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The Lighthouse of Alexandria stood over 400 feet (122 meters) high, on the
island of Pharos in the harbor of Alexandria, Egypt. It became so famous that
the word "pharos" came to mean lighthouse. The lighthouse is also
called the Pharos of Alexandria. The structure, completed during the reign of
Ptolemy II (283-246 B.C.) was from a design by the Greek architect Sostratos.
The lighthouse rose from a stone platform in three sections. The bottom section
of the lighthouse was square, the middle octagonal , and the top circular. A
fire burning at the top of the light-house provided light. The Lighthouse of
Alexandria stood for about 1,500 years before it was finally topped by an
earthquake.