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The finding comes as part of a project to digitally reconstruct the legendary Lighthouse of Alexandria
01:23, Mon, Jun 29, 2026 Updated: 01:24, Mon, Jun 29, 2026
Researchers have recovered 22 massive blocks from the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria (Image: undefined)
Archaeologists have made a fascinating discovery as they find the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the World on the ocean floor.
A total of 22 enormous stone blocks from the legendary Lighthouse of Alexandria, largely regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, were recovered from the water.
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The lighthouse was the tallest human-made structure on earth for centuries.
The remains were submerged in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Egypt, and have been excavated in an effort to digitally reconstruct the monument to reveal what the remarkable structure looked like.
The remains will be used to build a digital reconstruction (Image: undefined)
The operation was labelled the Pharos Project, an initiative that brings together France’s National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), led by archaeologist Isabelle Hairy, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and the Dassault Systèmes Foundation.
The blocks were from the lighthouse's main etrance and include lintels, door jambs and thresholds.
Large paving slabs weighing between 77 and 88 tons each were also discovered.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria dates back to the early third century BC.
It was designed by the Greek architect Sostratus of Cnidus, and stood more than 300 feet tall on the island of Pharos at the entrance to Alexandria’s harbor in Egypt.
It served as a vital navigation tool for ships travelling in the Mediterranean sea.
For over 1,600 the landmark remained for mariners until it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1303.
Lighthouse in Alexandria (one the seven wonders of the world) engraving by F. Adler dating 1901 (Image: Getty)
Centuries later, stones from the lighthouse were reused in the construction of the Citadel of Qaitbay, a fortress that now stands on the same site.
The recovery of the blocks is part of the project to virtually reconstruct the monument using cutting-edge technology.
Each discovered piece will be scanned using high-precision photogrammetry so a detailed three-dimension model can be created.
The blocks will be analysed and then incorporated into the digital reconstruction in a similar manner to a puzzle.
The project is the latest carried out by researched to digitise arhcitectural fragments that remain underwater.
The discovery will be added to a digital database that includes a wide range of historical sources, including ancient coins, mosaics, and written accounts from contemporary chroniclers.
It is hoped that this reconstruction will create the most accurate representation of the Lighthouse of Alexandria.
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