The Lighthouse of Alexandria - The Seven Wonders of Ancient World - See U in History

Among the many cities founded by Alexander the Great, which bear his name, the Egyptian city of Alexandria is certainly the most well-known. Located at the mouth of the Nile River, the city grew and flourished, turning itself into one of the most prosperous Mediterranean cities. Its port became one of the key trade hubs of the ancient world. After Alexander's death, the Macedonian dominions were disputed by his senior officers. The Macedonian general Ptolemy established himself as the ruler of Egypt, and the Ptolemaic dynasty started. As an Egyptian pharaoh, Ptolemy ordered the construction of a massive lighthouse on the This colossal structure would be known as the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The building had a tower height of about 130 meters, something remarkable for that time. The Lighthouse of Alexandria was one of the tallest structures in the ancient world. The construction took 12 years to be completed. It marveled the sailors from distant lands who docked at the port. There was a pyre at the top that burned uninterruptedly. Its flame shone at night and could be seen from a distance of more than 40 kilometers. There was also a statue of Poseidon at the top of the lighthouse, the King of the Seas, a deity greatly revered by Hellenic sailors. First owned by the government of Alexandria, it later became a Roman and Arab possession. But the lighthouse continued to stand out on the Alexandrian coast for over 1,000 years. However, several earthquakes shook the lighthouse's structure, and in 1480, the lighthouse was already totally destroyed. Taking advantage of its strategic position, the Sultan Mamluk ordered the construction of a great fortress to defend the Port of Alexandria. In 1994, an expedition of maritime archaeologists found the submerged ruins of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. In 2015, the Egyptian government approved a plan to rebuild the lighthouse and flourish tourism in a city that was once one of the most visited in the world.