Pharos of Alexandria
The Pharos of Alexandria was an ancient lighthouse located on an island in the harbour of Alexandria, Egypt. The lighthouse, built about 280 B.C. during the reign of Ptolemy II, stood more than 134m(440 ft)tall - about as high as a 40-story building.

Of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, only the Pharos of Alexandria had a practical use in addition to its architectual elegance. For sailors, it ensured a safe return to the Great Harbour. For architects, it meant even more: it was the tallest building on Earth. And for scientists, it was the mysterious mirror, which reflection could be seen more than 50km(35 miles)off-shore that fascinated them most.

In 1303 and in 1323, two strong earthquakes left a significant impression on the structure. When the famous Arab traveler Ibn Battuta visited Alexandria in 1349, he could not enter ruinous monument or even to its doorway.

The final chapter in the history of the Lighthouse came in A.D. 1480 when the Egyptian Mamelouk Sultan, Qaitbay, decided to fortify Alexandria's defense. He built a medieval fort on the same spot where the Lighthouse once stood, using the fallen stone and marble. Of the six vanished wonders, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was the last to disappear.

Alexander the Great (356-323 bc), king of Macedonia, conqueror of the Persian Empire, and one of the greatest military geniuses of all times. Born in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia, son of Philip II, king of Macedonia, and of Olympias, a princess of Epirus. Aristotle was Alexander's tutor; he gave Alexander a thorough training in rhetoric and literature and stimulated his interest in science, medicine, and philosophy.