Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egyptian and international archaeologists have successfully lifted a series of enormous stone blocks from the seabed off the coast of Alexandria, part of an ambitious project to study and digitally reconstruct the famed ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The operation, led by teams from France’s National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in cooperation with Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, recovered 22 massive architectural blocks from the submerged archaeological site. Some of these stone elements weigh between 70 and 80 tonnes, and include monumental doorway lintels, jambs, threshold stones, and large base slabs believed to have formed part of the lighthouse’s core structure.
Built during the early 3rd century BCE under the Ptolemaic dynasty, the Lighthouse also known as the Pharos, is estimated to have stood more than 100 metres tall, guiding ships into the bustling port of ancient Alexandria for centuries. The structure survived multiple earthquakes before collapsing into the Mediterranean by the 14th century AD, and much of its remains have rested underwater ever since.
The newly lifted blocks will be scanned and analysed using advanced photogrammetry and 3D modelling techniques as part of the Pharos Project, a long-term effort to digitally document and virtually reconstruct the lighthouse in detail. Researchers hope that this digital twin will help unlock insights into the monument’s original design, construction methods, and eventual collapse.
Beyond architectural fragments, mapping exercises over decades have outlined a rich underwater archaeological landscape at the site, with thousands of elements now recorded at depths ranging from roughly 2 to 8 metres. These data are central to worldwide efforts to reimagine one of the ancient world’s most iconic monuments, offering both scholars and the public a fresh window into a lost marvel of maritime antiquity.
Background
The Lighthouse of Alexandria was commissioned by Ptolemy II Philadelphus in the Hellenistic period and remained a defining symbol of Alexandria’s maritime prominence for over a millennium. Its tiers rose in a three-stage design square base, octagonal midsection, and cylindrical top, capped with a mirror or flame that guided sailors by day and night.
Today’s excavation and recovery efforts not only preserve material history but also tap cutting-edge technology to bring one of antiquity’s architectural wonders back into focus nearly 2,000 years after its disappearance beneath the waves.
