destroyed by an earthquake. The Mamluk Sultan Kayt Bey built a fortress on the foundation of the lighthouse in 1480, which received the name of its creator. This fortress still stands today.

about the Lighthouse of Alexandria

The lighthouse was erected in the city of Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great. The great commander founded at least 17 cities with the same name in various parts of his vast empire. Almost all of these cities disappeared without a trace. And only Egyptian Alexandria flourished for many centuries and prospers to this day.

The lighthouse was designed by the architect Sostratus of Cnidia. Ptolemy II, who inherited the throne after his father Ptolemy Soter, wanted only his royal name to be engraved on the stones, and that he was revered as the creator of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Sostratus, proud of his creation, found a way to perpetuate his name. He carved the following inscription on a stone wall: "Sostratus, son of Dexiphon, a Cnidian, dedicated to the gods-saviors for the health of seafarers!" Then he covered this inscription with a layer of plaster, and wrote the name of Ptolemy on top. Centuries passed, and the plaster crumbled, revealing to the world the name of the true builder of the lighthouse.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria, the seventh wonder of the world, is actually the eighth wonder. The walls of Babylon were considered the second wonder of the world before its construction. When the lighthouse was erected, contemporaries were so amazed by this outstanding structure that the walls of Babylon were simply deleted from the list of the Seven Wonders of the World and the lighthouse was included in it as the latest, newest miracle.

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. Later, the word "faros", as the designation of a lighthouse, was fixed in many languages (French, Spanish, Romanian).

And in Russian, the word "headlight" came from him.

Island and lighthouse

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 must have taken 20 years to build and was completed around 280 BC. e. , during the reign of Ptolemy II, king of Egypt.

three towers

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 a spiral ramp leading to the top tower.

guiding light

The upper tower was shaped like a cylinder, in which a fire burned, helping the ships safely reach the bay.

Polished bronze mirrors

To keep the flame going, it took a large number of fuel. The tree was brought spiral ramp on carts drawn by horses or mules. Behind the flames were bronze plates that cast light into the sea.

The death of the lighthouse

By the 12th century A.D. e. the Alexandrian bay was so filled with silt that the ships could no longer use it. The lighthouse fell into disrepair. The bronze plates that served as mirrors were probably melted down into coins. In the 14th century, the lighthouse was destroyed by an earthquake. A few years later, the Muslims used its ruins to build the military fortress of Qait Bay. The fortress was subsequently rebuilt more than once and still stands on the site of the world's first lighthouse.

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See what the "Faros Lighthouse" is in other dictionaries:

- (Alexandria lighthouse), a lighthouse on the eastern shore of about. Pharos within the boundaries of Alexandria, the Hellenistic capital of Egypt; one of the Seven Wonders of the World (see SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD). The builder of this miracle of technology, the first and only lighthouse in the entire Greek world ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

A marble tower built on the island of Pharos by Ptolemy Philadelphus, which had 300 cubits in height and consisted of several floors, gradually tapering upwards. On top of it, a fire was lit at night, visible far into the sea. Building this tower... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

See Art. seven wonders of the world. (Source: "Art. Modern Illustrated Encyclopedia." Under the editorship of Prof. A.P. Gorkin; M.: Rosmen; 2007.) ... Art Encyclopedia

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

Lighthouse- After the transformation of Alexandria into the most lively. sea center. The trade of Ptolemaic Egypt should have counted on the arrival of a significant number of ships at night. This necessitated the construction of M., since inciting ... ... Dictionary of antiquity

Lighthouse- after the transformation of Alexandria into the most lively. sea center. The trade of Ptolemaic Egypt should have been expected to arrive in it at night, too. the number of ships. This necessitated the construction of M., since the kindling of fires on ... ... Ancient world. encyclopedic Dictionary

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

Lighthouse of Alexandria (Faros)- a lighthouse on the island of Pharos near Alexandria in Egypt, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Built in 285-280. BC. Sostratus of Cnidus in order to make it safe for ships to enter the harbor of Alexandria. It was a three-tiered tower with a height of ... ... Antique world. Dictionary reference.

