Post #168

Wonder #7: The Lighthouse of Alexandria 🌊✨ Rising tall between land and sea, on the island of Pharos near Alexandria, stood one of the greatest engineering marvels of the ancient world — the Lighthouse of Alexandria. 📍Where: Pharos Island, Egypt (now part of modern-day Alexandria) 🛠Built: Around 280 BC, under Ptolemy II 📏Height: Somewhere between 100 and 140 meters — absolutely massive for the time 🪨Materials: Stone, marble, and lead lining 💡How it worked: By day, sunlight was reflected using mirrors. By night, they lit a fire to shine across the sea. It was so well designed that it became the blueprint for all lighthouses after it. It even gave birth to a whole field of study: pharology — the science of lighthouses! The lighthouse survived many earthquakes over the centuries, slowly crumbling until it finally disappeared by the 13th century. Today, the Fort of Qaitbay stands on the same spot — built using stones from the original lighthouse. The lighthouse was so iconic, it was featured on ancient coins.