Alexandria Lighthouse Stones Recovered

- The Lighthouse of Alexandria was constructed in the 3rd century BCE under the Ptolemaic dynasty and stood over 100 meters (330 ft) tall, making it one of the tallest man-made structures in the world for centuries. Its light, produced by a fire at the top and amplified by a mirror, was crucial for guiding ships into the busy port. - The structure was severely damaged by a series of earthquakes between 956 and 1323 CE. In 1480, the last of its remaining stones were used to build the Citadel of Qaitbay on the same site, completely dismantling the ancient wonder. - The submerged ruins were rediscovered on the floor of Alexandria's Eastern Harbour in 1994 by a team of French archaeologists led by Jean-Yves Empereur. His team cataloged over 3,300 pieces, including granite blocks weighing 49-60 tons, 30 sphinxes, and columns with carvings dating back to Ramses II. - The recent recovery is part of the PHAROS project, a French-led initiative in collaboration with Egyptian authorities. The team raised 22 massive stone blocks, some weighing between 70 and 80 tons each, including lintels and uprights from a monumental doorway. - A significant find among the newly recovered pieces is a previously unknown pylon-like structure with a doorway that blends Egyptian stylistic elements with Greek construction techniques, highlighting the cultural fusion of the era. - The recovered stones are being scanned using photogrammetry to create a detailed 3D virtual model, or "digital twin," of the lighthouse. This digital reconstruction, supported by La Fondation Dassault Systèmes, will allow researchers to test hypotheses about its construction and collapse.