Pharos Lighthouse's history in VR

A new film uses virtual reality to explore the history and evolution of the Pharos Lighthouse, emphasizing the limited remains of the ancient structure. Once the tallest building in the world, it was comparable in height to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower.

Location and construction

The lighthouse was built by the Ptolemies in the third century BCE on the island of Pharos, which has since become a peninsula. It served as a crucial navigational aid for ships entering the busy harbor of Alexandria.

Damage and preservation

By the end of the Middle Ages, the lighthouse had suffered significant damage from successive earthquakes. Today, only a fraction of the original structure remains, with much of it submerged beneath the Mediterranean Sea.

Underwater excavations

Since 1995, underwater excavations have recovered 10 percent of the lighthouse’s remains from the site. These efforts have provided valuable insights into the structure’s original design and materials.

Recent archaeological campaign

In the spring of 2025, archaeologist Isabelle Hairy and French-Egyptian divers launched a "Ptolemaic" campaign, retrieving twenty-two megalithic blocks. Their goal is to reconstruct the lighthouse’s architecture in the style of a Rubik’s Cube, offering a new way to understand its design.