By Wieslawa A.T.R.

Fast Facts Location: On an island in the harbor of Alexandria, Egypt. The Lighthouse was built in 230 B.C by Ptolemy I and finished by Ptolemy II. To discover the ruins of the Lighthouse, the most high- tech devices of the 20th century were used.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria is located in the harbor of Alexandria, Egypt on the ancient island of the Pharaohs. The Lighthouse was located there to warn and tell captains that they were coming into the harbor. It was also used in bad ways, like to spy on other countries and burn other ships using the Lighthouse's mirror.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was designed by Sostrates and built by Ptolemy I and finished by Ptolemy II. It was finished in 299B.C. The Lighthouse was first severely damaged by an earthquake in A.D. 955 and was finally brought down by a stronger earthquake in The Lighthouse was the last wonder of the world to be destroyed and the only one to have real use.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was made out of white marble and divided into three sections. The bottom section was square, the middle octagonal, and the top circular. When the three sections were put together, a gorgeous 410 foot-high building was ready for use. On top was an eight-sided tower. Above the tower was a cylinder that extended up to an open cupola where the fire that provided the light burned. On the roof of the cupola was a statue of Poseidon. The interior of the upper two sections had a shaft with a dumbwaiter that was used to transport fuel up to the fire. According to reports, the large curving mirror was probably made out of polished metal.

One of the most interesting facts about the Lighthouse is that the builder and the architect both wanted their names on the Lighthouse. Sosrates, who was a clever architect, chiseled his name on the Lighthouse and covered it with plaster. Onto the plaster he chiseled Ptolemy’s name. As years passed, the plaster chipped away and Sostrates’ name was revealed.

A modern lighthouseLighthouse of Alexandria