Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: alexander the great, alexandria, ancient, arab, bronze, engraving, fire, flame, greek, inscription, lighthouse, lime, marble, mirror, monument, nile river, plaster, pliny the elder, seven wonders of ancient world, sostratus
After the death of Alexander the Great, his general, Ptolemy I Soter, made himself king and initiated the building of the Pharos of Alexandria. The Pharos of Alexandria, forerunner of all lighthouses, was built by Sostratus of Knidos during 3rd century BC. It is located on an Island of Pharos, and serves as Alexandria port’s landmark and lighthouse, and idea adopted by the Romans.
The use of fire and reflective mirrors dates back to 1st century AD during the Roman period. A huge, polished, bronze mirror at the very top of the 400-foot, three-stage tower brightly reflects the light of a fire that burns day and night. The flame can be spotted up to 56 kilometers (35 miles) out at sea. A large ramp inside the building allows horse-drawn wagons to carry fuel up to the burning lamp.
Under Ptolemy’s orders, Sostratus was forbidden from putting his name on his work, so Sostratus secretly hid his name underneath a tablet of lime that claimed Ptolemy as the builder of Pharos. Centuries later, the plaster wore away, revealing Sostratus’s name underneath.
The Pharos of Alexandria was severely damaged due to several earthquakes, but survived till the 14th century.
796 AD – Pharos of Alexandria lost its upper story.
896 AD – Ibn Touloun built domed mosque on the summit of Pharos of Alexandria.
950-956 AD – Pharos of Alexandria lost 22 meters in height.
1261 – More masonry fell after another earthquake.
1272 – Sultan Saladin ordered restoration work.
1326 – Final collapse of Pharos of Alexandria.
1480 – Egyptian Mameluke Sultan Ashraf Quaitbay built a fort over the ruins.
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- Pharos of Alexandria
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[...] burned down and rebuilt over and over again. Each time the Temple of Artemis was destroyed, it was rebuilt on the same site, except at a higher level and with greater magnificence and [...]
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