The release of the water from the vestiges of the Alexandria lighthouse marks a stage in the knowledge of this ancient monument. In July 2025, an operation led by Isabelle Hairy, architect-archaeteologist at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), in collaboration with the Alexandrine Studies Center (Cealex) made it possible to rise to the surface 22 colossal architectural blocks, from the depths of the Oriental Port of Alexandria. These elements, each weighing between 70 and 80 tonnes, include lintels and legs of monumental doors, thresholds, foundation slabs associated with monumental elements hitherto unknown. Their extraction is part of the Pharos project, which aims to digitally reconstruct the structure of the lighthouse, disappeared in the 15th century.
The work in progress is based on a methodology combining underwater excavations, mechanical lifting, architectural documentation and 3D digitization. Each block is carefully stowed, hoisted then scanned in order to be integrated into a complete digital modeling. This approach makes it possible to analyze the morphology of the elements, their original position and their place in the structure, while digitally preserving the data for future studies.
Reconstitution of the Alexandria lighthouse in synthetic images.
© Victor Shenouda, 2013
The main objective of this research is the creation of a digital twin of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. This virtual model should make it possible to test the hypotheses of restitution, to study ancient construction techniques and to propose a scientific reconstruction accessible to the international community. The reassembled blocks will also be used for material analyzes and exhibitions, contributing to the valuation of the Alexandrian heritage. A documentary is in preparation to support this operation.
The research on the lighthouse of Alexandria began in the 1960s, with the first underwater explorations of Kamel Abul Saadat. In 1968, archaeologist Honor Frost, mandated by UNESCO, established the first scientific plan of the site. In 1994, under the leadership of Jean-Yves Emperor and Cealex, systematic excavations made it possible to inventory more than 3,000 architectural blocks, colossal statues, sphinx and obelisks located between 2.60 m and 9 m. Several elements were exhibited at the Outdoor Museum in Kom El-Dikka and at the Libraryca Alexandrina.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria, erected in the 3rd century BC. AD under Ptolemy I and completed by Ptolemy II, was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. 100 to 130 meters high, it served as a maritime guide thanks to an innovative lighting system using mirrors and lights. Its construction, completed in fifteen years, mobilized considerable resources and symbolized the power of the Ptolemaic dynasty. It was damaged by successive earthquakes between the 4th and 14th century, then its vestiges integrated into the Citadel of Qaitbay in 1477. Its fame and its influence on maritime architecture remain major.
22 Alexandria lighthouse blocks were extracted from the sea in Egypt.
© Gedeon Cealex Programs
The archaeological deposit of the lighthouse extends over about 1.6 hectare. The architectural fragments, colossal statues, sphinxes and obelisks bear witness to the richness of the site. Thirty-six parts extracted in the 1990s were exhibited in Alexandria, while the recently raised elements considerably enrich scientific and heritage documentation.
