The Lighthouse of Alexandria

Well out of all ancient Wonders only The Lighthouse of Alexandria had a practical use aside from its architectural significance. From centuries it ensured safe return to Harbor for Sailors. If we look at the structure of this ancient building even architects will agree that it was the tallest building on Earth. It was having great fascination for scientists because of its mysterious mirror. The mirror’s reflection can be seen more than 50km (35 miles) offshore.

This Great Lighthouse is located on the ancient island of Pharos now it’s within the city of Alexandria, Egypt.

After the death of Alexander the Great his commander Ptolemy Soter gained the power in Egypt and he established his capital in Alexandria. There was a small island off of the city’s coast called Pharos, it is said that Pharos is variation of Pharaoh’s Island. The island was connected to mainland through the means of a dike, which gave the city a double harbor. Because of flat coastline and dangerous sailing conditions that’s why a lighthouse on coast was needed.

Ptolemy Soter initiated the project in 290BC but his son Ptolemy Philadelphus completed it after his death. Its architect was Sostratus who belongs to same era of Euclid but details about its structure and accessories are carried out in Alexandria Library. The monument was dedicated to Savior Gods Ptolemy Soter and his wife Berenice. For centuries the Lighthouse of Alexandria had guided the sailors and ships to have a safe voyage   to harbor.

Later Egypt was conquered by the Arabs and in their writings and travelers accounts the Lighthouse is mentioned also. But new Arab rulers moved their capital to Cairo. The mirror of the Lighthouse was taken down mistakenly and it was not restored back into its place.

In 956 AD there was a destructive earthquake in Alexandria that caused some damage to the Lighthouse also. The earthquakes in 1303 and 1323 destroyed it almost completely as its mentioned by famous Arab traveler Ibn Battuta that when he visited Alexandria in 1349 he could not enter the ruinous monument or even climb to its doorway.

The final marks in history about the Lighthouse came in AD 1480, that time Egyptian Mamelouk Sultan Qaitbay decided to strengthen the Alexandria’s defense. He built a fort on the same location where the Lighthouse once standing, and in building of fort Lighthouse fallen marble and stones were used also.

From six vanished Wonders of the World the Lighthouse of Alexandria was the last one. Though there is sufficient accurate knowledge about its exact location as its described in ancient accounts such as those by Strabo and Pliny the Elder give the brief description of the Lighthouse that it was having a mysterious mirror could reflect the light tens of kilometers away and its also said that mirror was used to burn off the enemy ships.

There is detailed information about the Lighthouse given by an Arab traveler Abu Haggag Al-Andaloussi he visited there in 1166 AD. His description about the Lighthouse helped a lot the modern archeologists for reconstruction of the monument. The Lighthouse was composed of 3 stages the lowest square, 55.9 (183.4 ft) high with a cylindrical core; the middle octagonal with a side length of 18.30 m (60 ft) and a height of 27.45 m (90.1 ft); and 3^rd circular 7.30m (24 ft) high. The total height of the Lighthouse building including its foundation was 117 m (384 ft) that’s equal to a 40-story modern building. From inside the internal core was used as shaft to lift up the fuel needed for fire. The fuel for fire was used in night and in day the mirror was used for reflection of the light.

Though the Lighthouse of Alexandria won’t exist now but it had left great influence in different aspects for archeologists.

The Temple of Artemis at Epheseus

A question can come in mind that this is just a temple how it can have place amongst other unique structures like Pyramid, Hanging Gardens and the Clossus of Rhodes answer for that is just simple the beauty of this temple attracted people for years which mean it was the one of the most beautiful structure on earth in its times. The Temple of Artemis is not a simple temple like other ones; it was the most beautiful structure on earth was built in honor of the Greek goddess Artemis (Diana) of hunting and wild nature.

It’s located near the town of Selcuk, 50km south of Izmir (Smyrna) in Turkey.

The temple foundation was made in 7^th century BC. But its structure, which is listed as Wonder that was built in 550 BC. Its construction expenses were beard by the Lydian king Croesus and the Greek architect Chersipheron designed it and it was decorated with bronze statues, which were sculpted by the most skilled artists of their time like Pheidias, Polycleitus, Kresilas, and Phradmon.

Similar to other temples of that time its foundation was in rectangular form, the building was made of marble having a decorated outward appearance and a spacious courtyard. There was a marble step surrounding the building led to the high terrace that was almost 80m (260 ft) by 130m (430 ft) in plan. The columns were 20m (60 ft) high with Ionic capitals and carved circular sides. There were total 127 columns aligned orthogonally covering the whole area except the central cella or house of the goddess.

The temple was having so many very beautiful works of art that includes four ancient bronze statues of Amazons sculpted by the finest artists at the time.

The early descriptions about the temple by the historians helped a lot the archeologists to re build the building. Well a more accurate reconstruction of the temple may give the general layout of the temple.

Coober Pedy Australia: The Place Where People Live Underground

Australia is an amazing place which is a country and a continent also. Before Second World War it was hard for world to reach this continent across the ocean. But now this continent is amongst the world’s most developed places. Australia is having diverse climate conditions.

