pharos

Pharos commonly refers to the Pharos of Alexandria, a historic lighthouse on Pharos Island in Alexandria, Egypt. Built in the 3rd century BCE during the Ptolemaic Kingdom, it is widely regarded as one of the tallest man-made structures of the ancient world and is frequently listed among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The project is traditionally attributed to Sostratus of Cnidus, with royal sponsorship credited to the ruler Ptolemy II Philadelphus.

Structure and technology: The lighthouse stood in three tiers — a square base, a middle octagonal section, and a cylindrical upper tower — topped by a statue. A fire at the summit served as a beacon at night, and the light was amplified by polished surfaces and possibly mirrors or lenses to project illumination over the harbor. While details vary in sources, the overall design emphasized both functionality for navigation and symbolic prominence.

Function and impact: The Pharos guided ships into the Great Harbor and served as a striking symbol of Alexandria’s wealth, learning, and engineering prowess. Its influence extended to later lighthouse designs, and it became a model for maritime signaling in the Mediterranean and beyond.

Decline and legacy: A series of earthquakes in the 14th century damaged the structure, and grip of the ruin eventually diminished; by the 15th century the tower had fallen into disuse and its materials were repurposed. The term pharos later entered several languages as a general word for lighthouse, reflecting the enduring cultural legacy of Alexandria’s beacon.