Lighthouse of Alexandria
The Lighthouse of Alexandria (Greek: Pharos of Alexandria) was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World — a monumental tower built on the island of Pharos in the harbour of Alexandria, Egypt, under the Ptolemaic dynasty in the 3rd century BCE. Regarded for centuries as the tallest man-made structure on Earth after the Great Pyramid of Giza, it guided mariners into one of antiquity's busiest ports until it was severely damaged by earthquakes in the 10th through 14th centuries CE, eventually collapsing entirely by the late 15th century.
At a glance
- Type
- Ancient lighthouse; one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (destroyed)
- Period
- Constructed c. 280–247 BCE under Ptolemy I Soter and Ptolemy II Philadelphus; functioned until severe earthquake damage c. 956 CE; final collapse by c. 1480 CE
- Style
- Hellenistic; three-tiered tower (square base, octagonal middle, cylindrical top)
- Location
- Island of Pharos, harbour of Alexandria, Egypt — now the site of the Citadel of Qaitbay
- Coordinates
- 31.2142° N, 29.8914° E
Overview
The Pharos of Alexandria stood at the entrance to the eastern harbour of Alexandria, the Ptolemaic capital and greatest city of the Hellenistic world. Ancient sources, including Strabo and Pliny the Elder, describe a magnificent multi-storey tower crowned by a fire or mirror apparatus that could be seen from great distances at sea. Estimated at between 100 and 140 metres in height, it served both as a navigational landmark and a statement of Ptolemaic imperial power. The island of Pharos itself lent its name to the word for lighthouse in dozens of languages (French phare, Italian faro, Spanish faro).
History
Construction began under Ptolemy I Soter and was completed during the reign of his son Ptolemy II Philadelphus, around 280–247 BCE; the architect is traditionally identified as Sostratus of Cnidus, who according to legend inscribed his own name — rather than the king's — on the foundation stones. The lighthouse guided ships into the harbour of Alexandria for over a millennium, serving successive rulers including the Romans and Byzantines. A catastrophic earthquake in 956 CE caused the first major structural damage; further earthquakes in 1303 and 1323 CE left only a ruined stub. By 1480 the Mamluk Sultan Qaitbay used stones from the lighthouse's remains to construct the still-standing Citadel of Qaitbay on the same promontory. Underwater archaeological surveys since the 1990s have identified massive stone blocks in the harbour that are believed to be fragments of the original structure.
What you see
The original lighthouse no longer exists, but the Citadel of Qaitbay (built 1477–1479) occupies the precise site and incorporates ancient stones in its fabric. The citadel, a fine example of Mamluk military architecture, is open to visitors and offers views across Alexandria's eastern harbour. Underwater excavations led by French archaeologist Jean-Yves Empereur beginning in 1994 mapped hundreds of enormous stone blocks, columns, and sphinxes on the harbour floor — now accessible to divers as an underwater archaeological park. A selection of recovered artefacts is displayed in the National Museum of Alexandria.
Cultural significance
The Pharos of Alexandria was one of the defining achievements of Hellenistic engineering and the archetype of the lighthouse as an architectural form. Its inclusion among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World — the canonical list compiled by Greek writers of the 2nd century BCE — reflects how deeply it impressed the ancient imagination. The lighthouse became a symbol of Alexandria itself, appearing on Ptolemaic coins and in literary descriptions for centuries. Even in its ruined state, the site retains extraordinary historical importance as the point where one of antiquity's greatest structures met the sea.
Practical information
- Site today
- Citadel of Qaitbay, Anfushi, Alexandria — check official website for current hours and admission fees
- Underwater park
- Diving tours to the underwater ancient stones available through licensed Alexandria diving operators
- Museum
- National Museum of Alexandria, 23 Tariq al-Hurriyya St, Alexandria — displays artefacts from the harbour excavations
Getting there
Alexandria is Egypt's second city, located on the Mediterranean coast 220 km northwest of Cairo. Borg El Arab Airport (HBE) serves Alexandria with domestic and international flights. The city is also reachable from Cairo by frequent express train services (approximately 2–2.5 hours) or by road. The Citadel of Qaitbay is situated on the Anfushi peninsula in the western part of Alexandria's seafront; it is accessible by city tram (tram line to Ras el-Tin) or taxi from the central railway station.