Lighthouse of Alexandria One of the wonders of

Lighthouse of Alexandria. One of the wonders of the world.

History of construction. The lighthouse was built for ships could safely pass the reefs on the way to Alexandria Bay. Night they helped in this reflection of the flames, and in the afternoon - a pillar of smoke. Lighthouse stood for nearly a thousand years, but in 796 was heavily damaged by the earthquake. Subsequently come to Egypt Arabs tried to restore it, and to the XIV century. height of the lighthouse was about 30 meters. At the end of the XV century Sultan Qaitbay lighthouse erected on the site of a fortress, which stands today.

History of construction. The lighthouse was built on a small island of Pharos in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Alexandria. This bustling port founded by Alexander the Great during his visit to Egypt in 332 BC. Construction was named after the island. Its construction should have gone 20 years, and it was completed around 283 BC , during the reign of Ptolemy II, king of Egypt. Construction of this gigantic structure lasted only five years. Architect - Sostratus Cnidus.

Guiding Light. The total height of the lighthouse - 120 -140 meters , its light was visible at a distance of 60 km (according to other accounts, to 100 km ). The lower part is a four-sided prism 60 meters high with a square base , the side length is 30 meters. Indoors store different equipment and flat roof decorated with huge statues on the corners of the Triton , was the basis of the average. It was a 40 -foot octagonal prism tower , lined with white marble. The upper ( third ) part of the lighthouse was built in the form of a cylindrical colonnades 8 columns bore dome, topped by 8 foot bronze figure of the ruler of the seas Poseidon (or Zeus statue of the Savior ). To keep the flame , required a large amount of fuel. Wood brought a spiral ramp on carts pulled by mules. Flame stood bronze plates to direct the light in the sea.

The death of a lighthouse. By the XII century Alexandria Bay silted so that ships could no longer use it. Lighthouse fell into disrepair. Bronze plates serve as a mirror , probably melted down for coins. In the XIV century lighthouse was completely destroyed by an earthquake. A few years later its fragments used for construction of the fortress. The fortress was rebuilt several times later.