Alexandra en & Cristina Podil

Students at Mihai Eminescu College

Class VI B

Referat.clopotel.ro
 It is the one and only Wonder which does not require a description by early
historians and poets. It is the one and only Wonder that does not need speculations
concerning its appearance, size, and shape. It is the oldest, yet it is the only surviving of
the Seven Ancient Wonders. It is the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Location
At the city of Giza, a necropolis of ancient Memphis, and today part of Greater Cairo,
Egypt.
History
Contrary to the common belief, only the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), not all three
Great Pyramids, is on top of the list of Wonders. The monument was built by the Egyptian
pharaoh Khufu of the Fourth Dynasty around the year 2560 BC to serve as a tomb when he dies.
The great pyramid is believed to have been built over a 20 year period. The site was first
prepared, and blocks of stone were transported and placed. An outer casing (which disappeared
over the years) was then used to smooth the surface. Although it is not known how the blocks
were put in place, several theories have been proposed. One theory involves the construction of a
straight or spiral ramp that was raised as the construction proceeded. This ramp, coated with mud
and water, eased the displacement of the blocks which were pushed (or pulled) into place. A
second theory suggests that the blocks were placed using long levers with a short angled foot.
Throughout their history, the pyramids of Giza have stimulated human imagination. They were
referred to as "The Granaries of Joseph" and "The Mountains of Pharaoh". When Napoleon
invaded Egypt in 1798, his pride was expressed through his famous quote: "Soldats! Du haut de
ces Pyramides, 40 siecles nous contemplent". (Soldiers! From the top of these Pyramids, 40
centuries are looking at us)
Today, the Great Pyramid is enclosed, together with the other pyramids and the Sphinx,
in the touristic region of the Giza Plateau. Also in the area is the museum housing the mysterious
Sun Boat, only discovered in 1954 near the south side of the pyramid. The boat is believed to
have been used to carry the body of Khufu in his last journey on earth before being buried inside
the pyramid. It may also serve him as a means of transportation in his afterlife journey according
to Ancient Egyptian beliefs.
Description
When it was built, the Great pyramid was 145.75 m high. Over the years, it lost 10 m off
its top. It ranked as the tallest structure on Earth for more than 43 centuries, only to be surpassed
in height in the nineteenth century AD. It was covered with a casing of stones to smooth its
surface (some of the casing can still be seen near the top of Khefre's pyramid). The sloping angle
of its sides is 51 degrees and 51 minutes. Each side is carefully oriented with one of the cardinal
points of the compass, that is, north, south, east, and west. The horizontal cross section of the
pyramid is square at any level, with each side measuring 229 m in length. The maximum error
between side lengths is astonishingly less than 0.1%.
The structure consists of approximately 2 million blocks of stone, each weighing more
than two tons. It has been suggested that there are enough blocks in the three pyramids to build a
3 m high, 0.3 m thick wall around France. The area covered by the Great pyramid can
accommodate St Peter's in Rome, the cathedrals of Florence and Milan, and Westminster and St
Paul's in London combined.
On the north face, is the pyramid's entrance. A number of corridors, galleries, and escape
shafts either lead to the King's burial chamber, or were intended to serve other functions. The
King's chamber is located at the heart of the pyramid, only accessible through the Great Gallery
and an ascending corridor. The King's sarcophagus is made of red granite, as are the interior
walls of the King's Chamber. Most impressive is the sharp-edged stone over the doorway which
is over 3 m long, 2.4 m high and 1.3 m thick. All of the interior stones fit so well, a card won't fit
between them. The sarcophagus is oriented in accordance with the compass directions, and is
only about 1 cm smaller in dimensions than the chamber entrance. It might have been introduced
as the structure was progressing.
New theories concerning the origin and purpose of the Pyramids of Giza have been
proposed... Astronomic observatories... Places of cult worship... Geometric structures
constructed by a long-gone civilization... Even extraterrestrial-related theories have been
proposed with little evidence in support... The overwhelming scientific and historic evidence still
supports the conclusion that, like many smaller pyramids in the region, the Great Pyramids were
built by the great Ancient Egyptian civilization off the West bank of the Nile as tombs for their
magnificent Kings... Tombs where Khufu, Khefre, and Menkaure could start their mystic journey
to the afterlife.
 The approach to the Garden sloped like a hillside and the several parts of the
structure rose from one another tier on tier... On all this, the earth had been piled... and
was thickly planted with trees of every kind that, by their great size and other charm,
gave pleasure to the beholder... The water machines [raised] the water in great
abundance from the river, although no one outside could see it.
Fruits and flowers... Waterfalls... Gardens hanging from the palace terraces...
Exotic animals... This is the picture of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in most people's
minds. It may be surprising to know that they might have never existed except in the
minds of Greek poets and historians!
Location
On the east bank of the River Euphrates, about 50 km south of Baghdad, Iraq.
History
The Babylonian kingdom flourished under the rule of the famous King, Hammurabi (1792-1750
BC). It was not until the reign of Naboplashar (625-605 BC) of the Neo-Babylonian dynasty that
the Mesopotamian civilization reached its ultimate glory. His son, Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562
BC) is credited for building the legendary Hanging Gardens. It is said that the Gardens were built
by Nebuchadnezzar to please his wife or concubine who had been "brought up in Media and had
a passion for mountain surroundings".
While the most descriptive accounts of the Gardens come from Greek historians such as
Berossus and Diodorus Siculus, Babylonian records stay silent on the matter. Tablets from the
time of Nebuchadnezzar do not have a single reference to the Hanging Gardens, although
descriptions of his palace, the city of Babylon, and the walls are found. Even the historians who
give detailed descriptions of the Hanging Gardens never saw them. Modern historians argue that
when Alexander's soldiers reached the fertile land of Mesopotamia and saw Babylon, they were
impressed. When they later returned to their rugged homeland, they had stories to tell about the
amazing gardens and palm trees at Mesopotamia.. About the palace of Nebuchadnezzar.. About
the Tower of Babel and the ziggurats. And it was the imagination of poets and ancient historians
that blended all these elements together to produce one of the World Wonders.
It wasn't until the twentieth century that some of the mysteries surrounding the Hanging
Gardens were revealed. Archaeologists are still struggling to gather enough evidence before
reaching the final conclusions about the location of the Gardens, their irrigation system, and their
true appearance. Some recent researchers even suggest that the Hanging Gardens were built by
Senaherib, not by Nebuchadnezzar II (ca. 100 years earlier).

