Interesting facts Alexandria lighthouse. Lighthouse of Alexandria: photos, description, history and interesting facts

The seventh wonder of the world is located in Egypt on the shores of the Pharos Gulf - the famous Alexandria lighthouse counts its history from the formation of the city of Alexandria, which was built in 332 BC. Roman commander of Macedon: the conqueror, during his military career, named about 17 cities in his honor, but only Alexandria in Egypt has preserved its sights to this day.

Construction

1. The Pharos lighthouse was erected in the Nile delta - the commander carefully chose the site for the new city of Alexandria, and it was here that the first construction sites were deployed near Lake Mareotis. The Macedonian assumed that the lighthouse of a grandiose height should stand on the banks of two large harbors. One of them was planned as a port for merchant ships coming from the Mediterranean countries, and the second harbor served ships sailing along the Nile.

2. Ptolemy became the new ruler of Egypt: by that time the Macedonian had died, leaving behind a flourishing and promising port city. The new government decided to continue the work of the conqueror and establish a lighthouse, which later became the seventh wonder of the world. At night and in inclement weather, a 120-meter powerful lighthouse illuminated the sea routes for trade and passenger ships heading to the harbor.

3. During the construction of the Alexandria lighthouse, a photo of the remains of the foundation of which can be seen on the network, a system of signal lights was used. The real architect, who did a lot for the appearance of this large-scale signal structure in Alexandria and actually supervised the construction, is the engineer from Cnidia - Sostratus. It took more than 20 years to build Pharos lighthouse, which went down in history as the most high building the ancient world. To provide a work site building materials, built a dam.

4. Inside the lighthouse, the architects have placed as many as three separate tiers. On the first, which has a square shape, statues of sea inhabitants - tritons - were installed in the corners. This room housed guards and workers serving the lighthouse. There were also pantries with fuel and food.

On the middle tier, the building had an octagonal shape, while the builders managed to orient the edges along the local wind directions. At the top of the building were statues and original weather vane.

The upper tier had a strictly cylindrical shape and was decorated with columns, and a source of illumination was arranged under the cone-shaped reflecting dome. At the top of the lighthouse, a statue of Isis was placed, which was considered the patroness of merchants and sailors. The masters managed to project a powerful light through a complex system of mirrors - these were concave metal sheets that perfectly reflected the fire burning at the very top of the tower.

5. Scientists are still arguing over the method of delivering fuel to the Pharos lighthouse. According to one version, the firewood was transported by teams of mules along reliable spiral staircases. The second legend says that fuel was lifted by an ancient elevator through a shaft located vertically inside the structure. The light that the beacon gave from high tower, was clearly visible even at a distance of 48 kilometers from the harbor.

6. In the underground part there were serious supplies of food and water for the garrison guard, since the structure served as a fortress protecting the bays and sea approaches to the city. The photo of the basement of the Alexandria lighthouse has preserved the outline of the fence, through the loopholes of which the arrows guarded the harbor.

The fate of the structure

In the 16th century, the seventh wonder of the world was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake. The lighthouse was captured on old coins minted in Rome. Modern scientists can judge the scale of the construction only by the ruins and preserved ancient documents.

Sultan Kait-bey, a century after the destruction of the tower, built a military fort on that place. In the mid-90s of the last century, scientists discovered the remains of the legendary lighthouse at the bottom of the Alexandria harbor. Once the initiative groups planned to work on the reconstruction of the lighthouse, but the Egyptian authorities refused to finance these dubious projects. Now on the island of Pharos, only the ancient fortress of Kite Bey guards the ruins of an antique tower.

Tourists and travelers from all over the world can not only see picturesque photos of the Alexandria lighthouse, but also visit the remains of the foundation on the shore of a bay in Egypt. The ruins of the tower still attract lovers of historical sites and ancient architecture. By purchasing completely affordable prices tours to Egypt from specialists from the travel agency website, tourists get a unique opportunity to visit various countries and even look at famous sights.

Alexandrian lighthouse

In the III century. BC NS. on small island Pharos in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Alexandria, a lighthouse was built so that ships could safely pass the reefs on their way to the Bay of Alexandria. At night, they were helped in this by the reflection (to enhance the brightness, the light of the fire was reflected from the bronze plates) of the flames, and during the day - by a column of smoke. The structure was named after the island. On its construction, ™ various sources, took from 5 to 20 years, and it was completed about 280 BC. e., during the reign of Ptolemy II, king of Egypt.

The Pharos lighthouse consisted of three marble towers, which stood 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 upper tower.

The upper tower was shaped like a cylinder, in which a fire was burning, which helped the ships safely reach the bay. The total height of the lighthouse was 117 m.

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The sixth wonder of the world is the Lighthouse of Alexandria(aka the Pharos lighthouse). It was built in the 3rd century BC.

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

Hardly anyone imagined that the outstanding structure would enter. In the dark, the flames reflected by the water surface were visible at a distance of more than 60 kilometers, allowing ships to safely pass the reefs. In the daytime, instead of light, a plume of smoke was used, also visible from extremely far away.

