Lighthouse of Alexandria

The Great Lighthouse of Alexandria (named after the island of Pharos, on which it stood) was the most famous lighthouse of its kind and one of the seven wonders of the world. In classical times it was called in Greek ὁ Φάρος Ἀλεξανδρινóς and in Latin Turris Pharia or Pharos of Alexandria. Originally, the list of wonders, the city walls of Babylon, which was later included as in the Hellenistic period decay, were replaced by the lighthouse. The tower is said to have about 115 to 160 meters high.

Location
Pharos was a small island near the Egyptian coast, 25 kilometers west of the Canopic branch of the Nile. Already mentioned in Homer's Odyssey (4. vocal line 354-359). According to legend, the Greek King Menelaus and Troy's opponents (altgr. Μενέλαος) to have landed on the island, which had then not yet known names. He asked a man on the island after their names and owners. The Egyptians told him "Pera'a" () = ancient Egyptian pharaoh. The King could only understand "Pharos", which meant in ancient Greek "cloth" (τὸ φᾶρος, gen-ους = cloth, sail) - then came the island to its name [1] [2].

The island was by an artificial land bridge, the seven furlongs (1,316 m) long Heptastadiondamm, built by Dexiphanes of Knidos, the father of the Lighthouse Architects, connected to the mainland. Dam and the east limit of the island formed Eunostos port (ὁ Eὐνοστòς Λιμήν - the "Good Harbor Homecoming"), while the western and northern boundary of the Great Harbor "(ὁ Μέγας Λιμήν (megas limen)) of Alexandria, because of Its square shape jokingly Kibotos (ἡ κιβοτός = the box) was called. Since the area is shortage of natural landmarks, and the ships due to intensive shipping traffic at night once had to be phased out and it was deemed necessary to mark the entrance of the port, as it was difficult to identify with a moderate point of view against the background. It has never been entirely clear whether King Ptolemy I Soter and his architect Sostratos himself has initiated the building. The fact that his name is recorded as an architect, but clearly not the donor, suggesting that Sostratos who was also a merchant and diplomat, as an extremely wealthy man was at least co-founder of the unusual structure.

Construction
The tower was built by Sostratos of Knidos at the beginning of about 299 to 279 BC by order of Ptolemy I, who provided 800 talents (21,000 kg ~ 9.000.000 EUR 2007) silver, and Ptolemy II, under whose rule until the construction was begun. Eusebius of Caesarea, mentioned the Pharos for the year 282 BC [3], which speaks for its completion, at the latest, 282, corresponding to a construction period of 17 to 20 years. The workers were mostly slaves, apart from the highly specialized professionals. An eye-witness of the inauguration ceremony was Posidippus of Macedon (316-250) of Kassandreia (Potideia), found in his surviving writings provide details. He cites as "saving the Gods" Zeus Soter and Proteus God as ruler of the island.

Architecture
The tower stood on an approximately 340 m (was 190 m) long and wide as the great stone platform made of granite, adorned with additional pictures of gods - including the first ruler of the Ptolemaierdynastie. Not sure about is whether the foundation slab directly on the three seaside’s like a quay to the sea fell off or was still surrounded by the island ground. According to some sources, she was surrounded by a covered portico, as well as the access ramp to the entrance of the Pharos, according to tradition, the ancient writers (Strabo, [4] Pliny [5], Lucian) increases and designs located. The first section of this unusual structure is a high 55 to 65 feet, to have been tapering upwards of limestone ashlar with a square section of 30 m side length at the base. Marble, which is often referred to as a building material, could not be established in Alexandria at this time. Some researchers wondered marble cladding [6]. The heavy stone blocks were connected with lead as the joint material, which gave the structure a certain amount of elasticity in the face of earthquakes and of the shock wave, which was exposed to the tower, despite breakwaters, paid off. The walls were structured and equipped with windows to illuminate the rooms. That gave him more the appearance of a tall building, but was architecturally determined, otherwise the tower with the means then would not have received this stability and durability. The tower was finally completed after the two great pyramids of Giza for his entire life, the third highest building in the world (at 145 m) or even the highest (greater than 152 m). The massive base of circular section was full of storage, storage rooms and lounges (~ 50) for artisans and mechanics, went inside for a spatially separated ramp on the inner wall of shaft to transport materials with carts or pack mules. The top slot went further up to the lantern, and made it possible by means of a less traction elevator, fuel and other necessities lift up to the fireplace. - A Fries graduated from the lower pedestal top. He had a certain resemblance to an Egyptian figure shrine. The top of the pedestal was accessible to the public, including the roof platform of the octagon. The view from about 60 and 100 m height was for the people of that time a unique experience, since there had been no surveys of these mountains, except height.