Description

Detailed descriptions of the Gardens come from ancient Greek sources, including the
writings of Strabo and Philo of Byzantium. Here are some excerpts from their accounts:
"The Garden is quadrangular, and each side is four plethra long. It consists of arched
vaults which are located on checkered cube-like foundations.. The ascent of the
uppermost terrace-roofs is made by a stairway..."
"The Hanging Garden has plants cultivated above ground level, and the roots of the trees
are embedded in an upper terrace rather than in the earth. The whole mass is supported
on stone columns... Streams of water emerging from elevated sources flow down sloping
channels... These waters irrigate the whole garden saturating the roots of plants and
keeping the whole area moist. Hence the grass is permanently green and the leaves of
trees grow firmly attached to supple branches... This is a work of art of royal luxury and
its most striking feature is that the labor of cultivation is suspended above the heads of
the spectators".
More recent archaeological excavations at the ancient city of Babylon in Iraq uncovered
the foundation of the palace. Other findings include the Vaulted Building with thick walls and an
irrigation well near the southern palace. A group of archaeologists surveyed the area of the
southern palace and reconstructed the Vaulted Building as the Hanging Gardens. However, the
Greek historian Strabo had stated that the gardens were situated by the River Euphrates. So
others argue that the site is too far from the Euphrates to support the theory since the Vaulted
Building is several hundreds of meters away. They reconstructed the site of the palace and
located the Gardens in the area stretching from the River to the Palace. On the river banks,
recently discovered massive walls 25 m thick may have been stepped to form terraces... the ones
described in Greek references.
 This is the statue of the god in whose honor the Ancient Olympic games were
held. It was located on the land that gave its very name to the Olympics. At the time of
the games, wars stopped, and athletes came from Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, and
Sicily to celebrate the Olympics and to worship their king of gods: Zeus. In his right
hand a figure of Victory made from ivory and gold. In his left hand, his scepter inlaid
with all metals, and an eagle perched on the sceptre. The sandals of the god are made
of gold, as is his robe.

