Thursday March 28th, 2024
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Alexandria Rebuilding Historic Lighthouse

A plan to rebuild the historic Pharos Lighthouse has been approved by the committee on antiquities.

Staff Writer

Alexandria is one step closer to approving the plan to rebuild one of the Ancient Wonders of the World, the Alexandria Lighthouse, also known as the Pharos Lighthouse.

Built in around 280 BC, this historic lighthouse stood 110m -130m tall and was heralded as one of the Ancient World Wonders. Eventually toppled by multiple earthquakes over the ages, some of its rubble was used to build the Qaitbay Citadel which remains standing in the original location of the ancient lighthouse.

Hoping to rebuild this iconic structure, a plan has been presented to establish the lighthouse a few metres away from where it once stood. Talking to Youm7, Dr Mostafa Amin, secretary general of the Supreme Council Antiquities, explains that Egypt’s permanent committee on antiquities approved the proposal and are now awaiting the final sign-off from Alexandria’s regional government.

Guiding ships by mirror during day and fire at night, The Pharos Lighthouse is believed to have been operational up until it was destroyed by a series of earthquakes that date back to the early 14th century.