Central Australia is having extreme weather conditions. The dry desert and hot temperature makes it hardiest place to live. But there is something unique about this desert which attracts the tourists. The stark beauty, strange geological formations, unfamiliar type of animals and shrubbery are main source of attraction for tourists in Coober Pedy.  

Coober Pedy is a south Australian town with population of 3500 people and it’s a famous tourist destination for tourists who love to visit extreme climate places. Coober Pedy is located 846 Km north of Adelaide and 645 Km south of Alice Springs.

It will be better that you prepare on forehand before traveling to Coober Pedy. This unique town is also known as Opal Capital of the world as world’s 70% opals coming out of its 70 minefields. Eighty years of mining made this town look like a lunar landscape.

World’s Only Underground Town

But the thing which makes Coober Pedy unique in world is that 80% of population lives there under ground. It’s because of hard weather temperatures which goes up to 50 degrees in summers. That’s why people live in houses dug into the ground. But its not like that people there live like the ancient human beings, these underground residents have all the modern facilities which you can expect in any normal house.

The reason to have underground residence in Coober Pedy is that the insulation makes it cooler and saves the inhabitants from harsh affects of the hot weather.

In Coober Pedy’s other attractions is its Desert Cave, which is the most prestigious accommodation for tourists. It will be a unique and fascinating experience for a tourist to spend some nights in an underground hotel. World’s only underground bar and gaming room is also here. There is also an art gallery, showcasing some of the best work of the artists from Central Australia.

Umoona Opal Mine

If you want to see this culture at its best then it’s necessary that you would visit a mine. Umoona Opal Mine and Museum is the main tourist attraction in Coober Pedy , here you can know so much about opals. On a visit to Umoona Opal Mine you will be guided and shown that how they cut and polish the opal stones. There is an interpretative center in Umoona Opal Mine which explains the history and process of mining and also documentaries are shown. You can see different displayed fossils there which were found in the mines. There is a retail centre also where you can buy genuine Coober Pedy made jewelry.

Locals of Coober Pedy

Inhabitants of Coober Pedy are having relaxed and friendly attitude. Though this is a small town but here you can see incredible ethnic diversity, with over 45 different nationalists being represented.

Exclusive Natural Attractions

Near the Coober Pedy town there are some exclusive natural attractions which are being shown in many Hollywood’s movies. One of them is the Breakaways which is a series of flat topped mesas formed over the years and other is Moon Plains that are a vast expanse of rocky plains unlike anywhere in the world.

There is no problem of accommodation for tourists in Coober Pedy, as they are welcomes always. You can always checking into an underground hotel!

Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa

Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa is located in Alexandria, Egypt.

Alexandria was having different blends of culture in the late first century. It was having Roman and Greek traditions and Christianity was also flourishing despite from all that changes in culture ancient Egypt’s great kingdoms were still not forgotten. This place was having unique impact that people combine their talents rather than destroying cultures.

The evocative reminders of a culture that existed 1,900 years: Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, “ Mounds of Shards”. Three levels burrow into the ground its carved out of solid rock near the sites of the ancient stadium and the long vanished temple of Serapis, a Greek and Egyptian god. Many such catacombs once filigreed Alexandria’s underground but earthquakes and construction projects destroyed them.

Kom el Shoqafa was not find out by any human that’s interesting also in 1900 when it was re discovered after centuries that was by a donkey which accidentally fell through a hole in the ground, and that time it was seen the animal had made an extraordinary archeological find.

Kom el Shoqafa was an active burial site in the late second century. There is ancient circular staircase leads down into the catacombs. The bodies were lowered by rope down the well formed by the spiraling stairs. At the end of the staircase there are two benches are carved into wall inches overhead by the cockleshell motif found in classical designs.

A circular building through a six-pillared central shaft opens off the vestibule. On the left there is triclinium, that’s the funeral banquet hall where friends and family gather on stone couches covered with cushions. It is believed by the scholars that the catacombs at 1^st may be were only for one family but latterly they were expanded into a mass burial site, and its assumed that was administrated by a corporation with dues paying members.

Down through staircase to second level there is an area eerily alive with sculpture. In the lobby of the building two pillars are topped by the papyrus, lotus, and acanthus leaves of ancient Egypt, two falcons flanking a winged sun decorate the frieze. In the walls there are carved figures of man and a woman probably can be figures of the tomb’s original occupants. The man’s body in figure is having stiff hieratic pose as its found in ancient Egyptian sculpture while his head is in the lifelike manner of the classic Hellenes and the woman’s figure is also rigid but it sports the Roman hairstyle.

Three huge stone coffins with non-removable covers along the sides of the chamber. It’s assumed that bodies were inserted in them from behind using a passageway that runs around the outside of the funeral chamber. There is a hallway with 91 wall inches in the central tomb chamber and each one providing burial space for three mummies.

The visitors can reach the first level through a breach in the rotunda wall that way probably was not used by the original builders. This way leads to the Hall of Caracalla, in this hall the bones of horses and humans were found. The hall name is on the name of Emperor Caracalla who massacred the Alexandrian youth in 215 AD.