The ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria, a 2,000-year-old marvel, has been unearthed from the depths of the Mediterranean Sea. This remarkable discovery, led by French and Egyptian institutions, is shedding light on a structure that once stood as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. But here's where it gets controversial: the lighthouse's original grandeur is now a puzzle, with only a fraction of its massive stone blocks recovered.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria, known as Pharos, was a towering beacon guiding ships along the treacherous coastline. Its existence shaped ancient maritime trade, symbolizing Alexandria's prominence in the Mediterranean. Today, the excavation is a meticulous process, with researchers and divers carefully lifting massive stone blocks from the seabed. These blocks, some weighing up to 80 tonnes, include monumental door lintels, jambs, a threshold, and large base slabs.
Among the findings is a previously unknown pylon with an Egyptian-style doorway dating back to the Hellenistic period. The sheer scale of the stones provides a glimpse into the lighthouse's former magnitude. Each block is meticulously studied on land before further analysis, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of its structure.
The PHAROS project, led by the CNRS and supported by La Fondation Dassault Systèmes, aims to digitally reconstruct the lighthouse. Using photogrammetry and advanced scanning techniques, researchers will create a virtual environment, allowing viewers to explore a detailed digital twin of Pharos. This digital reconstruction will test various hypotheses about the lighthouse's construction and eventual collapse.
The excavation has already recovered 22 of the largest surviving blocks, some weighing between 70 and 80 tonnes. These elements will be joined with over 100 blocks already digitised underwater, forming a comprehensive digital model. The project's goal is to piece together the lighthouse's history, despite the significant loss of its original structure.
This archaeological endeavor is a testament to the power of technology and collaboration. By combining French and Egyptian expertise, researchers are bringing a lost wonder back to life, one stone at a time. As the excavation continues, the outline of the lighthouse's grandeur becomes clearer, offering a glimpse into the past and inspiring further exploration of ancient maritime trade.
