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The lighthouse of Alexandria

The lighthouse of Alexandria was constructed in the IIIrd century B.C. in the island of Pharos, to serve like point of reference of its port. It was one of seven marvels of the ancient world.

Faro of Alexandria

 

It had a 120 meters approximate height and was consisting of an enormous tower in which a bonfire was indicating the position of the city to the navigators. The coast in the delta of the Nile was very flat and no other reference did not exist that the ships puedieran to take. The construction was settling on a square base that later was acquiring form octogonal. It was formed by big marble blocks. The lighthouse survived until in 1303 and 1323 its structure was damaged by the action of several earthquakes. In 1480, its remains disappeared completely when the Egyptian sultan Qaitbey ordered to use the marble in ruins to construct a fortitude.

Tags: Alexandria, Egypt

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