Alexandria Lighthouse digitally reconstructed after 1,600 years as Egypt lifts 22 sunken megablocks

In a world increasingly reliant on digital preservation to safeguard humanity’s architectural legacy, a monumental recovery effort has breathed new life into one of antiquity’s most fabled landmarks. An ambitious Franco-Egyptian archaeological initiative has successfully retrieved 22 massive stone blocks from the submerged ruins of the Alexandria Lighthouse—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This milestone, which occurred three decades after the initial underwater discovery, marks a pivotal leap in the digitally driven PHAROS reconstruction project.

Backed by France’s La Fondation Dassault Systèmes, part of Dassault Systèmes SE (EPA: DSY), and under the academic supervision of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), this mission integrates heavy-duty underwater excavation with next-gen digital twinning, reviving a 2,300-year-old structure for immersive exploration.

While not publicly traded, the institutional backing from a European engineering software leader like Dassault Systèmes—whose revenue for FY2024 surpassed €6 billion with operating margins near 33%—has positioned the project at the cutting edge of archaeological and digital convergence. The project not only symbolizes the union of heritage with technology but mirrors global trends where cultural institutions seek partnerships with high-tech players to unlock new economic and educational value from ancient assets.

What Was the Alexandria Lighthouse’s Role in the Ancient World?

Constructed during the reign of Ptolemy I in the early 3rd century BCE and completed under Ptolemy II, the Lighthouse of Alexandria (Pharos of Alexandria) was erected on the island of Pharos, adjacent to the bustling Egyptian port city. Its core function was practical—guiding maritime traffic into one of the ancient world’s most active ports. But beyond its utilitarian value, the structure became an enduring symbol of Ptolemaic power and Greco-Egyptian cultural synthesis.

Historical accounts estimate the lighthouse stood between 100 and 130 meters tall, making it the tallest man-made structure on Earth for centuries. Its design—square base, cylindrical shaft, and lantern tower—would go on to influence lighthouse architecture globally for over a millennium. Pharos was not merely a feat of ancient engineering but also the ancient world’s first “skyscraper,” standing as a beacon of both literal light and imperial ambition.

Over time, several earthquakes between the 10th and 14th centuries led to the lighthouse’s gradual collapse. By the late 15th century, Sultan Qaitbay constructed a defensive fortress using the remnants of the lighthouse, ensuring that its stones remained in service to the city, albeit in a new form.

How Did the 2025 Excavation Unlock New Architectural Insights?

The current mission builds upon a foundation laid in 1995 by French archaeologist Jean-Yves Empereur, who first mapped the underwater site. The Centre d’Études Alexandrines (CEAlex), a CNRS-led institution based in Alexandria, has since catalogued over 100 large stone blocks submerged beneath the harbor. But the latest phase, conducted under CNRS archaeologist-architect Isabelle Hairy, marks the first time in decades that any blocks have been physically lifted from the seabed.

Among the 22 newly recovered pieces are monumental lintels, thresholds, base slabs, and parts of a previously undocumented pylon structure—likely the entrance to the lighthouse itself. Weighing up to 80 tons each, these blocks offer rare, high-resolution data about the scale, materiality, and design intent of the original construction.

Hairy’s team plans to scan and photogrammetrically process each block. The resulting digital files will be fed into Dassault Systèmes’ engineering environment, enabling 3D simulations and structural reconstructions based on physical and historical data.

What Is the PHAROS Project and How Will It Digitally Resurrect the Lighthouse?

The PHAROS initiative is an interdisciplinary digital reconstruction program jointly developed by CNRS and La Fondation Dassault Systèmes. At its core, it combines archaeological fieldwork, 3D modeling, historical research, and virtual simulation to build a scientifically valid “digital twin” of the Alexandria Lighthouse.