Location
At the ancient town of Olympia, on the west coast of modern Greece, about 150 km west
of Athens.
History
The ancient Greek calendar starts in 776 BC, for the Olympic games are believed to have
started that year. The magnificent temple of Zeus was designed by the architect Libon and was
built around 450 BC. Under the growing power of ancient Greece, the simple Doric-style temple
seemed too mundane, and modifications were needed. The solution: A majestic statue. The
Athenian sculptor Pheidias was assigned for the "sacred" task, reminiscent of Michelangelo's
paintings at the Sistine Chapel.
For the years that followed, the temple attracted visitors and worshippers from all over
the world. In the second century BC repairs were skillfully made to the aging statue. In the first
century AD, the Roman emperor Caligula attempted to transport the statue to Rome. However,
his attempt failed when the scaffolding built by Caligula's workmen collapsed. After the Olympic
games were banned in AD 391 by the emperor Theodosius I as Pagan practices, the temple of
Zeus was ordered closed.
Olympia was further struck by earthquakes, landslides and floods, and the temple was
damaged by fire in the fifth century AD. Earlier, the statue had been transported by wealthy
Greeks to a palace in Constantinople. There, it survived until it was destroyed by a severe fire in
AD 462. Today nothing remains at the site of the old temple except rocks and debris, the
foundation of the buildings, and fallen columns.
Description
Pheidias began working on the statue around 440 BC. Years earlier, he had developed a
technique to build enormous gold and ivory statues. This was done by erecting a wooden frame
on which sheets of metal and ivory were placed to provide the outer covering. Pheidias'
workshop in Olympia still exists, and is coincidentally -- or may be not -- identical in size and
orientation to the temple of Zeus. There, he sculpted and carved the different pieces of the statue
before they were assembled in the temple.
When the statue was completed, it barely fitted in the temple. Strabo wrote:
".. although the temple itself is very large, the sculptor is criticized for not having
appreciated the correct proportions. He has shown Zeus seated, but with the head almost
touching the ceiling, so that we have the impression that if Zeus moved to stand up he
would unroof the temple."
Strabo was right, except that the sculptor is to be commended, not criticized. It is this size
impression that made the statue so wonderful. It is the idea that the king of gods is capable of
unroofing the temple if he stood up that fascinated poets and historians alike. The base of the
statue was about 6.5 m wide and 1.0 meter high. The height of the statue itself was 13 m,
equivalent to a modern 4-story building.
The statue was so high that visitors described the throne more than Zeus body and
features. The legs of the throne were decorated with sphinxes and winged figures of Victory.
Greek gods and mythical figures also adorned the scene: Apollo, Artemis, and Niobe's children.
The Greek Pausanias wrote:

On his head is a sculpted wreath of olive sprays. In his right hand he

holds a figure of Victory made from ivory and gold... In his left hand, he
holds a sceptre inlaid with every kind of metal, with an eagle perched
on the sceptre. His sandals are made of gold, as is his robe. His
garments are carved with animals and with lilies. The throne is
decorated with gold, precious stones, ebony, and ivory.

The statue was occasionally decorated with gifts from kings and rulers. the most notable
of these gifts was a woollen curtain "adorned with Assyrian woven patterns and Pheonician dye"
which was dedicated by the Syrian king Antiochus IV.
Copies of the statue were made, including a large prototype at Cyrene (Libya). None of
them, however, survived to the present day. Early reconstructions such as the one by von Erlach
are now believed to be rather inaccurate. For us, we can only wonder about the true appearance
of the statue -- the greatest work in Greek sculpture.

But when I saw the sacred house of Artemis that towers to the clouds, the [other
Wonders] were placed in the shade, for the Sun himself has never looked upon its
equal outside Olympus.Is it simply a temple? How could it take its place among other
unique structures such as the Pyramid, the Hanging Gardens, and the Colossus of
Rhodes? For the people who actually visited it, the answer was simple. It was not just a
temple... It was the most beautiful structure on earth... It was built in honor of the Greek
goddess of hunting, wild nature, and fertility. That was the Temple of Artemis at
Ephesus.

Location

The ancient city of Ephesus near the modern town of Selcuk, about 50 km south of Izmir
(Smyrna) in Turkey.

