파로스 섬의 등대 [Pharos of Alexandria] Lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt

세계 고대 7대 불가사의 중의 하나.

가장 유명한 고대의 등대로 기술적인 위업이며 이후 세워진 모든 등대의 원형이다. BC 280년경 크니도스의 소스트라토스가 이집트 왕 프톨레마이오스 2세를 위해 알렉산드리아 항 안에 있는 파로스 섬에 세웠고 높이가 135m 이상이었다고 전해진다. 이 등대는 3단식으로 맨 아래층은 4각형, 중간층은 8각형, 꼭대기층은 원통형이며 모두 약간 안쪽으로 쏠리게 지어졌다. 폭이 넓은 나선형 경사로가 옥탑으로 이어져 있었으며 옥탑에서 밤에 불을 밝혔다.

이 등대 위에는 거대한 조상(彫像)이 높이 솟아 있었는데, 알렉산드로스 대왕이나 프톨레마이오스 1세 소테르를 태양신 헬리오스의 형상으로 나타낸 것으로 여겨진다. 이 등대는 일찍부터 잘 알려져 있었다. 그러나 6세기까지는 불가사의 목록에 오르지 않았다(최초의 목록은 그대신 바빌론의 성벽을 꼽고 있음). 중세 아랍인들은 꼭대기 등대를 작은 모스크로 바꾸었다. 이 등대는 12세기 이후에 무너졌으며 1477년경 맘루크 술탄 카이트 베이는 그 잔해를 이용해 요새를 지었다. (empas)

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was one of the Ancient 7 Wonders of the World, chosen by Philon of Byzantium in 200 B.C.

Built to guide ships through the labyrinth of sandbars that were very dangerous for merchants trying to reach the port of Alexandria in Egypt, the Lighthouse or Pharos of Alexandria was the only ancient wonder to have served a practical purpose. Built in the 3rd century B.C., the lighthouse stood some 500 feet (around 166 meters) above the city's western harbor and was financed by the Greek merchant Sostratus, who wanted to help ensure the safety of shipping traffic. Polished bronze mirrors were specially created to reflect sunlight out to sea during daytime, and fires guided ships at night. With a height variously estimated at between 117 and 134 meters (440 feet) it was the tallest man-made structure on Earth for many centuries. The light from the lighthouse could, according to records, be seen up to 56 km (35 miles) from shore. The tower stood relatively intact until a series of earthquakes in the 14th century and gradual deterioration from natural elements caused the structure to collapse and eventually be dismantled for its stones. Some of its remains were found on the floor of Alexandria's Eastern Harbor in 1994 and more remains have subsequently been revealed by satellite imaging.

Constructed from blocks of light-colored stone, the tower was made up of three stages: a lower square with a central core, a middle octagonal section, and, at the top, a circular section. A statue of Poseidon, the god of the sea, stood atop the tower during the Roman period. The design of minarets in many early Islamic mosques many centuries later followed a similar threestage design, showing the building's broader architectural influence. Pharos later became the etymological origin of the word 'lighthouse' in many Romance languages, for example the French phare, Italian faro, Portuguese farol, Spanish faro and Romanian far.