The History of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Here at Geodepress we like to focus on education, especially as we highlight the Zenobia Book Series. Education is very important to Zenobia. Not only did she train physically with her bow and arrow and sword but she challenged herself mentally by learning all that was available to her.  We've been sharing interesting facts from each of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and hope we've broaden your knowledge of Ancient History. Like many other history buffs, we are fascinated by the Ancient Seven Wonders.

Zenobia visits two of these Wonders in book one, Zenobia- Birth of a Legend. Read the post at: http://geodepress.com/lighthouse-of-alexandria-one-of-the-seven-ancient-wonders-of-the-world/

"Many historians now believe that the list served as a guidebook for ancient "tourists" traveling to see the revered sites.

The "wonders of the world" concept dates back to the fifth century B.C., when the Greek historian Herodotus contemplated the amazing achievements of art and architecture created by the Persians and the Greeks.

However, Antipater of Sidon, who wrote in the second century B.C., is credited with putting together the first list of wonders."
Oct. 18, 2006  -  Read full article at: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/7Wonders/story?id=2583185

Howard David Johnson

My favorite artist Howard David Johnson has captured the beautiful Seven Wonders.

Take a look for yourself at: http://www.howarddavidjohnson.com/7wonders.htm

Attention Teachers: Howard David Johnson's pictures are available for classroom use.  E-mail for permission at :  info@howarddavidjohnson.com or check with your school library. View at :  http://www.howarddavidjohnson.com/sevenwonders.htm

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World The Temple of Artemis, Turkey

Color engraving by Ferdinand Knab/The Bridgeman Art Library/Getty Images

The great marble temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Artemis was completed around 550 B.C. at Ephesus, near the modern-day town of Selçuk inTurkey.

In addition to its 120 columns, each standing 60 feet (20 meters) high, the temple was said to have held many exquisite artworks, including bronze statues of the Amazons, a mythical race of female warriors.

Today the temple’s foundations have been excavated and some of its columns re-erected.

Full article found: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/07/photogalleries/seven-wonders/#/new-old-7-wonders-temple-artemis-turkey_18315_600x450.jpg

“And there is no doubt that the temple was indeed magnificent. “I have seen the walls and Hanging Gardens of ancient Babylon,” wrote Philon of Byzantium, “the statue of Olympian Zeus, the Colossus of Rhodes, the mighty work of the high Pyramids and the tomb of Mausolus. But when I saw the temple at Ephesus rising to the clouds, all these other wonders were put in the shade.” -  http://www.unmuseum.org/ephesus.htm

Today the site of the temple near the modern town of Selçuk is only a marshy field. A single column has been erected to remind visitors that once there stood in this place one of the wonders of the ancient world.

 (Licensed through Wikipedia Commons courtesy Adam Carr)

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, Turkey

Painting by The Bridgeman Art Library/Getty Images

The famous tomb at Halicarnassus—now the city of Bodrum—was built between 370 and 350 B.C. for King Mausolus of Caria, a region in the southwest of modern Turkey. Legend says that the king's grieving wife Artemisia II had the tomb constructed as a memorial to their love.

The tomb was most admired for its architectural beauty and splendor. The central burial chamber was decorated in gold, while the exterior was adorned with ornate stone friezes and sculptures created by four Greek artists.

The mausoleum stood intact until the early 15th century, when Christian Crusaders dismantled it for building material for a new castle. Some of the sculptures and frieze sections survived and can be seen today at the British Museum in London, England.

At the British Museum is a fragmentary horse from the colossal four-horses chariot group which topped the podium of the the Mausoleum at Halicarnassos. H. (7 ft. 7 ½ in.)

The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus at Bodrum in 2009

 Wikimedia Commons by Dorushiva 2009

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World:The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Greece

Color engraving by Ferdinand Knab/The Bridgeman Art Library/Getty Images

The massive gold statue of the king of the Greek gods was built in honor of the original Olympic games, which began in the ancient city of Olympia.

The statue, completed by the classical sculptor Phidias around 432 B.C., sat on a jewel-encrusted wooden throne inside a temple overlooking the city. The 40-foot-tall (12-meter-tall) figure held a scepter in one hand and a small statue of the goddess of victory, Nike, in the other—both made from ivory and precious metals.

The temple was closed when the Olympics were banned as a pagan practice in A.D. 391, after Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.

