Researchers Just Hauled 22 Massive Blocks of Iconic Lighthouse of Alexandria From The Mediterranean Seabed

One of the seven wonders of the ancient world will soon be unveiled in more detail for its enthusiasts. The monument in question is the Lighthouse of Alexandria, whose remains have been submerged for centuries in the waters of Egypt, as reported by La Brujula Verde. For a long time, researchers have been trying to understand how the illustrious lighthouse looked in its full glory. Many have gone down to look at its remains and gained insights to create a digital replica. This project has taken a significant step forward with the rise of 22 blocks from the Lighthouse of Alexandria on the surface. 

Lighthouse of Alexandria

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was reportedly constructed in the 200s B.C., during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, as reported by Popular Mechanics. The monument was active until 1303, after which it was deactivated. At its peak, it was one of the tallest structures in the world, according to History Hit. The establishment became a center of social, commercial, and intellectual power at that time. The structure guided ships headed for trading ports and also served as a tourist attraction. Experts don't exactly know how it was destroyed, but speculate that it was possibly irrevocably damaged by a 12th-century earthquake. The port went into oblivion and was rediscovered in the 20th century. 

'PHAROS' Project

Twenty-two blocks from the Lighthouse of Alexandria were raised from the seabed as part of an endeavor known as PHAROS. The ultimate goal of this project is to reconstruct it digitally. Some of the most gigantic pieces recovered from the seabed weighed around seventy to eighty tons. The recovery operation was captured on film and would soon be telecast on French television. Researchers believe these pieces were parts of the majestic entrance door of the Lighthouse. They speculate that the pieces formed the base and threshold of the entryway. The collection of the blocks also sheds some light on a previously unknown structure that included a pylon with a door. The team found that the fragments associated with the specific structure exhibited a mixture of Egyptian style and Greek construction techniques. The project's authorities are now looking forward to further analyzing the blocks in detail and conducting a 3D scan. 

Future of the Project

Over the past decade, hundreds of architectural elements from the submerged Lighthouse have been digitized by teams of experts from the Center for Alexandrian Studies (CEAlex), a permanent unit of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology (IFAO) in Egypt. The 3D scans of twenty-two blocks will join these digitized images to create the virtual reconstruction. It will be done by volunteer engineers of the Dassault Systèmes Foundation. Several historians, archaeologists, numismatists, and architects are collaborating with engineers to facilitate this reconstruction. The 3D reconstruction would allow experts to test several hypotheses about the construction methods used by the original builders, as well as several theories regarding the monument's collapse. The project could solve many mysteries of the past associated with this legendary Lighthouse.