Dassault Systèmes engineers—many of whom volunteer their expertise—leverage the firm’s proprietary software platforms like CATIA and 3DEXPERIENCE to process the scanned stone fragments and virtually reassemble the structure. These simulations test various hypotheses about the lighthouse’s construction, internal supports, and collapse mechanisms. Moreover, the virtual reconstruction provides a framework for public education, allowing students, historians, and tourists to explore the structure in immersive digital environments.

This shift reflects broader technological adoption across the heritage sector. Just as Boeing (NYSE: BA) uses digital twins for aerospace design, institutions like CNRS are now deploying similar methods for historical preservation. Such convergence is critical in today’s digitization wave, especially as natural decay and climate threats endanger archaeological sites worldwide.

How Are Documentary Efforts Enhancing the Project’s Public Reach?

Documentary storytelling has played a parallel and equally influential role in the lighthouse’s revival. GEDEON Programmes, the French production house behind the 1995 film The Seventh Wonder of the World, is once again involved. The company funded the barge and crane used in the latest recovery and has filmed the entire operation for a 90-minute prime-time documentary slated to premiere on France Télévisions.

Directed by Laurence Thiriat, the documentary promises wide international syndication across BBC, ZDF, PBS, RAI, and NHK. By blending cinematic storytelling with historical narrative and real-time archaeological work, the production offers a compelling medium to educate the public, boost tourism, and elevate Alexandria’s profile in the global heritage ecosystem.

GEDEON’s involvement also underscores how media collaboration can enhance project funding, awareness, and scholarly engagement—trends increasingly visible in heritage preservation initiatives globally.

How Does the Lighthouse’s Recovery Reflect Broader Heritage-Tech Trends?

The digital reconstruction of the Alexandria Lighthouse aligns with a growing global pivot toward cultural heritage innovation. Around the world, governments and academic institutions are now integrating artificial intelligence, spatial scanning, and immersive technologies to document, analyze, and reinterpret heritage sites.

In Europe alone, the cultural heritage tech market is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 15% through 2028, fueled by private philanthropy, state-backed programs, and corporate alliances. Projects like PHAROS position Dassault Systèmes as a leader in this emerging vertical—offering new business pathways even outside their traditional industrial markets.

The company, which has previously partnered with the Louvre and the Château de Versailles for digitization projects, views such heritage collaborations as long-term investments in societal and educational value. While these initiatives do not generate direct commercial revenue, they cultivate public goodwill and intellectual capital that support its broader platform strategy.

What Is the Sentiment Around Institutional and Public Support?

Institutionally, the project has drawn high regard from academic, engineering, and governmental stakeholders. La Fondation Dassault Systèmes’ three-year support commitment has allowed CNRS teams to scale operations beyond documentation into active recovery and reconstruction—a key inflection point for the lighthouse mission.

Though publicly listed companies like Dassault Systèmes don’t derive immediate earnings from such projects, investor sentiment often rewards strong ESG-aligned visibility. Analysts covering European industrial software majors have noted growing attention to philanthropic tech initiatives as soft drivers of brand equity and innovation signaling.

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, which authorized the excavation, has also expressed enthusiasm, viewing the project as a strategic soft-power boost for Alexandria’s tourism economy. In the past decade, Egypt has diversified its tourism offering beyond the Giza Plateau, and digital heritage plays a crucial role in expanding visitor engagement.

What’s Next for the Alexandria Lighthouse and Global Archaeological Tech?

Looking ahead, the PHAROS team plans to complete digital scanning of the newly lifted blocks by late 2025, with virtual reconstruction targets pegged for early 2026. Future phases could include augmented reality museum installations in Egypt and Europe, educational curriculum integration, and even virtual tourism applications.

In a wider context, PHAROS may serve as a proof-of-concept for future initiatives across heritage-rich but at-risk geographies. From the ruins of Palmyra in Syria to the submerged temples of India’s Odisha coastline, global heritage managers are already taking cues from the project’s multidisciplinary, tech-first approach.

The fusion of deep history and high technology on display in Alexandria represents more than just a tribute to the past. It’s a blueprint for how the world might preserve—and experience—its shared cultural inheritance in the digital century.