Sostratus of Cnidus
Sostratus of Knidos ( Ancient Greek: Σώστρατος ὁ Κνίδιος ) was an architect from Knidos in Asia Minor, v. the 4th and 3rd century BC.
He is considered the architect of the of Ptolemy I commissioned lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. As the structure of its completion looked forward, ban king Ptolemy II to leave his name on the building. Instead, a consecration inscription should be placed in honor of Ptolemy I as a builder. Sostratus has - as Strabo - the address below inscription in huge letters in the seaward wall of the base beat and let pour with lead. In a fine layer of mortar was applied in the Sostratus then desired by the king inscription was imprinted, possibly with similar wording. Over the years, the mortar layer fell off, and Sostratus ' names appeared on the building. The inscription at the lighthouse was:
Maybe Sostratus has not the whole building ( Ptolemy I Soter was meant and his wife Berenike I. ) the "saving gods " dedicated, but only the God figure of Poseidon on top of the lantern.
Sostratus was more active by Lucian of Samosata II under Ptolemy Philadelphus. He built strategic drainage channels of the Hauptnilkanals to Memphis for taking the warring against Ptolemy city. Even before he had erected buildings for the edification and recreation: a terrace sanctuary of Aphrodite with roof garden ( altgr. Κρεμαστὰ στοὰ Ἀφροδίτης Κνιδίης, lat pensilis ambulatio Aphroditae Cnidiae ), modeled on the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, as well as assembly and recovery houses in Delphi.