Ancient Patara Lighthouse to Illuminate the Way for Sailors Once Again

The ancient city of Patara, located in Antalya, southwestern Türkiye, is renowned for its rich history. Once the capital of the Lycian League, this vital port city was a hub of maritime trade. Now, the ancient lighthouse, built by Roman Emperor Nero and destroyed by natural disasters, is being reconstructed using its original stones, ready to guide seafarers once more.

The restoration of Patara’s historic lighthouse gained momentum in 2020, designated as the “Year of Patara.” The revival of this nearly 2,000-year-old structure was made possible through President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s dedication to the project. Thousands of original stones were unearthed during excavations around the approximately 26-meter-tall lighthouse. These stones were meticulously examined and reinforced in a specially established “stone hospital.”

Expertly inspected and strengthened, the stones were lifted by cranes and placed on the 4-meter-high podium. With the completion of the lighthouse’s dome, which features an inscription stating, “I am Emperor Nero. I built this lighthouse for the safety of sailors,” and a dolphin relief, the majority of the work has been finished.

Dr. Şevket Aktaş, the head of the Patara Ancient City Excavation, noted that the lighthouse’s original stones were discovered in 2004 during Prof. Dr. Havva İşkan Işık’s work. Aktaş explained that the lighthouse consists of a square podium and two interlocking cylinders on the central bedrock, with a fire once burning at its summit. Now, they are close to completing this area and its dome.

Aktaş emphasized that the structure is an important artifact that has survived from the ancient world to the present day in terms of architectural form. With the restoration process nearing completion, a significant contribution will be made to the scientific community, and the lighthouse will be illuminated and opened to visitors.

Built by Roman Emperor Nero in 64 AD, the lighthouse was destroyed by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Rhodes in 1481, with its ruins eventually lost among the sand dunes of the harbor area. Now, restored to its 2,000-year-old original structure, texture, and architecture, this lighthouse will be a valuable asset to both the scientific community and a major attraction for visitors to Patara.