Zenobia visits the Lighthouse of Alexandria in the Zenobia Book Series.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
We're excited the Lighthouse of Alexandria will be rebuilt nearby its original location. This was confirmed in a meeting on May 2015, by members of the Permanent Committee of the Egyptian Antiquities.
The Lighthouse plays a major role in the Zenobia Book Series. Zenobia's first visit to the Pharos is in book one, read from the sample chapters: Zenobia - Birth of a Legend Chapter 37
Here's a scene from book two, Zenobia - Challenging a Legend. Where Zenobia is at the top of the lighthouse with her professor in Chaper 33:
They reached the level of the light. Tonight, a burning basin of oil provided the radiance, which was magnified by a huge lens, projecting a strong beam into the blackness. The lens and basin rested on a circular platform on wheels, which was turned back and forth by slaves pushing on long poles attached to the platform. On Zenobia’s previous visit during the day, the rays of the sun had been channeled down off a mirror and through the lens.
“I assume that the sunlight is far stronger,” she remarked.
“Correct,” the professor replied.
“I know that focused sunlight can start ships on fire at a distance. Can the beam from the burning oil do the same?” she queried.
“No,” he answered in a whisper, “because the light is less intense.”
“Let’s go up on top,” she said.
He gestured palm up toward the stairs and the attendant nodded. They climbed the circular stairway to the base of the statue of Poseidon and slowly strolled around the walkway.
Zenobia gestured at the rotating beam of light below them. “How far away can it be seen?”
“At least 160 furlongs in the day,” he replied, “but probably about 200 at night.”
“At what distance can the concentrated sunlight start wood on fire?”
He smiled at her choice of words. “About 100 furlongs, depending on the conditions.”
“What conditions?” she persisted.
“The air temperature, the strength of the breeze, whether it is kicking up spray from the sea, and the speed of the target, normally a ship. It is harder to maintain a focal point at a greater distance.”
“I would think the sailors could put a fire out easily – after all, there is plenty of water.”
She can’t help it, he thought, it’s part of her nature. “The operators of the lens try to start the fire in the sails, high up and out of reach. Or just above the water line on the side of the vessel. Since the deck is wider, it is hard to throw water down and inward at the same time. Once the blaze is fanned by the wind, it spreads rapidly and becomes almost impossible to put out.”
“You would make an excellent general,” she observed. “But a better scholar.”
Here's the article from Cairo Post on May 6th 2015 about the new lighthouse that will be built in the orginal location.
CAIRO: The Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that was badly damaged by three earthquakes, will be rebuilt nearby its original location.
The Lighthouse, also known as the Pharos, was badly damaged due to a series of earthquakes hit Alexandria and the Mediterranean area between the 3rd and 12th centuries, Greco-Roman archaeology professor Fathy Khourshid told The Cairo Post Tuesday.
Built by the Greek architect Sostratus of Cnidus for the purpose of guiding sailors into the harbor, the tower was completed and inaugurated during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285 B.C.-246B.C.), said Khourshid.
“The original building comprised three stages: a lower square section with a central core, a middle octagonal section and a circular section at its top,” he added.
Its top used to have a mirror that reflected sunlight during the day while a fire was lit at night in order to guide ships, said Khourshid.
In 1994, remains of the original building were unearthed on the floor of the sunken part of Alexandria’s eastern harbor.
With a height estimated at 130 meters, (420 feet) the tower was the tallest manmade structure on Earth for many centuries.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