A tower-like structure situated in or near navigable waters. It serves as a visible guide during the day and emits continuous light or flashes of light at night to alert sailors to hazards and help them identify... ... Collier Encyclopedia

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100 great wonders of the world, Nadezhda Ionina. Great Pyramids. hanging gardens Babylon, Pharos Lighthouse, Parthenon, Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower, Cathedral of Christ the Savior... The world still writes legends about them, admiringly...

After the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great, a city was founded, named Alexandria in his honor. The city began to actively develop and prosper, became major center maritime trade. Soon there was an urgent need for the construction of the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

Alexandrian lighthouse. Information and interesting facts

The island of Pharos, located 1290 meters from Alexandria, was chosen as the place for the lighthouse. The construction of the Pharos lighthouse, which later became the seventh wonder of the world, was led by the architect Sostratus, the son of Dexifan from Cnidus.

A dam was built to ensure the transport of building materials to the island. The construction itself was carried out according to the standards ancient world lightning fast, took only six years (285-279 BC). New building immediately "knocked out" the walls of Babylon from the list of classic wonders of the world, and took pride of place there to this day. The height of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, according to contemporaries, reached 120 meters. The light projected from the tower of the Lighthouse of Alexandria was visible at a distance of up to 48 kilometers.

The lighthouse had three tiers.

The first tier had a square shape with sides of 30.5 meters, oriented to the cardinal points. Overall Height this tier was 60 meters. The corners of the tier were occupied by statues of tritons. The room itself was intended to accommodate workers and guards, storerooms for fuel and food.

The middle tier of the Pharos lighthouse had an octagonal shape with edges oriented according to the winds prevailing here. The upper part of the tier was decorated with statues, some of which functioned as weathercocks.

The upper tier of a cylindrical shape played just the role of a lantern. It was surrounded by eight columns covered with a dome-cone. The top of the dome of the Pharos lighthouse was decorated with a seven-meter statue of Isis-Faria (the guardian of seafarers). A powerful lamp was projected using a system of concave metal mirrors. There has been a long-standing debate about the delivery of fuel to the top of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Some suggest that the delivery was carried out with the help of lifting mechanisms along the inner shaft, while others say that the lifting was carried out with the help of mules along a spiral ramp.

Also in the lighthouse there was an underground part, where stocks were located drinking water for the garrison. It is worth mentioning that the lighthouse also served as a fortress guarding sea route to Alexandria. The Pharos lighthouse itself was even surrounded by a powerful fence with bastions and loopholes.

In the XIV century, the wonder of the world Faros lighthouse was destroyed by an earthquake. Currently about appearance The seventh wonder of the world is evidenced only by images on Roman coins and the remains of the ruins. So, for example, research in 1996 made it possible to find the remains of the Lighthouse of Alexandria at the bottom of the sea.

Lighthouse on Roman coins

A hundred years after the destruction, Sultan Kait Bey built a fort in its place. And now there are initiators who want to reconstruct the Pharos lighthouse, in the place where it was originally located - on the island of Pharos. But the Egyptian authorities do not want to consider these projects yet, and the Qait-bey fortress continues to guard the site of the former great building of antiquity.

Kite Bay Fortress

Lighthouse of Alexandria - help to sailors, a challenge to the sea. This seventh wonder of the world arose thanks to skillful human hands and died due to the vagaries of nature. The Lighthouse of Alexandria (Faros), which served people for 1.5 thousand years, was crushed by a series of tremors. majestic building for a long time did not want to give up and fought to the last, having withstood three earthquakes and collapsed during the fourth. Thus perished the highest in ancient world building.

Pharos Island is the perfect location for the Lighthouse of Alexandria

The glorious Egyptian city of Alexandria during the time of the ruler Ptolemy Soter quickly grew into a large trading policy. Strings of ships with a variety of goods stretched towards him. But in order to get to the local port, they had to maneuver between treacherous reefs, which were very numerous on the approach to Alexandria. Bad weather increased the risk of shipwreck.

The lighthouse of Alexandria was located on the island of Pharos, not far from the Egyptian Mediterranean coast.