The statue was eventually destroyed, although historians debate whether it perished with the temple or was moved to Constantinople (now Istanbul) in Turkey and burned in a fire.

-Full article can be found at: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/07/photogalleries/seven-wonders/#/new-old-7-wonders-statue-zeus-olympia-greece_18313_600x450.jpg

In ancient times one of the Greeks most important festivals, the Olympic Games, was held every four years in honor of the King of their gods, Zeus. Like our modern Olympics, athletes traveled from distant lands, including Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt and Sicily, to compete. The Olympics were first started in 776 B.C. and held at a shrine to Zeus located on the western coast of Greece in a region called Peloponnesus. The games helped to unify the Greek city-states and a sacred truce was declared. Safe passage was given to all traveling to the site, called Olympia, for the season of the games. - For full article see: http://www.unmuseum.org/ztemp.htm

(Read post about  the first female in the Olympics. http://geodepress.com/women-in-sports-from-ancient-olympics-to-2013-triple-crown/)

Interesting Fact:

The Lincoln Memorial with its single large statue and columns probably is very much like the temple of Zeus except the statue of the King of the Gods was more than double the height of Lincoln.

The Lincoln Memorial

A 1908 artist's conception of the temple at Olympia in Greece.

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The Colossus of Rhodes, Greece

Did You Know?

The Colossus of Rhodes was an inspiration for the Statue of Liberty

Color engraving by Ferdinand Knab/The Bridgeman Art Library/Getty Images

In contrast to the pyramids, the colossus was the shortest lived of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Completed in 282 B.C. after taking 12 years to build, the Colossus of Rhodes was felled by an earthquake that snapped the statue off at the knees a mere 56 years later.
The towering figure—made of stone and iron with an outer skin of bronze—represented the Greek sun god Helios, the island’s patron god. It looked out from Mandráki Harbor on the Mediterranean island of Ródos (Rhodes), although it is no longer believed to have straddled the harbor entrance as often shown in illustrations.
The Colossus stood about 110 feet (33 meters) tall, making it the tallest known statue of the ancient world. It was erected to celebrate the unification of the island’s three city-states, which successfully resisted a long siege by the Antigonids of Macedonia.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/07/photogalleries/seven-wonders/photo9.html#/new-old-7-wonders-colossus-rhodes-greece_18305_600x450.jpg

In my research I found this article about rebuilding The Colossus of Rhodes. I couldn’t find confirmation that the project has been started. It seems that financing may be holding it up.

Colossus of Rhodes to be rebuilt as giant light sculpture

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2008/nov/17/colossus-rhodes-greece-sculpture by Helena Smith in Athens The Guardian, Sunday 16 November 2008

For almost seven decades it stood over Rhodes before being destroyed by an earthquake in 226BC. In later years, its huge bronze and marble parts were carted off by Arab tradesmen. “Even lying on the ground, it is a marvel,” wrote Pliny the Elder. It was so big, he said, that “few people can get their arms around its thumb”. Although historians have spent years arguing about the wonder’s exact location, artists have always depicted it straddling Rhodes’ imposing harbour. Unlike the original statue, which took Chares 12 years to carve in situ, the new statue could be built in less than half that time if adequate funding is found, project organisers say. While the Statue of Liberty was built in France and then assembled in New York, the new Colossus is expected to be built by locals on the island.

Seven Wonders of the Ancient world: Are the “Hanging Gardens of Babylon” real or fake?

Artist's representation of Hanging Gardens of Babylon (Credit: iStockphotos.com)

See full article at history.com http://www.history.com/news/hanging-gardens-existed-but-not-in-babylon

Though there are multiple accounts of the gardens in both Greek and Roman literature, none of them are firsthand, and no mention of the gardens has been found in Babylonian cuneiform inscriptions. As a result, most modern scholars believe that the existence of the gardens was part of an inspired and widely believed but still fictional tale.

Mythology shrouds each of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but none has been more mysterious than the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Archaeologists have never unearthed evidence of the soaring gardens, and scholars have questioned its very existence. Now, however, an Oxford University researcher Stephanie Dalley says she knows why the Hanging Gardens of Babylon have proven so elusive because they were never built there in the first place.

Dalley, who has spent the better part of two decades researching the Hanging Gardens and studying ancient cuneiform texts, believes they were constructed 300 miles to the north of Babylon in Nineveh, the capital of the rival Assyrian empire.

