History of the Tower of Hercules . The Latin word farum is derived from the Greek pharos for the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Until the 20th century, the tower was known as the "Farum Brigantium". It is likely that the Roman tower built in the first century came in succession from a previous building of Celtic origin, The Tower of Breogán. It is a symbol of the power of the ancient Roman Empire. The Tower of Hercules, originally known as the “Farum Brigantium” or “Brigantia Lighthouse,” is an ancient Roman lighthouse on a peninsula about two kilometers from the center of Corunna, Galicia, in northwestern Spain. (See also SANTIAGO de COMPOSTELA http://youtu.be/7-IqpTL-nDc) Lighthouse built over 1,900 years ago still doing splendid service today. Its use was not continuous, during the Middle Ages it fell into disrepair. Iconography found from the 16th century revealed a highly restored Tower, which was fitted with a dome-shaped lantern. ( Public Domain ) In the 16th century, people saw the Tower of Hercules as a quarry to get stones for new buildings in the city. The ancient Tower of Hercules is easily the most well preserved lighthouse remaining from the classical Roman age, and it is also the only one still in use. The lighthouse stands on an elevated headland a short distance from the center of A Coruna city and its oldest sections date back 1900 years to … The legal owner of the lighthouse, the city council, tried to protect the tower, but many parts of the lighthouse disappeared during that period. Although there were other ancient lighthouses, the Tower of Hercules is the oldest surviving lighthouse in the world. The Tower of Hercules is an ancient Roman lighthouse on a peninsula about 2.4 km from the centre of A Coruña, Galicia, in north-western Spain. There are several descriptions of the Tower in the 17th century in various text. Coins have been found, dating from the reign of Nero to Domitian. The Tower of Hercules (Galician and Spanish: Torre de Hércules) is an ancient Roman lighthouse on a peninsula about 2.4 kilometers (1.5 mi) from the centre of A Coruña, Galicia, in north-western Spain.Until the 20th century, the tower itself was known as the "Farum Brigantium". The Romans constructed the Farum Brigantium at the end of the 1st century or beginning of the 2nd. The tower of Hercules has an almost 2.000-year-old history, throughout which it has been denominated in different ways. The exact date of the tower’s construction is unknown, but records show that it has existed since at least the 2 nd century CE. The Tower of Hercules is a lighthouse of Roman origin that is used as such until today. In the Roman epoch it was known as Farum Brigantium, in the medieval epoch as the Faro or Old Castle and in the Modern Age as the Tower of Hercules. 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