Where is located?
1- It was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world, it was built in the south - east corner of the island of “Pharos “ which gave it (the name ) .
2- the light house was built by king Ptolemy I and completed by king Ptolemy 2nd.
3- it was mainly constructed of limestone, however , other materials were used,
Such as sandstone, marble, granite - lead .
Description of the Pharos- light house
1- It consisted of 4 stories surmounted by a bronze statue of God “ Poesidon “ The Sea God in Greek religion with a Total height of 135 M , the light house was built in a colonaded court .
The first floor
1- is square in shape and it’s height is about 60 M , it was divided into 300 rooms used by the guards and workmen of the light house , those rooms were also used for storing the fuel such as wood ,straw and oils.
2- At the bottom of the floor of this story , there was a cistern for suppling fresh water.
3- on the facade of the first floor, there was a Greek text the letters of which were made out of lead , it was read as ........ Sostratos of Cnidos Son of Desciphares built it for the savior Gods .
4- modern scholars argued about what was meant by savior Gods. Some scholars believed that they are Castor and Pollux . While other scholars believed that they are Sostratos and his wife Bernic 1 deified by their son king Ptolemy second.
5- On the top of the first floor, there was a platform on the 4 corners of which are 4 figures of Tritons , minor deities connected with the Greek sailors .
The second floor
Is octagonal in shape and it’s height was 30 M .
The third floor
Is yound in shape with a total height of 15 M .
The fourth floor
Considered of 8 columns carring a dome, these columns were made of alabaster , sandstone, limestone, granite , marble.........
The total height of this floor is 23 M , Between these columns, there was the lantern which reflected the light into the sea , in order to guide the ships into to the harbour at night .
Ancient historians
1- mentioned that if somebody sat behind the mirrors or the glass of the lantern, he could see things can’t be seen by the naked eye , this may indicate that they could have invented lenses during this period of time.
2- there was a primitive lift between the 4th and 1 St floor for carrying the fluel .
3- the dome is surmounted by a bronze statue of God poesidon with total height of 7 Meter
4- the first disaster occurred in 700 A.D . The second disaster occurred in 980 A.D .
5- The octagonal part fell down because of a strong earthquake then , came another earthquake in the 4th century destroyed the whole building completely.
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