Dalley explains that the reason for the confusion of the location of the gardens could be due to the Assyrian conquering of Babylon in 689 B.C. Following the takeover, Nineveh was referred to as the “New Babylon,” and Sennacherib even renamed the city gates after those of Babylon’s entrances. Dalley’s assertions could debunk thoughts that the elusive ancient wonder was an “historical mirage,” but they could also prove that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are mislabeled and should truly be the Hanging Gardens of Nineveh.

You can purchase a copy of Stephanie Dalley’s book “The Mystery of the Hanging Garden of Babylon” at:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Mystery-Hanging-Garden-Babylon/dp/0199662266

or

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-mystery-of-the-hanging-garden-of-babylon-stephanie-dalley/1112707348?ean=9780199662265

Visit the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World- first stop Egypt: Pyramids and Lighthouse of Alexandria

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was located on a small island called Pharos near the city of Alexandria. Designed by the Greek architect Sostratos and completed around 270 B.C. during the reign of Ptolemy II, the lighthouse helped to guide Nile River ships in and out of the city’s busy harbor.

http://www.history.com/videos/the-lighthouse-at-alexandria#the-lighthouse-at-alexandria

In Chapter 37 of Zenobia – Birth of a Legend, Zenobia visits the lighthouse of Alexandria with her mother and Salim. Read below where you'll experience Zenobia’s budding romance with Salim as they climb the steps of the lighthouse.

“This seems to be as tall as the great pyramid,” Salim proclaimed.

“It is,” agreed Zelina.

“Race you to the top!” Zenobia challenged Salim.

…

Zenobia sprinted up the stairs two at a time with Salim close behind.

…

At two hundred steps she was gasping for air, but so was her pursuer. Her legs were protesting, and Salim started to pass her, but she lunged ahead another fifty steps. Suddenly he grabbed her ankle, and she toppled forward, landing lightly on the steep steps. “Cheater!” she yelled as he passed her.

“All is fair in love and war!” he yelled back. Her adrenaline kicks in and she tore up the stairs after him and grabbed onto his tunic with both hands and hung on with all her strength. He dragged her up for a few steps and then collapsed and they both burst out in gasping laughter.

She pulled herself alongside him until their faces were less than a cubic apart. “And which is this, Salim,” she asked with a pant, “love or war?"

Read more excerpts as Zenobia explores the lighthouse in chapter 37 :  http://geodepress.com/thinking-thursday-zenobia-visits-another-seven-wonders-of-the-ancient-world/

In the next couple of weeks we will be discussing the 7 Ancient Wonders of the World. Here's some previous post on the most popular one, The Great Pyramid of Giza, the oldest and only Ancient Wonder still standing today:

http://geodepress.com/the-great-pyramid-of-giza/ ;

http://geodepress.com/thinking-thursday-zenobia-birth-of-a-legend-my-favorite-scenes/ ;

http://geodepress.com/thinking-thursday-zenobias-visit-to-one-of-the-seven-wonders-of-the-ancient-world/

BACK TO SCHOOL! And your next SUMMER READ!

BACK TO SCHOOL TIME? I know it is the middle of summer but here in the west some kids started school today and so it's back to reading, giving book reports, and taking history classes.

Also, for those still enjoying your summer we thought we'd help you decide on a great summer read.

Zenobia on her trip to Alexandria visit 2 of the ancient 7 wonders of the world.In Book one, Zenobia - Birth of a Legend, you will visit Syrian Desert, Ancient Tadmor (which is Palmyra, Syria today), the Great Pyramids of Giza, and Alexandria, Egypt. You'll experience the excitement of lion attacks, archery, horse races, and education with some of the greatest philosophers. 

In Chapters 29, Zenobia - Birth of a Legend Zenobia visits the Pyramids of Giza.

Here’s an excerpt from the experience:

Very slowly, the massive monuments grew on the horizon until in the eyes of a young girl, they began to overpower her senses…

After quite a while, she saw a third pyramid appear, much smaller than the first two, now set against a deepening purple hue. She engraved the moment in her mind, sensing this could be a singular experience, to be enjoyed again only in memory.

Finally, they drew near the base of the pyramids and stopped to camp for the night. Still in awe Zenobia spoke quietly, “They are majestic Mother, and they were especially magnificent with that beautiful sunset. Have you seen them like this before?”

In Zenobia - Birth of a Legend chapter 37, Zenobia visits the Pharos of Alexandria. 

