Which ancient wonder stood in Alexandria and guided ships into Egypt’s Mediterranean port?

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was the ancient wonder that guided ships into Egypt’s Mediterranean port.

Also called the Pharos of Alexandria, the lighthouse stood on the island of Pharos beside Alexandria’s harbour. Construction is generally dated to the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, in the early third century BCE, after the city had been founded by Alexander the Great.

Ancient accounts describe a very tall tower built in stages, with a fire at the top and a reflective surface that helped project its light. Its exact height is uncertain, but it may have exceeded 100 metres, making it one of the tallest human-made structures of the ancient world.

Earthquakes damaged the lighthouse over several centuries, and its remains eventually disappeared. Stones from the structure were reportedly reused in the Qaitbay Citadel, built on the site in the fifteenth century. The word “pharos” became a term for lighthouse in several languages.