The purpose of the Alexandria lighthouse. Alexandrian lighthouse. A brief description of the wonder of the world, where it is located, interesting facts, Athens lighthouse, golden sparkle

The seventh wonder of the world is located in Egypt on the shores of the Pharos Gulf - the famous Alexandrian lighthouse dates its history from the formation of the city of Alexandria, which was built in 332 BC. Roman commander of Macedon: the conqueror named about 17 cities in his honor during his military career, but only Alexandria in Egypt has preserved its sights to this day.

Construction

1. The Pharos lighthouse was erected in the Nile Delta - the military leader carefully chose the location for the new city of Alexandria, and it was here that the first construction sites were deployed near Lake Mareotis. Makedonsky assumed that the lighthouse, grandiose in height, should stand on the shores of two large harbors. One of them was planned as a port for merchant ships coming from the Mediterranean countries, and the second harbor served ships traveling along the Nile.

2. Ptolemy became the new ruler of Egypt: by that time the Macedonian had died, leaving behind a flourishing and promising seaport. The new government decided to continue the work of the conqueror and install a lighthouse, which later became the seventh wonder of the world. At night and in inclement weather, a 120-meter powerful lighthouse illuminated the sea routes for trade and passenger ships heading to the harbor.

3. During the construction of the Alexandria Lighthouse, a photo of the remains of the foundation of which can be seen online, a system of signal lights was used. The real architect, who did a lot for the appearance of this large-scale signal structure in Alexandria and actually supervised the construction, is considered to be an engineer from Cnidia - Sostratus. It took more than 20 years to build the Faros lighthouse, which went down in history as the most high building the ancient world. To provide the work site with construction materials, a dam was built.

4. Inside the lighthouse, the architects placed as many as three separate tiers. On the first one, which had a square shape, statues of sea inhabitants - newts - were installed in the corners. This room housed the guards and workers servicing the lighthouse. Storerooms with fuel and food were also set up here.

On the middle tier, the building had an octagonal shape, and the builders managed to orient the edges according to local wind directions. At the top of the structure were statues and original weathervanes.

The upper tier had a strictly cylindrical shape and was decorated with columns, and a light source was installed under a cone-shaped reflective dome. At the top of the lighthouse there was a statue of Isis, who was considered the patroness of merchants and sailors. The craftsmen managed to project powerful light through a complex system of mirrors - these were concave metal sheets that perfectly reflected the fire burning at the very top of the tower.

5. Scientists are still arguing about the method of delivering fuel to the Faros lighthouse. According to one version, firewood was transported by teams of mules along reliable spiral staircases. The second legend says that the fuel was lifted in an ancient elevator through a shaft located vertically inside the structure. The light that the lighthouse gave high tower, was clearly visible even at a distance of 48 kilometers from the harbor.

6. In the underground part there were serious supplies of food and water for the garrison guard, since the structure served as a fortress protecting the bays and sea approaches to the city. The photo of the foundation of the Alexandria lighthouse preserved the outlines of the fence, through the loopholes of which the arrows guarded the harbor.

The fate of the structure

In the 16th century, the seventh wonder of the world was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake. The lighthouse was captured on old coins minted in Rome. Modern scientists can judge the scale of the construction only from the ruins and surviving ancient documents.

Sultan Qait Bey, a century after the destruction of the tower, built a military fort on that site. In the mid-90s of the last century, scientists discovered the remains of the legendary lighthouse at the bottom of the Alexandria harbor. Once upon a time, initiative groups planned to reconstruct the lighthouse, but the Egyptian authorities refused to finance these dubious projects. Now on the island of Faros only ancient fortress Kite Bay guards the ruins of an ancient tower.

Tourists and travelers from all over the world can not only see picturesque photos of the Alexandria Lighthouse, but also visit the remains of the foundation on the shore of the bay in Egypt. The ruins of the tower still attract lovers of historical places and ancient architecture. By purchasing tours to Egypt at quite affordable prices from specialists from the travel agency website, tourists get a unique opportunity to visit various countries and even look at famous sights.

The sixth wonder of the world is the Lighthouse of Alexandria(aka Faros Lighthouse). It was built in the 3rd century BC on.

In Egypt, on small island Pharos, near Alexandria, was a bay of great importance for merchant ships. It was for this reason that the need arose for the construction of the Faros lighthouse.