Read excerpt of Zenobia’s experience:

“This looks to be as tall as the great pyramid,” Salim proclaimed.

“It is,” agreed Zelina.

“Race you to the top!” Zenobia challenged Salim.

Zenobia sprinted up the stairs two at a time Salim close behind…At two hundred steps she was gasping for air, but so was her pursuer. Her legs were protesting, and Salim started to pass her, but she lunged ahead for another fifty steps. Suddenly he grabbed her ankle, and she toppled forward, landing lightly on the steep steps. “Cheater!” She yelled as he passed her.

Eventually they reached the level of the great mirror. Salim was already exploring, and he was fascinated by the mechanics of the system. The mirror itself nested in a frame which sat on a series of wheels on a wooden platform base. Three slaves pushed on protruding poles to turn it constantly. A central vertical shaft that penetrated the frame appeared to hold the mirror in position as it rotated. A beam of light from above somehow shone down on the mirror and was reflected out through the large windows which ringed the entire level.

Ancient Alexandria, Egypt became and for a long while remained an intellectual capital of the world. Alexandria become home to the world’s first-ever university. Main attraction was the Alexandria library. 

 Zenobia visits the Alexandria Library in Zenobia - Birth of a Legend chapter 33:

After a short ride they drew near the docks lining the harbor that opened onto the Great Sea. “Many of these buildings, and the docks themselves, were once made of wood, but now they are all stone,” her mother commented.

“Why?” asked Zenobia. “And how do you know?”

“I read a lot and I listen a lot,” came the reply, answering the second question first. “Nearly three hundred years ago, a great fire destroyed the docks, the buildings, and much of the greatest library the world has ever known. Thus, it was all rebuilt out of stone.”

“I thought you said we were going to see the greatest library.”

“In this part of the world, if you remember. The one in Pergamum is much larger. But the library in Alexandria now is only about one-tenth the size of the original one destroyed in the fire. That one held a million books!”

Attention Teachers and Parents: 

Throughout the centuries, storytelling and fiction have been popular classroom discussions to present real life situations and problems, and examine resolutions. Instructors encouraged students’ dialogue of options and kindled critical thinking.

Russ Wallace plans critical thinking scenes in all books of the Zenobia series. He chronicles Zenobia’s rise to power, capturing her inquisitive nature in strategy-provoking and critical-thinking sessions aimed at the young adult market; though the books have broader appeal.

Similar discussions for classroom use are offered by Russ Wallace to help today’s youth learn how to apply critical thinking to their lives. To schedule an interview, please contact Julie Wallace at (480) 305-4372 or email geodepress@gmail.com.

Zenobia- Birth of a Legend, is a 2012 IPPY award winner in Historical Fiction. Book one, is now available at www.geodespress.com; hard cover and kindle format at http://www.amazon.com=zenobia+birth+of+a+legend; in most eBook formats at http://www.smashwords.com/books/Zenobia; and bookstores and libraries.

Zenobia in Alexandria Egypt

Because of Zenobia I have a soft spot for learning more about ancient Alexandria, the location where Zenobia was educated and started her on the journey of justice. You can read about her visit in the 3rd century to Alexandria, Egypt in the last half of Zenobia - Birth of a Legend; and the whole book of Zenobia - Challenging a Legend takes place in Alexandria.

My favorite tour guide Rick Steves is on his Europe tour right now and I've really enjoyed following along. I especially appreciate his visit to modern day Alexandria. You can follow his whole trip on his Facebook account but I have copied the visit to Alexandria here with pictures from his site. 

https://www.facebook.com/notes/rick-steves/alexandria-egypts-pearl-of-the-mediterranean/10151407478814702

Most tourists in Egypt visit only Cairo and Luxor. Few visit Alexandria, just a three-hour drive away — the country’s second city, and one of the great cities of the Mediterranean. Egypt’s historical capital for almost a millennium, today the “Pearl of the Mediterranean” is a favorite summer getaway for locals who appreciate its cosmopolitan flavor and cooler climate. It’s like Cairo in its mega-millions intensity, but cleaner and quieter, and facing the Mediterranean instead of the Nile.

Alexandria, with a panache unique in Egypt, jams 5 million people up against the Mediterranean.