At first, they wanted to improve visibility for sailors by lighting fires on the shore (as the Athenians did in the 5th century BC), but this was not enough to give signals to ships sailing far from the coast. "Lighthouse! That's what we need, ”it dawned on one of the sleepless nights of Ptolemy.

The lighthouse of Pharos was a landmark for ancient sailors going to the port of Alexandria.

The ruler was lucky - according to the map, at a distance of a little more than a kilometer from Alexandria in the Mediterranean Sea was the island of Pharos, and God himself ordered to build a lighthouse there. The construction of the lighthouse of Alexandria was entrusted to the engineer Sostratus, a resident of Cnidia. Construction began immediately, for the sake of it, a dam was even built between the mainland and the island. Work on the Faros lighthouse lasted approximately 5 to 20 years and was completed at the end of the 3rd century. BC. True, the system of signal lights itself appeared only after 100 years.

The power and beauty of the Faros Lighthouse

According to various sources, the height of the Lighthouse of Alexandria was from 115 to 137 meters. For reasons of practicality, it was erected from blocks of marble, fastened with lead mortar. The best Alexandrian architects and scientists were involved in the construction - it was they who came up with the project of the lighthouse, consisting of three tiers.

The lighthouse of Alexandria consisted of three steps: pyramidal, prismatic and cylindrical.

The first level of the Lighthouse of Alexandria was pyramidal in shape with planes oriented to 4 cardinal points. Its ledges were decorated with statues of tritons. The premises of this level were intended to accommodate workers and soldiers, store equipment, fuel and products.

A spiral ramp was built inside the Faros lighthouse to deliver firewood and oil to the top

The eight faces of the second step of the Pharos lighthouse were designed by ancient architects according to the wind rose and decorated with bronze statues. Some of the sculptures were movable and served as weathercocks. The third tier of the structure had a cylindrical shape and ended with a dome, on which stood a 7-meter bronze statue of the ruler of the seas, Poseidon. But they say that in fact the top of the dome of the Faros lighthouse was decorated with a statue of a woman - the guardian of the sailors Isis-Faria.

Sostratos was proud of the lighthouse not in vain

At that time, mankind did not yet know electricians, and for signals to sailors, a giant fire was kindled at the very top of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Its light was amplified, reflected in polished bronze plates, and was visible up to 100 kilometers in the area. Ancient legends said that the radiance coming from the Pharos Lighthouse was capable of burning enemy ships even before approaching the shore.

A fire was constantly burning in the dome of the lighthouse, illuminating the way for sailors at night and during the day in poor visibility.

At night, powerful tongues of flame indicated the direction of the ships, during the day - clouds of smoke. To keep the fire burning, the Romans established an uninterrupted supply of firewood to the top of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. They were drawn on wagons pulled by mules and horses. To do this, they built a gentle spiral-shaped road inside the Faros Lighthouse, one of the first ramps in the world. Although some scientists claim that firewood was dragged to the top by lifting mechanisms.

Drawing of the Faros Lighthouse by the archaeologist G. Tirsh (1909)

Interesting to know. The lighthouse of Alexandria was surrounded by a powerful fence with loopholes, so it could serve as a fort and an observation post. From the top of the lighthouse it was possible to see the enemy fleet long before it approached the city. In the underground part of the structure, supplies of drinking water were kept in case of a siege.

The lighthouse of Alexandria was at the same time a fort and could withstand a protracted siege

Sostratus of Knidos was very proud of his offspring. He hated the idea that the descendants would not recognize the name of the creator of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Therefore, on the wall of the first tier, the engineer carved the inscription: "Sostratus from Cnidia, son of Dextifan, dedicated to the gods-saviors for the sake of seafarers." But the loyal subject was afraid of the wrath of the Egyptian ruler, who usually takes all the credit for himself, so he hid the phrase under a thick layer of plaster, on which he scratched out the name of the conceited Ptolemy Soter. Pieces of clay fell off very quickly, and even during the life of the Pharos lighthouse, travelers could read the name of its true creator.

