Lighthouse of Alexandria

The Lighthouse of Alexandria, commonly called the Pharos of Alexandria, was a monumental Hellenistic lighthouse constructed in the 3rd century BC on the island of Pharos at the harbour entrance and long regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. The structure survived for many centuries before being heavily damaged by earthquakes and ultimately disappearing in the medieval period.

Today there are no standing remains of the original lighthouse; the site where it once stood is occupied by the 15th-century Qaitbay Citadel, built using some stones from the ruined structure. Underwater archaeological work in the harbour has revealed submerged foundations and fragments believed to be associated with the Pharos.

The lighthouse was built under the Ptolemaic dynasty to guide traffic into Alexandria’s busy port and became a widely known symbol of the city in antiquity. Major earthquakes in the medieval period collapsed much of the superstructure and the remaining stone was quarried for later construction.

• Construction era: Constructed in the Hellenistic period under the Ptolemies in the 3rd century BC, the Pharos of Alexandria was long celebrated as one of the ancient Seven Wonders.
• Visiting note: No substantial above-ground remains of the lighthouse survive; the Qaitbay Citadel stands on the approximate original site and is the principal place to visit on the headland.

What to See #

• Pharos site / Qaitbay Citadel: The original Pharos site at the eastern tip of the ancient harbour, now occupied by the 15th-century Qaitbay Citadel that used some stones from the ruined lighthouse.
• Underwater remains: Submerged archaeological remains and seabed features adjacent to the harbour entrance that have been the subject of underwater research.