Spino
06-16-2004, 15:18
http://www.totalwar.com/community/rome.htm
The Pharos at Alexandria
After Alexander's death his empire disintegrated and his generals fought each other. In Egypt Ptolemy Soter made himself Pharoah and, in around 290 BC started construction of a lighthouse on an island off the coast of Alexandria - this coastline had long been regarded as dangerous for shipping.
The scholars of the Great Library were involved in its design and the construction, which was completed in the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus. At night, a beacon was kept burning, while during the day a mirror system reflected sunlight to catch the attention of sailors. The Lighthouse was more than 117m in height (roughly a 40-storey building) and was topped with a statue of Poseidon, the God of the sea. It was relatively intact until earthquakes in 1303 AD and 1323 AD.
The Pharos at Alexandria
After Alexander's death his empire disintegrated and his generals fought each other. In Egypt Ptolemy Soter made himself Pharoah and, in around 290 BC started construction of a lighthouse on an island off the coast of Alexandria - this coastline had long been regarded as dangerous for shipping.
The scholars of the Great Library were involved in its design and the construction, which was completed in the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus. At night, a beacon was kept burning, while during the day a mirror system reflected sunlight to catch the attention of sailors. The Lighthouse was more than 117m in height (roughly a 40-storey building) and was topped with a statue of Poseidon, the God of the sea. It was relatively intact until earthquakes in 1303 AD and 1323 AD.