- The Pharos of Alexandria was a giant lighthouse in Egypt, which was famous for being one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
- The Fortress of Qaitbay now stands on the Site of the Pharos of Alexandria.
History
- The Pharos was built in c. 280 BCE, on an island guarding the entrance to Alexandria Harbour.
- It was designed by Sostratos of Cnidus. a Greek Engineer.
- Possibly, it may have been used as a giant platform to launch Naptha missiles, protecting the entrance to the Harbour.
Construction
- It was built in three sections: a square lower section, an octagonal middle section and a circular upper section.
- Inside was a spiral path wide enough for carts to travel all the way to the top.
- Its Height was c. 450 feet (140m).
- At the top was a giant mirror which reflected the sun during the day. At night, a fire was lit, which could be seen up to a distance of 30 miles (48km).
The Site Today
- In 1480 CE, its remains were used to construct the medieval Fortress of Qaitbay, whhich now stands on the Site of the Pharos of Alexandria.
Influence
- It was used as a model for all subsequent lighthouses in the ancient world.
- The Greek word ‘Pharos’ came to mean ‘Lighthouse’. The French word ‘Phare’ and the Italian and Spanish word ‘Faro’, ‘Farol’ in Portuguese, are all derived from the Greek word ‘Pharos’, and are still used today to mean Lighthouse.
- Today, the Pharos is used as the symbol for the modern city of Alexandria.
Qaitbay Fort, Egypt: