Lighthouse Of Alexandria

The Lighthouse, or Pharos, of Alexandria, was built by the first Ptolemaic kings of Egypt in the Third Century BC, for several reasons: a large lighthouse was needed in their capital, Alexandria, the port was a major source of income and influence for the dynasty, and it was also a prestige work that would reinforce the legitimacy of these Greek sovereigns in a foreign country. In this episode, I tell you about the lighthouse itself, its historical context, and what happened to it, because it remained in operation for more than a millennium.