The remains were located on the seabed of the Mediterranean Sea within the eastern harbour of Alexandria. Photo credit scubadesign/Shutterstock
Archaeologists working off the coast of Alexandria in Egypt have identified large submerged stone blocks believed to be part of the long-lost Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the famed Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The remains were located on the seabed of the Mediterranean Sea within the eastern harbour of Alexandria, an area where underwater archaeological surveys have been carried out for decades. The discovery forms part of ongoing efforts to document the submerged remains of the ancient port city.
Researchers recently identified 22 monumental limestone and granite blocks, some weighing several tonnes, scattered across the harbour floor. Archaeologists believe these architectural pieces once formed part of the entrance and internal structure of the ancient lighthouse.
International project investigating the site
The work is being conducted under the PHAROS project, an international research initiative led by the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in collaboration with Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and supported by the Dassault Systèmes Foundation.
Specialists involved in the programme are documenting the fragments using underwater mapping, photogrammetry and high-resolution scanning techniques. These technologies allow researchers to record the stones in detail without removing them from the seabed.
The blocks include architectural components such as lintels, door jambs and structural slabs. Their scale and construction style indicate they belonged to the lighthouse rather than other buildings that once stood in the harbour area.
One of the tallest structures of the ancient world
The Lighthouse of Alexandria, also known as the Pharos of Alexandria, was constructed in the third century BC during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus of the Ptolemaic dynasty.
Built on the island of Pharos at the entrance to Alexandria’s harbour, the tower is believed to have stood more than 100 metres tall. This made it one of the highest man-made structures of the ancient world and a defining landmark of the city.
Ancient accounts describe the lighthouse as a multi-tiered tower topped by a beacon fire that guided ships into the busy port. Alexandria was a major commercial hub in antiquity, linking trade routes across the Mediterranean and beyond.
Earthquakes led to its eventual destruction
Despite its impressive scale and durability, the lighthouse did not survive into the modern era. The structure suffered significant damage during a series of earthquakes that struck the region over several centuries.
Historical records indicate that repeated seismic events between the 10th and 14th centuries gradually weakened the monument. By the 14th century the remaining sections collapsed, causing many stones to fall into the sea around the harbour.
Some of the surviving blocks were later reused in the construction of the Citadel of Qaitbay, a 15th-century coastal fortress built on the original site of the lighthouse by the Mamluk ruler Sultan Qaitbay.
Underwater discoveries in Alexandria’s harbour
Modern archaeological exploration of Alexandria’s submerged ruins began in the 1990s when divers documented large quantities of stone blocks, statues and architectural fragments across the harbour floor.
Since then, researchers have catalogued more than 3,000 artefacts from different historical periods of the city. Many remain in situ, allowing archaeologists to study the layout of the ancient port environment.
The recently identified fragments are particularly important because they appear to belong directly to the lighthouse’s internal structure. Their size and distinctive design features help researchers confirm their origin.
Digital reconstruction of the monument
As part of the PHAROS project, experts are creating detailed three-dimensional scans of each fragment. These digital records will be used to build a virtual reconstruction of the lighthouse.
The goal is to produce one of the most accurate visual representations of the monument ever created. By combining architectural analysis with digital modelling, historians hope to better understand how the lighthouse was engineered and how it functioned as a navigational beacon. Although the structure itself will not be rebuilt, the digital model could provide valuable insights into ancient engineering techniques and the design of maritime infrastructure in the classical world.
For archaeologists and historians, the discovery represents another step towards uncovering the story of a structure that once stood among the most celebrated achievements of ancient architecture.