Alexandria, founded in 331 B.C. by Alexander the Great, is a fabled place. Queen Cleopatra ruled from here, back when the city was, along with Rome, one of two in the ancient world with a million people. Back then, it rivaled Rome as a cultural and intellectual capital. Alexandria's awe-inspiring lighthouse (or Pharos) —one of the seven wonders of the ancient world — marked its harbor, and its legendary library was the world’s largest. No ship could dock here without giving up its books to be copied for this, the ultimate repository of knowledge. Tragically for all of civilization, the library burned (likely around 48 B.C.), and today only its legend — and a fragment of a single scroll (now kept in Vienna) — survives.

History has been harsh: No trace of Alexander’s day survives, Cleopatra’s city is now under the sea, the library is long gone, and the lighthouse has tumbled (the only surviving image of it is engraved on a coin). Of its ancient wonders, only a hint of Alexandria's street plan, a few archaeological digs, and the towering Pompey’s Pillar survive today.

Then early 90-foot-tall Pompey’s Pillar, carved out of a single mighty piece of granite, was shipped 500 miles from Aswan down the Nile to this spot 1,700 years ago. It stands like an exclamation mark, reminding all who visit that today’s city sits upon what was a mighty urban center of a million ancient Egyptians.

The Alexandria National Museum (with wonderful treasures from the time of the pharaohs, a small bust of Alexander, and fine early Christian art) tells the city’s story in an old mansion that once housed the US consulate. Alexandria gave Rome a toehold on Egypt. This is where St. Mark arrived to introduce Christianity to the land. The invading Muslims bypassed it for Cairo. In the Middle Ages, famine, civil wars, earthquakes, and disease left the once-mighty Alexandria just a village of 10,000. Then, in the 19th century, the city enjoyed a resurgence — becoming one of the liveliest ports on the Mediterranean, with a cosmopolitan mix of Greek, French, English, and Italian influence. By World War II, 40 percent of the population had come from other countries. But then, with the anti-colonialism of the 1950s, foreign interests were nationalized, and most of the foreigners who brought such vitality to the city fled.

Today, Alexandria’s early-20th-century grandness is musty and caked in this generation’s dirt. The city is a teeming and thoroughly Egyptian metropolis of about 5 million. It feels spirited, young, and progressive. In fact, Alexandria helped spearhead the revolution of 2011.

Alexandria is a long and skinny port town, just two miles wide but stretching 12 miles along the seaside Corniche — which feels like Nice’s Promenade des Anglais hurled into a Blade Runner furnace. The wistful Cecil Hotel, built in 1930 and overlooking the harbor, gives the visitor a comforting home base with a nostalgic touch of belle époque elegance.

Alexandria’s top attraction is its futuristic modern library. Norwegian-designed and built in 2002 with a dazzling reading room accommodating 2,500 readers, it stands near where the fabled ancient library stood (www.bibalex.org shows off all its wonders). While the library is a delight of modern architecture, the highlight of the city for me was exploring the Anfoushi old town. More on that tomorrow.

Top Ten Thinking Thursdays

Thinking Thursday has been dedicated to sharing scenes from Zenobia – Birth of a Legend, the first book in the series. I try to share scenes where Zenobia learns a valuable lesson and hopefully we can take away something important from that lesson. We also learn about important historical events and sites. I believe we all can learn from her experience to better our lives.

Here is my top ten of what I’ve learned from Zenobia – Birth of a Legend, Thinking Thursdays:

1. a girl could be just as valuable as a boy and a woman just as valiant and skilled as a man.

2. you may be good at something but you can always challenging yourself and improve.

3.  Until you are ready for the truth you will not find it.

4. Zenobia and Bethany exemplify the human and animal relationship that can be achieved.

5. Of the original Seven Wonders, only one- The Great Pyramid of Giza, the oldest of the ancient wonders – remains relatively intact

6. The lighthouse Pharos was the only ancient wonder that had a practical use, serving as a beacon for ships in the dangerous waters off the Egyptian port city of Alexandria, now called El Iskandarîya.

7. Ancient Alexandria became and for a long while remained an intellectual capital of the world.

8. Zenobia claimed to be a descendant of Cleopatra and even though it couldn’t be proven it might have been used as a great tool to rally her troops in calling Egypt her ancestral home.

9.Archery has been around for a long time, for war and survival

10. Justice has a cost

We look forward to sharing many more Thinking Thursdays with you in 2013!

Please share with us anything you’ve learned from reading our Thinking Thursdays or what you’ve learned from knowing more about Zenobia.

“Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment”
― Oprah Winfrey

Thinking Thursday - My favorite scenes from Zenobia - Birth of a Legend

As the end of the year is quickly upon us, (and as some think the end of the world)  I think back to all the things I've learned from doing Thinking Thursdays and what Zenobia has taught me.

I have many favorites parts in Zenobia – Birth of a Legend. If I had to narrow it down I’d say the end of the book with the horse race is by far the most exciting part. (The lion attack scene is pretty intense.  If you haven’t watched our book trailer of that scene, please check it out 

http://geodepress.com/tuesday-teaser-zenobia-trailer-watch-it-now/.)

I can’t really share to much of the horse race because of spoilers, so I’ll share my next favorite scene where Zenobia visits the Pyramids.

I myself haven’t been to the Pyramids, but Russ Wallace visited them when researching his book. When Zenobia is in the Pyramids, I imagine Russ took a lot of his own personal experience of being there and put it into the scene. I hope someday to visit them myself but for now I’ll just reread Zenobia’s account and feel like I’m there.

Here is a scene in Chapter 30:

     The room in the pyramid were as Cam stated, empty and not especially impressive. However, Zenobia was amazed at how confined she felt inside, almost as if the walls were pressing in on her. It was not only that the tunnels were so tight, but also that the massive stones were unyielding. The torches that they had bought outside from a vendor did not do a very good job of dispelling the pervasive darkness. “It feels like a tomb in here,” she had remarked. It was an uncomfortable feeling different from any she had ever had, and she was glad to leave the structure and return to open air. 

     The tour of the complex was more extensive than the night before, but some of the mystery was missing. Nevertheless, the massiveness of the pyramids was even plainer to see, and the vista confirmed that she would carry the awesome feeling with her for the rest of her life….

     

Thinking Thursday - Zenobia visit to Pharos of Alexandria

In chapter 37 of Zenobia – Birth of a Legend, visit one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Pharos of Alexandria. 

Read excerpt of the experience:

“This looks to be as tall as the great pyramid,” Salim proclaimed.

“It is,” agreed Zelina.

“Race you to the top!” Zenobia challenged Salim.

…Zenobia sprinted up the stairs two at a time Salim close behind…At two hundred steps she was gasping for air, but so was her pursuer. Her legs were protesting, and Salim started to pass her, but she lunged ahead for another fifty steps. Suddenly he grabbed her ankle, and she toppled forward, landing lightly on the steep steps. “Cheater!” She yelled as he passed her.

Eventually they reached the level of the great mirror. Salim was already exploring, and he was fascinated by the mechanics of the system. The mirror itself nested in a frame which sat on a series of wheels on a wooden platform base. Three slaves pushed on protruding poles to turn it constantly. A central vertical shaft that penetrated the frame appeared to hold the mirror in position as it rotated. A beam of light from above somehow shone down on the mirror and was reflected out through the large windows which ringed the entire level.

 “What is the mirror made of?” Zenobia asked.

“A special metal with a silver coating that is polished when needed.”

Zenobia had been studying the mirrors frame and she remarked, “It looks like this is designed to be tipped.”

“Correct,” the attendant acknowledged. “The design allows us to aim a beam of light at distant objects.”

“I have heard that the mirror can set an enemy ship at sea on fire,” stated Salim. “How is that done?”

“That is true, but the details of how are a secret we are not allowed to reveal. As you are aware, sunlight can be very hot. Now imagine that concentrated so it is ten or twenty times stronger. It can set wood on fire.” Salim looked at Zenobia and he could see her mind analyzing the possibilities.

The Pharos at Alexandria was a lighthouse at the port of the Egyptian city named for Alexander the Great.

“The lighthouse was the only ancient wonder that had a practical use, serving as a beacon for ships in the dangerous waters off the Egyptian port city of Alexandria, now called El Iskandarîya.

Constructed on the small island of Pharos between 285 and 247 B.C., the building was the world's tallest for many centuries. Its estimated height was 384 feet (117 meters)—equivalent to a modern 40-story building—though some people believe it was significantly taller.

The lighthouse was operated using fire at night and polished bronze mirrors that reflected the sun during the day. It's said the light could be seen for more than 35 miles (50 kilometers) out to sea.

The huge structure towered over the Mediterranean coast for more than 1,500 years before being seriously damaged by earthquakes in A.D. 1303 and 1323.”

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/07/photogalleries/seven-wonders/#/new-old-7-wonders-lighthouse-alexandria-egypt_18309_600x450.jpg