Decline and destruction of the Lighthouse of Alexandria

Alarming signals about the destruction of the Pharos lighthouse began to appear at the time of the fall of the Roman Empire. It was not maintained in proper condition, and once majestic building began to decline. The current brought silt into the bay, ships could no longer enter the port of Alexandria, and the need for a lighthouse on the island of Pharos gradually disappeared. Over time, the bronze plates-mirrors of the Lighthouse of Alexandria were taken apart and melted down - it is assumed that they "dispersed" around the world in the form of coins and settled in the collections of numismatists.

The only images that give an idea of the architecture of the Pharos lighthouse are embossed drawings on ancient Roman coins.

Earthquakes in 365, 956 and 1303 AD significantly damaged the building - the epicenters were at a short distance from the place where the lighthouse was built. And in 1323, the most powerful tremors hastened the death of the Lighthouse of Alexandria - only ruins remained from the building ...

Modern reconstruction of the building of the Lighthouse of Alexandria

One of the options for the architecture of the Farosso lighthouse, made of sand

Modern 3D visualizers give different ideas regarding the appearance of the Lighthouse of Alexandria

In the 14th century AD. Egypt was settled by nimble Arabs. The first thing they did was roll up their sleeves and try to restore the lighthouse of Alexandria. But their zeal was only enough for a 30-meter structure - then the construction work stalled. Why the Arabs did not continue the restoration of the Faros lighthouse - history is silent. And only 100 years later, in the place where the Pharos lighthouse was erected, the Sultan of Egypt Kite-Bey built a fortress - it still stands there, having successfully survived to this day. Now here is the base of the Egyptian fleet. From the Lighthouse of Alexandria itself, only the plinth remained, entirely built into the fortress.

Faros lighthouse will be revived!

For many centuries, the lighthouse of Alexandria was considered the most tall building on the ground. Therefore, it is assigned to 7 ancient wonders of the world. The lighthouse, or rather, all that was left of it, was discovered in 1994 - some fragments of the building were found at the bottom of the sea - archaeologists were delighted with this message from the historical past. And in May 2015, the Egyptian government decided to rebuild the Pharos Lighthouse on the same spot where the original was once erected.

The reduced building of the Lighthouse of Alexandria was built in one of the Chinese parks for entertainment and recreation

Volumetric reconstruction of the Faros lighthouse on a scale

When construction will begin is still unknown. The biggest difficulty when trying to build an exact copy of the structure is the lack of “living” images of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, therefore, the architects will have to puff, relying only on information from descriptions in several written Arabic sources and photos of the ruins. The appearance of the Pharos lighthouse was reconstructed using computer modeling - only the ruins and its images on Roman coins testify to the appearance of the seventh wonder of the world.

Model of the lighthouse of Alexandria made of cardboard, giving an idea of the main structural elements of the building

Interesting to know. Another possible clue for creating a project for a future lighthouse could be a tomb in Egyptian city Abusir. It was built in the same period as the Lighthouse of Alexandria. The people even call the tower the lighthouse of Abusir. Historians suggest that it was specially built as a smaller copy of the Pharos lighthouse.

The lighthouse of Alexandria was described by ancient historians and travelers, including the "father of history" Herodotus. Most Full description Faros lighthouse in 1166 was compiled by Abu el-Andalussi - the famous Arab traveler, who stated that the lighthouse was not only a useful structure, but also a worthy decoration of Alexandria.

One of the seven wonders of the ancient world life-size in the landscape (3d modeling)

The Pharos lighthouse remains today a symbol of the city of Alexandria. His stylized image adorns the flag of the city. Moreover, the drawing of the Lighthouse of Alexandria flaunts on the seals of many government agencies, including the local university.
The structure of the minarets of Islamic mosques is identical to the architecture of the Lighthouse of Alexandria.
Reconstructions of the Pharos lighthouse are strikingly similar to the New York skyscraper Empire State Building.
A copy of the Lighthouse of Alexandria was built in Chinese amusement park Window of the World.
It is assumed that during the first attempts to determine the radius of the Earth, ancient Greek scientists used the Lighthouse of Alexandria (Faros).

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