On the rectangular base rose an octagonal building with a height of about 30 meters and 11 m side length. On this there was the magic lantern in the form of a 9-meter-high pillars Rondell (cylinder). Above this the real source of light was set up. It contained the beacon (possibly a constructed by Archimedes mirror by day and an oil or pitch-torches at night) and formed the conclusion, which was still crowned by a statue of Poseidon 7 to 8 m - according to other sources, the statue of Zeus Soter " with which he can be expected even under the "saving the gods" of the dedication - especially because of Hercules, Zeus was the progenitor of the Ptolemies. Additionally adorned bucinablasende Tritons sales between the second section and the lantern tower and the four corners of the substructure. The beacon at night is 300 stadia (56.4 km, 1 stadium = 188 m) have been much more visible. The tower was the model for a series of similar, though considerably lower lighthouses exist (lighthouses in Ostia, Ravenna, Boulogne-sur-mer (to 1644) and La Coruña (today) and virtually the forerunner of modern lighthouses.

Description and representation
The depictions of the Pharos of Alexandria coins of the second century AD partly differ considerably. Thus, only a few pieces as described in Arabic sources (see below) recognize the total of 115 to 160 meters (300 Egyptian cubits) high works.

Arab scholars like Al-Mas'udi (visited the lighthouse, at 940, in his book "Muruğ ad dahab described, 947), Al-Idrisi (1115 visited the tower), Yusuf Ibn Al-Shaikh (1165), Abu el el-Haggag Andalousi (c. 1222), Ibn Jubayr (c. 1184; "One of the greatest of miracles, we have even seen, heard of the lighthouse, has founded the Allah with the hands of those he has imposed on this drudgery as a guide ... ) for the traveling public. ") and Ibn Battuta (14.-century have seen some of the Pharos in function and well described. Of them are more accurate measurements and descriptions handed down to us, the latter was a witness to his final decline. 1349 When Ibn Battuta visited Alexandria for the second time, was climbing the tower because of the excessive damage caused by the earthquake of 1323 is no longer possible. He had since the late 11th Century after repairs no longer his full height. The final idol had been removed no later than the time of the Arab conquerors, probably after an earthquake in the 4th Century or the end of that century during the reign of Emperor Theodosius I, who forbade the ancient cults (as well as gladiatorial games) Delphic oracle, and huge numbers of going to temples and idols. Sultan Ahmad ibn Tulun said to have the top floor can be converted into a mosque with Rundkuppel as a mosaic with Pharos and St. Marc in the Cappella di San Zenone (Zenonkapelle) the church of Santa Prassede to Venice can be seen. But this would contradict the observation of Al-Idrisi, who saw the tower work much later than the lighthouse.

Maturity
Ammianus Marcellinus and others report from an earthquake south of Crete on 21 July, 365 AD, which is said to have been severely affected Alexandria and the tower. Other information relating to the year 769 with an earthquake should have caused the severe damage to the tower. A reconstruction should have been tried. Again, two earthquakes in 1303 and 1323 largely destroyed it. Some sources also mention 1375th The ruins were left lying in the sea. Finally, she left in power at the time of the Sultan of the Mamluks, Qaitbay lift. The stones were installed 1480 in his stronghold on the coast.

The last mention and description of the tower came from the year 1435 by Cyriac of Ancona. In the Renaissance period was the tower and the other Wonders of the subject of several, more imaginative than realistic depictions of artists such as Maarten van Heemskerck, Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and Antonio Tempesta.