Hardly anyone imagined that the outstanding structure would be included in. IN dark time days, the flames reflected by the water surface were visible at a distance of more than 60 kilometers, allowing the ships to safely pass the reefs. During the day, instead of light, a column of smoke was used, which was also visible extremely far away.

Having stood for almost 1000 years, the Alexandria Lighthouse was seriously damaged by what happened in 796 AD. When the Arabs came to Egypt (XIV century), they decided to restore the grandiose building, reaching only 30 meters from the original height.

However, the reconstruction was not destined to be completed, and by the end of the 15th century, Qait Bey, the famous sultan, founded a fortress on the foundations of the lighthouse. By the way, it still exists.

Interesting facts about the wonder of the world Lighthouse of Alexandria

During the reign of Ptolemy II in Egypt, it was decided to build the famous lighthouse. According to the plan, the implementation of the idea should have taken 20 years, but all residents saw the masterpiece much earlier. The main architect and builder of this structure is Sostratus of Cnidus.

He carved his name on the marble wall of the lighthouse, and then, applying thin plaster, wrote words glorifying Ptolemy. Naturally, after a short period of time the plaster crumbled, and the name of the outstanding master entered the centuries. So, Sostratus completed the construction of the Pharos lighthouse in 5 years, which by the standards of antiquity was generally an instant!

The Alexandria lighthouse consisted of three towers. The first, lowest, rectangular part of the monument served technical purposes. Workers and soldiers lived there, and the tools and equipment necessary to maintain the lighthouse were stored there. A second, octagonal tower rose above the first part.

A ramp wound around it to lift fuel for the fire. The third tier was a majestic cylindrical building equipped with a complex system of mirrors. It was here that the vital fire burned, spreading its light for many kilometers around.

The height of the sixth wonder of the world, the Faros lighthouse, ranged from 120 to 140 meters. At the very top there was a statue of the god of the seas, Poseidon.

Some travelers, describing the miracle that amazed them, mentioned unusually constructed statues. The first one pointed with her hand at , throughout the day, and when the sun set, her hand dropped.

The second statue chimed every hour day and night. The third constantly indicated the direction of the wind, playing the role of a weather vane.

In the 12th century AD, ships stopped using the Alexandria Bay because it became extremely muddy. This is what caused the outstanding building to fall into complete disrepair. Even later, in the 14th century, due to an earthquake wonder of the world Alexandria lighthouse completely collapsed.

In its place a fortress was erected, which changed its appearance more than once. Now that's it historical place The base of the Egyptian fleet is located and, despite various proposals, the authorities are not considering the idea of ​​restoring the lighthouse.

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Alexandrian lighthouse


Lighthouse of Alexandria, drawing by archaeologist H. Thiersch (1909)
Lighthouse name
original name

Φάρος της Αλεξάνδρειας

Location
Coordinates

31.214167 , 29.885 31°12′51″ n. w. /  29°53′06″ E. d. 31.214167° s. w.

29.885° E. d.

(G) (O)

Height
140 meters

Active

Distance

56 kilometers on Wikimedia Commons

Alexandria (Faros) lighthouse

The Faros lighthouse consisted of three marble towers standing on a base of massive stone blocks. The first tower was rectangular and contained rooms in which workers and soldiers lived. Above this tower was a smaller, octagonal tower with a spiral ramp leading to the upper tower. The upper tower was shaped like a cylinder in which a fire burned.

Guide light

Death of the lighthouse

In the 14th century, the lighthouse was completely destroyed by an earthquake. A few years later, its ruins were used to build a fortress. The fortress was subsequently rebuilt several times.

Literature


Wikimedia Foundation.

2010.

    See what "Alexandria Lighthouse" is in other dictionaries: Alexandrian lighthouse - Alexandrian lighthouse …

    Russian spelling dictionary This article is about the artistic image. For other meanings of the term in the title of the article, see Alexandria pillar

    . The Alexandria pillar is an image used by Alexander Pushkin in the poem “Monument” 1836 ... Wikipedia

    This term has other meanings, see Lighthouse (meanings). In Kronstadt... Wikipedia

    May imply: A literary image introduced by A.S. Pushkin in the poem “Monument” Informal name of the Alexander Column, going back to this image Lighthouse of Alexandria, according to a number of Pushkinists, implied by A.S.... ... Wikipedia Lighthouse - Lighthouse, UK. LIGHTHOUSE, a tower-type structure, usually installed on the shore or in shallow water. Serves as a navigation reference for ships. It is equipped with so-called beacon lights, as well as devices for giving sound signals,... ...

    Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary LIGHTHOUSE, a tower-type structure, usually installed on the shore or in shallow water. Serves as a navigation reference for ships. It is equipped with so-called beacon lights, as well as devices for sending sound signals, radio signals (radio beacon) ...

    Modern encyclopedia A tall, tower-shaped structure standing on the seashore, along the route of ships to show the way to seafarers. At night, a fire is maintained on top of the M. Indicative markers are erected in the open sea, on individual small rocks and shallows, and... ...

    Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron Lighthouse, a tower-type structure that serves as a landmark for identifying shores, determining the location of a ship and warning about navigational hazards. M. are equipped with light-optical systems, as well as other technical means alarms:... ...

    Great Soviet Encyclopedia- a lighthouse on Pharos Island near Alexandria in Egypt, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Built in 285-280. BC. Sostratus of Knidos in order to make it safe for ships to enter the Alexandria harbor. It was a three-tiered tower with a height of... ... Ancient world. Dictionary-reference book.

Alexandrian lighthouse

Faros (Alexandria) lighthouse - one of the seven wonders of the world - was located on east coast the island of Pharos within the boundaries of Alexandria and was the first and only lighthouse at that time so gigantic size. The builder of this structure was Sostratus of Cnidus.

It has long been known that there are remains of a lighthouse underwater in the Faros area. But the presence of a naval base at this site prevented any research. Only in 1961, Kemal Abu el-Sadat discovered statues, blocks and marble boxes in the water. On his initiative, a statue of the goddess Isis was removed from the water. In 1968, the Egyptian government approached UNESCO with a request for an examination. An archaeologist from Great Britain was invited, who presented a report on the work done in 1975. It contained a list of all finds. Thus, the significance of this site for archaeologists was confirmed.

In 1980, a group of archaeologists from different countries began excavations on the seabed in the Faros area. This group of scientists, in addition to archaeologists, included architects, topographers, Egyptologists, artists and restorers, as well as photographers. As a result, hundreds of fragments of the lighthouse were discovered at a depth of 6–8 meters, occupying an area of ​​more than 2 hectares. In addition, studies have shown that on the seabed there are objects more ancient than the lighthouse. Many columns and capitals made of granite, marble, and limestone belonging to different eras were recovered from the water.

Of particular interest to scientists was the discovery of the famous obelisks, called “Cleopatra’s needles” and brought to Alexandria by order of Octavian Augustus in 13 BC. e. Subsequently, many of the finds were restored and exhibited in museums in different countries.

Alexandria, the capital of Hellenistic Egypt, was founded in the Nile River delta by Alexander the Great in 332–331 BC. e. The city was built according to a single plan developed by the architect Dinohar, and was divided into blocks with wide streets. The two widest of them (30 meters wide) intersected at right angles.

Alexandria was home to many magnificent palaces and royal tombs. Alexander the Great was also buried here, whose body was brought from Babylon and buried in a golden sarcophagus in a magnificent tomb by order of King Ptolemy Soter, who thereby wanted to emphasize the continuity of the traditions of the great conqueror. At a time when other military leaders were fighting among themselves and dividing Alexander's huge power, Ptolemy settled in Egypt and made Alexandria one of the richest and most beautiful capitals of the Ancient World.

The glory of the city was greatly facilitated by the creation by Ptolemy of the Museion (“abode of the Muses”), where the king invited prominent scientists and poets of his time. Here they could live and engage in scientific research entirely at the expense of the state. Thus, Museion became something of an academy of sciences. Attracted favorable conditions, scientists flocked here from different parts of the Hellenistic world. Funds were generously allocated from the royal treasury for various experiments and scientific expeditions.

Scientists were also attracted to the Museion by the magnificent Library of Alexandria, which collected about 500 thousand scrolls, including works by the outstanding playwrights of Greece Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides. King Ptolemy II allegedly asked the Athenians for these manuscripts for a while so that the scribes could make copies of them. The Athenians asked for a huge deposit. The king paid without complaint. But he refused to return the manuscripts.

