The Alexandria Lighthouse of Pharos of Alexandria is one of the seven wonders of the world. It was a technological triumph and has been the type of architecture of all lighthouses since. On the island of Pharos in the harbour of Alexandria the Alexandria Lighthouse was built. It was built by Sostratus of Cnides for Ptolemy II of Egypt in about 280 BC. It was said to be more than 440 feet high, and built in three stages, all sloping slightly inward; the lowest was shaped as a square, the next an octagon, and the top like a cylinder. A broad, spiral ramp led to the top. At the top a fire burned at night. The lighthouse was surmounted by a statue, probably representing either Alexander the Great or Ptolemy Soter I in the form of the Sun god Helios. Though it was well known earlier the lighthouse did not appear on any list of wonders until the 6th century AD. The Alexandria Lighthouse was destroyed by an earthquake.
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