By: The Scribe on Sunday, May 20, 2007
Built in the 3rd century BC on the island of Pharos in Alexandria, Egypt, the Pharos of Alexandria was constructed initially as a landmark to help guide ships into the flat, harbor coastline of the city. The island was connected to the mainland through a man-made landbridge called the Heptastadion, which formed one side of the harbor, and it was only later in the 1st century AD that reflective mirrors and fire were added for its use as a lighthouse.
The Pharos’ construction was initiated by Ptolemy Soter around 290 BC, but was completed during the reign of his son, Ptolemy Philadelphus. The architect for the project was a man named Sostratus, who worked on his calculations and drawings at the Library of Alexandria.
Dedicated to the “savior gods” Ptolemy Soter and his wife Berenice, the Lighthouse gained such notoriety that it was later depicted on Roman coins that were circulated around the entire empire. Its outer layer was constructed of marble slabs, while the inner mirror was reputed to reflect light that could be seen up to 50km away! Another legend also stated that the mirror could be used to detect and burn enemy ships before they reached the shore, however this should simply be taken for what it is: a legend.
Several earthquakes in 1303 and 1323 caused significant damage to the structure of the lighthouse, and by 1349, the doorway was completely inaccessible. However, the Pharos was the last of the Seven Ancient Wonders to survive, and thus we have accurate knowledge of its exact location and outer appearance. Even today, remains from the Pharos stand reused as portions of the walls for a medieval fort built in 1480 AD, known as Fort Qaitby – constructed on the exact spot where the Lighthouse once stood.
Tomorrow: A gladiator graveyard?
By: The Scribe on Saturday, May 19, 2007
Standing near the harbor entrance of the island of Rhodes, construction of the Colossus began after the small island was attacked by the Antigonids of Macedonia – rivals of the Ptolemies in Egypt, with whom Rhodes had a strong trade alliance. Incredibly, the Macedonians were unable to take the Rhodian capital, and instead were forced to make a peace treaty in 304 BC. When they left the island, the Macedonians left behind a substantial amount of military equipment – which the Rhodians promptly sold, and then used the money to create a giant statue of their sun god, Helios.
Although the Colossus only lasted for 56 years, from building to destruction, the statue likely stood at the eastern promontory of the Mandraki harbor, or possibly even further inland. While it has been long believed that the statue stood straddling the harbor entrance, due to the height of the statue, width of the harbor mouth, and the fact that the fallen Colossus would have blocked the entire harbor, the idea is simply not conceivable.
The outer skin of the statue was cast in bronze, while the base was made of marble. Using an iron and stone inner frame, the structure was gradually erected, making use of an earth ramp to reach the upper sections. Its final size was around 33 meters high.
Construction of the statue took 12 years, until an earthquake around 226 BC shook the island and shattered the Colossus’ knee. Although Ptolemy III of Egypt offered funds to cover restoration of the statue, an oracle forbade any reconstruction work and thus the offer was declined. Despite this, the Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder still remarked that “even lying on the ground, it is a marvel.”
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Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Tomorrow: The Pharos
By: The Scribe on Friday, May 18, 2007
Built for a Persian satrap named Maussollos and his family between 353 and 350 BC, the Tomb of Maussollos (or alternately, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus) was constructed by some of the best architects in the Greek world at the time. Standing around 45 meters high, the tomb was considered to be such an aesthetic and architectural triumph that Antipater of Sidon named it one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Construction of the Mausoleum was actually begun by Maussollos’ wife Artemisia, who commissioned the best known artists and architects of the time. One of these artists was a Greek man named Scopas, who had actually supervised an earlier rebuilding of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.
Placed on a hill above the city of Halicarnassus in Turkey, the tomb was surrounded by an open courtyard. The tomb was built on a raised platform in the courtyard, with a stairway leading up to its main entrance – and along the stairway were statues of stone lions, gods, and goddesses, and at each corner of the platform were mounted stone horsemen.
The bottom third of the Mausoleum was covered in sculptural reliefs, mainly focusing on battle scenes: Greeks battling Amazons, or the battle of the Centaurs and Lapiths. Above this section were 36 columns with statues between each one, and above this was a pyramid-style roof. At the peak of the roof was yet another statue: a four-horse chariot driven by statues of Maussollos and Artemisia.
After the death of her husband in 353 BC, although the tomb was incomplete, Artemisia continued the construction. However, she lived only two years after his death, and although the building was still incomplete, the builders continued working as a tribute to their generous rulers. Maussollos’ and Artemisia’s burial urns were placed within the incomplete Mausoleum, and as a sacrificial ritual, a number of dead animals were placed on the steps leading up into the tomb – after which the stairs were sealed off with rubble.
The Mausoleum remained standing for an incredible 16 centuries, until an earthquake in 1304 AD shattered the columns. By 1522, almost every block had been removed by Crusaders to build their own castle and fortifications nearby.
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The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Tomorrow: The Colossus
By: The Scribe on Thursday, May 17, 2007
Created by the Classical sculptor Phidias in the 5th century, the statue of Zeus at Olympia was a tourist destination for the ancient Greeks as early as, well…its completion! Phidias was famous in ancient Greece for his incredible gold and ivory statues – however the statue of Zeus was considered his greatest accomplishment.
Housed in the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, the chryselephantine statue reportedly took Phidias 12 years to complete. The frame of the statue was likely made of wood, with ivory sheets used to create the white flesh of the god, embellished with gold sheets for drapery. At 12 meters (40 feet) tall, the statue occupied the entire rear of the temple aisle and nearly touched the ceiling.
Phidias’ Zeus was seated on a wooden throne, with ivory, ebony and gold inlay; Zeus’ right hand would have held a small statue of Nike, with an eagle-topped scepter in his left hand. His head would have been crowned with an olive wreath, and in true Greek style, on the god’s feet were sandals – in this case, made of gold. In front of the statue, Phidias placed a shallow pool of oil, in order to prevent the ivory from eroding in the humid climate.
The Greek historian Strabo commented on the statue’s height in one his writings: “it seems that if Zeus were to stand up, he would unroof the temple.” In fact, according to Strabo, Zeus’ entire chair was carved with images from Greek mythology: Apollo and Artemis killing the children of Niobe, sphinxes, and the three Graces.
The statue remained in the cella of the temple for upwards of 800 years, and the cause of its destruction is heavily debated. Some scholars assert that it was destroyed by fire around 475 AD, while others suggest it was destroyed along with the temple itself – probably by earthquake – sometime in the 5th century AD.
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Tomorrow: The Mausoleum
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