A famous scientist or poet was usually appointed as the keeper of the library. For a long time, this post was occupied by the outstanding poet of his time, Callimachus. Then he was replaced famous geographer and mathematician Eratosthenes. He was able to calculate the diameter and radius of the Earth and made only a minor error of 75 kilometers, which, given the capabilities available at that time, does not detract from his merits.

Of course, the king, providing hospitality and financial support to scientists and poets, pursued his goals: to increase the glory of his country in the world as a scientific and cultural center and, thereby, your own. In addition, poets and philosophers were expected to praise his virtues (real or imaginary) in their works.

Natural sciences, mathematics and mechanics were widely developed. The famous mathematician Euclid, the founder of geometry, lived in Alexandria, as well as the outstanding inventor Heron of Alexandria, whose work was long ahead of its time. For example, he created a device that was actually the first steam engine. In addition, he invented many different machines driven by steam or hot air. But in the era of the universal spread of slave labor, these inventions could not find application and were used only for the entertainment of the royal court.

The most brilliant astronomer Aristarchus of Samos, long before Copernicus, stated that the Earth is a ball that rotates around its axis and around the Sun. His ideas only caused a smile among his contemporaries, but he remained unconvinced.

The developments of Alexandrian scientists found application in real life. An example of outstanding achievements of science was the creation of the Alexandria Lighthouse, which in ancient times was considered one of the wonders of the world. In 285 BC. e. The island was connected to the shore by a dam - an artificially formed isthmus. And five years later, by 280 BC. e., the construction of the lighthouse was completed.

It was a three-story tower about 120 meters high. The lower floor was built in the form of a square with four sides, each of which was 30.5 meters in length. The edges of the square were facing the four cardinal directions: north, south, east, west - and were made of limestone. The second floor was made in the form of an octagonal tower, lined with marble slabs. Its edges were oriented in the direction of the eight winds. The third floor, the lantern itself, was crowned with a dome with a bronze statue of Poseidon, the height of which reached 7 meters. The dome of the lighthouse rested on marble columns. Leading up spiral staircase was so convenient that all the necessary materials, including fuel for the fire, were carried up on donkeys. A complex system of metal mirrors reflected and amplified the light of the lighthouse, and it was clearly visible to sailors from afar. In addition, the same system made it possible to monitor the sea and detect enemy ships long before they appeared within sight.

Bronze statues were placed on the octagonal tower that forms the second floor. Some of them were equipped with special mechanisms that allowed them to serve as weather vanes indicating the direction of the wind. Travelers talked about the miraculous properties of the statues. One of them allegedly always pointed her hand at the sun, tracing its path across the sky, and lowered her hand when the sun set. The other chimed every hour throughout the day. They said that there was even a statue that, when enemy ships appeared, pointed to the sea and uttered a warning cry. All these stories do not seem so fantastic if we remember the steam automata of Heron of Alexandria. It is quite possible that the scientist’s achievements were used in the construction of the lighthouse, and the statues could produce some mechanical movements and sounds when a certain signal was received.

Among other things, the lighthouse was also impregnable fortress with a powerful garrison. In the underground part, in case of a siege, there was a huge tank with drinking water.

The Faros lighthouse had no analogues in the Ancient world, either in size or technical data. Before this, ordinary fires were usually used as beacons. It is not surprising that the Lighthouse of Alexandria, with its complex system of mirrors, colossal dimensions and fantastic statues, seemed to all people a real miracle.

The builder of this miracle, Sostratus of Cnidus, carved the inscription on the marble wall: “Sostratus, son of Dexiphanes of Cnidus, dedicated to the savior gods for the sake of sailors.” He covered this inscription with a thin layer of plaster, on which he placed the praise of King Ptolemy Soter. When, over time, the plaster fell off, the name of the master who created the magnificent lighthouse appeared to the eyes of those around him.