History

Although the foundation of the temple dates back to the seventh century BC, the structure
that earned a spot in the list of Wonders was built around 550 BC. Referred to as the great marble
temple, or temple D, it was sponsored by the Lydian king Croesus and was designed by the
Greek architect Chersiphron. It was decorated with bronze statues sculpted by the most skilled
artists of their time: Pheidias, Polycleitus, Kresilas, and Phradmon.
The temple served as both a marketplace and a religious institution. For years, the sanctuary was
visited by merchants, tourists, artisans, and kings who paid homage to the goddess by sharing
their profits with her. Recent archeological excavations at the site revealed gifts from pilgrims
including statuettes of Artemis made of gold and ivory... earrings, bracelets, and necklaces...
artifacts from as far as Persia and India.
On the night of 21 July 356 BC, a man named Herostratus burned the temple to ground in
an attempt to immortalize his name. He did indeed. Strangely enough, Alexander the Great was
born the same night. The historian Plutarch later wrote that the goddess was "too busy taking
care of the birth of Alexander to send help to her threatened temple". Over the next two decades,
the temple was restored and is labeled "temple E" by archeologists. And when Alexander the
Great conquered Asia Minor, he helped rebuild the destroyed temple.
When St Paul visited Ephesus to preach Christianity in the first century AD, he was
confronted by the Artemis' cult who had no plans to abandon their goddess. And when the temple
was again destroyed by the Goths in AD 262, the Ephesians vowed to rebuild. By the fourth
century AD, most Ephesians had converted to Christianity and the temple lost its religious
glamor. The final chapter came when in AD 401 the Temple of Artemis was torn down by St
John Chrysostom. Ephesus was later deserted, and only in the late nineteenth century has the site
been excavated. The digging revealed the temple's foundation and the road to the now swampy
site. Attempts were recently made to rebuilt the temple, but only a few columns have been re-
erected.
Description
The foundation of the temple was rectangular in form, similar to most temples at the
time. Unlike other sanctuaries, however, the building was made of marble, with a decorated
faade overlooking a spacious courtyard. Marble steps surrounding the building platform led to
the high terrace which was approximately 80 m by 130 m in plan. The columns were 20 m high
with Ionic capitals and carved circular sides. There were 127 columns in total, aligned
orthogonally over the whole platform area, except for the central cella or house of the goddess.
The temple housed many works of art, including four ancient bronze statues of Amazons
sculpted by the finest artists at the time. When St Paul visited the city, the temple was adorned
with golden pillars and silver statuettes, and was decorated with paintings. There is no evidence
that a statue of the goddess herself was placed at the center of the sanctuary, but there is no
reason not to believe so.
The early detailed descriptions of the temple helped archeologists reconstruct the
building. Many reconstructions such as that by H.F. von Erlach depicted the faade with a four-
column porch which never existed. More accurate reconstructions may give us an idea about the
general layout of the temple. However, its true beauty lies in the architectural and artistic details
which will forever remain unknown.
 I have lying, over me in Halicarnassus, a gigantic monument such as no other
dead person has, adorned in the finest way with statues of horses and men carved
most realistically from the best quality marble. Similar to the Great Pyramid, we are
now visiting the burial place of an ancient king. Yet the Mausoleum is different - so
different from the Pyramid that it earned its reputation - and a spot within the list - for
other reasons. Geographically, it is closer to the Temple of Artemis... And it was the
beauty of the tomb rather than its size that fascinated its visitors for years.

Location

In the city of Bodrum (f.k.a. Halicarnassus) on the Aegean Sea, in south-west Turkey.

History

When the Persians expanded their ancient kingdom to include Mesopotamia, Northern
India, Syria, Egypt, and Asia Minor, the king could not control his vast empire without the help
of local governors or rulers -- the Satraps. Like many other provinces, the kingdom of Caria in
the western part of Asia Minor (Turkey) was so far from the Persian capital that it was practically
autonomous. From 377 to 353 BC, king Mausollos of Caria reigned and moved his capital to
Halicarnassus. Nothing is exciting about Maussollos life except the construction of his tomb. The
project was conceived by his wife and sister Artemisia, and the construction might have started
during the king's lifetime. The Mausoleum was completed around 350 BC, three years after
Maussollos death, and one year after Artemisia's.
For 16 centuries, the Mausoleum remained in good condition until an earthquake caused
some damage to the roof and colonnade. In the early fifteenth century, the Knights of St John of
Malta invaded the region and built a massive crusader castle. When they decided to fortify it in
1494, they used the stones of the Mausoleum. By 1522, almost every block of the Mausoleum
had been disassembled and used for construction.

Today, the massive castle still stands in Bodrum, and the polished stone and marble
blocks of the Mausoleum can be spotted within the walls of the structure. Some of the sculptures
survived and are today on display at the British Museum in London. These include fragment of
statues and many slabs of the frieze showing the battle between the Greeks and the Amazons. At
the site of the Mausoleum itself, only the foundation remains of the once magnificent Wonder.

Description

The structure was rectangular in plan, with base dimensions of about 40 m by 30 m .

