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The Lighthouse of Alexandria

From its Ptolemaic birth to its modern underwater remains, the Pharos stands as a testament to ancient engineering and enduring legacy.

Chapters

• 0:07 Foundations of a Wonder
• 1:34 Design and Light
• 3:19 Destruction and Reuse
• 4:28 Modern Archaeology

On-screen text

• 0:07 Foundations of a Wonder
• 0:14 Foundations of a Wonder
• 0:31 Ptolemy II commissioned the Pharos Historical record · Strabo, Geography 16.4
• 0:49 Sostratus of Cnidus named as architect Historical record · Marble inscription, British Museum BM 125
• 1:07 Inscription: “Sostratus built this for the Ptolemies” Historical record · Marble inscription, British Museum BM 125
• 1:25 Ptolemaic coin shows three‑tiered lighthouse Historical record · Ptolemaic silver coin, British Museum, 200–150 BC
• 1:34 Design and Light
• 1:41 Design and Light
• 1:58 Three‑tiered structure described by Pliny Historical record · Pliny the Elder, Natural History 5.23
• 2:16 Estimated height: ~120 m The Institute's interpretation · J. B. Bury, “The Lighthouse of Alexandria”, 1913
• 2:34 Bronze mirror reflected firelight Historical record · Hero of Alexandria, Mechanica 1.5
• 2:52 Guided ships into Alexandria’s harbor Historical record · Strabo, Geography 16.4
• 3:10 Pharos linked to harbor breakwater Historical record · Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca historica 5.57
• 3:19 Destruction and Reuse
• 3:26 Destruction and Reuse
• 3:43 1303 & 1323 earthquakes toppled Pharos Historical record · Al‑Maqrīzī, Al‑Mawāʿiẓ wa al‑Iʿtibār, 15th c.
• 4:01 Qaitbay Fort built from Pharos stones Historical record · Ottoman records, Kütahya Şer’iye, 1480s
• 4:19 Fort sits on original Pharos footprint Historical record · Ottoman architectural survey, 16th c.
• 4:28 Modern Archaeology
• 4:43 Massive limestone blocks detected by sonar Historical record · French underwater mission report, “L’archéologie sous‑marine d’Alexandrie”, 1998
• 4:59 Limestone matches on‑shore foundation The Institute's interpretation · C. R. Geoscience 2000, petrographic study
• 5:22 Estimated height about 120 m The Institute's interpretation · J. B. Bury, “The Lighthouse of Alexandria”, 1913
• 5:48 ‘Pharos’ became generic term for lighthouse Tradition / scripture · Oxford English Dictionary, entry “pharos”

Sources

Historical record: Strabo, Geography 16.4 · Marble inscription, British Museum BM 125 · Ptolemaic silver coin, British Museum, 200–150 BC · Pliny the Elder, Natural History 5.23 · Hero of Alexandria, Mechanica 1.5 · Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca historica 5.57 · Al‑Maqrīzī, Al‑Mawāʿiẓ wa al‑Iʿtibār, 15th c. · Ottoman records, Kütahya Şer’iye, 1480s · Ottoman architectural survey, 16th c. · French underwater mission report, “L’archéologie sous‑marine d’Alexandrie”, 1998

Tradition / scripture: Oxford English Dictionary, entry “pharos”

The Institute's interpretation: J. B. Bury, “The Lighthouse of Alexandria”, 1913 · C. R. Geoscience 2000, petrographic study

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