Alexandrian lighthouse

Although the lighthouse was located on the eastern shore of the island of Pharos, it is more often called the Alexandrian lighthouse rather than the Faros lighthouse. This island is mentioned in Homer's poem "Odyssey". In Homer's time it was located in the Nile Delta, opposite the small Egyptian settlement of Rakotis. But by the time the lighthouse was built, according to the Greek geographer Strabonne, it had moved significantly closer to the shores of Egypt and was one day’s journey from Alexandria. With the start of construction, the island was connected to the coast, effectively turning it from an island into a peninsula. For this purpose, a dam was artificially built, which was called Heptastadion, since its length was 7 stages (a stage is an ancient Greek measure of length, which is equal to 177.6 meters). That is, translated into our usual measurement system, the length of the dam was approximately 750 meters. The main harbor, the Great Harbor of Alexandria, was located on the Pharos side. This harbor was so deep that a large ship could anchor off the shore.

The tower is an assistant to sailors who have lost their way.

Here at night I light the bright fire of Poseidon.

The muffled wind was about to collapse,

But Ammonius strengthened me again with his labors.

After the ferocious waves they stretch out their hands to me

All sailors, honoring you, O shaker of the earth.

Nevertheless, the lighthouse stood until the 14th century and even in a dilapidated state reached a height of 30 meters, continuing to amaze with its beauty and grandeur. To date, only the pedestal, which is built into medieval fortress. Therefore, there are practically no opportunities for archaeologists or architects to study the remains of this grandiose structure. Now there is an Egyptian military port on Pharos. And on the western side of the island there is another lighthouse, which in no way resembles its great predecessor, but also continues to show the way for ships.

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Pharos in Alexandria is one of the buildings of the Ancient World, which was mentioned in his famous list of “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World” by Antipater of Sidon. The lighthouse was built in the early 3rd century BC: construction began by Ptolemy Soter, the ruler of Egypt, after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC.

The scale of the lighthouse project and its immediate construction was impressive. Legends claim that the light from it was visible from the sea more than 50 km away.

Alexandria

Pharos (as the Lighthouse of Alexandria is usually called) was built on island of the same name, located in the harbor of the future Alexandria. When Alexander the Great arrived in Egypt in 332 BC. BC, Pharos was a shrine and home to Proteus, god of the sea. When Alexander and his troops captured Memphis (the capital ancient egypt) and won, the Egyptian people were delighted and accepted him as their pharaoh.

As Alexander and his troops explored new territory, they discovered the small fishing village of Rakotis. Its strategic location (on the coast) attracted the attention of Alexander and he announced that a new capital: Alexandria.

Huge and rich, this city in the future will become a stronghold for the development of all types of arts and will retain its memory in world history as the place where the oldest and largest library was created.

The new coastal area, in terms of geography, was elongated horizontally, like the rest of Egypt. The state did not have any landmarks that could help ships navigate the sea.

Thus, the decision to build a lighthouse was related to the needs of sailors. Later, the Alexandria Lighthouse will begin to perform a protective, defensive function.

Lighthouse project

The lighthouse of Alexandria was designed by the Greek architect Sostratus of Cnidus. It was built of light stone, which was reinforced with molten lead. This technology made it possible to protect the walls of the structure from violent sea waves.

The lighthouse consisted of three parts: the lower (square level) provided reliable support for the entire structure, an octagonal pillar rose in the middle of the lighthouse, and the upper level was a structure in the shape of a circle. A mirror was installed on the top of the lighthouse, which reflected the light of the sun during the day, and at night a fire was lit on the lighthouse.

Although many researchers refute this myth due to technological limitations, recent experiments have shown that fires could actually happen: the reflective abilities of the mirror would be quite enough.

Pharos in Alexandria existed unchanged until the earthquakes that occurred in 1303 and 1323. AD After natural disasters, only fragments remained of the legendary lighthouse.

In 1994, a team of archaeologists discovered the remains of the Alexandria Lighthouse in the harbor. Building materials left over from the destroyed Pharos were used in the construction of the Qait Bay fort, which has survived from the 15th century. AD to this day.

Interesting facts about the Alexandria Lighthouse

The construction of the lighthouse cost the ruler of Egypt 800 talents. In modern money, this is about three million dollars.

The height of the lighthouse was about 137 meters.

The lighthouse in Alexandria ranks third on the list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that have survived to this day. The first place is the Great Pyramids of Giza, the second is the mausoleum at Halicarnassus.

He repeatedly mentioned the Lighthouse of Alexandria in his writings.
Today the lighthouse is used as a symbol on the coat of arms and flag of the city of Alexandria.

 

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