Overlying the foundation was a stepped podium which sides were decorated with statues. The
burial chamber and the sarcophagus of white alabaster decorated with gold were located on the
podium and surrounded by Ionic columns. The colonnade supported a pyramid roof which was
in turn decorated with statues. A statue of a chariot pulled by four horses adorned the top of the
tomb.

The total height of the Mausoleum was 45 m . This is broken down into 20 m for the
stepped podium, 12 m for the colonnade, 7 m for the pyramid, and 6 m for the chariot statue at
the top.

The beauty of the Mausoleum is not only in the structure itself, but in the decorations and
statues that adorned the outside at different levels on the podium and the roof. These were tens of
life-size as well as under and over life-size free-standing statues of people, lions, horses, and
other animals. The statues were carved by four Greek sculptors: Bryaxis, Leochares, Scopas, and
Timotheus, each responsible for one side. Because the statues were of people and animals, the
Mausoleum holds a special place in history as it was not dedicated to the gods of Ancient
Greece.

Since the nineteenth century, archeological excavations have been undertaken at the
Mausoleum site. These excavations together with detailed descriptions by ancient historians give
us a fairly good idea about the shape and appearance of the Mausoleum. A modern
reconstruction of the shorter side of the Mausoleum illustrates the lavish nature of the art and
architecture of the building... a building for a King whose name is celebrated in all large tombs
today -- mausoleums.
 To you, O Sun, the people of Dorian Rhodes set up this bronze statue reaching to
Olympus when they had pacified the waves of war and crowned their city with the spoils
taken from the enemy. Not only over the seas but also on land did they kindle the lovely
torch of freedom.
Dedicatory inscription of the Colossus

From its building to its destruction lies a time span of merely 56 years. Yet the
colossus earned a place in the famous list of Wonders. "But even lying on the ground, it
is a marvel", said Pliny the Elder. The Colossus of Rhodes was not only a gigantic
statue. It was rather a symbol of unity of the people who inhabited that beautiful
Mediterranean island -- Rhodes.

Location

At the entrance of the harbor of the Mediterranean island of Rhodes in Greece.

History

Throughout most of its history, ancient Greece was comprised of city-states which had
limited power beyond their boundary. On the small island of Rhodes were three of these: Ialysos,
Kamiros, and Lindos. In 408 BC, the cities united to form one territory, with a unified capital,
Rhodes. The city thrived commercially and had strong economic ties with their main ally,
Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt. In 305 BC, the Antigonids of Macedonia who were also rivals of the
Ptolemies, besieged Rhodes in an attempt to break the Rhodo-Egyptian alliance. They could
never penetrate the city. When a peace agreement was reached in 304 BC, the Antagonids lifted
the siege, leaving a wealth of military equipment behind. To celebrate their unity, the Rhodians
sold the equipment and used the money to erect an enormous statue of their sun god, Helios.

The construction of the Colossus took 12 years and was finished in 282 BC. For years,
the statue stood at the harbor entrance, until a strong earthquake hit Rhodes about 226 BC. The
city was badly damaged, and the Colossus was broken at its weakest point -- the knee. The
Rhodians received an immediate offer from Ptolemy III Eurgetes of Egypt to cover all
restoration costs for the toppled monument. However, an oracle was consulted and forbade the
re-erection. Ptolemy's offer was declined.

For almost a millennium, the statue lay broken in ruins. In AD 654, the Arabs invaded
Rhodes. They disassembled the remains of the broken Colossus and sold them to a Jew from
Syria. It is said that the fragments had to be transported to Syria on the backs of 900 camels.

Description

Let us first clear a misconception about the appearance of the Colossus. It has long been
believed that the Colossus stood in front of the Mandraki harbor, one of many in the city of
Rhodes, straddling its entrance. Given the height of the statue and the width of the harbor mouth,
this picture is rather impossible than improbable. Moreover, the fallen Colossus would have
blocked the harbor entrance. Recent studies suggest that it was erected either on the eastern
promontory of the Mandraki harbor, or even further inland. Anyway, it did never straddle the
harbor entrance.

The project was commissioned by the Rhodian sculptor Chares of Lindos. To build the
statue, his workers cast the outer bronze skin parts. The base was made of white marble, and the
feet and ankle of the statue were first fixed. The structure was gradually erected as the bronze
form was fortified with an iron and stone framework. To reach the higher parts, an earth ramp
was built around the statue and was later removed. When the colossus was finished, it stood
about 33 m (110 ft) high. And when it fell, "few people can make their arms meet round the
thumb", wrote Pliny.

