In 2025, CNRS archaeologists recovered 22 blocks from the Lighthouse of Alexandria, a wonder of the ancient world, to create a digital twin and uncover its construction secrets.
Archaeologists recover ancient lighthouse blocks
In June 2025, a team from the CNRS recovered 22 major blocks from the site of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, including a monumental Egyptian-style gate constructed using a Greek technique. These blocks are part of ongoing efforts to study the ancient structure and its history.Digital reconstruction of the lighthouse
The blocks are being digitized using photogrammetry and transmitted to the Dassault Systèmes Foundation to create a digital twin of the monument. This will help researchers understand how the lighthouse was built and why it eventually collapsed.Historical significance of the lighthouse
The Lighthouse of Alexandria, about 100 meters high, was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It remained unmatched in architectural terms for over a thousand years before being destroyed by a series of earthquakes between the 10th and 14th centuries.Function and location of the lighthouse
Unlike other wonders, the lighthouse had a practical function: to guide ships to the port of Alexandria, a major city in the ancient Mediterranean. It was built on the island of Pharos, connected to the Egyptian coast by a causeway, and became a symbol of Alexandrian power.Cultural hybridization in the remains
The remains studied today show a blend of Egyptian and Greek influences. Among the pieces is a pylone with its door, of Egyptian style but made using a Greek technique, highlighting the cultural fusion of the time.Long-term archaeological effort
The operation, led by Isabelle Hairy, an archaeologist and architect at the CNRS, is part of a long-term effort. These 22 blocks join a hundred others already digitized underwater over the last ten years, forming a corpus of 5,000 blocks recorded over three decades of excavations.Rediscovery of the submerged lighthouse
The submerged remains of the lighthouse were rediscovered in 1995 by archaeologist Jean-Yves Empereur. His team documented over 3,300 objects at the bottom of the water, including sphinxes, obelisks, and columns, showing the site’s ornamental richness.Architectural continuity with the Fort of Qaitbay
Some of the lighthouse’s stones were reused to build the Fort of Qaitbay, still visible today. This reuse represents a symbolic link between the ancient lighthouse and a later structure from a different era.Support for the excavation project
The current excavation, led by the Alexandrian Studies Center of the CNRS, has benefited from the Dassault Systèmes Foundation’s support for three years. The foundation co-financed the barge and crane needed to lift the heaviest blocks in 2025.Presentation of research findings
The first results of this collaboration were presented in May 2025 in Alexandria, in front of French President Emmanuel Macron and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, highlighting the project’s diplomatic and scientific importance.Reconstructing the lighthouse digitally
Reconstructing the Lighthouse of Alexandria digitally aims to give life to a monument that has long captured the imagination. Researchers hope to finally understand how it was built and how it collapsed due to repeated earthquakes.
