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| Subject: | Inspired by the Lighthouse of Alexandria – The Roman Tower of Hercules |
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| Date: | Mon, 25 Jan 2016 03:59:36 +0000 |
| From: | Ancient Origins |
The only still functioning Roman lighthouse stands in the north-west part of the Iberian Peninsula, in Galicia. It is called the Torre de Hércules - Tower of Hercules.
When Julius Caesar arrived to Galicia in Spain in the year 61 BC, he understood the importance of this territory. Perhaps due to his decision, the lighthouse was constructed as a maritime signal, assisting navigation for the ships that were (and are today) crossing the Atlantic corridor.
The Tower of Hercules is located on a rocky hill, named Punta Euras, and measures approximately 57 meters (187 feet) tall. The place where the Romans constructed the Tower was once a part of a sacred place for the tribes of pre-Roman period. In those times, the lighthouse was located far from the Roman city of Brigantium, which gave rise to A Coruña (La Coruña).
Location of the Tower of Hercules within Galicia. (Wikimedia Map)
The Construction of the Lighthouse
Research shows that that Tower of Hercules, was built between the end of the 1st century BC and the beginning of the 2nd century AD. It was finished (or rebuilt) during the reign of the Emperor Trajan. The design was possibly Phoenician in origin, but may have been modeled after the Lighthouse of Alexandria.
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