After standing for almost 1000 years, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was seriously damaged by what happened in 796 AD. When the Arabs came to Egypt (XIV century), they decided to restore the grandiose 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, Kayt Bey, the 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 Alexandria lighthouse

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 should have taken 20 years, but all residents saw the masterpiece much earlier. The main architect and builder of this building is Sostrat of Cnidus.

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

The Alexandria lighthouse consisted of three towers. The first, lowest, rectangular part of the monument was used for technical purposes. Workers and soldiers lived there, and the tools and equipment necessary to maintain the lighthouse were kept. The second, octagonal tower towered over the first part.

A ramp wound around it to lift 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 of 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 the unusually arranged statues. The first pointed her hand at, throughout the day, and when the sun went down, her 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 became extremely muddy. This is what caused the outstanding structure to fall into complete decay. Even later, in the XIV century, due to an earthquake wonder of the world Alexandria lighthouse completely collapsed.

In its place, a fortress was erected, which changed its appearance more than once. Now on this historical site the base of the Egyptian fleet is located and, despite various proposals, the authorities do not consider the idea of restoring the lighthouse.

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Pharos, aka the Alexandria lighthouse - one of the seven wonders of the world - was located on east coast Pharos Islands within the boundaries of Alexandria. It was the first and only lighthouse of such gigantic proportions at that time. The builder of this structure was Sostrat of Cnidus. Now the Alexandria lighthouse has not survived, but the remains of this structure have been found, confirming the reality of its existence.

It has been known for a long time that the remains of a lighthouse are under water in the Pharos region. But the presence of an Egyptian naval base on this site prevented any research from being carried out. It was only in 1961 that Kemal Abu el-Sadat discovered statues, blocks and boxes made of marble 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 relevance for archaeologists this site has been confirmed.

Active research

In 1980, a group of archaeologists from different countries began excavations on the seabed in the Pharos region. This group of scientists, in addition to archaeologists, included architects, topographers, Egyptologists, painters and restorers, and photographers.

As a result, hundreds of fragments of the lighthouse were discovered at a depth of 6–8 meters, covering an area of more than 2 hectares. In addition, studies have shown that objects on the seabed are older than the lighthouse. Many columns and capitals of granite, marble, limestone belonging to different eras were extracted from the water.

The discovery of the famous obelisks called "Cleopatra's needles" and brought to Alexandria by order of Octavian Augustus in 13 BC, aroused particular interest of scientists. NS. 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 delta by Alexander the Great in 332–331 BC. NS. 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 was home to 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 military leaders fought among themselves and divided the huge power of Alexander, Ptolemy settled in Egypt and made Alexandria one of the richest and most beautiful capitals of the ancient world.

Home of the Muses

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

The splendid Library of Alexandria also attracted scholars to Museion, which contained about 500 thousand scrolls, including the works of the outstanding Greek playwrights Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides. King Ptolemy II allegedly asked these manuscripts from the Athenians for a while, so that the scribes could make copies of them. The Athenians asked for a huge bail. The king paid meekly. But he refused to return the manuscripts.

A well-known 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 by the famous geographer and mathematician Eratosthenes. He managed to calculate the diameter and radius of the Earth and made only an insignificant error of 75 kilometers, which, given the possibilities available at that time, does not detract from his merits.

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

Natural sciences, mathematics and mechanics were widely developed. The famous mathematician Euclid, the founder of geometry, and the outstanding inventor Heron of Alexandria, whose works were long ahead of their time, lived in Alexandria. For example, he created a device that was actually the first steam engine.

In addition, he invented many different automatic machines that are driven by steam or hot air. But in the era of the universal spread of slave labor, these inventions could not find application and were used only for the entertainment of the royal court.

The most ingenious astronomer Aristarchus of Samos, long before Copernicus, said that the Earth is a ball that revolves around its axis and around the Sun. Among his contemporaries, his ideas caused only a grin, but he remained unconvinced.

Creation of the Alexandria lighthouse

The developments of Alexandrian scientists found application in real life. An example of outstanding achievements of science was the Alexandria lighthouse, which was considered one of the wonders of the world at that time. In 285 BC. NS. the island was connected to the shore by a dam - an artificially poured isthmus. And five years later, by 280 BC. BC, the construction of the lighthouse was completed.

The Alexandria lighthouse 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 in length. The edges of the square were facing four cardinal directions: north, south, east, west - and were made of limestone.
The second floor was made in the form of an octagonal tower faced 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, the height of which reached 7 meters. The dome of the lighthouse rested on marble columns. The spiral staircase leading upstairs was so comfortable that all necessary materials, including fuel for the fire, were lifted up on donkeys.

A complex system of metal mirrors reflected and amplified the light of the lighthouse, and it was clearly visible to mariners from afar. In addition, the same system made it possible to monitor the sea space and detect enemy ships long before they appeared within sight.

Special pointers

Bronze statues were placed on the octagonal tower that forms the second floor. Some of them were equipped with special mechanisms that allowed them to serve as weather vane indicating the direction of the wind.

Travelers talked about the wonderful properties of the statues. One of them allegedly always pointed her hand at the sun, tracing its path across the sky, and dropped her hand when the sun went down. The other beat every hour throughout the day.

