The Pharos (Lighthouse) of Alexandria - The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
By: CNN
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The Pharos (Lighthouse) of
Alexandria
Built: About 270 B.C.
Location: On ancient island of Pharos in harbor of Alexandria,
Egypt
History: Upon its completion, the Alexandria lighthouse --
commonly estimated to have been about 400 feet high -- was one of the
tallest structures on Earth. The Greek architect Sostratus designed it
during the reign of King Ptolemy II.
The Pharos guided sailors into the city harbor for 1,500 years and
was the last of the six lost wonders to disappear. Earthquakes toppled
it in the 14th century A.D.
An Arab traveler made notes in 1166 that provide intricate details on
the structure. From his writing, archaeologists have deduced that the
lighthouse was constructed in three stages. At the top, a mirror
reflected sunlight during the day, and a fire guided sailors at night.
The structure was so famous that the word "pharos" came to mean
lighthouse in French, Italian and Spanish.
In November 1996, a team of divers searching the Mediterranean Sea
claimed to have found the ruins of the fabled lighthouse of Pharos.
Source: http://www.cnn.com/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/9705/seven.wonders/babylon.html
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