Lighthouses Lighting the Way Since Early Times
Thousands of lighthouses are found around the world. For centuries they have aided those sailing the waterways in avoiding dangerous shorelines and to guide them into safe harbour. They are not only a physical guidepost, they are an endearing symbol of the importance of guidance and direction in our lives, physical and spiritual.
The first lighthouse, the Pharos of Alexandria, was built in ancient Egypt around 280BC by Ptolemy I and his son Ptolemy II. It stood 400 feet high on the island of Pharos in the harbour of Alexandria. It was considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Through the following ages it was gradually destroyed by invaders and earthquakes before being completely destroyed in the 1300s. The Pharos Lighthouse remains a symbol of the ancient world’s engineering and architectural achievements, and its legacy continues to inspire architects and engineers to this day.
From there the practice of building lighthouses spread around the world warning ships and boats of rocks, shoals and underwater obstructions. They are usually built in the style of a tower to provide the height needed for mariners to see them from a…