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

It is possible that the scientist's achievements 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 had no analogues in Ancient world neither in size nor in terms of technical data. Before that, ordinary bonfires were usually used as lighthouses. It is not surprising that the Alexandria lighthouse with its complex system of mirrors, colossal size and fantastic statues seemed to all people a real miracle.

Who created the Alexandria lighthouse

The builder of this miracle, Sostratus of Cnidus, carved an inscription on the marble wall: "Sostratus, the son of Dexiphanes of 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 name of the master who created a magnificent lighthouse appeared in the eyes of those around him.

Although the lighthouse was located on the eastern coast of the island of Pharos, it is more often referred to as Alexandria rather than Pharos. This island is mentioned in Homer's poem "The Odyssey". During Homer's time, he was in the Nile Delta, opposite the small Egyptian settlement of Rakotis.

But by the time of the construction of the lighthouse, according to the remarks of the Greek geographer Strabo, he had significantly approached the shores 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 is 177.6 meters).

That is, in terms of the measurement system we are used to, the length of the dam was about 750 meters. On the side of Pharos was the main, the Great Harbor of Alexandria. This harbor was so deep that a large ship could anchor off the coast.

Nothing is eternal

The tower is my helper for sailors who have lost their way.
Here at night I light the bright fire of Poseidon.
She was about to collapse from the dull rustling wind,
But Ammonius strengthened me again with his labors.
After the fierce ramparts, they stretch out their hands to me
All sailors, honoring you, about the earth vibrator.

Nevertheless, the lighthouse stood until the XIV 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. Now there is an Egyptian naval port on Pharos. And on the western side of the island is another lighthouse, which does not resemble in any way its great predecessor, but also continues to show the way for ships.

Unfortunately, the earthquake almost completely destroyed the building, but, despite this, there were no fewer people wishing to see the lighthouse.

The Alexandria Lighthouse is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. In another way, the lighthouse is called Pharos, because of its location on the island of Pharos on the coast of Alexandria in Egypt. The city got its name from the Emperor Alexander the Great. He approached the location of the city very thoughtfully. At first, it will seem unusual that the Macedonian did not choose the Nile Delta, where two major strategic routes pass. However, if Alexandria were built on the Nile River, harmful sand and silt would clog its harbor. Thus, the most the best way, because great hopes were pinned on the city.

The Macedonian planned to create here the largest trading city, where goods from all over the world would be delivered. And of course, such an important center required a harbor. Many famous designers of that time created a project according to which a dam was erected connecting the island and the mainland. Thus, two harbors were obtained, receiving ships from both the Nile and the sea.

The emperor's dream came true only after his death, when Ptolemy I ascended the throne. He made Alexandria the largest commercial port city in all of Greece. With the growth and development of navigation, the island increasingly needed a lighthouse. Its construction would make the navigation of ships at sea safer, and also attract more sellers and buyers.

Amid the sparse landscape, the lighthouse would stand out for its lights, creating a powerful landmark for the lost. According to historians, Alexander the Great also planned to make a defensive structure out of the lighthouse in case of attacks from the sea. Therefore, the plans were to build a huge sentinel post.

Construction of the Alexandria lighthouse

Of course, the construction of such a large-scale facility required large financial and labor resources. Finding them at such a difficult time was not easy. But Ptolemy solved this problem by bringing in a huge number of Jews from the conquered Syria, who became slaves at the construction site. At this time, there are several more important events for the state. Ptolemy signs an amicable agreement with Demetrius Poliorketes and celebrates the death of Antigonus' blood enemy.

In 285 BC. the construction of Pharos begins, led by the architect Sostratus of Cnidus. To perpetuate his name, the architect creates an inscription stating that he is building this building for the sailors. At the top, the inscription was covered with tiles bearing the name of Ptolemy. However, the secret has been revealed in our time.

Lighthouse structure

The Alexandria lighthouse had three rectangular tiers with a side of 30.5 meters. The edges of the lower tier were clearly turned to certain cardinal points. Its height was 60 meters. The lower tier on the sides was decorated with tritons and was used by workers for personal purposes. The stores of fuel and food were also kept here.

The middle tier was built in the form of a polygon, the edges of which were directed towards the winds.

The third tier resembled a cylinder and served directly as a luminary. At the top was a seven-meter sculpture of Isis-Faria, which the sailors revered as their keeper. According to some sources, there was a statue of Poseidon at the top, but this fact has not been proven. A complex design of mirrors was created here, which significantly increased the range of light. Fuel came to the lighthouse through special ramps that were transported by mules. It was for the convenience of movement that the dam was built. The Alexandria lighthouse, in addition to its direct duty, performed the function of the city's defense. There was a military garrison here. For complete safety, thick walls and small towers were erected around the lighthouse.

In general, the entire structure was 120 meters high, becoming the tallest in the world.

The fate of the lighthouse

A thousand years later, the structure began to collapse. It happened in 796 during a powerful earthquake. The ruins of the 30-meter height remained from the majestic structure.

Later, the military fort of Kite Bay was built from the wreckage, inside which there are now several museums? Museum of Marine Biology and History Museum.