LIGHTHOUSE OF ALEXANDRIA

The Lighthouse of Alexandria, also knoun as the Pharos of Alexandria, was a tower built between 280 and 247 BC on the island of Pharos at Alexandria, Egypt to guide sailors into the harbour at nught. With a height variously estimated at between 393 and 450 ft, it was for many centuries among the tallest man-made structures, and was one of the Seven Wonders of The Ancient World.

Pharos was a small island just off the coast of Alexandria, which was connected to the mainland by a man-made causeway named the Heptastadion, which formed on side of the city´sharbor. The tower erected on the island guided mariners at night using fire and reflective mirrors, and acted as a landmark by day. It was said that the light could seen from up to 29 miles away, and legends claim that he light from Pharos could burn enemy ships before they reched shore.

DESCRIPTION:

Constructed from large blocks of light-coloured stone, the tower was made up of three stages: a lower square section with a central core, a middle octogonal section,and, at he top, a circular section. At its apex was positioned a mirror which reflected sunlight during the day; a fire was lit at night. Extant Roman coins struck by the Alexandrian mint show that a statue of a triton was positioned on each of the building´s four corners. A statue of Poseidon, stood atop the tower during the Roman period. The Pharo´s masonry blocks were interlocked, sealed together using molten lead, to whitstand the pounding of the waves.