Although we do not know the true shape and appearance of the Colossus, modern
reconstructions with the statue standing upright are more accurate than older drawings. Although
it disappeared from existence, the ancient World Wonder inspired modern artists such as French
sculptor Auguste Bartholdi best known by his famous work: The Statue of Liberty.
 Sostratus, the son of Dexiphanes, the Cnidian, dedicated this to the Saviour Gods, on
behalf of those who sail the seas.
Dedicatory inscription of the Lighthouse

Of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, only one had a practical use in
addition to its architectural elegance: The Lighthouse of Alexandria. For sailors, it
ensured a safe return to the Great Harbor. For architects, it meant even more: it was the
tallest building on Earth. And for scientists, it was the mysterious mirror that fascinated
them most... The mirror which reflection could be seen more than 50 km (35 miles) off-
shore.

Location

On the ancient island of Pharos, now a promontory within the city of Alexandria in
Egypt.

History

Shortly after the death of Alexander the Great, his commander Ptolemy Soter assumed
power in Egypt. He had witnessed the founding of Alexandria, and established his capital there.
Off of the city's coast lies a small island: Pharos. Its name, legend says, is a variation of
Pharaoh's Island, but it is more likely that the name is Greek in origin. The island was connected
to the mainland by means of a dike - the Heptastadion - which gave the city a double harbor. And
because of dangerous sailing conditions and flat coastline in the region, the construction of a
lighthouse was necessary.
The project was conceived and initiated by Ptolemy Soter around 290 BC, but was
completed after his death, during the reign of his son Ptolemy Philadelphus. Sostratus, a
contemporary of Euclid, was the architect, but detailed calculations for the structure and its
accessories were carried out at the Alexandria Library/Mouseion. The monument was dedicated
to the Savior Gods: Ptolemy Soter (lit. savior) and his wife Berenice. For centuries, the
Lighthouse of Alexandria (occasionally referred to as the Pharos Lighthouse) was used to mark
the harbor, using fire at night and reflecting sun rays during the day. It was even shown on
Roman coins, just as famous monuments are depicted on currency today.
When the Arabs conquered Egypt, they admired Alexandria and its wealth. The
Lighthouse continues to be mentioned in their writings and travelers accounts. But the new rulers
moved their capital to Cairo since they had no ties to the Mediterranean. When the mirror was
brought down mistakenly, they did not restore it back into place. In AD 956, an earthquake shook
Alexandria, and caused little damage to the Lighthouse. It was later in 1303 and in 1323 that two
stronger earthquakes left a significant impression on the structure. When the famous Arab
traveler Ibn Battuta visited Alexandria in 1349, he could not enter the ruinous monument or even
climb to its doorway.
The final chapter in the history of the Lighthouse came in AD 1480 when the Egyptian
Mamelouk Sultan, Qaitbay, decided to fortify Alexandria's defense. He built a medieval fort on
the same spot where the Lighthouse once stood, using the fallen stone and marble.
Description

Of the six vanished Wonders, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was the last to disappear.
Therefore we have adequately accurate knowledge of its location and appearance. Ancient
accounts such as those by Strabo and Pliny the Elder give us a brief description of the "tower"
and the magnificent white marble cover. They tell us how the mysterious mirror could reflect the
light tens of kilometers away. Legend says the mirror was also used to detect and burn enemy
ships before they could reach the shore.
In 1166, an Arab traveler, Abou-Haggag Al-Andaloussi visited the Lighthouse. He
documented a wealth of information and gave an accurate description of the structure which
helped modern archeologists reconstruct the monument. It was composed of three stages: The
lowest square, 55.9 m high with a cylindrical core; the middle octagonal with a side length of
18.30 m and a height of 27.45 m ; and the third circular 7.30 m high. The total height of the
building including the foundation base was about 117 m , equivalent to a 40-story modern
building. The internal core was used as a shaft to lift the fuel needed for the fire. At the top stage,
the mirror reflected sunlight during the day while fire was used during the night. In ancient
times, a statue of Poseidon adorned the summit of the building.

Although the Lighthouse of Alexandria did not survive to the

present day, it left its influence in various respects. From an
architectural standpoint, the monument has been used as a model for
many prototypes along the Mediterranean, as far away as Spain. And
from a linguistic standpoint, it gave its name -- Pharos -- to all the
lighthouses in the world... Just look up the dictionary for the French,
Italian, or Spanish word for lighthouse.
Alexandra en & Cristina Podil
Students at Mihai Eminescu College
Class VI B