Which ancient wonder stood in Alexandria and was traditionally described as one of the tallest structures of antiquity?

The Lighthouse of Alexandria stood on the island of Pharos beside Alexandria in ancient Egypt.

Built during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, probably in the 3rd century BCE, the lighthouse guided ships into the busy harbor of Alexandria. Ancient writers associated its construction with the architect Sostrates of Cnidus, although the exact details of authorship remain debated.

The structure was built in several diminishing levels, commonly described as a square lower section, an octagonal middle section, and a cylindrical upper section. A fire burned at the top, and polished surfaces may have helped reflect or magnify its light. Its total height is uncertain because the original building no longer survives, but ancient accounts portray it as exceptionally tall.

Earthquakes damaged the lighthouse repeatedly between the 10th and 14th centuries. By the late medieval period it had collapsed, and stones from the site were reused in the construction of the Citadel of Qaitbay. The name Pharos became associated with lighthouses in several languages, including French, Italian, Spanish, and Romanian.