For centuries, the Lighthouse of Alexandria has stood at the crossroads of history and legend. Known in antiquity as the Pharos, it was one of the tallest structures of the ancient world and guided ships safely into one of the Mediterranean’s busiest ports. Over time, earthquakes shattered the monument, its stones sank beneath the sea, and the lighthouse slowly slipped into myth.
Now, archaeologists working in Alexandria’s Eastern Harbor have brought a significant part of that lost wonder back into the light. Researchers have successfully raised 22 massive stone blocks from the seabed, some weighing between 70 and 80 tonnes. These newly recovered pieces are believed to belong to the lighthouse itself and may offer the clearest evidence yet of a grand, long-lost monumental entrance.
The recovered blocks include architectural elements such as lintels, door supports, thresholds, and heavy paving slabs. Among the most striking discoveries is a previously unknown structure resembling a pylon with an Egyptian-style doorway. This finding suggests that the lighthouse combined Greek engineering with Egyptian architectural traditions, making it far more complex than a simple tower built to hold a guiding flame.
Built in the early third century BCE under the rule of the Ptolemaic dynasty, the Lighthouse of Alexandria stood at the entrance to the city’s harbour. It functioned much like a modern airport beacon, helping sailors navigate a dangerous coastline. Ancient writers described it as a marvel of engineering, but little was known about its finer architectural details until underwater exploration began to uncover its remains.
The lighthouse did not collapse all at once. A series of earthquakes gradually weakened the structure, and many of its stones were later reused in nearby construction projects. Some of these blocks became part of the Citadel of Qaitbay, a medieval fortress that still dominates Alexandria’s shoreline today.
Underwater exploration of the lighthouse site began in earnest in the 1990s, when archaeologist Jean-Yves Empereur led a major survey of the harbor floor. Thousands of objects were documented, including columns, statues, and enormous stone fragments scattered across the seabed. Since then, research teams have returned repeatedly, working slowly and carefully under difficult sea conditions.
The latest lifting operation is part of an international initiative known as the PHAROS project. Its goal is to create a highly accurate digital reconstruction, or “digital twin,” of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. By scanning each recovered stone in detail, scientists hope to test how the pieces fit together and rebuild the monument virtually, without physically reassembling it.
The scientific work is being overseen by archaeologist Isabelle Hairy, with support from the French National Center for Scientific Research and authorization from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Advanced digital modelling and scanning technologies are being provided with the help of the Dassault Systèmes Foundation.
Digital tools play a crucial role in this effort because the lighthouse ruins are scattered, broken, and mixed with other ancient remains. Using photogrammetry and three-dimensional modelling, researchers can explore multiple reconstruction scenarios without forcing the evidence to fit a single narrative. This approach allows legend to be tested against measurable data.
Archaeologists say the discovery of architectural elements linked to a monumental doorway changes how historians understand the lighthouse. It suggests the structure was not only a navigational beacon but also a carefully designed ceremonial and symbolic building, reflecting the cultural blend of Greek and Egyptian influences in ancient Alexandria.
As work continues, researchers hope the digital reconstruction will allow both scholars and the public to experience the lighthouse as it once stood. Piece by piece, the Pharos is emerging from the sea, transforming one of history’s greatest legends back into a structure that can be studied, measured, and understood.