The World's Greatest Archaeological Treasure: The Lighthouse of Alexandria Raised from the Depths of the Sea

As a result of a research conducted in the deep waters of the Mediterranean Sea, 22 colossal blocks belonging to the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the most important architectural structures in world history, were brought to light. Each of these stone blocks weighs between 70,000 and 80,000 kilograms, forming a part of the monumental entrance of the legendary structure. These artifacts, lost underwater for centuries, were rescued through meticulous work carried out in the eastern harbor of Egypt. The discovery took place within the scope of the international PHAROS project, jointly conducted by the globally renowned French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and the Dassault Systèmes Foundation. Analyses on the recovered stones prove that both Egyptian and Ancient Greek architectural techniques were used in the construction of the building.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and this discovery plays a groundbreaking role in our understanding of the engineering genius of that era. Among the extracted pieces are door lintels, jambs, thresholds, and floor paving slabs. According to the statement made by archaeologists, these remains are elements belonging to the magnificent entrance of the structure. Beyond being merely an architectural remnant, this finding also reveals how the colossal structure, which guided ships arriving at one of the busiest ports of Antiquity through dangerous waters, was designed. The recovery of these pieces not only created great excitement in the scientific world but also shed light on history as concrete evidence of cultural exchange between Ancient Egypt and the Hellenistic period.

In this final stage of systematic work continuing for over twenty years in the field of underwater archaeology, the fruits of a three-decade-long research were harvested. The sunken ruins were actually first noticed in 1968, but large-scale discovery work was initiated in 1994 under the leadership of French archaeologist Jean-Yves Empereur. During the dives conducted at that time, the documentation of over 3,300 objects was successfully accomplished, and sphinxes, obelisks, columns, and granite blocks were identified. Today, thanks to the use of state-of-the-art equipment, the most majestic and heaviest pieces have finally been lifted from the sea in this long-term process initiated by Empereur. This process is a perfect example of how both patience and technological advancements provide significant contributions to science.

These historical remains obtained will be examined in detail by scientists, and the digital reconstruction of the building is planned. In the past decade, more than 100 architectural pieces on the seabed have been scanned using photogrammetry and transferred to a digital environment. Experts are working with a large team of historians, archaeologists, numismatists, and architects to integrate the ancient descriptions and visual depictions of the building into this digital model. Each of the colossal blocks, weighing up to 80 tons, will be carefully scanned and repositioned virtually by Dassault Systèmes Foundation experts, as if they were pieces of a massive archaeological puzzle. The aim is to ensure that this unique structure, physically scattered at the bottom of the sea, is resurrected on computer screens exactly as it was on the day it was first built.

The historical origins of the Lighthouse of Alexandria date back to the early 3rd century BC, during the reign of Ptolemy I Soter. Built by the Greek architect Sostratus of Cnidus, this colossal tower soared into the sky on the island of Pharos with a height exceeding 100 meters. Holding the title of the world's tallest man-made structure for over 1600 years, the lighthouse safely guided ships through the dangerous coastal waters of Alexandria. However, a violent earthquake that occurred in 1303 largely destroyed and disabled this unique structure. Later, in 1477, Mamluk Sultan Qansuh al-Ghuri built a fortress in the same area using the remaining stones of the lighthouse, thus the ruins of the ancient structure served a new purpose.